Thorsten:
Hmmm.... reality...game...reality...game...? I'v never killed a person in armor before in real life. I play a game called the S.C.A. In rock sicciors paper no body wins in real life rock rules...
Yes, and to continue the analogy, there is a reason that we don't use paper-scissors-rock to model combat: we are trying to make our model as close to reality as we can with a reasonable degree of safety. We could model it with paper-scissor-rock; however, SCA-style armoured combat is an even better model. What we are discussing are ways to improve the quality of the model even further. Yes, the SCA system works okay; even so, if we could improve upon it, why not do so?
The major benefit of the fighting from your knees model is that it clearly marks the kneeling person as technically wounded. It also serves to limit movement, except for the problems described below.
The problems with the system are as follows:
1) Many argue that any wound that would require the fighter to fight from a squatting position would effectively remove him/her from the fight.
2) Because of safety and chivalry concerns, those fighting from their knees require special rules that do much to limit the effectiveness of the model from accurately mimicking reality. Examples of these rules include the following:
a) the "wounded" party cannot by overrun.
b) the "wounded" party cannot be circled.
c) the "wounded" party's legs are hereafter removed from play as an acceptable target.
3) Because of the additional rules, fighters adjust their fighting style to play the game, rather than acquire "real" fighting skills. For example, they stop defending their legs. Some fighters are actually more effective at fighting from their knees than they are standing.
4) Fighting from your knees damages the flow of combat, as well as its appearance.
5) The rules contain loopholes that allow fighters movement not in accordance with their "wounded" status. For example, fighters can lean back to lure opponents within distance and then spring up onto their knees; furthermore, they can knee walk at high speed.
Now, what can we do about this? What can we do to improve the quality of the model?
1) We can leave it as it is, and accept it as the best model? This is certainly the easiest, as so many people already know the rules. There is nothing morally wrong with us, but, as you can see, many of us are more interested in fighting skills than game-playing skills.
2) As you pointed out, we can just say that a legged person is immobilized, and therefore defeated. This rule would work fine. I could live with it if it were proposed. However, the SCA rules seem to be formed around the idea of both wounding and killing blows, with the idea of extended fights. The idea seems to be that wounds are not incapacitating injuries, that, for example, an arm wound is simulating a deep cut, not an amputation.
3) A standing leg wound rule is another option. I like it because it provides a middle ground. It's not perfect. For example, on a battlefield, it is not immediately apparent who is injured and who isn't. It is also easier for the less chivalrous to cheat and suddenly heal themselves. Nevertheless, a rules system such as I described in my earlier post manages, I believe to more accurately model an injured but not destroyed leg. There are several variations you could try upon the theme; that system is just the one that our group has come to enjoy using.
4) Go to a non-wounding, counted blows system. These are tons of fun, and I like to use them as well. They are not without their own disadvantages, though. Nevertheless, they are valid models that I recommend highly.
Now, as to your other comment:
I also mean no ofense to the people with bad nees but... they seam to be the ones who dislike nealing the most hmmm.. I'm a body man I work on cars ,I do alot of neeling,and my nees hurt every day But il swing ratan until the day my nees blow out neeling or not.
You do not know me from Adam, so I will let this slight pass. If the kneeling wounds system were the better, I would use it despite my knees, or I would simply yield once I was struck on the legs. But the fact is that the standing leg wounds system seems to be a better model of combat, and is one that seems to be more enjoyable, as all of my comrades have embraced it as their standard. After you use it for a while, you start to feel goofy fighting from your knees. Frankly, standing or kneeling I'm screwing up my legs fighting. My knee problems involve the cartilidge; if they were primary influence on my fighting philosophy, I would be one of those plastic paladins, floating around in my "magic" lightweight armour.
Bring me my broadsword and clear understanding.
