Rules & Policies

The SCA Armoured Combat with Rebated Blades (Armoured Steel Combat) Marshal’s Handbook covers the Society rules for our form of combat. It may be found at: https://www.sca.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MarshalHandbookArmoredCombatwithRebatedBlades.pdf

COVID-19 Policy

Steel Fighters in the East are required to follow all SCA, East Kingdom, National, local, and state of province COVID-19 policies. When in conflict, the most restrictive is to be followed. No further restrictions are applied at this time.

Authorizations

Steel Authorizations are similar in some ways to Heavy List and Fencing.

Initial Fighter Authorizations: As per the Armored Steel Marshal’s Handbook: 

From the Armoured Combat with Rebated Blades (Armoured Steel Combat)
Marshal’s Handbook, Section I, B, 4:

The authorization shall be conducted as follows:
  a. 2 marshals and 1 experienced combatant must be present
  b. The authorization shall be a two-phase system
    i. Phase one combat using rattan weapons
    ii. Phase two using steel weapons
    iii. The length of these phases shall be at the discretion of the authorizing marshals
  c. The combat shall be non-stop (i.e., without stopping to call blows)
  d. The fighter must demonstrate a level of safety, control and proficiency
  e. The fighter must demonstrate familiarity with the rules and follows the instructions of the Marshals.
  f. “Can take a blow and can give a blow”
    i. Demonstrate comfort and composure when being struck
    ii. Demonstrate sufficient technique to be able execute attacks which land in scoring zones with proper blade orientation.

At this time (July 5, 2021) the East Kingdom Minister of Lists is still working on the authorization recording process. As a result all authorizations will be provisional for the practice or event on the day of. When that changes, more info will be published here.

Marshal Authorizations

The East Kingdom Marshal Training Policy is to train new marshals as a community apprenticeship. The new Marshal in Training will follow the following steps:

  1. Be acceptable to the Kingdom Deputy Marshal for Steel Fighting as an appropriate candidate.
  2. Be active in the SCA Steel fighting community.
  3. Participate as a Steel Fighter, Judge, and in training as a list field marshal along side an authorized Steel Marshal frequently.
  4. As the Marshal in Training gains experience and skills, other marshals will regularly discuss aspects of safety and situations to ascertain the MiT’s progress.
  5. Authorized marshals shall work to instill the right attitudes towards all aspects of the SCA, martial combat, out form of martial combat, and all safety concerns.
  6. When the MiT and two authorized East Kingdom Steel Marshals agree the MiTis ready to be an authorized East Kingdom Steel Marshal, they will schedule an exam in which various aspects of safety, policy, and procedure are tested. Should the three agree the MiT is ready they will submit this in writing to the East Kingdom Deputy for Steel Combat in writing or (preferably) by email.

As of July 2021, we have 8 Marshals in the East and two Marshals In Training.