Bow Safety Proposal

nzLARPS
#1

Hi there.

Following a discussion I had this sunday been during the Crucible Combat Test in Auckland, I have submitted the following proposal to the NZLarps Auckland Regional Committee, who have voted it up and are now keen to see it in action.

The proposal can be read at the following: docs.google.com/document/d/1ByM … sp=sharing

Presently we will be needing volunteers from experienced Larp archers to conduct the safety training. I would also like to hear feedback as to how we can make this accessible to everyone who would like to participate.

In short, the proposal is for there to be some kind of mandatory training in safely using a bow or crossbow or any kind of not human powered projectile weapon in a larp combat enviroment. Please read and discuss!

#2

I recommend that arrows are inspected before every battle and not fired more than once after inspection.

If the shaft has any kind of fracture at all they can self destruct causing injury to the archer or anyone they hit.

WARNING: gory pictures…

kazak.com/wordpress/?tag=splinter

#3

Defiantly in support of this. Not to try and threadjack this, but I believe that something similar should be implemented with 2-handed weapons as well. In Teonn as well as other larps most “hard” hits seem to have come from 2-handers and I have seen many experienced larpers using them in a potentially unsafe way, with both hands at the end of the weapon, or swinging one handed.

#4

Ok training and familiarity are two of the best responses to bow safety.

I have discussed this with crucible GMs and have offered to run bow training sessions at crucible weekend events.

I don’t claim to be an expert but I have had enough lessons to help people use bows safely.

#5

[quote=“Derek”]I recommend that arrows are inspected before every battle and not fired more than once after inspection.

If the shaft has any kind of fracture at all they can self destruct causing injury to the archer or anyone they hit.

[/quote]

That is a good point to raise. If there are archers both sides of a combat then they would be tempted to pick up their enemies spent arrows and fire them back. (I heard this being discussed at the play test, not sure if it happened then though). That’s exactly the type of thing that should be covered.

#6

This is something I’m actively encouraging down in Wellington.
We had discussed that not everyone should be able to pick up a bow and start shooting, and that there should be a basic safety test

Basic Criteria for Competency

Technical Safety

Can you correctly identify unsafe strings?

  • Fraying of string or wrapping
  • Stretch marks on loops
  • String too short for the bow being fired

Can you correctly identify unsafe arrows?

  • Fletching insecurely attached
  • Head damaged or coming unstuck, or frozen
  • Shaft cracked or warped such that it will cause shots to behave unpredictably
  • Nock insecure or cracked

Can you correctly identify unsafe staves or mechanisms?

  • Signs of cracking or lateral warping
  • Insecure hand grip which could slip
  • Cracked or overly grooved tips

Technique Competency

Can you correctly string and unstring your own bow?

  • Unstring your bow when not in use.
  • Can you correctly nock an arrow with the cock feather out and draw to loose with safe and controlled technique?
  • Don’t dry fire a bow.
  • Always clean the nocks on your arrows.

Usage Safety

  • Don’t shoot the head.
  • Can you judge safe declination?
  • Do you know how to vary the power of the arrow for range?
  • Don’t clout people with the bow, even if it’s latex covered.
  • Don’t shoot anything below minimum distance, 12 feet.
  • Don’t fire an arrow straight up.

Test Procedure

Demonstrate the ability to string your bow, correctly nock, draw and loose ten arrows at designated targets and then unstring the bow. For at least some of these shots, the target will be the administrator holding a shield at different heights and ranges.

Examine the following pieces of equipment:

  • One damaged arrow, identify all defects.
  • Three bow strings, of which one is frayed beyond safety.
  • Fire an arrow at what you judge to be the highest safe declination which will not cause the arrow to overturn.

The administrator will ask at least five of the following questions.
Incorrectly answering any one question requires correction at the end of the test, but is not an automatic failure. Incorrectly answering two questions will fail the applicant.

When you pick up a fired arrow, what should you immediately check?
Required answer: if the nock is clear of mud and other obstructions. Greater detail and thoroughness is always good though.

What is the minimum safe firing distance?
5 Meters (Rules - do we need a ‘point blank’ call - if you have an arrow nocked then you can call ‘point blank’ at a target with in 5 meteres; target takes standard bow damage, you must drop the arrow.

How should you carry a bow between uses?
Unstrung.

How would you parry a blow with your bow?
You wouldn’t!

Should the distance to target affect the length of your draw, and if so, in what way?
As targets get closer to you, draw the bow to a shallower point in order to minimise the force with which your arrows hit the target.

How should firing from a position of significant elevation affect your shooting?
Extreme care is needed to ensure that arrows do not risk striking the head or overturning in flight. There are some situations where a slope will make it entirely unsafe to shoot.

What is “Dry Firing”?
Drawing and releasing the string without an arrow nocked. A capital crime.

At what angle should arrow be nocked relative to the rest?
Approximately 90 degrees relative to the rest on the stave, though some variance will result in rapid fire.

When aiming at a relatively near target, would you aim above or below your target point?
Below: arrows tend to jump on release.

List at least three potential safety failures or damage points on your bow-stave which should be regularly checked during usage.
See above.

Under what circumstances might you fire an arrow straight up?
Never.

Rush test

Correctly nock, draw and loose three arrows at a designated target; the target will be the administrator holding a shield and a sword.
(Administrator charges the target, to see if they defend themselves with a bow, or turn and run, or drop the bow)
They should not defend themselves with the bow, if they use the bow to defend themselves then it should be an automatic fail.

These are a fair starting point and can be discussed.

I’m more than happy to help, having played an LARP archer for a long time, Safety Ref in a few LARP systems, as well as being under 15 county archery champion a LONG time ago.

#7

Several techniques can improve safe use:

  1. range testing - practicing draw length to achieve different ranges. This prevents over hard hits.
  2. Plucking - for shooting at short distances of 2-3m - use a plucking motion and a draw of only a couple of inches. The force is only sufficient to send the arrow 2-3m at low velocity.
  3. Shoulder height arrow angle - if you keep your arrow draw on a 90 degree angle from your body. Reduces range but prevents head shots.
#8

Point blank shooting - I disagree with 5m minimum. I can train people to shoot safely down to 2m using plucking technique. The caveat is that a charging target shouldn’t be shot at close range due to the added energy of the on coming person.

#9

Thank you for initiating this, Callum! And thanks to everyone getting involved. It’s making me feel a bit better about archery in our games!

I like the mention of not picking up arrows off the ground in the heat of battle and re-firing them, as I think that in the rush of combat you’d not notice potential flaws as well as you would if you looked at them after the fight was over. Is that already practice here? I’ve not done archery myself, so I don’t know.

I recall at the big battles at Mythodea that archers would shoot their arrows, and when they were out, they were out. After the fights, the fields would be littered with hundreds of arrows from hundreds of players. They had designated crew whose job it was, was to comb the battle fields post-fight, gather up the arrows (and other lost property) and then line them all up in a designated area so players could retrieve and inspect them.

Perhaps we could have a couple of designated ‘arrow marshals’ after each fight who’d do the same - collect the arrows and do a quick inspection as they do so for really obvious damage, and put them in an area for player collection/inspection. Naturally, those people would be trained on how to spot damage. It doesn’t remove the responsibility from the owners of the arrows to do the inspection, but a second pair of eyes can’t hurt. I really, really don’t want to be impaled by a broken arrow winging its way to me at speed.

#10

[quote=“amphigori”]
Perhaps we could have a couple of designated ‘arrow marshals’ after each fight who’d do the same - collect the arrows and do a quick inspection as they do so for really obvious damage, and put them in an area for player collection/inspection. Naturally, those people would be trained on how to spot damage. It doesn’t remove the responsibility from the owners of the arrows to do the inspection, but a second pair of eyes can’t hurt. I really, really don’t want to be impaled by a broken arrow winging it’s way to me at speed.[/quote]

I’d be happy to help.

#11

[quote=“Derek”]I recommend that arrows are inspected before every battle and not fired more than once after inspection.

If the shaft has any kind of fracture at all they can self destruct causing injury to the archer or anyone they hit.[/quote]

I’d suggest that archers have to inspect arrows before firing - potentially allowing them to pick an arrow up and inspect it before firing it back.

This also places the responsibility for an arrow being safe firmly on the archer who fires the arrow as opposed to some third party who checked the arrow was safe an hour prior to it being fired.

#12

Just to clarify what was agreed at the committee meeting last night, we support the introduction of a “NZLarp Bow Safety Certification” (or whatever words is finally decided upon to that effect). It will still be up to each individual project/game as to whether this is a requirement of their attendees (both players and crew). We would like to think that it will be adopted by all games, and will ask any new projects if they will be having this requirement as they apply to become a NZL project.

Hopefully we can have an experienced larping archer (and not just someone who has done standard archery) in Auckland step up help educate the rest of us before we get to the first Crucible weekend game. Further training/certification during/at Crucible will also be good.

We think that even if people say they have done archery before, and even larp archery before, that they all have some sort of assessment to pass the ‘certification’ process (whatever it may be), to demonstrate their competency.

#13

That’s pretty much how it’s done at SCA events. After battles everyone (or at least the archers) glean arrows and we toss them all in a pile and check and sort them.

Unsafe arrow shafts are broken completely to prevent them being reused accidentally.

#14

[quote=“Xaosist”][quote=“Derek”]I recommend that arrows are inspected before every battle and not fired more than once after inspection.

If the shaft has any kind of fracture at all they can self destruct causing injury to the archer or anyone they hit.[/quote]

I’d suggest that archers have to inspect arrows before firing - potentially allowing them to pick an arrow up and inspect it before firing it back.

This also places the responsibility for an arrow being safe firmly on the archer who fires the arrow as opposed to some third party who checked the arrow was safe an hour prior to it being fired.[/quote]

This does lead quite often to the slippery slope of not checking properly in the heat of the battle. A better, safer policy is that you do not fire an arrow off the ground and you do not fire an arrow you have not personally checked before the battle and before firing.

#15

A potential additional benefit is that with ammunition being more limited it would encourage archers to be very considered with each and every shot.

#16

[quote=“Walter Hamer”][quote=“Xaosist”][quote=“Derek”]I recommend that arrows are inspected before every battle and not fired more than once after inspection.

If the shaft has any kind of fracture at all they can self destruct causing injury to the archer or anyone they hit.[/quote]

I’d suggest that archers have to inspect arrows before firing - potentially allowing them to pick an arrow up and inspect it before firing it back.

This also places the responsibility for an arrow being safe firmly on the archer who fires the arrow as opposed to some third party who checked the arrow was safe an hour prior to it being fired.[/quote]

This does lead quite often to the slippery slope of not checking properly in the heat of the battle. A better, safer policy is that you do not fire an arrow off the ground and you do not fire an arrow you have not personally checked before the battle.[/quote]

An arrow you have checked an hour earlier may still not be fit to fire, especially if you have fallen to the ground landing on your quiver or had a heavy blow strike your arrows/quiver.

#17

Added “and before firing,” though some trust in ones equipment is acceptable (e.g. if you check it before battle and do not fall over, you can trust that the arrows haven’t disintegrated in the time before you fire them).

#18

Yep. I’ve done a lot of SCA archery combat and they have the following rules: lochac.sca.org/marshal/docs/kolch2.pdf - many aren’t relevant but a lot of them are.

[i]4.4 The Use of Weapons

  1. Arrows shall be used only after inspection supervised by a marshal. Archers shall be responsible for re–checking the safety of their arrows at the time of use.

  2. Arrows may not be picked up from the field and immediately re–used. (No field inspections are allowed.) In resurrection battles arrows should be collected by all “dead” combatants returning to the resurrection point, where they will be re–inspected off the field prior to use. If an archer falls on the quiver, or spills arrows, they shall be re–inspected under the supervision of a marshal, off the field prior to use.

  3. A bow or quiver which has been struck by missile fire cannot be used for the remainder of the battle. All arrows or the bow must be checked under the supervision of a marshal prior to use in another scenario.

  4. Missile combatants may not have both inspected and non–inspected missiles in the same quiver or hand. In this case, ALL missiles shall be re–inspected under the supervision of a marshal, prior to use.

  5. Darts, javelins and throwing axes may be picked up, field inspected, and immediately re–used.

  6. Only missile combatants, both non–contact and full–contact, shall discharge missile weapons.

  7. No one may shoot a non–approved missile from his or her bow. Such use may be considered grounds for removing a combatant from the field. The combatant may be subject to further disciplinary action.

  8. Bows may not be used to strike an opponent, nor may they be used as a shield against rattan weapons. (However, non–contact combat archers may protect themselves from attack if necessary.)

  9. Thrusting with any weapon while running is prohibited.

  10. Grasping or trapping the blade or striking surface of an opponent’s weapon against your body is not permitted. However it is acceptable to grasp or trap the haft of an opponent’s weapon with a properly armoured hand, weapon or shield.

  11. Bracing polearms or spears against the ground or other immovable objects is prohibited. Cupping the butt of a polearm or spear in the palm of the hand is also prohibited.

  12. Non Contact Missile combatants may carry a light buckler up to 250mm in diameter, or equivalent surface area, for warding off missiles.

  13. Bucklers are prohibited in mixed combat scenarios to minimise the risk of mistaking the bearer for a full–contact combatant.

  14. Non Contact Missile combatants may place a pavis on the field for warding off missiles.

  15. In mixed scenarios where pavises are used, the Marshal in Charge will announce to all combatants before the start of the battle, that pavises will be used.[/i]

#19

Even ignoring the safety aspects, picking up and firing an arrow from the ground doesn’t make sense, because most of the time that arrow won’t be there IC; it’ll be embedded in something/someone, rather than having bounced off whatever it hit.

#20

I think that the in game physical location of objects is generally accepted to be the same as the out of game location :smiley: