The rules of the Blood Games are designed to allow for fast and furious interaction, while keeping a level of simplicity necessary for an annual event where LARPers from many games will be participating.  Combat is based on established boffer fighting conventions with which most players should be quite familiar.  Please use common sense and common courtesy in the application of all rules for the Blood Games.  At all times, remember that the purpose of being at the event is to have fun! As you might expect, the primary rule is Safety First!  We expect all participants to be on their best behavior in terms of safety in battle.  If you see someone in a potentially dangerous situation, use the call “Caution” to warn the other player, and give them a chance to disengage. Physical contact between players, other than by weapon as defined in the combat rules, is allowed by consent only.  Do not charge into players, do not pin their weapons, do not grab their clothing, and so on.  If you see someone breaking this No-Contact Rule, politely inform them.  If a problem persists, seek out a Blood Games official.

Overview

The details of the rules can be read in the appropriate sections.  However, this Overview is all you need to know to play.

• Your character has a number of Body Points (BP), generally ranging from 1 to 8.

• If you are struck with any type of weapon, you take 1 point of damage.

• Head, groin, and hands are not legal targets, and you take no damage from weapon hits there.

• No matter how many times the same weapon strikes you within one second, you only take 1 point of damage from it per second.

• When you reach 0 BP, you fall Stunned.

• You regain 1 BP per 5 full minutes of uninterrupted relaxation.

• Your character has one or more Life Tokens.

• If you are Stunned, your Life Tokens and magic items can be taken from you by anyone who asks and spends 10 seconds by your side.

• When you have lost your Life Token, you are a spirit who cannot take part in any combat actions or competitions. You must go to the Blood Games office to receive a new Life Token.

• A yellow triangle designates a Safe Ward, within which no combat may take place, nor may any Life Tokens or magic items be taken.

• Special Weapon Attacks are called out with the hit, and replace the 1 point of damage an attack usually does.

• Spells require an incantation and then a thrown packet.  The spell takes effect if the packet strikes a target, including carried equipment.  The spell effect is called out at the end of the spell incantation.

• Special Weapon Attacks and Spells may be used once per battle for each time you possess that skill.  Uninterrupted relaxation for 5 minutes restores your ability to use that Special Weapon Attack or Spell again.

• Special Effects:

• Damage – must strike a legal target.  Called out as “X damage”

• Disarm – must strike a weapon.  Immediately drop the weapon struck

• Healing – restores BP.  Called out as “X Healing”

• Maim – must strike a limb.  Limb cannot be used until 5 minutes of rest

• Remedy Maim – removes Maim effect immediately

• Remedy Repel – removes Repel effect immediately

• Remedy Root – removes Root effect immediately

• Remedy Shatter – repairs Shattered object immediately

• Remedy Stun – removes Stun effect immediately

• Repel – cannot approach caster within 10’ until 5 minutes of rest

• Resistance – can call out “Resist” to avoid one special effect

• Root – cannot move feet until 5 minutes of rest

• Shatter – must strike a weapon or shield.  5 minutes of rest to repair

• Stun – must strike the torso.  Fall prone, can take no actions for 5 minutes

Once you are in game, you will find the rules easy to follow.  If you ever have a question, simply ask any other player for “Clarification”.  Actually creating a character with appropriate skills may be the hardest task for a new player, but you will be able to get plenty of assistance and suggestions from us (e-mail register@thebloodgames.com), or at check-in.