3.6. Grappling is allowed.
3.6.1. Combatants may initiate Grapples with opponents according to the following rules.
3.6.1.1. A Combatant wearing no Armor may Grapple all opponents.
3.6.1.2. A Combatant wearing Leather Armor may Grapple any Armored opponent, but not unarmored opponents.
3.6.1.3. A Combatant wearing Chain Armor may Grapple opponents wearing Chain or Plate Armor.
3.6.1.4. A Combatant wearing plate Armor may not initiate a Grapple.
3.6.2. A Combatant wearing plastic safety equipment is treated as leather Armor for grappling purposes only.
3.6.3. No throws, unarmed strikes, or joint/nerve holds.
3.6.4. Combatants with Missile Weapons (Type 4, bow/arrows) may not initiate Grapples or be Grappled.
Above are all of the BOW rules on Grappling. Below are comments in the War Council forum by veterans who should know the rules. These are excerpts from the "Archers and Blocking Shots" discussion thread.
Forkbeard wrote:I feel that grabbing other peoples weapons is a part of grapling.
Xooyan wrote:I tend to agree with Forkbeard. Grabbing an opponent's weapon is grappling,
I am posting this here as I have never heard someone define grabbing an opponent's weapon haft as grappling, but haven't been on a Belegarth field outside of Pelargir.
So I toss the question out to the rules gurus here - is grabbing a weapon shaft or haft grappling or not? I am NOT asking about grabbing the weapon as a prelude to pulling the person in to grab control of their body or limbs - I know grabbing the person is grappling (and in my mind is the definition of grappling).
What are your thoughts or opinions on this question?