by Tiberius Claudius » Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:36 am
I would agree that intentionally striking hands is a * move because it can cause injury and we're here to have fun.
Faking to the head is a valid tactic IMO, but you really have to be careful to not get close or actually hit the head. I use it in conjunction with a stutter step or a stomp and an arm pump to get the opponent to flinch, usually opening up a sword arm or a hip. My sword never comes within a foot of the person's face though. If you strike a head unintentionally, I believe you should call yourself dead. If you're hitting it regularly then you need to stop.
And * OP: hitting weapons and shields w/ a pole arm is absolutely legal and a much-used tactic. Two man spear teams, or spear and s&B will often strike a shield on one side/corner to open a shot for their partner on the other. In fact, many a great spearman will tell you that unless you're dripping sweat you're not utilizing your spear correctly by bombarding the enemy with hits to their shield/legs to create an opening or force them to change position.
Xavier, I agree that shield edging someone in the face should be illegal, and it is a * move; very dangerous with heavy shields especially. The head isn't legal for anything other than a projectile. The only case I would allow head contact with a shield is with frontal planar contact, incidentally, when the intent is to hit someone's torso with the majority of the mass and move them.
Remy the Wroth wrote:Just don't call it boffing/boffering. That's not what we do. We fight. With swords. To the sorta-death. I can't stand it when someone says boffering. Plus is means sexin' in the UK.
RIP Surt, Adunakhor of Barad'dun