Schedule for the Historic Combat Series event held at Pennsic XXXIII.
Results and a short summary are now available.
 

Pas du Dragon Noir
There are no appearance requirements to participate in this combat. The Pas du Dragon Noir (Passage of Armes of the Black Dragon) will be a 15th century Burgundian style pas, in the tradition of Jaques de Lalaing's pas "The Passage of the Fountain of Tears." A combatant who is driven from the list, falls to the ground, or drops their weapon will have lost. Challenges maybe offered with pollaxe, long sword, dagger or spear. Matched weapons will be provided.

Combats With Longswords (2 handed Swords)
There are no appearance requirements to participate in this combat. In the tradition of Liechtenauer and Fiore we offer combats with the longsword (matched weapons will be provided).

Either a single elimination or round robin style format will be used depending upon number of attendee's.

Judicial Combats
There are no appearance requirements to participate in this combat. Recreation the judicial combats of the western Europe focusing on the German tradition as shown in the manuals. Combatants start with a spear, longsword and dagger. Matched weapons will be provided.

Either a single elimination or round robin style format will be used depending upon number of attendee's.

Combats with Pollaxes
There are no appearance requirements to participate in this combat. In the tradition of Le Jeu de La Hache, Talhoffer, and Ringeck we offer combats with the pollaxe (matched weapons will be provided).

Either a single elimination or round robin style format will be used depending upon number of attendee's.

Sword & Buckler Combats
There are no appearance requirements to participate in this combat. Only bucklers 20 inches and under may be used. (Matched pairs of bucklers will be available)
A solid blow to any legal target area is considered incapacitating.
Anyone who cannot recover a dropped weapon before their opponent can touch them with his sword has lost
Anyone who falls and cannot recover before their opponent can touch them with his sword has lost

Either a single elimination or round robin style format will be used depending upon number of attendee's.

Plate and Mail Tourney

   Entry requirements
Must be attempting to do a portrayal of a pre 1600 warrior wearing predominately steel armour (mild, stainless, spring etc. are all acceptable). No exposed plastic. Even nicely covered plastic doesn't count as plate. (Completely hidden plastic to reinforce mail - I'll ask you why you didn't use leather, but it is acceptable).
Predominately steel armour is defined as a historically appropriate steel body harness, helm, elbows, and knees, as well as steel covering two of the four following areas: upper arm, lower arm, upper leg, and lower leg. (A long body harness, such as a mail haurberk will count as covering the upper legs if of sufficient length). (A predominately steel harness is most common in Europe, from 1050 on, but certainly other cultures did wear them. If you think there may be questions concerning the historical appropriateness of your armour, feel free to bring documentation).

   Combat Conventions for the Tourney
Armour as Worn with Counted blows received.

   Blow Standards
Mail gets three, transitional plate and mail mix gets five, rich folks with the Maximilian plate get 7. Judges reserve the right to grant an extra blow for a particularly nice portrayal (documentation is a plus).
Anyone receiving a blow or thrust to a body part not covered by steel immediately loses.
Blows from one handed swords do not have to be counted if they strike a steel covered area.

Anyone receiving a thrust or blow to an open faced (bar grilled for safety) helm immediately loses.
Anyone receiving a thrust to a helm that has a period appropriate grilled visor (a grilled great bascinet for example) counts as a blow.
A dropped weapon does not stop the fight.

Whoever falls and cannot recover before their opponent can touch them with his weapon has lost.

Anyone who is driven from the list has lost.

"As Real Men Fought" (Period Victory Conditions Tourney)
There are no appearance requirements to participate in this combat. The purpose of this tournament is to focus on period methods for determining victory in a bout. This will be done through rules taken from period tournaments of the 14th and 15th century and modern rules used to simulate a period victory condition. Combatants will be assumed to be wearing late 14th century armour with either an open faced or close face helm depending upon what the combatant is actually wearing.

Either a double elimination or round robin style format will be used depending upon number of attendee's.

Period rules:
Anyone who is driven from the list has lost.
Anyone who falls with 3 points to the ground has lost (knee, knee, hand for example)
A dropped weapon does not stop the fight.
A combatant may yield at any time.

Modern rules:
Anyone receiving a thrust to an open faced helm has lost