ARMORED COMBAT WITH REBATED STEEL WEAPONS (STEEL COMBAT)

  • GENERAL
    • There will be NO War Point for Armored Steel Combat.
    • One marshal’s tent will be set up near the main battlefield for Steel
      Combat and shared with the Harnischfechten Experiment.
    • A List Field near the Steel Marshals’ Tent shall be designated. A safety
      zone shall be marked on the ground.
    • Any Steel Combat Marshal authorized by any participating Kingdom MAY
      act as a Steel Marshal at Pennsic 53.
    • A Steel Combat Marshal MUST be present during all Steel Combat
      activity.
    • A Marshal in Training may act as List Marshal under the supervision of an
      Authorized Steel Marshal.
  • HARNISCHFECHTEN EXPERIMENT
    • The SCA Harnischfechten Experiment will continue to run co-located with
      the Armored Steel Combat and will share the listfield when appropriate marshals
      are present except during scheduled tournaments.
    • Participants MUST be in the authorized Participants List as per the
      Experiment’s Rules and the Rules of the SCA. Any authorized Harnischfechten
      Experiment Participant may participate at Pennsic within the rules established for
      the Experiment.
    • All participants in the Harnischfechten Experiment MUST file a report for
      each and every day in which they participate. .
    • All Harnischfechten activities will be as per the published rules available
      via the SCA website.
  • SCHEDULE
    • The schedule will be posted in the Thing and is subject to change. The
      Steel Combat List Field MAY be open during ad hoc hours as needed.
    • The Steel Combat area may be closed at certain times due to weather,
      lack of attendees, or during major battles, at the Steel Marshal in Charge’s
      discretion.
    • At 10:00 AM on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, the Second Known World
      Harnischfechten Deed of Arms will be held. Rules and details will be posted.
    • At 3 PM on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 the Third Known World Armored Steel Combat tournament will be held. Rules and details will be posted.
  • ARMOR AND WEAPONS STANDARDS
    • All participants in SCA Steel Combat activity must meet Society-minimum
      armor standards as determined by the current version of the “Armoured Combat
      with Rebated Blades (Armoured Steel Combat) Marshal’s Handbook” available
      on the SCA website. All fighters will ensure that their armor meets those
      standards while they are fighting. The Marshals reserve the right to ban any
      weapon or armor, even if it would be legal in another kingdom. Any unusual or
      non-standard armor or weapons will be brought to the attention of the Marshals
      before they will be allowed to be used. Decisions of the Marshal-in-Charge are
      final.
  • ARMOR AND WEAPON INSPECTION
    • All armor and weapons must pass inspection before they may be used in
      any Steel Combat at Pennsic War 53. Inspections will be performed at the Steel
      Marshals’ Tent or adjacent to it.
  • GENERAL COMBAT CONVENTIONS
    • SCA Steel Combat rules are specific and restrictive in the types of
      combat allowed. Steel Combat at Pennsic 53 will adhere to these rules.
    • Practice and training bouts may be fought with or without all four judges,
      but a List Marshal must still be active.
  • THE FOLLOWING RULES AND CONVENTIONS SPECIFIC TO PENNSIC ARE IN EFFECT
    • Fighters from kingdoms where SCA Steel Combat has not yet been
      approved MAY participate in Steel Combat at Pennsic provided they adhere to all
      Society rules for such and these Pennsic Conventions including the following:
    • Fighters may participate in training against an authorized Steel
      Marshal and under the direct supervision of that or another Steel Marshal.
      A Steel MIT may participate in this training as long as an authorized Steel
      Marshal is supervising.
    • Fighters may get temporary authorizations for the duration of the
      current Pennsic War. This is done at the discretion of the Pennsic
      Armored Steel Combat Marshal or designated deputy.
    • Authorizations for Armored Steel Combat MAY be conducted at Pennsic as time and list field availability allows. This is to be done as per the fighter’s Kingdom policies and with Steel Marshals from that Kingdom.
    • Pennsic will provide at least one designated list field for Steel Combat use. If that field is not the exact size described in the SCA Steel Combat handbook, fair effort will be made to delineate the boundaries and safety zone to match the size of the field available.
  • PENNSIC WAR 53 SPECIFIC STANDARDS
    • There are no changes in effect.