Weapons Check Guidelines

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We’ve used Profound Decisions’ weapon safety rules as a basis for our own, with some minor development to suit Winter in the Willows events. We’d like to thank them for giving us their permission and their support.

These are weapons that are used to physically hit other players and therefore they must adhere to a set of rigorous standards. For a sword or similar weapon there should be at least 6 mm of foam on a non-hitting surface, and at least 12 mm of foam on a hitting surface. For wood-effect staffs there should still be 6 mm of foam from the interior of a groove to the core. Axes, hammers and pole arms may use less dense foam to form the edge of the hitting surface

A melee weapon will fail if:

• The weapon core is working through the tip, pommel or side of a weapon.
• The weapon core is no longer stuck to the surrounding foam.
• There is insufficient or compacted foam on the tip, guard, pommel or haft of a weapon.
• The weapon has protruding hard or sharp bits such as studs or gems.
• The weapon core is made of an inappropriate material such as aluminium, wood, bamboo.
• The weapon core is too thin for the length of the weapon making the weapon being too flexible and “whippy”.
• The density of the foam used in the weapon is too low to provide sufficient padding from the core of the weapon.

These are weapons that are specifically designed to be thrown. You must not throw normal melee weapons.

A throwing weapon will fail if:

• The weapon has any hard areas.
• The weapon has any hard protrusions that could enter an eye socket.
• The weapon contains any detectable rigid core.
• The weapon is too heavy and would have too much momentum.

Cultures that are allowed claws must have phys-reps that are at least 10 cm (4 inches) long and conform to the melee weapon rules.

Smaller claw phys-reps below 10cm can be worn for decoration, but must not be used as weapons.

The claw length is measured from either the tip of the fingers or the knuckles, depending on which type of claws they are.

Claws will fail if:

• They are less than 4” in length from the knuckle or finger-tip of the user. (To make sure you hit people with something soft.)
• They are not securely fixed to the wielder’s hands/ forearms (to make sure you know where the claws are in relation to the hand so you hit people with something soft.)
• They are overly rigid, dependant on length. (To make sure you don’t end up with no give in the strike.)
• They are overly flexible, depending on length. (To make sure you know where the claws are in relation to the hand so you hit people with something soft.)
• Any foam is delaminating, exposing any core. (to make sure you hit people with something soft.)
• Any foam has degraded making it too soft and thus exposing any core. (to make sure you hit people with something soft.)
• The foam used for construction is too soft and thus exposing any core. (to make sure you hit people with something soft.)
• Any core must be securely fixed to the foam used. (So the foam doesn’t spin allowing you to strike with a less padded section, or fall off the core entirely.)
• Any tip reinforcement should not project through the foam. (A hard area can hurt.)

In addition, please make sure the player can demonstrate how to fight safely with claws:

• As with any weapon, strikes should be once per second.
• Strikes should be made horizontally rather than vertically.
• The player should avoid body-checking the target; or attempting to fight around shields.
• The player should be careful with charging – with claw fighting you need to get in close and there’s more risk of injury.
• If using a gloved style, mention that fingers can break when attached to long levers (claws) and they hit a solid target (people).

Weapons Checkers: Your common sense should always be the final call!

These are bows or crossbows designed to fire an LRP safe arrow or bolt. You should check that the archer has basic competency and (in particular) understands to regularly check their arrows.

We require any player using a bow or crossbow to adhere to the same standards of safety and control as players using melee weapons.

A bow or crossbow will fail if:

• The string is frayed.
• The wood is cracked.
• The string is working loose from the notches.
• The draw of a bow is in excess of 30 lbs at 28” draw.
• The catch of a crossbow is worn.

As well as checking before the start of the event, we recommend that you check these after each use, as they may have become damaged.

An arrow or bolt will fail if:

• The impact end of the arrow or bolt has insufficient padding at the point of impact.
• The stave is constructed of an inappropriate material such as dowel.
• If the stave is made of fibreglass that is flaking.
• There is any gaffa tape within 1” of the face.
• The padding on the point of impact is smaller than an eye socket.
• The metal head has not been removed.
• There is no proper nock, or the nock is damaged or missing.
• The stave is not securely bonded to the head.
• Inadequate flights that cause it to fly unpredictably.