The Herofest LARP combat system is a simple locational hit system.  All characters when LARPing have the same number of locations; 5 – body, both arms and both legs.  The head is normally not a viable location for LARP combat and has no effect on the character when struck; this is to discourage head hits.  The only time when the head is a viable location is when a character uses a shield in combat; for these purposes the head will have one hit.  Therefore, you should only use a shield if you are prepared to be hit on the head, if you would prefer not to be hit on the head, then do not use a shield.  Shield users are advised to wear an in character LARP helmet.  However, players should still try and avoid head hits where there is a viable alternative target. 

Each time that you are struck you lose your one hit and that location stops working; multiple hits on a location do no further damage.  You should role-play the fact that the struck location no longer works (i.e. do not use the struck limb, or hop on the non damaged leg or leave the damaged arm dangling by your side).  If both legs are struck you are unable to do anything other than seek healing of some kind.  This also applies if your body or head (Shield users) is struck.  Details on how to recover the use of your limbs and how they can be made better are covered in the LARP Healing Section.

When fighting in live role playing, there should be at least a full second between each blow/strike with the weapon, regardless of how many LARP weapons you are using.  There should be no “drum rolling” or swift strikes with weapons and each blow should be aimed at a different location.  The Herofest LARP system encourages good role-playing whilst fighting and effective parrying and striking.  There will always be the opportunity to practice weapon fighting and different styles upon each Herofest event – this is completed both in and out of character. 

Everyone attending a Herofest LARP event should know how to fight in a safe manner, and we will demonstrate this at our New Player briefing, usually about 4pm on the Friday of the event.  In combat you must pull all your blows (pull back as you contact) so that they land with negligible force.  Thrusting with weapons is not permitted.

Fighting should only be conducted within the in-character areas and is not to take place around any of the Traders’ stalls, bar, toilets/showers or in characters’ tents.  Any character that has fallen over in combat should be given the chance to crawl out of the way of the melee (if they wish).

Our fighting system is a trust based system; We trust all of our players to own up to the hits they have received, and role play their effects suitably.