Class 4 Weapon
A Class 4 Weapon, also known as a yellow weapon, is a missile weapon that is either loosed from the hand, in the case of javelins, or shot by a bow or crossbow, in the case of arrows and bolts. All armor, except for the helmet, is bypassed by these weapons.
Javelins are also Class 3 Weapons.
Specifications
4.9.7. Javelins must conform to all of the following:
- 4.9.7.1. Must also pass as a Class 3 weapon.
- 4.9.7.2. The maximum weight is sixteen (16) ounces (453.6 g).
- 4.9.7.3. The minimum length is four (4) feet (1.22 m).
- 4.9.7.4. The maximum length is seven (7) feet (2.13 m).
- 4.9.7.5. Must have courtesy padded along the entire length.
- 4.9.7.6. Must flex less than ninety (90) degrees. This is an exception to rule 4.6.
- 4.9.7.7. Must have a yellow cover on the striking surface of the weapon.
- 4.9.8.1. Arrows and bolts must conform to the stated arrow construction requirements and are exempt from non-arrow weapon construction requirements.
- 4.9.8.2. Compound bows or compound crossbows are not allowed.
- 4.9.8.3. Bows may not have any dangerous protrusions, such as metal post arrow rests, or mechanical modifications such as sights, stabilizers, or releases.
- 4.9.8.4. The maximum poundage allowed on a bow is thirty-five (35) lbs (15.88 kg) pull at twenty-eight (28) inches (71.12 cm) of draw.
- 4.9.8.5. The maximum poundage allowed on a crossbow is fifteen (15) lbs (6.80 kg) at its loaded draw.
- 4.9.8.6. A draw stop is required and must effectively stop an arrow from being drawn more than twenty-eight (28) inches (71.12 cm). It should protrude at least one-fourth (¼) of an inch (6.4 mm) away from the arrow shaft.
- 4.9.8.6.1. If the base of the head of an arrow prevents the archer from drawing beyond 28 inches (71.12 cm) the head of the arrow acts as the draw stop.
- 4.9.8.7. Arrow/bolt striking surfaces may not easily pass more than one-half (½) inch (1.27 cm) through a two and one-half (2 ½) inch (6.35 cm) diameter hole. No part of the arrow/bolt’s striking surface may be less than two and one-half (2 ½) inches (6.35 cm) in any direction.
- 4.9.8.8. All arrows/bolts must contain a penny, or solid metal blunt of an equivalent gauge and circumference, perpendicularly secured at the end of the shaft.
- 4.9.8.8.1. All arrows/bolts using modular technology must create a semi-permanent connection point through the means of threaded screws, epoxy, glue, or strapping tape; the head must be secondarily secured at the end of the shaft with tape.
- 4.9.8.8.2. All arrows/bolts that are altered in any way during a day of combat will be treated as new arrows/bolts and must be rechecked as such before being put back into use.
- 4.9.8.9. The arrows/bolts striking surface must be constructed of open-cell foam.
- 4.9.8.10. All arrows/bolts must have at least two full fletchings.
- 4.9.8.11. The striking surface of an arrow/bolts must be free of tape.
- 4.9.8.12. The arrowhead should not have excess axial or lateral movement and must be secured at the end of the shaft in such a way that they will not come off if firmly twisted or firmly pulled.
Combat
3.5.4. Class 4 (missile) weapons cause one hit to a target area and bypass all armor except head armor. A Class 4 weapon striking an armored portion of the head area causes no hit. 3.5.7. A Class 1 or Class 2 weapon cannot also be a Class 4 or 5 weapon. 3.7.2.7.1. Limbs injured with Class 3 or Class 4 weapons do not count towards the two-limb death total. 3.7.5. Subsequent hits to the same location:
- 3.7.5.1. All subsequent hits with Class 3 or 4 weapon on the same target area previously injured only by a Class 3 or 4 weapon are ignored.
- 3.7.5.4. A target area disabled by a Class 3 or 4 weapon that is subsequently hit by a class 1 or 2 weapon is then considered to be disabled by a Class 1 or 2 weapon.
3.13. Missile Weapon Conventions:
- 3.13.2. A half draw or throw for Class 4 weapons under a range of 20 feet is required.
- 3.13.2.1. Half draw is defined as drawing back the bow only so far such that it imparts no more than half the force to the arrow than a normal full draw. This distance and pull will vary due to variances in bow design.
- 3.13.2.2. Half throw is defined as drawing back the javelin only so far such that it imparts no more than half the force of a normal full throw.
- 3.13.3. A missile weapon must travel its entire length to score a hit.
- 3.13.5. A missile weapon is considered to have hit if there is significant deflection of the missile head (greater than 30 degrees). Once the missile head has significantly deflected, the missile is rendered harmless until retrieved and fired again.
- 3.13.9. When in doubt, the target makes the hit determination for missile weapons.
- 3.13.10. Blocking Missiles.
- 3.13.10.1. All rocks and javelins may be blocked by any means that keeps the missile away from a target area.
- 3.13.10.2. An arrow or bolt may only be blocked by a shield. An arrow or bolt blocked by a weapon is considered to have continued to travel in the same direction and strike the target area immediately behind the weapon.
- 3.13.10.3. Intentional blocking of an arrow or bolt with anything but a shield causes death to the blocker. This includes attempting to swat arrows or bolts out of the air using weapons or limbs.
Standard Types
Popular Use
Class 4 weapons are quite common on the Belegarth field. Javelins are most commonly thrown from one shield wall into another in hopes of catching an opponent off guard. Javelins are rarely used alone, and usually accompany a sword and board fighter. Archers tend to stay behind a shield wall and either lob shots over the wall, or take more precise shots by utilizing the holes in a friendly shield wall to line up a shot with an opponent on the other side.