Trickster
True KMC Jester
The Rules
These rules are probably known elsewhere under a different name, as I learnt them somewhere else, but forgot the name. Undoubtedly there will be some changes since I have found other versions, but these will be small.
An entire combat sequence will take a designated number of posts, represented as ?/?/?. The three posts are each a different part of the combat;
The first section is the introduction post or posts. Usually these posts are simply posing, descriptions of characters, descriptions of weapons, etc. Usually this will only be one post, but sometimes more.
The second section is the bulk of the combat, the actual fighting, until the put down. Usually this section is the largest in the combat(though not always), consisting of, in a short fight, maybe only two posts.
The third, and final section, is the kill post, or put down. This is the only section in the sequence where any godmodding is allowed. Each player writes how they win the combat, and this is usually what is the deciding feature in a fight.
The winner of a fight is decided by judges(in this case from The Tavern, or anyone who joins in). The decision should be based on the style and proficiency of the writer. Also it should be partly judged on sportsmanship - for instance if someone continously swears or refuses to allow themselves to be hurt, that person should not win on style - unless their opponent is also doing that, or is using stupid attacks. One rule is that any god-modders automatically lose a fight, unless players agree beforehand that it's okay(boring, though).
So players should agree in the Tavern what sort of fight it's to be, by numbers. A small fight would be 1/2/1. I'll do an example below.
The two players, James and Simon, are facing each other in the pit. They start with their first post, the intro post. Simon is in italics.
James stood in the En Garde post, his eyes firmly locked on Simon, broadsword in hand
"Come on, brother. We meet finally, face to face."
Simon smiled back at him, his rapier held loosely by his side,
"Think you've got what it takes? Why don't you come for me, then?"
Main combat posts
Snarling, James lunged at Simon, trying to rivet the point of his blade firmly in his brother's heart.
Surprised by the ferocity of the attack, Simon fell back, almost being skewered by the broadsword as he dodged. His own weapon slashed upward, in a slash at the exposed underside of James' arm.
The blade cut up in a long line through James' tunic, and he whipped his arm back in pain as the blood blossomed along his tunic. Giving up any element of honour, he hurled his blade at Simon, then threw himself into a rough tackle, trying to take his opponent down.
Just suceeding in stopping the broadsword from hitting him, Simon's world suddenly collapsed as he fell to the ground in a jumble of limbs. As he fell, his head hit of the surface of the pit floor, and his vision began swimming. He managed to throw a punch at the side of James' head, though.
Put Down
James rolled off Simon, his last punch having disconcerted him somewhat. He aimed a vicous kick to his brother's head, and then, seeing he was unconcious, dragged him to the trench, where he rolled him in.
Simon, after a brief struggle, managed to throw off his brother, rolling on top of him, then started raining punches on his head. The older brother put up his hands in defence, but Simon easily beat the pitiful strength out of him, and scrabbling over to his sword, demanded a surrender. James put up his hands, and the fight was over.
Okay, that's an example with no clear winner, but that's only because I was writing against myself. The reason it was quite vicous was because it was a scene from a story I'm writing... 😉
Any questions, please ask!