Melee Weapons (Knives, Swords, fluffy animals)

Knives made of foam, rubber or cardboard, plastic knives with retractable blades, pens with lids (not metal) and without a metal barrel or sharp ends, may be used as knives. Anything which is not very obviously a knife should be labelled "KNIFE". Please do not use anything very pointy, and be careful with anything slightly pointy. Be extra-careful when throwing knives.

Arbitrary objects may not be turned into weapons simply by writing "KNIFE" on them; this may only be done to vaguely knife-shaped objects. No metal objects including cutlery knives may ever be used as knives.

Plastic or cardboard swords may be used as swords; cardboard ones must be labelled "SWORD". Toy lightsabers may also be used. Rolled-up newspapers or cardboard poster tubes are coshes, not swords.

Latex LARP swords and knives (or other LARP weapons, not including LARP bows or crossbows) may be used if they are labelled very clearly, and you bring them to the Umpire so that he can check that they are safe, and that you can pull your blows correctly.

In the interests of safety, with all melee weapons, you should be careful to avoid attacks of a stabbing nature (particularly with LARP weapons) and should never aim for the head. Remember that this is a game of subtlety rather than combat.

Fluffy animals may be used as attack animals as long as they are labelled, "ATTACK ANIMAL", "KILLER RABBIT" (think Monty Python), etc. Ideally all attack animals should be presented to the Umpire first as he likes to see what embarrassing fluffy animals Players keep in their rooms. Be creative with ways to use them, but if you wish to try something unconventional, then check with the Umpire beforehand.