Arrow

From the Rulebook

Includes bolts and any other similar items.

NOTE: Improperly constructed or maintained arrows can pose a serious safety hazard. Before building your first arrows take the time to study an online construction tutorial or practice with an experienced player.

General

1. Must strike point-first to score a hit.
2. Affects all targets struck while in motion.
3. Hits from arrows are Armor Breaking.
4. Hits from arrows are Weapon Destroying.
5. Must be clearly labeled with their owner's name.
6. Arrows without labels are not allowed on the field.
   • Using arrows without labels can result in immediate suspension from the field.
   • Broken or poorly mended arrows are not to be used.
7. Like any other equipment, arrows may only be used by their owner unless the owner grants specific permission for another player to use their arrows.
   • The owner of an arrow is responsible for the safety of the arrow even if fired by another player.
   • Specialty arrows may never be shared.
8. Swinging at an arrow in flight is illegal.
   • Arrows may only be passively blocked by placing an object in the flight path.

Shafts

The shaft of the arrow or bolt is the stick portion to which the head is affixed.

1. Must be carbon, aluminum, or fiberglass.
2. Any real arrowheads or hunting tips must be removed.
3. Shafts must have a drawstop preventing drawing the arrow past 28", unless the shaft is already shorter than this length. This is measured from the inside of the nock where the string rests to the draw stop.
4. The nock and any vanes/fletching present must be in good repair.
5. The orientation of vanes/fletchings (or the lack thereof) must not cause chaotic or unpredictable flight.

Blunts

The blunt is the reinforced tip of the shaft upon which the striking portion, the arrow head, will be constructed.

1. All blunts must be solidly built, stiff enough to carry anticipated loads without excessive deformation, and able to support typical Amtgard archery impacts repeatedly without failure or degradation.
2. The end of the shaft must be securely capped with a circular, impact-resistant disc at least 1" in diameter.
   • The disc must be centered over the end of the shaft.
   • If a metal disc is used, it must be at least 1/16" steel or equivalent.
   • Discs of any other material must be durable, impact-resistant, and at least 1/4" thick.
3. The blunt must then be further built up to at least 1.5" in diameter. The non-disc portion of the blunt can be constructed from any material, including foam, so long as it ensures that the foam arrowhead built upon it is not able to move easily in relation to the shaft. This includes but is not limited to: plunging up and down, wobbling from side to side, twisting-without return, etc.
4. The entire blunt can be a single unit (such as a 3D-printed piece) as long as the resulting structure is equivalent or safer than the above requirements.

Heads

The arrow head is the Strike-Legal portion at the end of an arrow or bolt, after the blunt.

1. There must be at least a 2" depth of foam in front of the blunt that has a 2” or greater circular cross section.
2. The foam immediately in front of the blunt must not deform around the arrow shaft or blunt on impact.
3. Any additional foam used to meet the 2" depth requirement should be chosen with the goal of making the arrow as safe and comfortable to be struck by as possible, specifically in regards to accidental strikes to the face and eyes.
4. For flat-faced arrowheads, the physical striking surface of the arrowhead must include at least 1" foam with a circular diameter of 2.5".
5. Domed arrowheads are allowed but must not pass more than 1” through a 2.5” ring. (For example, a 2.75" diameter hemisphere would meet this requirement.)

Covers

1. The striking surface of the arrow must be covered in a durable, opaque cloth. Cloth tape may not be used on the striking surface.
2. Non-striking surfaces may be covered in nonabrasive cloth tape instead of cloth.
   • Duct tape may not be used as a cover.
3. Specialty Arrows must be covered with the appropriate color.
   • Properly colored strips may be affixed to the shaft in lieu of colored head covers. These strips must be clearly visible from at least 20' away and not impact the safe use of the arrow.
   • Covers for regular arrows must be a color or combination of colors that cannot be reasonably mistaken for a specialty arrow.
   • The colors reserved for specialty arrows are: Red, Yellow, Green, Purple, and Gray.
     Rulebook 8.6.3

See Also

Specialty Arrows

Specialty Arrows which strike a player or object can have various effects.

1. Players may only bring a number of Specialty Arrows on to the battlefield equal to the maximum uses allowed to them. Likewise, players may also only carry up to that amount at any given time.
   • Owners of Specialty Arrows may grant other players permission to carry their Specialty Arrows in order to return them to the owner or to the owner’s base, but may not grant anyone else permission to use them.
2. Specialty Arrows must be fired alone.
3. Incantations for Specialty Arrows must be said immediately prior to firing, and said loudly and clearly enough to be heard within 50’.
4. All Specialty Arrow incantations are treated as Ambulant but do not require the statement of "Ambulant" before their incantation.
5. Properly cast Specialty Arrows count as a normal hit from an arrow to the location struck in addition to their listed effects.
   Rulebook 8.6.3

Types of Specialty Arrows

• Destruction Arrow
• Pinning Arrow
• Poison Arrow
• Suppression Arrow
• Phase Arrow

Other Related Rules

• Combat Rules
• Armor
• Weapons
• Weapon Types, Shields, and Equipment
• Equipment Checking

Links

• Combat Arrows by Thorne
• Video on Arrow Making by Raphael
• Quick and Easy Arrows by Vaargarrd
• Arrow Making by Thorne
• Assembly of Caliston Armory Arrow Kits Tutorial ~Fitz
• Quiet's Arrow Making Tutorial