Crash Course to Antioch Laws

### Introduction/Clarification

Something to keep in mind is that there are two sets of standards that have to be met. There are the **game rules** (Codex of Fourth Law), which dictate how the game works in terms of combat and equipment standards/safety, and then the **Empire Standards** (outlined below) that must be met by Verditians.

There is much overlap because we've designed the game rules to reflect our policies. The idea behind the split is to accommodate a potential for non-Verditians to play with our game-rules.

### Armor Uniform Standards

Armor is classified in two ways: **Japanese** and **European** *(or non-Japanese)* armor.

* European armor kits are the only armor that can utilize natural steel as a final finish.
* Japanese armor-kits must be black. But are the only armors granted exceptions to otherwise disallowed practices in order to both promote their use and establish additional benefits to warriors who traverse the rank trials.
* M**etal**Armors cannot mix and match. **Either** your armor is black **or** it is natural steel.
	+ The only exception to this rule is in regards to a chainmail shirt. European armor kits may utilize a natural steel chain shirt while utilizing black-colored limbs/helms/etc.

### Leather Armor Standards

**What’s allowed:**

1. All leather must be black and not feature any color other than black.
	* Leather armor may be trimmed in Red if the user is a Knight, Champion, or Warlord.
	* Leather armor may be trimmed in Blue if the user is a Champion or Warlord.
	* Leather armor may be trimmed in gold/yellow if the user is a Warlord.
2. Leather Armor must be constructed from a hide/side/bend that is 12-14 ounces thick.
	* Helms however, specifically in the case of purchased ones, may be constructed from 12 ounce material.
3. Leather armor can only be used on your head, arms, neck, and legs.
	* No leather armor may be utilized as torso armor
		+ This includes armor that would be classified as leather-tier.

Black leather bracersBlack leather spauldersBlack leather greaves
### **Plate Armor Standards**

**What’s allowed:**

1. Metal armor can only be constructed from Steel Alloys and Titanium Alloys.
	1. Brass, Bronze, Copper, Gold, and Aluminum may be used for decoration upon steel armor, but never as the main armor material.
2. Metal armor must have a minimal thickness of 1.2mm
	1. Certain auxiliary pieces of armor may be as low as 0.9mm.
		1. Auxiliary pieces mean armor that is not the main defense.
			1. For example, armor that lays underneath free hanging armor pieces as a back-up protection.
			2. Additionally, certain armor items are always considered auxiliary armor.
3. Only members with a gold Antioch symbol may trim their armor in brass/copper. (Taichou and above)
	1. This policy is **only** for natural steel European armor.
4. Black metal armor can **only** be trimmed in a member’s rank seal.
	1. (Red for Knights, Blue for Champions, Yellow for Warlords)
	2. Vanguards may use green colored lacing on specific items under the samurai armor exceptions.

**What’s banned:**

1. Metal armor thinner than 1.2mm.

### **Chain Armor Standards**

**What’s allowed:**

1. Verdite only allows Steel Alloys and Titanium Alloys in chainmail construction.
2. Chainmail is classified in two ways: **High-Quality** and **Low-Quality**
	1. Low-Quality chainmail is armor constructed out of galvanized fencing wire or other low strength materials that hold a KSI strength less than 110. *(chances are, if you find it locally in commercial stores, it'll probably be low quality)*. It must conform to the following standards:
		1. 16swg (1.6mm) wire minimal
		2. No larger ID than 3/8"
	2. High-Quality chainmail is armor constructed out of high-carbon/tempered steel, tempered stainless, or strong grades of titanium. It must conform to the following standards:
		1. 18swg wire minimal
		2. 18swg **high-quality** wire can have no larger ID than 5/16”
		3. 16swg **high-quality** wire can have no larger ID than 3/8”
		4. When invoking the thinner wire allowances of high-grade, it is considered best practice to consult an administrative command member.
3. Scale armor is allowed, but subject to research and rejection. (scales have to follow the plate armor standards)
4. Chain armor for Japanese-kits must be black. European armor kits may utilize natural steel as a final finish.

**What’s banned:**

1. Ringmail armor.
2. Non- Iron, Steel, or Titanium alloys used as a main armor component. (Such as brass, copper, etc.)
3. Ring mesh armor (often referred to as sharkmail).

*See also: A Verditian's Guide to Chainmail*

### **Equipment Standards**

**What’s banned:**

1. Any weapon that does not have a black cover and black finishing tape.
	1. Exceptions to this are Kelm-Class weaponry and personal tsuka-ito schemes

**Frowned upon:**

1. While not explicitly banned, coreless tower shields are generally considered a weak spot in the verdish line. They tend to be easier to break and manipulate with pole-arm attacks.

### **Garb Standards**

1. Garb must resemble one of the garb pathways from the Law and Concept.
2. A Verdish tabard is always worn over garb when in combat or representing your chapter, unless the member has earned a tabard alternative.

**What’s allowed:**

1. **Black garb only**.
	1. Black means: **NOT** Pink, Red, Orange, Yellow, Brown, Green, Blue, Purple, White, Gray, or any other color you can think of that isn’t black.
		1. Rule of thumb, if it isn’t **all** black. You can’t wear it!
			1. For example: this means you can’t have a purple (or any non-black color) trim on your black tunic.)
2. Penvaren members may wear a white tunic/shirt/kimono.
3. Fourth Guardian Marshals are the ONLY members allowed to wear all red garb.
4. The Verditian Lord and Tier-2 command staff are the only members allowed to have their garb’s interior feature their rank seal.
5. The Verditian Lord is the only member allowed to have gold dragons on his garb.
6. The Verditian Lord is the only member allowed to have a vine-crested Antioch symbol on his garb.
7. Generals are the only members allowed to decorate their garb with two gold phoenixes.
8. Inquisitors are the only members allowed to decorate their garb with two gold tigers.

**What’s banned:**

1. Open faced clothing. (Capes, vests, dusters, coats, etc.) Unless you are a command staff member.
2. Garb that can fully unbutton in the front. Unless you are a command staff member.
3. Gold colored buttons/rivets/grommets. Unless you are a command staff member with a Gold Antioch symbol. (Taichou and above)
4. An Antioch symbol on your back. Unless you are a command staff member.
5. Decorating your garb with symbols/paintings/depictions other than the standard Verdish symbol.
6. No garb can imitate the special garb given to command staff or feature rank seals that the wearer has yet to achieve. Or feature a seal that imitates a rank seal.
	1. Trimming your garb in a black satin or other solid black fabrics is permitted.
7. Wearing non-Verdish garb while socializing at a Dagorhir event. (Even auxiliary members)
8. Wearing an Antioch symbol variant you haven’t earned (Gold, blue, crested, etc.)

### **Exceptions**

Some specialty cases allow for violation of basic standards.

1. Samurai Armor Exceptions
2. Auxiliary Exceptions