1. Alternate posts
2. Acknowledge all moves
3. Moves feasible and believable
4. Length of spar - 3-5 posts each
Alternating Posts -
You only get one post. If you leave something out, or even hit the enter key by mistake - too bad. You'll have to try to clean it up with your next post. This rule also applies to peripheral conversations. Once you enter the pit and your opponent is ready to begin, you don't speak until the spar is over.
Acknowledge All Moves -
Any move your opponent makes must be answered. This can be done in one of several ways - by parrying, by blocking, by evading, or by accepting. Now, in the interest of realism - in r/t, you would never walk away from a sword fight uninjured. There is far more honor in accepting an honestly received wound than in doing something totally unfeasible to try to find a way out.
Make Moves Feasible and Believable -
You are only allowed THREE "moves" per post. You may use combinations as one move. For example, blocking with your sword AS you slice with your dagger. However, remember that you only have 2 hands and one body. Therefore, more than 2 or 3 moves per combination IS NOT FEASIBLE. Also - Keep in mind that in a mortal spar, jumping over my 5'4" (almost) height flat-footed is not only NOT feasible, but is also NOT believable.
I would also urge you to think PAST the immediate. Think about what your move would do to your opponent. For example (this is something I've seen often in all realms that I've sparred in), a person will kick their opponent in the back and THEN spin and cut them. Realistically, the kick would propel them forward, so what are you slicing except air? More feasible would be to slice and dice...and THEN kick.
Another suggestion is to actually get up and walk through a move. I have done this often - especially in contests where the loss of one point could mean the difference in winning or losing.
A little bit about weaponry - You may use any hand to hand weapon you wish, but no more than TWO in a spar. For example, I usually declare a longsword and a dagger. Always declare two weapons, even if you only plan to use one. That way you have a back-up should you be disarmed.
From what I've seen, most fight with longsword. A longsword is a TWO-HANDED weapon with a blade length of approximately 30 inches. It is a broad and heavy sword. Other possible weapons are: shields, bucklers, daggers, longstaff, quarterstaff, katanas, etc....Again, any weapon that is used in hand to hand combat.
One last thing . When sparring, keep moving. Most people fight on one plane - frontally. If you move around, vary your stances, etc, you will possibly throw off your opponent's momentum - or even better, sometimes they won't notice your position. This then goes back to the feasibility of a move. Again this could mean the difference in winning or losing a spar or fight. *** I can not stress enough the need for plenty of description when sparring…not only are you painting a picture with words for the benefit of whom ever may be watching but you are trying to describe to your opponent EXACTLY what you are doing…The more description the less chance you give your opponent to find an opening or point out a mistake and this could be the difference between winning or losing OR perhaps life and death. Always describe your move in detail…then describe how that move effects your opponent and your surroundings……