Tactic Shot (Tat-tir)

"Some spectators laughed when Ardelle shot her arrow to the sky above before getting kicked out by the adversary defender. But as the arrow made the curve and began to fall, the whole stadium held its breath, and, since the target was covered, he couldn't see it until it was too late.
Two points. Some said she deserved at least three, but it was enough: Ardelle and her team won the Unvèrian Tactic Shot Tournament."

History

The tactic shot (tat-tir) was created in the city of Calvinique, some months after the end of Fergrunic-Unvèrian War. As the continuity of the peace was not yet concrete, the sport was intended to motivate soldiers to keep practicing their martial skills.
The activity spread fast through the city, and after some time began to be practiced in other cities and even other countries, being played not only by military officers but also by common folk.
Today it has gathered thousands of fans all over the nation of Unvère and beyond, and the players are citizens of great prestige.

Execution

The game is played by two adversary teams inside an oval arena divided into 8 sections. The main objective of each team is to get a given number of points, usually 7, what results in the end of the match.

Player roles

There are different kinds of players, each one with determined privileges and limitations in the game.
The shooters are the players who get points by hitting the opponent target players, usually with bows and non-lethal arrows. Their position is restricted to the shooter area. Since they are the only way to earn points in the game, the team immediately loses the match if it loses the shooter.
The target players are the players that the shooters need to hit in order to get points. Their equipment consists in a basic armor to avoid accidents with the arrows. They are restricted to the target areas, that have covers behind which the targets can hide (unless there is an opponent in the same area).
The defenders are players who try to reach the target area and make the targets to uncover. They have this name because they are also responsible for not letting the opponent players reach the target areas of their teams. They can walk around the defender areas and target areas, but not into the shooter areas. There is a plenty of different modalities for defenders, that define their equipment. It can vary from unarmed to only shields, sword-and-shield and other kinds of weapons.
The infiltrators have two main roles: force the targets to come out from their cover and reach the opponent shooter, kicking they out of game temporarily. They can go to any part of the field and are the only ones who can use the corridors, but yet can be blocked by defenders if next to a defender area.

The arena

The arena has an oval shape and is divided into 8 sections. Excluding the corridors, that are of common use, each team has one section of each kind.
The shooter areas are where the shooter stays during the whole match (except when out of field), and the starting point to the infiltrator. These areas are elevated in relation to the rest of the field, and can be accessed by the frontal ramps.
The target areas, three for each team, is where the target players stay. Each of the six target areas has a cover panel, behind which a target may hide.
The defender areas are where the defenders start the game, and where most of the combat takes place.
The corridors are placed in the upper and lower borders of the field, going from one shooter area to the other one. Both can be used by both teams, but only infiltrators can enter them.

Making points

The only way to get points is hitting an adversary target player with an arrow. If the shot was clear to one of the arbiters, the point is given. If not, the target player is called to an examination of their clothing, in order to find some paint mark. Found the mark, the point is given. If not, the match continues normally.
When a hit is confirmed, two situations can occur. The most common one is when the target is hit when uncovered, and, in this case, the shooter's team earns one point. The other case is when the target is hit even being covered, what gives the shooter's team two points.

General rules

About the players' movements

Each kind of player has different permitted and forbidden movements:

• Shooters are restricted to their team's shooter area;
• Targets are restricted to their team's target areas, but are free to go to any of them at any moment;
• Defenders are restricted to target areas and defender areas, independently of the area owner;
• Infiltrators don't have movement restrictions.

About the permitted shots

A shooter can only aim to hit:

• Opponent targets;
• Opponent defenders or infiltrators, but only if they are in one of the shooter's team's target areas or shooter area.

Aiming any player outside of this conditions is considered a fault and the shooter's team is subject to a penalty.

About the targets' cover

A target can stay behind the cover panel only if there is no adversary player in that same area. The target is allowed to hide again if they moves to an area clear of opponents or if all the opponents leave the current area.

Faults and penalties

This is the list of faults and their respective penalties:

• If a player gravely injures an opponent, the team loses a point. If the injure is too severe, the player is also kicked from the game permanently;
• If a defender or infiltrator holds or attacks a target, the attacker stays out of match temporarily and the attacker's team loses one point;
• If a defender or infiltrator makes a forbidden movement, he or she is removed from game for one minute. If the forbidden movement also results in touching the opponent shooter, the team also loses one point;
• If a target moves to an area that is not a target area, or hides when there is an opponent in his or her current area, or don't uncover 5 seconds after an opponent enters the area, the target's team loses one point;
• If a shooter makes a forbidden shot (intentionally), he or she is adverted. Doing it one more time, the shooter's team loses one point. Doing it a third time, the shooter is also removed temporarily from the game.

Substitutions

A team can have one substitute player for each role, and once out of match, a player can't go back. The substitution is permitted in the following cases:

• Strategic substitution, be it to put a new tactic to the game or remove a tired player;
• Injured player;
• Expelled player. In this case, a defender or the infiltrator also must leave the game permanently, giving the advantage of one player to the opponent team.

About the match duration

The match ends normally when a team reaches the predetermined number of points. In the offcial Tournaments of Unvère this number is 7, but can vary in other occasions. A premature ending can occur if:

• The host of the match can't provide more arrows to both teams; in this case, the team with more points is declared the winner or the match continues at another time;
• The host of the match had set a time limit; in this case, the team with more points is declared the winner or the match continues at another time;
• The shooter of a team is kicked out of the match permanently and there is no other shooter to take their place;
• All the targets of a team are kicked out of the match permanently and there are no other targets to take their place;
• Greater cause happenings, such as extremely unfavorable weather conditions or enemy attacks;
• If a player is severely injured (only extreme cases).

Components and tools

The players' equipment, except when the game is played in very informal conditions, are almost always the same for both sides and provided by the match host.
The shooters wear soft clothes, archery gloves, and use a bow and a quill of non-lethal-arrows. The arrows have tips with paint, that mark the target's armor/cloting when the hit occurs.
The targets wear light and basic armors, usually protecting head, torso and arms. They usually are dyed with light tint, thus making it possible to be marked with painted arrows.
The defenders equipment depends on the chosen modality for combat. Tournaments in Unvère are usually played with the defenders wearing medium armor and fighting with a dull sword and a shield.
The infiltrators wear soft clothes and special gloves that mark the shooter's clothing.

Participants

Players

Each team has a set number of players:

• 1 shooter;
• 1 infiltrator;
• 3 defenders;
• 2 targets.

The game can continue with less players in case of expulsion, unless if there are no more shooters or targets available (in this case, the team which players were kicked out loses the match).

Arbiters

The arbiters are a total of 3 and watch the game in order to ensure the observance of the rules. They give the team points, apply penalties, count the time and so on.
One of the arbiters is responsible to watch the game from the lowest level; one is responsible from watching it from an elevated position; and one is responsible for counting time and points.