A hit's a hit, isn't it?

A while back, I talked a little bit about the changes to the Society Rapier manual, so I thought I'd do a little delving and see what they really say. I figure I'll start off with the applicable rules and then go through them.
From Section 2: Behavior on the field:
D. Striking an opponent with excessive force, or with deliberate intent to injure, is forbidden.
F. Conduct obstructive of normal rapier combat, such as consistent ignoring of blows, deliberate misuse of the rules (such as calling HOLD whenever pressed), or the like, is forbidden.

From Section 3: Use of weapons and parrying devices:

A. Valid blows are struck by: thrusting with the point of the blade (thrust) or sliding the edge of the blade by drawing (draw cut).

i. Kingdoms have the option of including sliding the edge of the blade by pushing (push cut) and/or placing the tip of the blade upon and then drawing it across an opponent (tip cut) as valid blows.

ii. Cut and thrust rapier also includes the use of percussive cuts as a valid blow. Percussive cuts must always be delivered with sufficient control so as not to injure the opponent while still delivering the necessary impact for a valid cut.

B. Chopping or hacking blows are not permitted in light or heavy rapier combat. For cut and thrust rapier, they still must be delivered with sufficient control. Fast circular movements (such as moulinets) may be used to place a blade for allowable cuts in all three categories of rapier combat.

D. Striking an opponent with any part of a weapon or parrying device not approved for that purpose is prohibited.

From Section 4: Acknowledgement of blows:

C. In rapier combat, blows will be counted as though they were struck with a real blade, extremely sharp on point and edge. Any blow that would have penetrated the skin shall be counted a good blow. Any blow that strikes a mask, helm or gorget shall be counted as though it struck flesh. Kingdoms shall not alter this standard.

D. A valid blow to the:

• head,
• neck,
• torso,
• inner groin (to the fighter's hand width down the inner limb), or
• armpit (to the fighter's inner hand width down the limb)

shall be judged incapacitating, rendering the fighter incapable of further combat.

E. A valid blow to the arm will disable the arm. A valid blow to the hand shall render the hand useless; Kingdoms may decide whether the arm above the incapacitated hand may be used to parry.

F. A valid blow to the foot or leg will disable the leg.

i. For light rapier and heavy rapier, the fighter must then fight kneeling, sitting, or standing on one leg.

ii. For cut and thrust rapier, valid blows to the leg or foot are considered incapacitating, rendering the fighter incapable of further combat.

G. Parries may be performed with weapons, parrying devices, the gloved hand or any other part of the body. Though the gloved hand may be used to parry, it shall not be used to grasp or strike an opponent. Fleeting contact between opponents is allowed, as long as no grappling, deliberate striking or other unsafe behavior occurs.

H. In heavy rapier and cut and thrust rapier, fighters may choose to grasp blades, rather than parry them. If the blade that is grasped moves or twists in the grasping hand, that hand is deemed disabled. Grasping techniques shall be used only to immobilize a blade, not to bend it or wrest it from the opponent's grip. Prolonged wrestling over a grasped blade is sufficient grounds for calling a ‘hold” and forcing a release of the blade.

I. If an effective blow is thrown before, or on, the same moment as an event that would stop a fight (a "HOLD" being called, the fighter being "killed" himself, etc.), the blow shall count.

And from Marshalling concerns in rapier:

5. EXCESSIVE IMPACT: Combat in the Society poses risks to the participant. This recognition, however, does not excuse fighters from exercising control of their techniques. If a fighter throws blows which force their opponent to retire from the field, from a real injury (even one which only causes brief incapacitation), the marshal responsible for the field shall take such steps as are appropriate to stop the problem from recurring.

That's a lot of words. Let's start from the beginning: "Striking an opponent with excessive force, or with deliberate intent to injure, is forbidden." Okay, so what is excessive force? "If a fighter throws blows which force their opponent to retire from the field, from a real injury (even one which only causes brief incapacitation), the marshal responsible for the field shall take such steps as are appropriate to stop the problem from recurring." So, if it doesn't send your opponent off the field, it's not excessive.

Okay, so what makes up a good shot? "Valid blows are struck by: thrusting with the point of the blade (thrust) or sliding the edge of the blade by drawing (draw cut)." and "Kingdoms [such as Artemisia] have the option of including sliding the edge of the blade by pushing (push cut) and/or placing the tip of the blade upon and then drawing it across an opponent (tip cut) as valid blows."

So we can use thrusts, draw cuts, push cuts, and tip cuts, but what sort of force are we talking about? "In rapier combat, blows will be counted as though they were struck with a real blade, extremely sharp on point and edge. Any blow that would have penetrated the skin shall be counted a good blow. Any blow that strikes a mask, helm or gorget shall be counted as though it struck flesh. Kingdoms shall not alter this standard." But there is a caviat: "Chopping or hacking blows are not permitted in light or heavy rapier combat. For cut and thrust rapier, they still must be delivered with sufficient control. Fast circular movements (such as moulinets) may be used to place a blade for allowable cuts in all three categories of rapier combat."

So we've got to hit them hard enough that a real blade would have punctured the skin, but we can't club them like a seal. And, by the rules, percussive hits are allowed only in Cut and Thrust.

Okay, but what does all this mean?

1. Any thrust that is felt, but does not send your opponent off the field is valid.
2. Any cut (push, draw, or tip) that is felt, but does not land with enough force to cause pain (a good general definition of hacking or clubbing) is valid.

You may have noticed that there is no longer any length requirement for cuts, other than the rather vague "any blow that would have penetrated the skin shall be counted a good blow." So, in that regard, it is still on your honor on what constitutes a good cut.

I can't say I'm entirely thrilled by the changes to the rules, but I am glad that they kept the wording against chopping or hacking.