There are different types of matches in jousting; each is different in a way. For example, a Grand Tournament takes place over one week and involves as many as sixty-four competitors. During the first four days, the competitors compete in ten random matches. (Fallows 209) The top thirty-two jousters are permitted to enter the next stage of the tournament. In this stage, the rules are elimination tournament style rules until the semi-finals and finals. A random match lasts 4 rounds. Unhorsing the opponent ends the match. (Fallows 208) Bribes can be used in this type of match, but they cost five times as much because there are extra judges to bribe. (Fallows 210) An Elimination match lasts five rounds. Unhorsing …show more content…
Duels are not meant to kill the other knight, and when a knight is winning by a large margin, he will usually use non-lethal damage if the opponent does not back down. (Fallows 214) Duels very rarely result in death, but if the battle ends that way, it is considered an honorable death. The match lasts until opponent is unhorsed. There is no scoring for this type of match. After a knight is unhorsed, the duel continues. Combat starts as normal with an initiative roll, neither knight flat-footed. (Fallows 213) The knight on horseback may stay on his horse to fight, but will suffer a minus four penalty to all charisma based checks with his countrymen for three months due to his dishonor. Should the knight dismount, he gains a plus two honor bonus to charisma based checks with his countrymen for three months. (Leibs 70) The duel ends when a knight is either knocked unconscious (or killed) or the knight surrenders. Surrendering requires the knight to give up ten percent of his assets (that worth in an item, land, gold, etc) or face a minus eight penalty to all charisma based checks with his countrymen for six months due to his dishonor. (Leibs 71) This penalty also reduces his leadership score if applicable. The winning knight is considered to have "won" the dispute. This means that the winner is now considered correct, even if new evidence proves otherwise. (Leibs …show more content…
A favor is typically given by a lady to a knight when she is supporting him in his next joust. Other more special favors are earned by defending a lady's honor. Favors grant bonuses to jousting for either one match or every match depending on the favor earned. (Fallows 234) When a lady shows her support for a knight for a single match, she gives him a Single Match Favor. The favor lasts the entire joust, and then has no more effect. These favors have a stronger effect based on the social status of the lady giving the favor. (Fallows 235) A knight may only use one Single Match Favor per joust and it must be the first they accept (they cannot change their mind). This means if a peasant lady offers a favor for the final match, the knight accepts, and then the queen offers a favor later, the knight must refuse the queen. (Fallows