The Great LRP Arrow Debate – To IDV, or not to IDV

 

(Photo- all rights -Profound Decisions Forum http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a104/eriathwen_bob/heads_zps997b81ef.jpg accessed 20/8/14)

The creation of the IDV arrow is perhaps one of the good technical advancements in LRP kit of recent years, they promise smoother flights even with low strength bows, are less bulky to carry and as they are mass-produced can be much cheaper. However, at least one major event is thinking of banning IDV arrows, the reasoning behind this is that, being more aero-dynamic, they pack a larger punch and more directly to the eye socket.

IDV site itself is careful to stress…

“… technical precautions can NEVER EVER replace a sensible and responsible behaviour of the user him- or herself. Stressing the bow more than necessary means giving away precious safety reserves and accepting negligently additional risks”.

And they show results from a compression test showing that other arrows would affect an eye in exactly the same way. But this would be based on the exact amount of force for each… and as the rounded heads are more efficient at flying accurately are they likely to impact with greater force?

There is also the argument that there are unsafe versions of any arrow if incorrectly made or maintained.

That it is the skill of the archer to know when it is safe to shoot. Many inexperienced archers fail to judge safe distance, or understand the movement of the arrow over distance, these are all dangers even if the bow strength is rigidly restricted.

That other weapons are just as likely to injure the eye, but they don’t because people do not usually aim directly for the head.

So what is happening at Empire events? Here is a quote from the organisers forum about their concerns and experiences –

“I am not a weapons-checker, but I believe that it is a combination of factors with the IDV arrows, the tear-drop head allows a much faster flight speed, but the single grade of foam causes a much heavier hit and the small circumference makes it easier to hit eyes. Coupled with the issues around flights coming off and problems with the heads coming off in some cases, we have decided to exclude these arrows.

There isn't really much more detail to go into, it is a safety decision that we have taken because we have simply had too many eye injuries some of which have been very serious. We have to tighten the rules and so I have taken the advice of my weapons check team and sought to exclude the worst offenders coupled with a policy of tightened enforcement of the rules. If that doesn't resolve the problem, we will widen the ban to include other arrows”.

Indeed several of my own friends were forced to sit with ice-packs on their eyes in the battle, one said “loads of orcs, were all sat in a line with ice bags on their eyes, something is obviously going wrong.”

Is it the nature of mass shield battles where the only targets may be the head?

Does this happen with any arrow?

Should arrows be banned from the press of a shield battle?

Or is it really just the IDV arrows that must go?