- Duels occur in public, outside, during daylight hours.
- Each participant fights alone and can receive no help from outside sources.
- Each participant declares a second, who acts as a witness and ensures both participants obey the rules.
- Each participant fights with the same or similar weapons, determined and agreed to by both parties before the duel begins.
- The participants decide between themselves what armor and shields are allowed.
- No magical items or effects can be used before or during the duel to aid its participants. Any participant found benefiting from magic forfeits the duel and is declared dishonorable.
- The duel lasts until one of the participants bleeds, surrenders, or is unable to continue.
Depending on the rules of the duel, the winner can be the first one to score three touches, to the blood, or to the death.
The role of the Second is to:
- Negotiate on behalf of the duelists to set the rules, time, and place of the duel. They could even negotiate peace, avoiding the duel.
- Act as a witness and ensure both participants obey the rules.
- Take the place of an ill, injured, or cowardly duelist.
- Notify the next of kin when death occurs, and tend the body of their fallen comrade.