[Coda]

In Amtgard, if you're not a monk and you try to catch an arrow it's considered a hit to that arm. Blocking an arrow with a weapon blade is considered to break the weapon. (There's some inconsistency on whether or not blocking with the hand guard on a weapon is considered safe.) Blocking and catching arrows is a class feature, as is the right to block an arrow with a shield (any shield can do it but not everyone can use a shield). It's also considered VERY bad form to catch the arrow by its shaft or to deflect it by striking it out of the way, because that breaks arrows, and you'll probably get chased off the field by the archers if you do it. It really pisses people off. >.>

You can play multiple classes but you only get experience for one class per week. By the time I graduated from college and had to move away I was a level 3 wizard, a level 2 monk (or was I 3 there too?), and a level 2 warrior (because if you forget your gear and have to borrow some, you're forced to play warrior, and mid-week practice sessions are worth a quarter credit for warrior).