Someone who read this pages parent page “Acts of Largess” sent me an email saying: “But I’ve seen YOU fight singles fights in the middle of a Melee and even “Kill” members of your own team who tried to interfere in your “singles” fight.”
Very true, I do not deny it in the least. However there was either a special reason for it, OR it was in a “War” situation, most likely a “resurrection” battle.
Single Combat in a Melee Setting
Reason #1
Countering the “Dangle the Duke” tactic – Usually this is a small team tournament setting one side will have a REALLY good singles fighter (Often a Duke) who can cause havoc with another team all by his lonesome. they will split off that one or two good fighters hoping to pull an uneven (greater) number of fighters away from their opponents to give the rest of their team a “numerical” superiority that hopefully will turn the tide.
I when I got decent at defense and the “art” of keeping a better fighter occupied without getting killed. I spent a LOT of time “tieing up” the a fore mentioned “Dangled Duke” though some thought it was ”arrogant” of me to go “Duke Hunting” I promise it never was, At first I thought I was being thrown out as a speed bump, thrown to the hounds as it were. I rarely suggested the plan myself, I always told my team (and meant it), “Okay I can tie up “X” but I can only hold him for so long, I need you guys to get a couple of quick kills and send me some help!” I will admit to a bit of the sin of “Pride” when I realized I wasn’t being tossed aside, but I had developed a bit of a talent for that “style” of melee fighting.
I even do it myself or team up with one of said Dukes and tandem “dangle” as it were occasionally depending on the situation.
Reason #2
I am not that fond of Melee / War fighting, I LOVE singles fighting. Melee/war fighting is a skill set, it is part of how I serve my kingdom, it is enjoyable to me, but it is NOT my passion in SCA fighting. Unfortunately, as much as I am loathe to admit it, I’m a better Melee fighter than I am a Singles Fighter.
So that said, when I come upon an opportunity to go at it like Achillies and Hector in the middle of the swirling Melee of War. I CANNOT pass it up. I LOVE IT. I love to do it, I love to see it, I will stop what I am doing and keep people out of someone elses singles combat, and I will strike you down myself if you interfere with mine, and have done so on several occasions. However, because I feel so strongly about it, I will USUALLY endevour only to explore these opportunities in a resurrection battle where participating in a singles challenge in the middle of a melee or being forced to strike down my a member of my own side will not have a great effect on the outcome of the battle.
And as such, I guarantee you if there is a “Champions Bridge” in a battle, you’ll find me either in line to get on it myself, or guarding it to insure its sanctity.
I LOVE single combat, and yet it is true that there is a time and a place for it, and while it is rare I get to enjoy it on a battle field, it is such an incredible and special feeling when it happens and happens correctly that it makes the other 99% of the soldier time worth it.
There is a time to be a soldier, and a time to be a hero…experience helps show you when those times on the field are. When you get the opportunity to be a hero, embrace it, its a special feeling. (but don’t be a glory hound, let others have the chance to have their fun as well.) 
Anyway those are the only reasons that come to mind right off the bat, I’m sure there are others, and someone will probably tell us what they are soon enough.
