History Main / CombatReferee

* ''LightNovel/FateApocrypha'' is unusual in the Fate series by having fourteen Servants summoned in two opposing factions instead of the usual seven in a free-for-all. This causes the appearance of yet another Servant, the Ruler, to maintain order in the conflict. Of course, with so many legendary figures and competing interests it's only a matter of time until things go completely off the rails and Ruler has to get directly involved.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' / ''LightNovel/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'' CrossOver fanfic ''Fanfic/TheShieldsDragon'', the events of the race between Naofumi and Motoyatsu (for the lordship of Lute Village) from canon is now mediated by the Gauntlet Hero - Kazuma Kiryu, who helps to enforce fair play by beating the crap out of [[HateSink Princess Malty]]'s knights who were attempting to rig the race to the Spear Hero's favor. There ''will'' be no cheating under his watch.

In the ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' / ''LightNovel/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'' CrossOver fanfic ''Fanfic/TheShieldsDragon'', the events of the race between Naofumi and Motoyatsu (for the lordship of Lute Village) from canon is now mediated by the Gauntlet Hero - Kazuma Kiryu, who helps to enforce fair play by beating the crap out of [[HateSink Princess Malty]]'s knights who were attempting to rig the race to the Spear Hero's favor. There ''will'' be no cheating under his watch.

** Taken UpToEleven in Destroy the Godmodder 2 when its GM, [=TwinBuilder=], was ''physically summoned to the Battlefield'' as an entity, and continued to play this role while existing on the front lines of the war.

*** In ''Series/RobotWars'' the human referees are generally off-screen, although in the reboot the panel of Judges has the function of initiating countdowns and calling Cease. However, the House Robots also serve as referees in a sense, since they will intervene to separate robots that are stuck together or stuck on the arena, as well as pushing immobilized robots to the edge of the arena where they can be safely deactivated. Series 5-7 even had a dedicated "Refbot" to do this.

When some authority or power dictates what counts as "fighting fair" and actively enforces these rules on the battlefield. Almost always a neutral party in regards to the fighting itself, they exist solely to make sure the rules of battle are followed and punish those who break them. Their presence is often {{justified|Trope}} -- if the fighting in question is a [[TournamentArc Tournament]] or BloodSport, for example -- but they'll just as easily show up in real battle-to-the-death combat, in which case their presence may cause large amounts of FridgeLogic. Liberal application of the MST3KMantra is recommended. Expect an evil or ruthless character to attack the CombatReferee at some point; this may result in the heroes being forced into a no-rules grudge match, or it may prompt the referee to deal with his attackers himself via overwhelming force.

* The first ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'' had a kendo judge who was in the background for each stage and would wave a flag to indicate a hit and call the round once one character was defeated. The character disappeared from most stages after a while, though he still shows up in the dojo stage of most games.

* ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'': It is canonical that the game masters are actual characters, and act as this to make sure things don't get ''too'' out of hand. This of course is something they don't always succeed at.

* Both the Classic and TabletopGame/{{Gurps}} version of ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}''. Book 4 ''Mercenaries'' said that the Imperium reserved the right to intervene in military actions within its borders to prevent them from getting out of hand. One action that almost always provoked intervention was the use of [=WMD=]s, such as nuclear weapons.
** In the Gurps version the Imperium is more flexible about using nukes in space. Fewer people live there and there is a lot of, well, space, in space.
* In a very meta way, the GM of any particular game qualifies, as the first rule of every RPG is that the GM is always right. Additionally, he has set the battlespace. However, unlike this trope, in most games a good GM is subtly on the side of the players, wanting them to win but win after being challenged and having earned a victory. An exception is ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'', where the GM is gleefully encouraged to screw the players over in as many hilariously unfair and arbitrary ways as he can.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' has Judges, which enforce arbitrary Laws during combat in order to force restrictions on the player.
** The presence of the judges is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in both ''Final Fantasy Tactics Advance'', and it's [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2 sequel]]. In the first game, the judges exist due to the nature of [[spoiler:Mewt's subconscious desire to keep the world of Ivalice in existence. With judges making combat as difficult as possible, the protagonists will have a harder time accomplishing their goals.]]
** As for ''Final Fantasy Tactis A2'', Judges were created in ages past in order to prevent the meaningless deaths of clan members. Clans voluntarily adjudge themselves in order to gain the protection of the judge; adjudged clan's members cannot die in battle. The cost of this protection is following relatively simple rules of combat.

** MixedMartialArts and Boxing referees enforce the rules of the bout, but leave scoring to other individuals.

* ''Anime/ZoidsNewCentury'' has its Judge robots, which enforce the rules of the mecha BloodSport that the series revolves around. They take this role extremely seriously, up to and including enforcing the rules with ''orbital bombardments'' from a fleet of {{Kill Sat}}s.

* Both the Classic and {{Gurps}} version of ''{{Traveller}}''. Book 4 ''Mercenaries'' said that the Imperium reserved the right to intervene in military actions within its borders to prevent them from getting out of hand. One action that almost always provoked intervention was the use of [=WMD=]s, such as nuclear weapons.

* ''FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' has Judges, which enforce arbitrary Laws during combat in order to force restrictions on the player.
** The presence of the judges is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in both ''Final Fantasy Tactics Advance'', and it's [[FinalFantasyTacticsA2 sequel]]. In the first game, the judges exist due to the nature of [[spoiler:Mewt's subconscious desire to keep the world of Ivalice in existence. With judges making combat as difficult as possible, the protagonists will have a harder time accomplishing their goals.]]

* In ''{{Dune}}'', the [[BadassArmy Sardaukar]] are primarily used like this, as a way to maintain the balance of power. Because of this, TheEmperor has to go to great lengths to hide their intervention in [[FeudingFamilies the Atreides-Harkonnen conflict]], since it exceeded his authority.

* In a very meta way, the GM of any particular game qualifies, as the first rule of every RPG is that the GM is always right. Additionally, he has set the battlespace. However, unlike this trope, in most games a good GM is subtly on the side of the players, wanting them to win but win after being challenged and having earned a victory. An exception is ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'', where the GM is positively encouraged to screw the players over in as many hilariously unfair and arbitrary means as he can.