Armor, Armor Everywhere, and Not a Cod to Piece!

[Mark CMG]

If you had to narrow armor choices (shields included, types of metal/unusual materials, too) down to ten for a medieval fantasy rpg, what would you choose and how would you rank them? Things like plate mail (full or breast plate), chainmail (shirt or full), banded, leather, studded leather, kite shield, round shield, buckler, mithral, dragin hide, helmet(s)?, etc. can all be included but try to keep it to ten and in order from most important to least.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

K.I.S.S. Armor:

1. Padded
2. Studded Leather
3. Scale
4. Chain
5. Plate
6. Sm. Shield
7. Lg. Shield

Materials:

1. Cloth (armor only)
2. Leather
3. Metal on leather
4. Metal
5. Wood (shields only)
6. Exotic (substitute for cloth, leather, wood or metal)

 

[NewJeffCT]

If you had to narrow armor choices (shields included, types of metal/unusual materials, too) down to ten for a medieval fantasy rpg, what would you choose and how would you rank them? Things like plate mail (full or breast plate), chainmail (shirt or full), banded, leather, studded leather, kite shield, round shield, buckler, mithral, dragin hide, helmet(s)?, etc. can all be included but try to keep it to ten and in order from most important to least.

hmm, I think there are too many choices as it is, so I like this idea.

Most important:
1) Chain Mail (full)
2) Leather Armor
3) Plate Mail (full)
4) Chain Mail (mithral)
5) Plate Mail (adamantium or dwarven, if not do-able, then breastplate for something between full plate & chain)
6) Large Shield
7) Small Shield
8) Buckler
9) Helm
10) Studded Leather (for something between leather & chain)

 

[invokethehojo]

Tiger Blood

 

[the Jester]

Leather armor
Chain mail
Plate and mail
Plate armor

Small shield
Large shield

Helm
Great helm

Got it in 8.

 

[Stormonu]

1) chain mail
2) plate & chain
3) scale mail
4) breastplate
5) shield
6) soft leather
7) hard leather
8) hide
9) padded
10) full plate

 

[Ed_Laprade]

This is where my Suspension of Disbelief jumps up and shouts NO! If you can make a full mail hauberk you can bloody well make a mail shirt!

But otherwise I agree that limiting the list of armor types is a good idea. I know that pretty much everyone I've ever played with would speak up if something they wanted wasn't presented, and that the situation would be delt with amicably.

1) Cloth/padding. (And you must wear it under metal armor.)
2) Light leather.
3) Cuirbolli/Heavy leather.
4) Reinforced leather. (Metal on leather.)
5) Mail.
6) Scale.
7) Patial plate.
8) Buckler/Small shield.
9) Medium shield.
10) Large/Tower shield.

Note the absence of full plate. You did say Medieval, and it didn't exist then. (Neither did partial plate, but I'm willing to be reasononable.) I also didn't mention helmets or gloves/gauntlets, as I would just include them with the purchase of a 'standard suit' of armor.

As for material, that would be normal unless someone asked around specifically for something special, then I'd most likely die roll for its availability. (And I'd stick whatever I felt like in for treasure.)

 

[Heathen72]

K.I.S.S. Armor:

1. Padded
2. Studded Leather
3. Scale
4. Chain
5. Plate
6. Sm. Shield
7. Lg. Shield

You forgot the makeup.

[MENTION=65175]PoorHobo[/MENTION], white, black and silver iirc.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

You forgot the makeup.

That will have to tide you over because I can't give you XP.

 

[El Mahdi]

...Note the absence of full plate. You did say Medieval, and it didn't exist then. (Neither did partial plate, but I'm willing to be reasononable.)

Middle_Ages

The Middle Ages (adjectival form: medieval or mediæval) was a period of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century.

The 15th century was still considered the Medieval Era in some areas. The 15th to 16th century is considered the transition from Medieval to Early Modern (again depending on the area). The Renaissance was a cultural movement (not a historical period) that transitioned European culture from the Late Medieval to Early Modern periods, and began at different times in different areas (variably from the 14th to 16th centuries). Renaissance


White_Armour

White Armour, or alwyte armour, was a form of plate armour worn in the Late Middle Ages characterized by full-body steel plate without a surcoat. Around 1420 the surcoat, or "coat of arms" as it was known in England, began to disappear, in favour of uncovered plate. Areas not covered by plate were protected by mail sewn to the gambeson underneath.

During the fifteenth century national styles of armour emerged. White armour was a term used synonymously with Italian design, which was innovative in expanding the use of plate armour to cover joints that had been previously protected by mail. The descriptive term white armour referred both to the absence of a surcoat and the absence of decorative trimmings: the rival German style was fluted, both for aesthetic reasons and for structural advantage in resisting crushing blows.
These two approaches to armouring remained recognizable throughout the fifteenth century. Eventually each borrowed the other's innovations. By the early sixteenth century the distinction became obsolete.

Gothic_Plate_Armour

Gothic Plate Armour (German: Gotischer Plattenpanzer) is a type of plate armour of steel made in the regions of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire during the late Middle Ages (15th century). The armour provided full-body protection to the knight who wore it. "Suits of armour" were common during the 15th century in central Europe and influenced Italian and English plate armour.

Plate_Armour

Plate Armour, which protected the chest and the lower limbs, was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, but it fell into disuse after the collapse of the Roman Empire because of the cost and work involved in producing a lorica segmentata or comparable plate armour. Single plates of metal armour were again used from the late 13th century on, to protect joints and shins, and these were worn over a mail hauberk. By the end of the 14th century, larger and complete full plates of armour had been developed.

D&D 3E PHB

Half-Plate (also known as "Partial Plate", "Plate-Mail", and in real Medieval usage: "Transitional Armour")

This armor is a combination of chainmail with metal plates (breastplate, epaulettes, elbow guards, gauntlets, tasses, and greaves) covering vital areas. Buckles and straps hold the whole suit together and distribute the weight, but the armor still hangs more loosely than full plate. It includes gauntlets.

Transitional_Armour

Transitional Armour describes the armour used in Europe around the 14th century, as body armour moved from simple maille hauberks to full plate.

Components_of_Medieval_Armour

Including:

Cuirass (14th C) - breastplate
Pauldron (15th C) - shoulder plates
Poleyn (13th C) - knee plates
Schynbald (13th C) - shin plates
Vambrace (14th C) - forearm plates