D&D 5E European and Asian Armour Equivalents

[ColinChapman]

Following on from my threads on Weapon Equivalents for Historical Europe (circa. 800-1599AD) and Asia (specif. China and Japan), I'm starting this thread for my work in process on the armour equivalents. Gygax included a lot of items that simply didn't really exist (e.g. studded leather), were only used in small sections (e.g. splint armor), or that were badly misnamed (e.g. Chain Mail, which should only be called Mail), and that legacy continues in 5e.

I'm creating rules for Bucklers (as well as shield spikes which will inflict 1d6 damage as per the Monster Manual).

EUROPEAN ARMOUR EQUIVALENTS
Light Armour
Padded
Aketon, Gambeson

Leather
Cuir-Bouilli

Medium Armour
Chain Shirt
Jazerant, Mail Byrnie

Breastplate
Brigandine, Coat of Plates, Cuirass, Jack of Plate

Half Plate
Almain Rivet, Munition Armour

Heavy Armour
Chain Mail
Mail Hauberk

Splint
Lamellar, Plated Mail (aka Behterets, Kalantar, Yushman)

Plate
Alwyte, Gothic Plate, Maximilian Plate

Shields
Buckler
Lantern Shield, Targe

Shield
Heater, Hungarian, Kite, Rondache, Round

 

[ColinChapman]

So, Harness (Jousting Plate). Incredibly tough, heavy, but incredibly cumbersome dismounted. AC 20 but Disadvantage on dismounted actions and combat (including the normal Stealth). Could weigh up to 100 lbs. Req: Str 15 (like normal plate as horse bears the real burden).

 

[aramis erak]

Actually, Studded is probably based upon the historically documented bezainted and the also historically documented "ring on leather".

Bezainted was at first literally velvet or fine leather, usually padded, with bezants (byzantine coins) stitched on to it. A poor man would use bronze or silver coin, spaced apart by a coin width, in a roughly hexagonal pattern. (One of Gygax's cited books on weapons includes an illustration of this mode.) The other mode is a rich man, with silver or gold coin on velvet, almost overlapping, gives an appearance of fish-scale. Some later versions are attested to as using purpose made iron or bronze discs, rather than coins. (Also note: it's still common for dancers to adorn themselves with coins in the middle east... at least when not outlawed for religious reasons.) While not "studded" in the sense that modern biker or goth leather is studded, it's still bits of metal affixed to a backing.

Ring on Leather and Ring on Quilt are bronze or brass rings stitched to a leather or quilt backing. The rings are not interlocked, but may be abutted. It has been documented for both Roman and Celtic use, as well as early Norse.

By the way, Lamellar is quite like Visby armor. Except that Gygax's description had the lames on the outside, while the armor found in the mass graves was leather on the outside, lames on the inside. Many people mistake visby for studded, as well, because you see nought but rivet-heads and leather.

 

[ColinChapman]

Even if I was going to include bezainted armour (which I wouldn't because of the dates I set) I'd still be more inclined to categorise it under Ring Mail than Studded Leather. I was also under the impression that the idea of studded leather primarily came from visual misinterpretation of brigandine (the rivets of which could be visible on the outside layer of fabric or leather).

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

Even if I was going to include bezainted armour (which I wouldn't because of the dates I set) I'd still be more inclined to categorise it under Ring Mail than Studded Leather. I was also under the impression that the idea of studded leather primarily came from visual misinterpretation of brigandine (the rivets of which could be visible on the outside layer of fabric or leather).

I've heard that explanation, but it doesn't fit the modern description of close-set rivets. Still, it's best to equate studded leather to well made and moderately reinforced leather.

I agree with your assessment of bezainted armor, though. Definitely conceptually similar to ring mail.

 

[aramis erak]

Even if I was going to include bezainted armour (which I wouldn't because of the dates I set) I'd still be more inclined to categorise it under Ring Mail than Studded Leather. I was also under the impression that the idea of studded leather primarily came from visual misinterpretation of brigandine (the rivets of which could be visible on the outside layer of fabric or leather).

Having worn and fought people in brigadine, and the same for Ring-on-leather, it's a hell of a lot better than ring-on-leather at stopping blows. Much more mass to move, and MUCH wider spread of force. (to be honest, I'd rather have brig than chain.)

While I haven't done destructive testing, just the fact that Ring-on-leather makes an accidental rebate hit feel identical to an SCA rattan hit says it's better than just leather. Chain dampens better than ring on leather. Considerably so. Brig spreads the blow out over about 2twice the width as chain, and evens out the impact more than chain.

Also, Bezainted is historically 14th C - well inside your dates. Ring on Leather is just outside them, having been in use through the 6th C for certain. The argument can be better made that it's not European, being Byzantine, but then one must also exclude the various portions therof, including Greece and the Balkans...

 

[ColinChapman]

Brig certainly does provide more protection, but isn't it also only commonly found as a sleeveless jack, and so fails to provide the coverage of other armours (unless you wear mail sleeves and leggings or plate pauldrons, cannons, cuisse and greaves with it, in which case I'd say the combination is closer to plate in protection)?
That's why I listed it under "Breastplate"; the combination of materials and coverage.

Do you have any good sources and images for 16th century bezainted armour I can see? There's seems precious little around, and I'd like to get a good idea about it before I go ahead and include it? I've found a photo of a helmet, and a few images of what are most definitely more ring-on-leather but little else.

 

[aramis erak]

Brig's normally worn with arm armor. Sometimes it's a half-sleeve of brig and a leather affixed to the torso, sometimes leather, metal, or plated leather (usually under the leather; you can see the rivets in pairs across the articulation points) in a "lobster tail" pauldron, sometimes it's a separate vambrace and rebrace, sometimes it's an articulated arm, and sometimes it's a heavy leather sleeve.

The best sources for period illustrations of bezainted are in some obscure historical reprints. (My history texts are packed and stored.) I have yet to see a good photo online, tho' there was one in a museum. There is a replication in John Hewitt's Ancient Armor and Weapons in Europe, Vol 1, discussed on p. 255, illustrated on 257. Note: the I isn't always used. Bezanted pulls more illos than the more historic bezainted, but it's still a paucity of historical images. (There are a number of good 19th C ones of Yupic and Alutiiq bezanted armors...) Hewitts' not a great source, but it's available online.

Link to Hewitt: at google

Keep in mind: usually, half, 3/4 or full sleeves were separate pieces, and tied or buckled on to the body armor. Leather and chain are unusual in that the sleeve is integral and 3/4 to full sleeve lengths; likewise, they're both unusual in that the body and legs are often provided protection by the body armor hanging to just above the knees.. Short sleeves and less are sometimes seen. Few would be wearing a full suit of one type; most would have metal, splint, or plate vambraces and greaves; knees and elbows might be metal even on leather sleeves and legs.

 

[ColinChapman]

Thanks, missed this reply earlier thanks to being swamped with work.

 

[ColinChapman]

After much digging and reading:

ASIAN ARMOUR EQUIVALENTS

Light Armour
Leather
Wei Jia (Leather Armour) / Gyorin Kozane Do

Medium Armour
Hide
Ge Jia (Hide Armour) / Nerigawa Kozane Do

Chain Shirt
Hu Xing Jin (Protect Heart Mirror), Silin Kia (Thin Scale Armour) / Karuta (Kikko) Tatami Do, Kusari Katabira, Kusari Tatami Do

Scale Mail
Shan Wen Kia (Mountain Pattern Armour), Ting Kia (Armour with Nails) / Kiritsuko Iyozane Do

Heavy Armour
Ring Mail
Lien So Kia (Ring Connected Armour) / -

Chain Mail
So Tse Kia / Kusari Tatami Gusoku

Splint
Bu Ren Jia (Infantry Armour) / O-Yoroi

Shields
Shield
Tengpai (Rattan Shield) / -

Wei Jia. This is leather armour fixed to a fabric backing.
Gyorin Kozane Do. This is a leather scale cuirass.
Ge Jia. This is armour made from rhinoceros or thick buffalo hide.
Nerigawa Kozane Do. This is a cuirass of lacquered leather lamellar.
Hu Xing Jin. This is the Chinese equivalent of the Indian chahar-aina “mirror armour”.
Silin Kia. This is a brigandine jack made of small, linked metal plates on a leather backing, covered with fabric.
Karuta (Kikko) Tatami Do. This is a cuirass of small, lacquered metal squares/rectangles (karuta) or hexagons (kikko) connected by chain mail and fixed to a fabric backing.
Kusari Katabira. This is a chain mail shirt.
Kusari Tatami Do. This is a chain mail cuirass.
Shan Wen Kia. This is a calf-length, sleeved coat covered on the outside with interlocked metal scales shaped like the Mandarin character for “mountain”.
Ting Kia. This is a calf-length, sleeved brigandine coat.
Kiritsuko Iyozane Do. This is a cuirass of banded iron that simulates lamellar in appearance.
Lien So Kia. This is typical ring mail.
So Tse Kia. This is typical chain mail.
Kusari Tatami Gusoku. A full suit of chain mail including tatami do (hauberk), tatami zukin (hood), kote (mittens), and suneate (shin guards).
Bu Ren Jia. This is a sleeved, calf-length lamellar coat, reinforced with one-two extra layers of lamellar in vital locations.
O-Yoroi. This is samurai ‘Great Armour’ made of lacquered iron plate and lamellar.
Tengpai. This is a round, woven rattan shield, sometimes heavily domed in shape and sometimes covered with a decorated layer of fabric or thin leather.