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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ace" data-source="post: 525518" data-attributes="member: 944">From what little is known about mail armor the general consensus is it is impossible to cut with a sword if made properly.The armor was always and I mean always worn with a padded gamrment usually called a gambeson or an asketon depending on size and construction  Modern mail armor is what they called "butted" the links are pressed together with pliers. This armor can be "ripped" open with a strong blow.It is the fastest to make and the only kind you will commonly see for sale. It was never worn in Medieval europe as main protectiona Better armor is riveted and will not break on anything but a strong repeated  cut to the same location. It will disperse most of a blow along the links and into the padding. Any solid blow will hurt like blazes but it won't cut you and thats what mattersNote The best armor was welded together, this was later stuff and pretty rare. Magic armor in D&D would be welded (and sung with spells too) It was very strong stuffNow there were several other kinds of mail including the 6 in 1 mentioned earlier, double mail and other sorts. They were fairly uncommon. About 90% of the mail you would see is 4 in 1 or international mailALso note that mail users almost always had shields, they might not have carried them but they were used. Not only were they cheap and effective but mail armor stops serious injury but if you are hit you will still be hurtAfter plate armor became common it was strong enough that shields were needed less and weapons were often 2 handed, Longswords-- Bastard Swords--- Poleaxe and so on had to hit hard to penetrate high quality plateNow Plate cam in different grades-- In D&D terms munitions issue would be normalHigher grades made of better steel and better contruction would have bonuses to AC (up to about +2) and if fitted, reduced movement penalties and incresed maximum dex bonusesWhewOK, two last bitsRapiers are useless against armorThey were dueling weapons used on opponents who at most had a "buff coat" of leather. Rapiers came into existnence in the last 100 years of plate armors reign and were rarely seen on the battle fieldIRL it was next to impossible to hit a chink in the armor while your opponent is stabbing you in the face with his hand and a half swordMail was outdated as a defense by the time rapiers came around although occasionally a mesh mail glove called an arming glove. It was basically a meat cutters glove and could be used to ward and catch rapiers and maybe daggersAlso note rapiers and similar weapons were mainly used with a second weapon such as a daggerThe Estoc was an unusual weapon, a edgeless sword well described earlier as a big awl. It was used 2 handed and gripped in front in front of the handguard (Ricasso) and thrust like a spear. It could pentrate armor (sometimes) or hit joints and go through weak spots,  unlike a rapier I migt addA fight between two estoc men (or pole axe guys sometimes)  would like a wrestling match by armored men with crowbars</blockquote>

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