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<blockquote data-quote="Rothe" data-source="post: 3522893" data-attributes="member: 39813">Although I agree that spike armor is not far-fetched for a fantasy setting where things might grab or try to swallow you.&nbsp; I often have issue with spike placement.&nbsp; I like the stuff that looks like you could still fight without unduly being encumbered or slowed down, and still hurt that giant snake that tries to grab you.&nbsp; The spikes can be fairly short and accomplish this task.I have no idea if the advantages and disadvantages are well reflected in the rules.Oh yeah.&nbsp; That armor isn't going to stop a spike where all the force is concentrated in one point.&nbsp; But if well placed with this in mind, it is unlikely to happen where you fall on a spike.Yes.&nbsp; All the force of the blow will go straight into the armor.&nbsp; The channeling effect makes it worse.&nbsp; Look at historical armor.&nbsp; It is rounded for a reason, and it ain't style.&nbsp; Especially look at helmet design, you will often see reinforcement on the portions that won't defelct a blow well.There is seriously hurt, and more hurt than you would of been without the spike.&nbsp; Although the odds of such a blow are low.&nbsp; What is more likely to happen is if the spike is on your arm say, it will knock you off balance and open you to an easier follow on attack.&nbsp; Thus, lowering your AC.&nbsp; You can see something close to this manuever if you have a local SCA group that demonstrates.&nbsp; One tactic is catch or hook the other guys shield and bring him off balance.&nbsp; Then a killing blow is very easy. In addition, the armor where the spike is is going to be weaker from the &quot;weld&quot; that holds the spike there.&nbsp; So it could I guess jab through being much worse that the dent the weapon woudl have to make to hurt you.&nbsp; Most likely is the spike should be designed to snap off from such a blow since it is not the kind of blow someone grabbing you would make.I think you should reconsider.&nbsp; Human history is one of warfare and bloodshed, most of it with hand-to-hand weapons.&nbsp; If spiked armor and spiked chains had real advantages over rounded armor, swords, axes, etc. people would have adopted them over the millenia as their primary weapon.&nbsp; People adopted what worked best over millenia of testing.&nbsp; Spiked armor may exist in a story, but it is mentioned because it was so odd.&nbsp; Likewise exotic weapons were exotic for good reason, a good sword was much faster, more lethal, and better at defense.&nbsp; Many of those exotic weapons were ritualistic or assassination weapons and not designd to attack someone defending themselves or wearing armor.&nbsp; In the end, I just can't believe after millenia that a game designer or artist hit on something in the armor and melee weapon fields that people's whose lives depended on it missed.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rothe, post: 3522893, member: 39813"] Although I agree that spike armor is not far-fetched for a fantasy setting where things might grab or try to swallow you. I often have issue with spike placement. I like the stuff that looks like you could still fight without unduly being encumbered or slowed down, and still hurt that giant snake that tries to grab you. The spikes can be fairly short and accomplish this task. I have no idea if the advantages and disadvantages are well reflected in the rules. Oh yeah. That armor isn't going to stop a spike where all the force is concentrated in one point. But if well placed with this in mind, it is unlikely to happen where you fall on a spike. Yes. All the force of the blow will go straight into the armor. The channeling effect makes it worse. Look at historical armor. It is rounded for a reason, and it ain't style. Especially look at helmet design, you will often see reinforcement on the portions that won't defelct a blow well. There is seriously hurt, and more hurt than you would of been without the spike. Although the odds of such a blow are low. What is more likely to happen is if the spike is on your arm say, it will knock you off balance and open you to an easier follow on attack. Thus, lowering your AC. You can see something close to this manuever if you have a local SCA group that demonstrates. One tactic is catch or hook the other guys shield and bring him off balance. Then a killing blow is very easy. In addition, the armor where the spike is is going to be weaker from the "weld" that holds the spike there. So it could I guess jab through being much worse that the dent the weapon woudl have to make to hurt you. Most likely is the spike should be designed to snap off from such a blow since it is not the kind of blow someone grabbing you would make. I think you should reconsider. Human history is one of warfare and bloodshed, most of it with hand-to-hand weapons. If spiked armor and spiked chains had real advantages over rounded armor, swords, axes, etc. people would have adopted them over the millenia as their primary weapon. People adopted what worked best over millenia of testing. Spiked armor may exist in a story, but it is mentioned because it was so odd. Likewise exotic weapons were exotic for good reason, a good sword was much faster, more lethal, and better at defense. Many of those exotic weapons were ritualistic or assassination weapons and not designd to attack someone defending themselves or wearing armor. In the end, I just can't believe after millenia that a game designer or artist hit on something in the armor and melee weapon fields that people's whose lives depended on it missed. [/QUOTE]

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