Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

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Vargr1105
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Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#1 Post by Vargr1105 »

Hey folks, do you like armor? I like armor. I LOVE armor! :D


More than weapons, nothing says "you ain't in Kansas no more" like all the weird and wonderful personal protection suits that those crazy PCs and NPCs carry around.

But, for Pete's sake, there is so little choice for armor in AD&D1e. Why...for AC 6 and AC 5 there is only one measly type of armor included. Leather, Scale, Mail, Plate...Leather, Scale, Mail Plate...Leather, Scale, Mail Plate...groan!

Come on! Where is the MAXIMILIAN PLATE? The LINOTHORAX? METAL LAMINAR? Where is the DENDRA PANOPLY? The CAROLINGIAN SCALE? The CORSELET? The JAZERANT? The COAT OF PLATES? The GRIVPANVAR of the Clibanarii? The LAMINATED LEATHER of the Dacians? Where are the great LACED armor suits? The SKUTATOS? The KLIBANOPHOROS? The CATAPHRACT? The BACK-AND-BREAST? The GALLIC? The SAMNITE? The BUFF COAT? The CRUPELLARIUS? The armor of the HOPLITE? The IMPROVED CHAIMAIL of the late crusades?

What about the difference between HAUBERKS and BYRNIES? What about different materials? Why is SCALE only made of metal, what about leather and horn? What about hybrid armors? Where is the CHAIN-LAMELLAR? Where's SCALE with MAILED limbs? Where's CHAIN & SPLINT? What about removing limb protection from existing armor? What about adding limb protection to existing armor that doesn't have it?

And helmets (helmets!). The true fashion choice for any warrior worth his blade. Lets give them some love. Where is the BASCINET? The COOLUS? The ARMET? The GREAT HELM? The BARBUTE? The CERVELLIERE, CERVELLERIUM or CEREBRARIUM? The AVENTAIL? The BARREL helm? The ZISCHAGGE? The BOEOTIAN ? The CORINTHIAN? The PHRYGIAN or THRACIAN? The CHALCIDIAN? The MORION? The CABACETE? The PICKELHAUBE? The STAHLHELM? The KETTLE HAT?


To address this I will be placing some new armors and protective implements here. This isn't a revolutionary idea, or a history lesson and much of the work is already done in post-1E editions (although some fitting may be required...get it? "fitting"? he, he). More often than not, a new armor will use already existing stats, this is just a way to make your bad-arse warrior look difference for the most part.


So to begin, here is Revision Number One:

Armor is dirt cheap and the progression of prices makes no sense. AD&D2nd has some more lucid costs but the ratio of Price:AC is completely bonkers. So here is the new base, chargen prices of armors which compose AD&D1e taking into account their quality in-game:

Padded 4 gp fairly 10# 9"
Leather 5 gp non- 15# 12"
Ring mail 15 gp fairly 25# 9"
Studded leather 20 gp fairly 20# 9"
Scale mail 75 gp fairly 40# 6"
Chain mail 100 gp fairly 30# 9"
Bronze plate 120 gp bulky 45# 6"
Splint mail 200 gp bulky 40# 6"
Banded mail 400 gp bulky 35# 9"
Plate mail 600 gp bulky 45# 6"
Field plate 2000 gp fairly 55# 6"
Full plate 4000 gp fairly 65# 6"

I suggest that the price of armor be doubled when acquired in-game. And that assumes:

a) the character is in a metropolis, capital city or comparable urbane place
b) the culture of the location produces the type of armor he desires
c) lines of supply are stable and the socio-economical condition is calm

Any factor missing from the above will double the price of armor again (from an already doubled based price).

So if you are out in the boondocks on a nation that does not really use mail and want a suit of chain, congratulations kid! Assuming there is one for sale it will fetch ya a tidy 800gp (100x2, plus x2 for culture, plus x2 for location). And if there is a war going on, the ensuing arms and armor race will raise the price of a suit of mail to 1600gp!

Now aren't you glad you raided that dungeon and didn't waste all the cash in ale and whores? ;)


Revision Number Two:

Unless you are total cheap bastard, or dirt-poor, there's no way in heck you will settle for the erzats model of your chosen armor. Plating, engraving, dies, studded precious stones, emblazoned symbols. Look as fine as a dandy, catch the eyes of the ladies and improve your AC while doing it. And if, like me, you only grant XP for GP once the PCs spend it, getting bitchin' looking armor will be a good way of getting rid of all that unwanted gold and return to adventure.

I game terms, a nicer-looking suit of armor will cost at minimum twice the normal price (already doubled from the chart above, remember) and can go as much as x10. Above this the armor get just nice-looking to actually use in battle for fear of damaging it and is considered ceremonial.


Revision Number Three:

Helmets grant AC to the head independent of armor worn, and some can only be used with certain classes of armor. The also affect Vision and Hearing differently, presented here as a penalty on a 1-20 scale which you may adapt to wahtever perception system you use.


So let's start putting some armors here. If a lot of what you read sounds familiar don't worry, it has been culled from books you most likely are already familiar with. As a final note, all the terms used here are for game purpose, not scholastics, and the nomenclature already existing AD&D will not be changed even if scientifically erroneous. So I don't want any armchair historians bitching to me about this, that or the other thing. From what I know (and I am not even a lay person in these matters) more is unknown than known, and the very terms used to describe historical armor by experts aren't universal or agreeable to most of them.

So no moaning on how "chain mail" is an erroneous pleonasm because both words mean the same thing. And don't you dare start a fascistic grammar discussion on whether it is "chain mail" or "chainmail". :)
Last edited by Vargr1105 on Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Vargr1105
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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#2 Post by Vargr1105 »

Ok, let us start. Some familiar ones first:


SCALE MAIL, METAL SCALE or LAMELLAR
This armor shares somes similarities to ring mail. It is a suit of leather armor with many small overlapping metal plates or scales sewn to the coat and leggings or to a skirted coat. As with chain mail the weight falls mainly on the wearer's shoulders and waist. The overlapping pieces of metal give the appearance of the scales of a fish, hence its name. This is very ancient form of armor Lamellar is a very ancient armor that was used as far back as Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt thousands of years before the rise of Rome. Certain cultures used it only as a partial component of a hybrid suit of armor, for example: some Byzantine and Persian cavalrymen used breastplates of steel lamellar as part of their heavy armor.
For the purpose of the game the data presented here refers to the common European medieval from of scale: a hauberk of leather coated with metal scales or lamellae. Aesthetically, scales are defined as bits of metal that remind of fish scales, while lamellae are rectangular or square-ish.
(AC 6, stats on first post)


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Optional Rule: as the game stands scale is the worst armor of all. It can't be used by Thieves or Assassins, it is heavy , it has the worst AC:Movement ratio and is the weakest of the metallic armors. To give it an extra oomph I suggest the following: scale is AC 5 vs. arrows. Why? Because practically every horse-archer warrior culture from Asia Minor to the Eastern steppes has scale or lamellar as their cultural armors. There must have been a reason why people who manly killed each other with bow and arrow chose this as their standard personal protection garment.



BANDED MAIL
Banded mail is a layered armor with padding, light chain, and series of overlapping horizontal bands of armor in vulnerable areas; Generally the bandes cover only the more vulnerable areas, while the chain and leather protect the joints where freedom of movement must be ensured. Through straps and buckles, the weight is more or less evenly distributed. This type of armor is most commonly worn by eastern warriors and will be common in cultures based on the Turks, late period Mongols, or the Japanese. Historically, in the west this type of armor never really took off as the dominant design became mail, latter covered in steel plate fit to adjust the body, rather than overlapping bands of several materials. Also, see LAMINAR armors.
(AC 4, stats on first post)

Note: one of the issues I have always had with this armor is that it is the best, non-plate available in the game and it does not fit the Western culture 99% of the campaigns are derived from. Hopefully we will be able to present some alternatives in this thread.



BRONZE PLATE MAIL
Despite the name, this is not This is an earlier, cheaper version of plate mail using bronze.
The original design consists of thick bronze plaques worn over leather or padded armor, a variant is heavy squarish bronze plates attached to a layer of brigandine. Because it does not use iron-based metal, this armor is immune to rusting effects. However its quality is not as good as regular plate mail, its construction makes the wearer more vulnerable to attacks from the rear, so that such attacks are made at + 2 “to hit” in addition to other bonuses that may apply. No explanation for this rear detriment was ever forthcoming, but we will maintain it for the sake of armor price progression in the game.
If some lunatic decides he does want a suit of "bronze plate mail" that looks like the real thing, just have it needing to be made-order, keep the same stats and double the base cost.
(AC 4, stats on first post)


RING MAIL
Ring mail is made of relatively soft leather or padding armor with sewn metal rings along its surface, making it heavier and bulkier than normal leathers. It is popular among town militias, bandit gangs, light troops and skirmishers on modern societies who cannot afford better armors. It can be worn by Thieves and Assassins but prevents the use of certain skills. Some barbarian cultures can manufacture this type of ring mail using bone or wood studs, rivets, scales and ring which is just as effective and may be worn by Druids, however it is more expensive.
(AC 7, stats on first post)
Barbarian Ring Mail (AC 7) - 30 gp fairly 25# 9"


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Note: that picture is what historical ring mail actually looked like, based on specimens found in Poland.



And now for some new ones:



GREEK HELMET
This term referers to a variety of open-faced models of helmets originating from ancient Greece or the surrouding territories, including the ATTIC, CHALCIDIAN, ILLYRIAN and GRECO-ILLYRIAN. All these variants share more similarities than differences and on first glance are reminiscent of a simpler, proto-legionary helmet. Their aesthetic is still popular today as evidenced by its favoritism among fantasy artists. By coincidence or design an fair amount of medieval fantasy helmet art which isn't copying specific middle ages styles seems to depict one of these; and paintings from the Renaissance up to the modern age depicting famous Roman personages often cap them with a "romanized" version of them that never existed.
Historically, the real-life examples of these helmets were no longer dominant by the time of Alexander the Great but there's no reason a medieval setting can't resurect them.

Greek Helm (Head AC 0) - 12 gp Scale+ 7# -2 hearing / -1 vision 12 g.p.



LINOTHORAX
This armor is composed of an upper body quilted, layered or laminated cuirass made of linen, leather, other fabrics or a combination thereof worn together with bronze greaves. Its qualities make it ideal to be mass produced for military use and it was used for a very extended period of time by several peoples of the eastern Mediterranean, usually associated with city-state cultures. The Greeks and Macedonians used this armor but they were far from the only ones. The linothorax cuirass is stiff, but through body heat it conforms to the shape and movement of the user. Worn on its own without greaves it works as standard padded armor.


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Linothorax (AC 7) - 40 gp fairly 15# 12"

Optional Rule: tests done recently in laboratories have determined that linothorax is remarkably resistant to arrow penetrations, even under extreme circumstances like point-blank-range and optimum angle of fire. At the GM's option this may be represented by improving the AC of this armor by 1 against all arrows (but not crossbow bolts, those fly too fast for the armor to be effective).



PLATED MAIL
This armor is a type of full chain mail suit with a few embedded horizontal splinted plates the torso, abdomen and sometimes in the limbs. Armour of this type has been used everywhere from Eastern Europe to the Far East and the model, number and size of the metal splints vary considerably. It is fully made of metal.

Plated mail (AC 4)- 200 gp bulky 40# 6"



NASAL HELMET
This is a type of combat helmet characterized by the possession of a projecting bar covering the nose and thus protecting the center of the face; it was of Western European origins and was used from the Early Middle Ages until the High Middle Ages. Metal caps with nasals where known in Europe since the 9th century, but here the term "nasal helmet" refers to a latter, bigger model where the nasal is much larger. So large in fact that the wearer is often unrecognizable to an observer. Perhaps the most widely known such historical incident comes from the Battle of Hastings, where William the Conqueror had to lift his helmet to show his troops that he was still alive, this is a good indication of the anonymity nasal helmets produced. This helmet began to lose popularity at the end of the 12th century to helms that provided more facial protection, but alhough this happened among the higher classes of knights and men-at-arms, they were still used by archers to whom a wide field of vision was crucial. No doubt some knights too preferred the better vision and hearing afforded by this more open helmet. The nasal helmet is usually worn over a mail coif which protected the lower parts of the head, throat and neck. In game terms it is considered a close-faced helmet although it is truly more of a transition model between that a metal cap. By itself it causes less hearing impediment than a true close-faced helmet, but worn with the mail coif is works the same in that regard.


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Nasal helmet (Head AC -1) - Chain+ 8.5# -2 hearing / -2 vision 16 g.p.



DWARVEN PLATED MAIL
This is simply this race's version of plated mail. Combining knowledge about the peculiarities of dwarven anatomy with advanced metallurgical techniques, the result is a lighter and less encumbrant form of plated mail which is equal to banded armor in efficiency. It is only available dwarven-sized on the open market, but dwarven armorers have been known to (at an extra cost) devise functional suits of dwarven plated mail fit for a gnome. No other cross-racial attempts in devising this armor have been attempted, and it is unlikely the anatomy of humans and other demihumans could support the design.

Dwarven plated mail (AC 4) - 400 gp (800 gp for a gnome) bulky 35# 9"



LAMINAR
This armor armor is simply banded mail armor that does not use metal for the horizontal bands that form it, resorting to other materials such as hard leather, rawhide, horn or even wood. Yes, the title is incorrect because lamination, in the context of ancient armor, refers to a process in which many thin sheets of metal are hammered or riveted together to form individual metal strips, but not wishing to alter the familiar nomenclature of the game we will use it here. It also helps distinguish it from the laminated leather cuirass which belongs to a different culture and time.
This type of armor is associated with Eastern steppe cultures and the Far East all the way to the Japanese archipelago, and will not be found in western settings without a good reason. Even in its lands of origin it's an item of the rank-and-file professional warrior who can't afford banded or splint armor, or communities without access to metal. On the positive side, it is usually flashy to took at: lacquered, dyed, painted or decorated in eye-catching manner.

Laminar (AC 5) - 100 gp fairly 30# 9"



COOLUS
This is a metal cap of ancient Roman design. It was produced from brass or bronze and descend from Celtic helmet types. It is fairly plain, except for some ridges or raised panels on the cheek pieces. It is globular or hemispherical in shape. The coolus coexisted with the iconic imperial legionary helmet once it was introduced and was eventually fully replaced by it before the end of the 1st Century A.D.

Coolus (Head AC 2) - Any armor 3# -1 hearing 8 g.p.



CHAIN & SPLINT
This armor combines a mail hauberk with splint greaves and vambraces to provide added protection. There are historical records (and images) of this type of armor being used among the Byzanthines, Magyars, Bulgars, Arabs, Vikings and other scandinavian peoples around the 9th-11th centuries A.D.
An alternate form of it was popular among the Persians who resorted to tubular frames of softer metals as much as they did splint to make the greaves and vambraces. Other variants are possible in a fantasy setting as long as the arm and leg protection is composed of metal other than steel plate; when this becomes available the first suits of MAIL & PLATE become available.
In settings where full suits of chainmail (AC 5) are not available this armor provides a means of reaching that level of protection.
Once the age of mail arrives buying Chain & Splint becomes more expensive (hence the second price) as more materials and skills have to mastered to build it, and unlike mail the extra parts can not be as easily adjusted or "recycled". This armor then becomes a fashion statement.


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Mail & Splint (AC 5) - 100/160gp fairly 30# 9"



SKUTATOS
The Skutatoi where infantry of the Byzantine empire from a period that stretches from Dark Ages to the High Middle Ages (early 6th-century to late 11th-century). The term "Skutatos" technically refers to the type of large shield they carried but here it is used for their body armor, a corselet or shirt of lamellar with pteruges at the shoulders and waist. While it uses lamellar instead of chain, the aesthetics of this armor is reminiscent of the Roman Republican mail hamatas and Greek armors of the same period, this despite being separated from them by a over a thousand years.


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Skutatos (AC 7) - 15 gp fairly 25# 9"



MAIL ZABA, KLIBANION, KLIVANION or KLIBANOPHOROS ARMOR
This armor was the protective suit of the Klibanphoroi, the heavy shock cavalry of the 10th and 11th century Byzantine empire associated with the Macedonian dinasty and teh Nikephorian period. These units where a revival of the earlier true cataphracts, and while their armor is slightly lighter than that of a proper Kataphraktoi they are still considered equivalently armored forces.
This composite armor consists of a heavy cuirass made of metal plates or scales sewn on leather or cloth (larger plates protecting the shoulders and the back) with pteruges and elbow-length sleeves. The arms have splint vambraces and mail-strengthened gauntlets, the legs are protected by splint greaves called chalkotouba, and all parts on the upper body are joined by pieces of mail. A hooded bambakion or epilorikion of quilted cotton was worn over this, probably dyed in uniform color. Head protection for the typical klibanophoros is a metal cap over a mail coif made of 2 or 3 layers of chain so that only the eyes were visible. A small round shield is also was carried. As a last historical note, the horses the Klibanophoroi rode into battle where themselves covered in scale mail or lamellar barding.
This armor looks familiar yet foreign, combining both Western and Eastern design elements for a striking, colorful appearance compared to the chain mail available in Europe at that time. It is also interesting to note this late-Dark-Ages design of "super-heavy" mounted warrior would not be equaled for over a hundred years, well into the High Middle Ages and the epoch of the Crusades. Similar (but lighter) armor was also used by the Varangian Guard (the personal bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperor, formed of Germanic and Viking warriors) and the Rus people of Russia.
In a fantasy setting the Klibanion armor may emerge at anyplace where Western and Eastern-inspired civilizations border each other.
In the World of Greyhawk the Klibanion could very well be common in the areas of Tusmit, Perrenland and Ket, and if it exists, the nobles and elite warriors of the Tiger and Wolf Nomads to the north will surely make use of it.


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Klibanion (AC 5) - 200gp bulky 40# 6"

Special Rule: this armor affords AC 4 when the wearer is mounted



HIDE
Hide armor is different from normal leather armor, in that it is prepared from the extremely thick hide of a creature (such as an elephant, rhinoceros, bear, etc) or from multiple layers of regular cow leather. It grants better protection than normal leathers but it is stiff and hard to move in. Advances humans cultures find it to thick, inflexible and heavy (the weight is comparable to chain mail) to be of much use. However, among human barbarians and humanoids its is common, especially those living in northern regions where this armor also provides protection from the cold climate. Hide armor is not tanned and its smell is not only hard to get used to, it an be a liability when stealth is desired. Generally speaking, no non-Druid, non-Ranger warrior in a civilized society will be caught dead wearing one of these things...unless there is no other choice.

Hide (AC 6) - 80 gp fairly 25# 9"



JAZERANT
This is a variation of the medieval hauberk, a light coat of armor consisting of one or more layers of mail between layers of fabric or leather, or small plates of metal sewed upon linen or similar cloth. It was used extensively throughout all the Middle East the 11th to 14th century. It continued to be used in the following following centuries under a new model called JAQUE which made it into Europe.

Jazerant (AC 6) - 80 gp fairly 25# 9"



BARBUTE or BARBUTA
This is a closed-face war helmet of late 14th century Italian design, often with distinctive "T" shaped or "Y" shaped opening for the eyes and mouth. It can be considered as a (very) specialized form of the SALLET. The barbute resembles classical Greek helmets (most strikingly the Corinthian) and may have been influenced by a renewed interest in ancient artifacts which was common in this period. The defining characteristic of the barbute is the fact that the shape of the helmet extends all the way down to cover both sides of the face. Some have a central, narrow protrusion extending down from the top of the opening, designed to protect the wearer's nose.
The main differences between the barbute and the Greek hoplite's helm to which it is often compared are the difference in material (Ancient Greeks used bronze), the lack of a prominent decorative crest and more sober, functional lines that make it appear less aesthetically pleasing.
There are 2 striking examples in modern popular culture of helmet designs that by either accident or choice resemble the historical barbute magnificently: the helmet of the Star Wars character Boba Fett and that of the X-Men Comic's villain Magneto.

Barbute (Head AC -1) - Chain+ 10# -3 hearing / -2 vision 20 g.p.



CERVELLIERE, CERVELLERIUM or CEREBRARIUM
This is a hemispherical, close-fitting skull cap (metal cap) of steel or iron. It was worn as a helmet during the medieval period starting on the 12th century and was the primary head protection for Crusaders at that time. It was worn either alone or more often over or under a mail coif. A close-faced helm like the Bucket or Barrel kight's model can be worn over a cervelliere, and by the late 13th century this would be the usual practice. Cerveillieres were used throughout the medieval period and even during the Renaissance. Cheap and easy to produce, they were much used by commoners and non-professional soldiers who could not afford more advanced protection.

Cervelliere (Head AC 2) - Any armor 3# -5 hearing 8 g.p.



GRIVPANVAR
This armor was used by the clibanarii, units of heavy armored horsemen riding fully armored horses used by the Sassanid Persians, late Romans, Byzantines and the Palmyrene Empire. The concept is similar to the cataphractoi but their armor differed and it changed over time since their appearance in the 4th century A.D.
For game purposes the term applies to two models which are considered equally effective. By the 6th century A.D. SPLINTED GRIVPANVAR had become standard: the body is protected by splinted mail while the legs are fully coverd in banded armor. The arms and the shoulder-neck region used chain mail and an open-faced helmet worn on the head. PLATED GRIVPANAR was the last-stage development of the armor in the Sassanid armies and is similar to plated mail in conception. The legs are still protected by banded mail but a long-sleeved hauberk of chain mail is now worn with a small breastplate of steel over, or under it. The head is protected by a ridged metal cap with eye slits on the from rim and mail aventail drapes drown along all its circumference, giving the wearer a distinct "mailed ninja" appearance.
Grivpanar armor was the apex of pre-gunpowder armor technology for non-Western cultures on the Persian sphere of influence; however apart from its impressive appearance (for the time) it does not provide any benefits compared to armor in the same class. Not only is it heavier it is also more expensive (equivalent to plate mail), due to the variety of materials and techniques that had to be used in its construction and the fact it has to be fitted to its wearer. Historically only warrior-nobles that could support retainers and professional soldiers were able to afford a suit of grivpanvar, and often not even a complete one, but the vastness of the Persian empire meant it was still possible to field considerable numbers of these horsemen. The role and location of this armor in a campaign will be similar to KLIBANION, except it isn't likely to make headways into foreign lands. Any other culture with the means to produce it is likely to already have an equivalent or better cultural armor of its own.


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Grivpanvar (AC 4) - 600 gp bulky 45# 5"

Optional Rule: If a campaign has no armors available with provide AC 3 but there is a Middle East-inspired culture making grivpanar armor, then at the GM discretion it provides AC 3 instead of 4. In this case the cost of a suit of grivnapar is equal to field plate. Plated Grivpanar with the plate removed (as in the picture) is (AC 5 fairly 35# 8").



ENCLOSED HELMET
This is the Western European primitive forerunner of the BUCKET or BARREL HELM. It covers the entire head, with full protection for the face and somewhat deeper coverage for the sides and back of the head than that found on previous types of helmets. It was developed in the 12th century and had been largely superseded by true bucket/barrel helms by the mid-13th century. It is distinguishable from its successors by a much greater depth to the face protection when compared to the depth of the helmet at the rear and sides. The enclosed helmet evolved from open-faced helms with nasals, created by adding a face-protecting plate, pierced for sight and breathing, and by extending downwards the back and sides of a flat-topped helmet, to produce a cylindrical helm. It probably arose from a need for greater facial protection in response increased penetrating power new weapons and military formations.
This model of helmet was only used by men of knightly rank. Many soldiers, including knights, disliked the restriction to sight and hearing it imposed, and therefore the more open round-topped and flat-topped nasal helmets, plus 'kettle hats', continued in use alongside it into the mid 13th century.
In the average campaign, unless the GM deems it to take place during a head armor transitional period, this item will likely be a collectors' item and a fashion statement for excentric warriors.
The enclosed helmet is designed to be worn over a mail coif, with additional padding (padded cap) circling the head to cushion the helmet and help absorb the force of any blow.

Enclosed helmet (Head AC 0) - Chain+ 10# -3 hearing / -2 vision 18 g.p.

Special Rule: if worn with all the padding referenced above the head AC improves to -1



LIGHT SCALE or LIGHT LAMELLAR
These are more primitive forms of these armors that does not use metal and resort to bone, horn, wood, ceramics or even natural carapaces (if such are available) for their construction. It is only found among less advanced peoples or in areas which are scarce on metal. It is not cost-effective when compared to true scale or lamellar, but is less encumbering and it may be used by Druids.


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Light scale or lamellar (AC 7) - 30 gp fairly 35# 9"



LAMINATED LEATHER
This armor is made of hardened leather or rawhide bands which shaped in circles and overlapped to form a coat and sleeves, giving it an appearance similar to banded mail armor. The coat is open in the front and when worn closed through a system of multiple latches, usually one for each band. Like leather scale this armor can be (and usually is) lacquered, painted or dyed in vibrant colors (although Rangers may prefer a camouflaged pattern). Historically, laminated rawhide armors were used among the poorest nobles of early Dark Age Dacians and other trans-Danubian peoples, who could not afford scale mail.


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Laminated leather (AC 7) - 20 gp fairly 20# 9"



LEATHER SCALE
This armor is made of thick sections of hardened leather sewn to cloth or another piece of leather, each piece overlaping the others around it. It is a popular choice among common soldiers or horsemen on regions and cultures who do not have access true metal scale or chain. In more advanced societies it may be a fashion statement alternative to studded leather and ring mail. As it does not affect thief skills certain guilds of thieves and assassins who like its aesthetics (unlike light scale it does not look primitive or antiquated) have adopted leather scale as a sort of unnoficial uniform. The scales can be laquered, painted or dyed for a more impressive appearance. The advantages for these two classes that blackened leather scale can provide don't need to be delved into. Druids can also wear this armor with no ill effects.

Leather scale (AC 7) - 20 gp fairly 20# 9"



MAIL & PLATE
This armor is simply a prototype of plate mail consisting of a small, primitive breastplate over a full suit of normal chain mail. Historically, it first appeared near the end of the Crusades as reinforcement for chain mail armor, before it evolved into full breastplates with complete leg and arm coverings. In cultures that produce true plate mail this type of armor is still available as a sort of "recycled" or "budget" item. Those that cannot obtain true plate but wish something that is visually similar to it, thus have an alternative to the improved forms of mail which afford the same level of protection and encumbrance.


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Mail & plate (AC 4) - 200 gp bulky 40# 6"



CATAPHRACT or KATAPHRAC
This armor is the best type metal scale or lamellar armor available, a full suit of overlapping scales or rectangular/squarish lamellae which covers the wearer from head to toe. It is not an armor designed for infantry, but rather heavy cavalry from before the age of mail. Despite its weight, catahract armor is sufficiently flexible to give a horse rider a good degree of motion, but strong enough to resist the immense impact of a thunderous charge into infantry formations. However, chain mail affords comparable or superior levels of protection with lower weight, and it is easier to maintain; so as mail becomes common cataphract armor begins to be displaced except where lack of resources, cultural blindness or strenght of tradition dictate otherwise. Transition models exist, which still fall under the definition of cataphract and funtion the same under game rules: chainmail maybe added to parts of the torso or used for the limbs; banded or splint parts for the forarms and/or lower legs where also popular.
Historically cataphract armor is associated with cultures from Asia Minor, the best examples coming from the Byzanthine and Persian empires. Note that term actually refers to a bewildering variety of heavy cavalry units of varied protective equipment rather than one specific type of armor; but here we are using it to mean the earliest type of armor that would fit the moniker.
In the World of Greyhawk the heavy cavalry of the Baklunish polities on westernmost Flanaess likely still makes use of this armor.


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Cataphract (AC 5) - 90 gp bulky 45# 6"



GALLIC
This armor is a catch-all term referring to the forms of personal piecemeal armor found among certain barbarian tribes. Historically it was used by the Celtic peoples of continental Western Europe, and a later fac-simile found its way into the Roman gladiatorial arenas. It consists of variant combinations of hide or leather leggings, arm sleeves or braces of anything from leather to splint, and a wide metal belt, harness or half-breastplate of leathers.
With so much flesh exposed. No civilized warrior will demean himself into wearing such barbarous armor unless a better alternative cannot be found.

Gallic (AC 8) - 30 gp non- 15# 12"

Special Rule: when worn with closed helms or heavier the AC protection of gallic armor improves by 1.



BUCKET or BARREL HELM
This is a type of helmet of the High Middle Ages that arose in the late 12th century in the context of the crusades and remained in use until the 14th century. They were used by knights and heavy infantry in most European armies for over 300 years. They either come with, or are worn with cloth and fiber padding on the inside (padded cap) and the wearer can also don a metal coif for extra protection. In its simplest form, it is a flat-topped cylinder of steel that completely covers the head and has only very small openings for the eyes and mouth. Later designs gained more of a curved design, particularly on the top, to deflect or lessen the impact of blows.
Affluent warriors and knights often own highly decorated barrel helms. Popular choices include blackening, lacquering or painting the outside of the helm, ventilation decorations in the form of crosses and symbols and attached decorations, such as crowns, feathers or metal wings. Perhaps the best historical example of these are the Teutonic Knights' helms who sported a pair of antler-like decorative structures often taller than the helm itself.

Barrel helm (Head AC -1) - Chain+ 10# -3 hearing / -2 vision 20+ g.p.



BURGONET
This is a heavy helmet of metal which encloses most of the face and has a caplike projection over the eyes. Despite the facial protection it leaves enough exposed to be considered an open-faced helm. It came into use in the early 15th century and was worn by cavalry and infantry alike regardless of armor. In fact, it was sometimes the only piece of armor donned by foot troops.

Burgonet (Head AC 0) - Any armor 7# -2 hearing / -1 vision 15 g.p.



IMPROVED CHAINMAIL
This term refers to several varieties of superior full suits of mail armor using different experimental techniques. Models include BAR MAIL (small metal strips threaded through the links), DOUBLE MAILLE (double mail using heavier links double-joined), REINFORCED CHAIN (with small metal plaques along the mail mesh), RIVETED MAIL (adding rivets to strengthen the joinings of the rings) and AUGMENTED MAIL (using a thicker leather backing to reinforce the coat).
Historically, the real-world counterparts of this armor appeared during the crusades and represented the apex of chain mail technology before the introduction of plate began. All types of improved mail offer better protection than normal chain mail, but at the price of increased weight.


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Improved Chainmail (AC 4) - 200 gp bulky 40# 6"



MAILED CATAPHRACT
This is simply a cataphract armor that uses chain instead of scale. What makes it different from a normal full suit of medieval mail is that it is made using pre-Dark Ages techniques and materials. Without the benefit of nearly a thousand years of development that stood behind High Middle Ages chain, mailed cataphract is less efficient, heavier and rather more expensive than it.
The Persians fielded mounted warriors armored like this as the core of their armies, but they suffered such disastrous defeats against the legionaries of Emperor Julian in the 4th century A.D. that by the time of the Byzantine Wars they had disappeared.
In a campaign this armor will only appear on a culture that has just begun to work with full chain suits, and/or has extremely poor quality steel to work with OR had the brilliant idea of using iron instead of steel alloys for the mail.


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Mailed Cataphract (AC 6) - 200 gp bulky 40# 6"

Optional Rule: if the GM is feeling generous he may rule that this armor is AC 5 against meele attacks of unmounted foes.



CHAIN-LAMELLAR
This is an hybrid form of armor composed of a mail hauberk is worn with a lamellar skirt.


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Chain-lamellar (AC 5) - 85 gp fairly 35# 8"



METAL SCALE & CHAUSSES
This is simply an armor of metal scale which is worn together with mail chausses.


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Metal Scale & Chausses (AC 6) - 95 gp bulky 50# 6"

Special Rule: this armor provides AC 5 again melee attackers afoot when the wearer is riding a horse, and against melee attacks from Small creatures in general.



SCALED or LAMELLAR CORSELET
This is scale mail or lamellar armor that does away with the lower portion and fits the torso closely. The scales are considerably larger than those found on standard scale armor. This was used by the Byzantines and the Sicilian Saracens of the 12th-13th centuries. Thieves and Assassins may wear this armor without hindrance to their skills.


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Scaled Corselet (AC 7) - 30 gp fairly 25# 9"



ANDALUSIAN HAUBERGON
I had to come up with a name for this one, it was that or have an armor title composed of some four words. This is a form of armor used by the Andalusian infantrymen of the 12-13th centuries. It consisted of a long-sleeved mail hauberk over which a metal scale corselet is donned. The interesting thing about the combination is that the legs are left completely unprotected. This improves the movement rate even for a armor of this weight, but is not obviously an armor of choice for considerably cold climates (which Andalusia isn't, I can tell you for a fact since I practically live there). This looks like a interesting choice for any southern sea-faring culture in a setting. In the World of Greyhawk the Sea Princes and the Lordship of the Isles would fit like a glove. For medium-to-heavy expeditionary forces from the County of Sundi who go go into the Great Swamp to fight bullywugs this would be an excellent choice. Just beware of leeches.


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Andalusian Haubergon (AC 5) - 110 gp fairly 50# 9"

Special Rule: this armor is AC 4 aganist melee attacks from mounted foes or Large creatures; but AC 6 against melee attacks by Small creatures who aren't wearing long weapons such as spears. All thing being equal, the wearer will be able to outrun/overtake a humanoid with the same Movement Rate that has armored legs.



MAIL HAUBERK or HAUBERGON

At the onset of the Dark Ages was reserved only for the wealthiest warriors. As the Dark Ages progressed, and before full suits of mail became available, the most common form of mail was the hauberk, a sleeved long coat. This armor is deeply associated with Saxons, Vikings and Normans and there seems to have been very little aesthetic difference in it across cultures. Sometimes it is difficult to tell which side is which in the representation of battle with many hauberk-clad (and byrnie-clad) warriors on both sides.
The precise configuration of each hauberk model varies, the sleeves can extend to the wrists or stop before that, and it can hung down anywhere from the wearer’s thighs to his knees; less length in one area implies more on the other. Despite the varying dimensions the lower legs will always be exposed, therefore the hauberk doesn’t offer the same protection that a full suit of chain mail does.


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Mail Hauberk (AC 6) - 80 gp fairly 25# 9"

Special Rule: In a campaign where the armor technological level isn't at least equivalent to that of the the Age of Mail (roughly 12th century) a hauberk costs double; if it is equivalent to the Early Dark Ages / post-Roman collapse then hauberks take the role of Elfin Chain. They are never found for sale and will be obtained as rewards from chiefs, warlords and kings.

Optional Rule: as no archer is in the habit of aiming at his enemy's feet a hauberk is AC 5 vs. missile attacks. If an hauberk does not extend to at least just above the knees, it is only AC 8 against melee attacks with non-long weapons by dismounted enemies.
Last edited by Vargr1105 on Sun Jun 23, 2013 11:09 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#3 Post by Vargr1105 »

OCCIDENTAL BANDED MAIL

Finally found a picture of the darn thing. Or at least it is listed under "banded mail" and it is Western. So we'll take it. Dated from the 14th Century.


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Occidental Banded mail (AC 4) - 400 gp bulky 35# 9"
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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#4 Post by Vargr1105 »

Hmmm...this is a mess and needs editing. I will start making one post per armor type.

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#5 Post by Vargr1105 »

RUSSIAN SPLINTED MAIL
This is a normal suit of splint mail, a cavalier's armor designed for a warrior on horseback. Its peculiarity is a helm and face-mask of curious design. The origins of the face-mask practice are not known for certainty, but theory says that is hails back all the way to the Etruscans of the Italic peninsula who where known to make use of them. Their Roman successors also had military units with metal face-masks such as Signifers and elite cavalry. The Eastern Roman Empire continued and expanded this practice, particularly among its heavy cavalry units, and it is likely the influence of their giant neighbor to the southwest influenced the Russians to adopt it. However, unlike its Latin and Byzantine counterparts, which portray an impassive classical style face, the Russian variant is shaped in the likeness of a man of that region complete with pointy mustache, giving a mirthful, almost jester-like appearance (which is a bit unsettling considering the job of the man wearing it is killing people). I was unable to find precise information on when this type was armor began being used in Russia, but it is present at the time of the rise of the knight and feudalism.

In the World of Greyhawk this style of armor is a regional exclusive, made only in the Barony of Blackmoor. This cold, northern nation being something of a backwater, bordering both permanent ices and nomadic peoples is a fair fantasy counterpoint of the bickering principalities of Russia before the ascendancy of Moscow in the late 13th century. If a specimen acquired outside that region, accordign to the variant rules here, its base price will double. In Oerth the face-mask is inspired by and associated with the cult of Olidammara the Laughing Rogue, and the armor is a favorite among its warrior-priests and knightly orders dedicated to him. Given the interests and areas of influence of that Deity, these are both found in small numbers. It is said special face-masks have the power to make its wearer resistant to magicks that affect the mind.


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Russian Splinted Mail or Blackmoorian Splinted Mail (AC 4) - 220 gp bulky 40# 6"
Last edited by Vargr1105 on Sat Jun 15, 2013 4:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#6 Post by Vargr1105 »

DENDRA PANOPLY
The Dendra panoply or Dendra armour is a Mycenean-era full-body armour (hence the title "panoply") made of bronze plates. Its name derived from the plate it was first uncovered at: the village of Dendra in the Argolid, Greece. It dates from the 1550-1250 B.C. period.

The panoply’s cuirass consists of two pieces, for the chest and back. These are joined on the left side by a hinge. There is a bronze loop on the right side of the front-plate and a similar loop on each shoulder. Large shoulder-guards fit over the cuirass. Two triangular plates are attached to the shoulder-guards and gave protection to the wearer’s armpits when his arms were in the raised position. There is also a deep neck-guard. Three pairs of curved plates hang from the waist to protect the groin and the thighs. All these pieces are made of beaten bronze sheet and are backed with leather and loosely fastened by ox-hide thongs to allow some degree of movement.
The complete panoply thus forms a cumbersome tubular, or cone-like, suit of armour which fully protects the neck and torso, and extends down to the knees. Lower arm-guards and a set of greaves further protected the warrior, all made of bronze.
The dendra is associated with chariot combat, it was not an armor design thinking of the common footsoldier, much less the one that has to do extensive marching. It is also impossible to ride a horse while wearing one. Despite all its limitations the drendra panoply is a remarkable technical achievement and the pinnacle of bronze-based armors, being as protective as modern plate mail.

In a fantasy campaign with the average AD&D technical level this armor is going to be extremely rare, being found perhaps only on some isolated culture(s) or among exclusive classes of palace or temple guards. Outside of a chariot-culture (of which there are no examples I know of in the standard AD&D settings) it simply isn't a protective suit anyone would don while marching off to war. Its role will then be restricted to personal protection for locational-static defenders. If there are examples of dendras in on a standard culture it is likely the panoplies all date back to an earlier time far in the past, and that most if not all are magical in nature, explaining how they withstood the passage of time.


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Dendra Panoply (AC 3) - never sold, bulky 55# 5"

Special Rule: magical dendra panoplies have their maximum Movement Rate increased to 8"
Last edited by Vargr1105 on Sat Jun 15, 2013 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#7 Post by Vargr1105 »

PLATED LEATHER
This armor is a haubergon of studded leather which has been fitted with a two large metal plaques imbedded on the front and back. There is no historic counterpart for this armor, it is inspired by a picture on the 1984 Mentzer's D&D Companion Rules Set. Thieves and Assassins should be able to use this armor, but it is up to each individual GM to determine which Skills are affected or impeded by it (Climb Walls seems like the most obvious candidate). Compared to other armors it is not a popular design and may be harder to find for sale.


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Plated Leather (AC 6) - 20 gp fairly 30# 9"

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#8 Post by Vargr1105 »

ORCISH ARMOR (Sea Peoples Armor)
The Sea Peoples, or Peoples of the Sea, were a confederacy of seafaring raiders, possibly from Southern Europe around the Aegean Sea, consisnting of the Sherden, Lukka, Ekwesh, Teresh, Sheklesh, Peleset, Tjekker, Denyen and Weshwesh. These populations sailed around the eastern Mediterranean and invaded Anatolia, Syria, Canaan and Cyprus toward the end of the Bronze Age. From the end of the 19th dynasty to the early 20th dynasty in the 12th century B.C. they tried to enter and control the Egyptian territory. It is the Egyptians inscriptions in Great Karnak that refer to them by the name they are known today
The armor worn by the Sea Peoples, from what be gleaned from the paintings and reliefs left by the Ancient Egyptians, seems to have been made of bronze and/or leather, similar in conception to the Dendra armor but with abdominal plates reduced to give torso protection only, and without a neck-guard. The studs on the shoulder pads but an imitation human anatomy. This might also explain the rib-like marking on the lower part of the cuirass instead of plates. The horned helmets they wore seem to be patterned from those found in bronze statues of warrior-gods from Cyprus and Sardinia.

Aesthetically, this armor just look like something the orcs would make, so it is presented here as a possible racial armor for them. Unlike its historical counterpart in need not be made out of bronze, most likely it will be built using whatever metallic alloy is available, anything from copper, bronze, brass, iron, low-grade steel; or most likely combination of several or all of the above with horn, bone, ivory, leather and rawhide thrown in for good measure. The result is a primitive, awkward and often too heavy armor for the protection it provides, but which (in the minds of orcs) more than makes up for it with an intimidating visual, which individual orcs are keen on improving with grisly trophies and decorations.
No other race of humanoids makes use of this armor. It is too heavy for Goblins (let alone Xvarts or Jermlaine), too small for Bugbears, too "human" for the animalistic morphology of Gnolls and the Hobgoblins, with their strict militarized society and taste for quality, standard military equipment wouldn't be caught dead putting one on. But some, absolutely primitive and degenerate human tribes who deal and trade with orcs have been known to use them too. Even among orcs themselves usage of this armor is in the decline except among the more primitive members of the race. The most powerful orc tribes can usually trade or raid for modern armors like chain. Many possess the knowledge and resources to make, but they often lack the infrastructure and/or are too nomadic to make such armors in large scale. But even in the most affluent, advanced orcish community suits of Orcish Armor are bound to be found, if only to be used in religious rituals for their dark deities or on ceremonial occasions. In the World of Greyhawk, small orc tribes in the far corners of the Flanaess may hold suits of orcish armor as some of their most prized possessions. Even within the Land of Iuz, the Horned Society, the Pomarj and the hordes of Turrosh Mak there are bound to be numerous orcs armored in such fashion.

There are 3 other variants of this armor, two of which shall be referenced here. Some orc warriors aren't lucky enough to obtain a full orcish armor or are stupid enough to loose part of it, and therefore must make do with only Half-Armor. On the other hand, orcs are known for sparing the lives of captured dwarves or gnomes to force them to build armor and weapons. Since those two races combined have forgotten more about smithing and metallurgy than orcs will ever learn,the humanoids are keen on putting them to work making modern armors of superlative quality; however, oftentimes due to lack of proper materials and tolls the slave-smiths will be reduced to construct better-than-usual orcish armor. Such suits are referred to as "Orchish Slave Armor", and though they are just as ugly as the normal ones, they're much more functional and durable.

Note that prices indicated for all these armors are for comparison value purposes within orcish societies only. They will never found for sale in the open market, not even in orcish communities. Rather they are made-by-order at the whim of orcish tribal leaders or any other orc sufficiently mean, big or well-positioned to demand so. Outside this the entrepreneuring orcish warrior will have to resort to simple bartering, cajoling, begging or downright stealing to acquire one. More often than not, the economic interaction will take the form of modern, aggressive free-market capitalism tactics such as "We wants it, so we kills ya and takes it!" or "Builds it or I'll bash yer brainz in!"


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Orcish Armor (AC 6) - 120gp bulky 45# 6"

Orcish Half-Armor (AC 7) - 60gp fairly 23# 9"

Orcish Slave Armor (AC 6) - 145gp fairly 35# 9"

Optional Rule: any Orc or Half-Orc using the full version of this armor gets a +1/+5% bonus to Morale due to the sheer psychological effect of wearing one. Orc and Half-Orc PCs will get a +1 non-magical bonus vs. Fear effects.

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#9 Post by Vargr1105 »

BANDED ARMOR
Unlike true banded mail this armor does not use metal in its construction. The overlapping horizontal bands are made of a combination of leather, horn, rawhide and/or wood without any metal chain links in vulnerable areas. It is therefore lighter than banded mail but afford less protection. This armor is associated with more primitive, and usually nomadic or semi-nomadic peoples that cannot muster the resources or infrastructure to make true banded mail in large numbers. In such societies true banded mail is likely the purvey if chiefs and elite warriors while banded armor is the best personal protection the rank-and-file can hope for.
In the Forgotten Realms most of the warriors of The Horde would be armored like this; in the World of Greyhawk this armor is popular among the Tiger Nomads, Wolf Nomads and Paynims of the areas around the Baklunish Basin.


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Banded Armor (AC 5) - 200 gp fairly 30# 9"

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#10 Post by Vargr1105 »

Ok, let us start recycling the entries son the big-arse post, with added pics when possible. As they are placed here in singular entries I'll delete the original entry.

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#11 Post by Vargr1105 »

BYZANTINE KLIMAKOTAKRA

They should have titled this one Late Eastern Roman Empire Armor of Awesome, because that is just what it looks like. I had to come up with a name so a horribly manged translation of "banded limbs" will suffice.
The Klimakotakra is a cuirass of metal scale or lamellar with all four limbs encased in banded mail sleeves and pants, and chain links connecting them. It dates from the 4th-5th centuries A.D. and is very similar in design to armor worn by the Phartians some two centuries before. This was the armor of the heavy Eastern Roman cavalry before a period when the empire entered in decay to the point that most of the army was unarmored (that precedes the creation of the KLIBANION).
It seems to fit a period where a super-heavy cavalry armor craze took over the lands south of the Black and Caspian seas in a way that would not be seen until a thousand years latter and suits of armor made mainly of plate.


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Klimakotakra (AC 5) - 230 gp bulky 42.5# 5"

Special Rule: if the wearer is mounted this armor is AC 4 in melee against unmounted foes without long weapons. The wearer can't use shields due to the weight already on his arms, however that banded protection works like a shield against the first melee attack in the round round that comes from roughly the same height (i.e. a mounted user in melee with a cavalier is AC 4 against his first attack, if he is on foot fighting a dismounted foe the same is true).


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Earlier versions of klimakotakra armor worn by Roman cataphractoi at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, last engagement of the Civil Wars of the Tetrarchy pitting Imperator Maxentius vs. Imperator Constantine, 28th of October 312 A.D.

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#12 Post by Vargr1105 »

FURS

The oldest version of armor worn by mankind the use of untreated animal furs predates history itself, dating from tens of thousands of years ago. While worn mainly as the first form of clothing as a barrier against weather and the elements in sufficient quantity and/or thickness furs can also provide a minimum of protection against blows. Soon surpassed by even the most crude forms of leather tanning and vegetable fiber padding/quilting, fur remained non the less a form of personal protection worn well into modernity and often the only choice available for the poorest of warriors. Available anywhere except in the most fauna-barren of lands.


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Furs (AC 9) - 3 gp non- 5# 12"

Optional Rule: at GM discretion it can be ruled that against primitive weapons that do not use metal (clubs, staves, sticks, stones, wooden javelins, stone arrows, etc) furs provide AC 8.


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Greek peltast wearing furs, V-IV centuries B.C.

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#13 Post by Spiderdown »

Sweet! But where are our old friends the LORICA HAMATA and the adorably inadequate MIRROR PLATE? (I admit, in such a categorical post I might have missed them somewhere.)

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Re: Vargr's Amazing Hallucinatory Armored Assertions

#14 Post by Stirling »

Mithril...?

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