1

The Netbook of Armour

version1.1
1998HugoChesshire.AllRightsReserved.

Contents
CONTENTS............................................................................................................................................................................1
LEGALNOTICES.................................................................................................................................................................2
WHATSNEWINVERSION1.1.........................................................................................................................................2
CREDITS................................................................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................................................3
GLOSSARYOFTERMS......................................................................................................................................................3
ARMOUR................................................................................................................................................................................4
EXPLANATIONSOFARMOURINTHEPHB.................................................................................................................................4
BandedMail........................................................................................................................................................................4
Barding................................................................................................................................................................................4
Brigandine...........................................................................................................................................................................5
Bronzeplatemail.................................................................................................................................................................5
Chainmail...........................................................................................................................................................................5
FieldPlate...........................................................................................................................................................................6
FullPlate.............................................................................................................................................................................6
Helmets................................................................................................................................................................................6
Hide.....................................................................................................................................................................................7
Leather.................................................................................................................................................................................7
Padded.................................................................................................................................................................................8
PlateMail............................................................................................................................................................................8
Ringmail.............................................................................................................................................................................8
ScaleMail(metal)...............................................................................................................................................................8
Shields.................................................................................................................................................................................8
SplintMail...........................................................................................................................................................................9
StuddedLeather...................................................................................................................................................................9
NEWARMOURTYPES.................................................................................................................................................................9
ArmourPadding(3gp,5lb.,AC9,3dp,P1B1)................................................................................................................9
AugmentedMail(175gp,44lb.,AC4,28dp,S+2P+1B2)...............................................................................................9
BarMail(200gp,40lb.,AC4,29dp,S+2P+1B2).........................................................................................................10
Brigandine,Wood/Horn(80gp,26lb.,AC7,10dp,P+1).................................................................................................10
CuirassierPlate(1500gp,45lb.,AC3,35dp,S+3P+2).................................................................................................10
Cuirbouilli(20gp,15lb.,AC7,14dp,P1).....................................................................................................................10
Doublemail(160gp,45lb.,AC4,29dp,S+2B2)...........................................................................................................10
FootcombatJoustingPlate(3,0008,000gp,60lb.,AC1,50dp,S+4P+3)...................................................................10
Gauntlets(Chain:5gp,25lb.,10dp;Leather:2gp,2lb.,5dp;Platemail:15gp,3.5lb.,13dp;FullPlate:15gp,2.5
lb.,15dp)............................................................................................................................................................................10
Gladiatorial,Gallic(32gp,20lb.,AC7,15dp,S+1B1).................................................................................................11
Gladiatorial,Samnite(80gp,35lb.,AC5,25dp,S+2P+1)............................................................................................11
Gladiatorial,Thracian(10gp,5lb.,AC9,5dp,B1P2)................................................................................................11
GnomishFlyingArmour(notsold,75lb.,AC6,25dp,S+1)...........................................................................................11
GnomishWatercooledArmour(notsold,80lb.,AC2,40dp,S+3P+1).........................................................................12
Helmet,Armet(20gp,7lb.,25dp).....................................................................................................................................13
Helmet,Barbut(10gp,6lb.,18dp)....................................................................................................................................13

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Helmet,Burgonet(25gp,7lb.,20dp)................................................................................................................................13
Helmet,Closehelmet(22gp,7lb.,30dp)..........................................................................................................................13
Helmet,Galea(10gp,5lb.,25dp).....................................................................................................................................13
Helmet,GreatHelm(30gp,10lb.,30dp)..........................................................................................................................13
Helmet,Morion(12gp,4lb.,10dp)...................................................................................................................................14
Helmet,Myrrmillo(10gp,5lb.,5dp)................................................................................................................................14
Helmet,PikemansPot(8gp,4lb.,12dp).........................................................................................................................14
Helmet,Sallet(15gp,5lb.,20dp)......................................................................................................................................14
Helmet,VisoredBascinet(20gp,7lb.,25dp)...................................................................................................................14
Helmet,VisorlessBascinet(8gp,5lb.,20dp)...................................................................................................................14
Hide,Mongol(20gp,25lb.,AC7,25dp)..........................................................................................................................14
Hide,Nomadic(10gp,15lb.,AC8,15dp)........................................................................................................................15
Hide,Nordic(20gp,25lb.,AC6,20dp)............................................................................................................................15
JadeBurialArmour(50,000gpormore,50lb.,AC7,40dp,S+2P+1)..........................................................................15
JoustingFullPlate(8,00015,000gp,90lb.,AC1/0,50dp,S+4P+5)............................................................................15
Lamellar(metal:210gp,36lb.,AC4,26dp,P+1;wood/horn:120gp,20lb.,AC5,10dp,P+1)...................................15
Leather,Norman(15gp,25lb.,AC7,25dp,S+1P2)......................................................................................................16
LoricaSegmenta(seebandedmail)..................................................................................................................................16
ParadePlateHorseBarding(30,00080,000gp,120lb.,AC5,35dp,S+2B1)..............................................................16
ParadeFullPlate(20,00050,000gp,6085lb.,AC5,25dp,S+2B1)...........................................................................16
PikemansFieldPlate(600gp,40lb.,AC4,30dp,S+2P+1)..........................................................................................16
Scalemail(woodorhorn;80gp,20lb.,AC5,10dp,P+1)..............................................................................................17
Shield,Bouched(10gp,7lb.,25dp)..................................................................................................................................17
Shield,Kote(5gp,3lb.,10dp)...........................................................................................................................................17
Shield,Parma(7gp,5lb.,10dp).......................................................................................................................................17
Shield,Scutum(10gp,10lb.,25dp)..................................................................................................................................17
Shield,SmallWooden(1gp,3lb.,8dp)............................................................................................................................17
Shield,Target(2gp,4lb.,10dp)........................................................................................................................................17
ARMOURMANUFACTURE.............................................................................................................................................18
NEWPROFICIENCIES......................................................................................................................................................18
ArmourDesign(2slots,Warriorgroup,Intelligence4).................................................................................................18
EPILOGUE...........................................................................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................................................................19

Legal Notices
TSR,AdvancedDungeonsandDragons,AD&D,DungeonMaster,andDMaretrademarksownedby
TSR,Inc.Theuseofsaidtrademarksinthisdocumentisnotachallengetotheownerofthese
trademarks.Alltrademarksusedwithoutpermission.
Allrightsreserved.Thisdocumentisfreelydistributable,butremainstheintellectualpropertyofthe
author.Permissionisgiventostore,reproduceortransmitthisdocumentfornonprofitablepurposes
only.Personsororganisationsdistributingthisdocumentmaychargenomorethanwhatisnecessary
tocoverthecostofsaiddistribution.Nopartofthisdocumentmaybesold,resold,hiredout,stored,
lentorotherwisedistributed,stored,transmittedorreproducedforprofitwithouttheexpresswritten
permissionoftheauthor.

Whats New in Version 1.1

AdditionstoGlossaryofTerms

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ArmourManufacture
Newarmourtypesadded:Mongol,NomadicandNordicHide;JadeBurialArmour;GnomishFlying
Armour;GnomishWatercooledArmour,NormanLeather,LoricaSegmenta
Revisedarmourtypes:Bandedmail,Chainmail
NewProficiencies:ArmourDesign
Revisedtableofcontentswithsummariesofthestatsofnewarmour(savesyouhavingtolook
throughthewholenetbook,ysee)

Credits
Research,writingandeverythingelse:HugoChesshire<hugo@chesshire.abel.co.uk>

Introduction
ThisnetbookwaswrittenprincipallyforusewithTSRsAdvancedDungeonsandDragonsgame.It
triestodescribeindetailthearmoursthatwerebrieflylistedinthePlayersHandbook.Ifeltthese
descriptionslackedalotintermsofdetailandexplanationsofuse(and,evidently,sodidTSR:
witnesstheArmsandEquipmentGuide),soIsatdowntowritethis.IvebeenascomprehensiveasI
feltwasneeded.Whatwasrequiredwasafairlybriefbutallencompassingdescriptionoftheitem,a
littlehistory(forthoserunninghistoricalcampaigns,orforthoseobsessedwithaccuracy),andmaybe
anewweaponstatisticslistingorArmourClasstoreflectanitemsdesign.Armoursfromother
localesandtimeperiodsIhavelargelyignored,forthesimplereasonthattheAD&Drulesdothese
itemsjusticeanyway.Foralltheirsophisticationandgrandeur,anAztecwarriorsmostsophisticated
weaponwastheclub,andhismostsophisticatedarmourthehideshield.Itreallydoesntmatterhow
manydifferenttypesofclubyoudescribe,theyallactinthesameway.Thesameisnottrueof
differenttypesofswords.
Ihavealsoincludednewarmourtypes,whichwereunrepresentedinthePHBoranyTSR
supplement.Therulesforthemareentirelymyowncreation(unlessotherwisestated).Usethemif
youwantto,changethemifyoudon'tlikethem.
Nothinghereissetinstone.Althoughyouprobablyknowthatalready.Ifyoudontlikethenew
itemsthenchangethem.Ifanitemdoesntfitinyourcampaign,slingitout!Dontfeelboundbymy
historicaldates,either.IfyoureplayinganotherwisefaithfulAncientGreekcampaignthatjust
happenstohavedevelopedfullsteelplatearmourbeforewedidinreallife,dontletmestopyou.
Thisisanaidtoroleplayingandgameenjoyment,notastraitjacket.Endoflecture.Nowforthegood
stuff.Althoughthatssubjective...

Glossary of Terms
B:wherefound,referstothemodifierforBludgeoningtypeweapons.
Barding:armourmadeforamount,commonlyahorse.
Besagew:circularplateprotectingthelancesideshoulder.
Bevor:aplateforfaceandneckprotectiononahelmet.
Breath:holesorslitsinthevisorofahelmettoallowthewearertobreathe.
Brim:aflangearoundtheedgeoftheskullpieceofahelmet.
Buffe:anopenfrontedvisorwithverticalmetalstrips.Itgaveimprovedvisibility.

4
Cannon:theuppercannonwastheupperarmarmour,thelowercannon(alsoknownasavambrace)
wasthearmouroftheforearm.
Cheekguards:metalplatingormaildesignedtoprotectthecheeks.Sometimesremovableorhinged.
Codpiece:atriangularshapedpieceofmaterialwornoverthegroin.
Coif:aheadpiecemadelikeabalaclava,usuallymadeofmail.
Comb:adecorativecrestorridgeofvaryingheightmountedonahelmet,runningfromfronttoback
orfromsidetoside.
Couter:bentplateprotectingtheinsideoftheelbow.
Crest:seeCombabove.
Cuisse:thighplate.
Cuirass:abreastplate.
Cuirassier:acavalryman,especiallyoneinthegunpowderera.
DP:DamagePoints.ThisreferstorulesforarmourdamagefoundintheCompleteFighters
Handbook.
Fauld:acodpiecemadeofplateormail.
Gorget:acurvedplateorplatesofmetalencirclingandprotectingthethroat.
Grandguard:ametalplateresemblingashieldbuiltintothearmofasuitofarmourandextending
acrossthechestandshoulder.
Greaves:shinplates.
Hauberk:anygarmentresemblingajerkinorshirt.
Heaume:agreathelmusedforjoustingandceremony,oftenfittedwithlavishdecorationsand
headpiece.
Helm:ahelmet,particularlyalarge,grandioseorheavyone(greathelmorclosehelmet,for
example).Lighterhelms(kettlehatsandmorions)wereknownashelmets.
Lames:laminatedplatesdesignedtoprotectaswellasplate,whilestillconferringgoodmobility.
Mail:aformofarmourmadeofinterlockingringsofmetal.
P:wherefound,referstothemodifierforPiercingtypeweapons.
Pauldron:shoulderplate,alsoknownasspaulder.
Poleyn:kneecapguards.
Rondel:acircularplateofmetaldesignedtoprotectthestrapsonawrapper.
Peak:anattachmenttoahelmet,takingtheformofaplateovertheeyeslikethepeakofabaseball
cap.
S:wherefound,referstothemodifierforSlashingtypeweapons.
Sabaton:metalarmouredfootwear.
Sight:slitorholesinthevisorofthehelmettoallowthewearertosee.
SkullPiece:theroundedtopofahelmet,designedtoprotecttheupperhalfoftheskull.
Surcoat:afabricgarmentwornoverthetopofarmour,typicallybyEuropeanknights.Itwas
sleevelessandhungdowntotheknees,andusuallycarriedthewearerscoatofarms,orthedesign
ofhisorder(KnightsHospitalersorTemplars,forexample).
Tassets:legprotectionconsistingoflamesorplatewornoverthethighs.Usually,itonlyprotectedthe
front.
Tonlet:aflared,laminatedplateskirtforextralegprotection.
Wrapper:ametalplatedesignedtoprotectabuckleorjoininarmour,especiallyonthehelmet.

Armour
Explanations of armour in the PHB

BandedMail
Bandedmailconsistedofsmall,overlappingflatmetalringssewnontoleather,linenorvelvet.One
rowwouldbeoverlappedontherightedge,thenextontheleft,theoneafterontherightagainandso
on.Thematerialthattheyweresewnonwasgatheredintoarollortuckinbetweentherowswhich
separatedthemandmadesuretheringsstayedflat,itisthesebandsofmaterialthatgiverisetothe
name.DespitethedescriptiongiveninthePlayersHandbook,thisarmourwasnotbackedbymailas
itwouldhaveaddedtoomuchtotheweightfortoolittlegain.

Barding
Themountedwarriorwouldwanttoprotecthisexpensivemountwhereverpossible.Tothisend,it
seemedlogicaltoarmourthemountaswellasitsrider.Chainbardingtooktheformofacoatthe
horsewouldwear,fittingaroundthebaseoftheneckandhangingdowntothehorseships.An
extendedcoiflikegarmentprotectedtheneckandhead.Paddingwasusuallywornunderneath,as
wasthepracticewiththerider.Chainbardingdatesfromtheavailabilityofchainmail.Mostbarding
followedthispattern,thehorseslegswereusuallyleftexposed,althoughdoubtlesssomehorseswore
aformofgreaveontheirshins.Platebardingenclosedthehorsesbodyinplates,andhadan
articulatedextensionfortheneck.Thehorsesheadwouldoftenbeguarded,butprotectiondidnot
extendtothejawandundersideofthehead,theseareasbeinghardtoattackanyway.Scalebarding
wasavailableinpartialorfullform,thepartialformprotectingthehead,neck,chest,andfront
quartersofthebeast;andthefullversionalsocoveringthehindquartersandflanks.Itismanufactured
inthesamewayasthescalemailwornbymen,andwasavailablefromthesametimeperiod.
Brigandinearmourwassimilartoscale,aswasthesoldiersversion,butgenerallywasavailableonly
inhalfversions.Bythetimefullbardingcametobeintroduced,mostcavalryusedchainorscale.It
wasavailablefromthetimeofbrigandineforsoldiers.Paddedandleatherarmoursalsoweremadein
thesamewayasformen,andwereavailableinhalforfullversions.Theprincipleadvantageofthese
armourswastheirlowweight,makingthemmoresuitableforthelighterwarhorse.

Brigandine
Thisarmourismadefromsmallmetalplatessewnontoleatherbacking,muchlikefishscales.Itis
similartoscalemail,butthisarmourwaswornfromaboutAD400,andgenerallytooktheformofa
sleevelessovercoat.Itwasfoundtobesuperiortomail,especiallyagainstmissiles,whosegrowing
poweritwasdesignedtoovercome.Theplateswereusuallymadeofiron,orsometimesbronze
(barbariantribesdidnotalwayshavethetechnologytosmeltiron).Themaindifferencebetweenthis
typeandscalemailisthatthisarmourusuallytooktheformofasurcoat,whereasscalemailoften
includedsleevesandleggingsaswell(and,foreaseofmovement,theplateswereoftensmalleron
scalemail).

Bronzeplatemail
Thiswasthefirstcompletebodyarmoursuitanywhere,theoldestsurvivingexamplebeingfoundin
1400BC.ItwasusedinAncientGreece.Itisnotthestylisedbreastplatesassociatedwiththeperiod,
thesedatefrommuchlater,butwasmadefromsmallerplates,muchlikeplatemail(asthename
suggests).Itgaveprotectiontothetorsoandshoulders,andoftenahelmetandgreaveswouldbeworn
withit.Itdidsufferfromthelimitationsofbronze(asoftmetal),andwasinferiortoironorsteel
armour.AlthoughthePHBsaysthatmailwaswornaswell,mailwasnotuseduntilironworking
technologyhadbecomewidespread,bywhichtimebronzewasnolongerused.However,ina

6
fictitiousworld(whereironmaynotexist)thereisnoreasonwhymailcouldnotbecombinedwithit,
muchinthesamewayasthetransitionfrommailtoplateintheMiddleAgesofourownworld.

Chainmail
Thisarmourevolvedthroughmanystages,fromthemailshirtwithelbowlengthsleeveswornbythe
typicalSaxonwarriorthroughtothefullmailsuitenclosingallofaknightbarthefacethatsurvived
upuntiltheeventualsupremacyofplate.Forthoseunsureastotheconstructionandnatureofchain
mail,itismadeofinterwovenmetalrings.Eachlinkwasmadebytwistingmetalwirearounda
dowel,andthenitwascutusingachiseltoformaseriesofopenendedrings.Theyweremadeto
overlapandoncetheywereinterlinked,theendswerehammeredclosedandsealedwithapunch.
Eachringinasuitofmailgenerallyislinkedtofourothers.Anundergarmentisalwayswornasmail
ischafingtowear,butitdoesnotrequireabacking,unlikebandedmail.Lateron,theundergarment
wouldbeheavilypaddedtocushionbludgeoningblows.
Firstly,wehavethechainmailarmourusedataboutthetimeoftheNormanConquest.This,inthe
caseoftheSaxons,wasamailshirt,ofaboutthesameproportionsasamodernTshirt.Itwasworn
overaheavywoollenshirtthatreacheddowntotheknees,andthiswouldhavebeenmoretoprevent
chafingthantocushionblows.TheSaxonwarriorusuallycombineditwitharoundshield.The
Normansoldiersworeamoreadvancedcostume,consistingofamailhauberkwithshortsleevesopen
totheelbow,reachingdowntokneelevelatfrontandback.Thishauberkwouldnotbemadeof
interlinkedrings,butofseparateringssewnontoalinenorleatherbacking,ahybridofbandedand
chainmail.Atthecentreofthefrontandbackitwasslitbyventsreachinguptothewaist,foreaseof
usewhileonhorseback.Itwascombinedwithahelmet(atthispoint,basicallyanupturnedmetal
bowlwithanasalprotectingbar)andakiteshield.Thehelmetwouldoftenbewornoverachaincoif.
Thisequipmentwentbasicallyunchangeduntilthe12thCenturyAD.Untilthen,itmerelyexpanded
tocoverotherareasofthebody.Thesleeveswereextendedtothewrist,andmittensadded.These
weremadelikechildsmittens,withabagforthethumbandalargeroneforthefingers.Obviously,
manualdexteritywasgreatlyhindered,buttheabilitytoholdanduseaswordremainedunhindered.
Thepalmwouldbemadeofclothorleatherratherthanmailsothatitwouldflexmoreeasily,andthe
mittensweredesignedsothattheycouldbedetachedandhungfromthewristswhennotinuse.Leg
protectionwouldtaketheformofeithermailhoseormailgreavesstrappedonroundthecalf.Bythis
point,thehood,shirtandarmprotectionwasintegratedintoonepiece,andasurcoatwouldbeworn
overthewhole.

FieldPlate
Fieldplateisthebattlefieldversionoffullplatearmour.Itwasusedinthelatemiddleages,andby
thetimeofitsadoptionmailhadbecomeobsolescent,beingusedinthisarmouronlyforthemail
fauldorcodpiece.Somedesignscoveredeveryinchofthewearerinmetalplate,whileotherspaid
attentiontothefrontofthebody,leavingthebacksofthelegsexposedorsheathedinmail.Theneck
wasfullyprotected,andthegorgetlockedwiththebascinetinsuchawayastofullyprotectthethroat
andpreventthevisorfromaccidentallyopening.Manysuitsofthistypedidnotenclosetheentire
torsowithabreastplate,oftenusingtwoorthreeplatestoachievethesamepurpose.Fromthe15th
Centuryonwards,thisoftenwasnotthecase.
Armourofthistypewasmadeforitsweareralone.Itwasnotashardtomoveinasmanysuspect,
andatrainedmancouldmovequitenormally.

FullPlate
Thisarmouristheveryimpressiveandornatearmourusedafterthe15thCentury.Designersnow
oftenpaidmoreattentiontoaestheticsthantoefficientdesign,andthisiswhenflutingandspiky,
elongateddetailingbecamepopular.Therounded,flutedMaximiliandesignisparticularlyfamous,
perhapslesssothantheevenmoreornateItalianarmoursofthe16thCentury,coveredastheywere
withembossedfiguresanddesigns.
Tournamentarmourisalsoincludedinthistype.Inthe15thand16thCenturies,thewearingof
armourwasincreasinglyforritualandthejoustthanforcombat,andthedesignsreflectthis.The
shoulderplateoftheleftarmwasextendedtocovermostofthechest,andtheelbowwaslockedin
position.Thegauntletincludedamountforashield.Theseextrapieceswereoftendesignedsothey
couldbeaddedtoexistingarmour,thusadaptingabattlefieldsuitforthejoust.Alsopopularin
tournamentwasfootcombat,andnewtypesofarmourevolvedforthisaswell.Theyoftenafforded
moremobilitythanarmourformountedwarriors,asinmanytournamentsgrapplingandwrestling
wereallowed(andoftenprovedfataltothosewhoengagedinit,latertournamentserectedbarriers
betweenopponents).Thebascinetwasmadetobescrewedontothegorgetasitwasfoundthatthe
conventionalstrapshadatendencytosnap.Aglobularvisorwithheavyribbingwaspopular.Some
Germandesignsincorporatedametalskirt,conicalinshape,reachingalmosttotheknees.
Inthe17thCentury,thistypeofarmourfellintodeclineandceasedtobeusedonthebattlefield.
Gunpowderweaponscouldpenetratemorethicknessofarmourthanamancouldcarry,andarmour
wasusedmoreandmoreforceremonyandparades.Armourofthisperiodisevenmorebaroque,but
muchlesseffectivethanitspredecessors.

Helmets
TheRomanhelmetwasmadeofmetal,andincludedabrim,cheekguards,andaneckguard.The
earlierGreekdesignwasanelongatedbronzedomewithaTinthefront,withtwooshapes
replacingthebarsoftheT.Saxonsmerelyworealeathercap,buttheNormansworeanupturned
metalbowlwithnoseguard.Vikingwarriorsusedasimilardesign,butwithmetalencirclingtheeye
socketsandoftenwithmailhangingfromthefronttoenclosethemouthandnose.Thislattercannot
havebeenveryeffective,asitwasnotbackedbythebodybuthunginspace.
Withthefullmailsuitcameotherhelmets.Theflattoppedgreathelmwasametalcylinderwithaflat
top(hencethename),withaslitfortheeyesandstrengtheningbarstoprotectthenoseandeyeareas
fromcavingin.Theroundtoppedkettlehat,ahemispherewithabrim,wasalsousedinthisperiod,
aswastheroundhelmetorskullcap(simplyanupturnedmetalbowl)andtheflattoppedhelm,
lookinglikeaninvertedsaucepanminushandle.Thesewereavailablewithandwithoutnasalbar.
Theclassicgreathelmcontinuedintothe14thCenturybeforeitsreplacement.Itwasheavyand
restedupontheshoulders.Itdidnotchangefunctionalityfromitsfirstdays,merelyaddingfeatures
suchasventilationholesanddifferentshapes.Inthesecondhalfofthe14thCenturyanewtypeof
helmetemerged,thebascinet(forthatishowitisspelt).Initially,itwaswornoveramailcoif,but
thissoonevolvedintomailattachedtotherimofthehelmet.ItwasatfirstsimilartotheNorman
design,butextendedovertheearsandthebackofthehead.Theonlyexposedareawastheface,and
thiswasremediedwiththedevelopmentofthevisor.Initially,theseweremerelyslightlyrounded
plateswitheyeslits,buttheevolvedintoroundedshapeswithventilationholes,andpointed,beaked
variantsaswell.Atfirst,inthedaysofthevisorlessbascinet,thegreathelmwouldbewornoverthe

8
topbutwhenthebascinetdevelopeditsownvisorthispracticewasabandoned.Earlyvisorswere
hingedatthetop,butlaterdesignshingedonbothsides,completewithpivotandremovablehingepin
sothatthebascinetcouldbewornopenwithoutthevisorfallingshut.Helmetsofgoodquality
remainedthiswayuntilthe16thCentury.
Inthe15thCentury,thepopularbascinetcametolosethemailextensionsandthesewerereplaced
withplate.Attheback,thehelmetnowcamedownfurtherandextendedoverthebackarmour,
offeringcompleteprotectionforthebackoftheneck.Itwasnowattachedtothebreastandback
platesbymeansofstrapsandbuckles.Thebarbutwasanothertypeofhelmetdevelopedinthis
century,lookingverymuchlikeearlyGreekdesigns.Itcoveredthehead,thebackoftheneckandthe
cheeks,leavinganopeningfortheface.Asthisstyledeveloped,theholesgotsmallerandsmaller,
andmorefittedtotheshapeofthemouthandeyestheyexposed.By1500,thistypewasnolongerin
use,havingbeenreplacedbythesallet.Earlymodelsofthishelmetweresimilartothebarbutbut
weremoreroundedandfittedmuchcloseraroundtheneck.Latersalletsconsistedofaroundedskull
piece,roughlyhemispherical,thattaperedtowardsthebacktoformaneckguard,whichcouldbe
simpleorlaminatedinconstruction.Thesalletcoveredthefacetojustbelowthenose,andincluded
aneyeslit.Somesalletswerefittedwithvisors,failingthat,abevorwasfittedtoprotectthelower
face.Germandesignshadmorepointedneckguards,butItaliansalletsweremoresimilartothe
barbutindesignandappearance.Inthelastpartofthe15thCenturythearmetappearedaswellas
thesetypes.Ithadaskullpieceandalongverticalridgeatthereartoprotecttheneck.Hingedcheek
piecescouldbestrappedtogetherwhenthehelmetwasworn,muchliketheRomanhelmetsavethat
theRomanhingeswerelocatedbetweenthetopsoftheearsandtheeyes,andthehingesofthearmet
wereplacedbelowandbehindtheearlobes.Araiseablevisorwasfittedtoprotectthejoinsandstraps
atthefront.Foradditionalprotectionametalwrapperwassometimesattachedaswell,andtoprotect
thestrapsofthewrapperitselfacircularplate,therondel,wasalsofitted.
The16thCenturysawtheemergenceoftheclosehelmet,adesignsimilartothearmetbutlackingthe
hingedcheekguards.Agorgetplateatthebaseofthehelmetwasattachedtothegorgetofthe
breastplate.Initiallythisdesignhadalowcomborcrest,whichgrewinsizeuntilitreachedthe
heightsoftheItaliancombedmorioninuseabout1590.Afterthis,thecombshrankagain,alongwith
thevisorwhichbecamelessexaggerated.Anotherdesignofhelmetinthisperiodwastheburgonet,
withanopenfaceandacentralcomb.Thefacewouldbeguardedbybars,butmostofthefacewould
bevisible,asopposedtoearlierdesignsinwhichtherewereonlyeyeslits.Developedfromthis
designwasthemorion,thedistinctivehelmetoftheSpanishConquistador.Italianmorionsusually
featuredacomb,Spanishdesignswereplainerandhadasimpledomedtop.Thisdesignwouldbe
continueduntilthe17thCentury,withsimplehelmetscoveringonlythetopoftheheadandtheback
oftheneck,sometimesincorporatingcheekguards.
AsthestandardPHBdescriptionsofhelmetsaretoobriefandinaccurate,Ihavemadelistingsforall
thetypesofhelmetbelow,underNewArmourTypes.IsuggestthatthestandardPHBdescriptions
andstatisticsbeignored.Helmetsaddnothingtoarmourclassasitisassumedthattheywouldbe
wornwitharmourwhereappropriate.Combiningahelmetwithpaddedarmourwouldbepointless
andthusaddsnothing,similarly,fieldplateisdesignedwithhelmetsinmindandsoitisunnecessary
toaddanythingforthehelmet.DMsmaywishtopenalisetheACsofplayerswhoinsistonwearing
heavyarmourwithoutanappropriatehelmet,especiallywherecalledshotstotheheadareinvolved.

Hide
Thisarmourispreparedbystiffeningthehideofathickskinnedanimal,suchasanelephant.Itwas
experimentedwithasanalternativetochainmail,butwasmuchstifferandthuswasrarelyused.It

9
wasmadeintoplates,ratherlikeplatemail,butwithhidereplacingthemetal.Theseplateswouldbe
sewntogethertomakeawholeorpartialsuit.HidearmourwasinventedintheDarkAgesandhas
beeneversince.

Leather
ThisarmourwasinventedintheDarkAgesalso,bythoselookingtoimprovedchainmail.Itwas
boiledfirsttosoftenitformoulding,andwhenitcooleditsethard.Itwascommonlywornoverchain
mailtoprovideprotectionagainstthepiercingweaponsagainstwhichchainmailwasinefficient.Itis
madeofplates,likehidearmour,butitisnothardenoughtomakesophisticatedjointsasarefoundin
fieldplate,soitissewntogether.Mailoftenguardsthejoints.

Padded
Thisisaverysimpletypeofarmour,consistingsimplyofthick,quiltedgarmentsthatwerenextto
uselessagainstanarrowbutcoulddeflectaglancingswordblow.Itwassaidtohavehadmostofthe
advantagesofmailbutlittleofitsweight.Itwas,however,theequivalentofwearingaboutten
thermalundergarmentsatonceanditwasstiflinglyhottowear.Athinnerformevolvedtobecome
thebackingformailandplatesuits,providingcushioningfromtheshockofblows.Itwasinvented
duringtheDarkAges,butitissimpletomakeandthereisnoreasonwhyafantasysocietywith
Ancienttechnologycouldnotconceiveofandmanufactureit.Quiltedarmourwasoftenusedasleg
andhorseprotectionwhileamailhauberkwasworn.

PlateMail
Thisisnottheallenclosingfieldorfullplatearmour,butrathertheplatemailhybridsthatstartedto
emergeintheearly14thCentury.Inthebeginning,thisarmourmerelyconsistedofplatesonthe
knees,elbowsandshouldersoveramailsuit,thenitevolvedtoconsistofafullmailsuitwith
additionalplatestoprotecttheshins(andlaterthethighs),armsandsometimesabreastplatein
addition.Asurcoatwouldbewornoverthetop.Overlappingplateswouldbefittedtothetopofthe
chainmailsocks.Generally,thisarmouronlyfacedthefrontandthebackoftheknightslegsand
bodyweretrustedtomail,asweretheinsidesofthearms.Platecametocovermoreandmoreofthe
body,untilthemailunderneathbegantodisappear,eventuallycoveringonlythegroin.Afterawhile
thattoodisappeared.

Ringmail
Thereisalotofdoubtastowhetherthisarmoureverexisted.Itisbasicallychainmail,butwithmuch
biggerlinks.Thelinksweretoobigtobeusedalone,unlikemail,andwouldbesewnontoaleather
backing.Itwouldhavebeenvirtuallyuselessagainstpiercingorbludgeoningweapons,butwould
havegivensomeprotectionagainstslashingattacks.Ifithadexisted,itwouldhavebeenusedbefore
chainmailbecamewidespreadasitismerelyamoreprimitiveform.Historicallyaccuratecampaigns
andDMsmaywishtobanthisarmourfromtheirgames.

ScaleMail(metal)
Thisisbrigandinearmour(seeabove),extendeddowntothekneesandwornwithadditionalleggings.
Itthuslyaffordsmoreprotection.ItwasintroducedintheDarkAges,infact,itwasafavouritewith
thebarbarianhorsemenwhoattackedtheRomanEmpireinthe4thCentury.Thescalesweresmallin

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size,andsewnontoaleatherorpaddedbacking.Itwasmoreefficientthanchainmail,particularlyat
stoppingmissiles.

Shields
Thebucklerordaraqwasasimple,smallshieldthatwasheldinthehand(thereferencetobeing
strappedontotheforearminthePHBisanerror).Itcouldonlydefendagainstoneattackperround,
andthehandcouldnotholdaweapon.Thisdesignhas,likemostshields,beenavailablesince
Ancienttimes,butwasusedmostlyasafootmansshield.Archersandmountedwarriorshadother
typesavailabletothem.
Smallshieldswereoftencircular,madeofmetalorhideoverwood.Thesetoohavebeenavailable
sincetheAncientperiod.Somedesignsbackedtheshieldwithpadding,andsuitsofjoustingarmour
inthelatermiddleagesincorporatedmountsforthemintotheleftarm,somesuitsgoingsofarasto
actuallybuildtheshieldintothearmitself.Other,later,designsmerelyexpandedtheshoulderplate
untilitcoveredmostofthechest,formingashieldinitsownright.
AnexampleofthemediumshieldwasthekiteshapedshieldusedbyNormancavalry.Thisshield
wasthemosttypicaltypeforcavalryoftheDarkandMiddleAges,andcouldbecircular,kiteshaped
(popularwithhorsemenasitstaperedbasemeantthatitcouldbeheldclosertothecentrelineofthe
bodywithoutsnaggingonthesaddle),orlozengeshaped.Paddingwasoftenincorporatedintothe
backingoftheshieldtoabsorbtheshockofblowsandpreventfracturestothearmholdingit.Oblong
shields,curvedincrosssection,wereusedbyinfantrymen(themostfamousexamplebeingthe
Romanlegionary),andgavemoreprotectionwhenusedcorrectlyinformation.Romanlegionaries
wouldformatortoise,withthesoldiersformingasquareandthemenontheperimeterholding
shieldsatthefrontandsides(dependingonwheretheywereintheformation)andthoseinthecentre
holdingtheirshieldsovertheirheads,inordertopresentanimpenetrableshieldfrontagetothe
enemy.
Thebodyshield,alsocalledadoorshield(afteritssimilarproportions)orpavise,wasgenerallynot
carriedbytheindividual.Itwascarriedinsteadbyashieldbearer,whosetaskitwastoprotecthis
companionarcherfromenemyfire.Itwouldgenerallybemadeofthickwood,withmetalstripsand
studsforreinforcement.Thebulkofmaterialrequiredtomakeitentirelyoutofmetalwouldbefar
tooexpensiveandheavy,andtheabsorbentpropertiesofwoodmeantthatitcouldbeusedwithout
paddedbacking.Iftheusercrouchedbehindit,itwouldcompletelyobscurehimfromview.The
surfaceofthedoorshieldwasoftentarredand/orpitchedtoprotectthebearerfromboilingoil,hot
ashesandothersuchthingsthrownbyabesiegedenemyontotheirbesiegersbelow.
Shieldsforthebattlefieldoftenhaddesignsworkedintothem,orcouldbepaintedwiththeirowners
coatofarms(ifhehadone).Paradegroundshieldsweremuchmoreornate,coveredwithembossed
figurinesandcarving.Suchlavishdecorationwouldnotsurvivetherigoursofthebattlefieldandso
suchshieldswererarelyusedincombat.

SplintMail
Thisisanotherarmourthatmaywellbemerelyanotherflightoffantasy.Ifitdidexist,itwasmadeof
verticalmetalstripsrivetedtoaleatherorpaddedundergarment.Itisinflexibleandalternative
protectionhadtobefoundforthejoints,apparentlychainmailbeingthepopularchoice.Ihavebeen
unabletofindmuchinformationonthisarmour,as(strangely)itisabsentfromthehistorybooksI
researched.

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StuddedLeather
Thisarmourconsistedofleather(nothardenedaswithplainleatherarmour),closelysetwithrivets.A
decentamountofprotectionwasthusgained,withouttheheatandweightpremiumofmailandthe
inflexibilityofplate.Insomecases,thearmourdevelopeduntilitwasalmostlikescaleorbrigandine.
Mailneckprotectionwasgenerallywornaswell.ThisarmourhasbeenusedsincetheMiddleAges.

New armour types

ThesearenewarmoursIhaveincorporatedfrommyresearch.Theiruseis(obviously)optional,butI
haveincludednotesonwhenandwheretheywerefoundsothataDMwhowishestousethem
accuratelyinahistoricalcampaignisabletodoso.

ArmourPadding(3gp,5lb.,AC9,3dp,P1B1)
Thisisthepaddingwornunderheaviersuitsofarmour.ItconfersnoACbonuswhenwornwiththese
armours,itisassumedthattheheavyarmourincludesthispaddingaswell.Thestatisticsgivenarefor
whenthepaddingiswornbyitself(forwhateverreason).Itconsistsofheavy,quiltedgarmentsto
preventchafingandsoresandtoabsorbtheimpactofblows.

AugmentedMail(175gp,44lb.,AC4,28dp,S+2P+1B2)
Imnotentirelysurewhatthisis.IfoundreferencesandstatisticsforitinsomeAD&Dsupplements
andnetbooks,buttheclosesthistoricaldescriptionIcanfindorthinkofismailbackedbyanother
material,probablyhide,thoughIseenoreasonwhyitcouldnotbebackedbysomethingsimilarto
scalemail.Ifanyonecanshedsomelightonthis,letmeknow.

BarMail(200gp,40lb.,AC4,29dp,S+2P+1B2)
Again,Idonotthinkthisisahistoricallyaccuratetypeofarmour.Icanfindnoreferencetoitinany
historybook,itisonlyincludedherebecauseofitsinclusioninAD&Dsupplementsandnetbooks.I
wouldguessthatitismadeoutofinterlinkedsmallmetalbars,insteadofrings,tomakeaformof
mailmadeoutofbars.Presumablythiswastopreventneedlesharppiercingweaponsfindingthe
centresofthelinksofthemailandpenetrating.

Brigandine,Wood/Horn(80gp,26lb.,AC7,10dp,P+1)
Thisisthesamearmourasnormal(metal)brigandine,butinsteadofhavingplatesofmetalituses
woodoranimalhorntosaveweightandcost.Itisnothistoricallyaccurate.Itwouldhavebeenused
inareaswheremetalwasrareorthetechnologytoworkitwasnotavailable(thisarmourcanbemade
byveryprimitivepeoples).

CuirassierPlate(1500gp,45lb.,AC3,35dp,S+3P+2)
Thistypeofarmourwasintroducedinthefirstquarterofthe17thCentury,andevolvedtomeetthe
needsofanewtypeofcavalry.Itwasdesignedforprotectionandmobilitycombined,forthebiggest
threattoamountedsoldierwasnowthemusketball.Itwasathreequarterlengthplatesuit,

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protectingtorso,arms,andthighs.Itwouldbewornwithaclosehelmet.Itcomprisedbreastandback
plateswithgorget,andsometimesaneckguardaswell.Thehandswereprotectedwitharticulated
plategauntlets.Thekneelengthlegarmourwouldbemadeof14ormoreoverlappingcurvedplates
(lames)togivefreedomofmovement.Theyprotectedagainsttheflanks,innerlegprotectionbeing
unnecessary.Theyendedinakneeguard.Heavyridingbootsprotectedthefeetandshins.

Cuirbouilli(20gp,15lb.,AC7,14dp,P1)
Cuirbouilliisverysimilartoleatherarmour,beingleatherthatisboiledtosoftenit,thenmoulded
intoplateswhichsetrigidwhendryandcold.ItwasfirstusedbytheAncientRomans,several
centuriesbeforethebirthofChrist.

Doublemail(160gp,45lb.,AC4,29dp,S+2B2)
ThisisanothertypeofarmourtowhichIcanfindnohistoricalreference.Iimaginethatitconsistsof
multiplelayersofchainmail(perhapsnotallover,butjustonvulnerableorimportantlocations)to
giveaddedprotection.Itdoesnotgivedoublethestatisticssincepilingonextralayersofarmourdoes
notgiveanymajorbonus.

FootcombatJoustingPlate(3,0008,000gp,60lb.,AC1,50dp,S+4P+3)
Inthe15thCentury,combatonfootbegantobecomeanincreasinglypopularpartofthetournament.
Itwasfoundtobedisturbinglylethalandoneofthesafetymeasurestakenwastheintroductionofthis
typeofarmour.ItfirstappearedinGermanyinthebeginningofthe16thCentury,untilthatpointfoot
combatantshadfoughtinstandardinfantrymansarmour,modifiedwithcuissesthatencasedthe
thighsandaglobularvisoredbascinet.Aflared,laminatedskirtreachingtotheknees,thetonlet,was
addedalongwithsymmetricalpauldronsandcuissesthatcompletelyencasedthelegs.Thegreat
bascinetremainedthemostpopularchoiceforcompanionhelmet,althoughclosehelmetswerealso
used.Bascinetsforthisarmourgenerallyhadeitherahemisphericalvisorwithpiercingsorabellows
form.Aftertheendofthe16thCentury,thetonletwasabandoned,beingreplacedbythreequarter
fieldplatearmour.

Gauntlets(Chain:5gp,25lb.,10dp;Leather:2gp,2lb.,5dp;Platemail:15gp,3.5
lb.,13dp;FullPlate:15gp,2.5lb.,15dp)
Gauntletsarelongglovesthatextendoverthewristanduptothelowerthirdoftheforearm.Chain
mailgauntletstaketheformofmittens,extendingtothewristandbeingmadeofalargebagforthe
fingersandasmalleroneforthethumb.Theyarecommonlyhungbyaleatherthongtoamailshirt,
sothatthewearercanusehishandsunencumberedwithoutlosingthem.Leathergauntletsaresimilar
tothosewornbyfalconers,beingmadeofthickleather(butnothardenedaswiththearmour,asthis
wouldhamperdexterity).Theymaybemadeinmittenorgloveform,andextendthefulllengthofthe
normalgauntlet.Platemailgauntletscoverthebackofthehandandtopsofthefingerswithplates,
leavingtheundersidestoconventionalleather.Fullplategauntletsuselaminatedplatingoverthe
fingers,givingbetterprotectiontothejoints,andchainorleatherontheundersideoftheglove.Both
typesofplategauntlethaveaconicalpieceofmetaltoprotectthewrist.

Gladiatorial,Gallic(32gp,20lb.,AC7,15dp,S+1B1)

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NamedaftertheRomanprovinceofGaul,theGallicgladiatorwearsagalea(helmet),aprotective
metalbelt,amanica(leathersleeve)onhisweaponarmandfasciae(leatherbandsonthelegs).This
wasthemiddleweightarmouroftheRomangladiators.Traditionally,suchagladiatorwouldalso
carryascutumshield.

Gladiatorial,Samnite(80gp,35lb.,AC5,25dp,S+2P+1)
TheSamnitewasthebestarmouredoftheRomangladiators,namedfortheRomanprovinceof
Samnos.Heworeacuirass(leatherormetalbreastplate),fasciae,amanicaontheweaponarmanda
galea.Ascutumshieldwouldalsobecarried.

Gladiatorial,Thracian(10gp,5lb.,AC9,5dp,B1P2)
ThelightestarmouredoftheRomangladiatorswastheThracian,wearingonlyfasciaeonthelegs.
Customarily,aparmashieldwouldbecarriedalso.IttookitsnamefromtheprovinceofThrace.

GnomishFlyingArmour(notsold,75lb.,AC6,25dp,S+1)
Thegnomishflyingarmourisaproductoftheingeniousgnomishinventors.Thewearerofthis
armourisabletoachieveflightusingacomplexsystemofwingsandajetpropulsionarrangement,
whichusesanarcaneblendofvolatilesubstances.
Thearmourislikeasuitoffieldplate,butisverythininordertokeeptheweightdown.Thisisthe
reasonforitscomparativelypoorarmourclassandDP.Onthebackareapairofwingswhichcanbe
extendedbymeansofalever.Whenextended,eachwingisapproximately5feetlong(theexact
dimensionsvaryaccordingtotheindividualsuit).Thebackcarriesacomplexarrangementofpipes,
tanksandnozzleswhichburnastrangechemicalmixturetoprovidethethrustforflight.Thedirection
ofthenozzlesandattitudeofthewingscontrolthetrajectory,andareoperatedbymorelevers.
Flyinginthisdeviceislargelydowntodumbluck,notskill.Theflyercanonlyremainairbornefor
aboutthreeminutes(3rounds)beforethenozzlesofthesuitmeltfromtheheat.Ifthishappens,the
suitisunmaneuverableandplummetstotheground.Foreachroundspentflying,3roundsare
requiredtocoolthenozzles(unlesstheyareimmersedinwater,orhavecoolingspellscastonthemor
somesuch).
Toflythissuitwithanydegreeofskill,thePilotGnomishFlyingArmourskillisrequired(General
group,2slots,Dexterity,1penalty).Eachtimethecharacterwishestoperformanactionwhileinthe
air(accelerate,decelerate,maneuver,attack,land,takeoffetc),acheckmustbemade.Successmeans
theactioncanbeperformedasnormal.Afailureindicatedthattheattempthasbeenbotchedinsome
way(notdifficultinthissuit),usuallymeaningthecharacterdoesnotperformtheactionthewayhe
wouldhaveliked.Whentryingtodive,hemightfindhimselfunabletodoso,orhemightdropa
hundredfeetfurtherthanheintended.AttheDMsdiscretion,areallybadfailuremighthave
catastrophicconsequences(thedivingcharactermightenduphittingthegroundheadfirstatgreat
speed).Afailureonlandingusuallymeansthecharacterhasntlandedwherehewantedto(useaD12
todeterminethedirectionofscatter,where12is12oclockandsoon,scattering1d3feetforevery
pointthattherollwasmissedby).Afailureontakeoffeithermeansthatthecharacterwaseither
unabletotakeoff,period,ortookoffonlytolandagainafewsecondslatersomewherenearby.

14
Thearmourcanflywithupto250lbs.ofweightattached(includingitsownweightandthatofits
wearer).Withthisload,thesuitismaneuverabilityclassDandcantravelatamovementrateof36.
Whenladentobetween251and350lbs.,ithasmaneuverabilityclassEandmaytravelata
movementrateof24.Ifthearmourcarriesmorethan351lbs.,itmaynottakeoff.Ifitisalready
airborneandtheweightgoesoverthislimit(perhapsbymagicorweightednetsdroppedfromabove),
itwilldroplikeastone.
Thetanksonthebackofthearmourcontainthefuel.Theycontainenoughfuelfor15roundsof
flying.Thisfuel,beingmadeofhighlyvolatilecompounds,ishighlyflammable.Thefueltankshave
5dp,andmayonlybeattackedfrombehindandarehardtohit(theDMmayimposeasuitable
penaltybasedonrangeandangleofattack).Ifpenetrated,mostofthefuelislikelytobelost.Roll
1D6+4andmultiplyby10todeterminethepercentageofremainingfuelthatislost(e.g.arollof3
translatesintoalossof70%oftheremainingfuel.If10roundsworthremained,thatwouldleave
enoughfor3roundsofflight).Notethatthesuitmayascendatitscurrentmovementrate,andmay
descendattwicethis.Ifthecharacterisatagreatheight,hemaynotbeabletoreachtheground
beforehisfuelrunsout.Asuitwithoutfueldropslikeastone,justasifthecharacterhadfallenfrom
whateverheighthewasat.Thewingsareformaneuveringonly,thecharactercannotglidewiththem.
Inaddition,thereistheriskofexplosion.Ifpenetratedbynormalmeans(arrows,swordsetc)the
chanceofexplosionis1in6.Theexplosionwilldo1d10damageforeveryroundofflightthatthe
fuelwassufficientfor(e.g.5roundsoffuelremainingwillgivea5d10explosion).Calculatethis
explosiondamagebeforeyoucalculateanyfuelspillage(notthattherellbemuchfuellefttospill,
mind).Ifpenetratedbysomethinghot(aflamingarrow,afireballorwhatever)thenexplosionis
automatic.Anyexplosionwilldamagethearmourbeforeitdamagesitswearer,andautomatically
hits.Also,theexplosionhasaradiusof15feet,withinwhichanyothercreaturewillalsotakehalf
damage.
Thegnomesjealouslyguardthesecretofthisarmour(ratherliketheelvesandtheirsuitsofelven
chain),andonlygnomishcharactersmayhaveaccesstoit.Nopriceisgivenasasuitisneverfound
forsaleontheopenmarket.Ifacapturedsuitofarmourwasmadeavailablethepricewouldbe
astronomical.Inaddition,thearmourisimpossibletoduplicateexceptbyaveryskilledteamof
armourersandmetalworkerswhohaveaccesstoblueprintsoranactualsuittocopyfrom.Anysuits
foundorgivenaspaymentforagreatservicearealmostcertaintobegnomesized(seetheComplete
FightersHandbookforrulesonarmoursizing),suitsforotherracesmustbecustommade.
Thejetandwingassemblymakesitimpossibletowearabackpackortowearashieldslungonthe
backwiththisarmour.Temporaryremovalofthejetsandwingsisnotpossible.Repairofthisarmour
isextremelydifficultandrequirescircumstancessimilartothosedescribedaboveforits
manufacture.Inaddition,thefuelforthearmourisextremelyrare.Itmaybepossibleforanalchemist
orchemisttoattempttheduplicatethefuelfromasample,butthisisleftentirelyuptotheDM.Greek
firecanbeusedasasubstitute(ifitexistsinyourcampaign),however,itmakesaninferiorfuel.If
usinggreekfire,reducetheamountofweightbearableby100lbs.

GnomishWatercooledArmour(notsold,80lb.,AC2,40dp,S+3P+1)
Thisarmourismadebytheinfinitelyresourcefulandinventivegnomes.Attemptingtocombatthe
problemofoverheatingwhilewearingheavymetalarmour,theycameupwiththewatercooledsuit
ofplate.Itisbasicallyasuitoffieldplatearmour,whoseinsideislacedwithanetworkoffinepipes.
Betweenplates,thepipesarelinkedwithleatherjointstopreventleakage.Overtheshoulderbladesis
mountedagreatradiator,madeofaseriesofabout20metalflanges,about8high,whichprotude

15
fromtheback.Thewallsoftheseflangesaretin,beatentoextremethinness,andinsideeachisamass
ofpipes,linkedtothoseinthesuit,formingaradiator.Astheflangesaresothinandmightbe
rupturedbyablow,theouteredgesoftheflangesarerimmedwithathickpieceofiron,andthe
radiatingsurfacesarereinforcedwithironstripstopreventtheflangecollapsing.Sometimes,to
increasetherefrigerationpowerofthesuit,thegnomeswillpackthespacesbetweentheflangeswith
ice,holdingitinwithnetting.Incoldclimates,thisoftenprovesunnecessary.
Theeffectoftherefrigerationsystemistohalvepenaltiesfromwearingheavyarmourinhotclimates.
TheruleforwearingheavyarmourinAlQadimisapenaltytoattackrollsequaltoeverypointofthe
ACofthearmourbelow7.DarkSunusesadifferentsystem:thecharactersTHAC0goesupby1for
everyroundinwhichhefightsinthearmour,andafteranumberofroundsequaltohisConstitution
hewillpassoutfromheatexhaustion.WearingGnomishcooledarmour,thepenaltiestoattackrolls
wouldbehalved,theTHAC0wouldgoupby1foreveryotherroundspentfighting,andthecharacter
wouldpassoutafteranumberofroundsequaltotwicehisConstitution.
Thegnomesjealouslyguardthesecretofthisarmour(ratherliketheelvesandtheirsuitsofelven
chain),andonlygnomishcharactersmayhaveaccesstoit.Nopriceisgivenasasuitisneverfound
forsaleontheopenmarket.Ifacapturedsuitofarmourwasmadeavailablethepricewouldbe
astronomical.Inaddition,thearmourisimpossibletoduplicateexceptbyaveryskilledteamof
armourersandmetalworkerswhohaveaccesstoblueprintsoranactualsuittocopyfrom.Anysuits
foundorgivenaspaymentforagreatservicearealmostcertaintobegnomesized(seetheComplete
FightersHandbookforrulesonarmoursizing),suitsforotherracesmustbecustommade.
Theradiatorassemblymakesitimpossibletowearabackpackortowearashieldslungontheback
withthisarmour.Temporaryremovaloftheradiatorisnotpossible.Repairofthisarmouris
extremelydifficultandrequirescircumstancessimilartothosedescribedaboveforitsmanufacture.

Helmet,Armet(20gp,7lb.,25dp)
Thishelmetdesignwasintroducedinthelatteryearsofthe15thCentury.Itcomprisedaskullpiece
andalong,thinverticalridgeatthereartohelpprotecttheneck.Ateithersidehingedpieceswere
strappedclosedatthefronttoprotectthecheeks,andtoprotectthisjoinavisor,hingedateitherside,
andmetalwrapperwerestrappedonaswell,bucklingattheback.Toprotectthisbuckleametal
rondelwasfitted.

Helmet,Barbut(10gp,6lb.,18dp)
ThisdesignofhelmetwasfirstusedbytheancientGreeks,whocastitinbronze.Itwaspointedand
coveredtheentireheadwithonepiece,leavingaverticalslitforthenoseandmouthandahorizontal
onefortheeyes,formingaT.TheGreeksdevelopedthehorizontalbarsofthisTintocircularcut
outs.Intheearly15thCentury,thisdesignunderwentsomethingofarenaissance,anduntiltheendof
thatcenturysawwidespreaduseinEurope.Asthestyledeveloped,theeyeholesgrewsmallerand
moreshapedtotheeyesthemselves.(ForthosewhohaveplayedthecomputergameWarcraftII,
thisisthedesignwornbytheKnightsandPaladins).

Helmet,Burgonet(25gp,7lb.,20dp)
Thiswasanopenfacedhelmet,introducedinthefirsthalfofthe16thCentury.Theyweresimilarin
designtotheclosehelmet,sharingthecombwiththisdesign.Theyoftenfeaturedapeak.The

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otherwiseexposedfacewasprotectedbymetalbars.Afallingbuffecouldbefittedinordertoconvert
ittoaclosedtype.

Helmet,Closehelmet(22gp,7lb.,30dp)
Theclosehelmetwassimilartothearmet.Itwaswidelyusedinthe16thCentury.Itwasanall
enclosingmetalhelmet,withoutthehingedcheekpiecesofthearmet,butwithahingedfallingvisor.
Agorgetplateattachedtotherimoverlappedontothegorgetofthebreastplate,givingexcellentneck
protection.Initially,thistypehadaverylow,conservativecomb,butasthecenturywentonitbecame
larger.Afterawhile,thistrendwasreversedandthecombbecamesmalleragain,alongwiththevisor
whichbecamelessprominent.

Helmet,Galea(10gp,5lb.,25dp)
ThishelmetwaswornbyRomangladiators,specificallytheSamniteandThraciantypes.Itwasa
metalhelmetwithanarrowbrimallthewayround,andafaceplatewhosebottomhalfwassimple
plateandwhoseupperhalfwasperforatedwithholesforvisionandventilation.

Helmet,GreatHelm(30gp,10lb.,30dp)
Thiswasacumbersome,heavyhelmet,anditsdesigndatesbacktotheearlyMiddleAges.It
precededthebascinet,andwastheultimatedevelopmentofthesmallhelmetsoftheDarkAges.It
did,however,giveconsiderableprotectionandsolastedintournamentsandjoustslongafterits
successorsbegantodominateonthebattlefield.Itrestedontheshoulders,andwasbasicallyaheavy
metalcylinder,closedatthetop,witheyeslits.Latermodelsintroducedventilationholes,reinforcing
barstoprotectnoseandeyes,andtaperedthetopsomewhat,butthebasicdesignwentunchanged.

Helmet,Morion(12gp,4lb.,10dp)
Thishelmetemergedinthemiddleofthe16thCentury.Bythesecondhalfofthatcentury,ithad
becometheusualheadwearofafootsoldier.ItwasthehelmetwornbytheSpanishconquistadors
wholandedintheNewWorld.Itwasanopenhelmet,anelongateddomewithacurvedbrimand
centralcomb.Itofferedprotectiononlydowntotheears.Spanishmorionshadnocombandaplain
skullinstead,butItaliandesignshadlargecombsontop.Anothervariation(alsousedbytheItalians)
wasthepeakedmorioninwhichthebrimwassweptupintopeaksatfrontandback.

Helmet,Myrrmillo(10gp,5lb.,5dp)
ThisstylisedRomangladiatorialhelmetwasasimpleskullpiecewithcheekflaps,closelyresembling
thelegionaryshelmet.Ithadacustomisedcombmadetoresembleafish.

Helmet,PikemansPot(8gp,4lb.,12dp)
ThePikemansPotwaswornbypikemen(surprise,surprise),accompanyingtheirplateoutfits.Itwas
aroundedskullpiece,castintwohalvesandjoinedatacentralcomb.Awidebrimwastiltedupat
frontandback,anddroopeddownateachsidetooffersomeearprotection,butthiswasprovidedby
earprotectors,simpleplatesthatstrappedtogetherunderthechin.Itlooksforalltheworldlikea

17
downmarketSpanishmorion,andcameintousealongwiththepikeman,i.e.intheearly17th
Century.

Helmet,Sallet(15gp,5lb.,20dp)
Thesalletwasthereplacementforthebarbut,introducedinthesecondhalfofthe15thCentury.Early
modelsfittedclosertotheneckandweremoreroundedthanthebarbut,butwereotherwisesimilar.
Latersalletsvariedagreatdeal,butthebasicdesignfeaturedaroundedskullpiecewithataperedrear
thatformedaneckguard.Thisguardcouldbesolidormadeoflaminatedplates.Simplesalletshad
theirrearsectionsrivetedtotheskullpiece;itwaspointedatthebackandformedaflangearoundthe
sidesandfrontofthehelmet,coveringthewearersfacetotheupperlip.Aneyeslitwasincluded.
Otherversionshadhingedrearsections,buthingedvisorsweremorecommon.Visorlessmodelshad
abevorormailsheettoprotectthelowerface.TheGermansfavouredthemoreroundedrearneck
model,buttheItaliansdesignedtheirsalletsonlinesclosertotheoriginalbarbut.

Helmet,VisoredBascinet(20gp,7lb.,25dp)
Thistypeofhelmetreplacedthevisorlessbascinet(below),addingahingedvisortoprotecttheface.
Earlymodelsweremerelyacurvedpieceofmetal,withasinglehingeatthetopandeyeslits.Later,
globularorpointeddesignswereusedandventilationholesadded.Thishelmetcouldrealisticallybe
combinedwithplatemailorfieldplatearmour.Thebasepriceisforabasichelmet,butmore
elaboratedesignswerealsoavailablewithdecorativecarvingandsoon,andobviouslythesewould
havefetchedahigherprice.

Helmet,VisorlessBascinet(8gp,5lb.,20dp)
Thistypeofhelmetwaspopulararoundthetimewhenmailwasfirstbeingreplacedbyplate,andso
wouldtypicallybewornwithplatemail.Itsupersededthegreathelm.Earlyversionswerewornover
achaincoif,later,thechainwasattachedtotherimofthehelmetandhungverticallyinstead.Itwasa
domeshapedpieceofmetal,extendedoverthebackoftheheadandovertheears.Itlefttheface
exposed.

Hide,Mongol(20gp,25lb.,AC7,25dp)
ThisarmourwaswornbytheMongolsonvariouscampaignsunderneaththeirchainmail.Itconsists
ofhidearmour,hardenedbyboiling,cutintostripsandinterwoventomakeamesh.Ifworn
underneathchainmail,itwillconferanACbonusof2(i.e.areductionoftheACby2).Itwaseasier
tomoveinthanstandardhidebutgavesimilarprotection,whichsuitedthehighlymobileMongol
styleofwarfare.
(ThankstoStarWolf<misterc@bc1.com>forsubmittingtheideaforthisarmour)

Hide,Nomadic(10gp,15lb.,AC8,15dp)
Thisformofarmourwassimplythecuredhidesoftoughskinnedanimals,suchaselephants,
rhinocerosesorbears(dependingonthecreaturesthatlivedinthearea).Asthenameimplies,itwas
madebynomadictribeswhohadneithertimenorfacilitiesnorinclinationtomakeanymore
sophisticatedarmour.Itcouldalsobemanufacturedfrommultiplelayersofthehidesoflesstough
skinnedanimals(suchasdeerorcows).

18
(ThankstoStarWolf<misterc@bc1.com>forsubmittingtheideaforthisarmour)

Hide,Nordic(20gp,25lb.,AC6,20dp)
TheNordicformofhidearmourwastannedandlacquered(notboiled)togiveahardoutershellwith
asofterinnerlayer.Thismadeiteasiertomoveinthannormalhide(albeitnotaseasyaswith
nomadichide).
(ThankstoStarWolf<misterc@bc1.com>forsubmittingtheideaforthisarmour)

JadeBurialArmour(50,000gpormore,50lb.,AC7,40dp,S+2P+1)
Thisarmour,historically,hasbeenencounteredonlyonce.AnancientChineseprinceandhisconsort
wereburiedinsuitsofthisarmour,whichwasmadeof1inchsquarepiecesofjadeheldtogether
withgoldthread.Asjadeandgolddonotdecay,theChinesebelievedsuchasuitofarmourwould
giveimmortalitytoitswearer.Asthejadewasquitethin,thearmourconferslittleACbonus,andis
hardtomoveinatall,nevermindwhenincombat.However,thearmourhasmorenovelusesthanas
mereprotection...
Thisarmourwouldmakeaverysuitableprotectionforpowerfulundead,suchaszombiesorlichs,
especiallyinanOrientalsetting(bearinginminditsorigins).Itisalsoanexcellentcandidatefor
somesortofmagicalenchantment,especiallymagicthatwouldconferyouthfulnessorlongevity.The
armourcouldhavetheabilitytoaffectitswearerasifcastingoneormoreofthefollowingsuggested
spells:RestoreYouth,Resurrectionorsimilar;onceadayorwhatever.Bearinginminditsrarityand
mystique,itcouldevenbeturnedintoapowerfulartefactorrelic...

JoustingFullPlate(8,00015,000gp,90lb.,AC1/0,50dp,S+4P+5)
Thisarmourwasaspeciallyadaptedsuitoffullplateevolvedespeciallyforthejoust.Itisalmost
totallyunsuitableforcombat:thebevorofthehelmetisoftenboltedtothebreastplate,theleftarmis
rigidlylockedintopositionandcannotbemovedandtherightgauntletfeaturesalockingcatch
makingitimpossiblefortheknighttoreleasehisgripuponthelancewithouthelp.Thisarmourbegan
toevolveearlyinthe16thCentury,bythemiddleofthisperiodithaddevelopedintoavery
sophisticatedform.Itwasafullsuitofplatemail,withchainmailandpaddingunderneath.Agreat
helmwasworn,usuallyaspeciallyadaptedonewithitsbevorboltedtothebreastplate(this
preventedthewearersheadfromturning).Ametalgrandguardextendedacrossthechest(andeven
thelowerpartofthehelmet)fromtheupperleftarm,thiswasinadditiontothebreastplateand
amountedtoagreatthicknessofmetaloverthechest.Theleftarmwaslockedintoposition,andonto
theleftforearmwasboltedashieldmountoranactualshielditself.Thethighswereprotectedwithan
additionalskirtandtassets.ThisarmourissorigidthatanyDexteritybonustoACisnegatedwhile
wearingit.Forordinaryattacks,useitsACof1(thesameasfullplate),butforfrontalattacksits
ACdropsto0.Withashieldthiscanbereducedto1(or,withabouchedshield,evenlower).

Lamellar(metal:210gp,36lb.,AC4,26dp,P+1;wood/horn:120gp,20lb.,AC5,
10dp,P+1)
ThisarmourtypewasoriginallycoveredintheAlQadimcampaignsourcebook,butdespitethis
ArabiansettingthearmourwasusedinEuropeaswell,duringtheearlyMiddleAges.Itconsistsof

19
overlappingmetalplates(lamellas),sewntogetherwithwire;butthearmourcouldalsobemadefrom
woodorhornplatesandsewnwithcatgutwheremetalwasrareorunworkable.Inthisrespectitis
quitesimilartoscale,savethattheplatesaresmallerandarewornunderaleatherhauberk.
Alternatively,theplatescouldberivetedinsidealeatherjerkin.Thissecondtypewouldhavelooked
somethinglikestuddedleathertothecasualobserver,thestudsholdinginplatestogivemore
effectiveprotection.Itwasgenerallyonlywornasajerkin,andthisarmourwasnotavailablein
sleevesorleggings.

Leather,Norman(15gp,25lb.,AC7,25dp,S+1P2)
Normanmenatarmsworeanuntreatedleatherhauberk,coveredwithbandsofleatheratrightangles
(formingachequeredpattern)withmetalstudsprotectingthejunctionsoftheleatherbands.
Sometimesalinenhauberkwouldbeworninsteadofaleatherone.Itwasgenerallywornbynorman
soldierswhocouldnotaffordmetalarmour.

LoricaSegmenta(seebandedmail)
ThiswasinventedbytheancientRomans,andisthedistinctivejacketofmetalstripswornbythe
Romanlegionary.Mostlyitwouldbemadeofiron,butbronzeoutfitswerenotunknown.Chainmail
wasunknowninthesetimes,andthearmourwouldbewornoveratunictopreventchafing.The
plateswererivetedtogetheronthetorsoinsuchawayastoallowlimitedmovement,andwereheld
togetherwithstrapsattheshoulderswheregreatfreedomofmovementwasneeded.Itwas,however,
quitecumbersomeandhardertomovefreelyinthanmail.Itwasofsuperbdesignandcraftsmanship,
andaffordedprotectiontothetorsodowntothewaist(legionarieswouldwearaskirtofvertically
hangingstuddedleatherstripsaswell)andovertheshoulders.Thesecretsofitsmanufacturedidnot
survivethefalloftheRomanEmpire,however.IntheDarkAgeschainmailbecamethepreferred
formofarmour,andbandedmailwasnotseenagain.

ParadePlateHorseBarding(30,00080,000gp,120lb.,AC5,35dp,S+2B1)
Thisisthehorsescounterparttoparadefullplate,below.Horsearmourwasmadetomatchthatof
itsrider,andthegreaterareaofthehorsesbodygavethedesignersleavetorunrampantwith
embossinganddesigns.Thearmourcoversthesameareasasfullplatebarding,butisasrichly
decoratedandadornedasparadefullplate.Italywasrenownedforitsembossedarmoursduringthe
16thCenturywhenthisarmourwasfirstused,butGermanyledtheworldinetcheddesigns.

ParadeFullPlate(20,00050,000gp,6085lb.,AC5,25dp,S+2B1)
Thisarmourwasusedextensivelyduringthe16thCentury,whenfieldarmourwasplainand
unadorned,andjoustingarmourhadtakenitsowncourse.Parade(orPageant)armourshowedthe
bearerswealth,sothemoreornateandrichlydecorated(tothepointofgrotesqueness),thebetter.
Entiresuitsofarmourwouldbelavishlyembossedwithfigurines,designsandsymbols.Renaissance
artistsandarmourerscollaboratedtoproducetrulyoutlandish,baroquedesigns.Itwouldberichly
decoratedwithblueing,gilding,preciousmetals,enamelsandevengemstones.Somedesignscopied
Romanpatterns,particularlythoseofItaly.Useofparadearmourcontinuedintothe17thCentury,
withdesignsgrowingmoreandmoreornate,andlessandlesseffective.Thisarmourwasunsuitedto
eithercombatorjousting,thedecorationsbeingunabletoretaintheirfineryaftermanyblows,and
anyway,thearmourwasoftentacticallyworthless,beinghotter,clumsierandlesseffectivethan
purposedesignedbattlefieldsuits.Thisarmourismorelikelythananyothertobemadeoutof

20
unusualmetals,asdescribedintheDMsGuide.Thesovereignofthemostpowerfulempireinyour
campaignworldmightwantnolessthana24ctgoldsuitofparadefullplate,settinghimbackover
200,000gp(plusthebillforhishorsebarding).Andweighinginatupto170lb.,hemightnotbe
wearingitallthatoften.AndasitconfersanACof9,thatmightbewise.

PikemansFieldPlate(600gp,40lb.,AC4,30dp,S+2P+1)
Thepikeman,mainstayoftheearly17thCenturyRenaissancearmy,neededarmourthatenabledthem
toremainmobileyetprotectthemfromtheiropponentsarms.Pikemenweretaskedwithprotecting
musketeersfromrovingcavalry,towhichtheywerewellsuited(amountedwarriorchargingintoa
hedgehogofpikestavesistantamounttosuicide),andoccasionallyadvancing.Thepikemanspot
wasthefavouredhelmet.Thebodyarmourconsistedoffiveparts,beingthecollar,thebreastand
backplates,andthetwotassets.Thecollarhingedopenandwaswornbeneaththecuirassor
breastplate.Agorgetwouldhavebeenwornbyofficers.Thebreastplatewascutawayunderthe
armpits,itofferednoarmprotectionatall.Averticalridgeinthecentreofthebreastplateformeda
peakatthewearersstomach.Thebackplatedippedbetweentheshoulderbladesandhadabelt
rivetedon,thiswasfastenedaroundthebreastplateand,togetherwithmetalplatedshoulderstraps,
heldthewholetogether.Apairofsquareshapedtassetswereeitherstrapped,hingedorrivetedtothe
flangeatthefrontofthebreastplatesbase.Straps,whereused,wouldhavebeenplatedwithmetal
laminate.Thetassetswouldhavebeensinglemetalplates,butarmourersoftenembossedthemtogive
theappearanceoflaminating.Pikemansplatewasoftenleftblackorbluefromforgingorsimply
blued,otherarmourwaspolishedbright.

Scalemail(woodorhorn;80gp,20lb.,AC5,10dp,P+1)
Thisissimplyscalemailmadeoutofwoodenoranimalhornscalesratherthanmetal.Itwouldhave
beenusedinareaswheremetalwasveryrareorthetechnologywasnotpossessedtomineorworkit,
andsowouldhavepredatedmetalversions(haditactuallybeenusedextensively).

Shield,Bouched(10gp,7lb.,25dp)
Thisspecialisedjoustingshieldwasmountedontheleftwristofasuitofjoustingarmour.Itcovered
theentirechest,withagapforthelance.Itwasgenerallymadeofmetalandcoveredwithleather,
usuallymouldedinthreepartsandcontouredtotheriderandhismount.Itwasintroducedinthe15th
Century.ItconfersabenefitofAC2(i.e.anAClowerthanthearmouraloneby2)againstfrontal
attacksonlywhilemounted.Whendismounteditfunctionsasamediumshield.

Shield,Kote(5gp,3lb.,10dp)
ThisOrientalformofarmourconsistsofapairofarmouredsleeveswornontheforearms,andthus
canbeconcealedbelowclothing.Itfunctionsmuchlikeabuckler,withthebonusesthatthekote
wieldercannotbeDisarmed,andmayuseweaponsinthehandsthatbearkotes.Despitethefactthata
pairisworn,theACbonusismerely+1.

Shield,Parma(7gp,5lb.,10dp)
Theparmashieldisidenticaltothesmallshield,merelybearingadifferentname.Thisshieldwas
usedbytheThraciangladiatorintheRomanarena.

21

Shield,Scutum(10gp,10lb.,25dp)
Thescutumshieldistothemediumshieldwhattheparmaistothesmall.Itismerelyamedium
shieldunderadifferentname,andwasusedbyGallicandSamnitegladiatorsintheRomanarena.

Shield,SmallWooden(1gp,3lb.,8dp)
Thisshieldisexactlythesameasasmallshield,savethatitismadefromwood.Assuch,itislighter,
cheaper,andcantakelessdamagebeforebeingrendereduseless.

Shield,Target(2gp,4lb.,10dp)
Similartothebuckler,thisshieldsmajordifferencewithitwasthatitwaswornontheforearm(as
opposedtothebucklerwhichisheldinthehand).ThisisprobablywhatTSRwerethinkingofwhen
theymadetheirdescriptionofabuckler.Itwasmadeofwoodcoveredincuirbouilliormetal,and
thewearersshieldhandcouldbeusedtoholdanitemorevenaweaponwhileitwasinuse.Likethe
buckler,itmayimprovethewearersACbyoneagainstonespecificattackperround.Itdatesfrom
thesameperiodasthebuckler,butwasmadeobsoletebyfirearms.InScotland,whereitwasknown
asthetarg,itsurviveduntilthe18thCentury,formingthehighlanderstypicalwargearwhen
combinedwithabroadsword.

Armour Manufacture
WhilethePHBgivesrulesforthemanufactureofarmourasitrelatestononweaponproficiencies,
andtheCompleteFightersHandbookexpandsonthis,neithergoesintomuchdetailontheprocesses.
Thisdetailisnotnecessarytothegame,butaddsflavourtotheneomedievalcampaign.
Themanufactureofarmourrequiredskill,andwasanextensionoftheartoftheblacksmith.Armour
wasmadetobelightweightandflexible,storiesofknightsbeingloweredintothesaddlebycraneand
beingimmobilisedbytheweightoftheirarmouraregreatlyexaggerated.Eveninthelatemedieval
period,whenknightsworeheavyfullplate,atrainedmancouldvaultintothesaddlefullyarmoured
andcouldmoveonfootalmostaseasilyasthefootmaninhischainhauberk.
Leather,paddedandhidearmoursweremoretheprovinceoftheleatherworkerortailorthanthe
armourer.Fordetailsofthemanufactureofthesearmours,seethedescriptionsofthearmours
themselves.Tomanufacturesucharmours,tailoringand/ortanningfacilitieswereneeded.
Maillinksweremadebywrappingametalwirearoundadoweltoformacoilspring.Thiscoilwould
beseveredinplaceswithachiseltoformaseriesofopenrings.Theringswouldbeinterwovenand
thenhammeredshutandsealedwithapunch.
Metalplatearmourwasthemostdifficulttomake.Thepreparatorystageinvolveddetailed
measurementsoftheintendedwearerandtryingontherawpartstoensureaperfectfit.Thisiswhyit
issodifficulttofindplatearmourthatfitsyourcharacter,especiallyasmetal,unlikecloth,doesnt
stretch!Atowering65warriorwouldneverfindarmourtofithim(bearinginmindtheaverage
heightofthemedievalman,about58)andwouldhavetohaveittailormade.

22
Havingdonethis,thesmithwouldtakeironingots(knownaspigs,hencepigiron)andhammer
themintoroughlyshapedthickplates.Theseplateswouldthenbefinelyshaped.Thearmourerhada
bewilderingarrayofanvils(knownasstakes,smallanvilssetinwoodorontrestles)andshaped
hammerstodothis.Theanvilsandhammerswouldbecompletewithridgesanddepressionstoform
anydecorativeparts.Foracustomisedsuitofarmour,specialanvilswouldhavetobemade,which
goessomewaytoexplainingthecostofparadearmours.Topreventcrackingatthisstage,theiron
wouldbeannealed(heatedtosoftenit).Whiledoingthis,thearmoureralsohadtoensurethatthe
armourwasoftherightthickness,especiallyintheoftentargetedareasoftheface,chestandleftside
(whenswingingatanopponentwithyourrightarm,youtendtohithisleftside...whichisalsowhere
hisshieldis,annoyinglyenough).
Afterthesheetswerefinished,theedgeswerecroppedwithshearsandoftenrolledoverawireto
preventanopponentsweaponglancingintoavitalarea.Thearmourwasnowalmostserviceable,
althoughblackfromtheforgeandcoveredinthemarksofhammerblows.Inthelatemiddleagesand
therenaissance,thecommonfootsoldiersarmourwouldbeshippedoutinthiscondition,butthe
gentrydeservedandgotbetter.Anygildingtobedoneonthearmourwasaddedatthispoint.Straps
andbuckleswouldbeattached,andthenthearmourwouldbelinedwithquiltinginthebreastand
backplates,cuisses,tassetsandhelm.Anydecoration,suchasetchingorengraving,wasaddedlast.

New Proficiencies
ArmourDesign(2slots,Warriorgroup,Intelligence4)
Thisproficiencyallowsthecharactertodesign(notmanufacture)armour,particularlybaroqueand
ornatearmour.Acertainamountoftimeisneededtousethisproficiency.Thedesignofthearmour
willtake:
AC
Time
9
1day
8
1day
7
2days
6
3days
5
4days
4
1week
3
10days
2
2weeks
1
3weeks
0
1month
Forornatearmour,thedesigntimeisdoubled.Forparadearmour,itistripled.Inorderforbaroque
stylestobedesigned,thedesignermustpossessArtisticAbilityineitherEmbossingor
Engraving/Etching(themostpopularmethod),dependingonthewayhewantstodecoratethe
armour.Theproficiencycheckismadeafter1/3ofthetotaldesigntimehaselapsed.Untilthen,the
designerdoesnotknowwhetherhewillbesuccessful.Ifhefails,herealisesthatthedesignis
unsuitableandmuststartalloveragain.Ifhefailsverybadly(DMsdiscretionhere),hemaynot
knowuntilhehasfinished,andtheflawmaybefoundatthatpointoritmaynot,leavingituptothe
armourer(whomayormaynotnoticetheflaw,thearmourcountingasFlawedundertheArmourer
proficiencyifhedoesnot).Havingdesignedthearmour,thedesignmustbegiventosomeonewith

23
Armourerproficiencyformanufacture.Anarmourermakingarmourfromadesigncanadda+2
bonustohischeck.Ifthatarmourwasdesignedbyhimhemayadd+4.Clearly,itisbettertohave
armourdesignedandmadebythesameperson.Thearmourdecorationmustbedonebysomeone
withtheappropriateArtisticAbility(seeabove).Thedesignermustalsopossessthisproficiency,as
hehastoknowwhatispossibleandwhatlooksgoodwhendesigningit.Itispossibleforonemanto
designanddecoratethearmour(oncefinished),andforasecondtoactuallymakethebasicsuit.

Epilogue
Anyoneinterestedinaddingnewtypesofarmourornewrulesforarmouruseshouldseriously
considerbuyingTheArms&ArmourGuideand/orTheCompleteFightersHandbookbyTSR.
Anyonewishingtosubmitnewtypesofarmourforinclusioninthenextrevisionofthisnetbook
shouldemailmeathugo@chesshire.abel.co.uk.Ifyousubmitanythingtothisnetbookyouwill
havetowaiveyourcopyrighttoit(ifyouwroteit).Iwill,ofcourse,givecredittoanyonewho
submitsanyitemofarmourtothisnetbook(youllgetalittletagsayingsubmittedby<whoever>).If
youinventedthatitemaswell,thenyoullgetfullcreditforthattoo(thetagwillsaysubmittedand
inventedby<whoever>).Idontguaranteetoincludeit,ofcourse.Ifyoujustwishtogivemesome
feedback,emailmeatthesameaddress.Allencouragingcommentswillbegratefullyreceived,and
allcriticismswillbegivendueconsideration.Iwilltrytoreplypersonally.
Beforeanyoneasks,Iamnoneofthese:
a)over40.Oreven30.
b)afraidoftheoppositesex.
c)someonewhoenjoysdressingupinperiodgearandgoingaroundreenactingeventsthattookplace
alongtimeago.
d)ateacherofeitherLatinorHistory.
e)onewholivesinalibraryandhasnofriends.
Nooffencewasintendedtoanyonejustthen,honest!

References
Allston.Aaron(1989)TheCompleteFightersHandbook.TSRInc.
DavidCook,SteveWinter,JonPickensetal(1989)PlayersHandbook.TSRInc.
Keegan.John(1993)AHistoryofWarfare.Hutchinson
WilkinsonLatham.Robert(1981)PhaidonGuidetoAntiqueWeaponsandArmour.PhaidonPressLtd.
Quennell.C.H.B.&M.(1918)AHistoryofEverydayThingsinEngland,Vol.1.B.T.BatsfordLtd.

HugoChesshire
11 January, 2017