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| Armor; Common Types of armor | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 30 2008, 02:19 AM (312 Views) | |
| Marek Belmont | Mar 30 2008, 02:19 AM Post #1 |
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Seeker General of the A'vron Klan
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First I should inform you that there are various armor types. Namely these are Light armor, Medium armor, Heavy armor, and accessories ((I.E. Helmets and Shields)). Here are some characteristics that you may want to keep in mind. Characteristics of Light Armor: It's light weight allows for maximum mobility as well as stealth. It can be a full set, or a partial set. A partial set is either arm and leg guards or a Cuirass, which is armor for the torso. Those characters who rely on stealth or physical speed should keep in mind that this will in many ways be the most beneficial to you. However, it's lightweight also takes away from how well it protects against damage. Most lightweight armors can easily be sliced through, partial sets of any type are even worse protection. So in short, you gain speed, mobility, and stealth but the price you pay is you lose alot of defense. Some Common Pieces of light armor include... Arm Wraps- Arm wraps were generally cloth or leather strips wrapped around the forearm as additional protection against cuts in combat. Anyone who could afford better protection wouldn’t rely solely on wrappings; arm wraps were indicative of a poorer class soldier. Bracers- Bracers, vambraces, and arm greaves are essentially the same thing: they protect the arm from the elbow to the wrist. Vambraces generally connote a sturdier armor construction such as plate mail. Vambraces are generally rigid and either a solid tube fastened over the arm, or hinged over the outside of the arm and fastened on the inside by straps or hooks. Bracers were forearm guards first worn by archers to protect them from the snap of the bowstring. In time, many other combatants wore bracers of leather or metal to help protect their arms from blows. Arm greaves are leather, metal, or mail protections for the arm; Brigandine- Brigandine armor is a flexible, composite material body armor made of large numbers of metal plates or scales riveted or sewn to the inside of a cloth covering. Often, this cloth covering is just a top coat or jacket, and in such cases the ensemble is referred to as a jack. Entire suits of brigandine armor are not uncommon, though. Brigandine armor allows relatively great freedom of movement while providing the wearer significant protection against blows and slashes. Aventail/Camail- The two terms mean exactly the same thing. An aventail/camail is a chain mail cover for the neck and upper shoulders which can be attached directly to a helmet (especially the basinet) or worn as a shawl-like garment. Very similar in function to a coif, an aventail/camail provides protection to the neck and shoulders. Aventails are very popular because they are lighter than coifs and cheaper and faster to produce. When the aventail/camail is attached directly to the helmet, vervelles((a type of staple)) hold the garment in place. Greaves- Armor accessories for the legs, particularly the shins, leg greaves replaced thongs of leather that combatants used to protect their shins prior to the standardization of leather hardening and plate mail construction. Greaves covered and protected the shinbone. Characteristics of Medium Armor: This is about the most common armor found. It allows for about the same mobility as light armor, but provides a descent defense also. You have a greater chance of compromising stealth, but not much if you use the right type of medium armor. Also, in order to keep your combat speed up in this, it would be a good idea to train with it on. Some common pieces of Medium armor include... Coif- A hood of chain mail, often incorporating a ventail (neck cover). While coifs are sometimes worn alone, they are usually worn under a helmet as a further buffer against blows. Gorget- The gorget was a plate mail cover for the neck and shoulders. The gorget’s top attaches directly to the base of the helmet and its bottom fastened to the breastplate or cuirass. Gorgets are especially popular with fully armored soldiers on horseback. Gauntlets- Gauntlets are armored gloves. Gauntlets hav a stiff cuff attached to plates which overlapped each other from the knuckles back to the wrist. The knuckles are protected by a raised or embossed plate which attached to the small finger plates. The finger plates number four on the pinkie to six on the middle finger (this varies with hand size). The thumb has similar protection but is only connected to the cuff by a leaf plate to allow the digit freedom of movement. The metal portion of the gauntlet is attached to a leather glove inside it. Obviously, gauntlets vary in materials depending on whether they are war, jousting, or ceremonial types. Thigh Guards- Thigh guards, as the name implies, are defensive protection for the thighs. Used throughout history by all cultures engaging in combat, thigh guards have been constructed of hides, leather, wood, and metal. A Cuiss, is a military or noble specific thigh guard. Cuisses are constructed of studded leather, mail, or articulated plates and protect the upper legs well while both afoot and mounted. Strap-on thigh guards were not uncommon, but have the tendency to slide down or be knocked sideways on the thigh. For these reasons, cuisses-style thigh guards are more popular because they can be hinged to the breastplate for stability. Cuirass-Also called a pair of curates, a cuirass is simply a breastplate and backplate designed to be worn together. These cuirasses are made of leather or bronze and conformed roughly to the shape of the torso muscles. Light enough to wear dismounted, it could also be coupled with other limb plates to form a complete suit of mounted armor. Seen head on, a cuirass appears to be a breastplate. The only difference between a breastplate and a cuirass is that with a cuirass, there’s also a backplate you don’t necessarily see. Breech mail- a square of chain male forged to be placed under the armor to protect the areas around the hips and groin where the armor plates came together. Characteristics of Heavy Armor: First off, this armor will destroy any chance of stealth without the help of a weave. It also hinders movement quite a bit, meaning your gonna be slower than usual and unable to do any real amazing feats of agility. Training with it would help, but your not gonna completely overcome the loss of mobility. On the bright side, you have the greatest protection with this armor in terms of sheer durability. Some common pieces of Heavy Armor include... Scale armor-Scale mail has been used throughout the world for thousands of years. Scale mail construction is a fairly involved process. Individual plates, or scales, are attached to the outside of a cloth or leather garment by riveting. The scales overlap and provide protection against cuts, penetration, and concussion. Breastplate-Breastplates made of leather and metal have been used as long as humans have had the ability to make them. Affixing a sturdy material to one’s chest is the oldest form of armor protection. By definition, breastplates are a solid piece of armor attached to the chest by means of straps or hinges (if other pieces of armor were also worn). The Breastplates for foot soldiers generally concentrate on being as light as possible. Horsemen want their breastplates somewhat heavier to prevent damage from spears and lances. The breastplates most technical in their design are jousting plates. A great deal of time and thought was dedicated to their construction. The breastplates were modified with a very protruding, peaked breast to help deflect a lance blow to the side. Chain mail/Ring mail- Chain mail refers to a protective armor constructed of multiple interlinking chains. The crafting of chain mail is an expensive, laborious process, howeverit can be fashioned into a garment for virtually any part of the body: camails and coifs for the head and neck, chain hauberks for the body, mail gloves for the hands, and mail footings and leggings for the feet and legs, respectively. Chain mail offers excellent protection against cutting blows, is lighter than solid plate armor, but is more easily pierced during combat. Double mail, a version of chain mail armor, is identical to simple chain mail except that two links are used for every one in single mail construction. Double mail offers greater protection to the wearer but is, obviously, doubly heavy. Accessories: As the name implies, these are pieces of armor that provide extra protection, yet are technically separate. They come in two varieties. Helmets and Shields. Helmets are usually of the same type as the rest of the armor worn, and they provide protection to the head. Shields usually are one of four Basic types. They still follow the same basic idea as armor types. The heavier they are, the more protection they provide, but also the more mobility they take away. Helmets: Armet- The armet is a metal helmet which fully encloses the face and head. Movable face and cheek pieces allow the wearer to close the helmet, thus fully protecting the head from blows. The armet consists of a skull piece, two hinged cheek pieces which lock at the front, and a visor piece. Armets have hinged cheek pieces which open at the front of face backward. Close Helmet- Close helmets have a full visor and bevor (a chin/neck guard); the visor pivots up and down by means of bolts attached to the side of the skull piece. Burgonet- The burgonet is a light weight, open-faced helmet used chiefly by cavalry soldiers as a substitute for the heavier close-helms and armets. Burgonets consist of a peaked-brow, upright combed skull, and hinged ear pieces. In some instances a Panache (plume holder) is attached to the base of the helmet. The face can be enclosed by adding a falling buffe (chin/neck protection, usually incorporating a gorget). The best examples of craftsmanship are burgonets in which the helm and comb are forged of a single piece of metal. Casque- Similar in shape to a burgonet, a Casque is a light, open helmet (essentially a steel hat). Casques are embossed with grotesques (macabre looking faces, horns, and embellishments added to give the wearer a more fearsome appearance -- a horned demon helm, for example). Cabasset- The cabasset is an open-faced helmet characterized by its almond shaped top (often called pear shaped) and the curious little point projecting from the apex of the helmet. Because of the stalk like protrusion on top of the cabasset, it has been nicknamed “pear-shaped cabasset.” Heaume- Also called a Great Helm. Heaumes consist of three basic pieces: the crown piece, a conical piece atop the helmet, and a cylindrical piece for the sides of the helmet. A leather harness under the heaume supports the weight on the head (some heaumes weigh as much as 25 pounds). The eye slits cut into the helmet are narrow and set to the side of the face in order to prevent penetration. Small holes are cut into the helmet for breathing. Unlike the armet or close helmet, the heaume can be slipped over the head without adjustment. Heaumes are generally worn with a coif or steel cap. Leather Helm- The leather helm is the simplest form of helmet, not counting a steel cooking pot turned upside down on the head. A helmet constructed of leather pieces either sewn together or molded around the head. Protection against anything but glancing blows is minimal but still better than total exposure. Morion- An open helmet very similar in design to the cabasset. The morion is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and thus is popular for issue to soldiers. With its wide brim and comb atop the helmet, the morion lends itself to extravagant alterations. Sallet- A close faced helmet. It offers excellent protection to the head and face; when combined with a gorget or bevor (chin/neck protector) it provides unbeatable protection. Shields: Buckler- Normally not much wider than the fist holding it, the buckler is used primarily to parry an opponent's attack rather than cover the wielder's body. The ideal shield choice for one-on-one sword fights. Kite Shield- The kite shield’s name derives from its resemblance to a kite. It has also been referred to as a tear shield (it favors a tear drop in some instances). Made of wood, metal, or a combination of both, the kite shield affords the wielder excellent protection. It is especially popular among mounted knights because it covers them from shoulder well below the knee when held at the ready-position (mounted on the forearm, the elbow bent at a 90 degree angle). Pavis- Also referred to as a wall shield. A full body shield used predominantly by archers during sieges. The process of re-loading and taking aim leaves an archer vulnerable during battle, and at such times it is convenient for another individual to hold the wall shield while the Archer re-loads and prepares to take aim. It can also be propped up by use of a kick-stand in some intstances. It's size makes it impossible to use in close combat. Targe- Made of either wood covered in leather or steel. Rarely more than 20 inches in diameter, its primary function is to parry an opponent’s attack rather than completely shield the body. The targe is used most often in conjunction with a broadsword or other one-handed weapon. It is very similar in use and function to a buckler. Tower Shield- While large, the tower shield is smaller than a pavis or wall shield, it's basic function is the same. Used entirely for long ranged combat. Wooden Shield- Individuals with little or no disposable income can turn to this shield as an option. Somewhat larger than a Targe, it is still quite functional. However, it is the least durable and can not withstand more than a few forceful blows. Common pieces of attire: Jerkin- The Jerkin was a hip-length, close-fitting jacket without sleeves (or with extended shoulders). Jerkins were usually collarless and belted. Jerkins were made of a variety of fabrics and materials, from cotton and wool cloths to leather. Trousers- As the name implies, simply a pair of pants. They come in many varieties, such as Side laced, plain, and a few others. They can be made of a variety of fabrics and materials, from cotton and wool to leather. Shirts- Self explanatory. Like Trousers, they come in many different styles. Doublet- The term refers to a type of outer garment, designed to cover the wearer from the waist to just below the chin. Generally worn by Upper class and Upper-middle class. Women tend to wear them unbuttoned from bust line up, while men generally have them buttoned all the way to the neck. Boots- Self explanatory. They come in many different styles, and are made from many different materials. The favored material is leather. Unique Armor Horse Armor- It is not uncommon to see Horses and other beasts outfitted in armor. This is a very practical concept as it allows further protection to mounted soldiers, as well as increasing the chance of a mount making it through battle. Individual pieces of full set of horse armor are as follows. Chanfron- Designed to protect the horses face, has re-enforced cheek plates. A chamfron extends from the horse's ears to its muzzle. Flanges cover the eyes for protection. They do not blind the horse. Hinged extensions cover the jowls. Criniere- A set of segmented plates designed to protect the horses neck. In full barding this consists of a combnation two sets of articulated lamés that pivot on loose rivets. One set of lames covers the mane and the other covers the neck. These connect to the peytral and the champron. Light barding uses only the upper lames. Three straps hold the criniet in place around the neck. Thin metal is used for these plates. Chainmail is often affixed to the crinet and wrapped about the horse's neck for additional protection. Croupiere- The croupiere protects the horse's hind quarters. It can be made from any combination of leather, chain, or plate. Flanchard- The flanchards, used to protect the flank, attach to the side of the saddle, then around the front of the horse and back to the saddle again. These are metal plates riveted to leather. Peytral- The peytral is designed to protect the chest of the horse, while the croupiere protects the rear. It sometimes stretches as far back as the saddle. Pommel- The pommel is the part joined to the saddle, though its function is to protect the warrior more than to protect the horse. The function is protect the warrior from blows to the pelvic region. Caparisons- Barding is often used in conjunction with cloth covers known as caparisons. These coverings are used in a similar fashion as Jerkins for humans. To protect joints of the armor from becoming rusted or being over exposed to the hot sun. It typically covers only vital areas such as saddle, and joints. Reins- Last but not least, the reins. Though they were not themselves armor, they were often covered with a sleeve of chain mail to guard against being severed. |
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| Urek Carpion | Apr 5 2008, 10:13 AM Post #2 |
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M'hael
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This all looks great! Thank you Marek for spending the time and effort needed to put thins list together |
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5:42 PM Jul 10