Equipment
Armor
Wearing armor is one of a character's primary defenses. Each piece of armor has an Armor Type that determines which column of the Attack Tables is used when the wearer is hit, along with a set of penalties and bonuses that apply while it is worn. All penalties from armor stack with those from Encumbrance.
Reading the Table
- Armor Type — The Attack Table column used when a character wearing this armor is attacked: NA (No Armor), LA (Light Armor), MA (Medium Armor), or HA (Heavy Armor). Helmets, limb armor, and shields have no Armor Type.
- Zones — The body parts actually protected. Some Critical Strike results differ depending on whether the struck zone is armored.
- Qualities — Special properties of the armor's material. Metal: the wearer uses the "metal armor" results on received Critical Strike tables. Rigid: the wearer uses the "rigid armor" results.
- Max SWI — The maximum Swiftness bonus that can contribute to Defense (DEF) while wearing this armor.
- Move — Penalty to Skill Rolls for moving and casting Spells: applies to Spell Casting, Athletics, Acrobatics, Ride, and Stealth. Can be offset by the character's Armor Skill Bonus, to a minimum of 0. Penalties from multiple pieces of armor stack.
- CMB — Penalty to the Combat Bonus. This penalty cannot be offset.
- Perc. — Penalty to the Perception Skill Bonus. This penalty cannot be offset.
- Melee + — Straight bonus to DEF against melee attacks.
- Miss. + — Straight bonus to DEF against ranged attacks.
Armor Table
| Name | Fare | Type | Zones | Qualities | Max SWI | Move | CMB | Perc. | Melee + | Miss. + |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Armor | ||||||||||
| Furs/Pelts | 0 | LA | Torso, Arms, Legs | — | +20 | -20 | — | — | — | — |
| Leather Jerkin | 1 | LA | Torso | — | — | -10 | — | — | — | — |
| Leather Armor | 1 | LA | Torso, Arms, Legs | — | +30 | -20 | -5 | — | — | — |
| Boiled Leather | 1 | LA | Torso | Rigid | +30 | -25 | — | — | — | — |
| Reinforced Leather | 2 | LA | Torso, Arms, Legs | Metal | +20 | -30 | -5 | — | — | — |
| Chain Shirt | 2 | MA | Torso | Metal | +30 | -35 | — | — | — | — |
| Chain Mail | 2 | MA | Torso, Arms, Legs | Metal | +20 | -45 | — | — | — | — |
| Lamellar Armor | 2 | MA | Torso, Arms, Legs | Metal | +25 | -45 | -5 | — | +5 | +5 |
| Breastplate | 2 | MA | Torso | Metal, Rigid | +30 | -40 | — | — | — | — |
| Chain Hauberk | 2 | HA | Torso, Arms, Legs | Metal | +10 | -75 | -10 | — | +10 | — |
| Banded Mail | 2 | HA | Torso, Legs | Metal, Rigid | +20 | -40 | — | — | — | — |
| Half Plate | 2 | HA | Torso, Arms, Legs | Metal, Rigid | +20 | -60 | -5 | — | +5 | +5 |
| Full Plate | 3 | HA | Torso, Arms, Legs | Metal, Rigid | +15 | -75 | -10 | — | +15 | +15 |
| Helmets | ||||||||||
| Leather Helmet | 0 | — | Head | — | — | — | — | -5 | — | — |
| Metal Helmet | 1 | — | Head | Metal, Rigid | — | — | — | -5 | — | — |
| Full Helm | 1 | — | Head, Face, Neck | Metal, Rigid | — | — | — | -15 | — | — |
| Limb Armor | ||||||||||
| Leather Greaves | 1 | — | Lower Legs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Metal Greaves | 1 | — | Lower Legs | Metal, Rigid | — | -5 | — | — | — | — |
| Leather Bracers | 0 | — | Forearms | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Metal Gauntlets | 1 | — | Forearms, Hands | Metal, Rigid | — | — | -5 | — | — | — |
Furs/Pelts
Heavy winter clothing consisting of multiple layers of furs, animal pelts, and wool. Generally cheap protection worn by peasants, mountain men, and tribal warriors. Heavy and cumbersome; when drenched, the Movement Penalty rises to -40. Offers a special +10 DEF bonus and +10 to Save Rolls against Cold-based attacks.
Leather Jerkin
A tight armor made of layered leather covering the torso, groin, and shoulders. The lightest form of protection available. Offers little protection against direct heavy blows but is somewhat effective against thrusts and cuts.
Leather Armor
A leather jerkin plus leather greaves and bracers. More effective, yet still light protection against cuts and thrusts.
Boiled Leather
A cuir builli or leather plate armor, or a breastplate made of layered leather reinforced with metal rings or studs.
Reinforced Leather
A brigandine, or a leather armor reinforced with metal rings or studs, or a rigid leather plate armor.
Chain Shirt
A jerkin made of interlocking metal rings over padded cloth, covering the torso.
Chain Mail
A longer chain shirt covering the arms, shoulders, torso, and upper legs. Often worn over layers of cloth or padding.
Lamellar Armor
Armor made of small overlapping metal plates over a canvas of cloth or padded leather. More rigid and resilient than traditional chain mail. Less effective than chain against thrusting attacks.
Breastplate
A metal breastplate covering the torso. Very resistant and relatively light but leaves many openings.
Chain Hauberk
A chain mail hauberk, sometimes doubled for additional protection, covering the whole body from shoulders to the lower legs. Often complemented with metal or leather greaves and gauntlets.
Banded Mail
Armor made of horizontal metal bands linked together, also known as the lorica segmentata. Covers the torso, shoulders, and hips.
Half Plate
Metal breastplate plus metal greaves, pauldrons, and gauntlets. The most common infantry plate armor.
Full Plate
Full plate armor with breastplate, greaves, pauldrons, and gauntlets, plus chain mail or linked plates covering the groin, armpits, rear legs, and joints. Extremely heavy and cumbersome; offers the definitive protection against any blow.
Leather Helmet
Helmet made of layered leather and/or heavy furs. Cheap protection. Pelt caps offer a special +10 DEF bonus and +10 to Save Rolls against Cold-based attacks to the head.
Metal Helmet
A bascinet, pot helm, or other metal helmet covering the head, ears, and nose. Gives solid protection against direct blows to the head.
Full Helm
A complete helm with visor, offering maximum protection against even heavy blows. Seriously restricts the wearer's awareness.
Leather Greaves
Padded leather protection for the lower legs: knee, shin, and foot. Note that many suits of armor already include protection for the lower legs.
Metal Greaves
Metal protection for the knee, shin, and foot. Note that many suits of armor already include this protection.
Leather Bracers
Leather wraps for the forearms. Note that many suits of armor already include this protection.
Metal Gauntlets
Metal covering for the forearm and hand. Note that some suits of armor already include this protection. A character wearing metal gauntlets counts as armed for the purpose of unarmed attacks.
Shields
Shields are held or strapped to the arm and provide a direct bonus to Defense against both melee and ranged attacks. A character wielding a shield can Parry ranged attacks; see the Combat Actions page for full Parrying rules.
| Name | Fare | Zones | Qualities | Move | CMB | Melee + | Miss. + |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target Shield | 1 | Shield arm | Rigid | — | — | +15 | +5 |
| Full Shield | 1 | Shield arm, Torso | Rigid | -10 | -5 | +25 | +25 |
| Wall Shield | 1 | Shield arm, Torso | Rigid | -20 | -15 | +40 | +50 |
| Net | 0 | Shield arm | — | — | — | +5 | — |
Target Shield
A small round shield strapped to the arm. The DEF bonus only applies against a single attacker each Round.
Full Shield
A round or kite shield strapped to the arm and maneuvered with a handle. The DEF bonus applies against all attackers from one side.
Wall Shield
A cumbersome tower shield protecting the whole body from feet to neck. The DEF bonus applies against all attackers from the front and sides.
Net
A sturdy net with metal weights. The DEF bonus only applies against a single attacker each Round and cannot be used to Parry ranged attacks. Grants a +20 bonus to Disarm and Lock martial moves.