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  • Armor: Reduces incoming damage by its Damage Reduction (DR) rating.
  • Blunt Trauma: If an attack deals ≥5 damage but is fully absorbed by DR, you still take 1 point of HP from impact.
  • Encumbrance: Heavier or poorly fitted armor may reduce your Speed or Coordination.
  • Shields: When actively wielded and facing an attacker, add your shield’s defense bonus to your parry or block.

Armor and Shield Tables

Armour / Shield DR SPD Coord Cover Wt lb Days (dy) Modern Euro
Padded cloth vest 1 0 ¾ torso 6 12 € 756
Padded cloth suit 1 0 ¾ body 15 30 € 1 890
Supple leather vest 2 0 85 % tor 5 18 € 1 134
Supple leather suit 2 0 85 % bod 12 48 € 3 024
Heavy leather vest 4 −1 85 % tor 12 72 € 4 536
Heavy leather suit 4 −1 85 % bod 49 150 € 9 450
Scale vest 10 −1 95 % tor 30 120 € 7 560
Scale shirt 10 −2 95 % ta 35 150 € 9 450
Scale suit 10 −2 95 % bod 68 240 €15 120
Light mail vest 8 0 90 % tor 12 360 €22 680
Light mail shirt 8 −1 90 % ta 15 600 €37 800
Light mail suit 8 −1 90 % bod 29 960 €60 480
Light mail coif 8 0 head 4 80 € 5 040
Heavy mail vest 11 −2 90 % tor 19 420 €26 460
Heavy mail shirt 11 −2 90 % ta 22 540 €34 020
Heavy mail suit 11 −2 90 % bod 44 1 080 €68 040
Heavy mail coif 11 0 head 6 120 € 7 560
Light plate + helm 14 −2 95 % bod 56 1 200 €75 600
Heavy plate + helm 16 −3 95 % bod 90 1 800 €113 400
Shield DR Defense Bonus Close-Combat Penalty Coverage Weight Days (dy) Modern Euro
Small Shield 8 +1 –1 Front only 6 lb 6 € 378
Medium Shield 8 +3 –2 Front only 14 lb 12 € 756
Large Shield 8 +5 –3 Front only 18 lb 30 € 1 890

Detailed Armor Descriptions

Padded Cloth

Real-World Equivalent: Gambeson / Arming Doublet

Lightly quilted layers of linen or wool stitched into a thick jacket. On impact it “swells” like a shock absorber, dispersing the force but offering only DR 1. No mobility penalty—think of a heavy canvas coat, perfect for scouts or messengers who must stay light on their feet.

Supple Leather

Real-World Equivalent: Deerskin Jerkin / Soft-Tanned Hide

Thin, oil-treated deer or calf hide so it flexes easily. Grants DR 2—enough to shrug off most knife‐point attacks—and only a −1 Coordination penalty. Imagine a high-end biker jacket tweaked for stealth: quiet, wiry, and ideal for rangers or light cavalry.

Heavy Leather

Real-World Equivalent: Cuir Bouilli (Boiled Leather Cuirass)

Thick hide boiled in wax and molded, then reinforced with rivets. DR 4 reliably stops most daggers and light slashes. Encumbrance: −1 Speed, −3 Coordination—like wearing a stiff plastic breastplate. Favored by mercenaries who need decent protection without the cost of mail.

Scale Armor

Real-World Equivalent: Lamellar (Fish-Scale) Armor

Rows of small metal scales laced onto a leather backing. DR 10 blocks most slashing weapons, at the cost of −1 to −2 Speed and −3 to −6 Coordination. Picture ancient Roman lorica squamata or Japanese karuta—excellent defense at the price of agility.

Mail (Chainmail)

Real-World Equivalent: Riveted or Welded Chainmail Hauberk

Interlocked steel rings forming a flexible shirt and coif. * Light Mail (Vest/Shirt/Suit/Coif): DR 8, minimal encumbrance in a vest, moderate in a full suit. * Heavy Mail (Vest/Shirt/Suit/Coif): DR 11, significant weight and penalties but resists heavier blows.

Think of wearing a mesh of tiny metal donuts—flexible enough to dodge but weighty enough to slow you down.

Full Plate

Real-World Equivalent: Gothic Harness / Maximilian Plate

  • Light Plate: DR 14 with helm—nearly impervious to swords but vulnerable to warhammers; encumbrance −2 Speed, −4 Coordination.
  • Heavy Plate: DR 16 with helm—the pinnacle of medieval defense; only the largest siege weapons or specialized attacks penetrate; same encumbrance.

Imagine lugging around a refrigerator, but looking like the realm’s heavyweight champion.

Shields

Real-World Equivalents:

  • Small Shield (Buckler): 12–18″ round steel disk minimal weight.

  • Medium Shield (Heater/Round): 2–3 ft wood core faced with leather/metal balanced defense.

  • Large Shield (Pavise/Tower): 4–5 ft tall barrier covers most of your body but is slow to maneuver.

To use a shield, you must actively wield it and face the attacker. Wielding a large shield in one hand may impose extra penalties on one-handed weapons (−2 knife, −3 rapier, −4 broadsword).

Bargain Bin

Armour piece (condition) DR SPD Coord Cover Wt lb Price (sp) notes
Threadbare Padded Vest 0 0 –1 ¾ torso 6 3.6 Stuffing thin, ties frayed
Mildewed Padded Suit 0 –1 –1 ¾ body 15 8.4 Musty odour, itchy seams
Dry-cracked Supple-Leather Vest 1 0 –1 85 % torso 5 8.0 Leather squeaks, split lace
Oil-stained Supple-Leather Vest 1 0 0 85 % torso 5 10.5 Reeking but still supple
Patch-quilt Supple-Leather Suit 1 –1 –1 85 % body 12 22.0 Mismatched hides, heavier
Axe-scarred Heavy-Leather Vest 3 –1 –1 85 % torso 12 28.0 Deep cleft crudely stitched
Strapped-together Heavy-Leather Vest 2 –2 –2 85 % torso 12 18.5 Buckles added where torn
Loose-scale Vest 8 –2 –1 95 % torso 30 38.0 Missing a handful of plates
Rust-flowered Scale Shirt 7 –3 –2 95 % tor+arm 35 44.0 Flaking rust; clinks loudly
Broken-ring Light-Mail Vest 6 –2 –1 90 % torso 12 110.0 Wire-patched, snags clothes
Verdigris Light-Mail Shirt 5 –3 –2 90 % tor+arm 15 160.0 Green corrosion at armpits
Gouged Heavy-Mail Vest 6 –3 –2 90 % torso 19 120.0 Axe groove across chest
Salvaged Heavy Plate (mismatched) + Helm 10 –5 –4 95 % body 90 300.0 Parts from three suits; new straps