Afore I begin yappin' about this, lemme state that there ain't no replacement fer a good defense. Whether ya dance aroun' dodgin' an' duckin' like I do, or choose ta use a shield or yer weapon ta block a strike, that is where yer best chance o' livin' through a fight lies. Once that blade gets past yer guard, well, ya better hope ya paid Bragan a nice tip when ya bought yer gear.
Some of 'em do get past though, so ya gotta be ready. Here's all I've figgered about armor in me days. I've had plenty o' opportunity ta test it all out, from me days in the sewers skinnin' rats fer me mutton to fightin' today's Aestivan rat varieties *chortle*. It ain't the final word, an' if ya catch me errin', ya damn well better lemme know. Keepin' secrets from yer Cap'n just ain't polite.
Now unless yer strong as a bull, like yer Cap'n *chortle*, ya gotta pay attention ta weight. Too much'll make ya even more vulnerable ta the bugger tryin' ya, so use yer judgement.
It's easiest ta talk about armor when ya break it down ta the area ya want ta protect, so that's how I'm gonna do it., head ta toe.
head
- Ya gotta have a helmet if ya intend ta survive long. There's all sorts o' things ya can do here.
1) Leather helm or cap - Good and light, but they ain't gonna stop a brute's club from takin' ya down. Rarely, they're gonna block somethin', but mostly they're just absorbin' some o' the damage yer head woulda took.
2) Bronze helm - Not too heavy, an' good protection. Will block weak strikes at yer head, an' take some o' the sting outta those that get through. Some folks like the visored kind, but I ain't never seen a difference meself.
3) Iron helm - Heavy enough ta crack yer neck, in me experience. Got one from a Cinner officer I kilt. It was dandy armor...I had a trooper beat on me head fer near five minutes, an' never struck through it. Not once. These days though, with folks gettin' nasty hits even through good armor, I ain't sure it's worth the weight.
face
- When ya got a face as ugly as mine, ya don't want any extra scars, trust me. Unfortunately, this is about the hardest part o' yer body ta protect. Ya need ta see ta fight, an' the armor ya can buy ta shield yer face is rare, an' dear when ya find it.
1) Bronze helm with faceplate - I'd love ta get me one o' these, but they run inta 10 or more talents, an' most folks ain't sellin'. Can't really speak ta effectiveness, never ownin' one.
2) Bronze mask - May seem odd, but them old bronze masks that look like a feller's face will help ya. Won't block much, but will absorb some o' the blow fer ya.
3) Tin mask - The favorite outfit o' the ijit thief. Only an ijit warrior would use this fer armor. Enough said.
neck
- Another tough area ta protect. A sharp fighter'll go right fer it, if he's kin' enough ta leave yer face intact. *grin*
1) Mail shoulder guards - Can't figger it, but I've had me guards absorb blows aimed at me neck. We'll get more inta these later.
2) Phylax - Another tough one. Mostly covers yer vitals, but I've seen 'em block neck strikes. More later.
3) Iron collar? - Some feller told me once that these are like the iron helmet far as effectiveness. I ain't sure I believe the bugger. Ain't tried it, personally.
shoulders
- If ya ever run inta one o' them swordsmen that likes ta use chop on ya, yer gonna need somethin' ta slow him down. Them damned choppers just hack away, an' ya have ta rely on yer armor ta slow 'em, cause the attack's so easy a chile could hit ya with it.
1) Shoulder guards (solid) - Big ol' formed bronze plates that strap ta yer cuirass or lorica. These suckers are heavy, an' real hard ta get past. Even if someone does, they're gonna absorb a lot o' the blow. Course, some opponent gets a lucky strike in, an' I ain't sure all that bronze is gonna help.
2) Mail shoulder guards - These are what I use. Bout half the weight o' the solid ones, an' they do a fine job blockin' an' takin' a beatin' fer ya. Look sharp too. *grin*
3) Leather shoulder pterries - I wore these fer a long time. They're light an' cheap, but they don't block very well, an' won't slow a blade down much. Better'n nothin' though against a chopper.
arms
- No options here. Get yer gold an' go see Harach.
1) Armillus - Comin' in a few styles, this bracelet, er bracer as some folks call 'em, shields yer arm from a strike. They're real light, an' block well, as well as absorbin' some o' it for ya. The big debate on these guys is whether ya wear one or two. I ain't gettin' inta that much. I just figger it only weighs a damned pound, an' two is better'n one.
hands
- What can I say, troopers. I can't help ya here. Venina can, a little anyhow.
1) Leather gloves - Thin leather gloves. If ya think they're gonna block much more'n a cat scratch, yer kiddin' yerself. Some folks wear two, three, eight pair cause they're light, an' they'll take some o' the sting out. I'd feel like an ijit wearin' more'n one pair, personally. *shrug*
2) Leather gauntlets with metal reinforcements - What the fashionable Militia trooper'll be wearin' next time the Captain sees Calapsos. *wink*
*** Sadly the GMs have said this is not in the time frame of the game, and we aren't allowed to have these anymore. There are a few pairs left in the possession of members, but we can't get more, I'm sorry.
chest/back
- This is a wierd one. All yer vitals are here, but yer gonna find that there's very little armor that'll help ya much, an' very few that'll actually strike at it.
1) Cuirass (all types) - Many types o' these...I've worn bronze, polished, plain, mail, muscle, leather...some others, meself. Ain't one o' them worth much, from what I can tell. The muscle cuirass looks sharp, an' is real heavy. The leather one ain't all that light...the polished bronze I own comes in about four pounds. Not one o' them has ever blocked a thing. May absorb some damage, I'll be damned if I know. *mutter*
2) Bronze phylax - Big ol' bronze plate that hangs from yer neck ta yer belly an' straps behind. Wore one fer some time, an' seen it block neck shots...never once anythin' else. Weighs near as much as full cuirass too.
3) Leather armor - So ya got yerself some armor ya just took a thug ya killed...an' yer askin' me if it's good fer anythin'?
4) Cinner War-Vest - See leather armor...only it's a l'il better. *chortle*
waist
- Now we get ta the easy stuff. Some o' the most fashionable garments in the Republic. *chortle*
1) Lorica Hamata - The time-tested piece o' armor that can make yer enemy cry. Heavier than ya'd like (10-12 pounds) but nothin' is better fer protectin' ya from most o' the nasties yer gonna see. Blocks even the meanest attacks...I used ta impale folks an' they'd wouldn't even get scratched cause o' these. O' course, that was with the cheap spears *wink*. Also protects yer thighs somewhat. If ya don't have one, ya better be a damned good blocker. Might absorb some o' the blow too...it blocks so much I ain't sure.
2) Belts - Might seem odd, but a big thick leather belt will protect yer innards from a slash. The one I wear is an ol' connie belt I got secondhand...I said secondhand. It's blocked near as many strikes as all me other fancy gear.
3) Cinner codpiece - Rare piece o' armor here...be sure ta wash it good afore use *grin*. Ain't seen one in some time, but they'll block strikes at yer tender parts. Never havin' owned one, can't say much more.
thighs
- Somethin' about the enemies yer gonna face. They got a thigh fetish, near as I can figger. More strikes are gonna be aimed an' landed here than anywhere else on yer carcass, likely.
1) Bronze thigh greaves - Heavy, thick bronze plates that strap ta yer leg. These suckers're the best, I been wearin' 'em more than a year, an' with the exception o' a few bafflin' lucky hits, my thighs ain't been hurt at all. With a lorica over 'em, yer gonna be safe, 'less ya fight like a dummy.
2) Leather pterries - Straps o' leather that hang down from yer waist over yer thighs. Won't block nothin' but weak attacks, but absorbs some o' the hit fer ya. Light, an' cheap.
3) Leather breeches - Some folks think cause it's leather, it's armor. I ain't one.
legs
- Ya remember them rat bites well enough. They itch like crazy, don't they? *chortle* Legs is one o' the easiest areas ta protect yerself, thank Ereal.
1) Bronze leg greaves - From yer knee down ta the top o' yer foot, solid bronze. Rats an' beasties generally can't bite through it. Not too heavy, considerin' the protection. I use 'em, even though it might be a bit much.
2) Leather leggings (all types) - Leather strappin', sometimes reinforced with metal, that ya wind round yer leg up ta yer knee. Fairly light, good protection if ya don't wan't the weight o' bronze. Don't expect it ta stop a blade though.
3) Cloth leggings (all types) - Cloth is fer clothes...ya may see some use from these against l'il ratties, but don't expect too much. Very light, very cheap.
feet
- Very few options here, but ya can sure look good doin' it *grin*.
1) Boots (all types) - I've worn the heavy hobnailed, them Cinner boots, different kinds o ' fancy boots...I can't tell the difference. Some folks wear more'n one pair fer added protection...see me comment on wearin' more'n one pair o' gloves, the same applies here.
2) Sandals - Never wore 'em, never will...'cept when I'm holidayin' at Monlon or somethin'. Nothin' that leaves yer toe danglin' in front o' a beastie's mouth is armor, far as I can figger.
The biggest puzzler in all o' this is the concept o' layerin'. I ain't gonna stand here an' say I'm an expert. Like I tol' ya, some folks'll wear eight pair o' gloves an' ten pair o' boots an think they're clever. They prolly don't take much more'n a scratch ta them areas, I can't tell ya either way. Here's what I do.
When I know I'm goin' in fer a tough fight, I'm makin' sure me head, me thighs, an' me waist is protected. So I'll make sure I'm layerin' there...leather cap an' a metal helmet, lorica an' me trusty thigh greaves, lorica an' me big ol' belt.
There's a couple problems though. Most important is all the lucky hits folks are gettin' lately. Ya know what I mean. I had a Kerachostian pirate stick his damned trident through my thigh not that long ago. Took me right outta the battle. But ya also gotta consider how a feller who's real sharp is gonna aim at ya. So yer wearin' twenty pairs o' boots, thirteen pairs o' gloves, five armilli...ya see what I mean. That feller can take one look at ya an' see the holes. An' if he's good enough, that's all he's gotta aim fer.
The armor ya wear is about yer judgement. How much can ya bear an' fight well? How much risk ya gonna take? Does polished bronze make me look pertier than rusty iron? All tough choices. *sigh*
Hope this helps ya more'n it confuses ya.
Carry on, troopers.
Captain Prion Abraxus