Armor Rules
The armor system given below replaces both the "simple" and "complicated" systems in the fifth edition rulebook. It is, however, completely compatible with both and may be used alongside them
and in all the solo adventure books. Personally, I found the simple system too simplistic and the complicated system too -- well, complicated. Thus, I crafted from the actual armor statistics a middle
ground that my friends have found very playable.
First principle: There are three distinct bits of armor that any person may wear:
1. Helmet
2. Shield
3. Armor, meaning body armor
Only one of each type may be used. The ST requirement given is cumulative and the total must not exceed the wearer's Strength. Body armor is of two general types:
• Cuirass -- covers the torso, shoulder and hip (typified by the Roman Lorica).
• Full -- an extended cuirass including attached gauntlets and greaves.
• * -- any armor marked with an asterix is too cumbersome for constant use; a character may wear such armor for as many (10 minute) turns as their CON; after which they lose one point of ST every turn they are not resting. Lost ST is not recovered until the armor is removed.
Armor
Armor | ST Req | GP | WU | |
Cloth Cuirass | 1 | 1 | 15 | 50 |
Full Quilted | 2 | 1 | 30 | 70 |
Leather Cuirass | 3 | 1 | 30 | 150 |
Ring Cuirass | 4 | 2 | 70 | 240 |
Scale Cuirass | 4 | 3 | 35 | 500 |
Full Leather | 5 | 1 | 40 | 170 |
Lamellar Cuirass | 5 | 2 | 200 | 570 |
* Full Ringmail | 6 | 3 | 90 | 270 |
Mail Cuirass | 6 | 6 | 150 | 800 |
* Full Scale | 7 | 6 | 70 | 720 |
* Full Lamellar | 8 | 4 | 385 | 860 |
Bronze Cuirass | 8 | 5 | 100 | 900 |
* Full Mail | 9 | 11 | 285 | 1160 |
* Full Composite Plate | 11 | 10 | 480 | 950 |
* Full Plate Suit | 14 | 12 | 600 | 1200 |
Helms
Armor | ST Req | GP | WU | |
Leather Cap | 1 | 1 | 10 | 25 |
Greek Helm | 2 | 1 | 15 | 35 |
Full Helm | 3 | 1 | 20 | 50 |
Shields
Armor | ST Req | GP | WU | |
Buckler | 3 | 1 | 10 | 75 |
Target Shield | 4 | 5 | 35 | 300 |
Aspis (Medium) | 5 | 5 | 65 | 450 |
Tower Shield | 6 | 6 | 100 | 550 |
Adjustments for Character's Size:
• If the PC is 7 feet or taller: Increase cost and weight by 50%.
• If the PC is 3 to 5 feet: Decrease weight by half, cost by one fourth.
• If the PC is under 3 feet: Decrease weight by three fourths, cost by half, and decrease the protection value by half (round up).
Mithril Armor
Mithril armor's chief practical value is its light weight. What really makes it so desirable is the suitability of mithril for magicks -- mithril armor is ready to accept enchantments of any level and can hold them for any duration (they may also get a save versus dispellment).
Armor | ST Req | GP | WU | |
Mithril Ring Cuirass | 4 | 1 | 630,000 | 100 |
Mithril Full Ringmail | 6 | 1 | 800,000 | 120 |
Mithril Mail Cuirass | 6 | 2 | 1,350,000 | 300 |
Mithril Plate Cuirass | 8 | 3 | 900,000 | 400 |
Mithril Full Mail | 9 | 5 | 2,500,000 | 450 |
* Mithril Full Plate | 15 | 6 | 6,000,000 | 600 |