Armor and Shields
Valerick is a realm with a variety of armor and protective equipment available to those that would seek it. Armor and shields, always an important part of staying alive. Naturally this section is far from comprehensive, however broadly speaking one can group armor into three categories. Light armor, medium armor and heavy armor. Within these there are some common specific sorts of armor that can be found all about Valerick in various forms. Most armor is simple fabrics, woven hides, along with iron and steel, however you can find special materials in this section as well, a few well known, if not super common or regularly available materials. Rarity and price will oft be connected and handled here as well. Shields come in a few varieties, as one might expect, and that will be covered here too.
Light Armor
Light armor is made generally from supple and flexible materials, meant to allow freedom of movement. It does not offer maximum protection, in fact in reality its protective ability is rather minimal. This sort of armor is generally preferred by people whom don't intend to get hit, and just want some small measure of protection from what they hope will only ever be more glancing blows.
Gambeson: Some of the most common sort of light armor, gambeson is basically thick clothing, made of many woven layers of some sort of strong fabric, be it wool, hide, or even softer more supple leathers and their ilk. These layers act as a bit of a tightly bound cushion, but also as a snagging barrier to blades and other objects, basically slowing them down and ideally, stopping them.
Leather/Hides These are armors similar to gambeson, but where the top layer, the outer layer, is often a brine hardened layer of proper tanned leather or hide, adding a tough hard 'shell' to the cushion like construction.
Brigadine This light flexible armor is generally thickened gambeson, with a hardened fabric layer, with metal rivets or studding all throughout it. It is comfortable, but is the heavier end of armor that can be considered 'light'
Medium Armor
Medium armor is generally describing armors that offer more protection than simple fabric or leather, oft using some metal, but are not nearly as complex or heavy as true plate armor. These armors try and offer a balance of flexibility, mobility, and protection, and should hold up against a large percentage of assaults.
Mail and Gambeson: This balanced combination sees one armored in gambeson on the limbs, with a tunic underneath a simple unriveted mail shirt, often with a proper mail coif as well, offering the increased protection to vital organs (torso) and the head, the two areas most important and most likely to be targeted.
Unriveted Chainmail: This armor is generally made of forged iron or steel rings and links, that are all hooked to each other. Unlike the far more expensive and protective option of proper Riveted Chainmail, this armor is more vulnerable to breaking or being penetrated, and thusly, their is generally a layer of gambeson underneath.
Riveted Chainmail: This armor is the same as chainmail with one noteable exception. Instead of link to link connections, it is riveted. This gives it added strength and penetration resistance. It is also much more expensive, requiring a lot more effort and skill to make. Like Chainmail, this is oft worn with a layer of gambeson beneath it.
Breastplate: This armor is generally a thin vest of chain with gambeson beneath it. Riveted mail leggings and proper gauntlets, an open face helm, and a forged and fitted steel breastplate. This breastplate provides a hard deflective layer, shaped with curves and angles to allow maximum deflective capabilities, protecting the most vulnerable part of the humanoid body, where all the vital organs are located. It is the peak of what most would consider 'medium' weight armor, as getting into anything else gets into proper weighty armor
Heavy Armor
Heavy Armor has become less and less common with the advent of some modern weapons, particularly Smokepowder, however it is still used. It is what most would picture, at least most commonly. A knight wrapped head to toe in steel. It only really comes in three varieties. This armor does not allow great flexibility, but those made by the best of their craft afford more flexibility than some might initially expect as well.
Coat of Plates This armor is cheap, basically only used by those whom couldn't afford proper plate or even proper chain. Its a thick layer of gambeson, with a layer of thin riveted chain worn head to legs. Gauntlets and boots, as with all armors. Then another thick gambeson coat, with metal plates sewn in, steel plates, six to eight on both the chest and back, carefully spaced to try and roughly cover well...your vital organs. It is less expensive and easier to find than chainmail or plate armor, but less effective and comfortable or forgiving of movement/flexibility as well.
Full Plate Harness: The armor of juggernauts, this is the first generation of true knight armor that most would envision. Coated head to toe in steel plate, with chain and gambeson underneath, turning whoever is inside into a legitimate battle tank. However it denies the most flexibility and agility of any armor to its wearer, though does turn them into a near impenetrable fortress.
Articulated Full Plate: This armor is the creme de la creme, the best of the best, the apex of armor crafting from before the era of smokepowder and more. Even against those modern weapons, it actually offers some level of protection. The plates are fitted, with carefully forged overlapping little plates covering the normal gaps that Full Plate has to leave open under the arms and at the joints to allow the wearer any motion. These carefully crafted little plates are connected together with flexible cording and riveting, allowing them to move, to bend, acting like the scales over a lizard's body. Combine this with the masterful fitting work, and the all angles and curves approach to maximize deflective ability, it is a complete armor. Head to toe, coated in steel, with chain and gambeson beneath, this was and is the apex of current armor development. It costs like it as well. This sort of armor is a rarity, and must be crafted specifically, or at least altered, for each wearer. The measurements must be precise, every detail carefully considered. Those whom own and wear such armor regularly are oft very very wealthy, and need to be, with how often they likely, through their lives, have to pay for the armor to be altered to adapt to changes in their own body shape over time. This armor has all the protection of Full Plate Harness, and a bit more, but allows notably more flexibility and agility to its wearer, so long as it was made/adjusted for them. To anyone else it only counts as Full Plate Harness, unless they pay and spend the time to get it properly altered for them.
Shields
Shields have been around for a very long time. Simple, effective, the design has been adjusted and adapted so much, in so many shapes and styles, however there are really four five notable shield types on Valerick in spite of uniqueness of shape and the like dependant on culture.
Buckler: These small shields are often only used as partners for fencing in certain styles, or for civilian defense, however they do offer the benefit, with how tiny they are, to allowing you to hold a small weapon, like a dagger, or pistol, in your off hand if you so desire.
Targe: The accepted term pretty much across Valerick for a smaller shield, not quite buckler size, but not big enough to cover more than about a third of your body at once. Often circular in shape, though they can come in a more kite shield or heater shield like pattern as well, the term targe may be commonly accepted, but does specifically come from the dwarven word Thargek, which refers to a smaller round shield, with a metal boss that often would have a spike of anywhere from five to nine inches protruding from it, meant to impale and cause vicious injury to anyone you decided to bash with it.
Shield: This simple term refers to most shields of wood and fabric, with limited metal, big enough to cover about half of one's body.
Heavy Shield: This term references shields of a similar size to normal shields, but often this have an added layer to their construction, a layer of iron or steel, or in rare antique cases, bronze, which adds another level of protective ability to them.
Tower Shields: This term refers to shields that in their design, which is often rectangular in nature, are as tall as a person and often a bit wider. It is basically meant to be deployable cover more than a shield one would use in hand to hand combat, though some truly strong and powerful individuals have throughout history done so to impressive effect and ability.
Special Qualities
Fortress Defense: Any attack from a non advanced, non piercing ranged weapon and any attack from any non piercing melee weapon is at disadvantage against you
Steel Carapace: Any attack from any non advanced ranged weapon and any attack from any melee weapon are at disadvantage against you
Cover If you are facing someone whom is making a ranged attack against you, it has a 50% miss chance.
Light Armor
Light armor is made generally from supple and flexible materials, meant to allow freedom of movement. It does not offer maximum protection, in fact in reality its protective ability is rather minimal. This sort of armor is generally preferred by people whom don't intend to get hit, and just want some small measure of protection from what they hope will only ever be more glancing blows.
Gambeson: Some of the most common sort of light armor, gambeson is basically thick clothing, made of many woven layers of some sort of strong fabric, be it wool, hide, or even softer more supple leathers and their ilk. These layers act as a bit of a tightly bound cushion, but also as a snagging barrier to blades and other objects, basically slowing them down and ideally, stopping them.
Leather/Hides These are armors similar to gambeson, but where the top layer, the outer layer, is often a brine hardened layer of proper tanned leather or hide, adding a tough hard 'shell' to the cushion like construction.
Brigadine This light flexible armor is generally thickened gambeson, with a hardened fabric layer, with metal rivets or studding all throughout it. It is comfortable, but is the heavier end of armor that can be considered 'light'
Medium Armor
Medium armor is generally describing armors that offer more protection than simple fabric or leather, oft using some metal, but are not nearly as complex or heavy as true plate armor. These armors try and offer a balance of flexibility, mobility, and protection, and should hold up against a large percentage of assaults.
Mail and Gambeson: This balanced combination sees one armored in gambeson on the limbs, with a tunic underneath a simple unriveted mail shirt, often with a proper mail coif as well, offering the increased protection to vital organs (torso) and the head, the two areas most important and most likely to be targeted.
Unriveted Chainmail: This armor is generally made of forged iron or steel rings and links, that are all hooked to each other. Unlike the far more expensive and protective option of proper Riveted Chainmail, this armor is more vulnerable to breaking or being penetrated, and thusly, their is generally a layer of gambeson underneath.
Riveted Chainmail: This armor is the same as chainmail with one noteable exception. Instead of link to link connections, it is riveted. This gives it added strength and penetration resistance. It is also much more expensive, requiring a lot more effort and skill to make. Like Chainmail, this is oft worn with a layer of gambeson beneath it.
Breastplate: This armor is generally a thin vest of chain with gambeson beneath it. Riveted mail leggings and proper gauntlets, an open face helm, and a forged and fitted steel breastplate. This breastplate provides a hard deflective layer, shaped with curves and angles to allow maximum deflective capabilities, protecting the most vulnerable part of the humanoid body, where all the vital organs are located. It is the peak of what most would consider 'medium' weight armor, as getting into anything else gets into proper weighty armor
Heavy Armor
Heavy Armor has become less and less common with the advent of some modern weapons, particularly Smokepowder, however it is still used. It is what most would picture, at least most commonly. A knight wrapped head to toe in steel. It only really comes in three varieties. This armor does not allow great flexibility, but those made by the best of their craft afford more flexibility than some might initially expect as well.
Coat of Plates This armor is cheap, basically only used by those whom couldn't afford proper plate or even proper chain. Its a thick layer of gambeson, with a layer of thin riveted chain worn head to legs. Gauntlets and boots, as with all armors. Then another thick gambeson coat, with metal plates sewn in, steel plates, six to eight on both the chest and back, carefully spaced to try and roughly cover well...your vital organs. It is less expensive and easier to find than chainmail or plate armor, but less effective and comfortable or forgiving of movement/flexibility as well.
Full Plate Harness: The armor of juggernauts, this is the first generation of true knight armor that most would envision. Coated head to toe in steel plate, with chain and gambeson underneath, turning whoever is inside into a legitimate battle tank. However it denies the most flexibility and agility of any armor to its wearer, though does turn them into a near impenetrable fortress.
Articulated Full Plate: This armor is the creme de la creme, the best of the best, the apex of armor crafting from before the era of smokepowder and more. Even against those modern weapons, it actually offers some level of protection. The plates are fitted, with carefully forged overlapping little plates covering the normal gaps that Full Plate has to leave open under the arms and at the joints to allow the wearer any motion. These carefully crafted little plates are connected together with flexible cording and riveting, allowing them to move, to bend, acting like the scales over a lizard's body. Combine this with the masterful fitting work, and the all angles and curves approach to maximize deflective ability, it is a complete armor. Head to toe, coated in steel, with chain and gambeson beneath, this was and is the apex of current armor development. It costs like it as well. This sort of armor is a rarity, and must be crafted specifically, or at least altered, for each wearer. The measurements must be precise, every detail carefully considered. Those whom own and wear such armor regularly are oft very very wealthy, and need to be, with how often they likely, through their lives, have to pay for the armor to be altered to adapt to changes in their own body shape over time. This armor has all the protection of Full Plate Harness, and a bit more, but allows notably more flexibility and agility to its wearer, so long as it was made/adjusted for them. To anyone else it only counts as Full Plate Harness, unless they pay and spend the time to get it properly altered for them.
Shields
Shields have been around for a very long time. Simple, effective, the design has been adjusted and adapted so much, in so many shapes and styles, however there are really four five notable shield types on Valerick in spite of uniqueness of shape and the like dependant on culture.
Buckler: These small shields are often only used as partners for fencing in certain styles, or for civilian defense, however they do offer the benefit, with how tiny they are, to allowing you to hold a small weapon, like a dagger, or pistol, in your off hand if you so desire.
Targe: The accepted term pretty much across Valerick for a smaller shield, not quite buckler size, but not big enough to cover more than about a third of your body at once. Often circular in shape, though they can come in a more kite shield or heater shield like pattern as well, the term targe may be commonly accepted, but does specifically come from the dwarven word Thargek, which refers to a smaller round shield, with a metal boss that often would have a spike of anywhere from five to nine inches protruding from it, meant to impale and cause vicious injury to anyone you decided to bash with it.
Shield: This simple term refers to most shields of wood and fabric, with limited metal, big enough to cover about half of one's body.
Heavy Shield: This term references shields of a similar size to normal shields, but often this have an added layer to their construction, a layer of iron or steel, or in rare antique cases, bronze, which adds another level of protective ability to them.
Tower Shields: This term refers to shields that in their design, which is often rectangular in nature, are as tall as a person and often a bit wider. It is basically meant to be deployable cover more than a shield one would use in hand to hand combat, though some truly strong and powerful individuals have throughout history done so to impressive effect and ability.
| Armor Name | Rarity | Cost | Armor Class (AC) | Str Required | Skills Effected | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | Light Armors | - | - | - |
| Gambeson | Common | 5 gold suns | 11+Dex Modifier | - | - | 3 lbs |
| Leather/Hides | Uncommon | 10 gold suns | 11+Dexterity Modifier | - | Advantage Stealth | 3 lbs |
| Brigadine | Uncommon | 30 gold suns | 12+Dexterity Modifier | - | - | 5 lbs |
| - | - | - | Medium Armor | - | - | - |
| Mail and Gambeson | Uncommon | 50 gold suns | 13+Dexterity Modifier (Max 3) | - | - | 7 lbs |
| Unriveted Chainmail | Scarce | 70 gold suns | 14+Dexterity Modifer (Max 2) | - | Stealth Disadvantage | 10 lbs |
| Riveted Chainmail | Rare | 250 gold suns | 15+Dexterity Modifier (Max 2) | - | Stealth Disadvantage | 11 lbs |
| Breastplate | Rare | 350 gold suns | 16+Dexterity Modifier (Max 3) | Str 13 | Stealth, Acrobatics Disadvantage | 21 lbs |
| - | - | - | Heavy Armor | - | - | - |
| Coat of Plates | Scarce | 200 gold suns | 17 | Str 15 | Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Acrobatics Disadvantage | 18 lbs |
| Full Plate Harness | Rare | 1100 Gold Suns | 18+Fortress Defense | Str 15 | Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Acrobatics, Perception Disadvantage | 31 lbs |
| Articulated Full Plate | Exotic | 1800 gold suns | 19+Dexterity Modifier (Max 1)+Steel Carapace | Str 15 | Stealth, Sleight of Hand and Perception Disadvantage | 28 lbs |
| Shields | ||||||
| Buckler | Scarce | 12 gold suns | +1 | - | - | less than 1 lb |
| Targe | Uncommon | 8 gold suns | +2 and is a weapon (see weapons for stats) | - | - | 2 lbs |
| Shield | Common | 5 Gold Suns | +2 | - | Acrobatics Disadvantage | 3 lbs |
| Heavy Shield | Scarce | 20 gold suns | +3 | Str 13 | Acrobatics, Stealth Disadvantage | 9 lbs |
| Tower Shield | Rare | 35 gold suns | 4+Cover | Str 15 | Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand and Stealth Disadvantage | 12 lbs |
Special Qualities
Fortress Defense: Any attack from a non advanced, non piercing ranged weapon and any attack from any non piercing melee weapon is at disadvantage against you
Steel Carapace: Any attack from any non advanced ranged weapon and any attack from any melee weapon are at disadvantage against you
Cover If you are facing someone whom is making a ranged attack against you, it has a 50% miss chance.
Item type
Armor
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