Low-Tech Armour Loadouts.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by ciaran_skye

What would you match it by besides type: DR, weight or cost?

Common availability by TL.

[Stripe]

Originally Posted by ciaran_skye

what would you match it by besides type: Dr, weight or cost?

Damage Resistance.

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

Common availability by TL.

That'd be OK too.

[Rasputin]

I was inspired to make something that might be useful: loadouts based on the armor in the D20 SRD. Corrections are welcome. It seemed like something fast for a Dungeon Fantasy game.

Padded
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $50.00 6# Torso
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $25.00 3# Arms
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $50.00 6# Legs
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $5.00 0.6# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Pot Helm, Medium Leather, Padding DR 3*/2* imp $30.00 3.6# Skull
$240.00 22.2#

Leather
Leather, Medium DR 2*/1* imp $100.00 12# Torso
Leather, Medium DR 2*/1* imp $50.00 6# Arms
Leather, Medium DR 2*/1* imp $100.00 12# Legs
Leather, Medium DR 2*/1* imp $10.00 1.2# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Pot Helm, Medium Leather, Padding DR 3*/2* imp $30.00 3.6# Skull
$370.00 37.8#

Studded leather
Brigandine, Light DR 3 $900.00 10# Torso
Brigandine, Light DR 3 $450.00 5# Arms
Brigandine, Light DR 3 $900.00 10# Legs
Leather, Medium DR 3 $10.00 1.2# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Pot Helm, Light Brigandine, Padding DR 4 $190.00 3.2# Skull
$2,530.00 32.2#

Chain shirt
Mail, Light DR 3*/1* cr $500.00 12# Torso
Mail, Light DR 3*/1* cr $250.00 6# Arms
Mail, Light DR 3*/1* cr $225.00 5.4# Thighs
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $50.00 6# Legs
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $5.00 0.6# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Pot Helm, Light Plate, Padding DR 4 $210.00 2.8# Skull
$1,320.00 35.8#

Hide
Leather, Heavy DR 3/2 imp $200.00 20# Torso
Leather, Heavy DR 3/2 imp $100.00 10# Arms
Leather, Heavy DR 3/2 imp $200.00 20# Legs
Leather, Heavy DR 3/2 imp $20.00 2# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Pot Helm, Heavy Leather, Padding DR 4/3 imp $50.00 5.2# Skull
$650.00 60.2#

Scale mail
Scale, Light DR 3/2 cr $320.00 16# Torso
Scale, Light DR 3/2 cr $160.00 8# Arms
Scale, Light DR 3/2 cr $320.00 16# Legs
Scale, Light DR 3/2 cr $32.00 1.6# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Bascinet, Light Scale, Padding DR 4/3 cr $92.50 5.5# Skull, Face (back)
$1,004.50 50.1#

Chainmail
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $900.00 15# Torso
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $450.00 7.5# Arms
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $900.00 15# Legs
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $90.00 1.5# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Coif, Fine Mail, Padding DR 5*/3* cr $285.00 6.3# Skull, Face (back), Neck
$2,705.00 48.3#

Breastplate
Plate, Medium DR 6 $1,875.00 15# Chest
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $12.50 1.5# Abdomen
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $25.00 3# Arms
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $50.00 6# Legs
Plate, Light DR 3 $500.00 4# Shins
Cloth, Padded DR 1* $5.00 0.6# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Bascinet, Medium Plate, Padding DR 7 $637.50 6.5# Skull, Face (back)
$3,185.00 39.6#

Splint mail/Banded mail
Mail, Fine (Banded) DR 4* $1,012.50 16.875# Chest
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $225.00 3.75# Abdomen
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $450.00 7.5# Arms
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $900.00 15# Legs
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $90.00 1.5# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Coif, Fine Mail, Padding DR 5*/3* cr $285.00 6.3# Skull, Face (back), Neck
$3,042.50 53.925#

Half-plate
Plate, Medium DR 6 $1,875.00 15# Chest
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $225.00 3.75# Abdomen
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $450.00 15# Arms
Plate, Medium DR 6 $250.00 2# Shoulders
Plate, Medium DR 6 $250.00 2# Upper Arms
Mail, Fine DR 4*/2* cr $900.00 15# Legs
Plate, Medium DR 6 $1,250.00 10# Shins
Mail, Fine DR 4* $90.00 1.5# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Coif, Fine Mail, Padding DR 5*/3* cr $285.00 6.3# Skull, Face (back), Neck
$5,655.00 66.05#

Full plate
Plate, Medium DR 6 $2,500.00 20# Torso
Plate, Medium DR 6 $1,250.00 10# Arms
Plate, Medium DR 6 $2,500.00 20# Legs
Plate, Medium DR 6 $250.00 2# Hands
Boots DR 2 $80.00 3# Feet
Coif, Fine Mail, Padding DR 5*/3* cr $285.00 6.3# Skull, Face (back), Neck
Greathelm, Medium Plate DR 6 $875.00 7# Head
$7,740.00 68.3#

[Bruno]

In a similar vein, I put together some sets based on general "role" as I have been eyeballing them. I provide two sums - one with just raw cost and weight summed, and one assuming that everything in the set is Fine (as per DF, not per Low Tech various modifiers). I also provide the ST at which this loadout is Light Encumberance, and at which it is No Encumberance at all.


Noncombatant (Scholar, Thief, Wizard...)
Boots DR 2 $12.50 1.5# Feet
Heavy Greatcoat DR 2* $382.50 30.6# Torso, Groin, Arms, Legs, Neck
Leather Gloves DR 2* $36.00 1.5# Hands
Light Plate Pot Helm DR 3 $200.00 1.6# Skull
Pot Helm Padding DR 1* $10.00 1.2# Skull
Total $641.00 36.4# Light Enc@10, No Enc@14
Fine Total $2,564.00 27.3# Light Enc@9, No Enc@12

Light Skirmisher (Cleric, Scout, Swashbuckler...)
Boots DR 2 $12.50 1.5# Feet
Leather Mittens DR 2* $12.00 1.5# Hands
Medium Mail Hauberk DR 4/2* $900.00 15# Torso, Groin
Layered Cloth Sleeves DR 2* $75.00 6# Arms
Layered Cloth Leggings DR 2* $150.00 12# Legs
Leather Stock DR 2* $6.00 0.8# Neck
Light Plate Pot Helm DR 3 $200.00 1.6# Skull
Light Mail Coif DR 3/1* $150.00 3.6# Skull, Neck
Coif Padding DR 1* $15.00 1.8# Skull, Neck
Total $1,520.50 43.8# Light Enc@11, No Enc@15
Fine Total $6,082.00 32.85# Light Enc@10, No Enc@13

Mid Weight Grunt (Cleric, Holy Warrior, Knight…)
Light Sabotons DR 3 $100.00 0.8# Feet
Light Mail Mittens DR 3/1* $50.00 1.2# Hands
Heavy Mail Hauberk DR 5/3* $1,200.00 18# Torso, Groin
Medium Mail Sleeves DR 4/2* $450.00 7.5# Arms
Medium Mail Leggings DR 4/2* $900.00 15# Legs
Light Plate Pot Helm DR 3 $200.00 1.6# Skull
Medium Mail Coif DR 4/2* $270.00 4.5# Skull, Neck
Coif Padding DR 1* $15.00 1.8# Skull, Neck
Total $3,185.00 50.4# Light Enc@12, No Enc@16
Fine Total $12,740.00 37.8# Light Enc@10, No Enc@14

Heavy Weight Grunt (Holy Warrior, Knight…)
Heavy Sabotons DR 6 $250.00 2# Feet
Mail and Plate Gauntlets DR 5/4 $100.00 2# Hands
Medium Brigandine Corselet DR 5 $1,800.00 20# Torso, Groin
Medium Brigandine Sleeves DR 5 $900.00 10# Arms
Medium Brigandine Leggings DR 5 $1,800.00 20# Legs
Light Gorget DR 3 $50.00 0.4# Neck
Full Helm Padding DR 1* $15.00 1.8# Skull, Face
Heavy Plate Full Helm DR 6 $750.00 6# Skull, Face
Total $5,665.00 62.2# Light Enc@13, No Enc@18
Fine Total $22,660.00 46.65# Light Enc@11, No Enc@16

Taaaaank (Brute...)
Heavy Sabotons DR 6 $250.00 2# Feet
Heavy Gauntlets DR 6 $250.00 2# Hands
Heavy Plate Harness DR 9 $4,000.00 32# Torso, Groin
Medium Plate Sleeves DR 6 $1,250.00 10# Arms
Medium Plate Leggings DR 6 $2,500.00 20# Legs
Heavy Gorget DR 6 $125.00 1# Neck
Full Helm Padding DR 1* $15.00 1.8# Skull, Face
Heavy Plate Full Helm DR 6 $750.00 6# Skull, Face
Light Greathelm DR 3 $350.00 2.8# Skull, Face, Neck
Total $9,240.00 75.6# Light Enc@14, No Enc@20
Fine Total $36,960.00 56.7# Light Enc@12, No Enc@17

EDIT: I just realize I renamed almost everything for colour value while working on a DF cut of the equipment list. Hopefully you can figure out what I'm blathering on about. Also relevant is a houserule - all hand armor is Mittens, giving Hamfisted 1. "Gloves" is a +2 CF upgrade that removes the Hamfisted problem, only available on light versions of cloth, leather, and Mail, Light

[Bruno]

General observation - armor is expensive. PCs with the same starting cash will be crappier armoured. Cheap/Munitions armor should be either pushed aggressively for PCs, or PCs should spend a significant amount of points on wealth, or the game will have lower DRs.

Alternately, when integrating with an existing game, or a game where the "traditional" balance of armor vs other equipment is appropriate (DF, I'm looking at you), slash all armor costs to 75% the listed price, or even 50%.

Mix to taste with "Double or triple cost for hand, foot, and neck armor" if you're trying to passively encourage PCs to build semi-realistic armor sets for themselves.

[Kalzazz]

Armor is also seriously heavy

I know some players who give their character front torso armor only, on the idea it can soak on the most common hit location or force enemies to suffer to hit penalties vs weaker locations, but wont slow them/give dodge penalties/etc

Also if its for DF armor sets, Lighten 25% is practically a requirement

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

Armor is also seriously heavy

I know some players who give their character front torso armor only, on the idea it can soak on the most common hit location or force enemies to suffer to hit penalties vs weaker locations, but wont slow them/give dodge penalties/etc

Also if its for DF armor sets, Lighten 25% is practically a requirement

Compared to the Basic Set, the Low Tech stats are positively featherweight. They compare reasonably well at the plate end to even 4e D&D stats, which are clearly designed on purely gamist principles (+1 AC is +5 pounds and +5 GP. Tidy.)

Getting light armor (With Low Tech) is mostly a matter of Spending More Money. Which means that if you want to encourage that sort of thing, you can either give out More Money in general, or specifically slash armor costs.

Lighten is still a good investment, no arguments there - it's way cheaper for fancy armor than upgrading the armor mundanely.

[Kalzazz]

Well, depends on exactly what armor is being looked at

The basic set leather jacket is definitely one of the ultimate examples of DR to weight ratio, its one of the most popular armor choices Ive seen (particularly with Fortify 1 tossed on it)

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Stripe

What would be cool is a load out of pretty well as close of replacement to the Basic Set's equipment list as can be made.

I've taken a shot at it for the body armor section. All items have DR identical to the Basic Set item unless otherwise noted.



Fur loincloth: not reproducible, closest equivalent is partial winter clothing. Cost & weight uncertain.
Fur tunic: not reproducible, closest equivalent is partial winter clothing. Cost & weight uncertain.

Bronze Breastplate: Bronze light plate +1 heavy, front half chest. $2250, 4.5 lb

Bronze Corselet:
Bronze light plate +2 heavy chest, $6000, 12 lb (no sliding rivets) and
Bronze heavy segmented plate abdomen, $1200, 8 lb

Cloth Armor: Padded Cloth torso, $50, 6

Leather Armor: Medium Hardened Leather torso, $125, 15 lb

Leather Jacket: not reproducible.
Closest performance might be padded cloth arms and torso minus groin. $72.5, 8.7 lb. Or padded cloth arms and chest $62.5, 7.5 lb for a short jacket.
Closest to concept may be partial winter clothing/light leather.

Light Scale Armor: Light scale chest, $240, 12 lb. Has -1 DR vs crushing.

Lorica Segmentata: For actual lorica segmentata, see box on LT 115. To match the Basic Set table entry:
Heavy segmented plate chest, $900, 24 lb

Mail Hauberk: Fine mail torso, $900, 15 lb
Mail Shirt: Fine mail chest, $675, 11.25 lb

Scale Armor: Medium scale torso, $550, 28 lb. Has -1 DR vs crushing.

Double Mail Hauberk: Heavy mail torso, $1200, 18 lb

Heavy Steel Corselet: Not covered at TL3. TL4 version:
Light plate +4 heavy chest, $2250, 18 lb and
Light segmented plate +4 heavy abdomen, $450, 12 lb
It might be appropriate to treat large iron plates at TL3 as cheap, without reduced cost (possibly with increased cost). This would make the chest plate:
Primitive light plate +5 heavy chest, $3000, 21 lb (no sliding rivets)

Steel Breastplate: Light plate +2 heavy, front half chest. $750, 6 lb

Steel Corselet: TL issue as Heavy Steel Corselet. At TL4:
Medium plate chest, $1875, 15 lb and
Light segmented plate +3 heavy abdomen, $375, 10 lb
Possible TL3 chest plate:
Primitive light plate +4 heavy chest, $2250, 18 lb (no sliding rivets)

Steel Laminate Plate: Heavy scale torso, $1,100, 40 lb. (on the bright side, it's TL2, not TL3)

Buff Coat: the neck protection is problematic. Low Tech seems to indicate simple collars don't work for neck protection.
Simple leather buff coat: Medium leather torso and arms, $150, 18 lb. -1 DR vs impaling. Collar would add $5 and .6 lb.
Layered leather buff coat: Light layered leather torso and arms, $180, 22.5 lb. Collar would add $6 and .75 lb.