Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

Interesting... I think it would fall somewhere between rigid and flexible armor, but I'm not sure exactly where (for blunt trauma purposes). However it would edge out steel in strength and lightness.

Not sure it's ease of use though, and it would require magic at the lower tech levels.

Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

The very best might count as DR 0 or 1 (cut)/0 Ordinary Clothing or DR 1* Padded Cloth. Most would count as Cheap and have several quirks and flaws which historical clothing did not: the ones for combat sports tend to be too bulky for plate armour to fit properly above them, its common for them to have a gap at the armpit or be too tight about the hips and thighs so they gap between the legs when the wearer walks ...

Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

Arming garments are not much use unless they are custom-tailored to properly fit the wearer. You can't get one "off the shelf". The whole point of underpadding was to stop chafing, to improve the fit of the armour, and to provide a foundation to which the armour can be attached. They were never intended to provide additional protection.

Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

Definitely flexible, unless it's one of those made stiff enough to be solid, and that would generally be determined by whether you have many quilted layers or stuffed quilting. Think of making armour out of sail canvas rather than clothing linen, and rather rougher on sword edges.

And if you have dwarves you've either got magic or sufficient tech.

Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

Depends what 'dwarves' means in context. Doesn't take magic or advanced tech to have short people about, or even to have a separate related species (it's just ahistorical).

Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

Stereotype fantasy/fantasy-style gearhead dwarves. 'Just short people' would mean less cloth required.

But you can make basalt cloth with early-Victorian-era technology, if you know how.

Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

According to wiki, "The manufacture of basalt fiber requires the melting of the crushed and washed basalt rock at about 1,500 °C (2,730 °F). The molten rock is then extruded through small nozzles to produce continuous filaments of basalt fiber." That is not Victorian-era tech, it's not really practical much before when it was actually first attempted (1923).

Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

Practical=/=possible. Victorians could get to 1,500 C. If you've got the oxygen for a Bessemer Furnace you can do it.

It's what you would see in a Steampunk or Steampunk/Fantasy game, not a historical one.

Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

Are you telling me Dwarves wears socks made of rocks?

Re: [LT] Padded/Layered Cloth weight
 

10 - 20 micron extrusion of material at 1500C?