[Low Tech] Some questions about helmets...

[Sam Baughn]

Originally Posted by Wraithe

I would think that the bars like that would protect against "swings"...

I imagine that it would stop a punch or animal bite fairly well and they are classed as 'thrusts' so I'd rather go by damage type.

Originally Posted by Wraithe

...so I would just model it as effective against cutting and crushing, but not impaling...

It's worth remembering that 4th edition has more than three types of damage, although it looks useless against anything except crushing and cutting.

[Harald387]

Originally Posted by Perfect Organism

It's worth remembering that 4th edition has more than three types of damage, although it looks useless against anything except crushing and cutting.

Write it up as 'full DR vs. Cutting and Crushing; half DR against other damage types'; I probably wouldn't make it more than DR 2 or DR 3 anyway.

[DanHoward]

If you say that a piece of armour only protects against swinging attacks then that would include picks.

[Pomphis]

Another maybe stupid question:

can I build all helmets from all materials ? For example, have a Leather or Plate Coif ? I ask because the description talks about it being mail, but OTOH I see no explicit rule "helmet X may only be build using Y".

[Sam Baughn]

Originally Posted by Pomphis

Another maybe stupid question:

can I build all helmets from all materials ? For example, have a Leather or Plate Coif ? I ask because the description talks about it being mail, but OTOH I see no explicit rule "helmet X may only be build using Y".

I think you need to judge it on a case-by-case basis. Most things which are usually mail can probably be made from any flexible material, while certain other items wouldn't really work if they were flexible.

So, a padded cloth coif would be reasonable, but a solid plate one seems unlikely. You could probably make a brim out of hardened leather, but not out of fine mail.

[Lupo]

Originally Posted by Pomphis

I ask because the description talks about it being mail, but OTOH I see no explicit rule "helmet X may only be build using Y".

A "plate coif" does not make any sense.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Lupo

A "plate coif" does not make any sense.

Unless the plates are really tiny and toroidal..

[Wraithe]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

If you say that a piece of armour only protects against swinging attacks then that would include picks.

Gooood point, curse those picks!