[LT] Leather (& Textile) weight issues and Scaling to size.

[Polydamas]

I wouldn't tie surface area rigidly to ST, because ST can easily vary 30% from that predicted by bodyweight. Keep in mind that GURPS DR is very coarse ... 13-15 oz leather might provide DR 1.5 but the rules have to reflect the empirical reality that layered or quilted linen provides more protection per kilo than most leathers.

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

PCs would still be pretty dumb to not keep at least one blunt weapon for all those mail wearers. The handicap is too severe for it not to have been commonly known.

The trouble is that in many cases, a spear or bow was still a better weapon. Most opponents will have plenty of targets with no armour, you have to get very close to hit someone with a mace held in your hand, and you have to want to kill or maim them. Sidearms like swords, axes, and maces were normally backup weapons.

Dan's comments about the most common threat aren't a bad approximation for societies with iron. Lots of societies without iron relied heavily on clubs and slings.

[Flyndaran]

It still seems like being an armored giant with one huge big unblinking eye and getting suprised when someone throws things at that one huge target.