[Low-Tech Loadouts] Etruscan Warrior, 7th to 3rd century B.C.

[safisher]

Originally Posted by Anders

The problem is that GURPS doesn't reflect many of the advantages of mail like being comfortable to wear and transport.

I'm not sure what else can be done to make it more desirable from a comfort standpoint. From an economic standpoint, mail was also easy to repair, and easy to re-fit to someone else. Repair work can be done with minimal tools, and that's important. A few extra links is all that's needed in way of supplies. For a warband, this is a highly desirable situation -- in fact, I'd treat this sort of repair as Soldier +4, meaning the band does not need smithy, wagon, etc. to repair battle damage. In any event, from the standpoint of desirability, rpgs and real life often never correlate precisely. GURPS, and Dan's work, gets close enough.

[Rasna]

Originally Posted by safisher

I'm not sure what else can be done to make it more desirable from a comfort standpoint. From an economic standpoint, mail was also easy to repair, and easy to re-fit to someone else. Repair work can be done with minimal tools, and that's important. A few extra links is all that's needed in way of supplies. For a warband, this is a highly desirable situation -- in fact, I'd treat this sort of repair as Soldier +4, meaning the band does not need smithy, wagon, etc. to repair battle damage. In any event, from the standpoint of desirability, rpgs and real life often never correlate precisely. GURPS, and Dan's work, gets close enough.

The problem is more pronounced in fantasy campaigns. In historical ones, from mid TL2 to very early european TL4, mail is prevalent among anyone can afford it, and regardless of price, is the best Low-Tech flexible armour and can be layered with other rigid armors. Effectively, in semi-historical, fanta-historical and fantasy settings, the other non-combat advantages (easiness of maintenance and reparation and the fact that rings allow the heat to escape) should be actively implemented.

[DanHoward]

Heat and climate have never really been a problem for any kind of armour. We know that some of the heaviest and most stifling armours ever invented were worn on summer campaigns in the Middle East. I've worn them in Australian summers with no more discomfort than heavy clothing. The main problem with heat comes from enclosed helmets.

[Rasna]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

Heat and climate have never really been a problem for any kind of armour. We know that some of the heaviest and most stifling armours ever invented were worn on summer campaigns in the Middle East. I've worn them in Australian summers with no more discomfort than heavy clothing. The main problem with heat comes from enclosed helmets.

I know. But, in your experience, aren't shape and material of armour at least a bit influent over both heat and cold tolerance?

[DanHoward]

Originally Posted by Rasna

I know. But, in your experience, aren't shape and material of armour at least a bit influent over both heat and cold tolerance?

Not enough to have any influence over a soldier's choice of armour.

[Rasna]

My personal experience is limited almost exclusively to mail hauberks and thick aketons. Naturally, if I was a TL3 soldier and I had to choose between the two, I'd always pick the hauberk, regardless the weather. Out of real battle necessity, I prefer the mail hauberk for almost all the year and aketon in cold winter days. But this is going off-topic.

I think I'll publish other loadouts soon. Thank you very much for your suggestions, Dan!

[DanHoward]

Always good to see more historical loadouts - especially if they lead to more sales of my book :)

Don't expect me to comment too much on them though. Researching, writing, and the subsequent playtest of that book burnt me out so badly that my eyes glaze over whenenver I see a loadout these days. I have a lot of sympathy for David Pulver and his VDS project.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

Heat and climate have never really been a problem for any kind of armour. We know that some of the heaviest and most stifling armours ever invented were worn on summer campaigns in the Middle East. I've worn them in Australian summers with no more discomfort than heavy clothing. The main problem with heat comes from enclosed helmets.

Weren't there quite a few casualties at the Battle of Towton due to heat exhaustion, despite it taking place during a snowstorm?

[DanHoward]

Originally Posted by RyanW

Weren't there quite a few casualties at the Battle of Towton due to heat exhaustion, despite it taking place during a snowstorm?

Yep. It is a good example to support the argument that climate is largely irrelevant. If you wear enclosed helmets for a prolonged battle then there will be heat issues no matter what the weather is like.

[Rasna]

Samnite Warrior, 5th to 3rd century (reconstructed from 4th century archeological findings)

ARMOUR AND CLOTHING

*) Tunic – Chitôn.
Type: Ordinary Clothing (Status 1) || Locations: Torso, shoulders (110%) || DR 0 || Holdout 0 || Don 17 || Weight: 1.76 lbs || Cost: $105.6

*) Sandals – Sandalon.
Type: Sandals || Locations: Feet (bottom) (10%) || DR 1* || Holdout -2 || Don 10 || Weight: 0.5 lbs || Cost: $25

*) Greaves – Knèmides.
Type: Plate, Light (Bronze) || Locations: Knees, shins (55%) || DR 3 || Holdout -3 || Don 24 || Weight: 4.4 lbs || Cost: $2,200 || Notes: Protects the legs on a roll of 1-4 on 1d.

*) Helmet (Horned Samnite) [Pot Helm + Brim + “Crest” (= Metal Horns)].
Type: Plate, Light (Bronze, One-Piece Helmet) || Locations: Skull, eyes (23%) || DR 3 || Holdout -8 || Don 11 || Weight: 2.13 lbs || Cost: $3,250 || Notes: Protects the face a roll of 6 on 1d. If the threat originates from above, the brim protects the face on a roll of 2-6 on 1d. Crest gives +1 SM for Intimidation. +12 CF for both Bronze and One-Piece Helmet and -25% weight for One-Piece Helmet also apply to the “Crest” (0.75 lbs, $ 260, already counted on stats).
- Helmet Padding (skull only): DR 1* || + 1.2 lbs || + $ 10
- Total: DR 4 (skull), DR 3 (face, 6 to 2-6 on 1d) || Don 11 || 3.33 lbs || $3,260

*) Pectoral (Breastplate) – Cardiophylax.
Type: Plate, DR 4 (Bronze) || Locations: Upper chest (front, partial) (13%) || DR 4 || Holdout -4 || Don 6 || Weight: 1.56 lbs || Cost: $780 || Notes: Protects the upper chest (front, including vitals) on a roll of 1-4 on 1d. An attack to the upper chest aimed at avoiding it takes -3; one targeting chinks in armor on the vitals takes -9.

*) Pectoral (Backplate) – Pneumophylax (?).
Type: Plate, DR 4 (Bronze) || Locations: Upper chest (back, partial) (13%) || DR 4 || Holdout -4 || Don 6 || Weight: 1.56 lbs || Cost: $780 || Notes: Protects the upper chest (back, including vitals) on a roll of 1-4 on 1d. An attack to the upper chest aimed at avoiding it takes -3; one targeting chinks in armor on the vitals takes -9.

TOTAL (ARMOUR AND CLOTHING): Don 74 || 13.11 lbs || $7,150.6

WEAPONS

*) Roman Scutum, Large: DB 3, $200, 20 lbs, Don 1, DR 4, HP 27, Cover DR 10.

*) Long Knife: $120, 1.5 lbs, Don 1.

*) Shortsword: $400, 2 lbs, Don 1.

*) Spear: $40, 4 lbs, Don 1.

TOTAL (WEAPONS): Don 4 || 29.5 lbs || $760

TOTAL (WEAPONS, ARMOUR AND CLOTHING): Don 78 || 42.61 lbs || $7,910.6


Based on https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...745a44ce11.jpg

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I have also found an Etruscan cuirass with a guard for the back of the neck, Greek anatomical bronze feet guards and a Samnite neck guard.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...3d39fb9823.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...505d506a81.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...8633e88c81.jpg

Bronze feet guards look very thin. In GURPS terms they may be DR 2.