Pectorals

[DanHoward]

I've started a new thread so as not to derail an earlier, unrelated one.
http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread...=69171&page=11
It is a sample of how the rules for building armour in Low-Tech can be applied to historical examples.

Pectorals
A pectoral is a small chest plate. It is designed to protect the vitals but, depending on its size, it has a chance of protecting the upper chest (area 9) as well. Historically this type of armor usually only covered the front, not the back, and was held in place with straps. Look up the stats for the equivalent torso armor in Low-Tech and consult the following table.

1/6 chance.....5%
2/6 chance.....9%
3/6 chance.....12%

Example: DR 5 bronze plate armor for the Torso (areas 9-11) costs $8,000 and weighs 16 lbs. A pectoral of the same material that has a 2/6 chance of protecting the upper chest (area 9, front only) costs 9% of this or $720, 1.44 lbs. An equivalent plate made of iron would only cost $180.

[Stripe]

Awesome. Like everyone else, I can't wait for Low Tech to come out, and this post made it even worse. Love this system of armor construction.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

Example: DR 5 bronze plate armor for the Torso (areas 9-11) costs $8,000 and weighs 16 lbs. A pectoral of the same material that has a 2/6 chance of protecting the upper chest (area 9, front only) costs 9% of this or $720, 1.44 lbs. An equivalent plate made of iron would only cost $180.

So -1 to hit the upper chest and avoid the plate?

[gilbertocarlos]

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

So -1 to hit the upper chest and avoid the plate?

$180 and 1,5 lbs for -1 to hit the body and protected vitals seems a good exchange for a medieval warrior

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by gilbertocarlos

$180 and 1,5 lbs for -1 to hit the body and protected vitals seems a good exchange for a medieval warrior

Doesn't so much protect the vitals as make them -4 to hit on a frontal attack, with the normal -3 to hit the vitals hitting the pectoral DR.

[gilbertocarlos]

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

Doesn't so much protect the vitals as make them -4 to hit on a frontal attack, with the normal -3 to hit the vitals hitting the pectoral DR.

Wrong, they are made to protect the vitals, so, the vitals are the protected area, if you aiming at the vitals you're aiming at the pectoral.

To illustrate better, let's say a guy is behind a wall, head, arms and half torso exposed, you have -2 for hitting the torso because half of the torso is covered, but if you wan't to hit his groin, the DR of the wall always counts, since all the groin is covered, what isn't covered is the chest and half abdomen.

[Edges]

FWIW, for my Swords and Sandals campaign last year I used pectorals with the following house rule:

"Changes targeted attack to vitals from –3 to –5 for front attacks only. Attack roll failure by 1 or 2 hits the armor (possibly penetrating). Attack roll failure by 3 hits the torso."

[DanHoward]

Penalty to deliberately target the upper chest (area 9) with a random chance of hitting the pectoral has a penalty of -1.
If you want to avoid the pectoral then penalty needs to be higher, perhaps -1 per chance. So 2/6 chance gives total of -3 penalty.
I would not permit the vitals to be targeted from the front without the attacker contending with the DR of the plate unless you apply the "chinks in armour" rule and have a -8 penalty (half DR).

[Edges]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

I would not permit the vitals to be targeted from the front without the attacker contending with the DR of the plate unless you apply the "chinks in armour" rule and have a -8 penalty (half DR).

I thought of that. And I'll defer to your expertise. I used the house rule I did because my source, Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome (Adkins 1994), said the pectorale was an 8 in. square. That struck me as pretty easy to stab around. My rule basically amounted to a -2 making it as hard to stab around the square as strike the neck or face.

[DanHoward]

Originally Posted by Edges

I thought of that. And I'll defer to your expertise. I used the house rule I did because my source, Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome (Adkins 1994), said the pectorale was an 8 in. square. That struck me as pretty easy to stab around. My rule basically amounted to a -2 making it as hard to stab around the square as strike the neck or face.

Pectorals are of all different sizes. Some are easier to stab around than others.