GURPS Low-Tech

[Kalzazz]

How unkind of the TL 0-4 peoples not making fast draw scabbards for archaeologists to find

But that makes sense, if they didnt make them, then they arent in Low Tech

[Barghaest]

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

How unkind of the TL 0-4 peoples not making fast draw scabbards for archaeologists to find

But that makes sense, if they didnt make them, then they arent in Low Tech

Maybe they did make them, but they were more like breakaway holsters and didn't withstand the ravages of time...

Could have sworn there were 'fast draw' devices for knives and such (mainly wrist sheaths and the like) at least as far back as the renaissance. But I've always considered them akin to Kromm's suggestion of equipment quality giving the skill bonus to FD.

[Maz]

Originally Posted by Barghaest

Could have sworn there were 'fast draw' devices for knives and such (mainly wrist sheaths and the like) at least as far back as the renaissance. But I've always considered them akin to Kromm's suggestion of equipment quality giving the skill bonus to FD.

MA already covers this:

Under Fast-Draw p.104
Knife: +0 if sheathed at your hip or (darts only) in a
quiver, -1 if sheathed elsewhere (bandolier, wrist, handledown
on chest†, etc.),


If you mean "spring loaded-mechanism", (as popular in wild west fiction), I don't think they had them before much later.

[Barghaest]

Originally Posted by Maz

If you mean "spring loaded-mechanism", (as popular in wild west fiction), I don't think they had them before much later.

I was aware of the location modifiers from MA, I was referring to equipment. And no, not spring-loaded more greased/waxed and/or 'break away'. A good example would be a wrist sheathe that has a light cord keeping the weapon in... gravity and most normal activity wouldn't cause the weapon to fall out but it would provide little resistance for drawing and possibly even be dislodged by a rapid snap of the arm. Like I said though, I'd used Kromm's suggestion for equipment to cover these - a good quality wrist sheathe would give +1 to FD negating the -1 for location... a fine might give a net +1.

[Mailanka]

Originally Posted by Knight_Marshal

But math man!
My God! Think of my poor brain!

Maths? In a GURPS book??? Say it isn't so!

[Diomedes]

Originally Posted by Barghaest

I am glad they took out the caveat that to layer armor it had to be 'concealable as or under clothing' but I'm still pondering the rigid... I could see someone hanging a mail 'tabard' over plate armor, which could technically be considered layering flexible over rigid and I'd have a hard time telling someone they couldn't (or that the DR wouldn't help) so I see it more as interior rigid layers penalizing the ability of outer layers to be concealed - if you put a breastplate under a chain hauberk it would make it far harder to conceal the suit as a whole than the the hauberk alone...

The reason you can't put flexible armor over rigid is that it then loses its ability to absorb blows by deforming.

[Barghaest]

Originally Posted by Diomedes

The reason you can't put flexible armor over rigid is that it then loses its ability to absorb blows by deforming.

Not entirely... not all flexible armor would be 'loose'. Usually chain shirts were form fitted not hanging loosely. It'd be no different layering a chain shirt over a metal breastplate than layering over your skin. The links themselves still have the flexibility to spread impact. And in the case of using another flexible armor like padded or layered leather, what they're draped over doesn't affect their ability to soften impacts. The human body isn't exactly as rigid as metal armor, granted but it's not flexible either - it's more like rigid leather (especially on those with good muscle tone).

[ArmoredSaint]

Okay, all the armour complaints I had have evaporated after reading the armour section.

Well done. Thank you guys for this.

[DanHoward]

Personally I don't have a restriction. A player can layer armour any way he wants so long as only one layer is rigid.

[Crakkerjakk]

Originally Posted by Barghaest

Not entirely... not all flexible armor would be 'loose'. Usually chain shirts were form fitted not hanging loosely. It'd be no different layering a chain shirt over a metal breastplate than layering over your skin. The links themselves still have the flexibility to spread impact. And in the case of using another flexible armor like padded or layered leather, what they're draped over doesn't affect their ability to soften impacts. The human body isn't exactly as rigid as metal armor, granted but it's not flexible either - it's more like rigid leather (especially on those with good muscle tone).

Are you talking about chain shirts in specific? Because my impression that most chain armor was worn hanging loosely.