11-24-2011, 04:26 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: On the road again...
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[LT] Question about Greathelms
Is there any historical evidence (either historical records or archeological) of greathelms being made with anything other than iron/steel plate? If so, what were they made from?
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"Life ... is an Oreo cookie." - J'onn J'onzz, 1991 "But mom, I don't wanna go back in the dungeon!" The GURPS Marvel Universe Reboot Project A-G, H-R, and S-Z, and its not-a-wiki-really web adaptation. Ranoc, a Muskets-and-Magery Renaissance Fantasy Setting |
11-24-2011, 05:02 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Land of the Beer, Home of the Dirndls
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Re: [LT] Question about Greathelms
Funeral great helms often had crowns made of more precious metals, maybe there's one that was fully made of it (most of them were just thin iron). Considering when the great helm entered the historic arena, I highly doubt they used something other than steel for combat.
Edit: If I remember correctly, there were some leather helmets used for the Baston Course type of tourney. Not that great if your enemy isn't equipped with blunt wooden weapons, though… Last edited by mhd; 11-24-2011 at 05:09 AM. |
11-24-2011, 06:48 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Canada
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Re: [LT] Question about Greathelms
I suppose at least some of them might have been Spagenhelms (made of strips of iron or steel instead of plates...) but you seem interested in materials first and foremost.
Other than ceremonial grave goods, I actually don't really expect to find out about many ornamental greathelms. Ornamental armour is usually worn for public spectacles, and greathelms a) conceal your face, so people can't see who the guy in the awesome armour is and b) Are worn over another helmet, for hardcore protection, which is heavy, uncomfortable, and generally serious overkill for a public spectacle which c) is probably going to go on for a long time without someone trying to shoot or axe you in the head, so why would you wear so much armor? It's not quite as weird an idea as "ceremonial bomb disposal armor" or a "decorative ghili suit" but those are the modern comparisons that spring to mind.
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All about Size Modifier; Unified Hit Location Table A Wiki for my F2F Group A neglected GURPS blog |
11-24-2011, 07:19 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Land of the Beer, Home of the Dirndls
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Re: [LT] Question about Greathelms
Quote:
Don't know of this qualifies, either. For decorative purposes you're already wearing something frickin' expensive. If you really want to be the cock of the walk, add some ludicrous helmet ornamentation on top of it (removable, of course). Crowns, plumes etc. What other materials could there be? We're a bit too late TL-wise for bronze greathelms, although I don't think there's a technical reason against it. So this might work in a fantasy world, where this would be advisable for various reasons. Leather would be a bit silly if you expect to encounter steel weapons. |
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11-24-2011, 09:00 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: [LT] Question about Greathelms
The first makes me think that somebody's preparing for a Mardi Gras offensive. I'm sure it's not that hard to crawl through the trash along Bourbon Street without anyone noticing.
The second made me check how much it cost. $50. Darn.
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Fred Brackin |
11-24-2011, 02:05 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
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Re: [LT] Question about Greathelms
Low-Tech defines a greathelm specifically as a large helmet designed to be worn over a smaller one. Most people are confusing greathelms with full helms and there are plenty of examples of full helms being made of other materials such as the wooden ones from north and south America
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11-24-2011, 02:11 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Canada
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Re: [LT] Question about Greathelms
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Wearing a greathelm (as defined in Low Tech) involves wearing two boxes/barrels/whatever over your head. Which is why you can't see or hear crap, and in a gritty campaign should probably result in some extra FP loss due to poor ventilation slowly cooking your poor brains. My next knightly character may have a shaved head just to help the sweat evaporate.
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All about Size Modifier; Unified Hit Location Table A Wiki for my F2F Group A neglected GURPS blog |
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11-24-2011, 03:21 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: On the road again...
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Re: [LT] Question about Greathelms
Actually, I was looking more for, "Is there historical precedent for making a greathealm from scale, brigandine, hardened leather, etc, as opposed to plate?" than "... from gold, silver, bronze, etc?"
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"Life ... is an Oreo cookie." - J'onn J'onzz, 1991 "But mom, I don't wanna go back in the dungeon!" The GURPS Marvel Universe Reboot Project A-G, H-R, and S-Z, and its not-a-wiki-really web adaptation. Ranoc, a Muskets-and-Magery Renaissance Fantasy Setting |
11-24-2011, 03:57 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia
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Re: [LT] Question about Greathelms
Greathelm - no. full helm - yes. You don't see greathelms, even made of iron, anywhere except in a narrow period of time in Europe/Russia.
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11-24-2011, 04:08 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: On the road again...
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Re: [LT] Question about Greathelms
That's what I thought, but I wanted to be sure. Thanks.
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"Life ... is an Oreo cookie." - J'onn J'onzz, 1991 "But mom, I don't wanna go back in the dungeon!" The GURPS Marvel Universe Reboot Project A-G, H-R, and S-Z, and its not-a-wiki-really web adaptation. Ranoc, a Muskets-and-Magery Renaissance Fantasy Setting |
Tags |
armor, armour, low-tech, low-tech armor |
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