DUNGEON MASTER® Guide

Rules Supplement

Arms

and

Equipment

Guide

Introduction

Dungeon Masters of the world, relax!

Until now, you've all had to duck or dodge questions about armor, lengths of swords, and the blades

(or lack of them) on pole arms. At best, you've said, "It kinda looks like a . . . " At worst, you've had to go to

the library to look up such information.

A few of you are fortunate to be scholars of history and already know the answers to such questions.

But for the rest of you, this book contains the information you've been waiting for.

The Arms and Equipment Guide is the most complete compilation of information about armor,

weapons, and equipment for the AD&D® game to date. It is intended to help both DMs and players to

understand and better use the wide variety of equipment available. We've included a plethora of illustrations

to make this volume as user-friendly as possible.

For DMs: Be aware that the information in this work encompasses a wide variety of equipment suitable for

many campaign styles. Don't be afraid to veto certain weapons or armor to suit your own campaign world.

The intention of this book is not to provide adventurers with every weapon known to man; it is merely to

expand the choices available. Feel free to disallow any items that don't fit the grand scheme of your campaign.

Historical Accuracy: Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information presented here is

historically accurate. However, scholars of history often disagree among themselves, resulting in conflicting

opinions among resources. If you find that the information in this volume disagrees with what you know of

history, consider checking one of the resources listed below. Or chalk it up to to a different historian. (If

you're convinced we've blundered, we're always happy to hear about it in a letter. Any documentation you

can provide would be appreciated.)

Weapons: As the longest section in this book, the weapons chapter has some unique features. You'll find

comments from seasoned adventurers in italicized type. These are intended to offer new ideas for

role-playing. You'll also find numerous boxed entries. These boxes contain interesting historical tidbits that

might provide role-playing ideas and are just plain fun to read.

With these things in mind, you're ready to go forth and conquer. Here's hoping that the Arms and

Equipment Guide will help you do it!

References and Additional Reading

Ashdown, Charles Henry. European Arms & Armour. Brussel & Brussel, New York, 1967.

Brooks Picken, Mary. The Language of Fashion. Funk and Wagnalls Company, New York, 1939.

Cassin-Scott, Jack. Costumes and Settings for Staging Historical Plays--Volume 2, The Mediaeval

Period. Plays, Inc., Boston, 1979.

Duggan, Alfred. Growing Up in 13th Century England. Pantheon Books, New York, 1962.

ffoulkes, Charles. The Armourer and His Craft From the XIth to the XVIth Century. Dover

Publications, Inc., New York, 1912 and 1988.

Gorsline, Douglas. What People Wore. Bonanza Books, New York, 1952.

Sichel, Marion. History of Men's Costume. Batsford Academic and Educational Ltd., London, 1984.

Stone, George Cameron. A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All

Countries and in All Times. Jack Brussel, New York, 1961.

Tarassuk, Leonid, and Blair, Claude, editors. The Complete Encyclopedia of Arms and Weapons. Simon

and Schuster, New York, 1979.

Yarwood, Doreen. The Encyclopedia of World Costume. Bonanza Books, New York, 1978.

CHAPTER 1

Armor

Padded Armor (AC 8)

Description: Padded armor, also referred to as quilted armor, is the simplest form of manmade armor. It

consists of two or more layers of spun cloth stuffed with thick batting and quilted together.

Padded armor typically covers the chest and shoulders, but full-length suits are sometimes seen.

Campaign Use: Padded armor is mostly found among the poor and unskilled. Only the poorest excuses for

armed forces would be caught dead in padded armor. The bulky and restrictive nature of the armor makes it a

poor substitute for a stout set of leather (q.v.).

Village militias, neophyte bandit packs, urban street gangs, and primitive barbarian hordes are the

most common users of padded armor. In short, this includes anyone who cannot afford leather armor (i.e., the

truly destitute), cultures without the technology to tan hide (i.e., the truly primitive), or those who have no

other option at their time of need (i.e., the truly desperate).

Padded armor can be made by any race or nation. Thus, it is common protection for the poorer

classes. Since making a padded suit of armor requires little more than a crude needle and thread, low-level or

desperate adventurers in need of additional protection can usually whip up a set of padded armor in less than

two days. The durability and level of comfort afforded by the homemade suit naturally varies in direct

proportion to the skill of the would-be armorer. For game purposes, several layers of heavy cloth or furs can

be considered padded armor for the purposes of determining a character's base armor class.

Padded armor, being little more than multiple layers of clothing, tends to soil and wear out easily.

Although newly fashioned sets may sell cheaply, padded armor must be replaced often, even if it is well

cared for. Lice, sweat, dirt, fleas, and insects all take their toll.

If the DM judges that a set of padded armor has seen its last days, the armor class of the armor drops

one place (AC 9). The armor, now rotted and torn, is little more than bulky clothing. Importantly, heavily

soiled armor reduces the wearer's saving throws against disease and disease-causing spells by -2.

Under ideal conditions, a set of padded armor should be replaced monthly. However, when travelling

through heavily infested swamps or in monster-laden forests, padded armor may require replacement as often

as every few days. On any long journey, spare sets of padded armor should be taken along as if they were

spare sets of clothing. Too much frugality before a journey can lead to much discomfort later.

Naturally, those who have no access to better armor try to make the best appearance whenever they

can. Nobody wants to appear cheap or desperate, especially when they are. Therefore, decorating one's

padded armor is the most common form of "upgrading" the appearance of one's forces. All armies and nations

have banners and shields adorned with their own colors, and these colors are often repeated in intricate

patterns on their padded armor. This is most often seen when the local king or noble quickly recruits the local

farmers' militia to defend his lands or aid him in launching an assault. The wives, sisters, and daughters

quickly whip up anything they can to protect their ill-trained husbands, brothers, and sons. The colors of the

lord are either quilted into the design of the armor in checkerboard fashion, or painted or dyed onto the

hastily prepared protection.

In similar fashion, the most nefarious of evil knights have been known to use quilted armor to

camouflage their own soldiers as peasants of the opposing ranks, taking devious advantage of the militia's

known lack of combat training.

This is only one of many reasons why 0-level fighters are neither feared nor respected by the armed

forces. Certainly in the case of padded armor, one can tell a knave by his suit.

Leather Armor (AC 8)

Description: Leather armor, despite the popular misconception, is not soft and supple like the leather used

to make a ranger's boots or a druid's robe. That kind of leather offers no better protection than common

clothing.

Leather armor is actually strong and stiff, having been hardened in boiling oil and then stretched over a

wooden or stone model of a man's or woman's chest. The resulting breastplate and shoulder guards are

combined with a tunic or kirtle and, in colder climes, leggings of wool or soft leather.

Campaign Use: This is the most common form of "modern" armor. The materials (leather and oil) are

readily available in all civilized lands. Only the techniques for boiling and shaping the leather is necessary,

and this is not a difficult feat for a leatherworker.

This armor is both inexpensive and durable. While the leather is extremely stiff, it is never fashioned

into anything larger than a breastplate, which keeps restriction of movement to a minimum. Naturally, this

arrangement means leather armor affords no protection to the joints, but this is true of most types of armor,

and is a challenge all civilized races have been attempting to overcome since wars began.

In severe combat situations, leather armor may need to be replaced weekly. However, the armor is

easily cleaned, reasonably unaffected by weather, and resists all but the severest of abrasions. This means a

good set of leather can be worn daily for many months without need for replacement. Many retired warriors

and middle-class militia have a set of leather armor stored away that they take out and polish at least

annually.

Because raw leather comes from a by-product of medieval daily life (i.e., eating beef and other meats),

in civilized societies leather armor is very common. Even rural communities have little trouble manufacturing

leather armor for the troops within a few days.

Cows are not the sole source of hide for tanning. Horses, sheep, and camels can be used just as easily.

In short, the creature must have a thicker skin than that of a normal man, but not quite as thick as that of an

elephant of bear. The skins of these well-protected creatures, when tanned, becomes hide armor (q.v.).

Irregular human forces (e.g., militias and levies, freemen, commoners above peasant level, barbarians,

light infantry, and marines) are the primary users of leather armor, for the following reasons: A) leather armor

is drastically cheaper and more readily available than metal armor; B) the armor can be worn for long periods

of time without leading to increased fatigue or disease; C) the method or protection is so simple that many

armies can make new sets of armor from cattle seized in newly raided territories, often scant days before

meeting the defenders in battle; and D) they can be stockpiled for years without the excessive maintenance

required by metal armors that are prone to rust.

Another benefit of leather armor, much extolled by those of a more disreputable persuasion, is the

ease which it can be silenced. While leather armor is not typically noisy, its buckles and fasteners tend to

rattle and clink. Unlike metal armor, leather armor is easily muffled by clothing and as such makes little sound

during normal movement. Additional layers of clothing further dampen sounds made by the wearer while

hiding. More rouges than can be counted owe their lives to muffled leather armor.

The freedom of movement, adequate general protection, lack of noise, high availability, and low price

make this the armor of choice for the general human population.

Studded Leather Armor (AC 7)

Description: Studded leather armor has little in common with normal leather armor. While leather armor is a

hardened shell, studded leather armor is soft and supple with hundreds of metal rivets affixed. The rivets are

so close together that they form a flexible coating of hard metal that turns aside slashing and cutting attacks.

The soft leather backing is little more than a means of securing the rivets in place.

Campaign Use: Studded leather armor is known as "poor man's mail" because of its metallic components

and low price. It is more common among the general population than most people would first believe

because, unlike other types of mail armor, studded leather is relatively easy to make.

While a soft leather backing is the most durable and comfortable, any stout cloth can be used as a

backing for the rivets. The rivets themselves are also easy to acquire, as everything from nails to pebbles have

been substituted at one time or another in times of desperation. In general, as long as the backing is secure and

the rivets are hard enough to withstand a glancing blow, the armor so comprised should be considered

studded leather for purposes of weight and protection.

Studded leather, like brigandine (described later), is commonly worn by pirates and other seafarers.

The protection afforded is better than normal leather armor, which is an important point during sea combat

when a shield may not be practical (a shield is useless when climbing or fighting in a ship's rigging).

With regard to swimming, the weight of studded leather is significantly less than metal armor, and the

flexibility of the soft leather backing is better for such demanding activity. Indeed, for short times in the

water, it is as easy to maneuver in studded leather as it is to move in a normal leather breastplate. Therefore,

most sea-going mercenaries and pirates prefer to wear studded leather as their all-purpose armor. Trained

marine contingents, however, whose main function is boarding, usually wear normal leather and carry a

shield.

Miserly merchants, who shave pieces of gold more than they like to admit, will often buy studded

leather to outfit their hired guards. However, these copper-pinchers pay for the protection one way or

another, as studded leather tends to wear out rather quickly. Not only does the soft backing wear out as

quickly as thick clothing, but the metal studs can be affixed only by driving them through the leather,

considerably weakening the overall strength of the backing. Eventually, the holes open up and the rivets drop

out. Studded leather is also prone to the same problems of sweat, grime, and insects as padded armor (q.v.).

Spiked Leather

A variation of studded leather that is sometimes seen among barbarians of northern climes (and,

oddly, among some hill giant clans) is spiked leather. Much as it sounds, spiked leather armor is studded

leather armor in which the rivets have been augmented by sharp spikes. (Most intelligent beings would be

worried about mounting spikes into their armor, just in case they should trip and fall, not to mention the

problems packing or storing the armor).

Overbearing and grappling while wearing such armor inflicts additional damage based on the wearer's

size. A small creature inflicts 1-2 points of piercing damage, a man-sized creature inflicts 1-3 points, and a

large creature inflicts 1-4 points. These values are considered for each individual attack, not for every round

that a creature is grappled.

Spiked armor is usually made specially for the wearer and costs about 150% of the price of a normal

set of studded leather.

Spiked armor is occasionally used to equip gladiators, pit fighters, and other specialists.

Hide Armor (AC 6)

Description: Hide armor is made from the thick hide of a very large animal (an elephant, for example) or

from many layers of normal leather from common animals, like cows.

Campaign Use: Hide armor is much too thick, heavy, and inflexible to be used much in the advanced human

cultures. Its weight is comparable to chain mail, but its protection is less. However, among the barbaric

humanoid masses throughout the dark forests and misty jungles of the world, hide armor is common.

Because of its simple construction, any race with Low Intelligence or better can make suitable hide

armor. All that is required is a dead animal and someone to wear its skin. Since no effort to tan the hide is

necessary to get basic protection, creatures with a desire for excellent protection at a fair price (i.e., usually

free) find hide armor ideal for everyday use. Proper tanning, of course, improves the armor's life (and

acceptance in polite society).

The smell of untanned armor, as any ogre can testify, is something a warrior must get used to.

As mentioned in the section on leather armor, the stiffness that results when hide armor dries

completely isn't considered a drawback by humanoids. (In fact, without that stiffness, the hide would lose

one level of armor class protection.) For only a little bit of work, any humanoid worth his hit dice can start

adventuring at AC 6 and begin hunting for a shield.

Ironically, while leather armor may allow greater freedom of movement, durability, and a more

pleasant appearance and smell, hide armor is actually two levels of protection better (AC 6 instead of AC 8).

It illustrates that humans trust their dexterity and intelligence to aid in avoiding wounds during combat, while

less-intelligent humanoids typically rely on reducing the chances of a vital strike with a thicker armor.

Like padded armor, hide armor is often decorated to show tribal allegiances. Commonly, the type of

creature used to make the armor is sufficient to denote clan alliance, as with the Hydra clan fire giants or the

Black Bear ogres.

Unique to the humanoid races is the habit of affixing some part of one's notable kill to one's hide

armor. While this doesn't affect the armor class rating of this armor in any substantial way, it does tend to

make one less popular around the civilized campfire but more important around the humanoid or barbarian

camp. Importantly, these trophies, which often include such grisly things as skulls, scalps, teeth and claws,

are considered a sign of ferocity and ruthlessness and are therefore seen most commonly among high leaders

and shamans.

The equivalent of hide armor among humans and demihuman races is layered leather armor, wherein

many layers of normal leather armor are bonded to one another to form a heavy, thick plate of protection.

This armor is considered hide armor with regard to weight and cost, but does not suffer the problems of odor

and disease seen in hide and padded armors.

Few human cultures employ hide armor extensively. Most notably, certain northern barbarian tribes

commonly wear thick hide armor. Some of these tribesmen actually believe that the hide armor gives them

animal-like strength and powers, and that human armors like chain and plate mail actually rob them of their

innate combat instincts. While this may be dismissed as ignorant superstition, there are shamans of the

northern wastes who tell great tales of famous suits of hide armor, blessed with the spirits of the animals

from which they came.

Whether or not special hide armor exists (like the White Skin of Umpluutu, which allows the wearer

to shapechange into a polar bear) is up to the DM, but hide armor offers unique avenues in a barbarian or

primitive campaign.

Scale Mail (AC 6)

Description: This is a coat of soft leather covered with overlapping pieces of metal, much like the scales of a

fish. It is just as heavy as chain mail, but offers slightly worse protection. It has no significant advantages

over hide or brigandine armor.

Campaign Use: Scale mail is an old type of armor, much like splint mail (described later). It never became

popular in western medieval culture for very long; its production was found to be too time-consuming and

thus less efficient to make in comparison to other armor types. In the AD&D® game context, scale mail is

most common in Dark Age periods, in foreign cultures, or in those areas where its materials are unusually

plentiful.

Some human cultures, notably those similar to the Byzantines and other eastern and southern

kingdoms, did not pursue the evolution of armor made of large plates, but rather chose to make use of small

plates. Where metal is not forged but is instead cut from sheets of malleable metal ores, the technology of

scale mail and its successors (splint, brigandine, and banded armor) predominates.

This is not a matter of primitive versus civilized, but rather two separate approaches to the same

problem. Where western cultures stress protection, eastern cultures seek to maximize flexibility (and

ventilation in the hotter climates).

The scales in scale armor are made smaller in order to make the suit more flexible and comfortable

when worn. Indeed, in this respect, scale mail far exceeds either plate or banded mail.

However, all those scales require more maintenance, as the more items attached to an armor's backing,

the greater the chance some will fall off. Scale armor not properly maintained loses one level of armor class

protection.

Scale mail suffers the same problems of dirt, grime, lice, and odor that studded leather and padded

armor suffer.

Scale mail does offer protection as good as that of brigandine for the same price and at a comparable

weight. The choice between scale mail and brigandine armor is likely to be determined by the nature of the

cultures in the DM's campaign world.

Sea Elf Scale Mail

The most intricately constructed demihuman scale mail is found in the undersea kingdoms of the sea

elves. More as a matter of appearance and ceremony than for additional protection, the sea elves adapted the

idea of scale mail to their own peculiar designs. Their armor can be worn underwater, as it is made of metals

that do not rust, and the scales are affixed to a backing of eel-skin, which does not disintegrate as leather does

in salt water. Brought forth only in times of war or of great ceremony, this expensive armor is worn only by

the noble elven elite.

This scale mail is unique among others for its beautiful silver coating. Some armorers wonder whether

this coating is silver, platinum, or even mithril. It is generally agreed that the rare scale mail of the sea elves is

nearly as valuable as elven chain mail (q.v.).

Coin Armor

A variant of scale mail is armor made with the common coins of the realm. This coin armor is seen

only rarely, and then usually among dignitaries and high generals. Each set of armor can stock a large quantity

of coins (up to 1,000!). Rarely are they stolen, however, as the people who are rich enough to wear them are

also rich enough to see to their personal security.

There are many variations possible, from armor scaled wholly of gold or silver coins to mixed suits

wherein the coins themselves are arranged in a personal, family, clan, or other heraldric pattern.

Brigandine Armor (AC 6)

Description: A development of both scale mail and studded leather, brigandine armor is composed of a layer

of small metal plates riveted to an undercoat of soft leather, thick cloth, or coarse canvas. A further overcoat

of cloth is applied to the exterior of the suit, making for a layered protection that is lighter than scale mail. An

alternative configuration is for the plates to be sandwiched between two layers of soft leather.

Campaign Use: Brigandine is a light armor of composite construction, often worn by brigands and other

rogues. The armor is essentially a variant of studded leather with an overcoat of cloth. The cloth covering

serves both to strengthen the entire framework as well as to make the armor less conspicuous from a

distance. Brigandine armor is quieter than chain, splint, or banded mail, but less quiet than studded leather or

leather armor.

Brigandine weighs more than hide but less than scale mail. It is generally more flexible than hide, but

its three layers make it somewhat stiffer than scale mail.

Brigandine armor is generally the best armor a run-of-the-mill village armorer can make and still get

good results. For anything with a higher armor class, a professional master armorer is required. This means

that brigandine armor is the highest level of protection afforded many low-level AD&D® game cultures and

campaigns.

This represents the limit for the early Middle Ages period AD&D campaign. If a campaign resembles

the Dark Ages more than the Age of Chivalry, scale mail and brigandine armor probably represent the

pinnacle of personal armor.

Pirates and bandits (i.e., brigands) find that brigandine can be made from anything on hand from sails

to canvas sacks, and from coins to brass shavings. Such armor still offers decent protection against most

slashing attacks (the most common types encountered in these professions).

As mentioned, brigandine is easier to muffle than most metal armors and mails and thus is the armor

of choice among many rogues and the less reputable members of the campaign society.

Rangers often own a set of brigandine as a field combat backup to their normal armor of either

studded leather or leather. Poor or novice rangers and warriors might be able to afford or acquire brigandine

armor when other armors might not be accessible.

Brigandine armor can also be useful for smugglers, allowing items to be concealed within its multiple

layers. Not only coins and precious metals might be concealed, but treasure maps, personal defense traps,

and concealed weapons are all possibilities for the clever character. Whether these are actual machinations of

devious minds or just rumors spread to discourage personal thievery is a subject of some debate among

adventurers and legal authorities.

What is known is that it is possible to conceal such items, either within the padding or by interleaving

them with the metal plates. This potential for use (or abuse) of brigandine armor in the campaign should not

be overlooked by the DM or player. Secret pockets for use by thieves or prestidigitators might be revealed in

the heat of combat, or local authorities may miss a valuable clue the PCs are lucky enough to discover on

their own. Much like gnomish workman's leather (described later), an adventurer's set of brigandine may hold

many welcome or unwelcome surprises.

Chain Mail (AC 5)

Description: Chain mail is made of interlocking metal rings. It is always worn over a layer of padded fabric

or soft leather to prevent chafing and lessen the impact of blows.

Campaign Use: Chain mail is the standard medium armor in most fantasy campaigns. In many places, it is

so common that the price of a good suit of chain mail may actually be cheaper than less sophisticated armors

like scale mail and brigandine. This makes the appeal of chain mail armor very high indeed.

Chain mail is only slightly heavier than hide or brigandine armor and much lighter than any of the

plate armors. Important to the wearer, however, is the fact that the weight of a suit of chain mail does not

rest evenly upon the body. Rather, most of the burden of a chain suit rests upon the shoulders, making chain

armor feel heavier than it really is.

In game terms, this means chain mail can be worn for only about a day before the shoulders of even

the strongest warriors begin to fatigue. Experienced warriors usually carry a second set of lighter armor (often

leather or studded leather) for use when traveling or at night when not on watch.

Optional Rule: Prolonged shoulder fatigue from wearing chain mail more than one day at a time affects

combat (-2 to hit) and leads to headaches and backaches.

In general, chain mail is worn by mid-level fighters, guardsmen, mercenaries, and men-at-arms with

some official capacity. The price of chain mail is equivalent to many years income for most peasants, and is

thus out of reach for most common folk. However, some middle-class families have a set or two of heirloom

chain mail armor handed down from glorious days past for use in dangerous days to come.

Typically, town guards and noble patrols are bedecked in chain mail armor. It is perfect for short

duty tours and gives the noble warrior a great advantage over the local rabble. Just the difference between

chain mail and leather armor alone can give the officer a significant advantage over most ruffians. Anyone

wearing chain mail armor with any sort of heraldic crest or uniform is usually assumed to be a local official of

some kind by the experienced and perceptive traveler.

In general, chain mail is the basis for all of the more advanced and more protective armors found in

most AD&D® game campaigns. The potentially low cost of chain mail is a reflection of the fact that many

sets of chain mail are bought as a base for banded mail and the more sophisticated plate armors.

Because chain mail armor is not usually worn for long periods at a time, its underlying padding rarely

suffers the problems of padded armors. The metal mail, however, will rust if not oiled and scrubbed with a

wire brush weekly. After a month of neglect, chain mail armor loses one level of armor class since it is no

longer as flexible and links may have begun to rust. (Naturally, this applies only to ferrous armor mail and

not to chain mail constructed of non-ferrous metals).

Chain mail is certainly the best armor value for adventurers who cannot yet afford the heavier armors.

Ring Mail

This form of chain mail is made by sewing large metal rings to a leather or cloth backing. Ring mail has

the same role in early-period campaigns that chain mail has in later ones. In later campaigns, it is more

expensive to buy than chain mail, weighs a comparable amount, provides worse protection (AC 7), and

suffers all the maintenance problems of padded and studded leather armor. Few human groups, other than

town militias and bandit gangs, use ring mail to any significant degree.

Banded Mail (AC 4)

Description: Banded mail armor is made of overlapping horizontal strips of laminated metal sewn over a

backing of normal chain mail and soft leather backing. Lamination in this context refers to a process in which

many thin sheets of metal are hammered or riveted together to form each individual metal strip.

Campaign Use: This type of armor is most commonly worn by eastern warriors and would be as common

as plate mail in a culture based on the Turks, for example, late period Mongols, or the Japanese.

In a western campaign, banded mail can be considered to be the precursor of plate armor. Since

banded mail inevitably will have gaps between the metal strips, however, the total protection of vital areas is

not quite as good as heavier plate armors. The result is the slightly poorer armor class rating of banded mail.

The strength and flexibility of chain mail makes it ideal for protecting the jointed areas where large

metal plates are traditionally incapable of providing adequate protection.

One advantage of this metal-and-chain arrangement over chain mail alone is the fact that the

construction of banded mail naturally restricts movement of the metal plates across the torso. The beneficial

side effect is that the weight of the armor is more evenly distributed on the wearer, making it easier to wear

banded mail for longer periods of time.

In game terms, while banded mail does have an overall higher level of protection than normal chain

mail, the durability of banded mail, especially at the joints, is about half that of a standard suit of chain.

While a fine set of chain armor might last six months or more, a set of banded mail rarely lasts three months,

even with constant upkeep.

Much like chain mail, ferrous metal bands are subject to rust. However, since the metal strips found

in banded mail are already inflexible and designed to remain that way, the armor class of rusty banded mail is

no different from that of a new suit. However, the estimation of one's peers would certainly be diminished, as

a well-tended suit of banded mail can gleam most beautifully if cared for properly.

Splint Mail

Splint mail is a variant of banded mail in which the metal strips are applied vertically to the backing of

chain, leather, or cloth rather than horizontally as in banded mail. Since the human body does not swivel in

mid-torso as much as it flexes back to front, splint mail is more restrictive in battle.

In game terms, splint mail is to banded mail as scale mail is to brigandine: splint mail is the style of

the earlier and less efficient armoring techniques. Much like scale and ring mail (q.v.), splint mail will be

used by the less advanced cultures and poorer warriors. Its relatively low street price in a western campaign

when compared to banded mail and even chain is due to the fact that few western warriors will even touch a

set of splint mail unless they are destitute or desperate.

The protection splint mail affords is equivalent to that of banded mail, but it is much more fatiguing

to wear in a lengthy battle. Furthermore, broken splints tend to work inward toward the wearer in the course

of a battle. More than a few warriors have found themselves painfully cut across the ribs when broken

banded mail would have merely shifted up or down. Maintenance problems for splint mail are otherwise the

same as for banded mail.

For characters with a light purse, splint mail can be picked up in seedier armor shops. Its price makes

it ideal for adventurers who want the extra bit of protection over chain mail.

Bronze Plate Mail (AC 4)

Description: The softest of the true plate mail armors, bronze plate mail is made of heavy metal plates

attached to a layer of brigandine or composite layers of metal scales and leather or padded armor.

Campaign Use: Historically, by the time the armorer's craft had advanced to the point that plate mail had

become common, steel had replaced bronze as the best metal for constructing armor. Thus, aside from

ceremonial armor, most bronze plate mail appears in areas where copper and tin are plentiful and iron is rare.

In general, since bronze plate mail is designed to be lighter and more flexible than normal plate mail (q.v.),

bronze plate armorers use leather and padding under the bronze plates instead of the heavier chain mail. Also,

to reduce the overall weight of the armor, there are no bronze plates attached to the moveable joints. A large

bronze breastplate and greaves are often the only difference between bronze plate mail and bronze scale or

brigandine armor.

Bronze plate offers better protection than normal brigandine or chain mail and a lower price tag than

standard plate mail. Since bronze plate is usually backed with stiff layered armor rather than loose chain mail,

bronze plate mail isn't as flexible as banded, splint, or plate mail.

Who would use bronze plate mail in a standard campaign, when so many other alternatives exist?

Plate mail, as will be discussed later, is a sign of nobility to the general population. What does the lowly

peasant or innkeeper know of the advantages and disadvantages of various types of plate mail? Little to be

sure. In fact, this armor is one piece of equipment whose price is not determined by its true value in combat

but by its perceived value to persons around the wearer.

Any knight worth his salt acquires full plate armor (q.v.) as soon as he can, even if it means selling

prized items of magic or a stout warhorse. If a knight can scrape up 400 gold pieces but can't get the extra

200 gold pieces to buy a real set of plate, bronze plate is the only real choice open to him.

More than a few low-level adventurers with perhaps a little too much gold to spend and not enough

experience or training in such matters often are cheated into buying bronze plate mail that has been painted

silver. They immediately lose 200 gold pieces in the deal by taking home the inferior armor. After even one

such sucker-sale, the charlatan salesman skips town for a few weeks or moves to a different part of the city.

Naturally, such gullible warriors usually don't discover their mistake until the heat of battle, when a weapon

strike that would have bounced off a real set of plate mail dents or cuts through the bogus plate. Caveat

emptor!

Not all bronze plate is part of a hoax or scam, however. There are versions of bronze plate used by

cultures who for one reason or another haven't learned the fine art of forging iron and steel. There is much

precedent for this in history and fantasy, and many advanced cultures have lost the art or never struck the

right mix of metals throughout their long history. These cultures may have developed the skill of forging

bronze into a high art, making armor that looks like gold but wears like steel.

Note that these types of bronze mail last much longer than the typical medieval forms and may have

a backing of solid bronze chain and leather. These suits wear like real plate, and the relative softness of the

metal is often worked into a decorative design. Easy to emboss with one's family crest or tribal insignia,

well-worked bronze shines like gold and can be polished to the sheen of a mirror. Some tribes have literally

won entire battles on the distracting beauty of their exquisite armor alone.

Plate Mail (AC 3)

Description: Plate mail is a combination of chain or brigandine armor with metal plates covering the vital

areas such as the chest, abdomen and groin. Similar in construction to bronze plate mail, true plate mail

comprises heavy steel plates riveted to a sturdy backing of chain and leather. These metal plates are often

better constructed than those found in bronze plate and banded mails, relying on superior metallurgy and

advanced lamination techniques to produce a lightweight steel with excellent combat characteristics.

Brigandine backing for this type of armor is rare, because the stiffness of brigandine armor makes this

type of backing an unpopular choice among plate armorers and warriors alike.

For all of these reasons, plate mail protects the human body more effectively than bronze plate mail.

Campaign Use: The development of plate mail heralded the beginning of the age of chivalry and knighthood.

Associated most often with classic French medieval culture, the names given to the segments of plate mail

reveal their French origin to this day.

The most important metal plate on the armor is called the plastron-de-fer, or breastplate. It protects

the vital chest and abdominal areas from attack. Typically, the shoulders were protected by metal shoulder

guards called epaulieres. Lower leg protectors, called grevieres (or greaves), and metal-plated chain gloves,

or gauntlets, are also common accessories to a plate mail suit. Any manner of helm is also desirable (see the

section on Helms).

Plate mail is the most common form of heavy armor in fantasy campaigns. It provides maximum

protection for a fraction of the cost of field or full plate armor, and can take month after month of grueling

combat punishment. It is only moderately heavier than banded or chain mail, and because of its custom fitting

and sturdy straps, wears easier than either.

Because the plates are carefully fitted to combine with the chain suit beneath, the layer of leather or

padding beneath the chain is often much thinner and more flexible than that found in banded or brigandine

armor. Many long years have gone into perfecting the construction of plate mail, which makes even the most

basic of suits a wonder of medieval engineering. With regard to cost, the purchaser of a set of plate mail may

have to fork out a considerable sum of money compared to banded mail, but no wearer of plate mail doubts

for long the value and summary wisdom of his purchase.

Knights, royal guards, and mercenary captains often wear plate mail. Even as a prize of battle, plate

mail is infinitely easier to fit to a new owner than either field or full plate armor. Plate mail is the preferred

protection of the vast percentage of the world's most experienced warriors, because it is not nearly as

cumbersome to don or remove as other heavier types of armor.

It is a matter of pride among many kingdoms that even the slightest improvement to the general plate

mail design was quickly attributed to the armorer who invented the alteration and the king whose wisdom it

was to accept the change.

As such, most sets of plate mail were constantly upgraded throughout the known world, and now are

very similar indeed. In fact, the perfection of the basic plate mail design was so nearly complete that many

armorers had already begun devoting most, if not all, of their time and resources to working field and full

plate armor with similar care and precision.

Plate mail is the heaviest armor commonly used by adventurers, both as a matter of pride and for the

general necessities of daily use and efficiency.

Field Plate Armor (AC 2)

Description: Field plate is actually a more commonly used form of full plate armor (described later). It

consists of shaped and fitted metal plates riveted and interlocked to cover the entire body. Like plate mail, a

set of field plate usually includes gauntlets, boots, and a visored helmet (see Helms). A thick layer of padding

must be worn under the armor.

Campaign Use: This armor is rarely used, except by noble knights on a military campaign. In theory, the

bulk of a set of field plate armor is so evenly distributed over the whole body that the encumbrance rating of

field plate compares quite favorably with that of plate mail and banded mail. In practice, the increased

protection is paid for with reduced mobility and increased fatigue.

Each suit of this extremely rare and expensive armor is custom-made and fitted for its prospective

wearer. Only a master armorer can create field or full plate armor, and only a master armorer can re-size

captured pieces of a suit for a new owner. The new owner must be of at least a similar size and build as the

previous owner, or the effort required to modify the piece in question exceeds the expense and effort

necessary in forging an entire new set.

Aside from its expense, the main disadvantages of field plate armor are the lack of ventilation through

the suit, which make moisture and fungus a problem, and the time required to put it on and take it off. As

detailed in the AD&D® 2nd Edition Player's Handbook, 1d6+4 rounds are required to dress in field plate

armor with outside assistance. Triple that amount of time is required if the wearer is alone. Similarly, it takes

1d4+1 rounds to remove such armor, and half that time (fractions rounded up) if pressed for time or assisted

by an attendent (see Full Plate Armor).

Field plate armor is typically used by the high knights of a kingdom, like King Arthur's legendary

Knights of the Round Table, for everything except formal ceremonies and triumphant battle celebrations. Full

plate armor is reserved for such occasions where style is more important than combat.

Field plate can be fixed much more cheaply and easily than full plate, and is built to withstand the

rigors of long-term use and combat. The entire body is encased in metal plates, and even the joints are

protected with metal caps and sturdy chain mail. A great helm bearing the emblem of the house or name of a

legendary knight is common and is one of the few ways a knight can recognize a friend or foe from a distance.

Field plate, while expensive and painstakingly crafted by master armorers, is normally not adorned

with many trappings or embellishments. Since legendary knights make a habit of battling great armies and

dragons almost daily, their armor rarely lasts longer than a year without needing to be completely replaced.

A DM may decide that being allowed to wear field or full plate armor is a sign of nobility or

knighthood in his campaign. In such campaigns, wealthy warriors had better have a legitimate noble crest or

recognized royal patron before parading themselves about town.

Optional Rule: This rule may be invoked if a player insists on wearing badly repaired or patchwork plate

mail. Following every strong jolt to the wearer, whether from a good hit in battle or a fall from a cliff, the

material binding the patchwork plate to the backing (as stated at the time of repair) must make a saving throw

versus Crushing Blow. Failure means the plate falls off, while success means the next saving throw is made

with a -1 penalty to the roll. Note that this penalty is cumulative, so any patchwork plate is bound to fall

apart eventually.

Full Plate Armor (AC 1)

Description: Full plate armor is the best armor a warrior can buy, both in appearance and protection. The

perfectly-fitted interlocking plates are specially angled to deflect arrows and blows, and the entire suit is

carefully adorned with rich engraving and embossed detail.

Campaign Use: Suits of full plate armor are as rare as powerful magical items in most fantasy campaigns.

Magical sets of full plate are artifacts to be treasured and hidden away, the objects of glorious quests.

In most campaigns, the number of sets of full plate armor can be counted as easily as the numbers of

crown knights who owe their allegiance to the king. In many kingdoms, it is a crime to possess a set of full

plate armor without royal permission, as a wise king keeps any armorer capable of such craftsmanship at his

beck and call.

Full plate armor is one of the greatest gifts a great lord can bestow upon his followers. It is a prize as

coveted for the status it confers as its monetary value. A suit of full plate armor will often be a gift presented

to great knights upon great service to the realm, or as an incentive to attract a knight errant of unquestioned

prowess to the king's private circle.

In addition, full plate armor is the most technologically advanced armor available in the later medieval

and high chivalry settings. The special touches and custom enhancements added by the few living master

armorers are what give full plate armor its increased armor class rating over the more traditional forms of field

plate. At prices that start at 4,000 gold pieces for a simple, unadorned suit, full plate armor represents the

crowning achievement of the armorer's ultimate goal--to forge for man a new skin of steel, as flexible as his

own, but as invulnerable as anything in the land.

This increased protection comes only with a price. While full plate armor wears well when correctly

fitted, it is cumbersome to don or remove without assistance. Herein enters the attendent.

For most knights, the attendent is a vassal or squire who tends to the knight's every need. He

sharpens his lord's sword and brushes his horse. However, the great knight chooses his attendent carefully,

for he knows his life may depend on this decision.

Without the assistance of a capable attendent, a knight requires 1d10+10 rounds to don his armor. An

attendent cuts this time by half. As most combat veterans know, cutting the average armoring time in half can

mean the difference between being at the battle and missing it entirely!

Warriors in a hurry can cut this dressing time by half again. The ramifications of this haste is that a

knight and his attendent who are extremely lucky might, at best, be able to get dressed in only 3 rounds (i.e.,

best roll of 1, add 10 equals 11 rounds; 11 rounds cut in half for attendent's assistance equals 6 rounds; 6

rounds halved again for rushing yields 3 rounds).

However, a knight hurrying in this manner suffers penalties in combat. His straps are not adjusted

correctly, meaning his plates are too loose or too tight and will hamper his overall effectiveness in battle. The

knights suffers a -1 to all attack rolls and his armor class likewise drops one place, meaning his hasty dressing

has given him armor equivalent in protection to that of field plate armor.

If a knight discovers that his loose fittings are causing him to miss his mark or be struck by his

enemies too often, he need only spend as many rounds tightening his straps as he neglected by rushing his

preparations (twice that if unattended, of course).

Example: Sir Hujer rolls a 6 on 1d10 when attempting to don his armor, thus needing 16 rounds. An

attendent reduces this to 8 rounds, and rushing reduces this further to 4 rounds. The rushing penalties would

be removed if Sir Hujer took 4 rounds (attended) or 8 rounds (unattended) to readjust his armor.

Gnomish Workman's Leather Armor (AC 7)

Description: Gnomish workman's leather armor is a variation of high-quality gnomish leather armor (as

described in the Equipment Chapter of The Complete Fighter's Handbook). Gnomish workman's leather is

adorned with dozens of tiny tool holders and pouches, typically filled with the most bizarre collection of

coins, nails, tools, weapons, widgets, and sprockets ever assembled on one body. For this reason, a set of

gnomish workman's leather provides protection identical to studded leather armor.

Campaign Use: Typically, gnomish workman's leather is as silent as normal high-quality gnomish leather

armor (no Thieving Skill Armor Adjustment). However, this is before a gnomish workman has gotten

anywhere near it. As with most things of gnomish design, the whole is a rather sundry compilation of many

disjointed parts.

Strange inventions, secret compartments, locked and trapped pockets, and a dizzying array of tool

holders and layered item racks are added, modified, moved, and camouflaged almost daily. From week to

week, a gnomish workman's armor may change drastically in appearance and function. The armor has a

stowage capacity of 10 lbs., up to half of which can be considered hidden.

Importantly, the special benefits of gnomish high-quality leather armor are lost when a gnomish

workman begins collecting items to tuck into this leather garb. While a few items on the belt do not

significantly ruin this feature of the base armor, enough gadgets to alter the armor class cannot help but clink

and bang into each other, crinkle and spill out when the owner bends over, or accidentally drop off or explode

in the most heated battle or flight.

Outside of gnomish society, this type of armor has been rarely seen by non-gnomes. Humans and

elves rarely steal things they cannot use, unless hired to do so, and dwarves, who might squeeze into a suit if

offered, find the concept distasteful and the appearance much too garish for their otherwise stoic tastes.

Halflings have displayed a weakness for the many secret compartments found in gnomish workman's leather,

and halfling thieves in particular might treasure this type of armor above all else. Indeed, the black market for

gnomish workman's leather is rumored to be funded entirely by halfling-run thieves' guilds. This only adds

fuel to any fires of discontent between halfling and gnomish clans.

In human settlements and cities, gnomes only don workman's armor when working privately, deep in

their secret workshops. Since no one around them either appreciates or respects the trappings of "master

craftsmanship," there seems to be little need to flaunt them.

Within the gnomish clan, however, there is a constant competition between all gnomish craftsmen,

among both masters and apprentices. In some clans, the competitions have become formalized, with actual

categories (most items carried, best personal trap, most secure pouch, nicest appearance, etc.) and prizes

(clan contracts or a special badge to be sewn onto the armor). These contests are held on high festival days,

much like a merchant's bazaar (just another special guild tradition to confuse the newcomer or overnight

visitor).

In the largest of clans, many competing craftsman's guilds might sponsor and support individual

designs or candidates. Every craftsman in the hall will spend long nights tinkering with his own armor to

emulate or duplicate the desired effect. Those who succeed will claim partial credit for "testing and

perfecting" the basic design. Those who fail might offer small sums of gold for the secret of the new

invention.

Elven Chain Mail (AC 5)

Description: Elven chain mail is the only form of armor made of a legendary elven alloy, a light-weight

silvery steel of great strength. Even without enchantment, elven chain mail is typically half the weight of its

human-forged counterpart.

Campaign Use: The elves guard the secret of making elven chain mail with more ferocity than they protect

even their own children. In the entire multimillennia-long history of the elven race, the number of elven

armorers who learn the secrets of forging elven steel can be counted on but one hand. Needless to say, these

masters of the art tend to be ancient in the extreme, and the choice of an apprentice comes but once every

thousand years. This is the highest honor accorded to any single elf, save being chosen by his peers to lead

the elven race.

Apprenticeship is not a gift bestowed by the wealthy or powerful, but chosen by magical testing in a

secret ceremony. Some outsiders would argue that the training makes the armorer, but tradition holds great

sway in elven circles.

Human and dwarven armorers have been able to divine at least some of the secrets of the elven

armorers, but not the most important ones. They know, for example, that mithril silver, that part of mithril

which gives this purest of metals its glimmer in the moonlight, is somehow alloyed with other materials. The

process of alloying has never been duplicated outside of an elven master forge, so most armorers believe some

form of magical manipulation is involved in the process somewhere. Furthermore, anyone hoping to forge

elven armor must be able to see the magical emanations radiating from it. While this may be done artificially

through magic, this task is geared more toward the elves' natural eyesight. Drow armorers (described later)

work under similar conditions.

Naturally, when one has a thousand years to perfect the skills for one's job, just about anything is

within grasp. The dwarves call this an unfair advantage, while the humans don't even bother trying anymore.

Life is too short, they feel, to waste time on creating something that would be easier stolen or discovered in a

dragon's horde.

Elven chain mail is used by elven troops, both cavalry and infantry. It is common among the grey

(faerie) elves and advanced elven cultures, but less common among the high elves. It is extremely rare among

the wood elves.

Since the material is so strong and valuable, in those rare instances when a suit of elven chain mail is

damaged to the point of needing repair, the suit is never discarded, but returned to the armorer for repair or

replacement.

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