Armour

            Author’s Note: Some may find this list of armor surprisingly short; others may find the individual pieces of armor listed inferior to the European style medieval armor in other games.  However, both of these factors – the limited variety and relative weakness – are representative of the actual state of armor in medieval Japan.  Armor was not often worn; when it was, the primary focus was on maintaining freedom of movement rather than loading a soldier with so much armor he needed a horse to be effective in combat.

            The nature of the Japanese horse is also relevant to the state of armor.  Although hardy and extremely agile, Japanese horses were historically much smaller than their European counterparts, making the knight covered from head to toe in steel a virtual impossibility.

            It was not uncommon at all to see the common soldier clad in kote, jingasa, sandals, a loincloth, and nothing else as he made his way to war.  These fearless soldiers relied more on their martial skills than on the strength of their armor.  The game takes this into account through the many options (feats) that grant a character AC bonuses, as well as with the blocking rules which allow a character to use his attack prowess as a form of defense.

            Piecemeal armor is typically worn by itself (for the truly poor soldier) or in combination with medium armor.  Since the two types of medium armor listed below are both breastplates, smaller pieces of head, arm, or calf armor may be worn with medium armor.  The two heavy armors are full suits, each with helmet included in the purchase price.  

 

Leave a pleasant trophy

Before going off to war, many samurai burned incense inside their helmets.  Since warriors customarily took the heads of worthy foes as proof of their battlefield victories, the samurai wanted to leave a pleasant trophy in case he was vanquished.  

 

Armor                         Cost    AC       Max Dex        Pen.     Arcane            Spd.     Wt.

Light

Kote                            10 tn.   +1        +8                    -0         0%                   -0         3 lb.

Kawara                        20 tn.   +2        +6                    -0         10%                 -0         8 lb.

Sharkskin                     50 tn.   +2        +8                    -0         10%                 -0         6 lb.

Peasant Armor             30 tn.   +3        +5                    -1         15%                 -0         10 lb.

Medium

Haramaki                     50 tn.   +4        +4                    -2         25%                 20’       20 lb.

Do-maru                      125 tn. +5        +4                    -1         30%                 20’       30 lb.

Heavy*

O-yoroi                        60 ku   +7        +0                    -7         40%                 20’       65 lb.

Tousei-gusoku              150 ku +8        +1                    -6         35%                 20’       65 lb.

*characters move at only x3 speed while running in O-yoroi and Tousei-gusoku.

 

Light Armour

Kawara: This light armor consists of leather scales sewn onto cloth and then lacquered.

Kote: These armored sleeves are favored by anyone who wishes to appear unarmed, and are the most common armor worn by ninja while on assignment, as well as poor ronin.

Peasant Armor: An affordable set of armor pieces that almost any warrior can afford when going off to war, this suit includes jingasa (armored rice farmer’s hat), kote, and sune-ate (shin guards).

Sharkskin: This thick, abrasive hide makes excellent leather armor.

 

Medium Armor

Do-Maru: This armor first appears in the 11th century.  Although more expensive than the haramaki, it is still within the financial means of the common footsoldier.  Do-maru is made much like haramaki, with scales sewn onto plates and then lacquered.  These scales, however, are iron rather than leather (although the vast majority of the armor is still leather), which provides some added protection.  Although the smaller plates used to form this armor require more time and expense to make, the result is a suit that fits better on the body, with the majority of the weight carried in the shoulders.  This makes do-maru less cumbersome for the wearer despite its greater weight.  Since do-maru fastens under the armpit rather than in the back, it provides its full protection against attacks from the rear.

            Do-Maru is reuite easy to equip, requiring 3 rounds to don and a single move action to don hastily.  It can be removed as a move action.

            This composite set includes jingasa, kote, and sune-ate in addition to the breastplate.  

Haramaki: This armor first appears in the 13th century as a cheap armor for the common footsoldier.  It is composed of leather scales with silk cord and lacquered.  Several of these plates are then tied together to form the suit of armor.  Because these plates are larger than those used to construct do-maru or o-yoroi, this armor can be made faster and cheaper, although this almost makes the armor bulkier.  This armor provides no protection against attacks from the rear.

            A suit of haramaki consists of a form-fitting breastplate and skirt that protect the chest, thighs, and shoulders, but leave the arms and calves bare.

            Another advantage is the ease of donning and removing haramaki; the wearer simply slips his arms into the armor and ties it closed in the back.  This armor takes only 5 rounds to don and can be donned hastily in a single round.  It can be removed with a move action.

            This composite set includes jingasa, kote, and sune-ate in addition to the breastplate.

 

“If you are slain in battle, you should be resolved to have your corpse facing the enemy.” – Yamamoto Tsunetomo.

            Haramaki provides no protection against attacks from behind.  Since the warrior was never supposed to show his back to the enemy or run away, this wasn’t considered a problem.  For those with a less sturdy constitution, there was an optional insert which would protect the back of the wearer.  It was called a “coward’s plate.”

 

Heavy Armor

O-Yoroi: The classic samurai armor, consisting of a full suit of armor including kabuto (and often mempo as well).  This armor is much like do-maru, except that even more iron is used in its construction.

            O-yoroi requires 4 minutes to don and the help of an attendant to don.  Without an attendant, the time required is the same, but the armor can only be donned hastily.

Tousei-Gusoku: This very late armor (in historical campaigns, only after the 17th century) reflects Western influences in materials and design, and is the true Japanese version of full plate.  All armors of this type are masterwork +1.