wade@nmtvax.UUCP (04/19/84)
> Alas, this is not the case. Usually the coif of the helmet > hangs far down over the breastplate, which totally blocks off > any blade penetration. If you are referring to a chain mail coif, then there is a serious problem with your argument. Yes, chain mail is very good at stopping the blade itself, but the force of the blow will go right through and what do you have now? You got it, a crushed windpipe and no more fighter. If you have ever received a blow while wearing chain mail alone, you will realize that this is true. Chain was used mainly to stop arrows, not as the sole protection against blades. Both the armpits and the inside of elbows were open, but was protected by a plate extending from the joint. This is hard to illustrate, but I will try. \ \ / / <---That's an arm, really it is \ \/\/ / (bent arm, side view) \ \__/ / --__-- / / _/__/ <---Straight arm, side view / | \___/ / / I give up, let your imagination run wild and you might figure that garbage out. In the SCA, everyone has the same AC, because you don't determine a hit by armor penetration, but by how hard the blow is and by where it hits you. D&D plate mail is field plate, not jousting plate, and field plate is made to support it's own wieght, and is reasonably easy to move in, but don't try acrobatics.
schris@ubvax.UUCP (Chris Salander) (04/27/84)
In the SCA, the result of combat between
someone lightly armored and someone heavily armored
is very much a function of the area available and
the object of the fight. If a specific point must
be defended, or the area is confined, the "heavy"
can always bear down on the "light" and then the
"light" has no hope. He is often smothered. In
an open field it has been typical practice for the
"light" to give the "heavy" the run around so that
(particularly on a hot day), he we poop out. Then
the "light" can usually win by making quick strikes
that take advantage of the fact that the tired "heavy"
would now be lifting his shield too slowly. But
30% of the time, Mr. Light gets to careless, and MR.
Heavy was only pretending to be tired and POW!
- Aloysius Greywolfe
Province of Southern Shores, Kingdom of the West