The system design attempts to incorporate a great number of different armors, all with real historical basis, without sacrificing ease of game play and the individuality of each type of armor. The definition of each armor follows a concise table of armors. While some armors in this table may appear at first to duplicate each other, when their resistances to different types of attack are taken into account, their differences become apparent. The last section defines the new terms.
The following table provides general information about each armor type, including Slash Armor Points (SAP), Chop Armor Points (CAP), Thrust Armor Points (TAP), Impact Armor Points (IAP), Agility Limitation Factor (ALF), weight in pounds (Wght) and price in gold stars (Price). This table is adapted from Palladium Books, with minor changes.
| Armor Type | SAP | CAP | TAP | IAP | ALF | Wght | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thin cloth (TC) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.9 | |
| Medium cloth (MC) | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.5 | |
| Heavy cloth (HC) | 9 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8.1 | |
| Soft leather (SL) | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8.1 | |
| Hard leather (HL) | 9 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 11.0 | |
| Cuir-bouilli (CB) | 15 | 9 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 11.0 | 5 |
| Quilt (Q) | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 11.0 | 5 |
| Padded (P) | 12 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 11.0 | 4 |
| Woven cord (WC) | 12 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 11.0 | 8 |
| Heavy cloth ringmail (HCR) | 15 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 16.5 | 80 |
| Soft leather ringmail (SLR) | 12 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 16.5 | 90 |
| Hard leather ringmail (HLR) | 15 | 12 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 22.0 | 100 |
| Quilt ringmail (QR) | 15 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 22.0 | 90 |
| Studded heavy cloth (SHC) | 12 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13.2 | 16 |
| Studded soft leather (SSL) | 9 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13.2 | 17 |
| Studded hard leather (SHL) | 12 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 16.5 | 18 |
| Studded cuir-bouilli (SCB) | 18 | 9 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 16.5 | 20 |
| Studded quilt (SQ) | 12 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 16.5 | 19 |
| Soft leather bezainted (SLB) | 18 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 16.5 | 90 |
| Hard leather bezainted (HLB) | 21 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 22.0 | 100 |
| Cuir-bouilli bezainted (CBB) | 24 | 21 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 22.0 | 110 |
| Quilt bezainted (QB) | 18 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 22.0 | 90 |
| Hard leather jazeraint (HLJ) | 21 | 18 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 22.0 | 100 |
| Cuir-bouilli jazeraint (CBJ) | 24 | 21 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 22.0 | 110 |
| Hardwood jazeraint (HWJ) | 18 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 22.0 | 90 |
| Horn/bone jazeraint(HBJ) | 24 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 33.0 | 110 |
| Metal jazeraint (MJ) | 27 | 24 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 44.0 | 120 |
| Single Mail (SM) | 21 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 40.0 | 75 |
| Double mail (DM) | 27 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 48.4 | 90 |
| Augmented mail (AM) | 27 | 21 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 48.4 | 85 |
| Bar mail (BM) | 24 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 44.0 | 80 |
| Laced mail (LM) | 24 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 44.0 | 80 |
| Combined mail (CM) | 24 | 21 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 48.4 | 80 |
| Cuir-bouilli brigandine (CBG) | 24 | 24 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 28.6 | 80 |
| Hardwood brigandine (HWG) | 18 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 28.6 | 100 |
| Horn/bone brigandine (HBG) | 24 | 24 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 33.0 | 100 |
| Metal brigandine (MG) | 27 | 27 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 48.4 | 120 |
| Laminated (L) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 44.0 | 120 |
| Cuir-bouilli lamellar (CBL) | 24 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 22.0 | 120 |
| Hardwood lamellar (HWL) | 18 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 22.0 | 160 |
| Horn/bone lamellar (HBL) | 24 | 21 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 28.6 | 160 |
| Metal lamellar (ML) | 27 | 27 | 24 | 8 | 3 | 39.6 | 200 |
| Plate (PL) | 30 | 30 | 30 | 8 | 2 | 55.0 | 525 |
| Ribbed Plate (RPL) | 33 | 33 | 33 | 8 | 2 | 55.0 | 2000 |
The weight listed for each armor assumes a complete suit of human sized armor. The following listing shows the percentage breakdown by weight for each area of armor:
| Chest, front | 30% | Shoulders | 5% |
| Chest, rear | 20% | ||
| Upper Arms | 7% | Upper Legs | 10% |
| Elbows | 5% | Knees | 5% |
| Lower Arms | 8% | Lower Legs | 10% |
The weight listed does not include helmet and head pieces. Calculate the encumbrance of headgear as an additional +10% in weight.
For non-human sized armor, use the percentage multiplier by race as follows:
| Dwarf size | 45% |
| Elf size | 70% |
| Gnome size | 35% |
| Half-elf size | 85% |
| Half-ogre size | 130% |
To determine the agility limitation factor (ALF), add the numbers in the "AGI" column and consult the following table to find the actual penalty to the character's agility while wearing this armor. For a portion of a suit of armor, multiply the ALF by the percentage from Table II.B.1-2.
| ALF | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 0-1.50 | 0 |
| 1.51-2.50 | -1 |
| 2.51-3.50 | -2 |
| 3.51-4.50 | -3 |
| 4.51-6.50 | -4 |
| 6.51-7.50 | -5 |
| 7.51 or greater | -6 |
This penalty only applies to the character's agility while wearing the armor, of course. This penalty represents the encumbrance of the armor and its effect on agility and balance. Once the Agility Limitation Factor has been found, and the character's effective agility in the armor is known, a note should be made as to what affects, if any, this will have on the character's Dodge and Effective Skill Levels. Only the weight of the armor, not the ALF, affects the character's movement rate.
Definitions and explanations of the different armor types available follow. Most information here derives from or quotes from Palladium Books. As an additional note, all armor types must be tailored to the wearer's body type. Thus, two men must have basically the same build to share a suit of armor.
Made without wood or metal reinforcement, most armors of this type can be worn alone. However, they were often worn under many of the heavier armor types. The types of armor found in this group are: thin, medium, and heavy cloth; soft and hard leather, cuir-bouilli, quilt, padded and woven.
Thin cloth is equivalent to linen, medium cloth is equivalent to denim, and heavy cloth is equivalent to two or three thicknesses of medium cloth.
Soft leather is equivalent to the outer covering of a modern-day leather jacket. Hard leather is approximately equal to five millimeters of leather.
Cuir-bouilli is leather which has been boiled in oil. In this condition it may be molded into the desired shape and upon drying becomes very hard.
Quilt armor consists of two layers of cloth between which cotton or some other material is sandwiched. Padded armor usually consists of a heavy layer of felt from four to eight centimeters thick.
Woven cord armor bears a resemblance to modern macrame. It is made of cord or reed, and looks rather like a modern floor mat or carpet.
These armors consist of some sort of protective plate attached to a leather or cloth foundation. The types of armor found in this group are: ring mail, pourpoint or studded, bezainted, jazeraint, and brigandine.
Ringmail is simply metal rings sewn onto a suitable backing. The different materials in the names of the ringmail armors indicate the type of backing.
Studded armor, sometimes called pourpoint, consists of metal studs riveted to a suitable backing. The different materials in the names of the studded armors indicate the type of backing.
Bezainted armor consists of metal discs secured with studs to a suitable backing. The type of backing is indicated by the name of amour.
Jazeraint armor, also known as scale armor, consists of scales of various sizes sewn or riveted onto a suitable backing. The different names in materials in the names of the jazeraint armors indicate the type of scale.
Brigandine armor consists of scales or plates riveted inside a leather garment and then backed by another layer of leather. The material of which the scales or plates are made is indicated by the name of the armor.
These armors consist of smaller pieces of material (generally metal) fastened to one another without being attached to a foundation. For example: A mail shirt or coat is made completely of chain mail linked together. There is no leather or cloth backing to which it is attached. The normal practice, however, is to wear padding or other such garments under the armor to prevent chafing and to lessen the impact of blows. The types of armor in this category are: mail, lamellar, laminated plate, and plate.
Mail consists of small interlocking rings of metal, each of which are individually made and riveted together. It is necessary to wear some sort of quilt armor underneath to prevent serious chafing and protect against shattered rings embedding into flesh. The most common form consists of four rings linked to a fifth, and in this configuration it lies flat. The links themselves are made of wire which has been wound tightly around a cylindrical bar. By cutting the wire at each turn in the resulting coil, a series of uniform rings could be made. The better mail nearly always has the ends of the rings riveted together, as simply butting the wire ends together results in a weaker garment
Double mail is a variation of normal mail only in that the rings are thicker and closer together. Quilt is again necessary.
Augmented mail consists of normal mail with strips of leather put through the links. Quilt is necessary.
Bar mail differs from common mail in that two types of links are used, the normal type as described above and a barred link, normally punched out of a metal plate. Quilt is necessary.
Laced mail consists of small metal sections that have been laced together in a fashion similar to the way a boot is laced, only much tighter.
Combined mail consists of small plates of metal interspaced with sections of normal mail. Quilt is necessary.
Laminated armor consists of metal strips which are overlapped and articulate upon each other. Quilt is necessary when wearing this armor.
Lamellar armor, also known as splint armor, consists of a series of splints or scales laced together. The size of the splints depends on the portion of the body covered.
Plate armor consists of large pieces of metal which are either worn over other armor or are attached to one another by a series of straps, lacing, buckles, or sinews. Ribbed plate is a variation of normal plate, but with many artistic ribs which also serve to deflect blows of weapons. While quilt is not necessary when wearing all plate armors, it is highly suggested. An average suit of plate in the early fifteenth century had a mass of approximately 25 to 30 kilograms (55 to 66 pounds), but a trained person could carry out most activities without undue strain; modern experiments have shown that a man in full plate can run, jump, and lie down and rise without much trouble. The main disadvantage of this type of armor is caused the by lack of air and the sweat due to physical exertion.