Real Armor And END

[L. Marcus]

This thought popped up today while I was re-reading Dies The Fire: that realistic, Ye Olde Tyme-type armor has the Side Effect of an END Drain. This would represent the problems of the padding of, say, a chain hauberk keeping heat and moisture in. Would you say that this would be covered by Real Armor, or should it be its own Disadvantage? I know there are some out there who has fooled around with the SCA and such, and I wondered what those esteemed people thought of this.

 

And Dies The Fire is a bloody good book. I'm reading it for the second time, and I find myself trying to guess who the Amada Na Briona's pals are. ^^

[Narf the Mouse]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

Possibly. If it was far too little to qualify for even a Minor Side Effect - Which is doubtful.

[Old Man]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

Given that there is practically no need to actually stat out the limitations of physical armor, you (as GM) could more or less arbitrarily declare what the END/LTE/DEX/DCV penalties are supposed to be, within reason. You don't really have to involve Side Effects at all, or else you could make up a 1/8 limitation for 15 points of END drain, or something.

[Narf the Mouse]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

Given that there is practically no need to actually stat out the limitations of physical armor' date=' you (as GM) could more or less arbitrarily declare what the END/LTE/DEX/DCV penalties are supposed to be, within reason. You don't really have to involve Side Effects at all, or else you could make up a 1/8 limitation for 15 points of END drain, or something.[/quote']

15 AP of END Drain is worth at least a Minor Side Effect on even Full Plate.

[AmadanNaBriona]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

I've usually been pretty happy with using the LTE & Encumbrance rules for Real Armor. I haven't run into many other systems that catch the balance well, and I give HERO mad props for having optional systems that seem to bear out my experiences.

 

That said, yeah, real armor is hot, smelly, wears you out and padding isn't an option, it's a requirement.

 

Oh, an it's Herself, The MacKenzie, of course.

 

Edit: To be fair, I know the deaf lass as well (tho I'm nae privy tae the family's full background...'tis complicated) and I suspect I know a couple of the other inspirations, but I'm not 100% sure

[Markdoc]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

Like the others, I simply use the encumbrance rules and just whack on LTE if the characters persist in doing things like taking long walks in the very hot sun in heavy armour. That seems to work pretty well: when the players, long ago got access to full harnesses, they schlepped them around in their ship, but rarely ever used them - for adventure-y stuff they used lighter, more flexible armours.

Recently, they finally got their hands on magic armour which they think is just the most awesomest stuff ever - and indeed, it's already saved their life many times over. It's still DEF 8 just like a regular full harness. But it doesn't have the "real armour" limitation and thus is near weightless and non-encumbering.

 

The same was true in the last campaign: the characters used battle armour during the actual war, but for the bulk of the campaign, used light armour, or none at all.

 

cheers, Mark

[L. Marcus]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

Does Combat Luck see much use, then?

[Ternaugh]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

My last campaign was set in a warm region, so I typically assessed END/LTE penalties based upon 2x the actual mass of the armor. Additionally, matchlocks and wheellocks had a free level of Armor Piercing vs non-magical defenses. It redirected most PCs to use lighter armors, and allowed me to emphasize more fencing than heavy fighting. After switching to 5er, a few of the characters used Combat Luck, which worked reasonably well.

 

JoeG

[AmadanNaBriona]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

Like the others, I simply use the encumbrance rules and just whack on LTE if the characters persist in doing things like taking long walks in the very hot sun in heavy armour. That seems to work pretty well: when the players, long ago got access to full harnesses, they schlepped them around in their ship, but rarely ever used them - for adventure-y stuff they used lighter, more flexible armours.

Recently, they finally got their hands on magic armour which they think is just the most awesomest stuff ever - and indeed, it's already saved their life many times over. It's still DEF 8 just like a regular full harness. But it doesn't have the "real armour" limitation and thus is near weightless and non-encumbering.

 

The same was true in the last campaign: the characters used battle armour during the actual war, but for the bulk of the campaign, used light armour, or none at all.

 

cheers, Mark

 

Yep, this is pretty much my experience in game as well

[Savinien]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

I'm not, nor have I ever been, involved in the SCA, but I know Kamarathin came up with some fairly interesting methods for dealing with heavy armors in Kingdom of Tursh.

[Markdoc]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

Does Combat Luck see much use' date=' then?[/quote']

 

Oh yes! Not everyone has it, but I'd say about half the current group does. In the last campaign, few people did - they relied on high CVs, and fights tended to be fast and brutal. The best fighter could (IIRC) crank up an OCV of 18 by the end of the campaign, so if he really didn't want to get hit, could put up a pretty good block!

 

cheers, Mark

[L. Marcus]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

... 18 in OCV is pretty nasty.

I'm not' date=' nor have I ever been, involved in the SCA, but I know Kamarathin came up with some fairly interesting methods for dealing with heavy armors in Kingdom of Tursh.[/quote']

But you are a pinko commie, right? ^^

[Narf the Mouse]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

... 18 in OCV is pretty nasty.

 

But you are a pinko commie, right? ^^

Perhaps even a Commie Mutant Traitor!

[Ternaugh]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

Perhaps even a Commie Mutant Traitor!

 

He's just a spy for another Alpha Complex

 

JoeG

[Narf the Mouse]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

He's just a spy for another Alpha Complex

 

JoeG

Computer, I'd like to report a possible clearance breach of which I know nothing about...

[Markdoc]

Re: Real Armor And END

 

... 18 in OCV is pretty nasty.

 

Oh, 18 *is* pretty nasty - but then that was the end of a campaign where we played 2-3 times a month and which lasted for 4 years, so that's what? 120 sessions? I do recall that particular character amassed over 180 XP, which fits pretty well with my 1-2 Xp per session average. The PCs went from schlub retainers to a powerful lord to the court officers and generals of the lord's son, and feared martial artists of great repute.

 

cheers, Mark