Full plate is more advanced, not necessarily more expensive. Think very carefully how a pre-industrial society would have to make something like a mail shirt.
Well, you start with a big spool of wire...

Oh ****.

Well, you start with a big spool of wire...

Oh ****.

Indeed. Must've taken them absolutely ages - and I don't suppose that learning how to fabricate mail in the first place was easy either...

It's something that I've never really thought about.

I don't know if anyone brought it up but the OP failes to realize that select few people survived the battle of thermopolae and even then no one from that era is even close to being alive. That alone makes this post really stupid.

Yeh, but the guys back then may have been far more skilled in sword-fighting than even the most enthusiastic resurrector of battlefield arts long since forgotten by the rest of the world - and know exactly how to deal with a larger, stronger, but less technically-sound opponent...

Or not. Weren't many historical armies largely composed of peasants who were recruited on the spot, as and when required (and given a few days of training?)? Dunno - I'm not a history buff.

Depends on the time period, in medieval Europe it was mostly peasants on the front line, archers would be a bitch though, same with Calvary. In rome I'd be fucked as they had professional armies.

Wow. How much would a full suit of plate armour cost then, you reckon?

I'm not uninformed enough to believe that there was a point in time when everyone was clanking around on the battlefield like ye olde knights of olde, dressed from head to toe in steel - but who typically would have been wearing that?

Rich douchebag knights at the joust tourney.

Wow. How much would a full suit of plate armour cost then, you reckon?

I'm not uninformed enough to believe that there was a point in time when everyone was clanking around on the battlefield like ye olde knights of olde, dressed from head to toe in steel - but who typically would have been wearing that?

Suits of armour were either really expensive in the early years of medieval iron working when what little iron came from Russian and Scandinavian resources to much cheaper with the discovery of English pig iron and other western sources as well as coal smelting and other improvements on smithing technology.

And a full suit of armour would only be worn by someone riding a horse. Full suits were not only heavy as **** but incredible inflexible and hard to see in with a visor. Some ass with a mace or club could easily beat you silly while wearing a helm and you couldn't do **** about it. If you would be fighting on the ground I would assume a single breastplate or chain shirt would suffice and the rest would be tempered leather.

Suits of armour were either really expensive in the early years of medieval iron working when what little iron came from Russian and Scandinavian resources to much cheaper with the discovery of English pig iron and other western sources as well as coal smelting and other improvements on smithing technology.

And a full suit of armour would only be worn by someone riding a horse. Full suits were not only heavy as **** but incredible inflexible and hard to see in with a visor. Some ass with a mace or club could easily beat you silly while wearing a helm and you couldn't do **** about it. If you would be fighting on the ground I would assume a single breastplate or chain shirt would suffice and the rest would be tempered leather.
There was a good video in another thread posted on armor use, I believe it was a video done by Mike Loades. It showed that the armor back then wasnt as inflexible as people think and actually was at least for the most part easy to move in. I think the big problem would have been armor doesnt breath so heat exaustion would be a big problem.

One does not learn the martial arts to live through a battle, but instead to die without regrets.

*gong sound*

Oh you are so fucking awesome!!!!

@ OT

Heat exhaustion, why do you think the metal cuirass was often replaced in ancient greece? (see example)

http://www.enciclopedia.com.pt/images/hoplite2065.jpg


or the knight covered up his great helm and chain? (see 2nd example)

http://usera.imagecave.com/anthoniusii/pictures/UlrichIIIdukeofCarinthia13thcen.jpg

Commander Cody shakes his head disapprovingly.

Who the hell is Commander Cody?

There was a good video in another thread posted on armor use, I believe it was a video done by Mike Loades. It showed that the armor back then wasnt as inflexible as people think and actually was at least for the most part easy to move in. I think the big problem would have been armor doesnt breath so heat exaustion would be a big problem.

Was that the guy who demonstrated that it is indeed possible to mount a horse in the standard manner whilst fully armoured? i.e. without being winched up there?

I did see a video on YouTube ages ago where someone debunked that little 'everyone knows' factoid.

Was that the guy who demonstrated that it is indeed possible to mount a horse in the standard manner whilst fully armoured? i.e. without being winched up there?

I did see a video on YouTube ages ago where someone debunked that little 'everyone knows' factoid.

Very likely he's done just about everything tv wise when it comes to medieval history.

@ OT

Heat exhaustion, why do you think the metal cuirass was often replaced in ancient greece? (see example)

http://www.enciclopedia.com.pt/images/hoplite2065.jpg


or the knight covered up his great helm and chain? (see 2nd example)

http://usera.imagecave.com/anthoniusii/pictures/UlrichIIIdukeofCarinthia13thcen.jpg

That Greeks outfit looks air-conditioned lol, I wonder if low strikes were of concern.

That Greeks outfit looks air-conditioned lol, I wonder if low strikes were of concern.

Shield seemed to cover everything the shin guards didn't.

Travelling back in time - when my larping around with swords finally pays off, and I wish I hadn't started (larping) Wing Chun instead! ;)

Regarding armour, it's not really that bad. Think of a mail hauberk as a badly fitted hiking pack, and you're about there. Most of the weight sits on the shoulders.

My understanding is that Plate weighs around the same as chain, but is much easier to move in, since it's strapped down, and the weight is distributed over the body more - like a well fitted hiking pack.
You won't be setting any land-speed records, but you can stand around waiting for your part of the battlefield to get messy.

Hold the shield up indefinitely on the other hand..... ugh! You know that part of the fight where you're wrecked, and your corner is yelling 'get those hands up' at you? Picture that with dumbbells in each hand!