06-04-2008, 12:09 PM
Avete!
Soldiers spend the vast majority of their time in armor marching and digging. Probably the highest priority was to keep it light enough to wear. If it ever happened to get in the way of a spear or sword, that was just gravy.
Yes, original helmets tend to be lighter than most of our 18-gauge reproductions. Remember that it's almost impossible to get a square, solid hit on a helmet in battle--the head simply moves too much. Sure, if you're standing on the guy's chest and brace his helmet with your foot like a croquet ball, you can probably put a spear or axe through it. But wouldn't it be quicker and easier just to hit him where he is NOT armored, at that point?
That's the whole thing about armor, it makes the opponent try to go AROUND it, not through it. Sure, you might have a chance to get a nice solid hit to penetrate someone's 20-gauge armor, but are you willing to bet your life on it?
Also remember that most blows in battle are not full force. Any number of half-hearted jabs and prods can lay a man's exposed flesh wide open with a nasty or fatal wound. Infections kill! But thin armor will let you ignore all of those. That's probably why mail was so popular, even with little or no padding, it keeps out all the wimpy nicks and slices while still being more comfortable than anything else.
Valete,
Matthew
Soldiers spend the vast majority of their time in armor marching and digging. Probably the highest priority was to keep it light enough to wear. If it ever happened to get in the way of a spear or sword, that was just gravy.
Yes, original helmets tend to be lighter than most of our 18-gauge reproductions. Remember that it's almost impossible to get a square, solid hit on a helmet in battle--the head simply moves too much. Sure, if you're standing on the guy's chest and brace his helmet with your foot like a croquet ball, you can probably put a spear or axe through it. But wouldn't it be quicker and easier just to hit him where he is NOT armored, at that point?
That's the whole thing about armor, it makes the opponent try to go AROUND it, not through it. Sure, you might have a chance to get a nice solid hit to penetrate someone's 20-gauge armor, but are you willing to bet your life on it?
Also remember that most blows in battle are not full force. Any number of half-hearted jabs and prods can lay a man's exposed flesh wide open with a nasty or fatal wound. Infections kill! But thin armor will let you ignore all of those. That's probably why mail was so popular, even with little or no padding, it keeps out all the wimpy nicks and slices while still being more comfortable than anything else.
Valete,
Matthew
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
