Armor on budget

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There is no armour made of scales that don't overlap. If the illustration looks like that then it hasn't been drawn very well. If you want cheap armour then get a spool of wire and a couple of pliers and make some butted mail.

Actually, the plates are slightly apart. Could be a mistake on the painters part.

How common where breastplates in the timeframe I'm looking at?

And also: this is "barbarian", not Roman, just so we are clear on that.

Thanks!