Protection - Which Lorica was best?

[Taoye]

I definitely agree with the notion that a large standing army would require a cheaper form of armor that, although slightly less protective, was far cheaper and easier to ensure that soliders actually had armor.

As for chainmail arm guards... maybe they found it too difficult because you would need sufficient padding on your arms for the mail to be effective? They must have used something... the right arm is definitely the most vulnerable and exposed part of the body and I find it very hard to believe that they didn't use some form of protection, be it vambraces or mail or the segmented manica dealio.