Better Fantasy Armor: Armor Examples

A selection of sample armors to show how my Fantasy Armor rules would work.

I had a couple of goals for these rules:

1. It should be easy to create a new suit of armor. Optimizing armor may take a spreadsheet, but creating armor with a clear concept in mind should take a few minutes and a calculator.
2. There shouldn't be many trap options. It's acceptable for higher TL armor to better than lower, but the rules in Low-Tech such that reinforcing heavier leather makes it weigh more for less benefit or some cheap metal armor is heavier and most costly than cloth needs to go.
3. Delvers should be able to afford a lot of DR, both in terms of dollars and weight. The Low-Tech system in which delvers spend $2500+ to get DR5 at 60+ lbs doesn't work that well in a game were starting wealth is $1000 and starting monster do 3d+3 or more damage.
4. There has to be some kind of upgrade path for all armor types. The lightly armored delver in robes needs an option to stay in robes but get better DR and more cool stuff. Everyone converging on plate isn't fun.

I think I accomplished these goals, but people's attitudes may vary.

Hand and Foot Gear

Wooden Shoes: DR1 Wood Feet. Costs and weighs 10% of the base armor (DR1 Wood is $60 and 14 lbs), for $6 and 1.4 lbs.
Leather Sandals: DR1 Leather Feet. Costs and weighs 10% of the base armor (DR1 Leather is $60 and 13 lbs), for $6 and 1.3 lbs.
Knee-High Boots: DR2 Leather Feet and Shins with the Fine modifier. Costs and weighs 18% of the base
armor (DR2 Leather is $120 and 26 lbs) for $22 and 4.7 lbs, adjusted by Fine to $88 and 3.7 lbs.
Sharkskin Over-the-Knee Boots: DR2 Leather Feet, Knees, and Shins with the Quality leather modifier. Costs and weighs 22% of the base armor (DR2 Leather is $120 and 26 lbs) for $26 and 5.7 lbs, adjusted by Quality to $78 and 4 lbs.
Thigh High Boots: DR2 Leather Feet, DR1 Leather Legs; both with Fine and Quality leather modifier. Costs and weighs 10% of the base armor (DR2 Leather is $120 and 26 lbs) and 24% of the base armor (DR1 Leather is $60 and 13 lbs) for $26 and 5.7 lbs, modified by fine and quality to $156 and 2.9 lbs.
Leather gloves: DR1 Leather Hands with the Fine Modifier. Costs and weighs 6% of the base armor (DR1 Leather is $60 and 13 lbs) for $3.6 and 0.8 lbs, adjusted by Fine to $14 and 0.6 lbs.
Heavy Leather Gauntlets: DR2 Leather Hands and Forearms with the Fine modifier. Costs and weighs 12% of the base armor (DR2 Leather is $120 and 26 lbs) for $14 and 3.1 lbs, adjusted by Fine to $56 and 2.5 lbs.
Historical Plate Gloves: DR4 Plate Hands. Costs and weighs 6% of the base armor (DR4 plate is $2800 and 28 lbs) for $168 and 1.7 lbs.
Historical Plate Sollerets: DR4 Plate Feet. Costs and weighs 10% of the base armor (DR4 plate is $2800 and 28 lbs) for $280 and 3 lbs.

Head Gear

Primitive Helmet: DR4 Horn Face and Skull. Costs and weighs 6% of the base armor (DR4 Bone is $240 and 56 lbs), for $14 and 3.4 lbs, modified by Horn to $21 and 2.7 lbs.
Corinthian Helmet: DR8 Plate Head with Segmented Plate and Bronze modifiers. Costs and weighs 8% of the base armor (DR8 Plate is $5600 and 56 lbs) for $448 and 4.5 lbs. Modified by Bronze and Segmented, it goes to $1702 and 5.2 lbs.
Samurai Helmet: DR8 Scale Face and Skull. Costs and weighs 6% of the base armor (DR8 Scale is $2000 and 80 lbs), for $120 and 4.8 lbs.
Historical Plate Fullhelm: DR9 Face and Skull. Costs and weighs 6% of the base armor (DR9 plate is $6300 and 63 lbs) for $378 and 3.8 lbs.
Historical Plate Gorget: DR4 Plate Neck. Costs and weighs 2% of the base armor (DR4 plate is $2800 and 28 lbs) for $56 and 0.5 lbs.

Partial Suits

Heavy Layered Cloth Collared Jack and Leggings: DR4 Layered Cloth Arms, Legs, Torso, Neck with a Weak Back and Reinforced Vitals. Costs and weighs 76% of the base armor (DR4 cloth is $400 and 48 lbs) for $304 and 36.5 lbs.
Quality Light Robe: DR2 Cloth Arms, Thighs, Knees, Torso, Neck, and Skull with the Silk and Fine modifiers. Costs and weighs 73% of the base armor (DR2 cloth is $200 and 24 lbs) for $146 and 18.2 lbs, modified by Fine and Silk for $1168 and 12.8 lbs.
Light Mail Hooded Hauberk: DR5 Mail Arms, Thighs, Torso, Neck, and Skull with Cheap modifier. Costs and weighs 66% of base armor (DR5 mail is $2500 and 30 lbs) for $1675 and 20 lbs, adjusted by Cheap to $1005 and 25 lbs.
Heavy Lamellar Corselet, Thigh Guards, and Arm Guards: DR8 Scale Shoulders, Upper Arms, Elbows, Thighs, Knees, Torso, and Neck with Weak Back and Weak Limbs. Costs and weighs 48.5% of base armor (DR8 scale is $2000 and 80 lbs) for $970 and 38.8 lbs.
Heavy Linen Skirt: DR4 Abdomen and Thighs. Costs 24% of the base armor (DR4 cloth is $400 and 48 lbs) for $96 and 11.5 lbs.
Bronze Cuirass, Front Greaves, and Arm Guards: DR8 Plate Chest, Front Fore Arms, Front Upper Arms, Shoulders, Shins Knees with the Bronze and Segmented Plate modifiers. Costs and weighs 43% of base armor (DR8 Plate is $5600 and 56 lbs) for $2408 and 24.1 lbs. Adjusted by Segmented Plate and Bronze to $9150 and 27.7 lbs.
Historical Plate Cuirass, Vambraces, and Greaves: DR9 Plate Arms, Legs, and Torso, with Weak Back, Weak Limbs, and Front Vitals Reinforcement. Costs and weighs 60% of base armor (DR9 plate is $6300 and 63 lbs) for $3780 and 37.8 lbs.
Skimpy Dress: DR1 Giant Spider Silk Groin and front Chest. Costs and weighs 12% of base armor (DR1 cloth is $100 and 13 lbs), for $12 and 1.56 lbs, modified by Giant Spider Silk to $360 and 0.8 lbs. Can be worn under other armor at no penalty by SM0+ wearers.

Panolopy

Primitive Armor: Reasonable armor for TL0 primitives or poor levies. Heavy Layered Cloth Collared Jack and Leggings ($304, 36.5 lbs), Primitive Helmet ($21, 2.7 lbs), Knee High Boots ($88, 3.7 lbs), and Heavy Leather Gauntlets ($56, 2.5 lbs). Gives DR4* to the head (including neck), front torso, arms, and legs, except the shins and forearms have DR6*. The back torso, hands, and feet have DR2*. Front vitals have DR8*, and back vitals have DR6*. $469, 45.4 lbs.
Beginning Wizard/Martial Artist Armor: Affordable armor for starting delvers who value speed over DR. Quality Light Robe ($1168, 12.8 lbs), Knee High Boots ($88, 3.7 lbs), and Leather Gloves ($14, 0.6 lbs). Gives DR2* all over except for the face (no DR) and the hands (DR1*). $1270, 17.1 lbs.
Beginning Delver Medium Armor: Suitable armor for a secondary combatant such as a cleric. Light Mail Hooded Hauberk ($1005, 25 lbs), Sharkskin Over-the-Knee Boots ($78, 4 lbs), and Leather Gloves ($14, 0.6 lbs). Gives DR5* to the arms, thighs, torso, and head except the face. Gives DR2* to the feet, and DR1* to the hands. $1097, 29.6 lbs.
Beginning Delver Heavy Armor: Basic armor for a mystic knight, knight, or holy warrior. Heavy Lamellar Corselet et al ($970, 38.8 lbs), Samurai Helmet ($120, 4.8 lbs), Knee High Boots ($88, 3.7 lbs), and Heavy Leather Gauntlets ($56, 2.5 lbs). Gives DR8 to the neck, face, skull, front of the torso, front of the arms to the elbows, and front legs to the knees. Gives DR4 to the back of the torso, back of the arms to the elbows, and back of the legs to the knees. Gives DR2 (flexible) on the forearms, hands, shins, and feet. $1234, 49.8 lbs.
Historical Hoplite Armor: Greek Hoplites would have worn something approaching this in 3rd to 4th century BC, along with a large aspis shield. Bronze Cuirass et all ($9150, 27.7 lbs), Heavy Linen Skirt ($96, 11.5 lbs), Corinthian Helmet ($1702, 5.2 lbs), Leather Sandals ($6, 1.3 lbs). Gives DR8 on the head, chest, shoulders, knees, and shins, as well as the front of the forearms and upper arms. Gives DR4 on the abdomen and thighs, and DR1 on the feet. $10954, 45.7 lbs.
Historical White Plate Harness: This represents gothic or maximillan full plate armor. Historical Plate Cuirass, Vambraces, Greaves ($3780, 37.8 lbs), gorget ($56, 0.5 lbs), fullhelm ($378, 3.8 lbs), gloves ($168, 1.7 lbs), and sollerets ($280, 3 lbs). Gives DR18 to the front vitals; DR9 to the face, skull, and front of the arms, legs, and torso, face, and skull; and DR4 to the hands, feet, neck, and back of the torso and limbs. $4662, 46.2 lbs.
Pixie Ultimate Plate Harness: Starting armor for a pixie delver who is well aware of her vulnerability to explosions. DR5 Plate with Hardened, Fluted, Segmented Plate, and Oricalchum modifiers, sized for SM-6. Costs and weighs 100% of the base armor (DR5 plate is $3500 and 35 lbs), modified by a net +36.8 CF, -40% to weight, and then reduced to 1/100th of cost and weight for size modifiers. Provides DR5 all of the body and counts as thin armor so a pixie can wear it without a DX penalty. $1323, 0.2 lbs. (The same suit would cost $132,300 and weigh 21 lbs if sized for a human.)
Sorceress Outfit: The standard get-up for a female evil spellcaster, with modest protection in the face of danger but plenty of exposed skin. Skimpy Dress ($360, 0.8 lbs), Thigh High Boots ($156, 2.9 lbs), and Heavy Leather Gauntlets ($56, 2.5 lbs). Provides DR2* to the hands, forearms, and feet, and DR1* to the groin, front chest, and legs. $572, 6.2 lbs.