Drop Helmet for Sake of Leather Armor

[Malcadon]

It is a simple idea. Instead of the Helmet being its own piece of equipment, they are just included as part of a normal suit of armor? With is, Chain Mail and Plate Mail have an extra Defense Die (at 2 and 3 respectively), but that is not from the helmet itself -- this is from the full protection of suits. The extra die improves their innate protection, while it also frees-up a 1 Defense Die slot for Leather Armor, or some other light suit of armor (thick furs, a cape, chainmail bikini, Barsoomian-stlyed battle harness, etc.).

Here are the new costs, protection, etc.:

Leather Armor [no image] 250 Gold Coins Armor This light suit of harden leather with a simple skullcap gives you 1 extra combat die in defense. Maybe combined with a shield. May not be warn by the Wizard.

Chain Mail [no image] 600 Gold Coins Armor This suit cover the wearer form head to toe with a flexible sheets of small interlocking chains. This suit gives you 2 extra combat dice in defense. As it is fairly heavy, you must roll three red dice for movement, discarding the highest die, while wearing it. The Dwarf is not hindered by this. Maybe combined with a shield. May not be warn by the Wizard.

Plate Mail [no image] 950 Gold Coins Armor This heavy suit is made-up of a layer of chain mail, covered with articulated metal plates, and comes with a visored helmet. This suit gives you 3 extra combat dice in defense. However, becuase it is so heavy, you may only roll 1 red die for movement, while wearing it. The Dwarf on the other hand, rolls three red dice, discarding the highest die. Maybe combined with a shield. May not be warn by the Elf or Wizard.

What do you guys think?

[clmckay]

I like it. It makes good sense. My only comment would be the movement restriction on the chain mail. In existing HQ there isn't that restriction if you purchase all the bits separately. I would keep it consistent with the game system.

[knightkrawler]

I did the following to break down the starting stats of the heroes.

This for the Defend dice:
2 DD = 1 base skill (natural reflexes & avoiding blows) + 1 superior fighting skill + 0 no armor whatsoever (represented in the miniature)
2 DD = 1 base skill + 1 Leather Armor
2 DD = 1 base skill + 1 Leather Armor
2 DD = 1 base skill + 1 Heavy Robe

Leather Armor / Heavy Robe are given as cards to the heroes as starting equipment and can be lost, as starting weapons.

The other armor pieces do not give an absolute Defend dice value, but a modifying one.
That means, chainmail is not 3 DD, but +2 DD; Plate is not 4 DD, but +3 DD.
Helmet and Shield remain the same.

I'm just pondering if - for simplicity's sake - I should combine the Leather Armor and the Heavy Robe into Light Armor, which would be available to every hero.

[Schmidt]

Maybe combined with a shield. -> May be...

[Malcadon]

This for the Defend dice:
2 DD = 1 base skill (natural reflexes & avoiding blows) + 1 superior fighting skill + 0 no armor whatsoever (represented in the miniature)

Correction:

2 DD = 1 base skill (natural reflexes & avoiding blows) + Fur/Hide Armor (represented in the miniature)



Much like chainmail bikini, they protect the places that counts the most.

[knightkrawler]

4 out of 5 from these are Elves and thus not applicable as indicators for your correction being valid.

[IvenBach]

Oh the iconic chainmail bikini...

[Gold Bearer]

I gave elves zero defence, humans one and dwarves two.


Cloth Armour: 50GP D1.

Padded Armour: 100GP D2 Max Speed-8/two dice.

Studded Armour: 150GP D2 Max Speed-10/highest of two of three dice.

Leather Armour: 200GP D2.

Splint Mail: 250GP D3 Max Speed-4/one dice.

Banded Mail: 350GP D3 Max Speed-6/highest one of two dice.

Chain Mail 450GP D3 Max Speed-8/two dice.

Scale Mail: 550GP D3 Max Speed-10/highest of two of three dice.

Ring Mail: 650GP D3.

Suit Of Armour: 750GP D5 Max Speed-2/lowest one of two dice, Elvens Max Speed-1/lowest one of three dice.

Plate Mail: 850GP D4 Max Speed-4/one dice.

Dragon Scale Armour: 1200GP D4 Max Speed-6 Half damage rounding down against fire, ice and lightning.


Plus Elven (+2 speed) and Dwarven (+1 defence) armour.

Oh the iconic chainmail bikini...

[Daedalus]

It is a simple idea. Instead of the Helmet being its own piece of equipment, they are just included as part of a normal suit of armor? With is, Chain Mail and Plate Mail have an extra Defense Die (at 2 and 3 respectively), but that is not from the helmet itself -- this is from the full protection of suits. The extra die improves their innate protection, while it also frees-up a 1 Defense Die slot for Leather Armor, or some other light suit of armor (thick furs, a cape, chainmail bikini, Barsoomian-stlyed battle harness, etc.)....

What do you guys think?

It works well, and is something worth considering. Do you allow armor to be sold back to the Armory at half price as suggested by the NA expansions? Your prices would work well doing this. Also, I'd say Borin's Armor has to be changed for your system if you want it to have a special property unique to artifacts.

I had worked up various movement die mechanics similar to you and Gold Bearer, but then decided to simplify the lot. I ended up with a few movements but kept chain mail at 2 red dice. Originally, I had the same die penalty as you. Later, I figured there'd be a lot of backlash for penalizing chain mail, even though it makes a lot of sense. Instead, I went with a faster die-option for the Barbarian in piece armor and shifted your chain mail and plate armor penalties onto plate armor and full plate armor, respectively. Kept the helmet bonus, though. I also went with 1 base Defend Die and a +1 bonus for starting armor (including leather armor) similar to KK's descriptions.

[Malcadon]

Here are some additional armor.

Armory Items:

Buckler [no image] 125 Gold Coins Armor This small handheld dualist shield can block hand-to-hand weapons, but not ranged weapons. If attacked by an adjacent (or diagonal) opponent, you roll an extra combat die in defense. May not combined with a shield or two-handed weapons.

Cloak [no image] 125 Gold Coins Armor This flowing black cloak obscures the profile of the wearer, making him harder to hit by ranged weapons. If attacked by ranged weapon (arrow, thrown dagger, etc.), you roll an extra combat die in defense. May not combined with armor that hinders movement.

Shield [no image] 250 Gold Coins Armor This handheld armor gives you 1 extra combat dice in defense. May not combined with a buckler or two-handed weapons. May not be warn by the Wizard.

Artifact items:

Wizard's Cloak [no image] Artifact Armor This magical cloak made of shimmery fabric is covered with mystical runes. It way only be warn by the Wizard, giving him one extra combat die in defense. May not combined with the cloak.

Elven Chain Mail [no image] Artifact Armor This ultralight Elf-made suit is made of a strange metal that is harder and lighter than steel. It way only be warn by the Elf, giving him 3 extra combat die in defense, and does not restrict his movement. Maybe combined with a shield.

Borin's Armor [no image] Artifact Armor This magical suit of plate mail is made of a metal harder and lighter than steel. This suit gives you 4 extra combat dice in defense. As it is still fairly heavy, you must roll three red dice for movement, discarding the highest die, while wearing it. The Dwarf is not hindered by this. Maybe combined with a shield. May not be warn by the Wizard.

Grognard's Armor [no image] Artifact Armor This scant and smelly fur loincloth and leather battle-harness was warn by a legendary barbarian hero. The barbarian is the only one man enough to wear it. It gives him 2 extra combat die in defense, and allow him to roll three red dice for movement, discarding the lowest die. Maybe combined with a shield.

(OK, that last one is for S&Gs. )