FinalHavenLarp.com

I got my articulated leather bracers, across the elbio and up for 55 on Ebay.

I got my heavy metal helm for 40

and I got my turgle shell leather greaves for 35.

you can find them if you look.

Still, I like Cj's middle path approach.

Remember, too, that my idea would be the baseline. It would be up to the player's choice whether to buy armor phys-reps above and beyond, depending on the kind of money they are willing to spend.

In any kind of ruleset (especially at a larp), the rules need to be made to cater to the lowest common denominator (ie, players with the least money to invest in the game) and anything above that is player preference alone.

Lower price armor (usually referred to as "munitions grade") isn't going to make you the coolest, most hardcore looking player at the game (although, with our low-fantasy setting, likely the most realistic).

Just as in safety first, cool factor second- my thoughts are usually accessibility first, cool factor second.

Chest armor is always going to be the most pricey, but I thought it might make things easier if arms and legs(which can be tough to decide on armor for) were made easier.

Helms are actually cheaper than many people think. The full face helm I wear as Rhul was less than 50 dollars.

Armor listings(all from Dark Knight Armory)

Greaves (most less than 50 dollars for the pair):

http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/c-118- ... eaves.aspx

Shoulders for less than $100 (including two designs that would be full arms and chest for 42.00)

http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/c-112- ... lders.aspx

A $25 dollar helm that would be a near max-protection helm (face(debatable) +neck)

http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/p-1906 ... guard.aspx

Bracers (most for between 35 and 45 dollars(a pair)- cover from elbow to wrist):

http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/c-109- ... acers.aspx

This one is suede-lined (so no wrist-biting) stiff leather for 16 dollars!
http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/p-4945 ... acers.aspx

Bracers under my system that would count as "full heavy arms":
http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/c-64-f ... acers.aspx

or greaves for full legs (heavy)
http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/c-73-f ... eaves.aspx

Some of the stuff is really good CJ, but wouldn't I being a girl need to get the $125 chest piece that they have in there to go along with the shoulder piece you have for full coverage and all?

So let's say you get the greeves, bracers, helm, and shoulders..a guy would spend $119 while if I got the female full chest thing you're looking at $244 plus shipping for me.

I think Aurora's costume under your rule's system is top notch the way it is. but I was looking at all this for my WH character.

Or can I buy what guys might buy and wear my old tie up leather chest piece (my old Kidwynn chest armor) and let's say I get heavy armor in game would I still be good under this propose or any other system?

Women's armor is always more expensive. It's the one thing you can never change. I don't get why that is, but it's always been that way. What little bit you can find that'll go over women's breasts is always expensive. Or you can go the other way and make a long vest like Dani wars as Abhaya, and it cost her less than 25-30 dollars, and gives full arms and legs (covers shoulders and hip joints+ down the legs), and chest coverage. And it's just vinyl cut to a lab coat pattern from Field's Fabrics, sewn on a standard sewing machine, with small metal studs (about 4 dollars worth) added to taste.

But.... my idea wouldn't need shoulders, that's the whole point of my idea- shoulders are expensive, as are arm+elbow units. From Dark Knight armory, if you are strapped for cash, you can get a pair of greaves and a pair of bracers for about 50 dollars combined. Then you could add the 25 dollar helm if you wanted.

So for you to wear a full set of armor under my idea, you'd need Kidwyn's chest armor, a pair of bracers, a pair of greaves, and a helm. That'd be it. The lowest common denominator. Everything you would want to add after that would be "just for looks".

The whole point being if a bracer covers all of my arm from elbow to wrist, which is larger than a little 4inch square elbow cop made from a hockey pad (which is all the current rules require for full arms because it covers a joint) why not just make bracers count as full arms? It's the same with legs.[/i]

womens armor is more expensive because there are less women doing this. I hope this is something that changes. I'm pretty sure all gamers agree.

The other reason there is so little womens armor is because it was never made historically. A lot of armorers go off of patterns that are hundreds of years old. But that is mainly for plate and such. Chainmail fits everyone!

Don't forget there is always Ebay. Ebay usually has some really nice stuff for seriously cheap. I'm not a fan of DKA or Medieval Collectibles (They are exactly the same) armor. They look good in pictures but when you get the actual armor you will be lucky if it lasts a couple of events before the straps start coming off and it starts falling apart.

I have never made any of my own armor, I've only bought it. And I own a good amount of armor I would like to think. Here are some of my buys.

Full Plate - 460$ - I bought this from a guy on the Armour Archive. He originally wanted $600 which was a steal. The legs do not fit me unfortunately but eventually I will find an armorer to fix this for me. Probably won't cost more than $50 if I can find someone local.

Butted Chainmail and Coif - $120 - Got this on Ebay. Best bang for your buck of you are looking for cheap heavy armor. In my opinion it's crap but it gives you full coverage and at the price you cant argue. It will tire you out and it will start to fall apart after the first event, usually at the armpits and neckline.

Riveted Maile - $350 - I bought this on the Archive as well. This is the most historically accurate armor I have owned and the most durable. I didn't have a big problem with the rings falling off like with butted mail. However it was heavy and uncomfortable. Ended up sellinig to someone else on the Archive so I could by...

Welded Micromail - $320 - Best quality, Durable, Light and Beautiful!!! My favorite armor I own so far. Each ring is individually welded shut making it damn near indistructable. It's light, about 7 - 8 pounds compared to 30 - 35 of other chain mails. It's Maintenance free. And If it ever does get torn up, I can pay $30 and get it completely fixed. Got this at Ringmesh.com and I would consider this the best armor a larper could use.

Leather Breastplate w/ bracers - $120 - I got this on ebay. The armor is studded and has pauldrens attached to the breastplate. The seller offered to make matching greaves and a helm also. Mine was in black but he is offering other colors.

Coat of Plates - $70 - I bought this at a good price in hopes of selling it to one of my smaller friends. Got it used off of the Armor Archive. Some of the plates could use a few rivets. You have to wear an arming coat with this or the plates will pinch the crap out of you.

Leather Gauntlets - $100 - These things I bought on ebay. They look awesome and were well put together. A little pricey though seeing that the don't give much coverage, but the save my hands and that's whats important. I messed up one of my fingers last year and went it gets whacked by a boffer weapon it hurt a lot. I use a polearm so my fingers get whacked a little more often.

The bottom line for me is you should do a little research and then buy. There are a lot of good deals to be had if you really look.

Ok cool so the $119 doesn't suck and I might just roll with that idea then. I've been looking for a helm for Fayte and a helm I could use for night time fighting on Aurora and one of the greeves that is in there would really work well for Aurora and in turn Kimberlyn at CARPS allowing me to convert those greaves which are more rustic for Fayte if I go with that idea.

Thanks for the web site CJ, I didn't know it existed.

Question for you CJ, if one is female and wanted to get of of the two woodland warrior shoulder/chest pieces, which would you recommend.

Dani's thing is really cool, but my issue is that although I bake I seriously lack in well any type of sewing skill say to patch up holes.

Julie, since CJ is currently busy and both of us are sitting in the office....I think either one of the woodland sets would work. They might need a little bit of alteration (based on bust size, they fit up to a 44" chest, so that means I'd have to alter them, but you might not) but that alteration shouldn't be too difficult (just some adding to the straps under the arms and in the center, really simple just a couple of rivets and some belt leather). Personally, I like the one with the reinforced pieces (extra spots and stuff)

Also if you like that vest of mine, just let me know. It only took me a day or so to put it together and once I figured out my sewing machine it was very simple. For a little incentive, I might even make one for someone else.

I have cookies and my sparkling personality....

also, i can always fashion a breastplate to fit any size out of foam, personally i dont think it looks to bad myself. and i can make it as elaborate as you want it.

cole45 wrote:womens armor is more expensive because there are less women doing this. I hope this is something that changes. I'm pretty sure all gamers agree.

Just thought this needed repeating...

Carry on...

These guys do amazing work and make stuff that lasts for years and years.

http://www.shop.diamondwoodleatherandcostumes.com/

I bought my bracers and belt from them over 8 years ago and they still are in great shape.

They also do custom work.

The prices are a little more expensive, but the quality and durability is worth it. [/url]

Dallid was gifted with cloth armor awhile back – granting him light armor. This is why he no longer wears leather greaves, shoulder guards, or chainmail. While I’m normally a fan of proper phys-reps, the cloth armor allowed me to better achieve the look I wanted. Such flexibility in asthetics is a major advantage of an ‘up one level’ rule. I think that’s easy enough to buy, given someone’s appearance.
But, I agree, something like Dallid’s outfit should never be considered as medium or heavy armor – the appearance just does not give the impression of that kind of protection.

To be fair, I don't think any of those listed prices are what I would consider a "cheap" investment, deal or not.

Cheap to me is less than $30 for a complete set of heavy armor. If you disagree, that's fine, but that's what I have to spend, and I shouldn't be penalized for my RW finances or lack thereof.

I'm a fairly crafty person, and I've still wasted enough money already trying to make heavier armors on the cheap (out of plastics, sports gear, etc), even when following instructions.

I personally feel the system is fine the way it is. It's a good compromise.

People who can't afford armor that is up to some people's standards can still wear heavy armor, even if their physrep isn't great.

People who WANT to wear more expensive physreps can do so, and not have to pay upkeep on it.

I feel it's the ideal situation for everyone already, but if you really want to "fix" this situation (and I don't think it is a problem, personally), make heavier armor more expensive to upkeep in-game (unless you have "real" armor). This gives people the incentive to phys-rep better without actually penalizing anyone OOG.

If it's an issue with standardizing it visually, make someone wear a color-coded tabard so their armor class is obvious.