From: "Kevin Davenport" Subject: RE: [7th Sea RPG GM] Adding armor Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 08:48:37 -0500 In response to the lack of armor, with the exception of dracheneisen, the primary reason for the decline of the trained and armored knight was the introduction of fire-arms at large. Unlike the Samurai of medieval Japan, the European knights did not recognize the threat to their place in society and also to their lives by the introduction of fire-arms. The Samurai quickly recognized this threat and moved immediately to eliminate and outlaw the use of firearms. Of course this only lasted a short while; once Pandora's Box is opened it is quite difficult to close it back up. A typical musket had the power, even in the hands of an untrained peasant,to penetrate the armor of a highly trained knight and kill or incapacitate him. As it costs big money to train, armor and equip a knight, and only a small amount of money to train and equip the common man with a musket you have the decline and eventual elimination of the armored knight. In many ways it was simple economics. However, not all armor fell out of use. Some armies still used a steel breastplate and helmet. The breast plate became shaped and angled from the centerline to help deflect musket shots that were not square on. The same was true of helmets, except they were more rounded. A typical historical example would be the Spanish armies that went in to conquer the Americas. As a game mechanic I might allow a +5 to the characters TN for their passive footwork defense, and an extra rolled, but not kept, die to their active footwork defense (also balance - maybe dependant on specific situation). I probably wouldn't allow it for any of the weapon parries as these are IMHO feats of skill with the weapon/s itself. Just a few thoughts -----Original Message----- From: owner-gm7thsea@darkedge.com [mailto:owner-gm7thsea@darkedge.com]On Behalf Of Gordon Landis & Jennifer Kiehl Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 4:47 PM To: gm7thsea@darkedge.com Subject: [7th Sea RPG GM] Adding armor There are three levels of non-dracheneisen armor - minor, standard and major. Minor is stuff like padded vests, leather jackets, or perhaps even just good elbow-length gauntlets and/or tall boots (maybe non-donovan light shields?). It is effective only against "normal" weapons. Standard is chain shirts, heavy/boiled leather and the like (including large shields?), effective against normal and heavy weapons. Major is cuirass & helm, plate mail, and similar heavy/more enclosing armors, effective against normal weapons, heavy weapons, and missles (including musket fire?) Gordon -- Contents Copyright (C) 1997,98,99 by ALDERAC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.