- Artex
- Sir Aethilgar
Rational: Padded armor was used by many during the time period that our game represents and was commonly used when a person could not afford mail.
In order to prevent poor designs from reaching the field, both a costume marshal and armor marshal are empowered to inspect and pass this type of armor.
A. V. B. Norman's The Medieval Soldier has a slightly different but similar take on the issue:
A. V. B. Norman wrote:
The gambeson is first referred to by Wace as an alternative to the mail hauberk. Later references show this was a coat, usually made of two thicknesses of linen, padded with wool, cotton, or old rags, and quilted like an eiderdown to keep the stuffing in place. The quilting was usually in parallel lines, sometimes crossing like a trellis. This resisted sword cuts quite well and deadened the force of a blow. It was the common defence of those unable to afford a hauberk. The Assize of Arms of Henry II of England in 1181 gives it as a minimum requirement of all burghers, and of freemen with goods and rents worth less than 10 marks a year.
Current Rule:
Armor Class 1
Leather armor is made of at least 5‐ounce leather (leather jackets cannot be used). Leather scale armor consists of small leather
scraps securely attached to a heavy material or leather in alternating rows.
Tabled Rule:
Armor Class 1
Leather armor is made of at least 5‐ounce leather (leather jackets cannot be used). Leather scale armor consists of small leather
scraps securely attached to a heavy material or leather in alternating rows.
Padded armor(Gambeson,Aketon), must be a vest, jacket, or pants constructed out of at least 2 layers of linen/leather/wool/or canvas, must have a layer of padding between the layers and must present a medieval appearance. Padded armor must be inspected by both a costume marshal and the armor marshal to be deemed passing.
Proposed Rule:
Armor Class 1
Leather armor is made of at least 5‐ounce leather (leather jackets cannot be used). Leather scale armor consists of small leather
scraps securely attached to a heavy material or leather in alternating rows.
Padded armor(Gambeson,Aketon), must be a vest, jacket, or pants constructed to present a medieval appearance and must include at least two layers of fabric with padding secured between them in either a series of tubes or a grid. Padded armor, must not compress past 5mm in thickness. Padded armor must be inspected by both a costume marshal and the armor marshal to be deemed passing.