The Armour Archive

Ok, so you have a newby. He or she is in a mixmatched kit of plastic mostly with odds and ends of metal bits. Nice mild steel spangenhelm though (if I do say so myself). No real idea of persona yet, cept maybe a vague leaning toward norse / viking. Looking for books / web sites to recomend for reasarch. Suggestions for armor upgrades. (has to be light stuff right now, this is a small person). Current kit is pretty much loaner bag stuff. DV arms and legs. Plastic and alum. under leather coat of plates. Baskets (sword and shield) with hockey gloves. Fights like any other newbie. Moves forward slowly and throws one shot at a time. Gets hit alot, if not very hard. The gorget is plastic but can not be seen. The legs work well but look like shit and are to bulky to cover. The arms are large in the wrist but hey, extra padding. Leave upper arms completely bare though. Shoulders (also plastic, might even be DV not sure) are like the legs in that they work fine but look aweful and are way to bulky to cover.
So what to suggest? Both for training and improving the function and look of there kit?

Well my best advice is just what I did... I went through Eric at James River Armoury for mild steel... got regulation armor belt & gorget from VikingLeather... very satisfied with both, in terms of communication, craftsmanship, prices, etc... I bought my steel piece by piece. Taking time, working it out. Any local armourer with decent prices? This is a year into my SCA, though I am experienced swordfighting from foam fighting... as in I phased into SCA pretty decently. I do combos, fakes, mollinet, shieldwork, etc... But you know, have them take their time... figure out what piece bothers them the most, what piece seems most blatantly obvious and cover or replace. And remember, next kit, probably won't be their last! So committing to something isn't an end all by any means.

Skill wise, get them to work on relaxing slow pell work. Slow muscle memory repetition of 6 points on pell. I do it while watching TV! Focus on decent form. Then you should help them on shield work... have them get used to it via 1/2 speed attacks, they focus on 1 thing at a time. Shield work. Sword parry work. Then combine, speed up. Then have them attack, 1/2 speed work on their combos on you... you just defend.

And each practice, there's always a discussion, jib jab on gear, fixes, adjustments, history, ideals... that's what makes it fun. I'm new and everyone at my fighter practice has been really awesome! Helpful, not condescending at all. Even appreciative that I painted my plastic armour! But many have liked my new steel, faux fur, sort of barbarian style, dark ages mongolian/germanic kit... Hey, hey... it can happen!

start with stonekeep knees and elbows.
they make a rock bottom cop for about 20 buck a pair.
replace the knees and elbows with these.
the plastic of ht earms and legs can be trimmed and fitted using the oven in your house to fit the person better then covered with either a thin leather or a decent looking fabric.
the one GOOD thing about plastic is that it is very easy to modify.
(ok and its cheap) but as far as quality armor it is a far cry.
invest in some decent leather to eventually replace the plastic bits, you can chop the plastic up for splints if the leather is not protective enough.
gorgets you can get fairly inexpensively just about everywhere.
also very easy to make.

I would suggest one of three (not mutually incompatible) routes:

First, minimize the dysfunction. Thus, focus on replacing the most dysfunctional, uncomfortable, or otherwise inappropriate pieces first. While the more directionality one might have in terms of era and region for the rig clearly help define what one might pursue... as a newcomer assembling their first owned rig, it is sometimes best to move forward minimizing the dysfunction with pieces that appear more functional -- even without clear directionality.

Second, displace the affordable. Newcomers *tend* to be younger and thus less flush with cash. Initially focusing on the less expensive pieces that they can more quickly afford allows *their* rig to come together more quickly (with the positive emotions that develop from seeing your rig develop more quickly). Again, even if there is no clear directionality as to era and region, it is sometimes best to move forward displacing the more affordable pieces (e.g., elbows, knees, demi-gauntlets, etc...) as they can also be more generic than other pieces (e.g., body armour, helm).

Third, I've generally found that the helm makes the rig (others are free to disagree). The helm tends to be the defining piece of a rig, both in terms of style and of comfort. If directionality can be defined at least in terms of the helm (in regards to look and/or feel if not in selection of historical era), then the rest of the kit can be assembled around that selection.

As stated, these are not mutually exclusive. For example, it is quite possible that the helm is quite dysfunctional and that an inexpensive helm (many of which have often been discussed on the Archive) might suit both the functional as well as the aesthetic sense. Similarly, if the legs are most dysfunctional, it is possible that a more functional set can be pieced together without significant expense or effort (e.g., gamboised or leather/splint cuisses and cops).

Finally, I would provide the overall proviso that it takes years to figure out what does and doesn't, will and won't work for you as you develop your fighting style. Thus, newcomer armour tends to have a relatively short half-life, and pieces are often replaced and even the overall style and theme will evolve a few times. As a result, fluidity and functionality are *really* valuable concepts. Better to stick to the less expensive, easier to assemble, and more functional pieces and styles as one determines what may or may not be best.

That's my $.02, for what it's worth (probably less than $.02).

Max Von Halstern

1. Have them pick a time & place for their persona
2. Have them pick a time & place for their persona
3. Have them pick a time & place for their persona
4. Check out the 'I want to be a...' forum here for more info on that persona
5. Have them shop for armour here in the Classifieds, check the Links page for other armourers, search for reviews before purchase.
6. Graciously accept their enthusiastic thanks when they see how cool they look, and how cheap it was to get what they wanted.

Network with local resources for upgrading and modify existing gear as they work on the persona and save for new armour.
erik and stone keep both have budget options but the single piece knee and elbow cops are a good project for someone intrested in makeing armour.

Tomburr wrote:1. Have them pick a time & place for their persona
2. Have them pick a time & place for their persona
3. Have them pick a time & place for their persona
4. Check out the 'I want to be a...' forum here for more info on that persona
5. Have them shop for armour here in the Classifieds, check the Links page for other armourers, search for reviews before purchase.
6. Graciously accept their enthusiastic thanks when they see how cool they look, and how cheap it was to get what they wanted.

THIS

Tomburr's six points for the general, Max's for the specific step-by-step. Your newb may wish to read this and other threads, no?
And what of combining what Lostie said about cops with a spaudler-pair project for sweat-equity and "I made these all by myself" good feelings? Also, it is entrée into two-handed weapon forms, where the shoulders are more vulnerable.

For low cost metal knee and elbow, either Stonekeep or Master Cet (Rough from the Hammer).

I you have access to heavy leather, then use that instead of plastic. There are many tutorials on the Archive that explain how to make hardened leather. btw wine bottles work well for forming vambraces

I would add to this- tell your newb to lay aside money for:

A good helmet. Max is right, the helm makes the rig and determines the appearance of quality. You can have a stellar kit, but if your helm is the worst piece of armour on you, it will drag your appearance down with it.

A pair of nice gauntlets. I went years without my own pair, and it has made me 'tarded in fighting with polearms and other weapons where gauntlets are needed. You can't hope to borrow someone elses's forever. This can be as or more expensive than the helm, but it's so worth it.

Shoes. Shoes make the man. Get some period-correct awesomeness on them feet!

These three items can entirely make or break a kit, as well as the fighter wearing them. They are the only protection for your noggin and your fingers. Don't cheap out on these items, even if it's the first set for a new guy. It's false economy to buy cheap, and then have to spend more on a nicer replacement that they actually like within a year. Tell a new fighter not to be afraid to invest in these items. They can often recoup most of their money if they decide they don't want to fight and sell off their gear.

Shop smart. Friends don't let friends buy armour with no clear direction.