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[PvK]

Back to history for a moment:

"Platemail" is a D&D-spawned ahistorical term which is confusing because it isn't consistently understood what it is trying to refer to.

That image of armor is a gunpowder-era design, hence that open-faced helmet style and the plate only on the front of the thighs.

That IS a historical (I think post-medieval, like the suit) armored codpiece! The reason you rarely see them in display suits is largely because later generations (see Victorian era) decided they were too suggestive and tended to remove them.

[ May 11, 2007: Message edited by: PvK ]

[Sergius]

quote:Originally posted by schnobs:
<STRONG>You should consider the posibility that this "codpiece" actually is part of the armor stand. Lighting isn't perfect, but I don't see such a thing on the armor on the wall.
</STRONG>

I've seen armours being worn in a documentary, and yeah they have the huge codpiece.

[Tamren]

Makes you wonder who thought it up in the first place...

I mean why would you need that much, uh, room?

[I27]

I assume it needed to be large so that it can be easily grasped and "unzipped" while wearing armored gloves

[Tamren]

hmm that makes sense, but anything at all that sticks out is a weakness when it comes to plate armour.

If someone smashed a hammer down onto that part of the the armour somethings gonna break.

Same reason armour spikes are a bad idea. They stick out and catch more force and deflect less than smooth armour. Plus they get stuck in the ground when you fall over and thats never fun.

Armour spikes meant as weapons are okay though, they are placed in locations that wont get in the way and that you can easily bash someone with em.

[JT]

quote:Originally posted by Tamren:
<STRONG>Makes you wonder who thought it up in the first place...

I mean why would you need that much, uh, room?</STRONG>

That's to prevent "the tink effect" you get when the queen walks by.  I would imagine it accounted for quite a large number of beheadings of ordinarily loyal knights.

[Asehujiko]

It doubles as battering ram...

[Tamren]

For what? the postern gate?

so much possible innuendo   :eek:

[Tommy2U]

quote:Originally posted by Tamren:
<STRONG>
Keep in mind that people in medieval times (and further back) did not have a very good diet. Mostly it was based on grain bread, and or potatoes. Because of that people were a lot smaller back then. You ate what you could get, not what composed a nutritiously balanced diet. The average roman for example, was much shorter then 6 feet.
</STRONG>

Potato farming in medieval Europe is a bold, if unorthodox, idea  . Also knights tended to eat better than an average peasant.
In general people tend to confuse 15-16th century tournament armour, which was really cumbersome indeed with genuine military equipment.

[OverrideB1]

In fact, one of the most common type of armour was the coat of plates (circa 1300 to 1500). This was a leather coat with plates of metal front, sides, and back.
This was worn over a hauberk -- a sort of chainmail knee-length 'dress' that usually incorporated a chainmail hood and, sometimes, chainmail gauntlets. This would usually be worn over soft, padded garments to protect the skin.
Over the top of the coat of plates, you'd wear a surcoat: a long cloth robe that was usually decorated with a coat of arms.
Then you'd have your helm, sword, and shield.

Full plate-armour was extra-ordinarily expensive and was usually limited to only the wealthiest of nobility and kings. Most knights would have worn either the arrangement above or a breastplate and faulds over a hauberk, sometimes with chausses (chainmail leggings) and tassets (a segmented metal 'skirt'. But even these arrangements were phenominally expensive.

Despite what the films would have you believe, armoured 'tanks' really weren't that common a sight on the battlefield.

[Tamren]

quote:Originally posted by OverrideB1:
[QB]In fact, one of the most common type of armour was the coat of plates (circa 1300 to 1500). This was a leather coat with plates of metal front, sides, and back.
QB]

There was also brigantine, i think it was banded mail with strips of metal sewn inside a cloth garment. Supposedly very common.