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[jhxmt]

Hi all - long time player (well, long-ish, 2010 only!) first time poster.  I've gone through the usual stages of "what happens if I do this?" and "how do I make that work?", resulting in several varieties of fun.  Usually involving plumbing, of the magma or non-magma kind.

Now, however, I'm trying to get to grips with the military.  Magma never seemed so harmless.

I've currently got a fortress where I have access to leather (loads of the stuff - as much of, and as many types of, as any dwarf could wish) and iron (but no flux, sadly).

I'm trying to work out what the best armor setup is for my melee squads - as in, what I can layer over what when all I have is leather and iron.  I have read the Wiki (extensively), including the page on layering of armor, but I can't seem to get my head around the size/weight/layer considerations.

I'd therefore appreciate any advice on how best to pad my suicidal critters up so that they last marginally longer than usual!

Thanks! 

[LuckyLuigi]

Read this thread

I personally do

metal helmet
leather hood
leather cap

metal breastplate
metal mail shirt
leather cloak

metal gauntlets
leather mittens

metal greaves
leather trousers

metal high boots
socks

metal shield
metal weapon

You can add more, but I think it's a bit exploitery.

I would not seriously go into battle in anything less than steel. Otherwise expect to take a beating.

[AutomataKittay]

Iron cap, iron helmet, leather hood or two for head
Iron plate, iron chainmaille, a couple leather robes and some cloaks for chest
Leather mittens and iron gauntlets for arms
Leather trouser and iron greaves for legs
A pair of pigtail socks and iron high boots for feet

For shields, copper are better, since it's heaviest shield material but iron's fair.

I usually don't bother with the socks since the buggers tries to steal them all the time 

You can experiment with armor set-up in Arena Mode, if you feels like toying around, and don't forget about Replace Clothing setting!

[jhxmt]

That's excellent, thanks both!  (I have no idea how I missed that other thread - very informative!)  My soldiers are now merrily discarding all of their clothing and trooping into the armor stockpile to grab their new attire.

[Cyntrox]

The wiki article clearly states the optimal layering - I'll repeat it here anyways (as I use it):

2x leather caps
1x iron helm
6x leather hood

1x iron breastplate
3x iron mail shirt
6x leather cloak

2x leather trousers
1x iron greaves

1x iron gauntlets
1x leather mittens

1x leather socks
1x iron high boots

[Satarus]

Might replace that iron with the fine dwarven steel you should be making.

[Darkmere]

Might replace that iron with the fine dwarven steel you should be making.

He said he had no flux.

Layering everything that can possibly fit on a dwarf is a bit overkill, I've never had a problem with trained warriors as long as they were decent with a shield, and had a hood and cloak equipped over the standard breastplate/chainshirt, helm, greaves, gauntlets, boots setup.

[Cyntrox]

Layering everything that can possibly fit on a dwarf is a bit overkill

Tell that to the skeletal pandas.

Oh god, the skeletal pandas...

[Lagslayer]

I do...

Metal cap (so it counts as armor and not clothing)
helm
mail shirt
breastplate > leather armor
gauntlet > gloves
greaves > leggings
high boots > low boots

I'm experimenting with different weapon/shield combinations and numbers, but I usually just use a single shield and a weapon (varying based on preferences).

I just avoid clothing so it doesn't rot off all the time.

I'll switch up materials and pieces of armor depending on what's available and in what quantities. Adamantine > steel > iron/bronze > copper > bone > wood > leather for armor.

[Kon]

Before I have access to metal, I go with

Leather Helm
Leather Armor
Leather Leggings
Leather High Boots
Leather Shield

Those are the only leather items that are considered to be armor. Cloth or silk can be used instead of leather for other pieces:

Hood
Robe
Cloak
Dress
Trousers
Mittens
Socks

When you have metal:

Cap, Helm
Mail Shirt and *Breastplate
Leggings or *Greaves
Gauntlets
High Boots
Shield

*for melee dwarves or well-trained archers who can handle the weight without slowing down too much.

You can wear several of some items, but I usually just wear one of each.

[feorh]

2x leather caps
1x iron helm
6x leather hood

1x iron breastplate
3x iron mail shirt
6x leather cloak

2x leather trousers
1x iron greaves

1x iron gauntlets
1x leather mittens

1x leather socks
1x iron high boots

What for are socks and mittens - as of now gauntlets and boots protect fingers\toes, or i'm wrong?
I still don't understand whether making xmany of clothing actually gives dwarves better protection or not?

[LuckyLuigi]

Yes, they do, but those are like a 2nd chance to stop the blow.
Yes it does and that's what it's for.

[AutomataKittay]

1x leather socks

How did you get leather socks? I've only gotten cloth ones 

What for are socks and mittens - as of now gauntlets and boots protect fingers\toes, or i'm wrong?
I still don't understand whether making xmany of clothing actually gives dwarves better protection or not?

Extra protection, at least that's what I understands. More layers gives more chance to protect parts.