What sort of armor would a bounty hunter wear in the medieval age?
What sort of armor would a bounty hunter wear in a fantasy based world inspired by the medieval ages (1100 A.D - 1400 A.D) that would allow him to be both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito? No one in this world has access to magic or gun powder, and the bounty hunter mostly hunts criminals and murderers. He is an excellent swordsman with elite military training in the past.
weapons medieval armors
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show 4 more comments
What sort of armor would a bounty hunter wear in a fantasy based world inspired by the medieval ages (1100 A.D - 1400 A.D) that would allow him to be both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito? No one in this world has access to magic or gun powder, and the bounty hunter mostly hunts criminals and murderers. He is an excellent swordsman with elite military training in the past.
weapons medieval armors
28
"both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito" -> plot armor
– Renan
yesterday
3
Is the BH's purpose (a) to capture and bring the target to justice or (b) to kill them and prove that the deed has been done?
– chasly from UK
yesterday
10
What's a "bounty hunter", especially a medieval bounty hunter? Anyway, medieval people did not wear armor in their daily lives, anymore than modern people do. Do modern "bounty hunters" wear armor different from policemen or soldiers? A medieval "bounty hunter" would wear armor in combat, if they somehow ended on a battlefield, or part of a military patrol, or making ready for a fight; and the armor would be ordinary armor, probably some sort of cuirass or mailshirt. When not fighting they would not wear armor.
– AlexP
yesterday
@ Renan, I guess when you put it that way it seems like plot armor haha.
– Ebi
yesterday
@ Chasly, the purpose is to capture and bring in for justice. I'm not looking for the bounty hunter to be in full plate armor, I guess what I'm looking for is what is the minimal amount of protective gear someone would need to wear if they are "hunting" someone
– Ebi
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
What sort of armor would a bounty hunter wear in a fantasy based world inspired by the medieval ages (1100 A.D - 1400 A.D) that would allow him to be both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito? No one in this world has access to magic or gun powder, and the bounty hunter mostly hunts criminals and murderers. He is an excellent swordsman with elite military training in the past.
weapons medieval armors
What sort of armor would a bounty hunter wear in a fantasy based world inspired by the medieval ages (1100 A.D - 1400 A.D) that would allow him to be both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito? No one in this world has access to magic or gun powder, and the bounty hunter mostly hunts criminals and murderers. He is an excellent swordsman with elite military training in the past.
weapons medieval armors
weapons medieval armors
asked yesterday
EbiEbi
11917
11917
28
"both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito" -> plot armor
– Renan
yesterday
3
Is the BH's purpose (a) to capture and bring the target to justice or (b) to kill them and prove that the deed has been done?
– chasly from UK
yesterday
10
What's a "bounty hunter", especially a medieval bounty hunter? Anyway, medieval people did not wear armor in their daily lives, anymore than modern people do. Do modern "bounty hunters" wear armor different from policemen or soldiers? A medieval "bounty hunter" would wear armor in combat, if they somehow ended on a battlefield, or part of a military patrol, or making ready for a fight; and the armor would be ordinary armor, probably some sort of cuirass or mailshirt. When not fighting they would not wear armor.
– AlexP
yesterday
@ Renan, I guess when you put it that way it seems like plot armor haha.
– Ebi
yesterday
@ Chasly, the purpose is to capture and bring in for justice. I'm not looking for the bounty hunter to be in full plate armor, I guess what I'm looking for is what is the minimal amount of protective gear someone would need to wear if they are "hunting" someone
– Ebi
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
28
"both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito" -> plot armor
– Renan
yesterday
3
Is the BH's purpose (a) to capture and bring the target to justice or (b) to kill them and prove that the deed has been done?
– chasly from UK
yesterday
10
What's a "bounty hunter", especially a medieval bounty hunter? Anyway, medieval people did not wear armor in their daily lives, anymore than modern people do. Do modern "bounty hunters" wear armor different from policemen or soldiers? A medieval "bounty hunter" would wear armor in combat, if they somehow ended on a battlefield, or part of a military patrol, or making ready for a fight; and the armor would be ordinary armor, probably some sort of cuirass or mailshirt. When not fighting they would not wear armor.
– AlexP
yesterday
@ Renan, I guess when you put it that way it seems like plot armor haha.
– Ebi
yesterday
@ Chasly, the purpose is to capture and bring in for justice. I'm not looking for the bounty hunter to be in full plate armor, I guess what I'm looking for is what is the minimal amount of protective gear someone would need to wear if they are "hunting" someone
– Ebi
yesterday
28
28
"both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito" -> plot armor
– Renan
yesterday
"both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito" -> plot armor
– Renan
yesterday
3
3
Is the BH's purpose (a) to capture and bring the target to justice or (b) to kill them and prove that the deed has been done?
– chasly from UK
yesterday
Is the BH's purpose (a) to capture and bring the target to justice or (b) to kill them and prove that the deed has been done?
– chasly from UK
yesterday
10
10
What's a "bounty hunter", especially a medieval bounty hunter? Anyway, medieval people did not wear armor in their daily lives, anymore than modern people do. Do modern "bounty hunters" wear armor different from policemen or soldiers? A medieval "bounty hunter" would wear armor in combat, if they somehow ended on a battlefield, or part of a military patrol, or making ready for a fight; and the armor would be ordinary armor, probably some sort of cuirass or mailshirt. When not fighting they would not wear armor.
– AlexP
yesterday
What's a "bounty hunter", especially a medieval bounty hunter? Anyway, medieval people did not wear armor in their daily lives, anymore than modern people do. Do modern "bounty hunters" wear armor different from policemen or soldiers? A medieval "bounty hunter" would wear armor in combat, if they somehow ended on a battlefield, or part of a military patrol, or making ready for a fight; and the armor would be ordinary armor, probably some sort of cuirass or mailshirt. When not fighting they would not wear armor.
– AlexP
yesterday
@ Renan, I guess when you put it that way it seems like plot armor haha.
– Ebi
yesterday
@ Renan, I guess when you put it that way it seems like plot armor haha.
– Ebi
yesterday
@ Chasly, the purpose is to capture and bring in for justice. I'm not looking for the bounty hunter to be in full plate armor, I guess what I'm looking for is what is the minimal amount of protective gear someone would need to wear if they are "hunting" someone
– Ebi
yesterday
@ Chasly, the purpose is to capture and bring in for justice. I'm not looking for the bounty hunter to be in full plate armor, I guess what I'm looking for is what is the minimal amount of protective gear someone would need to wear if they are "hunting" someone
– Ebi
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
A bounty hunter is a predator. What kind of armor do predators have?
source
None.
A predator does not want a fair fight. It does not want a fight at all. A predator is not going to roar at its prey to give it notice. A predator is not going to plaster a big sign on its chest reading "I WILL KILL YOU". A predator wants to surprise prey, and at worst have to chase the surprised prey. If you routinely take on prey under circumstances that allow the prey to fight back, each time is a roll of the dice. Eventually the predator rolls snake eyes, and then its predating days are done.
If you are engaged in warfare or ritual conspecific combat then armor of some sort might make sense. It makes sense to bluster and bellow. You are not going to eat your combatant. You want to defeat him and have him run away.
A bounty hunter should look like something other than a bounty hunter- whatever he or she can get away with and ideally something that does not raise suspicion. Laborer, beggar, pilgrim, traveling merchant; whatever. The prey should not know that a bounty hunter is tracking him or her until it is too late.
Wily prey will sense the presence of the unseen hunter. The Bourne movies are all about that - I am reminded of the scene in Bourne Identity - "I can tell you the guy sitting up at the counter weighs 215 pounds and knows how to handle himself".
2
@Ebi - the presence of hidden armor would be the sort of thing that the wily target might notice. The edge of a chain mail shirt sticking out from under the beggars rags.
– Willk
yesterday
10
Have you ever seen real leather armor? It's hard and bulky. You don't wear it "under" anything.
– pojo-guy
yesterday
11
this is actually an even better point when you realize that someone who was "wanted" in the middle ages was legally allowed to be killed by anyone - look up Caput lupinum (or caput gerald lupinum) - so there's not even the "dead or alive" reason of the bounty hunters of the west to capture them. They just want dead with proof - so assassin techniques would definitely work best (and in fact might be a better description of your profession).
– JGreenwell
yesterday
7
@JGreenwell yes that's why they were known as "Outlaws" they were outside of the protection of the law.
– Sarriesfan
21 hours ago
3
+1 for using a definition of "predating" that I had to verify in the dictionary.
– Rab
15 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
Bounty hunting would be a periodic and probably not very remunerative profession in the long run, so the first constraint is the bounty hunter isn't going to be rich enough to afford to be fully armed "Cap-à-pie" like a knight or man at arms. As an aside, even knights and men at arms were often unarmed and unarmored in peacetime, since their weapons and harness were being held at the local money lenders as security for loans...
The other factor which would limit the use of armour and many types of arms is the need to be able to blend in with the local population. A stranger coming into a town or village would be quite noticeable at the low population densities and limited amount of travel people did on the middle ages. A merchant, minstrel or maybe a monk or friar would be who people would expect to be on the road. In the Canterbury Tales, the party of pilgrims includes:
Knight
miller
Reeve
cook
Man of Law
the wife of Bath
summoner
clerk
merchant
squire
franklin
physician
pardoner
shipman
Prioress
monk
nun
manciple
Parson
Armed men showing up would likely be taken as a sign of trouble, either a scout for a band of robbers or perhaps the advance sign of a Chevauchee burning and plundering their way through the countryside.
Much like the idea of Ninjas has been contaminated by sensationalism (the iconic movie Ninja is actually dressed as a Japanese stagehand. The convention was the audience was to ignore them as they moved about the stage to rearrange set pieces during a show). Anyone working covertly would dress and act in the manner of the people they are hiding or operating among. Your bounty hunter could not look like a serf, since serfs were generally tied to the land and had little reason to leave the farms anyway, but as noted, would stand out too much if openly armed.
So your bounty hunter will have to blend in like this:
Not this:
add a comment |
I tend to agree with all answers, specially willik's and Thucydides's, but I would like to add that protection rarely hurt anyone. There are several options that don't impede (much) movement and can be more or less concealed with the appropiate clothing, although some of them may be a bit more modern than your desired period:
- Padded clothing. Gambesons are the basic defense against blades, can be disguised into fashion(sometimes noblemen, specially those who served, wore fancy gambesons) and won't impede movement (it may be stiffer than normal clothes but not much). Don't underestimate the absorbing power of padded clothes.
- Brigandine. The brigandine is a kind of cuirass made of padded clothes or leather with strips of metal sewed inside. This was imported from the mongol invasions and was a popular soldier armor as it was cheaper than a chain of mail. It is also less noisy and less conspicuous, although it will be stiffer than both chain or padded clothes (note that a brigandine has nothing to do with bandits. brigand was a kind of foot soldier back then).
- A cape: This is a bit more modern (about 16th century maybe), and it will depend on the kind of weapons your hunter will encounter but a heavy cape is a useful implement to deflect weapons and distract the opponent.
None of these armors will stop a crossbow bolt, nor a well placed blow or arrow, but will stop or deflect most glancing blows that otherwise would have drawn blood, while remaining mobile.
As they say above, none of this will replace the reason a hunter is good at his job, specially if there's no "magic medicine" or something that stops infections. Cunning will probably be his/her main weapon, and if I had to fight in those conditions I would prefer to lay traps and direct my prey to a place he cannot fight back than assault him.
I would like to direct you to read a bit about the almogavars, an aragonese light infantry that was prevalent from the 10th up to the 15th century. Their common armor was a wide leather belt, tunic and breeches, and still managed to win over heavily armored troops thanks to good tactics and ferocity.
Finally I would like to point that medieval clothes tended to be a bit loose, specially if we're talking about 10-13th century. The tunics and surcoats were still common, and the pants (well, braies, that are not exactly but like pants) were only popular with the working class (you would wear hoses, though). A sleeveless gambeson is feasible to hid under the surcoat. 14th century brought forward the chamise, although it still was not exactly as our shirt (the armpits usually were opened), reserving tunics for noble and clergymen. Still, you can hide a lot under a cape, and nobody will look you bad for wearing one (unless is a very hot day): not all people could afford winter garments so wearing an all-weather garment with a heavy wool (not fur, unless you're rich) cape would be appropiate. It was also a good way to hide your pouches (clothes of the time usually hadn't much of pockets, you would had pouches, usually of leather, instead). Nobody likes to have it's moneybag stolen.
New contributor
great answer. I agree strongly that protection never hurts. And I did some research on gambesons. In some instances they seem even better than leather. Thanks!
– Ebi
8 hours ago
@Ebi: Leather, in general, was never a good armor. It is cheap (the materials are easily available) and easy to manufacture (the gambeson requires quite a bit of sewing). The idea that leather armor is a good armor tends to come from D&D more than reality. In most instances, if not all, a gambeson will be a better protection... if you can afford it :)
– Stormbolter
6 hours ago
This guy is a fan of the gambeson over leather armor
– Wayne Werner
2 hours ago
Brigandine was my thought also. Relatively cheap, well known, quiet, inconspicuous.
– Adam Eberbach
23 mins ago
add a comment |
Incognito isn't possible, but the best idea for 1100-1400 AD is what rolepaying games call leather armor, actually a coat of plates (after 1250 AD).
This fashionable piece comes from https://armstreet.com/store/armor/the-wayward-knight-visby-coat-of-plates
It's a sleeveless jacket made of different materials (leather, wool, etc.) with the inside lined with several steel plates. More plates = more flexibility, if that's important for your bounty hunter.
3
Flexibility for movement, yes, but it's about as incognito as having a 20 foot sign on your back saying "I'm a bad motherfucker". Incognito means you blend in. Only soldiers or bandits wear armour. Roll up to a village wearing that, and every last person is going to run for the trees.
– Graham
20 hours ago
@Graham: Unless the village has a militia, and then you're pelted with pellets or arrows...
– Matthieu M.
19 hours ago
What makes you think that bounty hunting isn't going to make much money? There are plenty of people even now who make a good living out of it; and I'll be happy to bet that the person who turned up with Robin Hood's head to the sheriff of Nottingham would've had a very good life indeed.
– UKMonkey
15 hours ago
2
@MatthieuM. Militias didn't really exist like that, though - that's mainly a fantasy invention. A town would have a few guys to knock heads together after the fair, but they'd only know short-stick. For actual weapons, you're just looking at the local lord and his squires. It's important to get how vulnerable a regular person is to a trained fighter. With bandits, the safest thing was just to run away and hope all you'd lose would be stuff. Try to fight, and most likely you'd just hurt them or at most kill one or two, and then your entire village would end up massacred.
– Graham
15 hours ago
I know this is not an armor review but not that this one is for role play. the fact that no plate overlaps and are all separated by a fist width, means that any hit will slide on the plate and hit in a unprotected area. The gambesons and the mail are the real protection here.
– xdtTransform
15 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
All depends on your world.
I concur with @Willk's and @Thucydides answers and agree that in real medieval world a bounty hunter should carry no armor - mostly because regular people never did that, no matter what fantasy depictions may suggest.
However, I understand that you want to create your own fantasy world, which, while being similar to medieval Europe, can be different from it. If you want your bounty hunters to be armored, that's Ok.
Some other answers (like @Alberto Yagos') has suggested what this armor can be. I'm going to dwell on why a bounty hunter can be armored. First, your fantasy world should be more dangerous and chaotic than the real medieval world. Maybe dangerous creatures are lurking around, and wielding a sword and wearing even some minimal armor is highly advisable for any traveler. Second, your bounty hunter may need to capture his target alive. Thus, he can not rely on quick sword strike or accurate crossbow shot - he may want to confront his target armed an armored, intimidating him/her into submission.
This is exactly the direction and vision I have. Yes it is a medieval setting and people may not have been able to afford swords or armor, but this fantasy world is a dangerous one. Now the question is what would you classify as "minimal armor"
– Ebi
9 hours ago
@Ebi "minimal armor" hmm, if we want do be closer to historic reality, then boiled leather and other options that are not too heavy on metal. Knights had packhorses and squires to assist them. A bounty hunter is not a knight, in any environment he would like to travel light.
– Alexander
9 hours ago
add a comment |
I would like to think that the standard double tunic of the day would suffice. People usually wore a linen tunic under a woolen one. If paired with the correct outfit an arming sword and buckler might work making him a swashbuckler. In some regions swords were quite legal and some places you were legally required to at least own a weapon. Travelling armed was probably quite normal as one would never know when a bear or bandit might come out of the forest.
New contributor
add a comment |
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6 Answers
6
active
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6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
active
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active
oldest
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A bounty hunter is a predator. What kind of armor do predators have?
source
None.
A predator does not want a fair fight. It does not want a fight at all. A predator is not going to roar at its prey to give it notice. A predator is not going to plaster a big sign on its chest reading "I WILL KILL YOU". A predator wants to surprise prey, and at worst have to chase the surprised prey. If you routinely take on prey under circumstances that allow the prey to fight back, each time is a roll of the dice. Eventually the predator rolls snake eyes, and then its predating days are done.
If you are engaged in warfare or ritual conspecific combat then armor of some sort might make sense. It makes sense to bluster and bellow. You are not going to eat your combatant. You want to defeat him and have him run away.
A bounty hunter should look like something other than a bounty hunter- whatever he or she can get away with and ideally something that does not raise suspicion. Laborer, beggar, pilgrim, traveling merchant; whatever. The prey should not know that a bounty hunter is tracking him or her until it is too late.
Wily prey will sense the presence of the unseen hunter. The Bourne movies are all about that - I am reminded of the scene in Bourne Identity - "I can tell you the guy sitting up at the counter weighs 215 pounds and knows how to handle himself".
2
@Ebi - the presence of hidden armor would be the sort of thing that the wily target might notice. The edge of a chain mail shirt sticking out from under the beggars rags.
– Willk
yesterday
10
Have you ever seen real leather armor? It's hard and bulky. You don't wear it "under" anything.
– pojo-guy
yesterday
11
this is actually an even better point when you realize that someone who was "wanted" in the middle ages was legally allowed to be killed by anyone - look up Caput lupinum (or caput gerald lupinum) - so there's not even the "dead or alive" reason of the bounty hunters of the west to capture them. They just want dead with proof - so assassin techniques would definitely work best (and in fact might be a better description of your profession).
– JGreenwell
yesterday
7
@JGreenwell yes that's why they were known as "Outlaws" they were outside of the protection of the law.
– Sarriesfan
21 hours ago
3
+1 for using a definition of "predating" that I had to verify in the dictionary.
– Rab
15 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
A bounty hunter is a predator. What kind of armor do predators have?
source
None.
A predator does not want a fair fight. It does not want a fight at all. A predator is not going to roar at its prey to give it notice. A predator is not going to plaster a big sign on its chest reading "I WILL KILL YOU". A predator wants to surprise prey, and at worst have to chase the surprised prey. If you routinely take on prey under circumstances that allow the prey to fight back, each time is a roll of the dice. Eventually the predator rolls snake eyes, and then its predating days are done.
If you are engaged in warfare or ritual conspecific combat then armor of some sort might make sense. It makes sense to bluster and bellow. You are not going to eat your combatant. You want to defeat him and have him run away.
A bounty hunter should look like something other than a bounty hunter- whatever he or she can get away with and ideally something that does not raise suspicion. Laborer, beggar, pilgrim, traveling merchant; whatever. The prey should not know that a bounty hunter is tracking him or her until it is too late.
Wily prey will sense the presence of the unseen hunter. The Bourne movies are all about that - I am reminded of the scene in Bourne Identity - "I can tell you the guy sitting up at the counter weighs 215 pounds and knows how to handle himself".
2
@Ebi - the presence of hidden armor would be the sort of thing that the wily target might notice. The edge of a chain mail shirt sticking out from under the beggars rags.
– Willk
yesterday
10
Have you ever seen real leather armor? It's hard and bulky. You don't wear it "under" anything.
– pojo-guy
yesterday
11
this is actually an even better point when you realize that someone who was "wanted" in the middle ages was legally allowed to be killed by anyone - look up Caput lupinum (or caput gerald lupinum) - so there's not even the "dead or alive" reason of the bounty hunters of the west to capture them. They just want dead with proof - so assassin techniques would definitely work best (and in fact might be a better description of your profession).
– JGreenwell
yesterday
7
@JGreenwell yes that's why they were known as "Outlaws" they were outside of the protection of the law.
– Sarriesfan
21 hours ago
3
+1 for using a definition of "predating" that I had to verify in the dictionary.
– Rab
15 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
A bounty hunter is a predator. What kind of armor do predators have?
source
None.
A predator does not want a fair fight. It does not want a fight at all. A predator is not going to roar at its prey to give it notice. A predator is not going to plaster a big sign on its chest reading "I WILL KILL YOU". A predator wants to surprise prey, and at worst have to chase the surprised prey. If you routinely take on prey under circumstances that allow the prey to fight back, each time is a roll of the dice. Eventually the predator rolls snake eyes, and then its predating days are done.
If you are engaged in warfare or ritual conspecific combat then armor of some sort might make sense. It makes sense to bluster and bellow. You are not going to eat your combatant. You want to defeat him and have him run away.
A bounty hunter should look like something other than a bounty hunter- whatever he or she can get away with and ideally something that does not raise suspicion. Laborer, beggar, pilgrim, traveling merchant; whatever. The prey should not know that a bounty hunter is tracking him or her until it is too late.
Wily prey will sense the presence of the unseen hunter. The Bourne movies are all about that - I am reminded of the scene in Bourne Identity - "I can tell you the guy sitting up at the counter weighs 215 pounds and knows how to handle himself".
A bounty hunter is a predator. What kind of armor do predators have?
source
None.
A predator does not want a fair fight. It does not want a fight at all. A predator is not going to roar at its prey to give it notice. A predator is not going to plaster a big sign on its chest reading "I WILL KILL YOU". A predator wants to surprise prey, and at worst have to chase the surprised prey. If you routinely take on prey under circumstances that allow the prey to fight back, each time is a roll of the dice. Eventually the predator rolls snake eyes, and then its predating days are done.
If you are engaged in warfare or ritual conspecific combat then armor of some sort might make sense. It makes sense to bluster and bellow. You are not going to eat your combatant. You want to defeat him and have him run away.
A bounty hunter should look like something other than a bounty hunter- whatever he or she can get away with and ideally something that does not raise suspicion. Laborer, beggar, pilgrim, traveling merchant; whatever. The prey should not know that a bounty hunter is tracking him or her until it is too late.
Wily prey will sense the presence of the unseen hunter. The Bourne movies are all about that - I am reminded of the scene in Bourne Identity - "I can tell you the guy sitting up at the counter weighs 215 pounds and knows how to handle himself".
answered yesterday
WillkWillk
103k25197433
103k25197433
2
@Ebi - the presence of hidden armor would be the sort of thing that the wily target might notice. The edge of a chain mail shirt sticking out from under the beggars rags.
– Willk
yesterday
10
Have you ever seen real leather armor? It's hard and bulky. You don't wear it "under" anything.
– pojo-guy
yesterday
11
this is actually an even better point when you realize that someone who was "wanted" in the middle ages was legally allowed to be killed by anyone - look up Caput lupinum (or caput gerald lupinum) - so there's not even the "dead or alive" reason of the bounty hunters of the west to capture them. They just want dead with proof - so assassin techniques would definitely work best (and in fact might be a better description of your profession).
– JGreenwell
yesterday
7
@JGreenwell yes that's why they were known as "Outlaws" they were outside of the protection of the law.
– Sarriesfan
21 hours ago
3
+1 for using a definition of "predating" that I had to verify in the dictionary.
– Rab
15 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
2
@Ebi - the presence of hidden armor would be the sort of thing that the wily target might notice. The edge of a chain mail shirt sticking out from under the beggars rags.
– Willk
yesterday
10
Have you ever seen real leather armor? It's hard and bulky. You don't wear it "under" anything.
– pojo-guy
yesterday
11
this is actually an even better point when you realize that someone who was "wanted" in the middle ages was legally allowed to be killed by anyone - look up Caput lupinum (or caput gerald lupinum) - so there's not even the "dead or alive" reason of the bounty hunters of the west to capture them. They just want dead with proof - so assassin techniques would definitely work best (and in fact might be a better description of your profession).
– JGreenwell
yesterday
7
@JGreenwell yes that's why they were known as "Outlaws" they were outside of the protection of the law.
– Sarriesfan
21 hours ago
3
+1 for using a definition of "predating" that I had to verify in the dictionary.
– Rab
15 hours ago
2
2
@Ebi - the presence of hidden armor would be the sort of thing that the wily target might notice. The edge of a chain mail shirt sticking out from under the beggars rags.
– Willk
yesterday
@Ebi - the presence of hidden armor would be the sort of thing that the wily target might notice. The edge of a chain mail shirt sticking out from under the beggars rags.
– Willk
yesterday
10
10
Have you ever seen real leather armor? It's hard and bulky. You don't wear it "under" anything.
– pojo-guy
yesterday
Have you ever seen real leather armor? It's hard and bulky. You don't wear it "under" anything.
– pojo-guy
yesterday
11
11
this is actually an even better point when you realize that someone who was "wanted" in the middle ages was legally allowed to be killed by anyone - look up Caput lupinum (or caput gerald lupinum) - so there's not even the "dead or alive" reason of the bounty hunters of the west to capture them. They just want dead with proof - so assassin techniques would definitely work best (and in fact might be a better description of your profession).
– JGreenwell
yesterday
this is actually an even better point when you realize that someone who was "wanted" in the middle ages was legally allowed to be killed by anyone - look up Caput lupinum (or caput gerald lupinum) - so there's not even the "dead or alive" reason of the bounty hunters of the west to capture them. They just want dead with proof - so assassin techniques would definitely work best (and in fact might be a better description of your profession).
– JGreenwell
yesterday
7
7
@JGreenwell yes that's why they were known as "Outlaws" they were outside of the protection of the law.
– Sarriesfan
21 hours ago
@JGreenwell yes that's why they were known as "Outlaws" they were outside of the protection of the law.
– Sarriesfan
21 hours ago
3
3
+1 for using a definition of "predating" that I had to verify in the dictionary.
– Rab
15 hours ago
+1 for using a definition of "predating" that I had to verify in the dictionary.
– Rab
15 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
Bounty hunting would be a periodic and probably not very remunerative profession in the long run, so the first constraint is the bounty hunter isn't going to be rich enough to afford to be fully armed "Cap-à-pie" like a knight or man at arms. As an aside, even knights and men at arms were often unarmed and unarmored in peacetime, since their weapons and harness were being held at the local money lenders as security for loans...
The other factor which would limit the use of armour and many types of arms is the need to be able to blend in with the local population. A stranger coming into a town or village would be quite noticeable at the low population densities and limited amount of travel people did on the middle ages. A merchant, minstrel or maybe a monk or friar would be who people would expect to be on the road. In the Canterbury Tales, the party of pilgrims includes:
Knight
miller
Reeve
cook
Man of Law
the wife of Bath
summoner
clerk
merchant
squire
franklin
physician
pardoner
shipman
Prioress
monk
nun
manciple
Parson
Armed men showing up would likely be taken as a sign of trouble, either a scout for a band of robbers or perhaps the advance sign of a Chevauchee burning and plundering their way through the countryside.
Much like the idea of Ninjas has been contaminated by sensationalism (the iconic movie Ninja is actually dressed as a Japanese stagehand. The convention was the audience was to ignore them as they moved about the stage to rearrange set pieces during a show). Anyone working covertly would dress and act in the manner of the people they are hiding or operating among. Your bounty hunter could not look like a serf, since serfs were generally tied to the land and had little reason to leave the farms anyway, but as noted, would stand out too much if openly armed.
So your bounty hunter will have to blend in like this:
Not this:
add a comment |
Bounty hunting would be a periodic and probably not very remunerative profession in the long run, so the first constraint is the bounty hunter isn't going to be rich enough to afford to be fully armed "Cap-à-pie" like a knight or man at arms. As an aside, even knights and men at arms were often unarmed and unarmored in peacetime, since their weapons and harness were being held at the local money lenders as security for loans...
The other factor which would limit the use of armour and many types of arms is the need to be able to blend in with the local population. A stranger coming into a town or village would be quite noticeable at the low population densities and limited amount of travel people did on the middle ages. A merchant, minstrel or maybe a monk or friar would be who people would expect to be on the road. In the Canterbury Tales, the party of pilgrims includes:
Knight
miller
Reeve
cook
Man of Law
the wife of Bath
summoner
clerk
merchant
squire
franklin
physician
pardoner
shipman
Prioress
monk
nun
manciple
Parson
Armed men showing up would likely be taken as a sign of trouble, either a scout for a band of robbers or perhaps the advance sign of a Chevauchee burning and plundering their way through the countryside.
Much like the idea of Ninjas has been contaminated by sensationalism (the iconic movie Ninja is actually dressed as a Japanese stagehand. The convention was the audience was to ignore them as they moved about the stage to rearrange set pieces during a show). Anyone working covertly would dress and act in the manner of the people they are hiding or operating among. Your bounty hunter could not look like a serf, since serfs were generally tied to the land and had little reason to leave the farms anyway, but as noted, would stand out too much if openly armed.
So your bounty hunter will have to blend in like this:
Not this:
add a comment |
Bounty hunting would be a periodic and probably not very remunerative profession in the long run, so the first constraint is the bounty hunter isn't going to be rich enough to afford to be fully armed "Cap-à-pie" like a knight or man at arms. As an aside, even knights and men at arms were often unarmed and unarmored in peacetime, since their weapons and harness were being held at the local money lenders as security for loans...
The other factor which would limit the use of armour and many types of arms is the need to be able to blend in with the local population. A stranger coming into a town or village would be quite noticeable at the low population densities and limited amount of travel people did on the middle ages. A merchant, minstrel or maybe a monk or friar would be who people would expect to be on the road. In the Canterbury Tales, the party of pilgrims includes:
Knight
miller
Reeve
cook
Man of Law
the wife of Bath
summoner
clerk
merchant
squire
franklin
physician
pardoner
shipman
Prioress
monk
nun
manciple
Parson
Armed men showing up would likely be taken as a sign of trouble, either a scout for a band of robbers or perhaps the advance sign of a Chevauchee burning and plundering their way through the countryside.
Much like the idea of Ninjas has been contaminated by sensationalism (the iconic movie Ninja is actually dressed as a Japanese stagehand. The convention was the audience was to ignore them as they moved about the stage to rearrange set pieces during a show). Anyone working covertly would dress and act in the manner of the people they are hiding or operating among. Your bounty hunter could not look like a serf, since serfs were generally tied to the land and had little reason to leave the farms anyway, but as noted, would stand out too much if openly armed.
So your bounty hunter will have to blend in like this:
Not this:
Bounty hunting would be a periodic and probably not very remunerative profession in the long run, so the first constraint is the bounty hunter isn't going to be rich enough to afford to be fully armed "Cap-à-pie" like a knight or man at arms. As an aside, even knights and men at arms were often unarmed and unarmored in peacetime, since their weapons and harness were being held at the local money lenders as security for loans...
The other factor which would limit the use of armour and many types of arms is the need to be able to blend in with the local population. A stranger coming into a town or village would be quite noticeable at the low population densities and limited amount of travel people did on the middle ages. A merchant, minstrel or maybe a monk or friar would be who people would expect to be on the road. In the Canterbury Tales, the party of pilgrims includes:
Knight
miller
Reeve
cook
Man of Law
the wife of Bath
summoner
clerk
merchant
squire
franklin
physician
pardoner
shipman
Prioress
monk
nun
manciple
Parson
Armed men showing up would likely be taken as a sign of trouble, either a scout for a band of robbers or perhaps the advance sign of a Chevauchee burning and plundering their way through the countryside.
Much like the idea of Ninjas has been contaminated by sensationalism (the iconic movie Ninja is actually dressed as a Japanese stagehand. The convention was the audience was to ignore them as they moved about the stage to rearrange set pieces during a show). Anyone working covertly would dress and act in the manner of the people they are hiding or operating among. Your bounty hunter could not look like a serf, since serfs were generally tied to the land and had little reason to leave the farms anyway, but as noted, would stand out too much if openly armed.
So your bounty hunter will have to blend in like this:
Not this:
answered yesterday
ThucydidesThucydides
81.3k678241
81.3k678241
add a comment |
add a comment |
I tend to agree with all answers, specially willik's and Thucydides's, but I would like to add that protection rarely hurt anyone. There are several options that don't impede (much) movement and can be more or less concealed with the appropiate clothing, although some of them may be a bit more modern than your desired period:
- Padded clothing. Gambesons are the basic defense against blades, can be disguised into fashion(sometimes noblemen, specially those who served, wore fancy gambesons) and won't impede movement (it may be stiffer than normal clothes but not much). Don't underestimate the absorbing power of padded clothes.
- Brigandine. The brigandine is a kind of cuirass made of padded clothes or leather with strips of metal sewed inside. This was imported from the mongol invasions and was a popular soldier armor as it was cheaper than a chain of mail. It is also less noisy and less conspicuous, although it will be stiffer than both chain or padded clothes (note that a brigandine has nothing to do with bandits. brigand was a kind of foot soldier back then).
- A cape: This is a bit more modern (about 16th century maybe), and it will depend on the kind of weapons your hunter will encounter but a heavy cape is a useful implement to deflect weapons and distract the opponent.
None of these armors will stop a crossbow bolt, nor a well placed blow or arrow, but will stop or deflect most glancing blows that otherwise would have drawn blood, while remaining mobile.
As they say above, none of this will replace the reason a hunter is good at his job, specially if there's no "magic medicine" or something that stops infections. Cunning will probably be his/her main weapon, and if I had to fight in those conditions I would prefer to lay traps and direct my prey to a place he cannot fight back than assault him.
I would like to direct you to read a bit about the almogavars, an aragonese light infantry that was prevalent from the 10th up to the 15th century. Their common armor was a wide leather belt, tunic and breeches, and still managed to win over heavily armored troops thanks to good tactics and ferocity.
Finally I would like to point that medieval clothes tended to be a bit loose, specially if we're talking about 10-13th century. The tunics and surcoats were still common, and the pants (well, braies, that are not exactly but like pants) were only popular with the working class (you would wear hoses, though). A sleeveless gambeson is feasible to hid under the surcoat. 14th century brought forward the chamise, although it still was not exactly as our shirt (the armpits usually were opened), reserving tunics for noble and clergymen. Still, you can hide a lot under a cape, and nobody will look you bad for wearing one (unless is a very hot day): not all people could afford winter garments so wearing an all-weather garment with a heavy wool (not fur, unless you're rich) cape would be appropiate. It was also a good way to hide your pouches (clothes of the time usually hadn't much of pockets, you would had pouches, usually of leather, instead). Nobody likes to have it's moneybag stolen.
New contributor
great answer. I agree strongly that protection never hurts. And I did some research on gambesons. In some instances they seem even better than leather. Thanks!
– Ebi
8 hours ago
@Ebi: Leather, in general, was never a good armor. It is cheap (the materials are easily available) and easy to manufacture (the gambeson requires quite a bit of sewing). The idea that leather armor is a good armor tends to come from D&D more than reality. In most instances, if not all, a gambeson will be a better protection... if you can afford it :)
– Stormbolter
6 hours ago
This guy is a fan of the gambeson over leather armor
– Wayne Werner
2 hours ago
Brigandine was my thought also. Relatively cheap, well known, quiet, inconspicuous.
– Adam Eberbach
23 mins ago
add a comment |
I tend to agree with all answers, specially willik's and Thucydides's, but I would like to add that protection rarely hurt anyone. There are several options that don't impede (much) movement and can be more or less concealed with the appropiate clothing, although some of them may be a bit more modern than your desired period:
- Padded clothing. Gambesons are the basic defense against blades, can be disguised into fashion(sometimes noblemen, specially those who served, wore fancy gambesons) and won't impede movement (it may be stiffer than normal clothes but not much). Don't underestimate the absorbing power of padded clothes.
- Brigandine. The brigandine is a kind of cuirass made of padded clothes or leather with strips of metal sewed inside. This was imported from the mongol invasions and was a popular soldier armor as it was cheaper than a chain of mail. It is also less noisy and less conspicuous, although it will be stiffer than both chain or padded clothes (note that a brigandine has nothing to do with bandits. brigand was a kind of foot soldier back then).
- A cape: This is a bit more modern (about 16th century maybe), and it will depend on the kind of weapons your hunter will encounter but a heavy cape is a useful implement to deflect weapons and distract the opponent.
None of these armors will stop a crossbow bolt, nor a well placed blow or arrow, but will stop or deflect most glancing blows that otherwise would have drawn blood, while remaining mobile.
As they say above, none of this will replace the reason a hunter is good at his job, specially if there's no "magic medicine" or something that stops infections. Cunning will probably be his/her main weapon, and if I had to fight in those conditions I would prefer to lay traps and direct my prey to a place he cannot fight back than assault him.
I would like to direct you to read a bit about the almogavars, an aragonese light infantry that was prevalent from the 10th up to the 15th century. Their common armor was a wide leather belt, tunic and breeches, and still managed to win over heavily armored troops thanks to good tactics and ferocity.
Finally I would like to point that medieval clothes tended to be a bit loose, specially if we're talking about 10-13th century. The tunics and surcoats were still common, and the pants (well, braies, that are not exactly but like pants) were only popular with the working class (you would wear hoses, though). A sleeveless gambeson is feasible to hid under the surcoat. 14th century brought forward the chamise, although it still was not exactly as our shirt (the armpits usually were opened), reserving tunics for noble and clergymen. Still, you can hide a lot under a cape, and nobody will look you bad for wearing one (unless is a very hot day): not all people could afford winter garments so wearing an all-weather garment with a heavy wool (not fur, unless you're rich) cape would be appropiate. It was also a good way to hide your pouches (clothes of the time usually hadn't much of pockets, you would had pouches, usually of leather, instead). Nobody likes to have it's moneybag stolen.
New contributor
great answer. I agree strongly that protection never hurts. And I did some research on gambesons. In some instances they seem even better than leather. Thanks!
– Ebi
8 hours ago
@Ebi: Leather, in general, was never a good armor. It is cheap (the materials are easily available) and easy to manufacture (the gambeson requires quite a bit of sewing). The idea that leather armor is a good armor tends to come from D&D more than reality. In most instances, if not all, a gambeson will be a better protection... if you can afford it :)
– Stormbolter
6 hours ago
This guy is a fan of the gambeson over leather armor
– Wayne Werner
2 hours ago
Brigandine was my thought also. Relatively cheap, well known, quiet, inconspicuous.
– Adam Eberbach
23 mins ago
add a comment |
I tend to agree with all answers, specially willik's and Thucydides's, but I would like to add that protection rarely hurt anyone. There are several options that don't impede (much) movement and can be more or less concealed with the appropiate clothing, although some of them may be a bit more modern than your desired period:
- Padded clothing. Gambesons are the basic defense against blades, can be disguised into fashion(sometimes noblemen, specially those who served, wore fancy gambesons) and won't impede movement (it may be stiffer than normal clothes but not much). Don't underestimate the absorbing power of padded clothes.
- Brigandine. The brigandine is a kind of cuirass made of padded clothes or leather with strips of metal sewed inside. This was imported from the mongol invasions and was a popular soldier armor as it was cheaper than a chain of mail. It is also less noisy and less conspicuous, although it will be stiffer than both chain or padded clothes (note that a brigandine has nothing to do with bandits. brigand was a kind of foot soldier back then).
- A cape: This is a bit more modern (about 16th century maybe), and it will depend on the kind of weapons your hunter will encounter but a heavy cape is a useful implement to deflect weapons and distract the opponent.
None of these armors will stop a crossbow bolt, nor a well placed blow or arrow, but will stop or deflect most glancing blows that otherwise would have drawn blood, while remaining mobile.
As they say above, none of this will replace the reason a hunter is good at his job, specially if there's no "magic medicine" or something that stops infections. Cunning will probably be his/her main weapon, and if I had to fight in those conditions I would prefer to lay traps and direct my prey to a place he cannot fight back than assault him.
I would like to direct you to read a bit about the almogavars, an aragonese light infantry that was prevalent from the 10th up to the 15th century. Their common armor was a wide leather belt, tunic and breeches, and still managed to win over heavily armored troops thanks to good tactics and ferocity.
Finally I would like to point that medieval clothes tended to be a bit loose, specially if we're talking about 10-13th century. The tunics and surcoats were still common, and the pants (well, braies, that are not exactly but like pants) were only popular with the working class (you would wear hoses, though). A sleeveless gambeson is feasible to hid under the surcoat. 14th century brought forward the chamise, although it still was not exactly as our shirt (the armpits usually were opened), reserving tunics for noble and clergymen. Still, you can hide a lot under a cape, and nobody will look you bad for wearing one (unless is a very hot day): not all people could afford winter garments so wearing an all-weather garment with a heavy wool (not fur, unless you're rich) cape would be appropiate. It was also a good way to hide your pouches (clothes of the time usually hadn't much of pockets, you would had pouches, usually of leather, instead). Nobody likes to have it's moneybag stolen.
New contributor
I tend to agree with all answers, specially willik's and Thucydides's, but I would like to add that protection rarely hurt anyone. There are several options that don't impede (much) movement and can be more or less concealed with the appropiate clothing, although some of them may be a bit more modern than your desired period:
- Padded clothing. Gambesons are the basic defense against blades, can be disguised into fashion(sometimes noblemen, specially those who served, wore fancy gambesons) and won't impede movement (it may be stiffer than normal clothes but not much). Don't underestimate the absorbing power of padded clothes.
- Brigandine. The brigandine is a kind of cuirass made of padded clothes or leather with strips of metal sewed inside. This was imported from the mongol invasions and was a popular soldier armor as it was cheaper than a chain of mail. It is also less noisy and less conspicuous, although it will be stiffer than both chain or padded clothes (note that a brigandine has nothing to do with bandits. brigand was a kind of foot soldier back then).
- A cape: This is a bit more modern (about 16th century maybe), and it will depend on the kind of weapons your hunter will encounter but a heavy cape is a useful implement to deflect weapons and distract the opponent.
None of these armors will stop a crossbow bolt, nor a well placed blow or arrow, but will stop or deflect most glancing blows that otherwise would have drawn blood, while remaining mobile.
As they say above, none of this will replace the reason a hunter is good at his job, specially if there's no "magic medicine" or something that stops infections. Cunning will probably be his/her main weapon, and if I had to fight in those conditions I would prefer to lay traps and direct my prey to a place he cannot fight back than assault him.
I would like to direct you to read a bit about the almogavars, an aragonese light infantry that was prevalent from the 10th up to the 15th century. Their common armor was a wide leather belt, tunic and breeches, and still managed to win over heavily armored troops thanks to good tactics and ferocity.
Finally I would like to point that medieval clothes tended to be a bit loose, specially if we're talking about 10-13th century. The tunics and surcoats were still common, and the pants (well, braies, that are not exactly but like pants) were only popular with the working class (you would wear hoses, though). A sleeveless gambeson is feasible to hid under the surcoat. 14th century brought forward the chamise, although it still was not exactly as our shirt (the armpits usually were opened), reserving tunics for noble and clergymen. Still, you can hide a lot under a cape, and nobody will look you bad for wearing one (unless is a very hot day): not all people could afford winter garments so wearing an all-weather garment with a heavy wool (not fur, unless you're rich) cape would be appropiate. It was also a good way to hide your pouches (clothes of the time usually hadn't much of pockets, you would had pouches, usually of leather, instead). Nobody likes to have it's moneybag stolen.
New contributor
edited 13 hours ago
Community♦
1
1
New contributor
answered 13 hours ago
StormbolterStormbolter
612
612
New contributor
New contributor
great answer. I agree strongly that protection never hurts. And I did some research on gambesons. In some instances they seem even better than leather. Thanks!
– Ebi
8 hours ago
@Ebi: Leather, in general, was never a good armor. It is cheap (the materials are easily available) and easy to manufacture (the gambeson requires quite a bit of sewing). The idea that leather armor is a good armor tends to come from D&D more than reality. In most instances, if not all, a gambeson will be a better protection... if you can afford it :)
– Stormbolter
6 hours ago
This guy is a fan of the gambeson over leather armor
– Wayne Werner
2 hours ago
Brigandine was my thought also. Relatively cheap, well known, quiet, inconspicuous.
– Adam Eberbach
23 mins ago
add a comment |
great answer. I agree strongly that protection never hurts. And I did some research on gambesons. In some instances they seem even better than leather. Thanks!
– Ebi
8 hours ago
@Ebi: Leather, in general, was never a good armor. It is cheap (the materials are easily available) and easy to manufacture (the gambeson requires quite a bit of sewing). The idea that leather armor is a good armor tends to come from D&D more than reality. In most instances, if not all, a gambeson will be a better protection... if you can afford it :)
– Stormbolter
6 hours ago
This guy is a fan of the gambeson over leather armor
– Wayne Werner
2 hours ago
Brigandine was my thought also. Relatively cheap, well known, quiet, inconspicuous.
– Adam Eberbach
23 mins ago
great answer. I agree strongly that protection never hurts. And I did some research on gambesons. In some instances they seem even better than leather. Thanks!
– Ebi
8 hours ago
great answer. I agree strongly that protection never hurts. And I did some research on gambesons. In some instances they seem even better than leather. Thanks!
– Ebi
8 hours ago
@Ebi: Leather, in general, was never a good armor. It is cheap (the materials are easily available) and easy to manufacture (the gambeson requires quite a bit of sewing). The idea that leather armor is a good armor tends to come from D&D more than reality. In most instances, if not all, a gambeson will be a better protection... if you can afford it :)
– Stormbolter
6 hours ago
@Ebi: Leather, in general, was never a good armor. It is cheap (the materials are easily available) and easy to manufacture (the gambeson requires quite a bit of sewing). The idea that leather armor is a good armor tends to come from D&D more than reality. In most instances, if not all, a gambeson will be a better protection... if you can afford it :)
– Stormbolter
6 hours ago
This guy is a fan of the gambeson over leather armor
– Wayne Werner
2 hours ago
This guy is a fan of the gambeson over leather armor
– Wayne Werner
2 hours ago
Brigandine was my thought also. Relatively cheap, well known, quiet, inconspicuous.
– Adam Eberbach
23 mins ago
Brigandine was my thought also. Relatively cheap, well known, quiet, inconspicuous.
– Adam Eberbach
23 mins ago
add a comment |
Incognito isn't possible, but the best idea for 1100-1400 AD is what rolepaying games call leather armor, actually a coat of plates (after 1250 AD).
This fashionable piece comes from https://armstreet.com/store/armor/the-wayward-knight-visby-coat-of-plates
It's a sleeveless jacket made of different materials (leather, wool, etc.) with the inside lined with several steel plates. More plates = more flexibility, if that's important for your bounty hunter.
3
Flexibility for movement, yes, but it's about as incognito as having a 20 foot sign on your back saying "I'm a bad motherfucker". Incognito means you blend in. Only soldiers or bandits wear armour. Roll up to a village wearing that, and every last person is going to run for the trees.
– Graham
20 hours ago
@Graham: Unless the village has a militia, and then you're pelted with pellets or arrows...
– Matthieu M.
19 hours ago
What makes you think that bounty hunting isn't going to make much money? There are plenty of people even now who make a good living out of it; and I'll be happy to bet that the person who turned up with Robin Hood's head to the sheriff of Nottingham would've had a very good life indeed.
– UKMonkey
15 hours ago
2
@MatthieuM. Militias didn't really exist like that, though - that's mainly a fantasy invention. A town would have a few guys to knock heads together after the fair, but they'd only know short-stick. For actual weapons, you're just looking at the local lord and his squires. It's important to get how vulnerable a regular person is to a trained fighter. With bandits, the safest thing was just to run away and hope all you'd lose would be stuff. Try to fight, and most likely you'd just hurt them or at most kill one or two, and then your entire village would end up massacred.
– Graham
15 hours ago
I know this is not an armor review but not that this one is for role play. the fact that no plate overlaps and are all separated by a fist width, means that any hit will slide on the plate and hit in a unprotected area. The gambesons and the mail are the real protection here.
– xdtTransform
15 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
Incognito isn't possible, but the best idea for 1100-1400 AD is what rolepaying games call leather armor, actually a coat of plates (after 1250 AD).
This fashionable piece comes from https://armstreet.com/store/armor/the-wayward-knight-visby-coat-of-plates
It's a sleeveless jacket made of different materials (leather, wool, etc.) with the inside lined with several steel plates. More plates = more flexibility, if that's important for your bounty hunter.
3
Flexibility for movement, yes, but it's about as incognito as having a 20 foot sign on your back saying "I'm a bad motherfucker". Incognito means you blend in. Only soldiers or bandits wear armour. Roll up to a village wearing that, and every last person is going to run for the trees.
– Graham
20 hours ago
@Graham: Unless the village has a militia, and then you're pelted with pellets or arrows...
– Matthieu M.
19 hours ago
What makes you think that bounty hunting isn't going to make much money? There are plenty of people even now who make a good living out of it; and I'll be happy to bet that the person who turned up with Robin Hood's head to the sheriff of Nottingham would've had a very good life indeed.
– UKMonkey
15 hours ago
2
@MatthieuM. Militias didn't really exist like that, though - that's mainly a fantasy invention. A town would have a few guys to knock heads together after the fair, but they'd only know short-stick. For actual weapons, you're just looking at the local lord and his squires. It's important to get how vulnerable a regular person is to a trained fighter. With bandits, the safest thing was just to run away and hope all you'd lose would be stuff. Try to fight, and most likely you'd just hurt them or at most kill one or two, and then your entire village would end up massacred.
– Graham
15 hours ago
I know this is not an armor review but not that this one is for role play. the fact that no plate overlaps and are all separated by a fist width, means that any hit will slide on the plate and hit in a unprotected area. The gambesons and the mail are the real protection here.
– xdtTransform
15 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
Incognito isn't possible, but the best idea for 1100-1400 AD is what rolepaying games call leather armor, actually a coat of plates (after 1250 AD).
This fashionable piece comes from https://armstreet.com/store/armor/the-wayward-knight-visby-coat-of-plates
It's a sleeveless jacket made of different materials (leather, wool, etc.) with the inside lined with several steel plates. More plates = more flexibility, if that's important for your bounty hunter.
Incognito isn't possible, but the best idea for 1100-1400 AD is what rolepaying games call leather armor, actually a coat of plates (after 1250 AD).
This fashionable piece comes from https://armstreet.com/store/armor/the-wayward-knight-visby-coat-of-plates
It's a sleeveless jacket made of different materials (leather, wool, etc.) with the inside lined with several steel plates. More plates = more flexibility, if that's important for your bounty hunter.
answered yesterday
Alberto YagosAlberto Yagos
5,6321031
5,6321031
3
Flexibility for movement, yes, but it's about as incognito as having a 20 foot sign on your back saying "I'm a bad motherfucker". Incognito means you blend in. Only soldiers or bandits wear armour. Roll up to a village wearing that, and every last person is going to run for the trees.
– Graham
20 hours ago
@Graham: Unless the village has a militia, and then you're pelted with pellets or arrows...
– Matthieu M.
19 hours ago
What makes you think that bounty hunting isn't going to make much money? There are plenty of people even now who make a good living out of it; and I'll be happy to bet that the person who turned up with Robin Hood's head to the sheriff of Nottingham would've had a very good life indeed.
– UKMonkey
15 hours ago
2
@MatthieuM. Militias didn't really exist like that, though - that's mainly a fantasy invention. A town would have a few guys to knock heads together after the fair, but they'd only know short-stick. For actual weapons, you're just looking at the local lord and his squires. It's important to get how vulnerable a regular person is to a trained fighter. With bandits, the safest thing was just to run away and hope all you'd lose would be stuff. Try to fight, and most likely you'd just hurt them or at most kill one or two, and then your entire village would end up massacred.
– Graham
15 hours ago
I know this is not an armor review but not that this one is for role play. the fact that no plate overlaps and are all separated by a fist width, means that any hit will slide on the plate and hit in a unprotected area. The gambesons and the mail are the real protection here.
– xdtTransform
15 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
3
Flexibility for movement, yes, but it's about as incognito as having a 20 foot sign on your back saying "I'm a bad motherfucker". Incognito means you blend in. Only soldiers or bandits wear armour. Roll up to a village wearing that, and every last person is going to run for the trees.
– Graham
20 hours ago
@Graham: Unless the village has a militia, and then you're pelted with pellets or arrows...
– Matthieu M.
19 hours ago
What makes you think that bounty hunting isn't going to make much money? There are plenty of people even now who make a good living out of it; and I'll be happy to bet that the person who turned up with Robin Hood's head to the sheriff of Nottingham would've had a very good life indeed.
– UKMonkey
15 hours ago
2
@MatthieuM. Militias didn't really exist like that, though - that's mainly a fantasy invention. A town would have a few guys to knock heads together after the fair, but they'd only know short-stick. For actual weapons, you're just looking at the local lord and his squires. It's important to get how vulnerable a regular person is to a trained fighter. With bandits, the safest thing was just to run away and hope all you'd lose would be stuff. Try to fight, and most likely you'd just hurt them or at most kill one or two, and then your entire village would end up massacred.
– Graham
15 hours ago
I know this is not an armor review but not that this one is for role play. the fact that no plate overlaps and are all separated by a fist width, means that any hit will slide on the plate and hit in a unprotected area. The gambesons and the mail are the real protection here.
– xdtTransform
15 hours ago
3
3
Flexibility for movement, yes, but it's about as incognito as having a 20 foot sign on your back saying "I'm a bad motherfucker". Incognito means you blend in. Only soldiers or bandits wear armour. Roll up to a village wearing that, and every last person is going to run for the trees.
– Graham
20 hours ago
Flexibility for movement, yes, but it's about as incognito as having a 20 foot sign on your back saying "I'm a bad motherfucker". Incognito means you blend in. Only soldiers or bandits wear armour. Roll up to a village wearing that, and every last person is going to run for the trees.
– Graham
20 hours ago
@Graham: Unless the village has a militia, and then you're pelted with pellets or arrows...
– Matthieu M.
19 hours ago
@Graham: Unless the village has a militia, and then you're pelted with pellets or arrows...
– Matthieu M.
19 hours ago
What makes you think that bounty hunting isn't going to make much money? There are plenty of people even now who make a good living out of it; and I'll be happy to bet that the person who turned up with Robin Hood's head to the sheriff of Nottingham would've had a very good life indeed.
– UKMonkey
15 hours ago
What makes you think that bounty hunting isn't going to make much money? There are plenty of people even now who make a good living out of it; and I'll be happy to bet that the person who turned up with Robin Hood's head to the sheriff of Nottingham would've had a very good life indeed.
– UKMonkey
15 hours ago
2
2
@MatthieuM. Militias didn't really exist like that, though - that's mainly a fantasy invention. A town would have a few guys to knock heads together after the fair, but they'd only know short-stick. For actual weapons, you're just looking at the local lord and his squires. It's important to get how vulnerable a regular person is to a trained fighter. With bandits, the safest thing was just to run away and hope all you'd lose would be stuff. Try to fight, and most likely you'd just hurt them or at most kill one or two, and then your entire village would end up massacred.
– Graham
15 hours ago
@MatthieuM. Militias didn't really exist like that, though - that's mainly a fantasy invention. A town would have a few guys to knock heads together after the fair, but they'd only know short-stick. For actual weapons, you're just looking at the local lord and his squires. It's important to get how vulnerable a regular person is to a trained fighter. With bandits, the safest thing was just to run away and hope all you'd lose would be stuff. Try to fight, and most likely you'd just hurt them or at most kill one or two, and then your entire village would end up massacred.
– Graham
15 hours ago
I know this is not an armor review but not that this one is for role play. the fact that no plate overlaps and are all separated by a fist width, means that any hit will slide on the plate and hit in a unprotected area. The gambesons and the mail are the real protection here.
– xdtTransform
15 hours ago
I know this is not an armor review but not that this one is for role play. the fact that no plate overlaps and are all separated by a fist width, means that any hit will slide on the plate and hit in a unprotected area. The gambesons and the mail are the real protection here.
– xdtTransform
15 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
All depends on your world.
I concur with @Willk's and @Thucydides answers and agree that in real medieval world a bounty hunter should carry no armor - mostly because regular people never did that, no matter what fantasy depictions may suggest.
However, I understand that you want to create your own fantasy world, which, while being similar to medieval Europe, can be different from it. If you want your bounty hunters to be armored, that's Ok.
Some other answers (like @Alberto Yagos') has suggested what this armor can be. I'm going to dwell on why a bounty hunter can be armored. First, your fantasy world should be more dangerous and chaotic than the real medieval world. Maybe dangerous creatures are lurking around, and wielding a sword and wearing even some minimal armor is highly advisable for any traveler. Second, your bounty hunter may need to capture his target alive. Thus, he can not rely on quick sword strike or accurate crossbow shot - he may want to confront his target armed an armored, intimidating him/her into submission.
This is exactly the direction and vision I have. Yes it is a medieval setting and people may not have been able to afford swords or armor, but this fantasy world is a dangerous one. Now the question is what would you classify as "minimal armor"
– Ebi
9 hours ago
@Ebi "minimal armor" hmm, if we want do be closer to historic reality, then boiled leather and other options that are not too heavy on metal. Knights had packhorses and squires to assist them. A bounty hunter is not a knight, in any environment he would like to travel light.
– Alexander
9 hours ago
add a comment |
All depends on your world.
I concur with @Willk's and @Thucydides answers and agree that in real medieval world a bounty hunter should carry no armor - mostly because regular people never did that, no matter what fantasy depictions may suggest.
However, I understand that you want to create your own fantasy world, which, while being similar to medieval Europe, can be different from it. If you want your bounty hunters to be armored, that's Ok.
Some other answers (like @Alberto Yagos') has suggested what this armor can be. I'm going to dwell on why a bounty hunter can be armored. First, your fantasy world should be more dangerous and chaotic than the real medieval world. Maybe dangerous creatures are lurking around, and wielding a sword and wearing even some minimal armor is highly advisable for any traveler. Second, your bounty hunter may need to capture his target alive. Thus, he can not rely on quick sword strike or accurate crossbow shot - he may want to confront his target armed an armored, intimidating him/her into submission.
This is exactly the direction and vision I have. Yes it is a medieval setting and people may not have been able to afford swords or armor, but this fantasy world is a dangerous one. Now the question is what would you classify as "minimal armor"
– Ebi
9 hours ago
@Ebi "minimal armor" hmm, if we want do be closer to historic reality, then boiled leather and other options that are not too heavy on metal. Knights had packhorses and squires to assist them. A bounty hunter is not a knight, in any environment he would like to travel light.
– Alexander
9 hours ago
add a comment |
All depends on your world.
I concur with @Willk's and @Thucydides answers and agree that in real medieval world a bounty hunter should carry no armor - mostly because regular people never did that, no matter what fantasy depictions may suggest.
However, I understand that you want to create your own fantasy world, which, while being similar to medieval Europe, can be different from it. If you want your bounty hunters to be armored, that's Ok.
Some other answers (like @Alberto Yagos') has suggested what this armor can be. I'm going to dwell on why a bounty hunter can be armored. First, your fantasy world should be more dangerous and chaotic than the real medieval world. Maybe dangerous creatures are lurking around, and wielding a sword and wearing even some minimal armor is highly advisable for any traveler. Second, your bounty hunter may need to capture his target alive. Thus, he can not rely on quick sword strike or accurate crossbow shot - he may want to confront his target armed an armored, intimidating him/her into submission.
All depends on your world.
I concur with @Willk's and @Thucydides answers and agree that in real medieval world a bounty hunter should carry no armor - mostly because regular people never did that, no matter what fantasy depictions may suggest.
However, I understand that you want to create your own fantasy world, which, while being similar to medieval Europe, can be different from it. If you want your bounty hunters to be armored, that's Ok.
Some other answers (like @Alberto Yagos') has suggested what this armor can be. I'm going to dwell on why a bounty hunter can be armored. First, your fantasy world should be more dangerous and chaotic than the real medieval world. Maybe dangerous creatures are lurking around, and wielding a sword and wearing even some minimal armor is highly advisable for any traveler. Second, your bounty hunter may need to capture his target alive. Thus, he can not rely on quick sword strike or accurate crossbow shot - he may want to confront his target armed an armored, intimidating him/her into submission.
answered 10 hours ago
AlexanderAlexander
19.5k53173
19.5k53173
This is exactly the direction and vision I have. Yes it is a medieval setting and people may not have been able to afford swords or armor, but this fantasy world is a dangerous one. Now the question is what would you classify as "minimal armor"
– Ebi
9 hours ago
@Ebi "minimal armor" hmm, if we want do be closer to historic reality, then boiled leather and other options that are not too heavy on metal. Knights had packhorses and squires to assist them. A bounty hunter is not a knight, in any environment he would like to travel light.
– Alexander
9 hours ago
add a comment |
This is exactly the direction and vision I have. Yes it is a medieval setting and people may not have been able to afford swords or armor, but this fantasy world is a dangerous one. Now the question is what would you classify as "minimal armor"
– Ebi
9 hours ago
@Ebi "minimal armor" hmm, if we want do be closer to historic reality, then boiled leather and other options that are not too heavy on metal. Knights had packhorses and squires to assist them. A bounty hunter is not a knight, in any environment he would like to travel light.
– Alexander
9 hours ago
This is exactly the direction and vision I have. Yes it is a medieval setting and people may not have been able to afford swords or armor, but this fantasy world is a dangerous one. Now the question is what would you classify as "minimal armor"
– Ebi
9 hours ago
This is exactly the direction and vision I have. Yes it is a medieval setting and people may not have been able to afford swords or armor, but this fantasy world is a dangerous one. Now the question is what would you classify as "minimal armor"
– Ebi
9 hours ago
@Ebi "minimal armor" hmm, if we want do be closer to historic reality, then boiled leather and other options that are not too heavy on metal. Knights had packhorses and squires to assist them. A bounty hunter is not a knight, in any environment he would like to travel light.
– Alexander
9 hours ago
@Ebi "minimal armor" hmm, if we want do be closer to historic reality, then boiled leather and other options that are not too heavy on metal. Knights had packhorses and squires to assist them. A bounty hunter is not a knight, in any environment he would like to travel light.
– Alexander
9 hours ago
add a comment |
I would like to think that the standard double tunic of the day would suffice. People usually wore a linen tunic under a woolen one. If paired with the correct outfit an arming sword and buckler might work making him a swashbuckler. In some regions swords were quite legal and some places you were legally required to at least own a weapon. Travelling armed was probably quite normal as one would never know when a bear or bandit might come out of the forest.
New contributor
add a comment |
I would like to think that the standard double tunic of the day would suffice. People usually wore a linen tunic under a woolen one. If paired with the correct outfit an arming sword and buckler might work making him a swashbuckler. In some regions swords were quite legal and some places you were legally required to at least own a weapon. Travelling armed was probably quite normal as one would never know when a bear or bandit might come out of the forest.
New contributor
add a comment |
I would like to think that the standard double tunic of the day would suffice. People usually wore a linen tunic under a woolen one. If paired with the correct outfit an arming sword and buckler might work making him a swashbuckler. In some regions swords were quite legal and some places you were legally required to at least own a weapon. Travelling armed was probably quite normal as one would never know when a bear or bandit might come out of the forest.
New contributor
I would like to think that the standard double tunic of the day would suffice. People usually wore a linen tunic under a woolen one. If paired with the correct outfit an arming sword and buckler might work making him a swashbuckler. In some regions swords were quite legal and some places you were legally required to at least own a weapon. Travelling armed was probably quite normal as one would never know when a bear or bandit might come out of the forest.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 37 mins ago
Hilmar HeathkliffHilmar Heathkliff
1
1
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
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28
"both protected and agile, while remaining somewhat incognito" -> plot armor
– Renan
yesterday
3
Is the BH's purpose (a) to capture and bring the target to justice or (b) to kill them and prove that the deed has been done?
– chasly from UK
yesterday
10
What's a "bounty hunter", especially a medieval bounty hunter? Anyway, medieval people did not wear armor in their daily lives, anymore than modern people do. Do modern "bounty hunters" wear armor different from policemen or soldiers? A medieval "bounty hunter" would wear armor in combat, if they somehow ended on a battlefield, or part of a military patrol, or making ready for a fight; and the armor would be ordinary armor, probably some sort of cuirass or mailshirt. When not fighting they would not wear armor.
– AlexP
yesterday
@ Renan, I guess when you put it that way it seems like plot armor haha.
– Ebi
yesterday
@ Chasly, the purpose is to capture and bring in for justice. I'm not looking for the bounty hunter to be in full plate armor, I guess what I'm looking for is what is the minimal amount of protective gear someone would need to wear if they are "hunting" someone
– Ebi
yesterday