Armor Class: Quick Overview
| Equipment | Armor Class (AC) |
|---|---|
| No Armor, Shield, or Helm | AC 9 |
| Animal Hide(s)/Leather or Woolen Jack | AC 7 |
| Mail Byrnie | AC 5 |
| Shield | Improves AC by 2/ Improves by 4 vs. Ranged* |
| Helm | Improves AC by 1; Reduce Chances of Being Stunned, Knocked Out, or Even Killed* |
*See below for details
Anglo-Saxon Defensive Equipment
Anglo-Saxon defensive equipment of the early to mid-sixth century included: the shield, body armor, and the helmet. Shields are the most important piece of defensive equipment in this setting. They are also incredibly effective, and this effectiveness is reflected in the mechanics.
Current research indicates that there is no evidence for the use of any kind “leather armor” among the Anglo-Saxons of this period; although, leatherworking was an important and well-known craft for other things such as shoes, pouches, belts, cloaks, and shield coverings. Additionally, there is no evidence of any kind of padded armor like a gambeson, and modern reenactment research has mixed opinions on the matter. It seems that a woolen layer or two worn underneath a mail byrnie would have been sufficient, but again, there are differing opinions. Of course, leather is a delicate and perishable material, and these characteristics may account for its lack in the archaeological record of this era.
With all that said, this campaign setting includes pre-Christian Anglo-Saxons with still-existing connections to earlier Teutonic ancestors who followed customs that included wearing animal skins into combat (e.g., bears, wolves, boars, etc.). This is part of a cultural worldview that assumed one could tap into the strength/spirit of such animals. Therefore, I have decided to mechanically account for some rudimentary protection for characters wearing such animal hides. Additionally, I take into account that simple leather or woolen jacks are not beyond the realm of possibly during this time, and such items offer the same protection as animal hides.
Shields
Shields are perhaps the most symbolically important piece of equipment for the warrior, and the shield is usually received or granted when first accepted among a band or tribe of warriors. Because of this, abandoning one’s shield is considered a deeply offensive and disgraceful act. When a warrior dies fighting, that warrior will be carried away lying on his or her shield, if possible.
The Anglo-Saxon shields of this period are round with a great degree of variety when it comes to size, although a diameter of 30 to 36 inches appears most common, especially for battles. Shields are comprised of planks of wood glued together with a covering of leather designed to help hold a shield together. The leather also increases the strength of a shield and reduces the chances of splitting since when leather dries it shrinks, thus tightening the shield together. Many varieties of woods are used for the construction of shields. Alder, poplar, and willow are common, but shields constructed with maple, birch, linden, ash, and oak are known, although the latter oak is more prone to splitting. The center of a shield has an iron boss attached, and many warriors take to painting their shields.
A shield improves a character’s armor class rating by 2 (i.e., it lowers the score by 2). Characters being attacked from the rear do not get the armor class benefits of a shield.
A shield improves a character’s armor class rating by 4 against ranged attacks giving the following conditions:
- The character is alert to and facing the direction of incoming missiles.
- The character is not engaged in melee combat when the ranged opponent is resolving their attack.
If the above two conditions are not met, then the character only receives the standard benefit of a shield (assuming the character is not being attacked from behind).
Shield Walls
Shields are also effective in a shield wall formation–a defensive formation in which a warrior stands shoulder-to-shoulder with other warriors while holding the shield in a way so that it overlaps with an adjacent shield. Characters in a shield wall formation further improve their AC by 1 for each flanking, shield-wielding warrior. Therefore, if a character has a shield-wielding ally on both the left and right flank in a shield wall formation, the character’s armor class improves by 2 (1 for each flank).
Shield Wall Limitations
Being in a shield wall also has limitations due to the need to maintain the formation’s integrity.
- The benefits of a shield wall do not apply when the shield wall is attacked from the rear.
- Movement in a shield wall must be taken in unison and is limited to 3″ (15ft) per combat round in order to maintain the integrity of the shield wall.
Byrnies
A byrnie is a short mail shirt made from iron capable of stopping the damage of most cutting weapons. The majority of byrnies of this time extend just below the waist and have short sleeves. Longer mail shirts reaching the knees and with longer sleeves will not become available until much later. The time, material, and workmanship required to construct a mail shirt made up of thousands of interlinked rings make byrnies expensive, and thus unavailable to common warriors.
Helms
Although less expensive than mail, helms are still relatively rare among the Anglo-Saxon warriors of this period. Nevertheless, helms represent an important piece of defensive equipment for those that are able to acquire one. The majority of helms of this period are domed shaped and of composite construction. That is, they are made from several plates and bands of iron riveted together. The interior of the helm is lined with padding. Such helms show the influence of the Franks on the mainland.
More elaborate (and even rarer) helms sometimes have nasal and cheek guards. Extremely decorative helms of mighty lords even have a full faceplate covering. Mechanically, helms improve the wearer’s AC by 1. Additionally, helms reduce the chances of death and being knocked out or stunned when a player is forced to roll of the Death & Dismembered Table. Elaborate helms, such as those with faceplates, may confer additional mechanical advantages and/or disadvantages that will be noted for specific pieces of equipment. For example, certain helms might provoke fear and morale checks, or a helm might adversely affect chances of being surprised.
Select Sources
Pollington, S. 1996. The English Warrior from earliest times to 1066. Anglo-Saxon Books
