What is splint armor 5e? What is the cost and weight of splint armor 5e? How is it different from Full Plate Armor?
Splint Armor 5e is nearly identical to Full Plate armor. It has the same requisite score of STR, Disadvantage To Stealth, and five lbs less. One pointless AC. There’s another difference. Splint Armor costs only 200 GP, which is less than a seventh the price of Full Plate. The splint armor 5e is composed of metal strips that are welded to a leather backing. It is used over cloth padding. Flexible Chain Mail protects joints. Splint armor costs 200 GP and is 60 lb in weight.
According to D&D standards, traditional Samurai armor could be considered Splint Armor. It is not Light Armor. That stuff offered massive protection and weighed over a tonne.
D&D armor may not be historically accurate, but splint armor was a definite thing, even if it was not used in D&D 5e. Splint armor is included in D&D 5e as it was in AD&D.
Full Plate armor 5e
Full Plate Armor 5e, unlike Splint, consists of shaped, inter-locking metal plates. It covers the entire body. The suit has gauntlets, a visored helmet, heavy leather boots, and very thick layers of padding below the armor. Straps & buckles distribute within the body weight evenly.
Let’s first establish the existence and function of Splint Armor in 5e d&d.
5e Splint Armor d&d
“This armor is composed of thin vertical strips of metal riveted onto a backing leather worn over cloth padding. Flexible Chain Mail protects your joints.”
The forearms of this suit of samurai armor are covered with something similar to splint armor. These vertical strips can protect the forearm and be used to control the length of the arms. We can see that this is not the only type. The biceps are protected with plated (or surgical) mail. Mail with larger metal plates in its weave covers the biceps. And the shoulders and torsos are protected by lamellar armor.
It makes perfect sense. The waist bends. Vertical strips in your chest armor prevent you from turning your waist. Plates, whether they were in plated mail or a coat of plates or a Brigandine, were almost always square or horizontal on your torso. Many armors that protect different parts of the body were flexible and effective.
The D&D 5e armor lists are very Euro-centric and Western European-centric. It is also not very useful as a list of historical armor types. Splint mail, studded leather, and ring mail are both ahistorical and misunderstood. It doesn’t address famous armor outside of Western Europe, such as lamellar armor or upgrades to chain armor made with splinted/plated mail or mirror armor. This isn’t Gygax’s fault. Armour was much more protective than D&D suggests. Before D&D 3.0, you didn’t get a +1 hit from strength until STR 17, and your ability score didn’t increase when you leveled. However, the armor classes were almost identical.
Let’s end this rambling. Splint armor was a type of armor that people could wear as a suit, but more as an armor type to protect their limbs. It was part of a more extensive armor set. Watching the far limbs was, on the other hand, a statement of intent for the entire armor set. The closer the target is to the center of mass, the more vulnerable they are and the more burdensome it is to wear armor. Start by covering the head and torso. Then, you can go further out and reduce the amount of armor. A splint is a way to express your intent.
What should you wear if you are proficient in heavy armor?
Light armors increase your Dexterity modifier, while medium armors allow you to add up to 2 to your AC. Heavy armor doesn’t care at all about your Dexterity. You want the best AC possible.
- If you made a high Dexterity character or a stealthy character, you want to wear light armor.
- If you have a Dex modifier of +2 or +1, you want to wear medium armor.
- If you have a Dex modifier or +0 or even negatives, you want to wear heavy armor.
A Strength score minimum is required for heavy armor. That shouldn’t be an issue, as most heavy armor-wearing classes are Strength-based. As long as you have an excellent Strength score, it’s okay. You can choose from any metal armor: Ring Mail, Chain Mail, or Splint armor 5e.
RINGMAIL 5e
The worst heavy armor. It is not expensive and weighs a little less than the best heavy armor. Ringmail is only applicable if you are a fighter who hasn’t earned enough gold to buy better armor.
CHAIN MAIL 5e
That will be your heavy armor until you have the money for splint and plate or if you don’t have 15 Strength. As a Paladin, you start with chain mail and will likely continue until you have enough adventure to buy something better.
SPLINT ARMOR 5E
The splint is an awkward middle option. The only reason you would choose it over the plate is because of a lack of money. However, it is still costly. Splint might be the best choice if you are having difficulty getting gold.
PLATE ARMOR 5E
Plate armor is the most durable armor available. It’s heavy and creaks when you walk. But it has the best AC. It’s also expensive. The plate is what you work towards, so if you can afford it, you should.
Splint Armor: History
Splint armor, also known as splint armor, is armor made up of metal strips (“splints”) attached to a backing cloth or leather. It is commonly helpful as limb armor such as vambraces or greaves.
The first time it was believed to have been worn was by the Scythians, an Iranian who occupied southeast Europe and Central Asia around 300 BC. However, Europeans still wear it 700 years later. Splint armor is often depicted only as being worn on the limbs (both arms and legs), but historians and archaeologists have found a few complete sets. These were made of lighter materials and not iron or steel. Even artwork shows knights in splint vambraces or greaves from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Splint armor is made up of thin metal strips (“splints”) that are attached to a backing fabric (cloth, leather) (“foundation”). The splints consist of narrow strips of metal arranged longitudinally and pierced to allow for sewing or riveting to the foundation. Most commonly, splint armor can be found in greaves and vambraces.
It first appeared in a Scythian burial ground in the 4th Century BC. Then, it was used in the Swedish Migration Era. Finally, it was found in the 14th-century as part of transitional armor.
Although a few complete armor suits were made of splints of leather, wood, or bone, it is not uncommon to find full suits. The Victorian neologism “splinted mail” refers to crusader knights’ limb protections. It is often depicted on a person wearing mail, scale armor, or another plate harness.
Knights depicted in the effigy have their legs protected by a matrix made of disks that has a diameter equal to the size of the splints. This style may define sabatons or splints upon greaves or padded armor beneath splints or rivets on the brigandine. So will you use a Splint Armor 5e or a full plate in your game?
Summary ( Splint vs. Full Plate Armor 5e)
Armor | Splint Armor 5e | Full plate Armor 5e |
Cost | 200 gp | 1500 gp |
Armor Class (AC) | 17 | 18 |
Strength | Str 15 | Str 15 |
Stealth | Disadvantage | Disadvantage |
Weight | 60 lb. | 65 lb. |
What is splint armor 5e? What is the cost and weight of splint armor 5e? How is it different from Full Plate Armor?
Splint Armor 5e is nearly identical to Full Plate armor. It has the same requisite score of STR, Disadvantage To Stealth, and five lbs less. One pointless AC. There’s another difference. Splint Armor costs only 200 GP, which is less than a seventh the price of Full Plate. The splint armor 5e is composed of metal strips that are welded to a leather backing. It is used over cloth padding. Flexible Chain Mail protects joints. Splint armor costs 200 GP and is 60 lb in weight.
According to D&D standards, traditional Samurai armor could be considered Splint Armor. It is not Light Armor. That stuff offered massive protection and weighed over a tonne.
D&D armor may not be historically accurate, but splint armor was a definite thing, even if it was not used in D&D 5e. Splint armor is included in D&D 5e as it was in AD&D.
Full Plate armor 5e
Full Plate Armor 5e, unlike Splint, consists of shaped, inter-locking metal plates. It covers the entire body. The suit has gauntlets, a visored helmet, heavy leather boots, and very thick layers of padding below the armor. Straps & buckles distribute within the body weight evenly.
Let’s first establish the existence and function of Splint Armor in 5e d&d.
5e Splint Armor d&d
“This armor is composed of thin vertical strips of metal riveted onto a backing leather worn over cloth padding. Flexible Chain Mail protects your joints.”
The forearms of this suit of samurai armor are covered with something similar to splint armor. These vertical strips can protect the forearm and be used to control the length of the arms. We can see that this is not the only type. The biceps are protected with plated (or surgical) mail. Mail with larger metal plates in its weave covers the biceps. And the shoulders and torsos are protected by lamellar armor.
It makes perfect sense. The waist bends. Vertical strips in your chest armor prevent you from turning your waist. Plates, whether they were in plated mail or a coat of plates or a Brigandine, were almost always square or horizontal on your torso. Many armors that protect different parts of the body were flexible and effective.
The D&D 5e armor lists are very Euro-centric and Western European-centric. It is also not very useful as a list of historical armor types. Splint mail, studded leather, and ring mail are both ahistorical and misunderstood. It doesn’t address famous armor outside of Western Europe, such as lamellar armor or upgrades to chain armor made with splinted/plated mail or mirror armor. This isn’t Gygax’s fault. Armour was much more protective than D&D suggests. Before D&D 3.0, you didn’t get a +1 hit from strength until STR 17, and your ability score didn’t increase when you leveled. However, the armor classes were almost identical.
Let’s end this rambling. Splint armor was a type of armor that people could wear as a suit, but more as an armor type to protect their limbs. It was part of a more extensive armor set. Watching the far limbs was, on the other hand, a statement of intent for the entire armor set. The closer the target is to the center of mass, the more vulnerable they are and the more burdensome it is to wear armor. Start by covering the head and torso. Then, you can go further out and reduce the amount of armor. A splint is a way to express your intent.
What should you wear if you are proficient in heavy armor?
Light armors increase your Dexterity modifier, while medium armors allow you to add up to 2 to your AC. Heavy armor doesn’t care at all about your Dexterity. You want the best AC possible.
- If you made a high Dexterity character or a stealthy character, you want to wear light armor.
- If you have a Dex modifier of +2 or +1, you want to wear medium armor.
- If you have a Dex modifier or +0 or even negatives, you want to wear heavy armor.
A Strength score minimum is required for heavy armor. That shouldn’t be an issue, as most heavy armor-wearing classes are Strength-based. As long as you have an excellent Strength score, it’s okay. You can choose from any metal armor: Ring Mail, Chain Mail, or Splint armor 5e.
RINGMAIL 5e
The worst heavy armor. It is not expensive and weighs a little less than the best heavy armor. Ringmail is only applicable if you are a fighter who hasn’t earned enough gold to buy better armor.
CHAIN MAIL 5e
That will be your heavy armor until you have the money for splint and plate or if you don’t have 15 Strength. As a Paladin, you start with chain mail and will likely continue until you have enough adventure to buy something better.
SPLINT ARMOR 5E
The splint is an awkward middle option. The only reason you would choose it over the plate is because of a lack of money. However, it is still costly. Splint might be the best choice if you are having difficulty getting gold.
PLATE ARMOR 5E
Plate armor is the most durable armor available. It’s heavy and creaks when you walk. But it has the best AC. It’s also expensive. The plate is what you work towards, so if you can afford it, you should.
Splint Armor: History
Splint armor, also known as splint armor, is armor made up of metal strips (“splints”) attached to a backing cloth or leather. It is commonly helpful as limb armor such as vambraces or greaves.
The first time it was believed to have been worn was by the Scythians, an Iranian who occupied southeast Europe and Central Asia around 300 BC. However, Europeans still wear it 700 years later. Splint armor is often depicted only as being worn on the limbs (both arms and legs), but historians and archaeologists have found a few complete sets. These were made of lighter materials and not iron or steel. Even artwork shows knights in splint vambraces or greaves from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Splint armor is made up of thin metal strips (“splints”) that are attached to a backing fabric (cloth, leather) (“foundation”). The splints consist of narrow strips of metal arranged longitudinally and pierced to allow for sewing or riveting to the foundation. Most commonly, splint armor can be found in greaves and vambraces.
It first appeared in a Scythian burial ground in the 4th Century BC. Then, it was used in the Swedish Migration Era. Finally, it was found in the 14th-century as part of transitional armor.
Although a few complete armor suits were made of splints of leather, wood, or bone, it is not uncommon to find full suits. The Victorian neologism “splinted mail” refers to crusader knights’ limb protections. It is often depicted on a person wearing mail, scale armor, or another plate harness.
Knights depicted in the effigy have their legs protected by a matrix made of disks that has a diameter equal to the size of the splints. This style may define sabatons or splints upon greaves or padded armor beneath splints or rivets on the brigandine. So will you use a Splint Armor 5e or a full plate in your game?
Summary ( Splint vs. Full Plate Armor 5e)
Armor | Splint Armor 5e | Full plate Armor 5e |
Cost | 200 gp | 1500 gp |
Armor Class (AC) | 17 | 18 |
Strength | Str 15 | Str 15 |
Stealth | Disadvantage | Disadvantage |
Weight | 60 lb. | 65 lb. |