The portal in the Tomb of Sargeras is opening, and just the other day, on August 10, after the weekly maintenance of the servers, the demonic invasions of Azeroth will begin. We have found out all the plans of the Burning Legion and have prepared for you a guide on what awaits us.

The guide is based on data from Wowhead and a number of other sources. All information was taken from the test versions of World of Warcraft and may change by the time the official launch of the world event.

Demon Invasions

On August 10 (August 9 in America), at 09:00 server time after the daily server reset, demonic invasions will begin in various classic zones of Azeroth. This in-game event will run for 20 days, until the release of the Legion expansion on August 30, with more and more invasions every week. Invasions can take place in the following six locations:

Demon Invasions are basically open-world quests that we will do in the Broken Isles after reaching level 110 (similar to the quest system from Diablo III). To find out in which locations the demon invasions are taking place, just open the map, which constantly updates information about the attacked zones. Similar to the Broken Isles, Demonic Invasion content automatically adapts to player levels from 10 to 100, so even heroes of Azeroth who haven't played in a while will have the opportunity to contribute to the common cause.

Participating in Demon Invasions can earn you two Feats of Strength - for participating in one invasion (Defending the Legion) and for participating in repelling all six possible invasions (Defender of Azeroth: Legion Incursions).

Each invasion is a scenario of 4 stages, in which all players in the location participate:

• Stage 1: Defend the intrusion point. For example, in Dun Morogh it is Kharanos, and in the Northern Barrens it is Crossroads.
• Stage 2: Defeat the Demon Commander and his two lieutenants.
• Stage 3: fight back the forces of the Legion throughout the location. On the map you can see the places where the enemy is located. Progress is made by killing enemies and rescuing friendly wounded NPCs.
• Stage 4: Defeat the boss at the invasion point. These bosses can be dangerous, and they use abilities like summoning volcanoes with Blazing Rifts or Twilight Storm.

Heroes of the Alliance and Horde will participate in a common cause during the demonic invasions. Famous heroes will take part in the defense, such as Trade Prince Gallywix in Azshara, Blue Gogelmogel in Tanaris, or Muradin and Moira in Dun Morogh. Players will also be able to use various technical means, including bombs, steam tanks and destroyers. Will help in the defense of Azeroth and a number of positive effects, including Hero's Determination and Inspiration.

Void Shards and Rewards

Of course, as is the case with any major game event before the release of the expansion, demonic invasions will not be without rewards, and here the developers have done a very good job. For participating in the defense of locations from the Burning Legion, you will receive a new currency, Nethershards:

• Completing the first stage of the invasion does not give any rewards.
• For completing the second stage, you will receive a Small Legion Chest containing 5 Nethershards and a level 700 piece of equipment with a chance to receive weapons and Condensed Fel.
• For completing the third stage, you will receive 10 Nethershards.
• Completely repelling the Demon Invasion earns you a Large Legion Chest containing 10 Nethershards and a level 700 piece of equipment with a chance to drop weapons and Condensed Fel .
• Repelling your first Demon Invasion grants you an additional 10 Nethershards.
• For defeating the bosses during the second and third stages of the invasion, you will receive 5-8 Nethershards each.

Void Shards can be traded with Captured Wyrmtongues for a variety of rewards, including level 700 gear, a pet, transmog sets, and more. These suspiciously greedy goblin-like demons can be found in the Illidari camps in Stormwind, Orgrimmar, and near Invasion Points. The table below shows their range.

Price	Item
1	Combat Healer's Robe
3	Fel Stone
3	Fel Protection Potion
50	Infernal Cord
50	Fel-Infested Legionnaire's Pendant
50	Band of Legion Obedience
50	Netherwarped Ring
50	Felcatcher's Ridge
50	Talisman of the Inquisitor
50	Drape of the Demon Commander
50	Mo'arg Clan Badge
150	Felbat Hatchling
150	Condensed Filth
200	Ensemble: Fel-Impregnated Cloth Armor
200	Ensemble: Felshroud Leather Armor
200	Ensemble: Felchain Mail Armor
200	Ensemble: Felforged Plate Armor

Fel-Infused Cloth ArmorFelshroud Leather ArmorFel Ring Mail ArmorFelforged Plate ArmorFelbat Hatchling

Plate armor has long been one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages, being calling card knights and personifying the power and wealth of the owner. The most incredible and ridiculous myths constantly arise around armor.

Armor - armor made of large metal plates, anatomically repeating the male figure. Compared to other types of armor, the manufacture of such armor was the most difficult and required a considerable amount of steel, and therefore the art of making armor began to develop actively only from the middle of the 14th century.

Because of these difficulties, even in the 15th century, plate armor was not cheap and was often made to order. Of course, only representatives of the nobility could afford such a luxury, which is why the armor became a symbol of chivalry and high birth. So how effective is such armor and was it worth the money? Let's figure it out:

MYTH 1: THE ARMOR WEIGHED SO MUCH THAT THE FALLEN KNIGHT COULD NOT Rise WITHOUT HELP

This is wrong. The total weight of full combat armor rarely exceeded 30 kg. The figure may seem big to you, but do not forget that the weight was evenly distributed throughout the body, moreover, men at arms, as a rule, fought on horseback. With this in mind, we get the approximate weight of the modern equipment of an army infantryman. Heavier varieties belonged to tournament armor, deliberately sacrificing mobility in favor of increasing the thickness of the armor, which reduced the risk of injury when struck by a spear or falling from a horse.
Modern reenactors have repeatedly proved that in a replica of full armor you can not only run fast, but even fencing and climb stairs.

MYTH 2: PLATE ARMOR COULD BE EASILY PUNCHED WITH CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS

And this is a lie. Main distinguishing feature plate armor - excellent resistance to all types of damage. Cutting blows do not cause him any harm, unless the knight at full gallop is substituted under the blow of the reed. Stabbing blows could penetrate soft, poorly hardened steel, but later armor held the blow of the sharp end of the war hammer quite well. In addition, the armor (contrary to the opinion of popular culture, which loves to decorate armor with spikes and ribs) was made as smooth and streamlined as possible in order to evenly distribute the energy from the impact and thereby increase the strength of the entire structure. For real effective means against the man-at-arms were daggers, which, due to the maximum short distance attacks are easiest to hit at the joints of armor, and two-handed swords, specifically designed as countermeasures against heavy infantry and cavalry.

In contrast, video recordings are often cited, in which the tester breaks through a plate breastplate with a morning star or a lucernhammer. It should be noted here that theoretically this is indeed possible, but it is very difficult to deliver a direct blow with a wide swing at an ideal right angle during a battle, otherwise the man-at-arms has every chance of completely or partially avoiding damage.

MYTH 3: IT IS ENOUGH TO GET INTO A VULNERABLE PLACE AND THE ARMOR WILL BE DEFEATED

That's a moot point. Yes, there are several weak points in plate armor (belt garters, gaps in joints and joints), hitting which will in fact cause significant damage to the enemy. But it wasn't easy to do so:
Firstly, under the armor, the knights wore at least a gambeson, consisting of several layers of dense linen matter. He provided good protection in itself, being surprisingly strong and light, and most knights did not hesitate to pull chain mail over it. Thus, the weapon had to overcome several layers of armor before reaching the body.
Secondly, gunsmiths, who quickly realized the main weakness of armor in a combat clash, tried to protect the knight from the threat as much as possible. All belts and garters were hidden deep inside the armor, special "wings" (a continuation of the cast armor plate) served as a screen for joints and joints. All parts of the armor fit together as tightly as possible, which in the crush and turmoil of major battles significantly increased the chances of survival.

SO WHAT WAS BAD PLATE ARMOR?

The main disadvantage is the exactingness of care. Due to the large area of ​​the armor itself, the metal quickly rusted, and it had to be protected from corrosion. Over time, gunsmiths learned to burn armor, which made them darker and gave good protection against oxidation. In field conditions, the armor was lubricated with oil, and in peacetime it was stored in isolated conditions, usually wrapped in several layers of cloth. Otherwise, the armor was much more effective than any analogues - frayed straps can be quickly and easily replaced, and straightening a dent on a solid plate is much easier than repairing chain mail or replacing segments in lamellar armor.
However, sometimes it was almost impossible to put on plate armor on your own, and if you were wounded, it was just as difficult to take it off. Many knights managed to bleed out from a trifling wound, which put them out of action for the entire battle.

The end of the golden age of armor came along with the beginning of the era of firearms. When the firearm appeared in service with regular armies, armor began to gradually disappear from everyday life. A lead bullet pierced such armor without special problems, although in the early stages, when the power of firearms was small, they could still serve as a very effective defense.

In modern times, the equipment of an inhabitant of Azeroth combines many qualities, such as convenience, practicality, high combat performance, style, and many others. Due to this, sometimes it becomes very problematic to make your choice. Today members of the Order will share their vision of fashion trends and tell you why they chose this or that set of armor.

Cataclysmic Gladiator Armor

- Form? Are you serious? Ewing raised her leather breastplate in front of her with outstretched arms.

His sleeves were long, and the plate designed to protect his belly was metal, albeit covered with dense black leather. (Ewing thought it looked like the corset the orc had seen on human women. And the blood elves seemed to sport similar ones.) But otherwise, the breastplate looked like fishing net: weave laces and impressive cutouts on the chest and back.

Trust me.” The foreman adjusted her belt around her hips. She's a great distraction.

Ewing snorted as she looked at the next piece of armor on offer, a hood grinning with metal spikes. Yes, putting a braid into it will be a difficult task.

I can say that the history of choosing this kit is a history of coincidence. When I first saw this armor on the battlefield, I thought that orcs with their posture, muscular back, broad shoulders and expressive hips should look great in it. But at the same time, she did not find suitable motives in the set. It bears the stamp of the dark madness of the Old Gods - it is their purple filth that flickers on either the claws or the tentacles that clasped all the armor. No wonder the arena season, for which this armor was awarded, came out along with the Time of Twilight. A humble soldier of the Horde—certainly not a warrior, but a secretive assassin—would have suited something less provocative. But then the Siege happened, and I saw Kor'kron assassins fighting alongside General Nazgrim. They all turned out to be women, and it was this set that served as their uniform. Well, it was fate - after all, Ewing was supposed to be among these soldiers. Yes, and the Old Gods reminded of themselves: the ringing of chains, quivering from the beating heart of Y'Shaarj. Even though we didn't know much about it. However, I usually take off the hood - the braid is painfully beautiful, it's a pity to hide it.

Alitushka

Exquisite Armor

So this is the last part of my plan. Time to fulfill your destiny, - Alitushka knelt down, and the Black Prince laid an almost weightless cloak on the shoulders of the huntress. “I have nothing more to offer you as a reward. I did everything in my power. Now everything depends only on you.

The Huntress drew herself up to her full height and towered over Wrathion again. I remember that at the first meeting she almost laughed right in his face - such a baby, and already the Prince of Dragons. But she was a prudent troll and adequately restrained her laughter. Alitushka and Wrathion went out to the balcony of the Mogushan Palace, from where they opened a view that took the breath away from the huntress - right in the middle, above the parapet of the balcony, her translucent projection levitated. The huntress came closer, and at that moment, shining blue wings opened behind the back of the transparent Alitushka. The troll looked at her copy with wide eyes.

Blue…” she barely managed to say.

I'll be waiting for you at the Hidden Stair when you put an end to Garrosh's reign." Wrathion turned into a small plump dragon and flew away on tiny wings.

Alitushka continued to look at her projection. She walked along the balcony, studying herself from all sides, sat on the Enchanted Dragon to fly up and view the balcony from the other side. Then she noticed that in addition to her image, three more heroes were levitating nearby. One of them, a tauren, had bright red wings that reminded the hunter of the wings of a phoenix.

You are my beauty! Northgard appeared suddenly behind him, his disk, hovering on a cloud, moving silently across the sky.

But they are .. blue! Alitushka was ready to burst into tears.

Well, yes…” the warlock confirmed in bewilderment. “The fighters who wield weapons are blue, the fighters using magic are green, the defenders are black, and our Sophocles, like all healers, will have red ones. Wrathion Gathers big army to defeat Garrosh: to all worthy heroes who have passed his tests, he gives out cloaks, which he somehow already standardized.

Take a closer look at me,” Alitushka turned to North. — I have been assembling this kit for so long, picking up all the parts. Wherever I had to climb to get this… ahem… breastplate. In the summer I wear armor in black and red with gold. And now I have a cloak that opens with blue wings ...

My sunshine, do not be capricious! - with these words, North flew off towards the Sanctuary, leaving Alitushka in frustration.

A week later, Alitushka and Vespilla sorted through their wardrobes, chests and bags. Vespi complained that she had absolutely nothing to wear, and she needed bigger bags, because the old ones were too small and her dresses and suits did not fit there ...

In one of the chests, Alitushka found the Exquisite Cuirass, a light mail breastplate forged from thorium, thanks to which it glowed from the inside with a delicate silver-blue light, and some trim elements were made of gold.

I remember that North, seeing this cuirass on me, was speechless for a couple of seconds, but it looked out of place with the rest of my armor, ”Alitushka recalled.

Hmm…” Vespi mused. - you know, I recently saw this cuirass in Psenia Kobchak's magazine, she reviewed chain mail sets, including which parts of the armor fit this particular cuirass. I'll find a magazine and bring it to you, and together we'll find a set that's perfect for your new raincoat. Otherwise, it hurts to look at you - at first I ran for half a year, completing the tasks of this black dragon, but I was not satisfied with the reward.

The set came together pretty quickly. Alitushka already had a cuirass. She stole the belt and gloves at the auction right from under the nose of some elf. Alitushka did not like the boots that Psenia Kobchak suggested wearing with this set, she generally trusted her own taste more than modern fashion trends. Therefore, the huntress earned boots by completing a couple of simple tasks in the Netherstorm. He and Vespi chose shoulder pads by brute force, trying on everything that came across along the way.

Leggings could only be obtained in Black Mountain, and Alitushka asked Northgard to help her with the search. He looked at her for a few seconds, discouraged from behind a stack of books, then his face cleared, and he called for Gribbly. Hearing the task, the knight of Acherus changed his face, but the warlock quickly reassured him, reminding him how many beautiful and, most importantly, expensive things can be found there. Greed has already ruined more than one goblin, and the knight of Acherus, riding his rocket, flew to the Eastern Kingdoms. Just a few days later, he solemnly handed the leggings to Alitushka, rummaging through a voluminous bag larger than himself for a long time.

Alitushka did not like helmets. For some reason, it was believed that hunters should be clad in chain mail and scaly armor, as if they were warriors of the first line. "I'm a huntress, not a soldier!" - she constantly said, sorting through all kinds of helmets, hats, horned skulls and other equipment unsuitable for a hunter. At some point at the auction, she came across a strange eye patch. Instead of the usual piece of skin that should cover the empty eye socket, there was a strange translucent lens. The huntress tried on the bandage and to her surprise found a thin crosshair of the sight applied to the inner surface. Pulling the bow from behind her, she saw that the sight moved, depending on the direction of the bow. “A wonderful thing, comfortable,” thought Alitushka. At least not the horns...

The only snag was with the crossbow. Alitushka was proud that all her bows and crossbows matched her clothes, as if they were created especially for her, but it was not easy to find a silver-blue and gilded crossbow. Vespi shrugged her shoulders - Psenia's magazine did not write anything about crossbows: the socialite preferred to discuss outfits, not weapons. Northgard couldn't help either - his artistic taste left much to be desired, and he didn't go further than a staff with a red-hot end for himself, a warlock of destruction. Alitushka was gloomily sorting through the old journals in Orgrimmar's library, not at all hoping to find anything, when she suddenly stumbled upon an old note from the opening of the Black Portal. It described a crossbow sometimes carried by the ghostly hunter Attumen of Karazhan. It was an ancient High Elf crossbow, usually shaped like a hawk or a phoenix. Long-term exposure to Karazhan's magical powers had turned him into a silvery color unlike any other that could be found. "Here it is!" - the hunter figured out how the crossbow would look behind her back, with open light blue wings. It seems to work harmoniously. A few days later, she was already flying from Kamenor to Karazhan.

Valeira

Bone Scythe Armor

Interesting armor! Argental looked at Valeira with interest. - From whom did you take it?

From a corpse,” the robber replied gloomily.

The armor was quite old, but it was clear that the owner was taking care of it. It was torn in several places, but neatly sewn up. It was a black leather uniform with a golden pattern, quite simple and comfortable. Neat shoulder pads not only did not restrict movement, but also did not try to stick into the head when you raise your hands. Loops were made in the shoulder pads, where throwing knives were attached, thanks to which the latter, if necessary, very quickly and very effectively scattered around the robber. The gloves were high and, judging by the thickening, they had additional protection sewn in, allowing them to parry attacks with the forearm without fear of serious injury. The right eye of the elf was covered with a bandage - the eye had not yet fully recovered from the injuries received during the attack. A skull with crossbones flaunted on the bandage in place of the eye.

Well, the truth is, I didn’t quite take it off ... Let's just say. Somehow it brought me to Northrend, on business ... - Valeira thought for a moment. - Just business. In general, I decided to visit the ruins of Naxxramas. I heard many stories about those places from our mutual friend and wanted to see it all with my own eyes. It was restless on the ruins - not all the undead were eliminated, and it is not surprising - this is a whole city. It is very difficult to clear it completely... So at some point in time I had to look for a place to hide. And I came across an old armor warehouse. Almost all of them were damaged by time and poor storage conditions, but ... I was lucky to find one set that fit me perfectly. They are perfect both for covert movement behind enemy lines and for the thick of the battle, - Valeira threw a dagger in her hand and smiled. - Will there be any more questions?

Argental nodded affirmatively and pointed to the dagger in the hands of the elf.

This is an orc dagger. The work is good, but rather rough. Doesn't suit you very well, I think.

And this dagger is dear to me as a memory,” the robber said seriously. “I received it the day I was on Chiiva's errand, which was a kind of test for me to enter the Order of the Guardians. It was in Shadowmoon Valley, Outland. If it wasn't for Chiiva and Oronok, the orc from the valley, we wouldn't be talking to you right now. This dagger was given to me by Oronok in memory of his son, who died in those events. Having already returned home, I ordered an exact copy of it for myself in order to wear a pair of identical daggers.

Yes-ah-ah ... - Argental drawled and sighed enviously. “And my armor and weapons cannot boast such a history. Regular Warlock Robe...

You still have everything ahead of you,” Valeira patted him encouragingly on the shoulder. “Well, stop talking, let’s go, great things are waiting for us!” The rogue pointed to a huge mechanical scorpion, frozen at the gates of Orgrimmar.

legendary

Diving suit

The diving suit is one of the best acquisitions of the forsaken Legendary. It combines sophisticated style with incredible functionality. The tight outfit not only makes it easier to swim, but also serves as a frame for the decaying body. In addition, the bathyscaphe helmet, for which Legendary mastered engineering skills, perfectly masks the rotten breath. Well, and allows you to breathe underwater, of course. Among other things, this helmet creates intrigue. In fact, maybe there is something attractive behind it? In general, the people around stopped shying away in different sides from the ugly undead.

The staff of Legendary was originally an ordinary stick, but after a long stay in the water it changed: it turned green, grew tentacles and began to feed on plankton. Rumor has it that this staff has a hidden effect... Allegedly, it deals 150% more damage to Pandaren Schoolgirls. Unfortunately, there has not yet been a chance to test these conjectures.

A geyser gun is an integral part of a diving suit. With its help, you can quickly cool the parts of the body burned in battle, usually the fifth point ... Outside of battle, this unit is also useful, because it brings variety to the daily wandering of the Forsaken in the capitals. Now, instead of circling the Sanctuary of Two Moons, she diligently douses passers-by with a geyser gun. At such moments, Legendary is happy, and it seems that her life is full of the deepest meaning.

Yuwakiti

flight uniform

The druid's adventure began at a time when Illidan was terrorizing Outland with might and main. Things were a little slower back then: levels were slower to level up, gold was earned slower, heroes moved around the world slower, since personal mounts were a luxury, not transportation. And I didn’t want to run headlong somewhere: before my eyes there was an amazing world that I wanted to examine and explore, climb into every corner and open all the white spots on the map.

And then, after 67 levels of contemplating the world from the bottom up, the druid was able to turn into a bird and fly. Do not move from point A to point B above the heads of monsters, namely fly. It's just an amazing feeling! And besides, instant transformation is a signature druid feature (and no one and a half seconds ...). All this gave a feeling of freedom, and it was wonderful. Naturally, the main goal was not to "farm clothes", but the quest for the epic form of the bird (which, among other things, included collecting sprouts from large mushrooms in Zangarmash and the fight with Anzu himself, which was more difficult than other today's raid bosses). Flights to Outland and this epic quest are the most vivid memories of those times.

However, under the Lich King, the elf was turned into a killing machine and druidry was forgotten in favor of the skills of the Death Knight. However, despite the fact that she can no longer fly herself, in the form of a bird, she retained memories of flying and a wonderful sense of freedom.

Bernandine

Vanguard armor

The name of this “combat” set is Vanguard. Unfortunately or fortunately, this set does not have an interesting storyline and roots of origin. Perhaps the only distinctive features this armor is a long and tedious search for all parts of the costume (hence the desire to possess it) and the maximum frankness of the outfit, exposing everything for show. True, I will still tell you about the details of the search for some parts of the clothes, as this may be useful for a new applicant.

First, the ax! His name is Sharpened Ax of the Abyss. It has a unique animation that is not found anywhere else in all of Azeroth. But the most important and honorable thing is that the hunter Mordenai walks with them through the fields of the Wings of the Void. You can still find him there. This alone is worth it! You can get this beauty by completing a series of tasks in Nagrand, under the general name - Ring of Blood.

Secondly, the bib. A feature of the Vanguard armor is that all of its parts fall out with an insignificant chance (the golden cost of pleasure is corresponding). Often, the only way to complete the puzzle is to check the auction for new items in the search bar called “Avant-garde”. As you might guess, the bank will not give you a chance to buy everything at once. At best, you will find a couple of attributes of this equipment in your world, and the rest of its parts will be a matter of chance. Personally, I collected all the parts, riding around two worlds (there was a shopping voyage). But now let's get back to our bib. I will tell you how to get this particular part of the kit without wasting time and money on it! The whole trick is that exactly the same model of armor can be obtained for completing a task in Outland! And yes! A fair amount of time has been spent looking for such a match. And here it is, on a platter. The name of the find is the Breastplate of the Defender of the Void. Even the name of this little thing, as for me, is sweeter than the original.

Third, shoulder pads. Yes, they are not part of the original Vanguard armor set. My choice. I didn't like the originals. Shoulders are called - the pauldrons of Edward the Strange. With their search, things are not as critical as with everything else. I will only add that the little thing has its own unique animation and looks quite nice in action.

And finally, the Crown of Foretold Fate. Again, instead of the original headdress, which is too original. I thank Valeira for helping me with his weekly production. You can get the crown from the Incarnation of Wrath, in the Black Temple. The chances of luck are 19 percent every week.

Oh yes! Why is the armor set “combat” in the end? Because it is an excellent disguise against inexperienced fighters on the battlefield. The death knight is often visually confused with the paladin. It has played into the hands many times.

What should adventurers be equipped and armed with? At first glance - well, with what they are armed with in fantasy. On the second - the same as normal warriors from historical armies. And only at the third glance something clears up. But first things first.

Archetypal fantasy characters have different weapons depending on their class and other factors.

Warriors prefer heavy armor, if finances allow, then they go exclusively in armor. Standard weapons are a huge shield with a sword, a two-handed sword, or two swords. The word "sword" can be changed to "axe" or "mace" without significant consequences. Priests also carry heavy armor, a shield with a mace, or some kind of two-handed blunt weapon. Rogues - leather, two blades, bow. Mages are practically unarmed and there is no need to consider them in this section.

Armor

What are adventurers like? Adventurers are a group of specialists who travel the world and solve problems of one sort or another, mostly by force. But you need to understand that most of the adventurers' life time is spent not on battles, but on moving between battles. The standard situation is not a multi-day battle in the city, but a trip to the swamps to save the elder's daughter kidnapped by goblins, a journey to distant lands in order to destroy an ancient artifact, and so on. And even if we talk about the battle in the city - after it again somewhere to go.

So the adventurers should be equipped primarily not for combat, but for the campaign - which, of course, can go into battle at almost any moment. Well, when the ambush goblins attack.

Now imagine what it's like to walk 40 kilometers a day in sabatons (plate "boots"). Even better if the weather is hot, cold or wet. It is clear that the full loadout of a modern infantryman is comparable in weight to plate armor, but… after all, in addition to armor, an adventurer also needs to carry a backpack, a tent, and so on. And the shoes, again, are less comfortable. And the roads are worse.

Historically, plate armor was used primarily by wealthy cavalrymen. Sitting on a horse, you can afford armor during the march, and even then not always - most likely, on its territory, a noble don will travel light, in a minimum of armor. Armor can also be carried in a cart. With chain mail, a similar story - why put on an extra 12 kg of iron, if you can do without it? Moreover, chain mail, unlike plate armor, can be put on quickly enough.

Adventurers can, of course, move on foot with heavy equipment. But not for long - for example, from the village directly to the cave with goblins on the other side of the lake. But not to another city - for this you will need help in the form of carts and pack animals. If the situation obliges a group of adventurers to travel on foot over a long distance, then they will save on kilograms more than astronauts.

It is impossible to talk about the applicability of plate armor without mentioning its cost. They cost a lot. An adventurer wearing plate armor no longer looks like a vagabond, but like a baron or earl. Because not every knight who owns an entire village will be able to financially pull their cost. Accordingly, if the adventurer has the resources to wield plate armor, why can't he hire a horse and wagon to transport it? The journey of a group of such wealthy individuals is no longer a romantic trip of a few penniless vagabonds.

Varieties of armor in fantasy and history

The authors of fantasy and, unfortunately, often also historical works often follow the established fantasy canon regarding armor. This canon has long become familiar to most people who are addicted, "yet they know that this is how it is." At the same time, a lot of this “general knowledge” is just delusions.

Quilted armor (padded/quilted armor)

Quilted armor is often perceived as something very cheap, publicly available and at the same time independent. Cheapness and general availability - yes, of course, it's just a fabric sewn in several layers. But both historically and in our time, quilting was mainly used and is used as an underarmor worn under heavier metal armor. And this is a general point: it should be considered that in most cases, under any armor, a padded jacket is worn. There were exceptions, but the weather did not.

On the other hand, independent quilts also existed and still exist, but they look different. In form, this is more often no longer a sleeveless jacket or a sweater, but rather a bathrobe. In modern times, the word “gambeson” is often used to refer to an independent quilting, although historically both separate and underarmor variants were called gambesons. But it’s more convenient to share the meaning, so we’ll leave it that way.

The effectiveness of quilted armor as a stand-alone protective equipment is higher than is commonly believed. It's armor, not just thick clothes. For example, tests show that the gambeson is excellent protection against arrows and jabs from light weapons. Yes, and the effectiveness of chopping and cutting blows reduces, because part of their energy is spent on overcoming the quilted armor itself. But in fantasy, in fact, that there is a quilt, that it is not - there is no difference.

Leather armor (leather armor)

Leather armor, traditional for fantasy, never existed at all. What is fantasy leather? It is, in fact, just a leather jacket and pants made of the same material. The protection it provides is negligible. But it looks good, especially if painted black - ask any biker or, sadder, any director of a fantasy or pseudo-historical film production. In fact, leather armor, of course, existed. But they looked very different.

The main thing to understand when it comes to leather as the main material in armor is what kind of leather is used. So, this is not at all the thin skin from which modern jackets are made. The armor uses thick, rough leather, similar to that used to make shoe soles. Material thinner than a few millimeters is not good, it simply will not protect against anything at all.

Lamellar armor was popular mainly in the east, but it was quite famous in the west as well. We take the skin of the correct thickness, cut it into petals, fasten these petals with an overlap and form the actual armor from the resulting canvas. Excellent equipment- especially if you put a quilt under it. Sufficiently light, while dense lamellar armor quite reliably stops an arrow, especially an arrow that goes casually. Cutting and slashing attacks are also weakened, you can pierce the lamellar either with heavy weapons or with a very good sword thrust. Cutting through with a blade is unlikely.

Lamellar armor can also be crafted from metal. Metal lamellas are already heavy armor that historically could be worn on chain mail worn over a quilt, of course. A fighter in such a sandwich can take very strong blows on his chest.

Boiled leather armor (cuir boulli, sounds like "cure boulli") is a less common, but absolutely historical version of leather armor. Raw thick skin is taken and marinated for a long time, boiled in various compositions, empirically selected for a good effect. It is believed that one of the popular ingredients of such formulations was urine. The process, in general, is not pleasant. After the skin has been boiled in this broth for several hours (the relationship of the words is obvious), it is taken out, dried and given the desired shape. After shrinkage, the armor is ready. Using this technology, not only armor was made, but also a variety of items. The final material resembles some kind of plastic. It is strong enough, has a little flexibility and good elasticity. If you make it just a jacket, that is, one element from the neck to the waist, then it will be impossible to bend in it. Therefore, kur buli in its structure resembles steel cuirasses. Moreover, most likely the cuirasses originated precisely from boiled leather - this, among other evidence, is reminiscent of the spelling of the word "cuirass".

Hide armor is often distinguished - that is, protective weapons simply from animal skins or from their shaved version, raw skin. Here, oddly enough, the fantasy archetype completely hits the mark: if such armor was used, then by all kinds of barbarians who do not have access to normal metallurgy and do not even know how to decently process the skin so that at least it does not stink. Protect protect, but no convenience. Not a single sane adventurer, given at least some alternative, would wear this rubbish. Even the barbarian will change clothes.

Studded leather

Loved by all rogues and other disadvantaged creatures, riveted leather is worthy of a separate discussion. Why beloved? Because the systems consider this armor to provide the best protection among those types of equipment that do not impose any penalties on the dexterity of the wearer. Therefore, characters who rely on their dexterity, all without exception use it.

Why is it worthy of a separate discussion? Because this nonsense needs to stop. Studded leather is thin leather (jacket, not kur bouley) to which many metal studs are attached. It is believed that a blow with a sword can hit the rivet and not pierce the skin. So, this is nonsense. The sword that hits the rivet will simply slide off it and cut through the thin skin as if it were not there at all. Heavier weapons, such as a spear, will not notice the presence of rivets at all. An ax or mace will simply rip the rivets out of their surroundings and drive them directly into the body.

Studded leather is just a few kilograms of "holes". This senseless cliché must be abandoned.

Chainmail (chain mail, mail)

The word "mail", "maille" historically meant chain mail. The concepts of "mail" and "armor" were synonymous. Then armor appeared, “plate mail”, but the chain mail was still called simply the word “mail”, and “chainmail” (a space, as usual, is redundant) is a remake. But everyone is already used to it.

Chain mail appeared at the latest in the 4th century BC. Gradually, this type of armor spread in general to the entire ecumene of that time, becoming the main protective equipment in the west. In the east, all kinds of lamellas were used more widely, but chain mail was also known, although it was not the most common armor.

What is chain mail physically - everyone knows. Metal rings are fastened and intertwined, forming a "fabric", from which a "sweater" is then formed. It is obvious that such a popular and common protective equipment was quite diverse. Chain mail can have both short and long sleeves, while separate bracers are used with short-sleeved chain mail. The total length of chain mail can also be different - it is clear that longer chain mail covers the hips, but weighs more.

It really weighs a lot, about 10 kg. If you do not use a tight belt, then all this weight falls on the shoulders of the owner. Walking in chain mail for a long time, especially without a belt, is not very convenient, exhausting - although this is better than carrying an extra ten kilograms in a backpack. An important advantage of chain mail compared to any other heavy armor is the speed of putting it on - a sweater is a sweater. In the event of a sudden attack, it is better to put on the chain mail as is, without underarmor and belt, than not to wear armor at all.

Experiments show that chain mail does not protect against arrows very well - a direct hit from a military bow pierces it. But in this case, there is a quilted underarmor that stops arrows well. But chain mail almost ignores chopping blows with bladed weapons - they are not life-threatening, only bruises remain. Of course, depending on how and with what to hit: for example, a falchion-cleaver is still capable of at least temporarily turning off the hand that it hits. Especially without the underarm stitcher. Special and heavy weapons, such as mace and spear, of course, chain mail is unstoppable. But, nevertheless, chain mail solves the problem of protection against swords more than satisfactorily. At the same time, it is very affordable, any knight and most professional soldiers could afford it. The spread of chain mail led to a decrease in the role of the sword on the battlefield and to the specialization of bladed weapons for delivering injections, with which it could still be pierced.

Scale armor (scale mail/armour)

We take metal, form scales from it, sew them on a leather or woven base, or simply fasten them like a leather lamellar. We get rather primitive armor, which was really used historically - mainly before our era. However, with the invention and spread of chain mail, scales almost immediately fell into disuse, because chain mail turned out to be lighter and protected better, and was comparable in cost. Therefore, in fantasy with chain mail, crossbows, and even more so plate armor, scales have nothing to do, it looks like an obvious anachronism there. Unless some particularly stupid goblins can use it, but even that is doubtful - there is chain mail.

Ring armor (ring mail)

Rings sewn overlapping on a leather or fabric base. Historically, such armor may have occasionally been found in Asia. There is no archaeological evidence of their presence in Europe. According to their properties, they lose to chain mail. In general, this is a pointless attempt by designers to diversify the available equipment or visually highlight some characters. For example, it is found in the television series Vikings as the armor of Ragnar Lothbrok. What is nonsense, because successful leader the Vikings would have worn chain mail like everyone else, rather than the more primitive and weak armor.

Splint mail/armour

Metal strips and bars arranged vertically along the covered part of the body. Most often, bracers and greaves were made using this technology - they provide sufficient protection against a chopping blow, like langets on polearms. In fantasy, a good niche idea was turned into insanity, offering to protect the torso with the same vertical sticks. Obviously, such a cuirass will deprive the unfortunate owner of the ability to bend in the stomach. Therefore, only protection elements for arms and legs can be tire, nothing more.

Plate armor (plated mail, plate-and-mail armor)

Chain mail is taken, in some places of which metal plates are fixed. The resulting armor is broadly referred to as ringed-plate armor, but there is no separate "plate" armor without rings, so the name can be shortened. Armor of this type was very diverse. There were certain varieties of plate armor everywhere from Eastern Europe to Korea and Japan.

There were quite a few varieties, but a few of the most important can be distinguished. Kalantar, the crudest variant, simply included the weaving of several large plates on the chest and abdomen without overlap. Yushman - also large plates, but with an overlap. Bekhterets - many small plates with a large overlap.

Plate armor was not much more difficult to make than simple mail armor, while they provided higher protection. It is almost useless to try to pierce the plate part of the armor, so the allowable attack area was reduced. Of course, no plates can help against the Lucerne hammer, but the idea is still not bad.

A variant of plate armor can be considered a brigandine, which was already mentioned earlier. A woven base is taken in the form of a jacket, plates are sewn on it with or without overlap, roughly speaking, another jacket is sewn on top. It turns out convenient, practical, inexpensive protection.

Mirror armor (mirror armor)

A large plate is taken and fixed on the chest and abdomen. Or several such plates. Or a box is made of four plates that protect the chest-belly, back and sides under the arms. The whole thing is worn over chain mail. Each of the plates is called a mirror. Often this is not just a plate, but a decorated round "shield" or something similar.

This type of armor was popular in Rus', Eastern Europe and Asia. It is almost never found in fantasy games, because their authors know little about history outside of Western Europe. But it comes across in films, as a rule - on antagonists, like orcs and Arabs. It looks beautiful and exotic, so nothing surprising.

The combination of ideas of mirror armor and kur buli led to the emergence of a full-fledged steel cuirass as the basis of full plate armor.

Laminar armor (laminar armor, banded mail/armour)

Horizontal plates are sewn onto a fabric base. The most famous variant of such armor is the Roman lorica segmentata. It was used, of course, in antiquity, while even in the legions, not all soldiers were equipped with it - those who were simpler had to make do with chain mail.

In the Middle Ages, laminar armor was not used. They were probably considered not a very convenient compromise between the lightness and flexibility of chain mail or plate armor and the protection of plate armor. In the Renaissance, they tried to produce them at one time, but with the availability of armor production technologies, there was no longer any special meaning in laminar armor.

Plate armor (plate, full plate mail/armour)

Everyone knows what plate armor is, but not everyone is aware of its capabilities.

Plate armor grants complete immunity to the slashing blows of a knight's sword and similar weapons. If plate armor could be cut through with a sword, then no one would need them at all. Therefore, scenes from various films and, especially, computer game screensavers, where one noble don in armor successfully cuts another with a sword into a cuirass, is complete nonsense. You can damage the man-at-arms by piercing him in a weak spot, like a gap, taking a helmet, armpits, where there is “only” chain mail protection, in the groin under a cuirass, and so on. There are options, but they are few and difficult to access, most of them require prior immobilization of the armored man.

In the absence of a special weapon for fighting men at arms, one can try to hit the enemy with a sword with the help of very accurate injections into these weak points. In this case, it is better to take the weapon with the right hand where usual, and with the left - by the middle of the blade, in order to turn the sword into a kind of short spear, rigid and very precisely controlled. As an alternative - the technique of hitting the cross and the apple, in which the sword is taken by the hands of the blade. Blade sharpness objections are brushed aside by both historical evidence and contemporary experimentation.

The mace provides the possibility of damage to the body under the armor, but no more. Against armor, classic maces are already poorly suited. Axes against armor also help not very well, their limit is chain mail. Therefore, it is more reliable to use a specialized weapon: a war hammer. Historical war hammers have nothing to do with the fantasy version of "a huge steel brick on a long thin shaft." This kind of fantasy sledgehammer is implausible and meaningless. A normal war hammer is a relatively small warhead on a fairly short one-handed shaft. Two-handed versions also met, the so-called Lucerne hammers or crow's beaks - and they, again, did not have a particularly massive warhead. On one side of the warhead of the hammer is the actual hammer, and on the other - a narrow pick.

Traditional spears against armor also did not help very well, so I had to specialize. Alshpiss appeared, short spears with long and very hard tips. Alshpiss, especially from a running start, you can still pierce armor. At the same time, the tip, equal in length to the blade of the sword, allows the spearman to quite effectively counteract the arms of the man-at-arms.

It should be remembered that the armored man, as a rule, sits on a horse, which is also dressed in armor. And he's not alone at all. And he doesn’t like to participate in a dump, preferring to disperse his horse, hit with a lance, turn around and repeat. But, of course, it can also dismount. A dismounted armored man will most likely be armed with a late medieval shield, the so-called hiter. This is a relatively small triangular shield made of thick wood or metal. Heather, unlike the earlier and much lighter Viking shields, is almost impossible to damage. His task is to turn dangerous straight punches into safe sliding ones. Changing the trajectory of a blow even with the most dangerous two-handed Lucerne hammer makes it possible to take a blow to the armor, approach the enemy and calmly hit him with a knight's sword.

A foot armorer can also be armed with a long polearm such as a halberd or a two-handed sword. In this case, he loses the ability to use the cunning, although some kind of tarch screwed to the forearm is better than nothing. On the other hand, the attacking capabilities are increasing: a man-at-arms with a two-handed sword feels quite confident even against the formation of pikemen. Of course, not alone, but with the support of the same system of comrades.

It is believed that armor is something very clumsy and heavy. Now, that's not true. Military armor, unlike the tournament ones, which are discussed below, were not “too” heavy. Many people think that an armored man who has fallen on his back, for example, cannot rise at all. Well, what can I say: watch the video.

I will add that experiments were carried out - a trained person in armor can even swim. Theorists who consider armor to be something wildly heavy do not take into account the lifestyle of people who had to wear these armor. They didn’t have the Internet and television then, and the liver was not rubber, so the knights devoted a significant part of their leisure time to training. It is clear that if you put armor on a modern city dweller, then he will be uncomfortable. For a knight, plate armor is like a second skin.

Tournament armor is a separate issue. Unlike the military, which provides the necessary mobility, tournament armor specialized for maximum protection at the expense of everything in general. In them, yes, you can’t stand up on your own, and jump on a horse yourself. But this is not military equipment, but “sports”.

Armor is a personal thing. Even ordinary everyday clothing has a division into sizes. Your jacket will not fit a person larger or smaller than you. The story is the same with armor, but if chain mail can still be imagined as more or less dimensionless, then plate armor should be made or at least customized for a specific owner. Therefore, the idea “the adventurer found armor in the dungeon and immediately changed clothes” is, to put it mildly, a stretch.

Separately, we should talk about spikes and other structural elements of decor so common in fantasy. This is the same nonsense as horned helmets. You can grab the spike with your hand, a blow to the spike can ruin the armor, and the spikes themselves are a significant increase in the mass of the armor, which no one needs. The later, most advanced armor of the Milanese type have rounded, streamlined shapes - this is what evolution has led to.

Finally, one cannot but recall such a “brilliant” idea of ​​all game designers as women's plate cuirasses. Well, with two bulges under the mammary glands. Form, I think, everyone represents. So, these bulges lead the blow right to the center of the chest with amazing comfort. To the chest and heart. Hit it any way - you won't miss. Real women's cuirasses, well, will not differ in any way from men's. Maybe the cuirasses for especially prominent ladies will just be a little more spacious in the upper part, but nothing more. About plate bikinis, as well as chain mail bikinis, in general, you can safely remain silent, everything is clear here anyway.

So what about armor?

The main universal option for heavy armor in fantasy should be chain mail and plate armor, as well as brigandines, which can just be considered an intermediate, "medium" option. A character from a more primitive culture might "show off" a laminar or even scales. For less wealthy adventurers, leather cur boules and lamellas. Light armor is gambeson quilts.

This is for a trip. If a battle is expected and there is an opportunity to prepare for it, then there is no reason not to put on plate armor. Ideas like “but plate armor will only slow down the movement of my super-agile character” should be put away. Of course, if the character is going to hang around somewhere in the distance and fire with a bow, then he does not need armor, but if participation in close combat is expected, then there are few options. No matter how agile a character is, gaining complete immunity to most common weapons comes at a cost. And dexterity is an excellent thing, necessary, including in armored combat.

You should also remember about partial protection. Even if the magician needs free hands to weave spells, he may well put on a chain mail vest, a mirror, and a leather cuirass (kur buli) or the usual steel cuirass on his body. The forearms, which are easy to hit, can also be protected by bracers. And magical robes in general should be made on the basis of gambesons, and not bathrobes.

Gothic armor, Germany, XV century

Plate armor has long been one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages, being the calling card of knights and personifying the power and wealth of the owner. The most incredible and ridiculous myths constantly arise around armor.

Milanese armor, Italy, 16th century

Armor of the winged hussars, Poland, XVI century

tournament armor

Different types of armor as museum exhibits

armor- armor made of large metal plates, anatomically repeating the male figure. Compared to other types of armor, the manufacture of such armor was the most difficult and required a considerable amount of steel, and therefore the art of making armor began to develop actively only from the middle of the 14th century.

Because of these difficulties, even in the 15th century, plate armor was not cheap and was often made to order. Of course, only representatives of the nobility could afford such a luxury, which is why the armor became a symbol of chivalry and high birth. So how effective is such armor and was it worth the money? Let's figure it out:

Myth 1: the armor weighed so much that the fallen knight could not rise without assistance

This is wrong. The total weight of full combat armor rarely exceeded 30 kg. The figure may seem big to you, but do not forget that the weight was evenly distributed throughout the body, moreover, men at arms, as a rule, fought on horseback. With this in mind, we get the approximate weight of the modern equipment of an army infantryman. Heavier varieties belonged to tournament armor, deliberately sacrificing mobility in favor of increasing the thickness of the armor, which reduced the risk of injury when struck by a spear or falling from a horse.

Modern reenactors have repeatedly proved that in a replica of full armor you can not only run fast, but even fencing and climb stairs.

Myth 2: Plate armor could be easily penetrated by conventional weapons

And this is a lie. The main distinguishing feature of plate armor is its excellent resistance to all types of damage. Cutting blows do not cause him any harm, unless the knight at full gallop is substituted under the blow of the reed. Stabbing blows could penetrate soft, poorly hardened steel, but later armor held the blow of the sharp end of the war hammer quite well. In addition, the armor (contrary to the opinion of popular culture, which loves to decorate armor with spikes and ribs) was made as smooth and streamlined as possible in order to evenly distribute the energy from the impact and thereby increase the strength of the entire structure. The really effective weapons against the man-at-arms were daggers, which, due to the shortest possible attack range, were the easiest to hit the joints of the armor, and two-handed swords, specially created as countermeasures against heavy infantry and cavalry.

In contrast, video recordings are often cited, in which the tester breaks through a plate breastplate with a morning star or a lucernhammer. It should be noted here that theoretically this is indeed possible, but it is very difficult to deliver a direct blow with a wide swing at an ideal right angle during a battle, otherwise the man-at-arms has every chance of completely or partially avoiding damage.

Myth 3: It is enough just to hit a weak spot, and the man-at-arms will be defeated

That's a moot point. Yes, there are several weak points in plate armor (belt garters, gaps in joints and joints), hitting which will in fact cause significant damage to the enemy. But it wasn't easy to do so:

Firstly, under the armor, the knights wore at least a gambeson, consisting of several layers of dense linen matter. It provided good protection on its own, being surprisingly strong and light, and most knights did not disdain to pull chain mail over it. Thus, the weapon had to overcome several layers of armor before reaching the body.

Secondly, gunsmiths, who quickly realized the main weakness of armor in a combat clash, tried to protect the knight from the threat as much as possible. All belts and garters were hidden deep inside the armor, special "wings" (a continuation of the cast armor plate) served as a screen for joints and joints. All parts of the armor fit together as tightly as possible, which in the crush and turmoil of major battles significantly increased the chances of survival.

So what was bad about plate armor?

The main disadvantage is the exactingness of care. Due to the large area of ​​the armor itself, the metal quickly rusted, and it had to be protected from corrosion. Over time, gunsmiths learned to burn armor, which made them darker and gave good protection against oxidation. In field conditions, the armor was lubricated with oil, and in peacetime it was stored in isolated conditions, usually wrapped in several layers of cloth. Otherwise, the armor was much more effective than any analogues - frayed straps can be quickly and easily replaced, and straightening a dent on a solid plate is much easier than repairing chain mail or replacing segments in lamellar armor.

However, sometimes it was almost impossible to put on plate armor on your own, and if you were wounded, it was just as difficult to take it off. Many knights managed to bleed out from a trifling wound, which put them out of action for the entire battle.

The end of the golden age of armor came along with the beginning of the era of firearms. When the firearm appeared in service with regular armies, armor began to gradually disappear from everyday life. A lead bullet pierced such armor without any problems, although in the early stages, when the power of firearms was not great, they could still serve as a very effective defense.

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