Eastern Armor
Many of the following types of armor are constructed of multiple parts, which a number of these armors mix and match. For instance, it is not unheard of for warriors to combine chain mail with four-mirror armor. Only the various types of plate mail would be either rare or unfamiliar in an Asian-inspired setting.
Table: Eastern Armor
| Armor | Cost | ArmorBonus | MaximumDex Bonus | ArmorCheck Penalty | Arcane SpellFailure | Speed 30ft 20ft | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Armor | ||||||||
| Haramaki | 3 gp | +1 | — | 0 | 0% | 30 ft. | 20 ft. | 1 lb. |
| Silken ceremonial armor | 30 gp | +1 | — | 0 | 0% | 30 ft. | 20 ft. | 4 lbs. |
| Lamellar cuirass | 15 gp | +2 | +4 | 0 | 5% | 30 ft. | 20 ft. | 8 lbs. |
| Lamellar, leather | 60 gp | +4 | +3 | –2 | 20% | 30 ft. | 20 ft. | 25 lbs. |
| Medium Armor | ||||||||
| Do-maru | 200 gp | +5 | +4 | –4 | 25% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 30 lbs. |
| Kikko armor | 250 gp | +5 | +4 | –3 | 20% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 25 lbs. |
| Lamellar, horn | 100 gp | +5 | +3 | –4 | 25% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 30 lbs. |
| Four-mirror armor | 125 gp | +6 | +2 | –5 | 30% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 45 lbs. |
| Lamellar, steel | 150 gp | +6 | +3 | –5 | 25% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 35 lbs. |
| Mountain pattern armor | 250 gp | +6 | +3 | –4 | 30% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 40 lbs. |
| Heavy Armor | ||||||||
| Kusari gusoku | 350 gp | +7 | +1 | –7 | 35% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 45 lbs. |
| Lamellar, iron | 200 gp | +7 | 0 | –7 | 40% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 50 lbs. |
| Lamellar, stone | 500 gp | +8 | 0 | –7 | 40% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 45 lbs. |
| Tatami-do | 1,000 gp | +7 | +3 | –6 | 35% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 45 lbs. |
| O-yoroi | 1,700 gp | +8 | +2 | –6 | 35% | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 45 lbs. |
Do-Maru
Aura:CLl:
Price: 200 gp
Weight: 30 lbs.
The lightest of all samurai armors, do-maru wraps around your body like a short armored coat. It consists primarily of lamellar and lacks a solid breastplate or sleeves. This permits you greater flexibility than do heavier armors.
Four-Mirror Armor
Aura:CLl:
Price: 125 gp
Weight: 45 lbs.
This armor consists of four plates harnessed together with leather shoulder straps. Two round plates protect your front and back, while two smaller rectangular plates cover the sides of the torso. Four-mirror armor is worn over chainmail to provide added protection, and comes with a spiked helmet with a chainmail hood.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 3 gp
Weight: 1 lb.
Also called a belly-warmer, a haramaki is a simple silken sash lined with chainmail or articulated metal plates and tied about the stomach to protect it.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 250 gp
Weight: 25 lbs.
Kikko armor consists of hexagonal plates made from iron and sewn to cloth. The plates may be hidden by a layer of cloth or left exposed.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 350 gp
Weight: 45 lbs.
Kusari gusoku is similar to tatami-do armor; however, a katabira—a type of chain jacket—is worn in place of the chest armor.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 200 gp
Weight: 50 lbs.
Lamellar is a type of armor in which small plates of various types of materials are strung together in parallel rows using fine cord. Lamellar plates can be constructed from lacquered leather, horn, or even stone, though steel and heavier iron are most common. Lamellar armor can be crafted into various shapes, including partial pieces such as breastplates, greaves, or even entire coats. The properties of specific suits and pieces of lamellar armor are determined by their material.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 15 gp
Weight: 8 lbs.
This armor consists of a light breastplate and shoulder guards made from lacquered leather plates bound together and fitted over a silk shirt.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 250 gp
Weight: 40 lbs.
This medium armor consists of hundreds of small, interlocking pieces of steel shaped to resemble an ancient symbol for the word “mountain.” The mail is then riveted to a cloth or leather backing. It is worn like a mail coat and covers your torso, shoulders, and thighs.
O-Yoroi
Aura:CLl:
Price: 1,700 gp
Weight: 45 lbs.
Worn almost exclusively by high-ranking samurai, o-yoroi—or “great armor”—is a heavy combat armor that consists of various supplementary components that include both plate and lamellar elements. Each suit is crafted for a specific individual and displays the owner's aesthetic. Upon completion, the suit is colored and sealed with a final lacquer finish. The centerpiece of o-yoroi is a cuirass consisting of two parts—a separate reinforcement for the right side called a waidate, and a kikko cuirass. The upper part of the waidate consists of a leather-covered iron plate. The cuirass's leather shoulder straps—called watagami—are likewise armored with metal plates. Affixed to the cuirass are a number of supplementary pieces, including wide lamellar shoulder guards, a kikko sleeve for the shield arm, lacquered iron greaves worn over padded silk leggings, and a groin protector. Still, the signature component of each suit of armor is the tiered kabuto helmet and its accompanying ho-ate mask. Ho-ate masks can be made of hardened leather or metal and are fashioned into fearsome visages such as oni, dragons, or other mythical beings.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 30 gp
Weight: 4 lbs.
Used for ceremonial displays or occasionally worn (albeit with no additional benefit) over heavier armor, these robes consist of several layers of cloth and an outer layer of silk intricately woven with gold brocade designs and covered with metal studs.
Aura:CLl:
Price:
Weight:
This weighty breastplate consists of lamellar crafted from stones. It is worn in conjunction with kikko leg protectors.
Aura:CLl:
Price: 1,000 gp
Weight: 45 lbs.
Worn by samurai as a lighter-weight alternative to o-yoroi, tatami-do is a full-body field armor that combines both metal lamellar and kikko components into a suit of mail with a cloth backing. It typically includes a collapsible kabuto helmet or an armored hood, as well as arm, shoulder, and thigh guards.