Topic: Clarification on "Armor by the piece"...

[GoblynByte]

I have a couple things I want to ask about purchasing and applying armor by the piece.  The following questions only take into account the HARP core book and do not include concepts from Martial Law.

First, are "paired" items (pauldrons, gauntlets, boots, etc) sold (price and weight) and statted (MP and CP) by the pair or in singles?  If sold in pairs would it be reasonable to simply split the numbers in half to represent wearing only one of an item (a gauntlet, greave, and pauldron on just the weapon arm was common in Roman gladiators)?

Second, when attacking a location with or without armor (using hit locations) do you simply count the DB provided by the armor when attacking a location with armor and ignore the DB provided by any armor when attacking a location without the armor?  In other words, do you only count the DB provided by any armor for the specific location attacked?  I'm not sure if this is stated outright in the core book so I'm simply assuming this is the case.  Otherwise there would be no real point to hit locations. 

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Rasyr-Mjolnir]

First, are "paired" items (pauldrons, gauntlets, boots, etc) sold (price and weight) and statted (MP and CP) by the pair or in singles?  If sold in pairs would it be reasonable to simply split the numbers in half to represent wearing only one of an item (a gauntlet, greave, and pauldron on just the weapon arm was common in Roman gladiators)?

by the pair, and I would presume so on splitting them. Or maybe go 60/40 for prime hand/off-hand.

Second, when attacking a location with or without armor (using hit locations) do you simply count the DB provided by the armor when attacking a location with  armor and ignore the DB provided by any armor when attacking a location without the armor?  In other words, do you only count the DB provided by any armor for the specific location attacked?  I'm not sure if this is stated outright in the core book so I'm simply assuming this is the case.  Otherwise there would be no real point to hit locations.

No, you always count the person's full DB. Quite simply, they are not standing still while you smack them, and while you are attempting to hit a given location, there is no guarantee that you will succeed. The DB from armor represents an overall protective value of the armor worn, not specific protection against attacks on that specific location.

The point to hit locations is to do specific damage to that location. You still have to get past the defender's defenses to be able to do that.

 

[GMLovlie]

If you?re using ML armour adjustment rules, they would apply by the piece/location though, at least that?s my take on it.

The ML armour adjustment rules work well with H&S too.

[GoblynByte]

No, you always count the person's full DB. Quite simply, they are not standing still while you smack them, and while you are attempting to hit a given location, there is no guarantee that you will succeed. The DB from armor represents an overall protective value of the armor worn, not specific protection against attacks on that specific location.

The point to hit locations is to do specific damage to that location. You still have to get past the defender's defenses to be able to do that.

So, in other words, hit location, using just the core book, holds little advantage beyond adding flavor to the injuries.  I'm not complaining (I find that very useful, in fact).  I'm just clarifying.