[Ansteorra] Armor standards (was: Earl Marshal Out of Kingdom)

[Chris Zakes]

At 08:56 PM 10/5/2006, you wrote:

>Can anyone explain why Freon Cans went out of fashion?  Just the look?
>
>   Colin
>   (a very post Freon Can Period participant)


The appearance didn't help--it's almost impossible to make a freon 
can look like anything except a freon can.

But the main reason is that the metal used for freon cans is pretty 
thin, maybe 18 gauge mild steel? Over the years, people have been 
slowly increasing their blow force. When an "average" blow leaves a 
significant dent in a helm, then it's time to do something. The 
choice was, first, to only allow "reinforced" freon can helms, then 
later to ban them completely in favor of 16 gauge or heavier steel.

Of course, as armor standards increased, blow force increased to 
match it, or maybe it's the other way 'round. That's why we now 
require rigid protection over the joints (instead of knee and elbow 
pads), why we now require rigid protection on the forearms (instead 
of nothing), why we now require plate gauntlets or basket hilts for 
both hands (instead of--depending on which year it was--hockey gloves 
or light leather gloves on the sword hand and nothing on the shield 
hand.) That's also why most fighters wear plate or leather on their 
legs, even though it's *not* required in the rules.

         -Tivar Moondragon