01-15-2021, 12:54 PM
I think you could allow for bronze plate (which existed in AD&D) - the difference between bronze and iron equipment may not be significant enough to make a mechanical difference in D&D.
IIRC, the real advantage of iron weapons in the RL Iron Age was cost/availability; I don't think Iron Age iron was superior material-properties-wise to bronze, it took a *long* time for things to advance to that point (with better steel).
IMO, it's kind of like how the limitation of longbows in RL was the incredible amount of training needed - but that isn't a problem for D&D PCs.
The Stone Age is more of an issue.
Well, there is still the issue of balance between classes - Fighters' and Clerics' ability to use all armor isn't worth much if no one has anything better than leather armor.
IIRC, the real advantage of iron weapons in the RL Iron Age was cost/availability; I don't think Iron Age iron was superior material-properties-wise to bronze, it took a *long* time for things to advance to that point (with better steel).
IMO, it's kind of like how the limitation of longbows in RL was the incredible amount of training needed - but that isn't a problem for D&D PCs.
The Stone Age is more of an issue.
RobJN Wrote:Its really only a problem if the stone/bronze-age culture is clashing with one of a higher tech/progress level.
Well, there is still the issue of balance between classes - Fighters' and Clerics' ability to use all armor isn't worth much if no one has anything better than leather armor.