Helms (AEG)

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==Helms==
Campaign Use: Helms are part of a warrior's basic protection. Failure to use proper headgear leaves a character open to called shots by opponents or to other disadvantages at the DM's option. All headgear except that which does not cover the ears must be removed when making rolls for listening.
The Complete Fighter's Handbook offers an optional rule for Hearing and Vision checks. All helms restrict Hearing and Vision checks to some degree. (A Vision or Hearing check is a 1d20 roll against a character's Intelligence or Wisdom, whichever is
higher. These checks can be used when a character has a chance to hear or see something of importance. This check isn't used when characters listen at doors; that has its own check.)
Optionally, great helms and closed-face helmets, when worn with plate armor, gain bonuses against dragon's breath and spells that affect the eyes (see the Equipment section in The Complete Fighter's Handbook).
Helms and Thieves: Thieves suffer automatic penalties to hearing if a helm is worn. The following descriptions include penalties to Hearing and Vision checks. If these rules are not used, the penalties for Vision checks should be ignored; for Hearing checks, substitute a -5% penalty to the thief's Hear Noise ability for each -1 Hearing check modifier (e.g., a -3 to a Hearing check is a -15% to the thief's Hear Noise roll).
==Cap==
A cap is a padded, leather, or steel skullcap worn much like a close-fitted cap, beret, or bonnet. Caps are usually worn with padded armor, leather, studded leather, hide, or any other lightweight protection.
Vision and Hearing: -1 penalty to Hearing checks; no penalty to Vision checks.
==Coif==
A coif is a padded chain mail hood. It fits snugly around the neck and over the head, except the face. It usually comes with or is built into a suit of chain mail or mail-based armor. Often, a heavily armored knight will wear a chain mail coif under a great helm. This allows him to remove his great helm for a better view of the field while maintaining a fair level of head protection.
Vision and Hearing: Identical Vision and Hearing check penalties as those associated with a cap (above). If a great helm is worn, penalties are assigned for the great helm and are not cumulative with those of the coif.
==Open-Face Helmet==
This class of open-face helmet, made of reinforced leather or metal, covers most of the head, save the face and neck. These helmets commonly provide protection for the nose (this piece of the helm is called a nasal).
Open-face helmets are popular with officers and leaders, and are appropriately worn with medium-weight armors like brigandine and chain mail.
Vision and Hearing: -1 penalty to Vision checks; -2 penalty to Hearing checks (such helms cover the ears entirely except for a small hole).
==Closed-Face Helmet==
The closed-face helmets are identical to the open-face helmets (above), but include a visored faceplate.
These tend to be worn by officers and sergeants-at-arms. They are most commonly worn with plate mail.
Vision and Hearing: When the visor is up, Vision and Hearing check penalties are identical for those of open-face helmets. Otherwise, the visored wearer suffers a -2 penalty to all Vision checks and a -3 penalty to Hearing checks.
==Great Helm==
A great helm is any massive metal helm that covers the entire head, including the neck and often the upper shoulders. The only gaps in the protection are found in the narrow slits that allow limited vision, and some small holes to permit breathing. The visor is not normally removable.
It is rare to find a great helm used with armor lighter than banded mail. Great helms are most often found in combination with plate mail or heavier armor.
Vision and Hearing: -3 penalty to Vision checks; -4 penalty to Hearing checks.