Equipment

## Armour

There was a motley array of equipment present in Medieval armies as men were often required to provide their own. Therefore, differences in wealth and standing in society were reflected in the assorted qualities of equipment, ranging from town levies with leather jerkins to noble knights in full plate armour. However, despite disparities in the value of the equipment, each have their own vices and virtues, which is something that is reflected in the armour system of Gloria Victis.

### Light Armours

Made either from Cuir Boulii or Quilted Fabric, they offer superior maneuverability at the cost of protection. Due to the high availability of leather and cloth, these armours are quite affordable and therefore highly favoured by the common soldier as well as those on a tight budget. The light weight of these armours allows the wearer to nimbly dodge blows that would have been impossible to evade in a more cumbersome set of armour.
### Medium Armours

Primarily consisting of leather but incorporates metal components (such as mail in vital areas like the torso). Armours from this class such as Brigandines offer substantial protection from damage without sacrificing too much mobility. Medium armours are also the most commonly sought after armour due to their versability and are the standard fare of infantry. However, due to the increased workmanship required to craft these, there is a marked increase in the price of these armours compared to light armours.
### Heavy Armours

The Plate Armour provides unparalleled protection in the Medieval World. In spite of this, due to the complex processes involved in the crafting of these armours, they can only be afforded by the very rich. Though they offer superior protection, Plate Armour is cumbersome beyond belief, sapping a man of his stamina in a matter of minutes of fighting. The enclosed environment of Plate Armour is unbearable on a summer’s day; the experience is comparable to being boiled alive, leaving the wearer in a bad condition to sustain a skirmish. When combined with a mount and lance, heavy armour is truly something to be feared, the increased weight adding even more momentum to an already awe-inspiring cavalry charge.
## Weaponry

There is a constant battle between armours and weapons, with the former being intent on stopping the latter, and the latter on getting through the former. There was no clear winner until the advent of gunpowder, but there was a wide array of weapons with their own specific purpose. Weapons in Gloria Victis each have their own unique purpose with certain weapons more effective against certain types of armour.

### Close-quarters Combat Weapons

A wide variety of weapons exist for fighting body to body.
* The most common is **the Sword**. It is designed for thrusting and cutting and therefore is an excellent candidate for dealing with unarmoured or lightly armoured foes.
* Though Plate Armours are impervious to Swords (as the blade would simply glance or be deflected by the curvature of the plate), there are certain weapons that are able to overcome the seemingly perfect protection of plate armour; **Daggers, War Picks** and **Stilettos** are able to work their way through the gaps of Plate Armour.
* Blunt weapons such as **Warhammers,** **Flails** and **Maces** are able to transfer the force of an attack through the heavy plate and directly onto the person underneath.

### Polearms

These weapons have a much longer reach than the aforementioned types. This is achieved by extending the pole using a wooden shaft. Aside from the obvious advantage of being able to engage enemies from a distance which renders the enemies unable to reach the Polearm's wielder, these weapons also benefit from the additional weight of the weapon itself, allowing the dealing of significant amounts of pierce damage. Though length is an advantage from a distance, the same cannot be said for close-quarters combat, with the longer weapons of this type such as **Pikes,** **Halberds** and **Glaives** being next to useless. It is worthy to note that **Voulges** and **Poleaxe**s can more than hold their own in the same situation thanks to their versatility. The **Lance** is the signature weapon of cavalry, and, when couched, makes for a devastating charge.
### Ranged Weapons

The phrase "practice makes perfect" cannot be more true regarding missile weapons. Ranged weapons, if used correctly, are truly powerful, being able to claim the lives of foes well before you get in range of their weapons — or in some cases, before they even see you. Missile weapons consist of three categories: Bows, Crossbows and Thrown Projectiles.
* **Longbows** and **Composite Bows** boast superior firing speed as well as range, but their arrows lack the necessary power to punch through thicker armours.
* **Crossbows**, on the other hand, feature a much higher piercing power, however they also have a significatively lower fire rate compared to bows.
* There are various objects and weapons that can be **thrown** at foes but there have a very limited range due to limits on human strength. Missile weapons are an essential weapon for both assailants and the besieged in sieges, however defenders enjoy the luxury of greater projectile power as well as range due to their height advantage.