Armor Combat Rules

From the V8 Rulebook

Armor is rated by its ability to stop Wounds and is referred to as Armor Points. Armor with an Armor Point value not allowed to a Player Class may be worn for the highest value allowed to the Player Class with the permission of the reeve.

Any hit to armor only affects the location struck unless otherwise noted.
Example: Hitting the sleeve of a chainmail shirt will only affect the arm location.
There are four possible mechanics involved with counting blows to armor:

1. A hit to armor from any weapon will remove one Armor Point from the location hit.
2. A hit to armor from a weapon, Magic Ball, etc with the Armor Breaking Special Effect will immediately remove all Armor Points from the location struck if the location struck currently has three or less Armor Points. If the armor currently has four or more Armor Points then the armor has one Armor Point removed as per normal.
   

Example: Armor with 4 points is struck by a weapon with Armor Breaking.
The armor loses an Armor Point at the location struck. The armor is struck again in the same location which now has 3 points. The Armor Points at that location are reduced to zero and the wearer is unharmed unless otherwise noted.

1. A hit to armor from a weapon, Magic Ball, etc with the Armor Destroying ability reduces the armor to zero points in the location struck. The wearer is unharmed unless otherwise noted.
2. Contacts to armor from objects which do not fall into the above categories have no effect on the armor and pass through to the location underneath unless otherwise noted.

Armor with no remaining Armor Points no longer interacts with hits from weapons, Magic Balls, etc.

Armor only protects the area that it covers.
Example: You have armor on the front of your leg, but a gap on your thigh, and are struck in the area left open by the gap. You are wounded and the armor itself takes no damage.

Armor present on a wounded hit location will continue to function and stop blows as per normal. This does not exempt wounded arms from the requirement to be kept out of combat.

Hits to armor covering a foot that strike below the ankle while that foot is on the ground have no effect on the armor and pass through to the location underneath unless otherwise noted.

Armor worn under garb must be partially visible, and must be announced if asked.

See Also:

• Combat Rules
• Armor
• Weapons
• Weapon Types, Shields, and Equipment
• Equipment Checking