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Here is a video and a project page about ancient Greek linothorax armor and a project at the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay to reverse-engineer it, and it looks like it (or at least the reverse-engineered version) does its job pretty well. The closest armor I can find in Pathfinder is Quilted Cloth, which: ". . . has internal layers specifically designed to trap arrows, bolts, darts, shuriken, thrown daggers, and other small ranged piercing weapons. When these kinds of weapons strike you, they tend to become snagged in these layers and fail to harm you. You gain DR 3/— against attacks of this kind. The special layers of the armor have no effect on other kinds of weapons." But it only gives you +1 AC, although at least it is light and doesn't limit your Dex much or give you an ACP. But from the video it looks like it also provides decent protection against more than just small piercing projectiles, whereas Rules as Written it is good only if you expect to be shot at a lot by hand crossbows and thrown daggers (which oddly enough makes it potentially good for Second Darkness, but not much good anywhere else).
Thoughts? Pathfinder does have a Bronze Age weapons section, but doesn't seem to have a Bronze Age armor and shields section.
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Eastern Armor can be used to cover this.
Just a thought...
Low end Linothorax = Lamellar cuirass +2
Standard Linothorax = Lamellar, leather +4
lorica hamata = Chain shirt +4
lorica squamata = Scale Mail +5
Muscle cuirass = Breastplate +6
lorica plumata = Lamellar, steel +6
lorica segmentata = Banded mail +7
^Maybe make Linothorax = Quilted Cloth +{Something}?
Perhaps if it's made of silkweave? ;)
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Well, even if Linothorax = Quilted Armor, I don't find it that odd.
The Shield doesn't give you a HUGE AC boost either, but traditionally it was one of the biggest defensive weapons around and one of the reasons why it was smarter for Medieval warriors to go Sword and Board rather than two Weapon fighter. It also was very useful in protection from arrows, and a vital part of a warrior's equipment up until guns started to become popular.
Linothorax != Quilted Cloth.
Saying a linothorax is made from cloth is both as true and as misleading as saying a carbon fiber car door panel or a fiberglass boat hull are made from cloth.
What I meant was maybe use Quilted Cloth +{Something} to represent Linothorax, not that they are actually made the same way.
I still think Lamellar is the right way to go.
From Ultimate Combat:
Lamellar is a type of armor in which small plates of various types of materials are strung together in parallel rows using fine cord. Lamellar plates can be constructed from lacquered leather, horn, or even stone, though steel and heavier iron are most common. Lamellar armor can be crafted into various shapes, including partial pieces such as breastplates, greaves, or even entire coats. The properties of specific suits and pieces of lamellar armor are determined by their material.
I had a go at making a Linothorax (Lamellar) wearing hoplite - probably a Lochagos in rank (Commanding 80 or so men).
Demosthenes
Human (taldan) fighter (phalanx soldier) 5 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player's Guide 105)
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Hero Points 1
Init +3; Senses Perception +5
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Defense
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AC 23, touch 12, flat-footed 21 (+7 armor, +2 Dex, +4 shield)
hp 38 (5d10)
Fort +4, Ref +3 (+1 bonus vs. Trample attacks), Will +1
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)
Melee +1 heavy shield bash +5 (1d8+3) or
. . gauntlet (from armor) +8 (1d3+3) or
. . unarmed strike +8 (1d3+3 nonlethal) or
. . καθαρῶ (long spear) +5 (1d8+4/×3)
Special Attacks phalanx fighting, ready pike
--------------------
Statistics
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Str 16, Dex 15, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 12
Base Atk +5; CMB +8 (+10 bull rush); CMD 20 (23 vs. bull rush, 21 vs. drag, 21 vs. overrun, 21 vs. trip)
Feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Shield Bash, Power Attack, Shield Focus, Stand Still, Two-weapon Fighting
Traits militia veteran (any town or village), shield bearer (ulfen), tactician
Skills Acrobatics -3 (-7 to jump), Appraise +2, Climb +2, Craft (armor) +5, Craft (weapons) +5, Diplomacy +1 (-1 vs. Creatures that threaten, accuse, or challenge you and haven't apologized), Handle Animal +5, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (engineering) +5, Perception +5, Perform (oratory) +5, Profession (soldier) +5, Ride +2, Sense Motive +0 (-2 vs. Creatures that threaten, accuse, or challenge you and haven't apologized), Stealth -1, Survival +5, Swim +2
Languages Common, Kelish
SQ elysian bronze, hero points, pride, stand firm +1
Other Gear +1 lamellar (steel) armor, +1 bashing heavy steel shield, καθαρῶ (long spear), 1,875 gp
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Tracked Resources
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Ready Pike +1 (1/day) (Ex) - 0/1
Shield Bearer (Ulfen, 1/day) - 0/1
Tactician (1/day) - 0/1
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Special Abilities
--------------------
Combat Reflexes (3 AoO/round) Can make extra attacks of opportunity/rd, and even when flat-footed.
Elysian Bronze First crafted in the deeps of time by the titans and bestowed as gifts to monster-slaying heroes among the lesser races, Elysian bronze retains the brazen coloration of its namesake but is as hard as steel. A weapon made of Elysian bronze adds a +1 b
Hero Points Hero Points can be spent at any time to grant a variety of bonuses.
Improved Bull Rush You don't provoke attacks of opportunity when bull rushing.
Improved Shield Bash You still get your shield bonus while using Shield Bash.
Phalanx Fighting (Ex) Polearms and spears are one-handed if wielded along with a shield.
Power Attack -2/+4 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Pride -2 to diplomacy and sense motive vs. those who threaten, accuse, or challenge you, until they apologize
Ready Pike +1 (1/day) (Ex) +1 to hit and damage if you ready a brace weapon.
Shield Focus +1 Shield AC
Stand Firm +1 (Ex) +1 to CMD vs. Bull Rush, Overrun, Push, Pull, Trip, and saves vs. trample.
Stand Still When taking an AoO, you can make a combat maneuver check to end opponent's movement instead of attacking.
Tactician (1/day) Gain a +2 trait bonus on an attack of opportunity.
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