Chitin armor?

[Kaisryk]

How would you go about making Chitin / insect exoskeleton armor?


Since there aren't any real giant bugs, what sort of materials could you use?


Thanks in advance.

[Embara Cayosin]

you could raid a few dumpsters at sea food buffets and attach the shelled ramians to a leather backing.

[Kraesh]

You might want to do a search for threads about bone armor.

-Kraesh

[Isk]

Kraesh's suggestion is good. The answer for usable armor is to form and harden armor grade leather and paint it till yer happy.

[Tiberius Claudius]

Those bone armor threads all come to the same conclusion that it would break on the field and splinter / send sharpnel flying; it's better off as feast garb or non-combat decoration.

I would suggest you either pay a kick-ass leather smith (I suppose plate is a possibility) or really work on your skills to create a tooled leather set that just looks like chitin. It will be hard as rock and it won't break.


***EDIT*** Isk, you beat me to it.

[tyorl]

Slightly related but would ceramic be a possible option? It would be "period", but unless you have a kiln or lots of plates lying around it wouldn't be easy to acquire. This may be an incredibly stupid idea with the shattering qualities of ceramic, but if attached to a leather backing and painted it could look similar to an exoskeleton.

[Isk]

This WOULD be an incredibly stupid idea with the shattering qualities of ceramic, but if attached to a leather backing and painted it could look similar to an exoskeleton.

FTFY. Admittedly, there are some high tech ceramics that could be safer, but I doubt those are within the budget for bel armor.

[Forkbeard]

That's just stupid.
But you would need to use leather.
FB

[Arrakis]

Lacquered steel would look good as chitin and be less bulky than leather. Hardened leather is a good option, though.

[Outhro Youkker]

I can get you the shells from hundreds of horseshoe crabs

if you want as a template

[Mannajax]

I recommend raising giant sea turtles. If done successfully you will even have enough to sell for a profit.

[Embara Cayosin]

**** Orc garb, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle armor/garb FTW.

[Mannajax]

Just in case you didn't like my turtle shell idea, have you considered paper machete? With a good enough glue and enough layers it could be made as hard a bug shell.
If you want more stability and strength you could put a couple layers of machete on something harder. I just think it would give a better look and feel of chitin

[Caleidah]

Just in case you didn't like my turtle shell idea, have you considered paper machete? With a good enough glue and enough layers it could be made as hard a bug shell.
If you want more stability and strength you could put a couple layers of machete on something harder. I just think it would give a better look and feel of chitin

He wants legal armor, dipwad.

[Mannajax]

The only excluding text I found in the BoW was "Armor must be of period material" which means chitin is excluded by its nature. But since were playing pretend I'm trying to be creative.
Anyhow, I know it won't be super strong but chitin has always been, in my experience, a low grade armor. If you don't like my paper machete ideas either then perhaps cloth layers glued in a similar fashion. A little more strength durability.
I think it would keep it light weight enough to feel authentic, and with the right fabric the finish might even have a bug shell feel.

Just my creative solutions to your problem, feel free to flame away, not that you need an invitation as previously proven

[Caleidah]

The only excluding text I found in the BoW was "Armor must be of period material" which means chitin is excluded by its nature. But since were playing pretend I'm trying to be creative.
Anyhow, I know it won't be super strong but chitin has always been, in my experience, a low grade armor. If you don't like my paper machete ideas either then perhaps cloth layers glued in a similar fashion. A little more strength durability.
I think it would keep it light weight enough to feel authentic, and with the right fabric the finish might even have a bug shell feel.

Just my creative solutions to your problem, feel free to flame away, not that you need an invitation as previously proven

As it stands, there are ways listed in the BoW for how armor can be legal. It can be from 16ga period metal or leather that is no more than two layers thick and is thickness equal to that of 12oz. There has been talk of cloth armor in the past in regards to creating lacquered cloth armor that would function like hardened leather plates. Our version of playing pretend comes with some solid rules that you should learn to read.

What Kaisryk is looking to do is make armor that -looks- like chitin from period materials or things that we have determined would work as armor. Paper mache would be destroyed after one or two solid hits.

[Tiberius Claudius]

Paper mache would be destroyed after one or two solid hits.

But not if it were hit by a paper machete.

[Mannajax]

Firstly I apologize for the machete, I have auto correct on and my phone wasn't cooperating.
Secondly, pardon my noon ignorance. I read the BoW as told, assumed those to be the rules, then made my posts.
Third, I realize paper mache wouldn't last long, but neither would chitin armor. That's why I then reported with cloth instead of paper.
Forth, a note on general hospitality. I have found in my life that when I a. Part of something I have a passion for and am trying to get people to join, I discovered it helps with recruitment not to be so condescending towards them.

[Arrakis]

Then, in that case, here's some friendly, helpful advice.

Don't suggest anything or advise anyone of anything until you are more experienced and understand the rules of our great game better. Ideally, wait 'til you've been to a major event or two.

[Forkbeard]

Third, I realize paper mache wouldn't last long, but neither would chitin armor. That's why I then reported with cloth instead of paper.

Which is why I said this is a **** stupid idea to begin with. "chitin" is not a real armor material. No one has ever made armor from a bug shell. Sure, it was done in some gay sci-fi book, but so trasporters and unicorns and several other fantasy type things we don't have anything to do with.
Fake bug shell made from steel would be a waste of time and money. I sugested leather becuase it would be cheapest and easiest.
To stupid new guy, why would you think you could give advice to someone about this game if your so new you don't understand the material requirments? Are you just trying to sound smart after scanning the rules? Are you thinking that we do not understand our own rules and you are about to drop the knowlegde bomb on us, not knowing this game has been going for over 10 years?
Read more. Post less.
FB

[Arrakis]

Fake bug shell made from steel would be a waste of time and money. I sugested leather becuase it would be cheapest and easiest.

Leather costs more than steel.

[Mannajax]

I had a nice reply about not presuming to know things and about creative solutions and how chitin armor made of leather is still just leather. The I realized that there's no getting through to arrogant vets that hate new people. I've dealt with them plenty before. I even had a couple more sorry's throws in there, but I take back any and all apologies.

A toast to the end of my posting.


Signed,
The stupid new guy

[Arrakis]

QQ it's all about me QQ

[The Great Gigsby]

The design for the Moria Orcs in the LOTR films were inspired by * if I remember correctly. That might be a good place to look for inspiration. Pretty sure Weta was going for a metal look with painted plastic. Leather would look best.



Mannajax, you're more than welcome here. A thick skin and a sense of humor are strongly advised, though. Otherwise, QQ.

[Kasada]

Leather costs more than steel.

^ Painfully true. Though I've never made armor myself, I imagine that steel lamellar would look pretty good, and is fairly close to what it sounds like you're going for.
I have a feeling that you drew some inspiration here from Morrowind?

[Kaisryk]

Yeah, I got the idea from Morrowind.

I'd also like to make some glass armor, I suppose that'd be possible with the right paint and finish over metal armor.

Also, Mannajax, when you suggest things like "raise giant sea turtles", people are liable to flame you.

[Forkbeard]

Stupid new guy. If you think my negative reaction to your extrodinarily bad advice that violates our rules is hate, then you have never experienced hate.
What, are you like 12? grow the **** up. If you are going to say stupid **** without even looking at the rules, you need to expect to get called on it.
This forum is not here for you to speculate on what MIGHT be ok. It is here for people to ask experienced Bel fighters questions about construction of armor and the rules concerning it.
Go get the sand out of you vag. Come back when you can take the heat.
I love new people. I dislike stupid douch bags.
Arrakis, yeah, steel is cheaper, but tools for the cutting, forming, polishing and edging of the steel cost way more.
Really for leather you only need a razor blade and $1 acryllic paint. Many people spend alot of money on leather tools, but you don't need them.
And like the LotR orcs, "looking" like bug shell but made of steel makes for cool armor. Attempting to make armor that looks like you skinned a bug imho would just look dumb.
And glass armor made from steel will only look like steel armor. What would be you definable aspect that would say the armor was made of glass? the shininess? Dumb.
FB

[Magpie Saegar]

FWIW, the armor he's talking about is all from Morrowind. I'm guessing it's less about the materials (which will of course have to be leather or metal) or looking like he's just skinned a bug, and more about the general style and appearance of the armor, which I've posted below. I'd recommend leather and lots of cloth garb for the first one, even if it still won't look the same unless you're way skinny and have your ribcage sticking out. And I'd recommend avoiding the second one unless you're an insane metalsmith. But I also don't know what I'm talking about.

Chitin Armor:

Glass Armor:

[Tiberius Claudius]

I always liked the green glass Daedra armor. Stuff sold for tons of gold in that game.

[Dawken]

Chitin armor, go mad max.

[Forkbeard]

I thinkall aussies should be required to wear football pads and sweaters at all times.
FB

[Fitz Caliston]

Speaking of Mad Max, Burke showed up at the park week or so ago with this:



I'm glad he got rid of the plastic for most of it and replaced it with leather... It's for a friends halloween costume.