http://www.armourarchive.org/patterns/ is a good resource for a LOT of different armor patterns. Before making armor, I suggest fighting for a little while (5 or 6 months) and then if you are still interested in fighting, making yourself some armor. It is nice to have, but without the practice you will learn to rely too much on the armor and not enough on proper footwork, dodging of missiles, etc.
Also, helmets can restrict sight and hearing if made improperly, so I would start with less restricting armor pieces such as greaves (lower legs) and bracers (forearms). These are much easier to make and will give you a larger benefit since they will give you an extra shot on places that are more likely to get hit since heads are illegal targets to everything except missiles, which you won't really be encountering much in a new realm.
Also, which Gainesville do you live at in Texas? There's two up near Dallas and one near Austin. There's Dagorhir in both locations (
Austin is tiny while
Dallas has a good number of people). Existing realms are good to have as resources for starting a new realm. Normally they have the experience with making weapons, garb, and armor and are more than happy to help teach you since more people to fight is never a bad thing.
Also, by visiting existing realms, you learn to know what is sufficient force of a hit, fighting styles, etc.
Uruk-Hai Serpent Breed and proud
Victory though intensity, tactics and glorious death!
Daemarth: <On the topic of some people just can't get along> it's like sticking me and Kegg in a room... and I keep punching him in the f'n face, and someone looking into the room just keeps telling him that he just needs to get along with me...