Unique Armors, 2 (d100)

Splint mail, studded leather and sturdy shields of all shapes, sizes and mysterious backgrounds. Fictional characters wear their armor like a second skin, seemingly owning no clothes but their ever-present protective gear. Armor can define a character’s personality as well as their fighting style and fuel a growing character arc. From Darth Vader’s futuristic full plate, Sturm Brightblade in his father’s ancient suit of Solamnic armor, Batman’s pitch black suit and cloak (Or any superhero costume) designed to evoke fear in criminals, Warhammer 40k’s Space Marines and their enormous powered armor, Croaker’s baroque Widowmaker armor, Goblin Slayer’s grubby armor and concealing helmet, the frost covered armor of Prince Arthas and any complete armor set from any video game, a character’s protective gear is a full body first impression. These examples are not powerfully magical or even technologically more advanced than other armors in their various settings but the rich description, emotional attachment and narrative focus allows the protection to almost become a character in its own right. This table of Unique Armor can serve as the physical basis for family heirlooms, legendary artifacts and magical or masterwork weapons. Alternatively they can be found as loot and become part of a PC’s distinctive appearance, allowing the player to become fully immersed in their character’s look and feel. —Note: Some entries call for the DM to “Roll a Random armor” which simply means that the DM can roll from the pregenerated lists on this blog or choose whatever armor they feel would be appropriate for the situation.

d100 Result

1

A breastplate comprised of swamp dragon bones bound with its hide. The armor leaves the arms bare and a skirt of leather strips go down to the wielder’s knees.

2

A kite shield with a pattern of a great serpent painted onto it, that will writhe and attempt to dodge any blows blocked by the shield. If the serpent is struck, it will drip red oil down the shield’s surface.

3

A suit of padded armor consisting of a billowing assemblage of earth-coloured cloth that seems to flow with the wind as if made of sand itself.

4

A suit of Roll on "Random Armor" with the emblem of a crescent moon prominently displayed on the chest piece. A creature who suffered injury while wearing the armor experiences no dreams of any sort the next time they sleep. They wake undisturbed by the traumatic memories of pain and combat subconscious might have tried to dredge up.

5

A tower shield whose entire outer face is taken up by the Brightly Coloured holy symbol of a God of Roll on "Good Domains". The interior of the shield bears a large inscription that reads “The Wall Against Which Darkness Breaks” that can be easily read by the wielder no matter how the shield is held.

6

A conspicuous suit of pearly white scale mail edged with glinting gold.

7

A steel breastplate emblazoned with a coat-of-arms; A stylized golden windmill on a red field.

8

A rare set of Dwarven plate armor, created from thin sheets of a specially treated stone that resemble marble. This specific suit of Dwarven stone armor is cumbersome and more ornamental than practical, the whorls in its marbled texture area pleasing to the eye. Knowledgeable PC’s are aware that this design of stone armor serves as the dress uniform for the legendary dwarven defenders. Nevertheless, the armor provides impressive protection, as long as the person wearing it does not plan on moving very fast. Dwarven stone armor includes greaves and helmet, but not gauntlets.

9

A tower shield made of strangely glowing obsidian and fir with a single diagonal grey stripe on an ebony field.

10

A hulking suit of plate mail with overall grim physical traits. The upper arms and legs are comprised out of several long, silver-colored iron plates, while the lower arms are made out of a pair of two plates tied together. The hands are a pair of iron gauntlets, each having a pair of four spikes instead of knuckles and fingers made of cloth. The middle, ring and little fingers are fused together, leaving the index and thumb separate. The feet are a pair of leather boots with iron guards. The chest piece is formed out of two large metal plates held together by an iron ring, in turn, held in place by five leather belts. Around the waist and left shoulder, the armor sports a brown tunic with fur trims, which is tied together by a black leather belt with two dangling rings of iron. The neck is an extension of the torso plates, in turn, covered by an iron guard formed from a single, long iron plate that forms a circle around the sides and the back of the head. The helmet is a composite of iron, facial bones and fur. The nape and the scalp are two distinct metal plates, with a pair of small horns just above the eye sockets, the number “66” written on the left side, just above the cheekbone, and the white long hair protruding from the back. The face is formed out of white facial bones of some unknown humanoid animal, having large eye sockets, a large mandible with two spiky bone going downwards and eight distinct razor-sharp fangs, four on the upper jaw and another four for the lower jaw. A small alchemical circle drawn in blood is located inside the armor, written on the neck plate.

11

A set of half-plate armor assembled from a combination of chainmail with metal plates (breastplate, epaulettes, elbow guards, gauntlets, tasses, and greaves) covering vital areas. Buckles and straps hold the whole suit together and distribute the weight, but the armor still hangs more loosely than a suit of full plate. It includes matching gauntlets.

12

A large leather shield made of glossy blue lizard skin stretched on fir, bearing a flaming hand of white on a dark green field. Knowledgeable PC’s will the emblem as that of The Hellfire Stewards, an order of mercenary paladins whose goal is to incite, then profit from, armed conflicts between nations.

13

An iron breastplate covered in a white tabard bearing a triangular, pale blue, shield symbol.

14

A tower shield of steel and ash, with five diagonal olive green stripes on a black field.

15

An exquisite armor of fire blackened chainmail, adorned with the blue-black feathers of ravens.

16

A close close-fitting bodysuit resembling sharkskin. Multitudes of overlapping tooth-like, artificial scales cover the body from the neck down. The outfit provides as much protection as a chain shirt with being as light as leather armor and imposes no penalties to checks that involve swimming. However the bearer must spend as much time donning the bodysuit as he would donning a set of plate mail.

17

A tower shield of brass and mahogany displaying the image of a lute within a square in grey on a black field.

18

A set of druid tooled, studded leather armor fitted with pieces of amber, bone, wood, shell and jade rather than metal.

19

A chain mail hauberk, split for riding, with a leather undercoat, polished from wear.

20

A silver plated shield depicting an intense battle between a zombie mounted on a dire wolf, a snarling owl bear, and a banshee in flight ripping a priest in half.

21

A suit of leather armor comprised of a mixture of soft flexible leather for mobility and hard leather made rigid by being boiled in oil. The suit includes a leather skullcap that offers some protection to the scalp and ears.

22

A shield with two metal sticks that can be taken out of the back. When hit, the shield either sound like a steel drum, a gong, or an odd snare drum, depending on where on the shield it is struck. When not in combat, the armor serves as an odd but perfectly functional drum.

23

A set of studded leather that not only offers solid core protection but also a bit of extra defense in the form of two defensive shoulder pieces allowing the wielder to shrug off blows with ease. The breastplate is crafted entirely from rigid buffalo leather, configured in a lamellar style. A series of lames, or leather straps, are successively layered, from the shoulders down, to create an armor that is not only protective, but also durable.

24

A kite shield bearing a strange device; A small white hand in the centre of a black field.

25

A full suit of plate constructed from the shells of giant scorpions. The predatory arachnid’s chitin is heavily polished and the inner surfaces are fitted with padding, rendering it flexible and rather comfortable to wear. The armor making process softens the bony plates, making them far more pliable and likely to bend instead of shatter when struck. The armor includes a pair of lobstered gauntlets fashioned from a pair of the hulking scorpion’s claw’s making the wielder truly terrifying to behold.

26

A full set of plate armor that encases the bearer in a suit of interlocking steel plates, designed for maximum protection. The set includes a helmet, breastplate, plate bracers and plate leggings worn over mail and leather padding. The armor features intricate carvings and is embossed to strike fear into the hearts of enemies.

27

A wicker shield adorned with a pattern of a coatl curled in upon itself and trimmed with emerald-green quetzal feathers.

28

A suit of military grade lorica segmentata (Splint mail statistics) made up of four sections: two for shoulders and two for torso. The infantryman’s armor consists of broad ferrous (Steel) strips fastened to internal leather straps. The strips are arranged horizontally on the body, overlapping downwards, and they surrounded the torso in two halves, being fastened at the front and back. The upper body and shoulders are protected by additional strips (shoulder guards) and breast and back plates. This design allows it to be stored compactly since it can be separated into four sections, allowing for easy travel when not being worn, which is perfect for long distance military campaigns.

29

A buckler of walrus leather stretcher over whalebone backing and grip. The wielder’s side of the shield and the grip is covered with elaborate scrimshawed patterns.

30

A breastplate made out of reddish steel which looks as smooth as glass, but feels rough like sandpaper.

31

An enormous shield made of hardwood, sheathed in tin and rimmed in bronze. When not being wielded, the shield is best carried strapped over the bearer’s back.

32

A suit of Dwarven plate armor that seems built for the up-close slaughtering of one’s enemies. The helm consists of a large spike, like a rhinoceros, with many jagged edges along the side and the back. The torso and shoulders are covered with a spiked chestplate and pauldrons, that connect with interlocking pieces. The arms are completely spiked, and end in fiercely spiked gauntlets. The same for the thighs and legs, and even boots which are also heavily spiked.

33

A well-waxed shield fashioned from the shell of a violent species of ferocious snapping turtle.

34

An impressive suit of splint mail consisting of blade-covered metal plaques on the shoulders, forearms, hands and shins. The breastplate is lightweight and coloured a greyish purple and a rich purple robe is attached at the back of the armor’s neck. Along with the blade-bound suit it a steel helmet with a trident-shaped ornament on top. The helmet covers the face and leaves only the eyes visible.

35

A heavy bronze shield whose front is embossed with a copper dragon’s head. The word “Elvalynte” is inscribed on the interior in a flowing script which knowledgeable PC’s will recognize as the name of a famous dragon.

36

A full sleeved hauberk (Chainmail statistics) of interlocked rings of metal to creating a protective yet flexible coat for warriors headed into battle. Each link of steep loops into four other separate rings tremendously reinforcing each one’s ability to stop a weapon’s blow. The chainmail is designed in an alternating method makes use of both riveted and solid flat rings to create an armor that is truly impressive, both in style and in terms of the protection it offers.

37

A small steel shield, triangular, emblazoned with a griffon device in red on a field of grey. The battered shield is inscribed on the interior with the words: “May this shield be your protection in battle, Jallak. Honor the Galbrand name.”

38

A suit of steel scale mail enriched by colourful decorations that have been acid etched into the metal. Each individual enameled scale of the armor has been adorned with the image of part of a continuous flowing story, allowing a viewer to follow the scales around and down the wielder’s body like a patchwork quilt telling a tale.

39

A large, round, slate grey shield. It has a completely matte texture and light seems to slide right off of it around the rim.

40

A suit of half plate armor beaten in designs of highly stylized faces inlaid with gold to highlight their expressions. Each half of the breastplate is a glowering, howling demonic face while the plate the protects the guts is a bas relief of a beatific, androgynous human face. The shoulders, helmet, and other pieces of armor are likewise decorated. When a creature puts on the armor, they feel and hear barely audible whispers, as if the faces on the armor speaks to them. The words are encouraging and uplifting.

41

A tower shield fashioned from the top plate of the shell of a Tortle (Or whatever intelligent, giant turtle-man species fits your setting) fitted with brass handles on the interior. Although on first glance the use of the shell of an intelligent creature would be in incredibly poor taste as a piece of armor, a perceptive PC can find that inside the shield’s rim the following words engraved: “In loving memory of an unsung hero. May he continue his dream of protecting the innocent.”

42

A heavy, leather vest (Studded leather statistics) run through with tiny slivers of iron, which give the armor a dull sparkle.

43

A well-made but unremarkable looking wooden shield. Structurally it is comprised of six pieces of wood in total, cut circularly and bound with iron along its circumference. It sports an iron boss in the centre of the face.

44

A set of brilliantly polished scale mail armor in a style you have never seen before. Every surface shines as though freshly oiled.

45

A set of Roll on "Random Armor" that is battered to the point of being near useless. It is somehow still serviceable but appears as though it could fall apart at any moment.

46

A tremendously solid and heavy greatshield (Tower shield statistics), cut straight from a great slab of primordial stone.

47

A set of ring mail with faded filigree work depicting cavorting salmon.

48

A round shield displaying an eagle’s head, worked in red copper, fire-bronze, and silver.

49

A patchwork set of half-plate cobbled together from over a dozen other types of armor. The pieces all fit together enough to protect he bearer but not a single piece of leather or metal matches the aesthetic of any of part.

50

A set of flamboyant leather armor meant to be work by a fencer or duelist. The armor has over a dozen small, carefully placed notches on the armor, reflecting the number of opponents killed in a formal duel.

51

A round metal shield with bands of red and white surrounding a blue circle containing a white star in the centre. Holding it causes the wielder to develop a deep desire for freedom and justice.

52

A chain shirt of eleven design, made of incredibly small steel rings that cling to the body like wool knitwear.

53

A nice set of plate armor, acid etched with a silver inlay and burnished so it shines even in the dreariest of light.

54

A wooden shield wrapped in suspicious leather with a band of bronze around the edge. There is an impression of a human face contorted in pain in the leather.

55

A set of banded mail (Splint mail statistics) that emits a dull, pulsating blood-red glow. The strange joints make it uncomfortable for most bearers.

56

A large reddish grey shield etched with a depiction of a gaping maw filled with teeth.

57

A mantle of thick leather and thin metal plates riveted together, (Studded leather statistics) protecting the neck, shoulders, upper chest, and upper back. This armor is light enough to be worn for prolonged periods, and doesn’t significantly impede mobility, making it ideal for use by those who rely on their natural reflexes in combat. It does nothing to protect the limbs or abdomen, however, and while it resembles a heavy trench coat it is still quite obviously armor.

58

An ornate golden shield with intricate ancient arcane runes written in a long forgotten language along its border.

59

A beautifully detailed set of ring mail armor. The sigil of a gold hammer on the outline of a shield, dominates the chest piece. The armor looks in good repair.

60

A wooden shield, round in shape, its surface ornately carved with patterns of flowers and trees. When walking through woodlands, forests or jungles, the images change and move, almost matching the surroundings. Glancing in the direction of the shield, one might not see it at all, let alone the person carrying it.

61

An ornate suit of plate, decorated with beautiful silver scrollwork and priceless cut rubies adorning the brass-and-gold armor

62

A round elven shield, adorned with the feathers of cuckoos, ravens and other trickster birds.

63

A dazzling set of field plate armor with silver inlaid into acid-etched scrollwork across the breastplate.

64

A magnificent set of plate mail, the iron worked over with fire-bronze. An emblazoned crest of twin dragons coil on the breastplate in a crimson inferno.

65

A shield fashioned of polished mica from the slopes of Blackrock Mountain. The shield is a perfect mirror with a completely reflective surface.

66

A set of burnished steel plate mail. Enameled across the breastplate is a family crest of a sunburst behind a black ship, the detail exquisite.

67

A heavy shield, pointed at the base with a crown of spikes at the top. The shield is several feet tall and has a frame of wrought iron. The back of the shield is a smooth piece of metal marred only by the handles.

68

A leather jerkin that is covered in plates of poor quality steel (Ring mail statistics). Carefully sewn into the armored coat’s lining are 100 electrum pieces. The jangling of the plates perfectly masks the sounds of the coins as they occasionally shift inside the jerkin.

69

A tower shield made mostly from stone and greatly resembles a castle wall. It seems bigger from behind than it appears from the front.

70

A set of lamellar armor (Splint mail statistics) with each individual tile made of polished jade inscribed with a unique ideograph. When exposed to moonlight, the ideographs glow like polished silver.

71

A round steel shield that despite looking worn, is sturdy and free of rust. A mithril sprocket embedded in the shield’s face rotates slowly clockwise, making one full rotation every hour.

72

A unassuming set of Roll on "Random Armor", the inside of which is inscribed with a warrior’s prayer, intended to be recited as each individual piece is put on.

73

A heavy steel shield with a prominent wedge shape like that of a farmer’s plow.

74

A suit of beautiful, black leather armor covered in intricate scrollwork, the mantle bearing black raven feathers.

75

A heavy black tower shield depicting a stylized face with a large, square-toothed open maw and blankly staring white eyes.

76

An angled heavy-looking breastplate designed to deflect oncoming blows. The armor is topped with a reinforced, folded steel helm.

77

A set of quilted armor (Padded armor statistics) salt-stained and mud-spattered with iron plates sewn on shoulders and forearms brown with rust.

78

A set of gleaming splint mail made of polished steel plates overlapping from neck to elbow. The cuffs are heavy pieces of metal, hinged, locked, smooth except for where sigils have been engraved in deep, swirling lines.

79

A black breastplate, etched front and back with golden scrollwork. It has seen better days, the enamel is chipped, the rivets are stained with rust but it must once have been quite the masterpiece.

80

A suit of armor composed of great plates of black metal. The various pieces are studded and bolted, beaten and pointed, spiked and hammered together in a mass or twisted metal. It is a wonder of modern blacksmithing that the straps, belts and buckles are able to keep the suit together while still allowing the wielder to move freely. The plate armor is topped with a protective mask of scarred black iron.

81

An ornate tower shield which has a small compartment near the handle. An empty flask is found within, engraved on the bottom with the letters H and D. The shield is flawless, either being made recently or just never having been used.

82

A large ornate wooden shield that according to the inscription on the front, was once the front door of a halfing mayor’s estate. It has fine leather straps and silken backside that was probably made from some of the halfling’s nicest clothing.

83

A suit of pitch black, studded leather armor fitted with big shoulder plates, numerous belts, bandoleers and straps and additional protection created by overlapping hardened leather panels. The armor is inset with dozens of silver studs and spikes, so brightly polished, they gleam on the dark leather like shining stars in a moonless night.

84

A breastplate that is constantly reflecting every conceivable colour, creating an intense, rapidly oscillating rainbow effect.

85

A set of Random Light Armor that when not worn appears completely inconspicuous. When donned, the armor is covered in a weak but constant illusion that causes it to appear as a suit of sturdy plate mail to any creature who has not yet touched it or come within five feet of it. Close proximity or physical contact renders a creature permanently immune to the illusion. The bearer can activate of suppress the illusion with a command word.

86

A coat of iron (Splint mail statistics), made of small plates shaped like leaves, each individually stitched into the leather beneath it. Eerie blue flames flicker on the dull iron, the horsehair-plumed helmet and the greaved boots, both found alongside the coat.

87

A breastplate designed for a military officer. Its entire surface is etched with beautifully symmetric patterns and runes. Minor damage sustained by the armor as a result of a battle automatically repairs itself, ensuring the armor always looks unblemished.

88

A steel kite shield completely devoid of any coat of arms or identifying standard. The surface of the shield is pristine and seamless. The shield’s outer surface displays a beautifully rendered image that shifts to match the coat of arms of whomever else wields it. If the bearer has no coat of arms, the shield remains blank.

89

A suit of mottled blue hide armor with a monster’s cracked carapace serving as a breastplate.

90

An angular shield that is pure white with blue fractals emblazoned along its edges. It is said to be forged from the scales of a white dragon to defend an ancient dwarven city.

91

A set of half plate whose steel is always bright and shiny. Dirt and grime seem to simply fall off its surfaces and any dings or dents received in battle disappear overnight. The white angel wings emblazoned on its front are always shining and Elvish runes are engraved in gold and diamond around the armor’s edges.

92

A black hide shield. Green stripes radiating out from a blue flower in the centre that has a shimmering light swirling within the petals. Rimmed with bone, it can be worn as a wide brimmed hat.

93

A set of green and brown hide armor that is actually constructed of heavily treated tortoise shells. The wielder feels slightly more secure and safe when it is donned.

94

A set of scorched studded leather armor that smells of ash and burnt hide.

95

A round shield fashioned to resemble the religious symbol of the divine being.

96

A glamorous buckler lavishly decorated with gilding and inset gemstones that glitter in the light.

97

A beautifully constructed breastplate that consists of seven separate segments riveted together, while the back piece is rigid. The lower two segments are hinged, allowing the wielder a suitable range of mobility, while attachments at the shoulders are intended to help connect a set of spaulders to the cuirass.

98

An overly large shield that weighs 15 pounds and is covered in dozens of overlapping sheets of metal across its face.

99

A set of silvered scale mail made up of triangular pieces of insect carapace, with three of the pieces down the front being a dark sea green. The top and bottom of the front have purple trim, while the back is a dull pink, and has purple shoulder straps attached to the inside with matching silver scale shoulder guards attached to the top of the straps.

100

Shield of False Sorcery: A rune etched shield that has enchanted with an overwhelming magical aura of abjuration and protection. Apart from this, the shield is entirely plain in every way and can be damaged as though it were a non-magical shield. When closely examined by a creature skilled in arcane matters it can be determined that the protective aura is nothing more than a convincing illusion which offers no protection whatsoever. It is not readily apparent why someone would go through a fair bit of trouble to create a counterfeit magic shield.