Northern Mountain Clan Armour?

[Getright]

What do the soldiers of the Northern Mountain clans wear in battle?

I'm just wondering how maintained their equipment is. Unlike the clans of the Vale I picture the Northern Clans to be much more better kept,

There is no art on the internet that I can make out to be the Wulls, Norreys etc...

There is some evidence that they wear chain mail and Studded leather.

I picture the Northern Clans to have Armour very similar to that of the Starks Household Guard from the TV series style of armour, except that it will be a little more mismatched with more layers for warmth maybe even your typical Mountains clansmen bearskin cape lol. Some wearing helmets some not.

Would you be able to make out that they are Northern Soldiers and not just some rabble?

[Bright Blue Eyes]

The Stark household guard armor from the TV series is as much :bs: as all the rest of the TV armor. And so is studded leather.

The Clansmen wear mail for the wealthier ones, the poorer ones probably gambesons or buffcoats.

And no, they won't be easily identifiable. Uniforms are not yet invented, outside of household guards nobody wears any uniform clothing - and each household guard wears their own lord's or knight's or master's sigil, given the couple thousand different sigils in the North alone that's a lot of differences. That applies to everybody.

[TerrorVoid]

Each had brought a tail of fighting men—five for Old Flint, twelve for the Norrey, all clad in ragged skins and studded leathers, fearsome as the face of winter.

[Nihlus]

According to Asha and Jon: the common ones jusr wear furs and sometimes leather. Poorly maintained mail for the chieftains and champions, i.e. worse than what you'd find "common" levies wearing. Yeah, the clansmen kind of suck.

The Stark household guard armor from the TV series is as much :bs: as all the rest of the TV armor. And so is studded leather.

The Clansmen wear mail for the wealthier ones, the poorer ones probably gambesons or buffcoats.

And no, they won't be easily identifiable. Uniforms are not yet invented, outside of household guards nobody wears any uniform clothing - and each household guard wears their own lord's or knight's or master's sigil, given the couple thousand different sigils in the North alone that's a lot of differences. That applies to everybody.

Don't most of the TV Show North soldiers wear coat of plates armor? I don't think they're all just wearing leather. Arya stabbed Sandor's weird brigandine-studded leather-thing with a short sword and it went CLANK.

[Bright Blue Eyes]

Don't most of the TV Show North soldiers wear coat of plates armor? I don't think they're all just wearing leather. Arya stabbed Sandor's weird brigandine-studded leather-thing with a short sword and it went CLANK.

Since I don't watch the show, my memory on the details is a bit hazy. But I do remember the Lannister armor and the Goldcloaks and I could have screamed. Well, if I actually expected film makers to have even a modicum of sense for plausibility.

[Getright]

The Stark household guard armor from the TV series is as much :bs: as all the rest of the TV armor. And so is studded leather.

The Clansmen wear mail for the wealthier ones, the poorer ones probably gambesons or buffcoats.

And no, they won't be easily identifiable. Uniforms are not yet invented, outside of household guards nobody wears any uniform clothing - and each household guard wears their own lord's or knight's or master's sigil, given the couple thousand different sigils in the North alone that's a lot of differences. That applies to everybody.

Ah, Wull have a fair few soldiers though, could you tell Wull soldiers apart? Or is the armour really that mismatched? I always pictured them to be a lot more like a House than a Clan but they've just kept a lot of Clan traditions. If they are so loyal to the Starks they must have done something to gain their loyalty so it just always seemed as though they were taken care of compared to the southern clans. I know during winter a lot of clan boys were allowed to live in Winter Town.

[chris999]

What do the soldiers of the Northern Mountain clans wear in battle?

I'm just wondering how maintained there equipment is. Unlike the clans of the Vale I picture the Northern Clans to be much more better kept,

There is no art on the internet that I can make out to be the Wulls, Norreys etc...

There is some evidence that they wear chain mail and Studded leather.

I picture the Northern Clans to have Armour very similar to that of the Starks Household Guard from the TV series style of armour, except that it will be a little more mismatched with more layers for warmth maybe even your typical Mountains clansmen bearskin cape lol. Some wearing helmets some not.

Would you be able to make out that they are Northern Soldiers and not just some rabble?

The clans in the Vale are criminals so they have to hide and made do with the equipment they can loot from their victims.

The Northern clans however live in the open and can trade so I imagine they probably have better equipment.

When I picture the Northern mountain clans I think of the Scottish Highlands. Fierce prideful warriors that are not very well equipped, but make up for it by fighting savagely and ferociously.

[chris999]

Now that I think about it, I remember Ned saying that they fought with prety simple weapons like weirwood staffs.

Probably simple armor as well. Boiled leather and wool. Maybe some iron helms, a few leather or bone gauntlets perhaps.

[Nihlus]

Since I don't watch the show, my memory on the details is a bit hazy. But I do remember the Lannister armor and the Goldcloaks and I could have screamed. Well, if I actually expected film makers to have even a modicum of sense for plausibility.

Eh. At least the gold cloaks get mail and the Lannisters plate. I still don't get the enormous gaps not being protected by anything but leather, though.

[chris999]

Leather armor doesnt offer the protection of plate, but it does offer you mobility and endurance.

Plate mail is hard to move in and it required skill to know how to use it effectively. Wher as fighters like Sir Bronn believe that his quickness is a weapon and that his offense is his best defense.

[GallowsKnight]

The richer mountain clans have mail and greatswords. The poorer leathers, furs, staves and slings. There's probably not going to be a lot of helmets, probably coifs of mail if they have them.

[Nihlus]

Leather armor doesnt offer the protection of plate, but it does offer you mobility and endurance.

Plate mail is hard to move in and it required skill to know how to use it effectively. Wher as fighters like Sir Bronn believe that his quickness is a weapon and that his offense is his best defense.

Metal armor was always worn by those that could afford it. Including Bronn. He wore mail.

[Nyrhex]

The clans in the Vale are criminals so they have to hide and made do with the equipment they can loot from their victims.

The Northern clans however live in the open and can trade so I imagine they probably have better equipment.

When I picture the Northern mountain clans I think of the Scottish Highlands. Fierce prideful warriors that are not very well equipped, but make up for it by fighting savagely and ferociously.

But they are not in comparable situations or locations. The Northern Clans have no enemies aside themselves, and there it is small time skirmishes at best, while most of the time they focus on thier own economy. The Vale Clans are living by thier sword, and are constantly raiding the Vale.

A second factor is that the armour quality increases the further south you go, as said by GRRM. In the North, the average armour is older and simpler than in the Reiverlands-Vale-Wwesterlands area, which are in turn simpler than that of the Reach=Stormlands. Dorne's case standing out in that it is more fitted to desert conditions and is more isolated, resulting in armour being not as advance as in the Reach-Stormlands.

So, the Northern Clansmen are already starting from the position that they have no real worries aside from occasional Wildling raid and each other, the average armour in the North is of simpler design, and the Vale Clansmen have just recieved three thousand pieces of plate and mail and weapons in the end of AGOT/early ACOK. The Northern Clansmen are no where near comparable to the armour of the Vale Clansmen. At most, the 40-50 Clan Chiefs and the 40-50 Clan Champions have good castle forged weapons, which are prized possesions.

[Bright Blue Eyes]

Ah, Wull have a fair few soldiers though, could you tell Wull soldiers apart? Or is the armour really that mismatched? I always pictured them to be a lot more like a House than a Clan but they've just kept a lot of Clan traditions. If they are so loyal to the Starks they must have done something to gain their loyalty so it just always seemed as though they were taken care of compared to the southern clans. I know during winter a lot of clan boys were allowed to live in Winter Town.

Yes, the armor is mismatched. And that applies to each and every house, including even the Lannisters!

The only thing the could have in common would be the sigil: Sewn as a small shield on the center of breast and backand painted in the center of the shield for the grunts, covering the entire chest, back and shield for the actual members of the family.

Eh. At least the gold cloaks get mail and the Lannisters plate. I still don't get the enormous gaps not being protected by anything but leather, though.

I really detest the Gold cloaks veils, for instance. Give me a picture or two and I could probably give you a list of BS as long as my arm.

[Nihlus]

Yes, the armor is mismatched. And that applies to each and every house, including even the Lannisters!

The only thing the could have in common would be the sigil: Sewn as a small shield on the center of breast and backand painted in the center of the shield for the grunts, covering the entire chest, back and shield for the actual members of the family.

I really detest the Gold cloaks veils, for instance. Give me a picture or two and I could probably give you a list of BS as long as my arm.

http://i.imgur.com/vYhpz.jpg

Go wild.

Looks like Ottoman heavy cavalry armor to me:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Ottoman_Mamluk_horseman_circa_1550.jpg

I'm also curious what you think of Show Stannis's armor- looks like splinted mail with some partial plate thrown in around the chest and abdomen:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/16/80/80/16808037451f4985052e68c22f8e727c.jpg

[Bright Blue Eyes]

http://i.imgur.com/vYhpz.jpg

Go wild.

Looks like Ottoman heavy cavalry armor to me:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Ottoman_Mamluk_horseman_circa_1550.jpg

I'm also curious what you think of Show Stannis's armor- looks like splinted mail with some partial plate thrown in around the chest and abdomen:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/16/80/80/16808037451f4985052e68c22f8e727c.jpg

That's actually somewhat reasonable. Of course it lacks a belt, resulting in the full weight resting on the shoulders, which is an absolute no go.Furthermore, I've got no idea what these leather plates up front should do. Looks like a "looks fancy, add it regardless of it's idiocy" to me.

The helmet is reasonable - or would be if the aventail was attached at the actual lower rim instead of doubling over. And why doesn't it protect the neck and chin?

Why doesn't the mail cover the thighs?

The forearm guard is pure BS. Keeps the guy from moving his wrist while funneling any blow straight into the gaps.

The cloak, as it's worn, is useless for warmth and weather protection, while being a hindrance in battle.

Apart from that, the entire mail part looks like knitted mail to me. That means, knitted wool spraypainted to look like metal. Ok, that is a cost issue and understandable.

The only part resembling the Ottoman example is the helmet. Without the aventail.

Stannis' armor is sort of reasonable mail, if you could just get rid of these useless plates and the funny gauntlets.

The first are entirely useless as they are, non-overlapping plates have only the effect to redirect any blow straight into the gaps. What's worse, the ones on his shoulders and the upper chest would redirect any blow or stab from his mail directly into his unprotected neck.

The latter are just wobbling around the wrist.

And what is that leather-"thing" in his mail skirt?

[Nihlus]

That's actually somewhat reasonable. Of course it lacks a belt, resulting in the full weight resting on the shoulders, which is an absolute no go.Furthermore, I've got no idea what these leather plates up front should do. Looks like a "looks fancy, add it regardless of it's idiocy" to me.

The helmet is reasonable - or would be if the aventail was attached at the actual lower rim instead of doubling over. And why doesn't it protect the neck and chin?

Why doesn't the mail cover the thighs?

The forearm guard is pure BS. Keeps the guy from moving his wrist while funneling any blow straight into the gaps.

The cloak, as it's worn, is useless for warmth and weather protection, while being a hindrance in battle.

Apart from that, the entire mail part looks like knitted mail to me. That means, knitted wool spraypainted to look like metal. Ok, that is a cost issue and understandable.

The only part resembling the Ottoman example is the helmet. Without the aventail.

Stannis' armor is sort of reasonable mail, if you could just get rid of these useless plates and the funny gauntlets.

The first are entirely useless as they are, non-overlapping plates have only the effect to redirect any blow straight into the gaps. What's worse, the ones on his shoulders and the upper chest would redirect any blow or stab from his mail directly into his unprotected neck.

The latter are just wobbling around the wrist.

And what is that leather-"thing" in his mail skirt?

Good stuff.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/77/5f/fd/775ffdcf195ed6f2b32ddd0ff743fc4b.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img580/361/citywatchhorse.jpg

I don't think that those plates are supposed to be leather.

The mail does cover the thighs... I think...

I get the others, but the chest plate?

I don't know what the leather thing is. I think it's just there for decoration.

Interestingly, it looks like his men are wearing the same armor under their coats. You can see the same chest plate plus mail coming out of their sleeves.

What about the North and Westerlands soldiers?

It seems that the Stark bannermen are supposed to be wearing coats of plates, judging by the rivets located in the rectangular shapes on the material.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/Oldwolfe/cop2.jpg

http://www.ageekyworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/m-a11.jpg

Note the shapes in these guys' coats, and what seems to be mail sleeves:

http://imagizer-cv.imageshack.us/a/img854/3002/starkmen.jpg

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/9219/starkmail.jpg

Robb wears the same thing as his men, except with a plate gorget, pauldrons, and vambraces.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img441/7125/kingrobb.jpg

The Westerlands men are mostly wearing partial plate... unusually ornate partial plate, with weird helmets and big gaps not protected by anything but leather.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img228/7972/lannistertroops.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img259/2489/lannisterarmor.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img39/2148/joffreylancel.jpg

[Bennis of the Brown Shield]

Good stuff.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/77/5f/fd/775ffdcf195ed6f2b32ddd0ff743fc4b.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img580/361/citywatchhorse.jpg

I don't think that those plates are supposed to be leather.

The mail does cover the thighs... I think...

I get the others, but the chest plate?

I don't know what the leather thing is. I think it's just there for decoration.

Interestingly, it looks like his men are wearing the same armor under their coats. You can see the same chest plate plus mail coming out of their sleeves.

What about the North and Westerlands soldiers?

It seems that the Stark bannermen are supposed to be wearing coats of plates, judging by the rivets located in the rectangular shapes on the material.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/Oldwolfe/cop2.jpg

http://www.ageekyworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/m-a11.jpg

Note the shapes in these guys' coats, and what seems to be mail sleeves:

http://imagizer-cv.imageshack.us/a/img854/3002/starkmen.jpg

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/9219/starkmail.jpg

Robb wears the same thing as his men, except with a plate gorget, pauldrons, and vambraces.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img441/7125/kingrobb.jpg

The Westerlands men are mostly wearing partial plate... unusually ornate partial plate, with weird helmets and big gaps not protected by anything but leather.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img228/7972/lannistertroops.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img259/2489/lannisterarmor.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img39/2148/joffreylancel.jpg

Armor in GOT seems to be largely inspired by Indian, Middle Eastern and East Asian armors rather than European ones. Having metal plate reinforcements on mail for example is an eastern thing.

The Lannister soldiers are some sort of Samurai hybrids with strange helmets. The Northmen look like shit, though at least their styles of armor are the most European inspired.

The average Westerosi knight we see (such as Sandor and Gregor Clegane) wears some sort of bizarre and ugly version of transitional period heavy armor. Moreover everyone in the series follows the standard Hollywood medieval trope of being dressed in brown and grey rags instead of actual clothes.

Which is a shame, since GRRM's world as described in the books is very clearly inspired by the real Middle Ages (much more so than most fantasy) and still the directors just went with random stuff for their design choices. But on the other hand it's not like the other aspects of the show are much better compared to the books...

[Nihlus]

Armor in GOT seems to be largely inspired by Indian, Middle Eastern and East Asian armors rather than European ones. Having metal plate reinforcements on mail for example is an eastern thing.

The Lannister soldiers are some sort of Samurai hybrids with strange helmets. The Northmen look like shit, though at least their styles of armor are the most European inspired.

The average Westerosi knight we see (such as Sandor and Gregor Clegane) wears some sort of bizarre and ugly version of transitional period heavy armor. Moreover everyone in the series follows the standard Hollywood medieval trope of being dressed in brown and grey rags instead of actual clothes.

Which is a shame, since GRRM's world as described in the books is very clearly inspired by the real Middle Ages (much more so than most fantasy) and still the directors just went with random stuff for their design choices. But on the other hand it's not like the other aspects of the show are much better compared to the books...

Sandor is not a knight >:|

But seriously. Sandor appears to be wearing a brigandine (the same one the Frey guards wear) over mail, with plate around his neck and arms. His is one of the more appropriate armors on the show. The knights of the show are weird. Some of them have full on 15th/16th century plate, like Ser Hugh, and season 1 Jorah. Some have transitional armor that is overall okay but looks like shit has some flaws (wide gaps in particular), like the North "knights" with their plate coats (same thing Robb wears), or the Frey knights with what I think are supposed to be brigandines. Some just get mail, or eastern style plated mail, like Stannis's Dragonstone/Stormlands men.

Also, some of the men don't get anything more than shields plus leather jerkins or gambesons. Though that's at least somewhat appropriate.

I don't even know what Gregor is supposed to be wearing.

[Bennis of the Brown Shield]

Sandor is not a knight >:|

But seriously. Sandor appears to be wearing a brigandine (the same one the Frey guards wear) over mail, with plate around his neck and arms. His is one of the more appropriate armors on the show. The knights of the show are weird. Some of them have full on 15th/16th century plate, like Ser Hugh, and season 1 Jorah. Some have transitional armor that is overall okay but looks like shit has some flaws (wide gaps in particular), like the North "knights" with their plate coats (same thing Robb wears), or the Frey knights with what I think are supposed to be brigandines. Some just get mail, or eastern style plated mail, like Stannis's Dragonstone/Stormlands men.

Also, some of the men don't get anything more than shields plus leather jerkins or gambesons. Though that's at least somewhat appropriate.

I don't even know what Gregor is supposed to be wearing.

You're right. It was bad of me to forget considering that Sandor always points that out. :dunce:

Yes that does indeed seem to be what he is wearing. Though it looks pretty strange, in a bad way. Compare it to this guy and his transitional period armor suit for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ybgJF02WdE(Fully dressed except for helmet at 11:35). But yeah, agreed in general.

Edit: Also coats of plate/brigandines didn't really look like they did in the show. They were more like hauberks than flappy coats as they are in the show. For example https://i.warosu.org/data/tg/img/0211/41/1350347083912.jpg