Some sample armor descriptions I've managed to think up in my spare time:
They could all use some polishing, but I am reasonably satisfied with them.
== helms ==
a rough %metal skullcap (light-metal, pquality, head)
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This is a skullcap hammered out of a single piece of %metal of inconsistent thickness. It is poorly shaped and does not comform well to the head. Some fabric has been stuffed into the interior, with two dangling strips of cloth to tie it underneath the chin.
a %metal skullcap (light-metal, oquality, head)
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This is a close-fitting skullcap hammered out of a single piece of %metal of consistent thickness. It is reasonably well-shaped, with a smooth, satin-polished surface devoid of obvious hammer marks. A simple, serviceable padded liner has been sewn into the cap, with two strong leather straps to fasten it.
a %metal nasal helm (medium-metal variant, oquality, head,eyes)
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This helm has been assembled from several pieces of %metal of consistent thickness riveted together. It has a mild peaked shape to the crown, with a broad nasal providing protection to the front of the face and the eyes. Its suspension system is of decent quality, being quite comfortable, with two leather straps to secure it underneath the chin.
a %metal spectacle helm (medium-metal variant, oquality, head,eyes)
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This helm has been assembled from several pieces of %metal of consistent thickness riveted together. It bears a shallow crest, with added reinforcement at the brow and a spectacle-guard that protects the eyes and much of the face with the added bonus of making the wearer look more menacing. Its suspension system is of decent quality, being quite comfortable, with two leather straps to secure it under the chin.
a heavy %metal spectacle helm with an aventail (heavy-metal variant, oquality, head,eyes,neck, conceals face)
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This helm has been assembled from several pieces of %metal of consistent thickness riveted together. It bears a shallow crest with added reinforcement around the entire rim, hinged cheek-pieces for the sides, and a spectacle-guard that provides protection to the eyes. Vervelles allow the helm to support a curtain of riveted mail that encloses the rest of the face all the way down to the neck and shoulders. Its suspension system is of good quality, alleviating some of its ample weight.
a robust %metal bascinet with an aventail (heavy-metal variant, gquality, head,eyes,neck, conceals face)
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The main body of this helm has been raised from a single piece of %metal, with any additional parts held on by strong rivets. Its thickness has been carefully adjusted such that it is strongest where the wearer is most vulnerable to attack. The helm's crown is noticeably peaked, and it encloses the skull on all sides, with vervelles mounted on the rim allowing it to support a strong, densely-woven aventail complete with padded lining that protects the mouth, chin, neck, and shoulders. A broad nasal serves to protect the face, with only small gaps for the eyes. The suspension system is high quality, making it somewhat more comfortable to wear.
== body ==
a rough %metal mail haubergeon [alt : a rough %metal mail shirt] (medium-metal, pquality, torso+arms)
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This is a shirt of inferior %metal mail, three-quarter-sleeved and terminating at the waist. The wire used to create each link is not of consistent thickness, and not all the rings have been properly riveted together, rendering this armor vulnerable to both committed attack and battle damage. Its poor construction and fitting causes it to bunch up comfortably with some of the wearer's movements, making it more uncomfortable and restrictive than it should be, and worsens the burden of its already substantial weight.
a riveted %metal mail vest (light-metal, pquality, torso)
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This is a vest of serviceable %metal mail that protects only the torso. All the links are of consistent thickness, featuring the alternating use of solid punched rings and individually-riveted rings to save on labor time without sacrificing strength. It comforms reasonably well to the wearer, flexible enough to allow relatively free movement, but extended wear is definitely uncomfortable.
a solidly-made %metal mail hauberk [alt : a solidly-made %metal mail coat] (heavy-metal, gquality, torso+arms+neck+upperlegs)
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This is a coat of quality %metal mail that protects the entire upper body except for the hands, with full sleeves and a skirt that extends to the knees and is split to permit free usage of a mount. The wire used for the rings is of thicker gauge than most - the mail is painstakingly assembled in such a way that it is so thick and dense that even a needle's point will find difficulty slipping through the gaps. This does not compromise its mobility much; it is of excellent fit to the wearer's anatomy, and all the metal is highly burnished to minimize friction, which has the added effect of making the armor resist rust and gleam in the light without a thousand hours of extra bathing in sand. Nevertheless, it is anything but light.
== bonus ==
a %color coat of jazerant armor (foreign, oquality?)
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At a glance this appears to be a good tunic of %color %cloth; it is clearer on close inspection that this is armor, comprising a layer of good %metal mail sandwiched between two layers of thick cloth. It's full-sleeved, with a tall collar to ward part of the neck and leather strips interwoven to allow tightening at the elbow, wrist, and around one's waist.
a stout coat of %metal scales (foreign, oquality?)
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The base layer of this armor is a sturdy jerkin of %color %leather lined with padding for some small measure of comfort. The real defensive element is overlapping rows of %metal scales sewn to its exterior, with extended flaps of material that allow some degree of coverage to the shoulder, to the groin and to the hips.
a shirt of patchwork mail and metal (orkish? or trash quality)
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This armor barely deserves to be called such. It's cobbled in such a way as to roughly approximate the form of a shirt, but seems quite terribly ill-suited for proper usage by any humanoid. Sections of scavenged mail and %metal pieces have been fastened together with rudimentary material and a side helping of hope. It can at least be said to protect better than a gambeson alone, if barely.