Armor is classified by its protective capability, the Armor Class.
The Armor Class varies from NO for an unarmored target in light clothing to PL for light plate armor.
The Armor Class for some typical armors are given in the Armor Data Table (2B) and are used in section 6.2: Damage.
A description of each of the Armor Types follows:
Clothing: Common clothing of light leather jerkins, short furs, or cloth.
Class = NO
Leather: Thick, cured, but unhardened leather typically .2 inch thick.
Class = LT
Heavy Fur: Heavy furs such as lion's mane, or bear.
Class = LT
Light Mail: A light form of mail armor covering a light gambeson, a padded garment worn under the armor to prevent chafing and provide additional protection.
The weight and protection of the gambeson has been taken into account on all forms of armor.
Mail armor is made of small metal rings.
Each ring is individually made, looped through four others, and riveted closed.
Class = LT
Mail: Mail or Chain armor made of riveted metal rings.
Each ring is looped through four others.
It is worn over a gambeson which alone is treated as leather armor.
Class = ML
Hardened Leather: Thick leather which has been hardened by boiling in oil, lacquering, or dipping in hot wax.
Class = ML
Studded Leather: Thick unhardened leather studded with metal.
Class = ML
Brigandine: Metal plates riveted to a leather garment.
The plates were sandwiched between two layers of leather for protection and flexibility.
Class = BR
Double Mail: Two layers of mail armor worn over a heavy gambeson.
Class = BR
Plate-Mail: Metal plates linked together by mail.
This armor has many of the advantages of plate armor, but is cheaper to produce and easier to wear.
Class = BR
Plate: Large pieces of metal plate attached to one another by straps, rivets, or screws providing complete coverage with flexibility at all joints.
This is a relatively light form of plate intended for foot combat where minimum weight is important.
This is not jousting plate.
Class = PL
Armor [R-FRP-8.1.4.2]