In order to create a believable – maybe not accurate – depiction of a Knight as the player character, it is vital to research and find out as much as possible about the times. How they acted, what they wore and even swordplay is essential to the Knight’s design.
Swordplay
When it comes to swords there are many different types of swords and techniques to go with their swords. However, As the player character is a Knight, the focus will be on medieval English swordsmanship – in these times (According to The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts) swordplay (Armed combat) was dependant on 3 main things: Weaponry, Personal armour and Enemy armour.
Firstly, the weaponry available to the Knight would influence how they fought, using more sword-guards if they had heavier and larger two-handed swords (zwei-hander) as opposed to parrying. However, swordsmen that equipped themselves with a one-handed shield (round, kite, heater shields etc.) and one-handed sword were able to be much more agile than others.
Secondly, personal armour, if they had plate armour (Lamellar armour) swordsmen would likely guard more, as being reactive with dodges and parries was much harder with heavier armour. Whereas if they had chain-linked armour (mail armour) they would be more mobile and reactive at the cost of extra protection.
Lastly, enemy armour, swordsmen had to consider this as it would change how they should attack their enemy. Against someone with steel-plated armour, hacks and cuts would do next to nothing – instead they had to thrust their sword accurately into the gaps between the armour or focus less armoured areas of the body (legs and arms etc.) in order to deal damage.
Armour
As mentioned previously, the two main pieces of armour medieval knights would wear would be chainmail or plate armour. However, in most instances Knight’s would wear an under layer of chainmail – if not leather – alongside a final layer of plate armour above that. This would allow for some layer of protection in the areas that the plate armour could not provide, but these were still the largest weakpoints of a Knight’s armour. Furthermore, there is often a rest for the sword either by the breastplate or the fauld (The piece of armour directly below the breasplate, protecting the lower torso and hips).
Pignataro, M.R., Bailin, L. and Kirchhoff, C. (2023). Divesting and Dismembering. Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts, 97(1), pp.66–83. doi:https://doi.org/10.1086/728712.
How will this effect my game?
The design of my character’s armour will be reminiscent of real historic armour as that is what Knight toys are based off of, made slightly different in order for children to play with them (More mobility in their limbs etc.) This will also influence the design of certain weapons that will be available to the player in Arcadia, for example: one-handed weapons will be smaller than two-handed weapons etc.
Furthermore, the types of armour and weaponry that the player has equiped will effect the animations of the player’s movements and attacks etc. Whether it be how they walk, how quick their actions are, how the player character attacks etc.