why a Gambeson is a more effective armor piece than full plate in most cases.
That's not really fair. Gambesons are overall more efficient, by far, but full plate is definitely better armor. Like almost inconceivably better. Like, a dude walking at you in full plate armor before guns were invented is basically like a tank in our modern era. There is nothing you can reasonably do to hurt that person unless you're also wearing full plate armor, at which point the game becomes about who comes out of the awkward clunky wrestling match on top.
Of course, that's because full plate armor is an incredibly specialized suit made specifically for one person by a man with decades of practice using very expensive material and hours upon hours of labor. It, of course, can't be given to very many people, and is very unsuited for various environments. But it's still the best protection you can get in the medieval era.
Yes, it's far better, in dry weather, when you have mounts or don't have to travel far at risk of attack. I'd probably say the Brigandine is probably the best all-rounder armor. But if you need 10,000 men fast, you're going to struggle even with mail outfitting
As for invulnerable, well "Haha Billhook goes yoink!" as James IV found out.
That's not really fair. Gambesons are overall more efficient, by far, but full plate is definitely better armor. Like almost inconceivably better. Like, a dude walking at you in full plate armor before guns were invented is basically like a tank in our modern era. There is nothing you can reasonably do to hurt that person unless you're also wearing full plate armor, at which point the game becomes about who comes out of the awkward clunky wrestling match on top.
Of course, that's because full plate armor is an incredibly specialized suit made specifically for one person by a man with decades of practice using very expensive material and hours upon hours of labor. It, of course, can't be given to very many people, and is very unsuited for various environments. But it's still the best protection you can get in the medieval era.
Yes, it's far better, in dry weather, when you have mounts or don't have to travel far at risk of attack. I'd probably say the Brigandine is probably the best all-rounder armor. But if you need 10,000 men fast, you're going to struggle even with mail outfitting
As for invulnerable, well "Haha Billhook goes yoink!" as James IV found out.