In this thread I am re-posting some posts of mine that I originally posted in the Unit Preview thread.
I am making this for ease of reference.
The 1st Tier.
Note:
A) The short sleeves.
B) The length of the hauberk reaching half way between the belt and the knees.
C) The slits of the hauberk on the sides, not front and back.
D) No mail for the legs.
E) Round shield.
The 2nd Tier.
Note:
A) The sleeves get longer.
B) The hauberk gets longer.
C) The shield is now the raindrop shape, a Norman invention but it's popularity spread quickly across Europe.
The 3rd Tier.
Note:
A) The helmet acquires a face guard and -sometimes- a rudimentary kneck guard, this is the forefather of the great helm.
B) Thicker torso protection.
C) Mail mittens are added.
D) Mail protection for the shins is added.
The 4rth Tier.
Note:
A) The hauberk gets longer.
B) As the face protection becomes standardised, the need for heraldry arises, so we have a heraldic surcoat and shield.
C) Mittens and shin protection also becomes standardised.
The 5th Tier.
Note:
A) The helmet is now less than half a generation from the true Great Helm (or can be considered the first generation of great helms).
B) As the quality of armour improves, the need for a large shield diminishes, it is now the wedge type, though the raindrop types are not yet obsolete and the first "heater" types also appear.
The 6th Tier.
Note:
A) The helmets now are the true Great Helm types.
B) Coat of plates added above the hauberk for extra torso protection becomes standard knightly equipment.
C) True "heater" shield type becomes standardised.
D) Extra protection for the knees (doesn't show very clearly here) also becomes standardised.
The 7th Tier.
Note:
A) Coat of plates becomes longer but the plate pieces in side it become smaller, this is "primitive" brigandine.
B) More importantly the first plate pieces are added for limb protection.
Here we see plate pieces for shoulders, elbows, knees, shins, and the upper part of the feet.
However, other examples also include plate pieces for upper arms and forearms.
The 8th Tier, part A.
Note:
A) The brigandine vests become standard.
B) Plate and splint pieces for limb protection become indispensable.
C) Shield is now optional.
The 8th Tier, part B.
This is the Churbourg Harness (not sure about the spelling).
Note:
A) Torso plates are made of 7 or 9 pieces.
B) The skirt is brigandine.
(What else do I need to say about this?)
To be continued...