Pathfinder

PATHFINDER PERIOD

GENERAL NOTES

•        The First Crusaders outfitted themselves with lighter armor fastened from species they hunted and retrofitted with the available tech at the time. Therefore, a percentage system between bone, leather-like material, and hammered metal should apply to the overall armoring as following: Bone 50%, Leather 35%, Metal 15%.

•        Hardened leather and bone will make up the majority of all “armor” with hammered metal parts being used for tech related items such as jump packs, air/fuel tanks, weaponry, and connection pieces.

•        Armor aesthetics should follow comic references closely, so typically will be organic in appearance and coloring, with rough metal parts only enhancing connection areas and/or tech and weaponry. [think pre-industrial standards]

•        Outside era [post crusader era's] armor parts that are recognizable will not be permitted as is and can ONLY be used as a base but will be required to be heavily modified to eliminate all elements of the outside era.

•        Attachment items are required to adhere to the aesthetics of the era. Nylon straps, Nylon material, plastic clips/buckles/closures are not permitted. Leather and leather-like material will be required for attachment purposes when subtle hidden attachment methods are not viable. Rivets that are painted to match the piece are permitted, but quantity should be limited to avoid resembling earth like items [aka Renaissance leather armor]

•        Battle damage is recommended, as the Crusaders in this era were on a galaxy wide conquest and battle was an everyday occurrence. However, excessive battle damage that would indicate the central life saving undersuit being compromised would require additional attention to show the damage was repaired in a manner to preserve the integrity of the suit beneath. [Think expedited field repairs to armoring]

ARMOR

HELMET

•        Two main variants in this era – Mask which covers entire front of the face [cloth based or hood covering required in conjunction with mask], and full helmet which is typically bulky.

•        Helmet texture should be organic in nature or roughly hammered metal appearance. [See General Notes bullet #3]

•        Overall design to the comic references available is required.

•        Visor style is predominantly “Y” shaped. “Peaks” similar to the Night Owl style are acceptable in conjunction with the comic reference designs.

•        The technology of this era did not lend to self-contained breathing systems, therefore tubes/hoses matching the comic references is required.

•        Helmets that are obviously from era's outside of the Crusader era not permitted. Used for a base is tolerable, but they will have to be SIGNIFICANTLY modified to remove traces of any outside era designs.

TORSO

•        Chest plates are required, and must be fitted to the wearer appropriately.

•        Comic references indicate leather is primarily used for chest plates, however bone can be used in conjunction but fitment to the wearer must be kept in compliance.

•        Chest pieces do not have to be separate parts and may be a one-piece design.

•        Armor should extend to the wearer's abdomen for full coverage.

•        Texture and appearance should follow General Notes bullet #3.

•        Trophies from non-sentient creatures is encouraged. [Bone/Spike/Teeth/Horn decorations]

•        Any attachments that is not star wars related [rivets, snaps, etc] should be colored to match and blend in with armor parts. [See General Notes bullet #5]

•        Hoses/Tubes used in conjunction with the helmet can attach to the chest, but has to attach to a device that resembles a breathing apparatus. Tubes/Hoses running to bare leather will not suffice. Typically they should be routed to a back item [jump pack, tank, etc]

•        Some type of armor covering should be present over the cod area. Loin cloth is the bare minimum requirement.

SHOULDER

•        Shoulder bells/pauldrons are typically bulky and assymetric.

•        Full bone or full leather can be used and alternated.

•        Armor should extend enough to provide coverage to the joint.

GAUNTLETS

•        Minimum covering must be just shy of the natural bend of the forearm.

•        Comic references primarily show hard leather wrapping as the go to gauntlet material for this era.

•        Hard/rigid bone armor plating can be used in conjunction with leather wraps.

•        Lighter material such as fabric wraps can be used in conjunction with leather wraps.

•        Gauntlets should cover 100% of forearm circumference.

•        Attachment methods for gauntlets should match in era designs. [Buckles/leather straps, etc]

•        Technological gadgets are typically not seen on gauntlets in this era.

BACK

•        Back coverings should follow comic references that are available.

•        Back armor plates, capes, air tank apparatus, or a “jump pack” can be used as stand alone items or in conjunction with one another.

•        Jump pack can not resemble a typical “jetpack” as the technology was too early and limited in this era. Jump packs should have very small directional nozzles and a separate fuel tank from the air tank [which must be used if no other breathing apparatus is present.

LOWER BODY

•        Comic references indicate a mix of light and heavy leg armor. If used, most leg armor should have coverage on the sides versus directly in front, as to protect the Basillisk riders during combat from side attacks.

•        Leather only parts can be used solo for leg armoring.

•        Knees should have full protection.

•        Shins should utilize bone as the primary armor protection. Leather backing is recommended for wrap around coverage.

•        Knees and shins can be joined, aka “schknees” or separate, however for joined parts there should be enough distinction in design to tell knee armor from shin armor.

•        Armored boot coverings are encouraged but not required.

SOFT PART ITEMS

•        Balaclava head coverings are recommended to hide any part of the head that may be seen underneath the lip of the helmet/masks.

•        Neck seals are a must due to the technology of the era and the importance of an air-tight suit for atmospheric battles. They can be integrated into the undersuit or as a stand alone soft part item.

•        Flak vests are not typically present in the comic references. Therefore are not required, and the armor parts can be directly attached to the undersuit and/or strapped on.

•        As with other era's, a flight/undersuit that gives the appearance of a one single piece is required. No skin may show, as the suits in this era were meant to be airtight and completely protective to the wearer in all environments.

•        Suit should fit the wearer appropriately with no excessive bagginess in the areas where the bulk of the suit will be exposed between armor.

•        Gloves are required to be full-fingered. Bracer/Gauntlet should hide edges of gloves. No brand/marking not related to the era should be eliminated and/or hidden. Leather-like material gloves are encouraged.

•        Belt items must follow the aesthetics of the comic references. The belt options are similar to other eras, but primarily gadgets should be ammo/weapon related due to the low tech of the era.

•        A standalone girth belt and/or sash is acceptable.

•        Belt items can be used in conjunction with one another.

•        If a loin cloth is used in lieu of cod armoring, it's top should be secured under the waist item.

•        Boots should be heavy in appearance, such as combat boots, and primarily have a leather-like quality material. No laces should be visible.

•        Feminine heels are not permitted.

WEAPONS

•        Mininum requirement is 1 weapon item.

•        Recognizable weapons from outside the era or in aesthetics to outside the era is not permitted.

•        Comic references show examples of more primitive style melee weapons and cruder rifle/blasters. Slug throwers, Bow casters, etc were more widespread in use during this era, blaster/plasma tech was in its infancy in design.

•        Most rifles were overly bulky due to technological constraints and had some sort of large magazine/belt fed attachments.

•        Melee weapons were ornamental in design and blades were usually large and wide.

ATTACHMENT METHODS AND MATERIALS

•        Kits can be 3D printed, or can be made from Sintra (PVC board), PVC piping, Kydex, fiberglass, ABS, or various metals. Eva foam, Worbla and cardboard are not permitted for use as materials.

•        Worbla may ONLY be used to add detail to armor, if desired. Vaccuformed armor will be judged on a case by case basis.

•        If kit parts are 3d printed, any and all print lines MUST BE SANDED AWAY OR OTHERWISE REMOVED. No print lines should be visible whatsoever. Printed parts will be heavily scrutinized for print lines.

•        No chainmail parts are permitted.

•        Neon colors will be heavily scrutinized to ensure the kit as a whole appears in-universe. This era however, does not show neon color schemes in the reference materials. Color schemes should follow closely to the comics, and be primarily earth and biological toned in nature.

•        Overall quality of kit and neatness of wear will be judged separately from actual requirements. A kit may technically meet requirements for specific parts and still not be approved if it is not worn neatly or if the overall kit itself looks sloppy or messy.

•        Plating can be secured via industrial strength velcro, snaps, bolts, rivets, screws, strapping, or magnets.

•        Glue or tape of any kind is not an appropriate method of attaching plates to soft parts and is not permitted.

•        Bolts, rivets, or screws can be visible but must be incorporated into the armour and be weathered to look like they serve an actual function.

“Pathfinders” Crusader CRL v1.0 – 1/16/2023 by Dra'kar

This CRL is a living document and can be edited or amended at any time.