Still on the armour question, one should remember that plate (as stated by Kobal) was mainly used to deflect blows and was worn over chainmail and leatherjackets that would take the brunt of the blows should they pierce said plate, so the metalworking on the plates was generally recognized as one of the masterworks of the times and whole towns and smiths gained reputation as being able to make the most formidable plates (Milan and Nurnburg among them around 1250-1300)...