Hello, everyone. I am currently trying to write a book centered in the late XV and early XVI centuries, however I have not a lot of knowledge of the armor worn by people in those specific centuries, so I came here seeking guidance from the real historians.
My question is: How would you equip an army with low-cost equipment and good overall protection?
I know that plate armor was too expensive to equip everyone with and that chainmail was out of date, (I think) because it became too excruciating to make thus rising the price so I have literally no clue whatsoever.
You may be interested in these previous answers about this topic. Please let me know if you have a follow up question!
While we think of full plate armour as the expensive equipment of the knightly class, by the end of the 15th century low-cost, mass produced plate armour had been available for decades and would become even cheaper and more common as the 16th century wore on.