Hello, I'm currently designing a paladin character for a Dungeons and Dragons game, and I wanted to try something different than the European-style plate mail that's more common.

Cursory research told me that the Ottomans didn't really go for heavier armor, instead relying more on mobility, but I was wondering if there were any good references for heavier armor in the style of the Ottomans. I felt a forum about historical armor would be a good place to ask.

Thank you for your time!

Indo-Persian armor in it's plate form consisted of:

khula-khud (helmet),
char-aina (chahar-aina, chahar a’ineh), literally translated to "the four mirrors". It's chest armor with four plates,
dastanas/bazu band (vambrace/arm guards),
zirah (mail shirt)

Here's a modern reproduction, with some inaccuracies:

https://armstreet.com/store/armor/prince-of-the-east-functional-armor-kit-cuirass-pauldrons-bazubands-greaves

It's worth noting that this is rather late period (17th century and onwards, if I remember correctly), and there are many variations - including some armor made of many smaller overlapping plates or sheets.

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/89/14/...4c75f5.jpg

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c...a815fb.jpg

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c8/cd/...da35e1.jpg

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/40/b1/...a3ed37.jpg

This might suit your character: the Met has a 19th century mail shirt woven with prayers and invocations for protection.

[ Linked Image ]
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/searc...amp;pos=11

Here is an excellent Pinterest board featuring Ottoman armor:

http://pin.it/btZFNuq

If you're willing to move a bit further east, this Moghul armour may also be of interest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gPrBbXykwM&t=9s (I think the guy did one or two more on this armour).