[Kyle S]

Hail, good folk! I have a few questions, and I've been unable to find detailed answers elsewhere on the net, so I figured I'd ask here. I've recently discovered the world of HMB/BOtN, and as I've been into swordplay for the majority of my life (larping, a wee bit of sca, and mostly Dagorhir), this is something I'd really love to participate in. This of course means that I need to make some armor (I know some folk will suggest that I buy it, but I'm a craftsman at heart, and lack the funding to buy a full suit anyway, so saw your fingers on that point ((I may purchase a helm, but the rest I aim to make myself)) ).
The armor/weaponry type that interests me the most is that of the late period Varangian Guard. The potential issues I see with this would be that the HMB/BOTN organizations seem to require mostly full plate, which doesn't fit the period I'm aiming for. What I have in mind (mind you, I'm not sure how well this would fit the rules) would be lamellar armor for my torso/shoulders/thighs/upper arms, splint armor for my forearms and calves, and a helm like the one pictured (bars underneath the chainmaile I think would fit the rules). What I'm drawing a blank on, would be gauntlets and sabatons. Not sure where to go with those.
As for the fighting itself, I'd be aiming primarily for the group battles (5v5, 21v21, etc.), but wouldn't be at all opposed to fighting 1v1. If it helps narrow things down, I'm from Ohio, us.
Thanks in advance for any help ^.^

~Vascar

[Kyle S]

That helm or this one

Any help is appreciated folks

[Shahril Dzulkifli]

Nice helm!
I actually have never encountered any reproductions of Varangian Guard helms before.
The drawing below shows the equipment used by the Varangian Guards, with 2 different types of helms among them, one from about 1066 (without chainmail) and the other from about 1230 (with chainmail):

[Michael Ekelmann]

Have you talked to any of the folks from the Armored Combat League? They're the US version of HMB/BOTN. Many of the participants also post on the Armour Archive www.armourarchive.org and could give you specific recommendations. I will say that I have watched some of the BOTN videos and there are Russian armours that are not full plate and are pretty close to later period Varangian/Byzantine armor.

[Victor Sloan]

[Dan Howard]

The illustration is entirely speculative. Nobody has any clue what the Varangians wore. It is more likely that they wore the same gear as their Scandinavian cousins (i.e. mail) rather than the munitions armour of the Byzantines. (i.e. lamellar).

[Robin Smith]