Pauldrons, Spaulders & Shoulder Plate

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Pauldrons, Spaulders & Shoulder Plate Pauldrons and spaulders are the pieces that change a silhouette. A chest plate covers the torso, vambraces protect the arms, but bare shoulders undermine both: they leave a visible gap and strip the upper body of the visual weight that makes plate armor read as plate armor. The right shoulder plates close that gap, add bulk and presence where the eye naturally goes, and pull a kit together in a way that almost nothing else can match. What Are Pauldrons & Spaulders? Both are plate armor shoulder pieces, but they differ in coverage and construction in ways that matter for fit, mobility, and character type. Pauldrons are the larger and more complete form: multi-plate assemblies that cover the full shoulder joint and typically extend down over the upper arm, often with articulated lames that follow the arm downward. In historical plate armor, pauldrons were the shoulder defense of fully equipped knights and men-at-arms, and their size and presence reflect that. They offer the most substantial coverage and the most imposing silhouette, but require more time to fit correctly and can restrict overhead movement in some combat systems. Spaulders are a simpler, more compact shoulder defense. Fewer plates, less extension down the arm, and generally easier to wear as a standalone addition to a kit that is not full plate. Historically, spaulders were associated with soldiers and fighters who needed shoulder protection without the weight and complexity of full pauldrons. In a LARP context they are often the more practical choice for active combat players who want shoulder coverage without sacrificing mobility. Both work equally well worn alone over a gambeson or tunic, or as part of a full harness alongside a chest piece and vambraces. From Milanese Knights to Dark Fantasy Raiders: The Full Range Sixteen pieces covering a wide spread of historical periods, fantasy aesthetics, and character types. For knightly and military builds , the