Banded Mail Armor

Banded mail armor is made of overlapping horizontal strips of laminated metal.

They are sewn over a backing of normal chain mail and soft leather backing. Lamination refers to a process in which many thin sheets of metal are hammered, or riveted together, to form each individual metal strips.

This type of armor is most commonly worn by eastern warriors and would be as common as plate mail in those cultures. It offers somewhat less protection than full plate, and therefor receives a worse rating. However, its weight is more evenly carried by the body, allowing it to be worn longer than chain mail.

This type of armor also tends to restrict movement somewhat, making it slightly more difficult to avoid being hit by an attacker.