Clothes or Armor

[SquirrelTeeth]

Basically: which one is which?
Is it the material or the pattern that designates them as one or the other? I've been trying to have extra clothes around for when stuff wears out, but I don't know if I've actually made leather armor that civilians won't wear to cover nudity.
Mail shirts and silk shirts are both shirts, but mail shirts are clearly armor while silk shirts are clothing. But what about leggings, trousers, or greaves; are they all armor?
Tunics made of silk definitely seems to be clothes, but are tunics made of leather only armor or can they be civilian clothes as well?

[Holyvision]

Armor: https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Armor

Not armor: https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Clothing

I tend to make clothes out of leather, as cloth won't give any protection but leather at least helps your lumberjacks not get mauled to death by possums and squirrels.

Using squads you can custom control what you want them to wear and if you want it over clothes or instead of.

[The Trashman]

Any clothing made out of leather will be worn by random dwarves, and it counts as armour in that they'll gain armour user xp for fighting in it.

Leather armor, helms, leggings definitely count as armor, so won't be picked up by civilians. Trousers are clothing, so will be worn by them

The links given above are the best place to look, though

[SquirrelTeeth]

The links given above are the best place to look, though

They're really not though! I've been through both of them and they don't actually say which one is which. There's no clear distinction between "clothing made of leather" and "leather armor." Other than the specific garment Leather Armor, which I just noticed is a singular thing instead of a category.
Is the item Leather Armor the only leather item that civilians won't wear or will they ignore leather tunics as well?
So, leather leggings are armor, but leather trouser are just clothes, right?

[Holyvision]

Originally posted by SquirrelTeeth:

The links given above are the best place to look, though

They're really not though! I've been through both of them and they don't actually say which one is which. There's no clear distinction between "clothing made of leather" and "leather armor." Other than the specific garment Leather Armor, which I just noticed is a singular thing instead of a category.
Is the item Leather Armor the only leather item that civilians won't wear or will they ignore leather tunics as well?
So, leather leggings are armor, but leather trouser are just clothes, right?

Did you look at the armor link? There's even a picture-cheat-sheet...
https://dwarffortresswiki.org/images/thumb/d/d8/Armor_Coverage_Chart.png/800px-Armor_Coverage_Chart.png

If you're totally new maybe start with Nook's guides on YouTube.

[The Trashman]

Originally posted by SquirrelTeeth:

The links given above are the best place to look, though

They're really not though! I've been through both of them and they don't actually say which one is which. There's no clear distinction between "clothing made of leather" and "leather armor." Other than the specific garment Leather Armor, which I just noticed is a singular thing instead of a category.
Is the item Leather Armor the only leather item that civilians won't wear or will they ignore leather tunics as well?
So, leather leggings are armor, but leather trouser are just clothes, right?

To answer your original question, it's the pattern that designates something as armor, not the material. As a rule of thumb, if it can be made at the clothes maker's workshop, it's clothing. If you make something that can be made at the clothes maker's workshop out of leather, your dwarves will wear it as 'clothing'. So leather tunics, shirts, dresses, trousers, hoods, cloaks, robes etc will all be worn at will by your dwarves.

Leggings, armor, high boots, gauntlets, helms all count as armour. If you'd like, I can see if I can find a full list of possible apparel and split it for you

nice pfp btw

[The Trashman]

Okay, so check this section of the armour page out:
https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Armor#Headgear

That table, and the ones below it, tell you which pieces are Armor. Check the 'Armor level' column, if it's empty it's clothing, if it's got a number it's armor

[Jetrel]

So if i read this right. Dont make clothing at cloth makers shop. Just make leather armor and the dwarves will wear it as standard clothing on their own? Damn thats amazing.

I dont need to bother with socks and dresses and trousers? Thats fantastic.

[Erei]

Originally posted by Jetrel:

So if i read this right. Dont make clothing at cloth makers shop. Just make leather armor and the dwarves will wear it as standard clothing on their own? Damn thats amazing.

I dont need to bother with socks and dresses and trousers? Thats fantastic.

Yes, but leather is harder to come by than clothes.

Also, interesting fact, a leather cloak will increase a military dwarf armor (can be worn on top of everything basically), AND provide a way to "filter" bad gas (occupy the mouth slot). A good addition to military, if the civvies don't steal it beforehand :D


If you want a military fort, you can also make armor suit for everyone, set them in squad and have them wear armor at all time. Don't have them train at all if you want them to work, or do a rotation if you want the to get some skill.
You can obviously do some variation (no armor, just weapon or just training for everyone once in a while).
There you go, spartan fort. Military ? What's that ?

[Jetrel]

Leather is dirt cheap to trade for. Im often drowning in it bc i buy it all lol

[Jetrel]

Goood idea. Id like to have everyone in steel!

[Erei]

Originally posted by Jetrel:

Goood idea. Id like to have everyone in steel!

Imagine the face of the "agitated" whatever or goblin when they realize the "helpless civilian" carrying wood outside is actually a legendary axedwarf in full steel armor.
THIS IS SPARTA !

[Jetrel]

Lol this is happening in my next game. Yes. And mandatory military training for all.

[Erei]

Be aware that woodcutter and miner can't have a uniform (their job is already a uniform under the hood, due to using a weapon).

[harlequin_corps]

Helm is a good example of this. In the custom uniform section.. actually holdon.. I already went through this. here...

[The Trashman]

Originally posted by Jetrel:

So if i read this right. Dont make clothing at cloth makers shop. Just make leather armor and the dwarves will wear it as standard clothing on their own? Damn thats amazing.

I dont need to bother with socks and dresses and trousers? Thats fantastic.

Technically it's not armor, just clothes made out of leather but they offer much better protection than cloth and help with armor user training. The only downside is that leather stuff is much cheaper, so I think they get reduced mood buffs from it. So you'd still make trousers/dresses whatever, but out of leather instead of silk/wool/cloth. Civvies won't wear leather armor, leggings, high boots (I think)

But yeah, I usually just buy out leather from the caravan and make enough leather cloaks, hoods and gloves for everyone in the fort to have one. It does help with survivability.

If I'm equipping everyone in the fort with armor, I have a uniform that tries to balance protection against encumbrance, so metal gauntlets, high boots, helms then leather leggings, gloves, armor, hood, cloak plus a buckler and a weapon. Then when individuals gain armor user skill, I upgrade them to increasingly metal armor, same with shield skill and shields

I did a Greek bit recently, had a bunch of scholars who were wrestlers, wearing just leather thongs and high boots. Not quite Spartan, though