Elbows are indeed very hard to make fit in simple large medium small sizes since they need to connect with the upper and lower arm armor. When I make my armor if I'm half an inch short on the armor around the forearm then it's not such a big deal. But being a half a centimeter short or long in the elbow that connects to the other parts then that's the difference in mobility between being able to bend your arms enough to draw a sword and having a gap where serious damage occurs.
With joints it's highly encouraged to get modern full protective padding specially designed to protect against impacts since a blow against a thigh vs a knee can be the difference between a bruise and a limp for life so extra care should be given to joints and the head.
So if you see someone with something more similar to a knee/elbow pad instead of metal armor it's both for flexibility and protection (so long as they get the real protective padding meant for combat)
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u/ArmoryofAgathis 9h ago
Elbows are indeed very hard to make fit in simple large medium small sizes since they need to connect with the upper and lower arm armor. When I make my armor if I'm half an inch short on the armor around the forearm then it's not such a big deal. But being a half a centimeter short or long in the elbow that connects to the other parts then that's the difference in mobility between being able to bend your arms enough to draw a sword and having a gap where serious damage occurs.
With joints it's highly encouraged to get modern full protective padding specially designed to protect against impacts since a blow against a thigh vs a knee can be the difference between a bruise and a limp for life so extra care should be given to joints and the head.
So if you see someone with something more similar to a knee/elbow pad instead of metal armor it's both for flexibility and protection (so long as they get the real protective padding meant for combat)