I'm seeing Marvelous Designer used more and more for character clothing designs. You can attach some fabric elements (jackets, padding, straps, etc) onto the hard surface elements and answer the question how it would actually be worn in reality. You can also stretch some fabric elements over the character's body and then export them as a new mesh to be combined into your final armor model.

Just had to pop in and say thanks for mentioning this. Never heard of this product and it looks like a great tool.

Well with armor in general, it's often a visual metaphor. You want the guy to look intimidating, try thinking of him as a tank or a battleship or a boiler that may explode if you piss it off. Other possibilities might be a giant poisonous toad, a boar, or a bear. Plants too are options, like a haunted tree or a jack-o-lantern. Or you might want to emphasize that this guy is so unstoppable that he can wear chains or thick rope and they don't even slow him down.

Oh that helps me with how to design my character's armor. The visual metaphor has got my mind rethinking and redesigning this armor. I really like the idea of a walking tank or battleship metaphor.

I'm seeing Marvelous Designer used more and more for character clothing designs. You can attach some fabric elements (jackets, padding, straps, etc) onto the hard surface elements and answer the question how it would actually be worn in reality. You can also stretch some fabric elements over the character's body and then export them as a new mesh to be combined into your final armor model.

It doesnt fit? it doesn't make sense? are you making the concept? MD is the best tool for cloths, maybe leathery stuff too, but I would reserve it for details and not so much for concepts. I'm on the train that sculpting might be the easiest and most straight forward way to get a concept and then a model out of nothing.

I looked up the software, and it looks very interesting. I will definitely give the trial a shot, although I'm not sure if I can shell out the cash just yet for the entire program.

I have ZBrush, and am considering trying to sculpt the armor rather than use Maya. What do people generally prefer for armor modeling? Sculpting (i.e. ZBrush) or modeling (Maya/Blender)?

Nothing beats a good reference photo.

I give you...

The Field Armor of King Henry VIII of England (reigned 1509–47)

As you can see, Henry was a big guy...

Note the pudginess in the fingers and face. Also note the musculature of the calf muscles. Henry was big, but he wasn't soft. what you might describe as "a Bull of a man".

Note his size compared to the other males in this scene...

And compared to an average male in armor...

for a great real life example see the movie Joan of Arc with Milla Jovovich. One of the famous French knights is a really big guy with spikes on his shoulder pads and such - super tank. You could just copy his stuff and call it a day! <g>.

Its also a very good movie, great production values. great acting. Directed by Luc Besson. Cast includes John Malcovich, Faye Dunaway, and Dustin Hoffman.

https://123movies.gs/film/the-messenger-the-story-of-joan-of-arc-12838.html

As i recall, La Hire is the big knight in the film...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Hire

Its the same knight that escorts Joan in the tutorial for AOE 1. when i saw the film, i was like "wait a sec! i've heard of that guy from AOE!" and they say you can't learn from games.... i learned about La Hire...

Hmm, these have definitely given me a good direction to go in. I will probably post back soon with the geometry of what my armor ended up looking like. Thanks all!

I don't think so.