[Note: The comments here are filing up with talks about historical Knights, Vikings & Samurai. Feel free to skip my game theory and dive right in.] I'll be discussing the types of armor used by the three factions in the game versus what was used historically and how the setting of For Honor may have caused the disparity between them. The History of For Honor begins with a great cataclysm that shook the known world plunging it into chaos.  After this event our three factions began warring over what little resources remained.  In the opening cinematic water was the focus.  Broadening our scope, setting aside food and shelter for the moment, there could have been another precious resource being fought over. One essential to waging war. Iron Ore We're told that the Knights managed to drive both the Samurai and the Vikings from Ashfield but just how were they able to defeat two perfectly capable armies?  What if it was because Ashfeld was rich in easily accessible Iron Ore?  This could potentially explain why the Vikings and Samurai invade Ashfield in the first place as well as why only the Knights seem to be wearing metal armor. Historically Vikings were known to go into battle wearing chainmail shirts, pants and hoods.  They did wear animal hide to keep warm but also a Champion might be awarded a wolf or bear pelt which they viewed as totem spirits.  Vikings believed the animal spirit would protect them and give them strength in combat.  It makes a sort of sense.  Your enemy's weapon is stoped or gets caught in the hide and that animal's skin did end up saving your own after all. No Samurai ever wore wooden armor.  Wooden armor in Japan during the early "Samurai Era" is not a myth however.  It existed, but Samurai never used it.  In the beginning they did have armor that wasn't made of metal.  I believe it was made of leather and silk cords but my knowledge is limited here. With little good ore to make both steel weapons and steel armor, the Vikings and Samurai may have been forced to focus on only making enough steel weapons to arm thier forces.  And with superior protection it's definitely feasible that a legion of well armored Knights could fend off both armies and drive them out. But there's another nuance that is observable through gameplay and reinforced by the campaign.  Even a Knights Armor is pierced by steel blades.  This is because in a game you need health, damage and such of corse.  In the story though a dagger punches clean through the front plate of a Knight.  If the armor was made of steel that would be impossible.  But if it were made of much softer iron and the blade was hardened steel then maybe it could be possible to peirce it.   This supports iron being a limited resource but also suggests that maybe the cataclysm had destroyed thier history as well.  Much like how today we can only speculate on how Greek Fire was made, maybe our Factions had to start civilization over and rediscover thier smithing techniques when everything got wiped out. All of this is just me geeking out about historical warfare and stuff. Still, here are some more possible talking points if anyone's interested. >Kensi is the only Samurai in the game >Orochi is a ninja >Historically Kights and Samurai were equal in terms of speed, protection, skill and mobility >Vikings favored the Axe not only for its ferocity in battle but because it was a multipurpose tool