GoT Men of the North question

[Elk101]

The guy on the far left of the photo has that "I'm going to get you for this " look.

From the three books I read (I gave up as I couldn't deal with the misery!) I got a Wars of the Roses vibe so would agree with the Captain and others suggesting that. The Scottish analogy probably isn't too far from the mark,  with the wealthier families armed and armoured much like their southern counterparts. I seem to recall that there's still a lot of shield use in the books, which would be different from the period of likely influence (I can't remember if I remember that accurately from the books though!).

Some of the GoT TV costumes are all over the place with their apparent historic influences. For the most part I'm ok with it but some of it just looks awful (the Vivien Westwood jumpsuit attired Iron Men, for example). Still,  if the BBC can have Vikings with big horned helmets on Doctor Who,  I suppose anything goes (last Saturday's episode).

Edit: sorry,  don't normally rant but those horns! Why! (apparently because people wouldn't have known they were vikings if they didn't have horns). Sorry, ranting again.

[Vermis]

From the three books I read (I gave up as I couldn't deal with the misery!)

I managed about three seasons, meself.

I got a Wars of the Roses vibe so would agree with the Captain and others suggesting that. The Scottish analogy probably isn't too far from the mark,  with the wealthier families armed and armoured much like their southern counterparts. I seem to recall that there's still a lot of shield use in the books, which would be different from the period of likely influence (I can't remember if I remember that accurately from the books though!).

I can't remember where I heard it, but apparently GRRM was going for a more HYW (or earlier), Prince Valiant look, while having a WotR themed plot. Most of his own collection is decked out in styles earlier than WotR.

http://www.georgerrmartin.com/for-fans/knights/

[Paboook]

I would recommend to read this thread on SOIAF forum:

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/91171-come-into-my-castle-the-ways-of-warfare-in-westeros-updated-and-psa-regarding-troop-quality/

Also this great abstract about arms and armour in Westeros:

http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/Concordance/Section/2.7.1./

Frostgrace soldiers are not well suited for the Starks and other Northern forces, as those look probably like HYW soldiers. But they could serve as Wildlings or the (usually) non-fighting majority of the Night's Watch (servants and builders - rangers used armour etc.). I would be particularly happy with a set of bearded "wild men" heads with fur hats.  

[Vermis]

I would recommend to read this thread on SOIAF forum:

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/91171-come-into-my-castle-the-ways-of-warfare-in-westeros-updated-and-psa-regarding-troop-quality/

Ooh.

For men-at-arms too poor to afford mail, textile armor was the thing to have, often a thinner one covering the entire torso and hands with a thicker one covering just the torso. It was infinately more common than the boiled leather GRRM likes so much (showing his fantasy influences there, I'm afraid). We have plenty of depictions and descriptions not to mention surviving examples of textile armor, I've yet to see any strong evidence of boiled leather being used with any regularity post roman era.

Oh.