Bikini armour shows bare skin, especially cleavage and the belly. Both of these regions would be protected at least marginally by even the most destitute warrior, if only by pieces of leather or cloth. Most vital organs are in that region, so why would anyone with any kind of sense leave them unprotected? And yes, people of the time probably would've known that a hit in the stomach or chest was bad.
you tell that to roman gladiators... they had some leather straps with metal parts to protect the heart and sometimes the shoulder or an arm so it could not be easily be crippled and unnable to wield its weapon... and loincloth...
Originally Posted by Unwerth
This is probably more fantasy than reality, but a poor warrior would probably scavenge for bits he could use and at least bolt some metal parts on a vest. Bare skin is just a complete no-go in any kind of setting that doesn't want to rely on titillation.
my point is exactly that... one must protect itself with whatever he can afford, be it shopping or scavenging or running or whatever... but really, would you expect to scavenge a full matching armor not worn out? considering the guy wearing it died with a blow that didn't hit the armor at all, it could happen... but not all armors might fit every type of warrior... right? (consider height, weight and strength)
just to make it clear: i don't defend bikini armors... but as I have stated and you apprently agreed, pieces of armor to protect vital parts is not the problem, but what is underneath... be it cloth, leather, chainmail or skin
