Of course they fumbled it, but for once they did have a clever idea. Breed monster to use as exp? Brilliant. Except why it isn't used more? Perhaps because the stuff is as volatile as Chlorine Trifluoride to handle correctly mayhaps?
I'm pretty sure I've read this before somewhere, because I remember the scenes, her healing the arm, fmc stopping the bird, the conversations, that goblin appearing out of bushes?..
Right on the shield part (Roman scutum was made of planks covered with leather) but plate armor would have weighted less than modern infantry combat gear (40-50lbs vs 60-100lbs). There were heavier plate armor (1700-) but that was mostly only for jousting or purely ceremonial.
A few cannons...
I assume it was that series which had many races and the city itself transported into some unknown wilderness, mc reincarnated into the game he had been playing as the king, outside half-elves attacked by elves, and mc deciding to help them. Unfortunately I don't remember the name?