these suggestions are AWESOME!!
Does he want it to be more historic or more fantasy? Watch LoTR!
I don't think he is really particular. And I didn't even think about LoTR references... Great Suggestion.
Dark Souls has a lot in the style you're looking for I think. I've also always liked this one
That, my friend, is as gold as advice can get. Thank you.
Dunno if I'd call it Byzantine, but Gut's armor in Berserk is pretty badass.
I don't think Gut's chaos armor (forget the name) would quite work. But berserk in of itself is loaded with good material for the project! Unfortunately I think this stuff would be better suited for a personal armor design (as it is very akin to my own taste) but a bit further from what my clients aim is.
Gee golly I love berserk... I stopped reading around volume 35... need to get back to that... Griffith is one of my favorite characters of all time.
So I'm guessing he doesn't want a chainmail bikini and boobs drawn on him... right?
One armor that looks badass... but not really what you're looking for.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c366/ssj4Trunks_best/GundamPaladin.jpg
Only thing Bizantine-ish I can think of is Pantheon from LoL. Can't say I find his armor awesome though =/
I really like how form fitting your example is anubis! that is precisely what I need to achieve to compliment his musculature. I just need to busy it up with some details and make it sectioned off to create elements of depth and whatnot. Something in this "shape" is definately the direction I need to move though.