Array Across Surface

Is it possible to have an object repeated, like an array, but across the surface of another mesh? I’m trying to create a chain-mail shirt for a character, and this would be the only practical way i could see it being accomplished.

Use a particle system to render multiple objects across a surface. Go to the particle section in blender , click the render sub-section and hit the object button. It won’t show anything until you designate another object array in the little space with the orange cube. Hope this helps.