No dresses allowed!
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From an aesthetic perspective, I always thought robes and dresses worked with the mystical, somewhat aloof feel of mages better than hard armor. In some cases, you could also hand-wave them as magically enhanced dresses/robes.
Otherwise, you have a pretty good point, though maybe mages just figure they can protect themselves magically and opt for something more comfortable?
Otherwise, you have a pretty good point, though maybe mages just figure they can protect themselves magically and opt for something more comfortable?
It's probably an attempt at giving non-mages some kind of benefit. <.<
I mean, you might be really good at using that sword or bow of yours, but I'm sorry, a rain of conjured meteors is just simply more effective. So to give people some incentive to play a not-mage, BAMF, heavy armor!
But yeah, most of the time, it makes no real sense at all. It seems like it's just one of those old fantasy tropes it seems most people must adhere to.
I mean, you might be really good at using that sword or bow of yours, but I'm sorry, a rain of conjured meteors is just simply more effective. So to give people some incentive to play a not-mage, BAMF, heavy armor!
But yeah, most of the time, it makes no real sense at all. It seems like it's just one of those old fantasy tropes it seems most people must adhere to.
I hate the stereotypic idea when it comes to women's armor that "Less it covers higher the armor rating is". But what can I do, being surrounded by average male demographic...
And also, by who's standards Light users must always be good and shadow users bad.
I think the idea of light service those people they are acting right. More than the separating line of black and white.
And also, by who's standards Light users must always be good and shadow users bad.
I think the idea of light service those people they are acting right. More than the separating line of black and white.
Suuuuure, put on your fancy suits o' armor and high-fallutin' chainmail coifs! No skin off my nose. Don't come crying to me though when you're casting chain lightning by a shallow stream and some cheeky rogue sneaks by and pushes you in face first! That'll show ya for cutting gym class to read Harry Potter books on the bleachers Mr. Literally-can't-perform-a-push-up-to-save-my-life. 
Edit: Also, what's stopping you from wearing a steel cuirass underneath your robe? Just because you're a master of arcane magicks with the laws of nature as your ***** doesn't mean you HAVE to go commando all the time.
Edit: Also, what's stopping you from wearing a steel cuirass underneath your robe? Just because you're a master of arcane magicks with the laws of nature as your ***** doesn't mean you HAVE to go commando all the time.
what wrong with wizard robes I mean who doesn't like a healthy breeze around their privates well that assuming you dont wear any... *ahem* nevermind.
If mages got decent armour, they would be so overpowered it would be unreal. I think it's to even out the classes a little.
I hate the concept of the priest as a healer. I think priest should be a specialisation, or something, and what it does is give a power advantage of unholy/undead. I think all rpg classes would do with sprucing up a little. Personally I hate the concept of the rogue. I think having a thief and an assassin class would split up the rogue nicely, thief who avoids confrontation, and an assassin who engages in strong initial attacks, but can't sustain fighting very well.
I hate the concept of the priest as a healer. I think priest should be a specialisation, or something, and what it does is give a power advantage of unholy/undead. I think all rpg classes would do with sprucing up a little. Personally I hate the concept of the rogue. I think having a thief and an assassin class would split up the rogue nicely, thief who avoids confrontation, and an assassin who engages in strong initial attacks, but can't sustain fighting very well.
To throw in a tuppence on the subject of comfort, I suspect the ease-of-movement bit does have something to do with it. Speaking as a guy who owns a kilt (and no, I do wear stuff under it, I'm not that Scottish), it's actually rather comfortable and easier to move about quickly in than tight pants. To those saying that it's hard to move around in a dress, well, mage robes tend to be very loose and flowy, and I don't think they would have that problem. And even if they would, there are probably cantrips to solve that.
In practice, I think game balance issues are brought into play. Also, given that mages are usually characterised as being that way through a lifetime of exhausting study, they're basically the nerds of high fantasy. And they probably wouldn't be in top physical shape. So loose, light, and comfortable would probably be more important.
In practice, I think game balance issues are brought into play. Also, given that mages are usually characterised as being that way through a lifetime of exhausting study, they're basically the nerds of high fantasy. And they probably wouldn't be in top physical shape. So loose, light, and comfortable would probably be more important.
Too many people seem to be assuming OP wants his mage in Plate/heavy armor. He just wants a pair of pants and a shirt!
They could be made from leather(biker mage) or cotton, maybe silk. I would go with silk, with silk undies, and a silk shirt, and slippers.
I don't mind females mages in dresses, since dresses work well with the curves of a woman's body, but on men they just look bad.
They could be made from leather(biker mage) or cotton, maybe silk. I would go with silk, with silk undies, and a silk shirt, and slippers.
I don't mind females mages in dresses, since dresses work well with the curves of a woman's body, but on men they just look bad.
I love the idea of robes. I think they look really poorly done and a little tacky when found in most video games, but it is to the point that I draw pen/paper RPG Mage & non-mage characters with some fort of dramatic flowing madness. Like heavy armor but adorned with vestments, over-sized cloak, maybe even a decorative loin-cloth Warhammer 40k style. I don't find robes and such to be "dresses/skirts/etc" the idea of pants is pretty new for society, and an idea that I think is highly overrated.
That being said, the game designers opened up a can o' worms by giving the lame excuses for why mages can't wear armor, like the two given below.
Like the metal restricts casting, so why are so many magical trinkets made of metal? Shouldn't all that arcane jewelry just be made of non-metal products, and then could they wear wooden armor like 3rd ed Druid? I know its based on the European mystic traditions (ie rosicrucian/golden dawn/etc) that stated that iron is like a magical energy sink, like horseshoes absorbing bad luck. Gold/Silver are non-obtrusive and could in theory be used to further focus/shape the energy. But simplifying it to they can't wear metal has issues.
Armor restricts movement. This one has less holes, but unless the designer is going the Hindu type route that somatic components are full on yoga moves (which I've never seen it depicted as that in any game, though it'd be kinda cool), I don't see how those somatic gestures would require more freedom of movement than archery or mobile melee combat. Think about the positioning and range of motion required to make a proper pull on a bow, I think that'd be hard to do in a suit jacket let alone armor. It was obviously done through history, so good on those guys, and why can't the mage flail his arms and do a simple jig in chain?
As game balancing it totally makes sense, they could look awesome, but most of the time are just phoned in. Compare any of the DragonAge PC robes aesthetically to Morrigan's robes...bastards I want cool robes damn-it!
That being said, the game designers opened up a can o' worms by giving the lame excuses for why mages can't wear armor, like the two given below.
Like the metal restricts casting, so why are so many magical trinkets made of metal? Shouldn't all that arcane jewelry just be made of non-metal products, and then could they wear wooden armor like 3rd ed Druid? I know its based on the European mystic traditions (ie rosicrucian/golden dawn/etc) that stated that iron is like a magical energy sink, like horseshoes absorbing bad luck. Gold/Silver are non-obtrusive and could in theory be used to further focus/shape the energy. But simplifying it to they can't wear metal has issues.
Armor restricts movement. This one has less holes, but unless the designer is going the Hindu type route that somatic components are full on yoga moves (which I've never seen it depicted as that in any game, though it'd be kinda cool), I don't see how those somatic gestures would require more freedom of movement than archery or mobile melee combat. Think about the positioning and range of motion required to make a proper pull on a bow, I think that'd be hard to do in a suit jacket let alone armor. It was obviously done through history, so good on those guys, and why can't the mage flail his arms and do a simple jig in chain?
As game balancing it totally makes sense, they could look awesome, but most of the time are just phoned in. Compare any of the DragonAge PC robes aesthetically to Morrigan's robes...bastards I want cool robes damn-it!
I try to imagine that the female counterparts wear these things because it enhances their distraction stat. This line of thinking doesn't always work.SinisterGehe said:
No, they don't have to. But then, magic does addle the brain a bit, doesn't it? With all the crazy costumes they wear, this is the best explanation I have.Gottesstrafe said:
Well, I think pure magic users may be at a slight disadvantage if there is a limited mana pool bit going on, thusly
Well I suppose there's the problem with it complicating hand movements, and more importantly it's probably quite hard to fire lightning out of your hand when you're wearing a metal gauntlet.
I thought it was Blood Mage and Arcane Warrior that was really broken, Spiritual healer doesn't have any abilities that would be useful when playing solo apart from Lifeward, and that would just be a backup to heal and regenerate.Shikua said:
My sense of humor. You gets it.God said:
I like this. Yes I do.WanderingFool said:Well, I think pure magic users may be at a slight disadvantage if there is a limited mana pool bit going on, thusly
I think it's just so magic user don't attract attention. Powerful mages used to be depicted running around like Gandalf or Odin or the Greek gods: old, frail men with walking sticks in little more than burlap sacks. No one would be threatened by them.
Now the more powerful a mage becomes, the more frou-frou his dress becomes.
Now the more powerful a mage becomes, the more frou-frou his dress becomes.