Wizard Robes: Why?

[fortesama]

I've always wondered why those who study magic almost always depicted wearing a dress. Yes, armor gets in the way of magic due to various reasons depending on the setting or system and it's forgivable if it's for some social event or ceremony or if it's part of a dress code. But it gets a little odd when they're get themselves a combat situation. I guess it's forgivable if the robes themselves are magic though.

Then there's Hennet from the Player's Handbook of DnD 3.5 who doesn't wear much at all but that's another story entirely.

[Kuma Kode]

That was actually why I liked Rappelz's summoners and mage classes (Rappelz is an MMORPG). Summoner's garb? Looks like this. Rather sensible.

I usually use that picture for explaining what my wizard is wearing instead of robes to people who can't quite grasp why running around the woods with clothes that drag is a bad idea.

[Xiander]

Then there's Hennet from the Player's Handbook of DnD 3.5 who doesn't wear much at all but that's another story entirely.

It´s because magic schools have dresscode, and the students get used to it.

Hennet is a sorceror, and thus he can dress however he likes.

[teslas]

First of all, outfits in video games, especially Asian ones, are usually in no way accurate in representing anything a person would wade into combat wearing

That aside, maybe it's cultural pressure? All the cool kids wear big, flowing robes?

Judging by the PHB illustrations though, neither the wizard nor the sorcerer are wearing much. Only the archmage in the DMG comes to mind as wearing anything robe-ish, but it looks pretty freaking magical.

In a practical world, casters would wear similar clothes as to anyone else about to go into a fight in whatever environment they're in. In the high fantasy world, I guess a bunch of nerds thought robes were cool.

[Pentachoron]

Aside from the shame it instills in their foes to be defeated by a guy in a dress?

Probably because robes are pretty well the de facto outfit of anything occult. Also because I'm pretty sure when you can bend reality to your whim you tend to care very little about trivialities like clothing.

[Eldariel]

Because lots of robes make for easy cheap parlor tricks; also 'cause they're badass. I guess it's just a historical outlook for wisemen and magicians and kinda stuck with the transition to fantasy.

[Ravens_cry]

Scholars wore robes, presumingly because a thick wool robe is nice and warm in a draughty scriptorium because your body heat is contained in the robe. Many conceptions of the wizard are based around scholars and magi.
Of course, if you are going adventuring, wear something somewhat more practical.

[DragonSinged]

Well, another thing to think about is something that Terry Pratchett goes into a few times in his witches series, where the logic follows something like: Witches are powerful, and command respect. What do people stereotypically think of when they think of a witch? Black clothes, big pointy black hat. Therefore, if you want people to know that you are a witch, you should wear black clothes and a big pointy black hat.

This is somewhat the logic that I am following with my current wizard. Could he run around in tights and a tunic? Yeah, sure. But he's a wizard, and a professor and teacher of other wizards, for that matter, and he damned well wants people to know it, regardless of whether he is currently actually casting any spells. So, he dresses like a wizard: Long, comfortable, noble-looking robes.

Not to mention, the breeze is kind of nice.


Edit: Now, if I'm playing a Beguiler, that's an entirely different story...

[teslas]

Well, another thing to think about is something that Terry Pratchett goes into a few times in his witches series, where the logic follows something like: Witches are powerful, and command respect. What do people stereotypically think of when they think of a witch? Black clothes, big pointy black hat. Therefore, if you want people to know that you are a witch, you should wear black clothes and a big pointy black hat.

This is somewhat the logic that I am following with my current wizard. Could he run around in tights and a tunic? Yeah, sure. But he's a wizard, and a professor and teacher of other wizards, for that matter, and he damned well wants people to know it, regardless of whether he is currently actually casting any spells. So, he dresses like a wizard: Long, comfortable, noble-looking robes.

Not to mention, the breeze is kind of nice.

In a fight where I am actually threatened, and the enemies are intelligent enough to take what I'm wearing into account, wouldn't that just paint a giant target on me?

"Hey! That guy can summon demons, send us to other planes, and fly around while invisibly shooting (also potentially invisible) fireballs at us. Get him before he gets us!"

[DragonSinged]

In a fight where I am actually threatened, and the enemies are intelligent enough to take what I'm wearing into account, wouldn't that just paint a giant target on me?

"Hey! That guy can summon demons, send us to other planes, and fly around while invisibly shooting (also potentially invisible) fireballs at us. Get him before he gets us!"

Well, that of course entirely depends on the view NPCs have of Wizards in your world. They could just as easily think, "Oh man, that guy in the big shiny armor can cut through like 4 guys with a single swing of his sword! Kill him first!"


Of course, if the NPCs know the fight is coming and are planning ahead of time, then their strategy will be based off of whatever advance knowledge they have of the party, and what the wizard is wearing will probably have no effect on that. If they don't know the fight is coming, then the wizard should be a fair distance away from them anyways, and the meat shields with the big swords or spiked chains or whatever should be all up in their grills, yo, and should hopefully distract them somewhat while the invisible wizard is summoning demons, sending them to other planes, and flying around shooting fireballs at them. Or was he shooting invisible fireballs? Well, whatever.


But again, basically: Do your NPCs have metagame knowledge that the Wizard is Tier 1, and the Monk is not? If not, then what you're wearing shouldn't necessarily affect whether they target you first or not. Unless, of course, they've had a run-in with you before, but again, then what you're wearing won't really change things.

[rayne_dragon]

wearing a dress.

I find it mildly offensive to refer to robes as a dress because the two are quite distinct. But I also get annoyed at people confusing cloaks and capes, so....

I think the image of robes stems from how for most of history the elite and educated of our society wore robes or similar vestments. Most of the scholarly types of the middle ages were monks or priests, who wore robes. Besides, robes are comfy (dresses less so) and may not be as bad for combat situations as one may think. I've found that sufficiently loose full-length skirts don't hinder fighting ability at all, so I see no reason why this couldn't work with a robe at all (and it isn't like you're fighting with weapons much as a caster either).

[Godskook]

Most people in D&D are not assuming "we're going into a fight" as their standard for what they wear on a daily basis.

[teslas]

But again, basically: Do your NPCs have metagame knowledge that the Wizard is Tier 1, and the Monk is not? If not, then what you're wearing shouldn't necessarily affect whether they target you first or not. Unless, of course, they've had a run-in with you before, but again, then what you're wearing won't really change things.

I agree. What advanced knowledge the enemies have of the party is the most important aspect. I also think that as a learned man of learning and knowledge, if you had more than 8 wisdom for common sense and didn't have a problem with pride, you might dress more casually.

What I don't think you're taking into account though, is that most thugs or enemies you'll fight in games can understand that sword and board guy standing in front of him. They know what to expect and can account for it. They might not know what the wizard can do, and thus fear it, and thus want to hurt it before they find out the hard way.

It goes without saying that all enemy mages will know mages are the highest threat, or at least are the most versatile in most situations.

Or you're fighting dire bears and raaawwrr attack the guy in front of me.

[Alleran]

None of my wizard characters ever bother with robes and pointy hats. My current one prefers simple dark traveling clothes (tunic, trousers, belt, boots) and a long coat. Though he has found a fedora-style hat recently that he's grown quite fond of. And absolutely refuses to leave behind, even to the point of running back into the lair of an angry dragon to fetch it.

[Ravens_cry]

None of my wizard characters ever bother with robes and pointy hats. My current one prefers simple dark traveling clothes (tunic, trousers, belt, boots) and a long coat. Though he has found a fedora-style hat recently that he's grown quite fond of. And absolutely refuses to leave behind, even to the point of running back into the lair of an angry dragon to fetch it.

Dunta dun ta, dun da dun, dunta dun ta, dun tun tun!

[Heliomance]

So why I ask? It doesn't make much sense, that a man of my stature should have to wear a dress.

[Yora]

I've always wondered why those who study magic almost always depicted wearing a dress.

Gandalf had one.

[dsmiles]

I'd pick a reinforced greatcoat, goggles, and jackboots, with leather pants and a shirt that I could move easily in. Maybe a snazzy hat to tie it all together. But then again, I play mostly in the Iron Kingdoms.
Something like these guys:

Spoiler

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I mean, really. Wizards should dress more sensibly.

[Eldan]

According to Harry Dresden, it's warm and comfy.

[Alleran]

Dunta dun ta, dun da dun, dunta dun ta, dun tun tun!

I'd be lying if I said that wasn't partly the inspiration for my dungeon-crawling, treasure-looting wizard. He even makes up all his plans as he goes, to the great annoyance of everybody else.

[Yuki Akuma]

Robes are practical. They're warm, have room for lots of pockets, don't restrict motion very much, and most come with a hood to keep your head dry when it rains.

[Innis Cabal]

Robes are practical. They're warm, have room for lots of pockets, don't restrict motion very much, and most come with a hood to keep your head dry when it rains.

I was simply going to say that the person asking has never worn a robe. But that works.

[Eldan]

And wide sleeves. How can you be a magician without wide sleeves?

I've tried it, it just doesn't work. You are restricted to the simplest of tricks. spells.

[umbrapolaris]

Robes are practical. They're warm, have room for lots of pockets, don't restrict motion very much, and most come with a hood to keep your head dry when it rains.

and you can ask your summoned succubus to do naughty things under the robe without be noticed by your jealous companions ^^

[Spiryt]

I'd pick a reinforced greatcoat, goggles, and jackboots, with leather pants and a shirt that I could move easily in. Maybe a snazzy hat to tie it all together. But then again, I play mostly in the Iron Kingdoms.
Something like these guys:

Spoiler

Show

I mean, really. Wizards should dress more sensibly.

Lol, and those are more "sensible" options?

With googles hell knows what for, tons of buckles, little useless bits of armor here and there without visible purpose, buckles and pants straight out from Manowar, masks and hats?

From this, I go straight to my answer to the OP:

Clothing in fantasy generally doesn't make much sense.

It's for "aesthetic" purposes born in societies in which clothing also generally had lost a lot of touch with "practical sense".

So it's just whatever looks nice/cool/badass/totallysexyfantasydarkelfchickwithskimpystuff for fantasy reader/player - for fun.

[Vistella]

Who is forcing you to wear a robe?
dont want it, dont do it

[The Glyphstone]

Most people in D&D are not assuming "we're going into a fight" as their standard for what they wear on a daily basis.

Adventurers are far from 'most people', even in D&D. They always assume they're going into a fight on a daily basis, usually ones they start.

[Lurkmoar]

Hey, the orphans attacked first! They were replaced with doppelgangers I tell you!

But I always thought wizards wore robes simple because they could hide their precious spell components more easily. And to just let things hang out, ya know?

[Clovis]

Often wondered about the same thing. Conversely, my mage never wears a robe but normal adventuring gear, ie high boots, trousers, tunic, cape/overcoat and of course the ubiquitous wizard's utility belt: spell component pouches. As someone already pointed out: why make yourself an obvious target for the first strike? Of course, the familiar hanging about is a dead giveaway but still...
On another note, robes are comfy and keep warmth in quite nicely. But difficult when riding a horse or flying.

[Radar]

Who is forcing you to wear a robe?
dont want it, dont do it

Wooo! I am invisible!

Come to think of it, Endure Elements combined with Greater Invisibility does open up a lot of options for unfashionable yet comfortable clothing. It could be fun to Dispell an invisible enemy wizard only to see him wearing a tutu, because he felt like it and didn't think anyone would notice. You can also let your sense of fashion loose with a single casting of Permanent Image (if it can be cast on an item).