Wizard Robes: Why?

[dsmiles]

Lighting makes all the difference. The one where she is purple she is obviously doing some mystical hoodoo that is affecting the lighting. In the other, prestidigitation equivalent of a spray-on tan mayhap?
***
Yeah, that is total bull.
Most complaints centre around her features though, and to that I say, so what? I rather like how alien she looks personally.

Well, consider me on "Team Mialee is a Space Frog." Of course, that druid's no looker, either.

I think they could have gotten better artists for the 3e/3.5e PCs.

[arguskos]

Well, consider me on "Team Mialee is a Space Frog." Of course, that druid's no looker, either.

Mialee: Space Frog from Space.

I think they could have gotten better artists for the 3e/3.5e PCs.

Yeah. Like Rob Liefield. yeah I went there :P

[Frozen_Feet]

Robes? In my games and setting, Wizards tend to wear clothing akin to gis, kimonos and hakamas. And so do Monks, Fighters, Paladins, Clerics and a score of other classes. Armor, when it can, is hidden under layers of clothing - even when it can't, Wizards and the like can create magical equivalent out of wholecloth. Considering the magical bling on the other classes... yeah. You aren't distinquishing adventurers dressed for war from each other by looks alone; probably not even through actions, since the magicky types likely have ways to swing lethal implements regardless, and the fighty types have dozens of magical thingamajobs hidden in their sleeves in case of emergency.

[Ravens_cry]

Well, consider me on "Team Mialee is a Space Frog." Of course, that druid's no looker, either.

I think they could have gotten better artists for the 3e/3.5e PCs.

Call me Team Elves Ain't Humans then. This will tell you something about my personal standards of beauty because I found the iconic druid Vadania quite haunting.
Krusk on the other hand looks like a tightly muscled knot of scars and gristle.

[Reynard]

Krusk on the other hand looks like a tightly muscled knot of scars and gristle.

So, more like a real adventurer would?

[Eldariel]

Aaaaahhh, but Goblins are the best.

I raise you Mindflayers, my good sir. All those tentacles...

[Lurkmoar]

Yeah. Like Rob Liefield. yeah I went there :P

That would just be too cruel...

Robes? In my games and setting, Wizards tend to wear clothing akin to gis, kimonos and hakamas. And so do Monks, Fighters, Paladins, Clerics and a score of other classes. Armor, when it can, is hidden under layers of clothing - even when it can't, Wizards and the like can create magical equivalent out of wholecloth. Considering the magical bling on the other classes... yeah. You aren't distinquishing adventurers dressed for war from each other by looks alone; probably not even through actions, since the magicky types likely have ways to swing lethal implements regardless, and the fighty types have dozens of magical thingamajobs hidden in their sleeves in case of emergency.

So your setting is Asian flavored? All my characters tend to roam around in big fancy cloaks... cloaks are awesome. Unless they're posing as commoners. Hardly anybody notices commoners... makes great cover for thieves and wizards traveling incognito.

[Ravens_cry]

So, more like a real adventurer would?

Maybe, still ugly though. Back to wizards robes, if we mean something like a monks habit I can see that been doable in the feild, but the long, massive sleeves, catch on thorns, get dragged in the mud, trip over your own feet, kind we see in your stereotypical wizard?
Not practical at all. Neither is the thousand belt, goggles that do nothings dungeon punk iron kingdoms wear either.

[dsmiles]

Mialee: Space Frog from Space.


Yeah. Like Rob Liefield. yeah I went there :P

He's a little action-comic-booky for me, I was thinking more along the lines of Elmore. He's kind of an iconic fantasy artist, in my book.

Krusk on the other hand looks like a tightly muscled knot of scars and gristle.

We're MEN! (Manly men!) We're men in TIGHTS! (Tight tights!)

[Lurkmoar]

We're MEN! (Manly men!) We're men in TIGHTS! (Tight tights!)

Tight tights!

[Ravens_cry]

We're MEN! (Manly men!) We're men in TIGHTS! (Tight tights!)

Read Manly Guys Doing Manly Things. It is Manly, by Brando.

[dsmiles]

Tight tights!

A cookie for you, good sir.

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[Squark]

A cookie for you, good sir.

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I couldn't spot the cookies

As I see it, wizards wear robes for two mutually exclusive reasons; either a) Because it's a sign of their station and it intimidates the common people (and because there are also sorts of magical robes), or b) Because they're geeks who don't care what people think about them, so they'll wear what's comfortable.


Or C) Robes are Awesome. And anyone who says otherwise is in for a world of magical hurt.

[Knaight]

Call me Team Elves Ain't Humans then. This will tell you something about my personal standards of beauty because I found the iconic druid Vadania quite haunting.
Krusk on the other hand looks like a tightly muscled knot of scars and gristle.

Eh, I thought Vadania looked pretty, if a bit odd, which was the intended effect. Mialee however is a space frog.

[Eldariel]

Eh, I thought Vadania looked pretty, if a bit odd, which was the intended effect. Mialee however is a space frog.

+1numbersforaddedeffect

[Frozen_Feet]

So your setting is Asian flavored?

No. Some aspects of clothing are just similar. Overall, I mix and match different cultures to the extent that such qualifiers pretty much lose meaning.

[Lurkmoar]

Interesting. I wish to subscribe to your news letter.

I still think robes are pretty awesome, especially if you have a English accent to go along with it. And some tights underneath.

[Cerlis]

because magi, clerics and monks in the real world all wear/wore robes.

as well as robes (of some form) are worn in many other countries even today.


I think a better question would be why many people in western civilization see robes as weird clothing and even compare them to other bits of clothing that are indeed different (i.e. Dresses.

[Ravens_cry]

Eh, I thought Vadania looked pretty, if a bit odd, which was the intended effect. Mialee however is a space frog.

Well, by her official stats, she has an 8 charisma. If Charisma and physical beauty coordinate at all, she has every reason to look alien and weird to human eyes.

[dsmiles]

Well, by her official stats, she has an 8 charisma. If Charisma and physical beauty coordinate at all, she has every reason to look alien and weird to human eyes.

Aaaahhh, but charisma isn't entirely based on looks alone. It's also a measure of personality. She could look spectacular but be a complete *****, or be horribly ugly and be a very nice person. It measures a combination of looks and personality.

EDIT: With a Charisma of 8, she probably has the personality of a soap dish, to go along with the "Space Frog from Space" look.

[Tvtyrant]

You could always have them in a hoodie and slacks if you wanted; sure they are out of context but so are many of the things in D&D. Like monks.

Also I would like to point out that Byzantine clothing tended to be similar to wizard clothes.

Also, Tabards are fairly similar to robes as well.

[Ravens_cry]

Aaaahhh, but charisma isn't entirely based on looks alone. It's also a measure of personality. She could look spectacular but be a complete *****, or be horribly ugly and be a very nice person. It measures a combination of looks and personality.

EDIT: With a Charisma of 8, she probably has the personality of a soap dish, to go along with the "Space Frog from Space" look.

I agree that looks and Charisma aren't a 1:1 ratio, but I rather disagree it means how nice you are. While it is true that people generally like being around nice people, people with forceful or persuasive personalities, what I consider to be the other part of the Charisma equation, can be complete bastards. I am not saying it is always the case, but it is hardly unknown either.
I personally always imagined her as being generally calm cool and collected, but rather abrasive when pestered, i.e. anyone interrupts her research.

[Ragitsu]

Robes are cool. Does there really need to be a reason beyond that?

Also, recognize that there are more than just dark blue robes, and don't think you need all robes to be magical.

[Velaryon]

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.

agreed
however i like to have wizards who were normal comfortable clothes
also my mom upon seeing hennet decided that he must have a belt fetish

Hennet is definitely a bit of a freak.


As for robes, the main reason is undoubtedly because that's how mages and such have been portrayed throughout our history. All the other explanations are good and sensible, but for the most part I think that's the real reason.

[Eldariel]

With a Charisma of 8, she probably has the personality of a soap dish, to go along with the "Space Frog from Space" look.

Huh; 10-11 is average, 8 only a bit under. Now, if her Cha was like 4, I could understand that, but 8? It isn't that low.

[Coidzor]

I think a better question would be why many people in western civilization see robes as weird clothing and even compare them to other bits of clothing that are indeed different (i.e. Dresses.

I agree, I never really got it myself.

I think she looks fey. Wide spaced eyes, a tiny nose, an arrow sharp chin, and cheek bones you could skin an apple with?
Definitely one of the Fair Folk.
Remember, Elves are not humans.

They were, however, supposed to be beautiful and terrible, last I recall. Mialee is just terrible. Like boxbot.

He's a little action-comic-booky for me, I was thinking more along the lines of Elmore. He's kind of an iconic fantasy artist, in my book. [/COLOR]

I think you missed the joke. Unless Elmore is another artist unworthy of the name that I've had the pleasure of never encountering?

[ffone]

Robes allow lots of pockets for spell components.

Also they're based on Anglo- and Scandinavian folklore; those places are cold!

[Ragitsu]

http://marcusstratus.deviantart.com/...Robe-112144301

[Sir Dar]

Why wizard robes?

They are easy to take off and on.Letting you bring that female drow wizard to your tent in the middle of the day.Have your *fun* alone time and no one in your party will be any the wiser.

[dsmiles]

I think you missed the joke. Unless Elmore is another artist unworthy of the name that I've had the pleasure of never encountering?

I guess I did. Sometimes that happens.
A Smattering of Larry Elmore:

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...and my personal favorite