A Mage's Robes

[Savagezion]

I completely agree. Battlemages are always way more interesting in character than a mage in a robe. They should always be allowed light armors like leather armor, studded leather, etc. Then they should even be able to trade in certain abilities for medium type armor. Heavy armor like full plate and stuff should be off limits and medium should come with some sort of restrictions to their magic abilities but heavy armor should either be not allowed or allowed but be so penalty heavy, it would be stupid to wear it.

 

[nin_ninja]

Robes offer more freedom of movement than armor does, although it doesn't really stop some magi from wearing leather armor or chainmail. It could also be a practicality thing: maybe some magi can't use magic effectively in close-quarters combat, rendering most heavy armor practically worthless. Maybe speed takes precedence over protection, and maybe they have spells that serve the same purpose as heavy armor but don't have the same disadvantages of it.

As far as not being able to use magic when wearing heavy armor, I know some works attribute it to the actual properties of magic: in one book I read (can't remember the title, though), touching anything made of iron rendered the spellcaster unable to cast spells.

So, throw a dwarf at them, and they're basically out of the fight? Sweet.

In some works, yes. Although I'd like to see you throw a dwarf. They may be small, but they're really dense and heavy. And that's before they put their armor and weapons on.

I actually phrased that poorly. I meant you throw a dwarf with armour (preferably one of their allies) on them and they are out.

Also, I can just imagine soldiers walking around throwing bits of metal at mages.

I still don't think I'm getting quite what you intend there. Ah, well, not exactly important.

And they do need to keep touching it to render it completely worthless. As a distraction to stop that ultra "I-Can-Kill-You-All-In-A-Nuclear-Explosion-But-I-Need-Thirty-Minutes-To-Charge-Up" spells, that'd actually be a brilliant distraction.

Sorry, you said that if these mages touch iron, they basically can't use magic for a second or two right. I was just saying it would be funny to see regular soldiers in that universe throwing bits of iron at the mages to even the fight.

If you can throw bits of iron at them why not throw a dagger, that would probably stop them casting for a while...

It was a joke. Arrows would be a lot more useful, but I imagine these mages would get pissed off if they couldn't do magic just because someone kept throwing bits of iron at them.

 

[darth.pixie]

If you can throw bits of iron at them why not throw a dagger, that would probably stop them casting for a while...

"No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades seriously cramps his style."

Personally, were I a mage, I'd get mithral chain under my robes.

 

[Lunar Shadow]

Robes offer more freedom of movement than armor does, although it doesn't really stop some magi from wearing leather armor or chainmail. It could also be a practicality thing: maybe some magi can't use magic effectively in close-quarters combat, rendering most heavy armor practically worthless. Maybe speed takes precedence over protection, and maybe they have spells that serve the same purpose as heavy armor but don't have the same disadvantages of it.

As far as not being able to use magic when wearing heavy armor, I know some works attribute it to the actual properties of magic: in one book I read (can't remember the title, though), touching anything made of iron rendered the spellcaster unable to cast spells.

So, throw a dwarf at them, and they're basically out of the fight? Sweet.

In some works, yes. Although I'd like to see you throw a dwarf. They may be small, but they're really dense and heavy. And that's before they put their armor and weapons on.

Don't forget ornery

 

[Mahha]

I can understand that, but in KoTOR (which is still my favourite game) you couldn't use some force powers while wearing armour.

???

Its the force, you use your mind. What, does the armour have a no force policy?

That's because heavy armour would stop the flow of midichlorians from your body to the target.

 

[silver wolf009]

I think that the reason for mages wearing robes is simple for a few reasons:

1: Mages are often an elite who dont have to be in the fray and if they are in the actual battle, they are often being used as DPSers while others tank for them.

2: Robes are meant to conceal magical movements of the hands or talsimans/charms.

3: Also they use the robes to signify that they are in control of the arcane and dont have to have physical protection when they can summon Dagon himself from the pits of hell to serve them.

 

[octafish]

Robes? Robes are sexy. Just ask Bloodninja.

I always considered the robe as almost a uniform, a warning. Like "Back off man I'm a mage." Plus, you know, tradition. *Starts hearing Topol in his head* Damn it.

 

[Kinguendo]

The forces of good who use magic have always gone off on their heroic journeys in nothing more than their bathrobes. Magical bathrobes with deep pockets yes, but not very effective against swords.

Seriously, in most fantasy (even sci-fi like Star Wars) the magic users always wear robes, or just regular clothes because their weak little frames can't handle armour. To that I call BS. Why can't my magical character with the power to shape mountains put on a 30 lbs piece of armour? Its dumb.

I know making a decent Warrior-Mage character in games would be unbalanced, but their are so few characters able to wear decent armour and use magic (unless they are evil).

I know their are many characters that wear armour and use magic, but there are so few Lich Kings compared to the Black Mage glass cannons.

Thoughts. Should media (games, books, and movies) have more Warrior-Mage types, or should mages be forced to be much physically weaker and wear lighter armour?

Wait a minute, were you on Dungeons & Dragons Online earlier today talking about this?

Anyway, I will say the same thing I said then... It would be unfair and illogical, magic seems to require fast and varied movements with the person using magic having spent all of their time studying and practicing magic NOT exactly the most physically fit.

Also, more often than not there are magical buffs for that kind of thing.

 

[ConvincingJohn]

I the Scarred Lands setting (D20 system) arcane spellcasting would create intense heat. So wearing anything other than loose clothes would make you life very difficult for at sort period of time. So spellcasters could wear any armor(with the propr training) most just didn´t cuz it would fry them.

I always thought that that was both a pretty good explanation and funny as hell.

 

[Eumersian]

I think the whole idea behind the robes is because the magic users are not "warriors of magic" per-se. They are learned people, who have devoted their lives to the study of the control of magic and its art. Thus, they don't need to be weighed down by cumbersome armor as they research new ways of making things explode. Would you be comfortable studying your chemistry while in a full plate-mail suit? I thought not.

But actually, I think that mages shouldn't be restricted to clothing most of the time. I think that they should be as physically fit as a least a warrior in training. What I mean is, you don't see an awful lot of fat mages running (or lumbering) about these fantasy worlds. I would think that it would be harder to focus your magic while you're overheating inside heavy plates, but mages should be able to deal with some armor.

 

[darkstarangel]

Well theoretically a mage should have some sort of magic force field, soldiers or protective familiars to eliminate the need for armour. And as mages would usually train with or attack each other armour becomes redundant.

Also it could have some sort of insulating effect on their magic. This is why full fledged witches perform their rituals naked, they believe even the robes muffle their spells.

 

[Kinguendo]

Although, I have always thought that mages never needed armour. Y'know, with their whole destroy everyone by just blinking powers and such... but I dont know, maybe I am bias in that I almost exclusively play as mages.

 

[Freeze_L]

Why wear a full suit of Armor when you can have a bad-ass iconic Leather Duster? (that is enchanted,you are a wizard after all, to be 10x more effective then a suit of armor)


Less Obvious, Less Threatening, and better. Also the issue of training comes up again, Dresden is a warrior beyond a shadow of a doubt, but he does not train nearly as much for physical encounters to be as skilled as some of his compatriots. The real Question i think is "Why do we get so many bland wizards?" I want more interesting characters and diverse populations of wizards, wizards who break the mold who have other skills who have depth. Really this applies to all characters and Archetypes.

 

[crimson sickle2]

The stereotype is usually a robe or cloak, but I've seen many mages in light armor before. I think the main reason is because if a mage does take damage, the other party members aren't doing their job properly.

 

[FollowUp]

I D&D this is explained by the fact that metallic armor impedes movement of hands for somatic components, as well as messes with the arcane energy. This doesn't happen with divine magic.

 

[linkmastr001]

If you can throw bits of iron at them why not throw a dagger, that would probably stop them casting for a while...

"No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades seriously cramps his style."

Personally, were I a mage, I'd get mithral chain under my robes.

and add a mithral heavy shield!

 

[Jessta]

I've always liked to think of mages as the nerdy members of the group and they wear robes and the such because they think they are comfy and stylin. Also the reasoning behind it is that armor is uncomfortable and mages have other things to think about than god this cod piece is tight. You know the whole fact that magic is supposed to be more complicated than SCIENCE which is personally I cant get my science homework done while standing or being in any sort of distracting environment, much less a portable dumpster. >< medium armor tops for mages.

 

[Sejs Cube]

When you've got the power to shape reality, who the crap needs a metal jacket to keep you safe?

Oh no, that guy's swinging a sword at me. Magic.

Oh man, that guy sniped my ass with a crossbow. Now I'm injured! Magic, *****.

Oh snap, I'm being all set upon by any possible threat that a suit of armor could potentially mitigate! Wait, never mind, I'm fine. How? It's magic, I ain't gotta explain shit.

 

[WanderingFool]

Fighting in armor is not something you can just DO.
Armor, ANY ARMOR worth anything, weights a lot and puts an immense strain on your ability to move around (even if it where weighless, the material is still really stiff and unwieldy).
Just dig up a LARPer somewhere and ask him how much training it takes to even be able to move around for more than 15 minutes while wearing a chainshirt (which is most often classified as belonging to the "lightest" armor type).

Chainmail actually is probably one of the worst offenders, because all the weight is placed across the shoulders. Even a full suit of plate armor afford a surprisingly large degree of movement with not as much encumbrance as one might think. This is due to the weight being distributed over the whole body. For instance -

That was awesome. Anyways, when given the chance like in Oblivion, I make a mage character with heavy armor and swords, cause non-combat staves and robes are for pussies.

 

[Queltherio]

Mage robes just look badass.