A Mage's Robes

[The_Blue_Rider]

I always thought that the mages robes were specially made to help magic energies flow into and out of the casters body, whereas Heavy armour wouldnt allow the magical energy to flow

That or just balance issues

 

[Jandau]

Personally, I don't mind mages having to wear lighter clothing. What DOES bug me is why the hell does it have to be a dress? What's wrong with pants? Or a tunic? Maybe a cool looking jacket?

This is why I liked playing a mage in the Drakensang games - you could get good mage gear that wasn't a full length dress.

 

[Altorin]

it's due to the somatic components in most of the wizard's spells. The logic goes that the physical movements involved in spell-casting need to be so precise that adding extra encumbrance onto the wizard can increase the chances that the wizard will inadvertently use the wrong movements, causing the spell not to function correctly. So most wizards choose to be as unencumbered as possible. Not to mention that wearing heavy armor IS (even in real life) a trained skill that you need to spend time learning to properly use (more correctly properly use your body when different parts of it are twice as heavy.) Wizards don't spend their time practicing the regular functions of their bodies when encased in armor, let alone the extra fidelity of movement that would be required in armor.

 

[infohippie]

I think that they never really show the whole movement thing. Everywhere I've read, it seems as though the movements are very complex but we just see some finger-wiggle.

How DARE you underestimate the technical skill required in finger-wiggling!

This is true, I can cast all kinds of effects with just finger gestures. Mordenkainen's Minor Irritation is the easiest, of course, although if conditions are just right I can sometimes achieve Tasha's Hideous Put-Down.

 

[Macgyvercas]

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?

The explaination for this in D&D is Arcane Spell Failure (ASF). Even if a Wizard or Sorcerer is strong enough to wear armor (and has the proper proficiency) most spells have a somatic component, and since armor tends to inhibit movement, it gives a chance for the spell to fail based on the armor type worn.

Padded Armor: 5% ASF
Leather Armor: 10% ASF
Studded Leather Armor: 15% ASF
Chain Shirt: 20% ASF
Hide Armor: 20% ASF
Scale Mail: 25% ASF
Chainmail: 30% ASF
Breastplate: 25% ASF
Splint Mail: 40% ASF
Banded Mail: 35% ASF
Half Plate: 40% ASF
Full Plate: 35% ASF

ASF is also the reason that casters cannot generally use shields (light mithril shields excluded. No ASF).

Buckler: 5% ASF
Light Shield (Wood or Steel): 5% ASF
Heavy Shield (Wood or Steel): 15% ASF
Tower Shield: 50% ASF

Now if the arcane caster in question is a Bard (they are considered weak arcane casters), then the rules are slightly different. If they are wearing light armor (Padded, Leather, Studded Leather, Chain Shirt), they ignore the ASF for that armor. They still get ASF if they wear medium or heavy armor or use a shield.

Aren't the robes supposed to enhance their powers usually? As for Star Wars it wouldn't really make sense to wear armor anyway what with all the ninja flips and the fact that no matter what armor they wore it would be cut up by a lightsaber.

Unless the armor in question is made of Mandalorian Iron, which is virtually indestructable, even when lightsabers are involved. Boba Fett wore this type of armor as did his father, and the only reason he got killed is because Mace Windu hit him wear his armor didn't cover (gap between his helmet and his breastplate).

 

[Serioli]

Play a Shadowrun mage, can wear any armour they like and affect anything they can see.

For game balance they can't use cyberware/bioware implants and can't cast through electronics (cameras)

There are some more in-depth rules, types of magic but then you start getting finicky...