Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General BG3 armour appearance

Mod edit: title changed for merge into Megathread. Previous title; "I think armor (and weapon) designs look atrocious"


I don't know if I'm the only one that thinks this, but recently I came across a post on reddit with datamined images of all equipment that is in the game, and I have some thoughts about them. Now, I understand that it's hard to make the models and designs, and I genuinely think that the models are of very high quality, my problem is with the designs itself.


Weapons: I don't have a problem with the weapon design, for the most part, there's some nitpicks I have with stuff like the length of the longsword's handle size, but nothing major. Except for the design for the +2 Greatsword, I don't know who thought that guard looked good, I'm all for outlandish designs in fantasy games that are impractical when they look good, but not only does this look impractical, it just doesn't look good, and it's not something I'd like to see my character wield.




Light Armor: it looks good for the most part, I think the designs are well done, my only "problem" is how regular leather armor looks so thin, kinda looks more like an apron, but it's nothing major that makes it look bad





Medium Armor: this is where I start having some thoughts, and I'll go through them one by one

-Hide armor: I think it looks good, you can't really go wrong with this

-Chain shirt: I wasn't sure how they could make a visual design for an improvement of chain armor, but I was pleasantly surprised, the designs are good and show how the armor progresses, except for the +2 female version, as it doesn't seem to have any chain for some weird reason?

-Scale mal: I have mixed feelings about this one because it's not really a bad design, but I just don't like it, if you're making scale armor, I want to see the metal scales all around the body, to me this looks like leather armor with some scales on it
-Breastplate: this armor looks fine, my only problem with it is that the base version looks just as fine and detailed as the upgraded versions, I think a more simplistic design, at least for the base version, would look a lot better, and maybe make the breastplate a bit larger

-Half plate: I'll be 100% honest, I absolutely hate this, and I can't even say it has a good design, at least for the female version. First off, I'll get the nitpicks out of the way, as I understand it, half plate is supposed to be just like full plate, but without the lower body, this just looks like a breastplate with kneepads. Now for the actual problems with this armor, the female version is literally just a metal bra; who in their right mind thought this was a good idea? There shouldn't be a change in design depending on gender, at least not one as big as this, and the worst part is that Larian didn't do this before, is DOS2 they had revealing armor, but it was the same for both genders, so it stayed consistent and made sense culturally, but here it doesn't make sense to have the male version be this badass looking guy that looks ready for battle, while the female version looks like a dress with a steel bra. This looks terrible and I hope they change it before early access ends.





Heavy Armor

-Ringmail: there's not much to say here, the armor looks great, the female +1 version doesn't have pants, but I'm guessing this is a bug of sorts so it's fine

-Chain mail: Again, I don't have any complaints about this one, the design is good and the progression between the different versions is done well

-Splint mail: Not how I would've imagined it, but this still looks good, my only "complaint" is the fact that the base armor is as detailed as its upgrades, a more simplistic version would do the trick

-Plate: Just like splint armor, I think this armor looks good and the designs are well done, I still think there should be a simpler version for the base armor, and the designs should be a bit more consistent between male and female versions.







So yeah, besides the few nitpicks I had, the two main problems these designs have is that some don't stay consistent for male and female versions, and some are ironically far too detailed, there's nothing wrong with simplicity, some people just want plain old plate armor, with no outlandish designs and engravings on it. I know it takes work to make designs of this quality, but better to get these complaints out of the way while the game is still in early access.

Padded and Leather Armor look great! What sucks is that the best and most used light armor, Studded Leather, doesn't look so great. Too many odd details, patches and color tones.

Hide and Chain Shirt are cool. Except you can't see any chain in the female version of chain shirt +2. Scale Mail suffers from the same thing as studded leather. Too many odd details, decorations, patches and layers of everything. Breastplate looks nice but really fancy and I'd like a more plain version. I can't imagine my stealthy Ranger wearing that in the wilderness. Female half plate has... boob plates and a skirt with no leg protection at all. I'm speechless. It looks more like a dress than plate armor. Change please.

Ring Mail looks really thin and light. Not heavy enough for heavy armor. Since it's made out of cheaper materials, it should be very bulky. Chain Mail is fine. Splint is very Samurai. Plate Armor looks really fancy again. I just want something less decorated.

Overall I think many armors look way too high fantasy and decorated. More like ceremonial armor for kings than actual armor for battle. In many cases I would prefer something more real and utilitarian. I'm not against decorations but these seem overdone for the most part. The better the armor gets, the less I like it. Should be the other way around.

The weapons seem all very elven style. Same thing again.. they look too fancy and decorated. I'd prefer more utilitarian looking weapons. Less gold, more steel. Unless these actually ARE elven designs and we get more normal stuff later.

Special mention for the Greatsword +2 which I probably can't use while it has the ridiculous morning star for a cross guard.

The low level sword, bow and spear looks good. I would want these in any game I play, instead what most other games have. The realistic weapon style is great but not every model it is like that: mace isn't like a real mace, and every shield is basic round so far. Staves are also very poor, I'd rather have a simple, empty stick than all that cloth and metal parts that makes no sense to be there, on the low level items.

The armor looks good on female characters, but not so much on male. The hidden paladin pink armor is bad. Wizards could use more variety, both traditional and a bit sexier clothing as well. So far there are no choices at all: it's all about stats, you pick which is better, not the one which looks good.

Would like to have a slot for looks (with no weight penalties, maybe transform the armor into a skin to use it here) and one for stats.

Could you please change your title? To use the word atrocious and then go on to say they are all good or ok except one reminds me of a line from the Princess Bride. Also, you include weapons in the title and then say nothing about weapons. Other than the title, I actually really like your post and agree with it.

I don't mind female specific designs. I prefer to not look frumpy.

If I want to look at frumpy, I'll look in a mirror.

Personally I think the half-plate armours are great designs for breastplates

Breastplates are probably my favourite armour from an aestethics viewpoint (especially the stereotypical wizard robe/long coat and breastplate looks) and to me the non-magical version look a bit too... fractured. I don't mind that so much for the magical versions because they can get away with being more "piecey" but I would like common breastplates to look more like they're a plate that goes over your breast.

I agree that some armours, like leather, could be bulkier. I also think hide should be bulky -- to me the difference between leather and hide is either using the skin of a thicker animal or more layering and fur. Magical hide (and leather) can be less bulky for obvious magical reasons.

I like very much that they've chosen to include the padded armour/gambeson look in all their armours. It's the foundation of every heavier armour, after all, and it delights the stickler for realism in me to see it.

Full Plate doesn't look platey enough. I think the upgraded Half-Plates look more like how a Full Plate should look. Which shouldn't be a surprise given that Half-Plate is supposed to be identical to Full-Plate except with many of the (half ) of the limb protection missing, as you mentioned. Once again the basic, unmagical armour itself looks more like what I could see magical Full-Plate looking like.

I too like the weapon design, including the morning star greatsword. Yes, I know it would be a really bad idea. But it would be a magnificently bad idea. It's ridiculous, but in a fun way.

However, last point. I'm not sure the linked pictures are the exhaustive list of armours. As far as I've seen there has been a few variants of all the armours in-game already, usually just details like shoulder pads or coat length, but still.

Armors, clothing, shields and weapons look very generic in the game. They would deserve more variants, especially shields. But as all types seem to be in there, I guess more variety will come later. It's just about making new assets and adding textures after all.

I kinda doubt that this is really "all" ...
Especialy since i cant find some armors, that are allready there. O_o

But except that, i can only agree.

I agree with some points you make, especially your critique.

I like armor design even less then you, overall. I see odd details, decorations and patches as absolutely unnecessary and taking away from the
main idea of the armor: it should protect and be comfortable. And if you are making a statement with your armor (as you should, because if you are a combat-oriented character, your life partially depends on it) - there is a stealth, shiny or intimidating approach. (To be undetected, to be detected and relied upon, to be afraid of). Form follows function.

Designers, you are making less of this statement by blurring the borders and having no single style approach in the most given armor. Please rely on realistic examples of armor - just look at the museum pieces, Royal Tower as an easy example. All you may need is between IX and XVI century. Sometimes no need to invent the wheel, when there are proven forms. Not everything needs to be creative.

As for Greatsword+2, I think they have just misnamed it. It's Loviathar greatsword, of course, sado-maso. Scare your enemy by inflicting pain on your own hands while swinging.

Why do people have to make these massive exaggerations lol.
How in the hell is the female half-plate a '' metal bra ''?
It just has leather around sorta simulating the appearance of a corset without being one ( which was an actual thing historically btw ).

It looks way better than the male version imo which just looks so.... Basic and dull.
The male version just lacks personality I think.

Scholargladiatoria made a video response to the whole thing with Sarkeesian freaking out about the female Mandalorians breastplates and he actually showcased real historical depictions of women wearing armor from the middle-ages.
Even back then people had the idea of armor specifically made for women being different and more feminine.
In a setting where women being soldiers and fighting is the norm I actually like seeing that, that women being a part of warfare has actually had an influence because it's VERY likely that this would've happened historically if women had worn armor enough that they'd even be taken into consideration at all.
And we have actual historical paintings depicting it from middle-age artists.
( And yes I am aware of Joan of Arc etc, we don't even know what armor she wore and even so women were so rare that they just slapped the developed standard on them and called it a day. Numerous of historians have covered this topic before. )

If people don't like it that's fine, but I'd really hate to see them get rid of it because of people who probably won't even play female characters to begin with.
And if you don't like it then it can be modded out later anyways, but I'd like to for once have something nice.
And the way they're doing it makes actual sense contextually and also even from a '' what if '' historical pov.

I mean it just sounds to me like you think that femininity isn't cool or badass.
I think that most women do, and you're severely overexaggerating about it too.

Edit: And why is it always that female gear needs to '' correct itself '' by male gear?
For once if you're gonna standardize things and make it all the same ( *yawn* ) then do it the other way around then.
I am so tired of people arguing about this as if the masculine is always the default that the feminine needs to be judged by.

That greatsword+2 is hideous. Not only does it look immensely impractical it also just looks plain gaudy. Who would use a morningstar as their handguard? I think I'd rather just use the greatsword+1 just to avoid using that thing.

Most everything else looks fine at least.

I actually like the lower tier versions of most of the armors, but most of them aren't glaringly bad at least. I do like studded leather+2 more than +1 though. Amusingly padded armor+2 looks way more protective than the leather and hide sets. I love it. Regal as Heck and very comfy looking.

I think my favorites by far are padded, hide, and chainmail. They all look good at all tiers and their top tiers all look fairly practical while still being stylish. Enjoying hide is especially good because I imagine my druids will be spending most of their time in that when they get introduced.

I would've liked more padded looking armor under the breastplate for the breastplate set instead of leather. It looks uncomfortable to me and breastplate tends to be the armor I go to when I want to look more stylish while still being protected.

Female halfplate looks disappointing compared to the male's. Why is their breastplate not visible aside from their boobs? Boobplate is one thing but this looks like she only has metal armor to cover her breasts specifically. That gets mostly fixed at halfplate+2 at least.

Not feeling the plate armor sets. Especially +2. Looks great if I wanted to be a paladin but if fighters and ranger-knights have to wear it too it is going to not mesh well with the class fantasy. At least for me.

Also just in general I think this really shows that we need some kind of basic dye system for the armor. Even if all we can change is the color of the fabric decorations that'd be a big deal. I really like the standard plate but once it upgrades I lose out on that nice green color that'd go great on a ranger-knight or Oath of the Ancients paladin. Same with chainmail+1 vs +2.

All in all I hope they give players some flexibility in how they look. It'd be less work in the long run than trying to design a dozen different variants of each armor type.

The funny thing about this is that you're literally asking them to make the breastplate LESS armored.
It's just leather meant to simulate a corset without being one, which again like I said above was an actual historical thing that even men did even with the actual shape of the breastplate itself.

It's for the same reason that men did wear breastplates shaped like corsets historically and why today male armor is usually emphasizing wide shoulders and wide torsos and chests ( wideness in general really ).
It's to emphasize femininity or masculinity.
But suddenly when it's femininity people act like it's wrong and a problem...

I think you misunderstood my complaint.

I don't care if the boobs are outlined in the armor or if the leather bits are modelled to look like a corset. What I find silly is that the lower tier versions of that armor have two metal boobs sticking out of what is otherwise visibly an all leather outfit.

It looks silly. Two big shiny boobs and no visible metal anywhere else on her body.

Edit: For the record I'd also think it would look silly if the fullplate sets had a phallic looking codpiece sticking out between the legs. This isn't a feminine vs masculine thing.

Most of it looks fine, but I wouldn’t say anything looks cool. I’d like my armours more gritty and functional looking than overly ornate. I hope Larian is having a good look at Demon’s Souls, that’s how I’d like my D&D characters to look.

I don't have a problem with that armor existing, what I have a problem with is that it doesn't stay consistent with both gendered versions. I think they should make it so the female version of half-plate armor looks like the male version, and a separate set of armor that looks like a corset for both genders, that way everyone's happy.

The only metal in the design is holding the breasts.

The Half-Plate is supposed to be a breastplate plus roughly half the additional protection of a Full Llate set. The design as is is less metal than the Breastplate.

The description of Half-Plate in the Player's Handbook is as follows:

So it should be "no cuisses" and "no sabatons". Poleyns (knee protection), however, should be included - it is the first thing to protect in any leg armor, even padded armor should have them.

Again, would be nice to get a developer comment on the designs.

If they came out and said that only the elven weapon designs and fancy armor designs are in the game currently, we wouldn't have to worry or discuss these at length.

They should at least provide a generic or utilitarian version of armor designs, because not all adventurers are pompous fools paladins of Sune or Lathander who want overly fancy decorated golden armor and weapons. Stealthy, woodsy and sinister characters wear armor, too.

I really don't see the current plate armor design as fit for a Lathander paladin at all. I can't imagine where this armor would look good at all; maybe with Solar or Planetar guys, because they have so unusual, bright skin and eye tones, so this armor would not look too weird on them. Why do you think of paladins so lowly? Most of them aren't vainglorious at all, by their code. You met some bad examples, it would seem.

Love the armors in the game, some that you have shown are from datamining I suppose, glad to see they aren't as fancy as they probably could be, great art style so far Larian! Agree with the female heavy armor needing a change, is there no armor that just fits both?

Why do these remind me of Guild Wars so much though, another game I enjoyed, don't quite think it should be in BG3 though

If I was shown the Half-plate with no labelling I would've assumed it was leather armor.

I mean, if I purchased a half-plate and got that, I'd feel like I got ripped-off. This is the equivalent of getting a prime-rib steak that is 95% bone and 5% meat.

Hmmm.

Regarding the light armor - the padded one looks alright. Safe and somewhat stylish. The leather one is plain - for the better or worse. The studded armor looks absolutely terrible, in my opinion. >.<

Medium armor - hide armor looks... Alright. Chain is not my style, but the T3 one looks good enough! The T2 scalemail looks great, but T3 is a bit too much - in my opinion. Really like the breastplate. Half-plate looks weird, though, at least for the females... :x

Heavy armor - Ringmail t2 - WTB pants. T3 looks dope though. I like the chainmail - though the colors of the T3 is definitely not my style though. Splitmain T1 and T2 looks awful - but the T3 one is gorgeous! The plate in general gets a plain "NOPE!" from me. >.<

Just opinions, I don't think anything should be changed or removed if people like them in general - as long as there are mods to "transmog" with, then I'll be happy as long as there is one good set.

Personally, I am the direct opposite of some people here. I like stylish armor - it is a fantasy game so I am not really too concerned about the "practical" value of the armor. I mean... There is literally enchanted gear and weapons, real life logic does not apply imo - like I said in another thread about the subject... If there was a magic bra making you invincible - then it would be used in real life. Bra, or not.

None of these are what I'd call ideal for myself. When it comes to outfits alone, then this is my top list of choices (personal preferences, these types are not for everyone :p ):

Female armor:

Light/Medium - Senna, Samira and Katarina (League of Legends), Demon hunter sets (Diablo 3). For more caster style, Yuna and Lulu (Final Fantasy), Morgana / Karma (League of Legends) or Tyrande (Heroes of the Storm / World of Warcraft).

Heavy armor - Saber (Fate), Crusader and barbarian sets (Diablo 3), Leona (League of Legends) or Auriel (Heroes of the Storm).

Male armor:

Light/Medium - Cloud, Aaron or Valentine (Final Fantasy), Jhin or Graves (League of Legends), demon hunter sets (Diablo 3). For casters: Twisted Fate or Swain (League of Legends), monk sets (Diablo 3), Medivh and Deckard Cain (Heroes of the Storm).

Heavy armor - Guts and Griffith (Berserk), crusaders and barbarian sets (Diablo 3), Darius and Shen (League of Legends).

I always, always prefer plainer, more practical-looking armors over weird, fancy ones.

Mod edit for new Megathread title: previous title; "Looks of Armor"


I do know that there have been MANY posts of the different looks of armor types, I'm one of those that prefer a more practical look when it comes to armor. Regardless of that, however, the only thing I do ask is that multiple versions of the same armor type look at least a little bit different. I had my main and Astarion standing next to each other, both wearing leather armor, and it was identical. Literally. Down to the imperfections of the cut. Same color, same style, same notches in the panels. This is EA, so I'm understanding of that, but, in release, please make some variations in the armor. Just some randomness when two characters are wearing the same type, just for some ascetic feel. I guess this would probably also go for weapons as well. Two rapiers are going to look completely different from each other. (I apprenticed under a forger/weapons master for a time, so I know that even individual smiths don't like reproducing the same look of a weapon each time. They will create variations of each one)

Armor visuals aside, I think all the mechanics should be there as well. Namely the strength requirements.

Ring Mail has no purpose when Chain Mail doesn't require that 13 Strength. Ring Mail could be the armor of choice for low level Clerics who have the proficiency but less than 13 Str and Dex, before they can upgrade to a Half Plate. Otherwise I don't see any purpose for Ring Mail to exist in the first place. It's only marginally better than Scale Mail for a 10 Dex character to begin with.

Even more important is that Splint and Plate require that 15 Strength so that Strength gets some value over Dex. And that Clerics can't dump both Strength and Dex and wear Full Plate with 8 Strength.

Chain Mail could be available at the stores since it's a basic starting armor. Withholding it for a few hours so it would be an upgrade doesn't really make things more exciting.

And what's up with the pricing? Studded Leather costs 500?

In all honest so far I've only seen leather, chain mail, and robes and will have to agree with you.

It's a recurring request, and I fully agree. Cosmetic variants would be great. Also tinting.

Shoutout to the Flaming Fist armor design. It's looks stylish and great without being over the top.

Stylish but utilitarian armor like this for players too, please. This style is much more pleasing than Studded Leather or Scale Mail, or many of the overly decorated future armor that have been datamined.

https://youtu.be/bn4AuvMxNuI?t=204

And once again I agree. And not because "it's conservative and plain", but because when there is so much exotic stuff everywhere, it's too much, like overacting. Right now, when you see a simpler design where should be one, it's like a breath of free air.

Funny how some of the lower tier ones look better than their betters. Hope we get a glamour mod again at some point to overwrite armor and weapon appearances.

Mod edit: Title changed for new merged Megathread. Old title; 'Let's talk about armor sexual demorphism'


1) Some armor in the game kinda looks the same:





2) Some look more revealing on females:





3) Found only one that is more revealing on males:



4) But also what is interesting is that armor very often just looks DIFFERENT depending on sex:





5) As opposed to almost the same:



Random images were picked for all examples, however there are plenty more where that came from for every category.

So I want to discuss two things in this thread:

a) Do you think that armor should morph depending on ones sex or stay the same?

b) Do you prefer more practical armor or like the inclusion of revealing armor?

Personally I think that armor should always look exactly the same or very close to it on both sexes, I don't see a good reason to have a very different design depending on ones sex. I also prefer more practical armor, as I think it is more immersive, however I am not against revealing armor options too, so long as the armors look the same on both sexes.

I hadn't noticed that the Gith men get pants. I say that if the women lose their pants so do the men, show the legs.

As far as sexy armor: fine with it but needs to as revealing for both men and women. Bikini armor becomes Borat thong. And there should be a checkmark like the "show helmet" checkmark that puts it back to generic view.

And no absurd pauldrons. Perhaps a designs for dragon's head and the like but no stylized flames or spikes that say "if I look left or right I'm going to stab out my eye" I hate that particular aesthetic.

A: Yes, when it makes sense, that mostly means flexible armor like ring show breasts more.
B: Practical (The Half Plate is not practical by the way)

Apart from the mummy wraps on the gith plate I've thought both armors have been pretty good

A: It should stay mostly the same. It's the same armor, why would it change its entire style and design to detect the gender of the person wearing it? That's just nuts.

B: I prefer practical armor. Give Lae'zel pants, Larian! Revealing armor is just kinda... stupid? I'm not a fan, to say the very least.

I don’t really care as long as it looks good and isn’t too trashy. There has to be some degree of suspension of disbelief and armor is where I personally give some leeway.

It can look different for different sexes. Just make them look good and not trashy (please no thong plate mail).

A. I think armors should be relatively the same within reason, but have variations. Add a transmog and dye system.

B. I think the game should have both. I want to be drowning in both. If I had to pick one then still both. Lol nah practical. Still though can't I have both?

This is the trashiest I've personally found:

I must say Larian, although outrageous and overboard with everything else, seems to be somewhat grounded in the art style.

I still think the female gith half plate is trashier with exposed butt cheeks. But honestly I don’t mind. Yeah I’m a dog.

Would you mind if the male version looked the same, without pants and with exposed buttcheeks?

I agree.
There should be more sexual dimorphism in armors, female armors should be much more revealing, male armors should be much more bulky than this, and show more upper body

I would mind and yes, if you would like Larian to treat the female version the same, I have no issues and say go for it.

But currently I don’t care since what they have now is okay by me. But I will not argue or challenge others who want something else.

You are right male gith should remove chest piece and have a strap with one shoulder pad. Its only fair and lore friendly too lol.

I think that chances are slim that Larian will make armors that are even more different, but you are quite lucky so far.

Hey as long as I get that AC 15 + 2 DEX go for it. Heh.

I don't are either way, I just want it to be the same. Whether males get their buttcheeks out or females get padding, both are fine by me.

It's curious however that you are only one-sidedly ok with it.

Why is it curious? It’s aesthetics. Does a person’s view on aesthetics need to be the same?

Not a fan of Conan?

So how do you personally define ''within reason''?

Same regardless of sex? Yes, atleast that's how I understand aesthetics works. You are free to have different standards for males and females, but I don't think aesthetics is the word you are looking for.. principle maybe?

Principles. Aesthetics. Same idea.

Preferences? That may be a better answer.

Some attire modifications work better on girls vs boys. Vice versa.

The second quote is yours not mine, but if you are asking then I responded already with the third quote. Erotic zones are different on males vs females and if skin is the issue then chest piece> partial butt piece.

I don't like the look of metal on bare legs. In general I don't think the armor needs to be exactly the same on men and women, but it should be the same general style: revealing on both or not revealing on both.

1. I think that the armor must necessarily differ depending on the gender of the character.

2. I like beautiful things, not practical ones. I hate realism in fantasy works. I want epic and cool female armor, not male armor that doesn't tell me the gender of my character.

I know that some people like this "dark souls style", where the female character is distinguished from the male only by the style of gait, but I don't like it. I like to see the difference. By the way, I love Lae armor very much.
I just don't like the color of metal (???) plates, but I like the design itself. No pants for my girl!

Maybe, anyway, one more thing I wanted to mention is that - you are not willing to give what you are willing to take, this might in the future put you in a situation in which you won't get what you want because you won't give others what they want, so they won't give you what you want, it will be all or nothing, no compromise.

I see nothing wrong with any of that armor. I personally like revealing armor, but I'm not going to cry about it if they don't have it in this game.

Yes, I just showed the whole conversation between us.


I assure you, many females love male buttcheeks.

I agree. But I don’t like armor that’s too revealing (unless it fits the world like Conan) for both sexes. How much is not clear. It’s a case by case decision.

Lae’zel’s armor kinda proves your point. It looks great on a female character (some have issue with the butt) but on a male, it looks like crap. None of my male fighters wear it and I wait till I can buy the magic scale mail.

Generic looking armor will not look good on both male and female bodies. It’s a fantasy world. Let’s make everyone look fabulous by offering what works on each body type.

Fuck realism, this is a fantasy game. Armor has to look cool, and sexy armor looks better in a female body.

No Borat thong. Is esteticaly horrible.

The male corrispondent to bikini armor is loincloth just like Conan the barbarian and Red Sonia teach.

And I support your statment against pauldrons. They are evil incarnated.

Said that I hope that Larian manages a wider range of armors, and civilian clothes, more or less revealing (for both the genders) to add more diversity, just in real life where we can see both sex with more or less visible skin. Also it would be nice if they apply, in BG3 the same morphing feature they had in the OSII that allowed the armor to assume a race specific estetic.

"Regardless of sex", help me understand how the female and male forms are aesthetically indistinct.

This reminds me of a lot of discussions regarding Superhero costumes, specifically a comic showing what the male equivalent of Power Girl's costume would look like, but instead of picking an example from the myriad of titillating male hero costumes they move the cleavage down toward his groin and call it a day. Is that the male equivalent of decolletage? Or do we judge them by differently?

Oh my goodness. Not every decision is a life changing event. Not every decision is all or nothing. You need to learn to pick your battles. You need to learn to walk away from insignificant battles.

Yes there are some things to fight for but pixelated armor in a video game is not one of them. Please try not to be over dramatic.

Can you elaborate why you feel like that is necessary?


Basically I am asking what in your opinion would be the problem with male gith armor looking like the female version?

Oh i'm well aware of that. Back on topic. Why not be direct and just say you want pants on X,Y,Z armors sets. I think making male and female armors "exactly" the same is a mistake. So like I said before, within reason.

Edit: I'm 100 percent team cool>realism. I thought at first this was casual skimpy vs hardcore serious metal plates.

No, it's this thing about - you like sexy armor. But there is a big counter-movement to not have sexy armor in video games at all, and I think it's not because you want sexy armor, but because you are against male armor showing buttcheeks. So in the grand scheme of things there are a lot of people that think like you do, and there will be a divide between you and other gamers. But I feel like this can all be avoided AND you would get to keep sexy female armor in games if you were ok with males having sexy armor too.

I think it can be done tastefully.

I like more practical heavy armor and/or equality for both gender. So, yes male buttcheeks are ok. I prefer aesthetic appearance of armor.

It’s not that I particularly like them. I mostly don’t care as long as they are cool looking. If they removed the butt cheeks, fine by me. If they wanted to add butt cheeks to males, not my style but I’ll live and move on.

So please don’t assume what I like and dislike. You don’t know what I think and now you are bordering on offensive.

I'm sorry. How is that tasteful?????

Lowkey, i just hope armors going forward won't look as fanciful. That Ringmail +2 looks like a decent looking wizard set.

Also, circlets. Never liked how in many fantasy settings it's either a helmet or a circlet, so a mage class usually ends up stuck with the latter.

Let me guess, this is coming from ..a "male", right ?

In the risk of being a bit too pragmatic here, we're talking about a plate armor that should protect the body but should also be practical. So if you think of making it "too sexy" for both gender, it's not really a plate armor; what are you protecting ?
So the gith armor with "short" pants (and boots just below the knees) is excellent. I'd like to see the same for "male". And BTW, (risk of being to pragmatic again), the Romain army, "the centurion" had about that same style.

if you make (if we had) stylish armor the same for both gender, we wouldn't have a thread like this, we wouldn't have any data point.

For Loviatar priest, perfect.
For Loviatar priest, perfect.

Well then my earlier reading comprehension failed me, my bad.

Why not? lol

I would mind because it’s not my style but I wouldn’t make a stink about it since it’s not a hill I’m willing to die on.

Again. Pick your fights.

Fair enough. I don't think tbh that anyone wants to die on the hill, we just talking.

I agree to that, it's tastefully and fit into the less pragmatic and more into a fantasy world. but now that we are talking about this, ahhh .. the female equivalent would be ..ah just no

@Nyloth, what do you think ?

All I know is, if I wore a layer of cloth, and a layer of leather with a layer of mail over all, my tits would squash down.

I also know that I don't get less stratching or chafeing or sunburn than males, so would hope to be wearing pants for running around the wilderness.

That looks like trashy female armor slapped on a male tbh. There's nipple chains in there. Blatant and tasteful would be what the dream dude/dudette are wearing.

Yeah no. Unless you apart of lgbt, I can't see that being tasteful across the board.

I'm not apart of that crowd and don't like that style. I only speak for myself, but if you want more I'll gladly point out what I don't like about it and why. Don't let me get a red pen lol.

I think the nipple chain stays regardless of what that person is wearing, it's not part of the robe.

What in your opinion is a difference between an armor that is sexy for the sake of being sexy because it is a fantasy and fck pragmatism and a trashy armor?

I am not a part of lgbt, not sure how you draw the correlation.

Get your red pen out, I am curious.

The point is that what males see as sexy differs from what women see as sexy. There is also a difference in body shape, women usually have curves while men usually are bulk ( there's a reason drag queens focus so much in smoothing their curves).

As much as I agree and I do with the fact that revealing armors for males should be a thing to take dress designed for the female body and put them on a male body is not exactly the same.

The picture you posted is more for a gender fluid male than for a gender conforming male (and pretty sure the percent of people finding it sexy are few). And believe me had I the chance to make my male toons use magic enhanced armor that grants the same stats as the armors we currently have and let my toon to show his arms or pecs or addomen or legs I wouldn't complain.

Also the problem before was that there were no choices, female armors were exclusively sexualized (that is different from sexy), now we are at the opposite of the spectrum that is instead of giving a spectrum of choices due to a push by a part of players we have graphics that taste like a jump in Victorian age where instead of religion leading morality to censor women's body now is an interpretation of progressive thinking to censor women's body.

All when the solution would be to just increase the spectrum so that any player could choose for their town the kind of dress that make them more comfortable and able to enjoy the game.

Figure of speech.

Tend to.


No problem what so ever with biological curves.


If I talk your language- why don't we design a bunch of male armors, a bunch of female armors and then let both males and females wear male AND female armor?


I think the problem remains when the armor morphs depending on sex.


Yes.

Lol, I understand, I also don't think that the armor issue is the most important in the world, I just have my opinions, and I respect yours. What bothers me is that we are both as consumers pulling the games in different directions and I would REALLY like to find a compromise if that is possible, that is why I dissect your words looking for this answer.

Oky dok.

Thigh high waist cut long dress, multiple unnecessary belts(not ff levels but still), the piercings especially on the legs, asymmetric bracelets, thigh high boots, choker, straight long hair down the back, sporadic metallic pieces, skulls, sharp edges, long nails. Just a first glance mind you. Individually I don't like them, but together it paints a pleasure from pain image with a mockery of feminine allure over a male tapestry that has a message "I decide whats sexy, not you viewer". Very artistically aggressive.

Thats what it looks like to me anyway. No idea who the character is btw if that means anything.

Spend more time searching "male fantasy art" on pinterest. Especially art made by K-pop fans. Lots of lithe, willowy men. Or just put in "sexy k pop" and see what comes up. Nearly any "males see" / "females see" statment is just a reference the person's individual tastes and a desire to believe those tastes are universal and natural.

(somewhat off topic but it annoys that 'male' and 'female' have become common usage and people avoid using 'men' and 'women' when discussing gender -- makes it sound like a discussion amongst Ferengi)

Interesting.

Well it's a cultist of Slaanesh, a God of hedonism.


Well, I am personally cis-genderless so I avoid everything that has to do with gender like the plague, and indeed the use of ''male'' and ''female'' is very deliberate on my part.

I'll add some few remarks: lgbtqix doesn't imply homogeneity of tastes, I'm gay still found that style not interesting or sexy and as I stated before I'm pretty sure that the percent of people that found it sexy is low.

As I am sure that what females see as sexy in a man doesn't rely in buttcheeks (for instance in the gay part of the letters ensemble the ones who search for buttcheeks display are those inclined to leather and the dominant/submissive part of the bdsm).


I agree on two positions: in a world where a trinket can allow you to speak with deads to have armors that grant the same defence tshoudn't be saw as something strange, but at the same time to have "sexy" armor is just insensate.


Wonder woman uses a revealing costume but is not designed to be sexy. Red Sonia's leather armor suits her but is not vulgar.

As I said: civil variegated clothing, armors that can find inspiration from roman or greek or germanic populations armors (with use of kilts or kilt like vests for males as alternative to pants or taking inspiration from all the cultures that have armors that didn't cover all the body), a compromise can be found (obviously the full body armors should remain, the point is to give options).

Haha okay. I think I said awhile ago, I respect your thoughtfulness and your perspective of things.

Compromise is a tricky thing. I stand by my statement, you can never please everyone. There's just too many opinions. So if I were Larian, I'd choose the path most appealing to the most people. Now some would say I'm a dirty capitalist but I think that's the best answer. Of course others would suggest that my answer is not the best either so...round and round we go.

Talking about the androgynous male protagonists from Japanese and Korean fiction is a whole 'nother can of beans I think

Hedonism? Ha right on the money. Nailed it.

I know. I'm a full fledged nerd. But again I can understand if what I'm seeing represents a really diffuse trend that involves not a minor fraction of population. Also I learned how the web and social medias tend to give the idea the something is bigger than actually it is. [This is a distorsion that has grwon in the years and is quite rooted].


I use male and female because I like the sound better, also being a biologist to me humans are nothing more than one species between others so to me it comes to talk about males and females. (and again what about doesn't put feelings in everything? is so passive aggressive).

A. Stay mostly the same.

B. Practical-looking -- as opposed to strictly realistic.


*angry Hellenic noices*


It's not really more revealing on males. Different standards. Women and men are not directly equivalently charged in their bodies.

That's why I don't mind the armor pictured. You see more tits in less heavy armor, and something like battle armor is supposed to look impressive and overglorified. So I can wave off the titty armor on that.

My one complaint with Gith armor is that Gith are strong but lanky looking. If the female armor lacks pants because of "versatility" it also makes sense for male Gith. The leather wraps are hideous and make my menacing male Gith look like a hobo in half-plate.

As a woman I personally

1. Would like both male and female armours to look the same

2. Yes I guess I sont mind revealing armour for both MEN and women (but please dont make it overbearingly anime like and not immersive)

3. I just want pretty armour that my lil elf can hobble around in.

4. Add clothing as an option (I really liked the outfits in DOS2 and the cute little corset tops)

(P.s. nothing is wrong with the anime look I just personally dont like it, so no offense to anyone here who does)

Yes, please.

PS: "Skimpy" male armor:

(Apologies if this posts twice -- I think my comment got lost in the aether)

*nods to fellow nerd*

I didn't understand the bit in parentheses so, focusing on the first statement, I'm an internet rando and as such I dislike 'male' and 'female' because it front-loads any discussion of differences between genders in favor of biological explanations. Humans, as a species, stand apart because of our facility with language and our reliance upon abstractions. We aren't the only cultural animal but our reliance upon culture makes us stand apart from other animals. We are homo sapiens and as such there we have as many difference aesthetic preferences as there are stars in the sky.

yesss!

Could definitely see that for the barbarian class !!!!!