On that book cover, the male fighter amor = the female fighter armor (if you look closely, notice they both have the same style). If you can acknowledge that, then that's all we are saying in this thread.
That's Caramon and Raistlin - the twins, isn't it ? The woman is she half sister or something ? That's old, I didn't exist If you still have that book, it must worth lots of money today.
Edit: it was published in 1986, ancient time and it seems they were more careful with "the armor sexual demorphism " back then. Could that be because the two author are woman/man ? Let's add another 14 pages on that
Yeah, I'm 90% sure the girl is Tika, who eventually marries Caramon.
The point was that that 'unrealistic' style, is a staple, as you note since the 80s (and i did exist lol).
Still have that trilogy box set + the Legends trilogy. I havent read them in a super long time, wonder how they hold up...
EDIT: And yes, Caramon and Tika have the same style armour. I'm pretty sure Caramon kitted her out himself as she wasnt a Fighter, but got caught up in the flow of the story. I really should read them again...
If you look at the 2nd book, you'll see different styles. But ultimately yes, I dont have an issue with Caramon looking like Tika considering they appear to be in the same 'class' of armour.
EDIT x 2: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons/Commercial_settings/Dragonlance/Tika_Waylan
"Margaret Weis attributed her appearance because the artists wanted to have a "babe" to paint.[2]"
If you still have that book, it must worth lots of money today.
