unless we're getting random encounters at camp, we'll never be dealing with combat there.
There allready are encounters ...
They just arent random.
I'm not understanding most of your other points
Seems like covenient excuse, since i dont really know what is to "not understand" on question "why" ... but w/e is thats the way you feel.
What if it isn't just wizard robes, what if it's the Robes of Vecna, should you be allowed to visually swap out those robes just because they "harsh your vibe" . What if you're given raiment from a divine avatar, and people comment about it when you wear it, but you're not really wearing it.
Then you either find it weird and swap it back to fits your desires ...
Or you dont give a shit and leave it as it is ...
Where is problem?
I don't want to do so at the game I'm playing's narrative expense.
No, you dont want
US to do so at the game where we are playing narrative expense.
See the difference?
If you wouldnt want to do so, you would simply not do so ...
By being against feature itself, you are trying to deny that option to others ...
Its nothing new in games, especialy not in DnD, and superespecialy not around here ...
![[Linked Image from i.imgflip.com]](https://i.imgflip.com/7ibvuv.jpg)
Except ... they are not.
See that is beauty of optional features ...
You dont use them and you have your game just as pure and beautiful as it would be if that feature wouldnt be there ... meaning exactly as you want it.
Or you do ... and your game is better for it, bcs it does what you want it to do.
You don't currently decide willy-nilly what you wear
Sure you do ...
At goblin camp you find Metal Shield with Flaming Fist insigmia ... you like it, so you equip it ... not even single NPC in the world notice, no consequences.
A little later you kill Minthara ... you like her shield, so you switch them ... not even single NPC in the world notice, no consequences.
Then for some reason you equip wooden shield with the symbol of the Absolute ... not even single NPC in the world notice, no consequences.
And in the end you find shield in Kuo-Toa cave, wich is basicaly just a Shell with some fishnet stuck on it, its neat so you equip it ... not even single NPC in the world notice, no consequences.
You can also find entangled roots that drops from Wood Woad ... not even single NPC in the world notice, no consequences.
You like Shadowheart armor > you equip it ... basicaly you are pronouncing to the world that you are Sharan ... not even single NPC in the world notice, no consequences.
Same story goes with that upgraded Sharan armor from Grymforge.
You like Lae'zel armor > you equip it ... when you meet Githyanki, the only way you can get such armor would be from one of them, so you are admiting that you either robbed, or killed their kin ... not even single NPC in the world notice, no consequences.
You dont wear anything but your underpants ... not even single NPC in the world notice, no consequences, especialy when you are Barbarian, Wizard, or Sorcerer ... so it dont even affect your AC.
Where is difference?
Moreover, items in Baldur's Gate and D&D are meant to be substantial incentives and actors in the narrative. Treating them as skins goes against that.
Thats also not true ...
For one, if items in Baldur's Gate were meaned as "
substantial incentives and actors in the narrative" the world would need to recognize that we are wearing them ... wich isnt happening.
For two, transmogrification in fact goes in line with narrative ...
Shadowheart is Sharan, weird Sharan who likes to give crest of her believes on plain sight, while talking about secrecy, but still Sharan ... wearing armors with Shar symbols is in her character.
Lae'zel is Githyanki, she is xenophobic, proud and convinced of her superiority ... she would never wear anything that isnt Githyanki product ... this way, she can.
Sure, people can make silly transmogs ... but if they do, logic suggest that they wanted to, so what?
