Chainmail Bikini: AC or Cha bonus?

[s/LaSH]

actually, that's about the best justification for chainmail bikini i've ever heard - and probably the only one that actually makes any real sense. that they function like bracers of armor and add a cha bonus? genius!

Of course, you can wear bracers of armour with armour itself. (Does the armour bonus stack?)

A chainmail bikini, on the other hand, couldn't be worn in combination with armour. The more one thinks about this, the more one is certain that it's a foolish affectation for the vain female combatant - or the wealthy and high-DEX combatant.

I forgot to mention it beforehand, but although I decry it as a foolish affectation, I'm not above using a similar form of clothing in my webcomic. The mage known as Thetis wears what could be generously described as half a dozen sea shells. I justify this culturally - she's Mediterranean (and by that I mean she has blue skin and breathes water). Anyone try swimming in pants or a dress? What about casting spells in any armour whatsoever? If memory serves, in Scarred Lands magi expel heat when they cast so they follow a similar clothing principle, but I like my justification more (and all the other casters wear clothing slightly more... Victorian, for the record).

 

[S'mon]

Of course, you can wear bracers of armour with armour itself. (Does the armour bonus stack?)

Same-name bonuses don't stack; so bracers of armour (armour bonus) don't stack with armour (armour bonus). If a magical chainmail bikini lets you combine a CHA bonus with an Armour bonus in one item, in the vest/clothing/torso slot, that seems a fairly practical use for it, especially if the cost isn't doubled for not taking up a slot - maybe the cost is x50% as only 50% of the population can get the combined bonuses?

Edit: normally you would need 2 slots - eg bracers of armour take the bracers/gauntlet slot, cloak of charisma takes the cloak slot.

 

[Gez]

There's an old thread on that subject on boards.wizards.com.

Chainmail Bikini.

Here's what I said on the matter (it's on second page). It has always been my opinion on chainmail bikini. No offense to James "Gargoyle" Garr intended.

Cursed items.

Initially, it looks like a normal suit of armor. When worn, it turn the victim to female (if she weren't already), and proceed to shrink in size until becoming only a chainmal bikini. Furthermore, it also destroy the clothing underneath (the girls on the illos seem to never have any actual clothing beneath the chainmail).

The reasoning is plain simple: these evil items are cursed.

It shrink in size to provide no protection.

It turn the victim to a woman because, usually, women are held in subservient positions. (There's a thing called machism that exist in every brutal, primitive, closed-minded culture. A medieval fantasy culture is usually brutal, primitive, and closed-minded. Note that most modern, civilized civilizations are still much closed-minded and brutal, and sociologically primitive.)

It destroy the clothings underneath so that the chafing would hurt the victim; as the foul magic of the item is sustained by drinking blood.

And, as it is a cursed item, it requires a Remove Curse spell to get rid of it.

What's the motivations ? None, absolutely.

 

[KenM]

My idea is make the chainmail bikini magic, it adds to both AC and CHA, but only if thats the only armor/ protection you have. It would also be only used by females. You can have a item for the men, too. A loincloth or something. Maybe thats why conannever got hurt, LOL.

 

[Joseph Elric Smith]

both
ken

 

[schporto]

Well my take is with the whole chainmail bikini euqivilent to bracers of armor thing. As for the CHA modifier I think it would double you current cha modifier. Those with -CHA modifiers look a whole lot worse. Those with +'s look a lot better. I just hope I never have that in my campaign.
-cpd

 

[Vaxalon]

As armor, chainmail bikinis offer no help. The most vulnerable spots (belly, neck, head) are completely uncovered.

I would allow someone to enchant them with an armor bonus, the same way bracers can.

As for the effect on social interactions, in my game there's no effect on skills from how you look or what you wear. You can be charismatic and ugly, and you can be an abusive, abrasive beauty.

 

[Staffan]

You could have a magic Chainmail Bikini that lets you add your Cha bonus to AC, only against males (and certain females). To be fair, there should also be a Codpiece that does the same thing against women (and certain men).

 

[jasper]

guys and gals let the player have it. Treat as another name of what ever ac bracers. Charge the same gp as bracers or some more if you are evil. I think I do a rant on hollywood and armour.

 

[Airwolf]

I have to agree with those posters who mentioned that any bonus from a chainmail bikini should come from magic, just like bracers of armor.


Also to echo Emirikol, I don't know what about this thread would get a mod so hot and bothered that he would threaten to close it. The posts so far are only slightly out of the G-rating range. Not even close to PG-13.