Why Are Warrior Women Never Ugly?

[JPL]

Ah, but perhaps a female fighter might be inclined to use her "assets" as a distraction against her opponent by allowing a bit more visual?

I believe that explanation was used fairly recently by the team working on a Red Sonja comic. They pointed out that some Celtic and Pict warriors would spike their hair, paint themselves blue, and run into battle screaming because of the psychological advantage. So Sonja's classic chainmail bikini served a similar purpose --- it confuses, distracts, and even intimidates her opponents. This art crew also drew some sort of leather undergarment or lining, to make it clear that this wasn't chainmail against skin.

 

[Turjan]

For the record, I thought it was an ugly cover...

That's what we are talking about here

... and that it wasn't very clean, evocative or well, pertenent to anything found within the book. Just some female wizard in an odd position floating in the middle of the cover.

Right. What does "not very clean" mean here? The details of her face, her upper torso, the arms and the leaves in the foreground are very clear. Additionally, we see three spell effects: those flames dancing around her head, the whirlwind carrying her, and a transformation plus effect on her right arm. But you are right, spells don't have anything to do with a book called "Eldritch Sorcery" .

If you don't like it, that's fine. De gustibus non est disputandum. I just think your criticism of the details is somewhat beside the point .

 

[Ghostwind]

I believe that explanation was used fairly recently by the team working on a Red Sonja comic. They pointed out that some Celtic and Pict warriors would spike their hair, paint themselves blue, and run into battle screaming because of the psychological advantage. So Sonja's classic chainmail bikini served a similar purpose --- it confuses, distracts, and even intimidates her opponents. This art crew also drew some sort of leather undergarment or lining, to make it clear that this wasn't chainmail against skin.

So, for example, if you were a fighter and suddenly found yourself faced with this twin sword wielding opponent, it would be safe to say that she would be very distracting to you?

Artwork by Bruce Colero

 

[sniffles]

Or a swashbuckler, or a pirate, or a ninja... no wait, no ninja.

But someone who actually wears armor for protection should wear it where it protects.

No bare midriff chain shirts and such.

This is, BTW, the only thing I would criticise about Claudio's shaper picture, the body armor.

Bye
Thanee

True, 'tis not very "realistic". But then we are talking about fantasy.
Actually, my only small criticism would be that she looks a bit too "cut". Most people who are muscular from hard labor do not look like bodybuilders. I liked the point someone made earlier about how bodybuilders aren't really that strong, and weightlifters aren't usually that defined. But my quibble aside, I still like the illustration.

 

[Klaus]

True, 'tis not very "realistic". But then we are talking about fantasy.
Actually, my only small criticism would be that she looks a bit too "cut". Most people who are muscular from hard labor do not look like bodybuilders. I liked the point someone made earlier about how bodybuilders aren't really that strong, and weightlifters aren't usually that defined. But my quibble aside, I still like the illustration.

Thanks, sniffles and Thanee, for the input. I find it invaluable to have feedback from female gamers (I'm making a guess here about Thanee, so pardon me if I'm wrong). In fact, I ask any and all ENWorld female members to give me feedback on my images of female characters, as I want them to be appealing to both genders (either in a 'dude, she's hot' or a 'I want to play this character!' way). I generally go to my wife for this sort of feedback, and she happens to like the 'bare midriff' armor (her current character is a shifter druid based off Gwen Stefani, and she wears even *less* armor... ).

Just two things I'd like to add (just to show off how I overthink this stuff):
- The Armor: Although I didn't stat her per se, being a druid she has access to barkskin and being a shifter she might be a beasthide. So when your skin is as hard a rhinoceros' hide (not to mention your ability to actually *be* a rhinoceros), armor becomes a secondary concern.
- The 'cut' muscles: the way I see it, shifters have very little body fat and highly tensile muscles, translating into their racial bonuses to Balance, Climb and Jumo checks. So I based their bodies on Olympic gymnasts, whose buscles tend to bulge up a lot when they're tensed.

In my defense over the armor, here's one of my sexiest (IMHO) pics, and she's fully dressed from head to toe:

 

[Ghostwind]

Nicely done, Claudio. I like it.

 

[Klaus]

Nicely done, Claudio. I like it.

Thanks, Steve.

But please, do browse the site!

 

[buzz]

In my defense over the armor, here's one of my sexiest (IMHO) pics, and she's fully dressed from head to toe...

Claudio, I used this pic for a pregen in one of the first 3.0 games I ever ran. I love it!

 

[sniffles]

- The 'cut' muscles: the way I see it, shifters have very little body fat and highly tensile muscles, translating into their racial bonuses to Balance, Climb and Jumo checks. So I based their bodies on Olympic gymnasts, whose buscles tend to bulge up a lot when they're tensed.

Good point!

I'd much rather play a character based on either one of your illustrations, Claudio, than on Ghostwind's blue lady. The blue lady looks like some celestial or divine avatar I'd expect to show up and annoy the PCs by being completely invulnerable. She doesn't look to me like a normal PC or NPC.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

I don't like playing physically-idealised characters, because I like my fantasies separate from my fantasy.