Why would PCs wear capes?

[Andor]

Plus, if you have a cloak, you need a way to fasten it. Cloak pins often served as back-up weapons. I believe the Irish actually had laws covering accidental injuries caused by excessively weapon-like cloak pins, it had become enough of a problem.

 

[Ranger REG]

Wow, this topic really warrants a two-pager?

Wait until we have a coed discussion about loincloth.

 

[Steverooo]

Cloaks = modified ponchos


Side note: Our military still use camoflaged ponchos. Rather useful (pillow, cover ammunition, impromptu tent, good protection against stinging bug swarms, camo pattern is good for forest environs, cover against rain, etc).


Don't see why a cloak wouldn't fill the same roll.

Ten Essential of Survival (D&D Style):
(Copyright 2004-5 by Steve C. All rights reserved. Licensed for individual use.)

Shelter: In D&D, the only type of shelter commonly available to you is the tent... Yep, that's it! The old equipment list is pretty bare... but I bet we can do it one better! Tents are fine, and all, but at 20 pounds, not something you want to carry with you, unless your armor already puts you into Medium Encumbrance! The bedroll/sleeping bag and blankets may also fall into this category. Adventurers should always have a bedroll (which includes the light blanket), as well as a heavier winter blanket... You can always use it to sleep on top of, on hard ground.

An easier way to carry your shelter around with you is the oilskin leather raincloak. This is the D&D version of the US (and German, and...) Military rain poncho. A leather cloak, with hood, which has been treated with oil to make it waterproof. Buttons down one side, and button-holes along the other, allow it to be closed up, tight, in bad weather. A drawstring in the hood, and another at the waist, help keep the storm winds out. An extended storm flap, with an additional row of buttons, also help. You might also like leg straps, on your version.

In addition, metal grommets along the outsides allow the cloak to be staked down, in high winds, and an additional row of buttons along the inside allow that extra liner to be buttoned in, to help keep you warmer with an extra layer of insulation. Best of all, whenever two of these cloaks are buttoned together, face-to-face, they form a makeshift tent!

Want to wear it while leaving your hands free? Two button-up, strom-flapped slits along the front can act as armholes, if you like. Just make sure that the armholes are covered by the storm flaps, so that the rain doesn't run down, into your cloak when it's buttoned up!

Since the Adventurer's Clothing allows you a lot of leeway on the type of gear it provides, see if your GM will let your party take these. Note here, however, that there's a major difference in size between the Small Gnome/Halfling version and the Medium Dwarf/Elf/Half-Orc/Human version!

Even if you prefer a coat or jacket to a cloak or poncho, oilskin leather is a pretty good solution. You won't be able to use it as a tent, however.

 

[Stormrunner]

I have a Russian Army surplus officer's cape which, apart from the length and material, is much like the oilskin cloak described above - stormflapped arm slits and all. It's waist-length, solid wool (and heavy - 6-7 pounds!), meant to be worn over the top of a greatcoat in especially bad weather. I don't wear it often, due to the weight, but man is it warm. Replace the cheap stamped-tin buttons with wood or bone ones and it wouldn't draw much comment in a Victorian or even medieval setting.

My SCA experience with cloaks and capes leads me to believe that, unless it's a very light, fashion-only cape, a cloak or cape is not easily yanked off. Anything that provides warmth or weather protection, be it wool, fur, oiled canvas, or whatever, is going to be heavy. In order to support that weight, and keep the wearer from being constantly half-strangled, the garment needs to be either buttoned in front, or pinned to the underlying clothing, and the pin(s)/buttons must be fairly strong. Removing one voluntarily would be at least a standard action (for a cape or light cloak with a single pin), and a full-round action or more for one that's buttoned up (like unbuttoning a dress shirt).

 

[Felon]

Wait until we have a coed discussion about loincloth.

Yep, I'm still waiting for the sequels: "Why would PC's wear hats?" and "Why would PC's wear pants?"

The thread's been more interesting than I'd thought it would be, but the answers seemed so self-evident, I really do wonder if the OP understands the point of why a player character wold don underwear...after all, it's just something a foe can pull down around your ankles, or yank up to give you a wedgie!