Why would PCs wear capes?

[domino]

Also, don't discount fashion. People put feathers in their caps, to look good, and have shiny brass buckles on their boots, to look good. It's important to look good.

 

[Jdvn1]

Also, don't discount fashion. People put feathers in their caps, to look good, and have shiny brass buckles on their boots, to look good. It's important to look good.

Yep. I have a couple characters that wear capes just for that reason. Looks cool. It's moderately useful, but it's a nice flair.

 

[ecliptic]

I don't think anyone mentioned this but cloaks can be used to help coneal yourself. By breaking up your humanoid appearance, the eyes of someone searching the area won't notice you as easily..

Also, don't discount fashion. People put feathers in their caps, to look good, and have shiny brass buckles on their boots, to look good. It's important to look good.

Damn right.

 

[Howling Coyote]

"NO CAPES!!!"

That's pretty much been my group’s motto after we saw The Incredibles

 

[Ibram]

Because they make me feel cool

 

[Andor]

Actually capes are incredibly useful in combat. You can deflect a light blade, entrap any weapon, flip it at your opponents eyes to blind him, wrap it around your arm as armour, or twirl it to conceal your weapon/body. The ideal combat cape is a short to half cape with a weighted bottom and a stiffened edge. The sort of thing you tend to see in the 3 musketters. Plus they are just plain fun to fight with.

I believe there is some 3.5 book that actually has a 'Cloak Dance' feat that grants concealment.

 

[ken-ichi]

The XPH has the cloak feat that grants you concealment.
It is a general feat and have wondered why it made it into the XPH, but not into something like Complete Adventurer.

 

[Pbartender]

So.

To sum up...

Capes are what every hoopy frood in a Douglas Adams novel would have worn, had towels never been invented.

 

[Storyteller01]

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.

 

[the Jester]

From looking at fantasy artwork, it seems that heroes and capes (sometimes cloaks) go together.

Aside from fashion appeal, what use would a cape be to an adventurer? Wouldn't it just be one more thing for a monster to grab hold of? Are capes a sign of social status or have some specific utility that make them worthwhile?

I can't think of any tactical benefits from wearing a cape. Are they really just eye-candy?

Capes (and cloaks) are great. Read the Hitchhiker's Guide? Capes/cloaks are like towels- useful in just about every imaginable situation. Need some warmth? Cloak. Wet and need to dry? Cloak. Want to wrap yourself up in something and go to sleep? Cloak. Caught in a dust storm? Cloak across face. Need shade? Cloak. On fire and need to beat it out? Cloak. Impromptu (albeit short) rope? Cloak.

The list goes on and on. Trust me, I'm cloaked at Burning Man every year and it's the best thing you could have out there, regardless of weather or conditions.