Christopher R Taylor Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 This is going to depend significantly on the system of magic and background of the character. If you magic requires isolation, long study, and dedication, they will dress differently from someone who can whip up a spell on their tablet over lunch and magic is easy, free, and picked up by individuals. Robes were worn by wizard types in old stereotype because that was the clothing of the academic and the studious. It depicted someone learned and intelligent. The "free flowing" etc was just a later excuse to make sense of the type. That gives you an idea of how clothing might be shaped by background and concept of magic. What I imagine a modern day mage would not wear is the same damn thing as everyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted November 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 Are you looking for standard uniform that all wizards' wear or are you looking for personal fashion? The mage works on their own. That said, the outfit just has to scream what they are (not literally, of course)...in a modern context A touch of professionalism is welcome, but, if too much of it returns, I may as well go with a traditional suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted November 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 If sorcery requires many materials and foci, then that would seem to encourage a lot of pockets; hence jackets and coats. I also note that the 'stereotypical' wizard is often attired in garments that bear glyphs and runes of some significance. So now we're talking about jackets and other pieces that are heavily decorated, with a lot of flair. In a fully practical sense, I agree with you. Were the mages of a modern day setting part of a guild, even full-time traveling "troubleshooters", then garments with the pockets being clearly displayed (and, therefore, accessible) fit the bill. However, i'd like to keep an air of mystery about this NPC. In that light, it would seem that having concealed pouches/pockets/compartments work better to help maintain the image I have in mind. There is also the association many people have with real-life stage magicians and their "sleight-of-hand" tricks that require deft misdirection and clever momentary storage in some unseen nook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher R Taylor Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Perhaps they could dress very formal and even a little bit old fashioned, with a topcoat and so on, to set themselves apart, but not be too distinctive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcat1313 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 I understand your wanting to stay away from cloaks and robes... although personally I rather like my ankle length hooded half circle cloak.... lots of room for pockets, re-inforcing, sheaths for small knives or other fun things... its just a matter of taste... and there great for hiding things under... even if its just a couple of pockets for something the size of a 12 oz can of liquid[seen it done, velcro closures, heavy duty thread that was probably closer to fishing line. next thought for a less archaic cloak would be a Duster style or Mantled coat. the biggest disadvantage to the long cloak being bulk, and if you leave it sitting horizontally for more than a few seconds its going to attract all the cats that can find it. but they also make great blankets... especially in emergencies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Goodwin Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Long flowing robes are not good in a lab where you've got various burners, reagents, and so on, just waiting to be knocked over and caught on fire and other fun stuff. So, probably a lab coat, appliqued with the traditional stars, moons, ringed planets, &c. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcat1313 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 lab coat in a kevlar/nomex weave might work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost-angel Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Maybe a camera bag (lots of pockets) as an accessory instead of pockets all built into some long garment of some kind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 Should have thought of this before: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhd Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 Maybe a camera bag (lots of pockets) as an accessory instead of pockets all built into some long garment of some kind? For a component-heavy mage of action, photo journalists might be a good way in general. Those vests might be ugly, but the only other way to get that many pockets and loops would be either tailoring or looking like an EDC survivalist d-bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 a kararte style suit with star -moon embroidery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 For a component-heavy mage of action, photo journalists might be a good way in general. Those vests might be ugly, but the only other way to get that many pockets and loops would be either tailoring or looking like an EDC survivalist d-bag. Speaking of EDC survivalist d-bags, I've noticed a cottage industry of apparel geared toward "contractors" or concealed-carry d-bags, that have many concealed pockets for firearms, magazines, knives, and whatnot. These might be good options for corporate mage security bad guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcat1313 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I could see using plastic film canisters for spell component storage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ndreare Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 They can be had for cheep too. I just checked on Amazon.com and you can get 60 of them for only 32 bucks. If the component is light sensitive then black cost a little more, but still very affordable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcat1313 Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 thats not bad at all, or get lucky and find somebody that just has a pile of them stashed for some strange reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcat1313 Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 there a bit smaller, but the diabetic testing strips i use come in a similar but smaller container, and I've seen a couple of different sizes of these containers, silver with a black lid, or all white and a little bigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted November 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 What sort of footwear would a mage don? Consider that a balance between practicality and showmanship needs to be achieved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Bunny slippers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted November 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Bunny slippers. I think we can safely assume the mage in question is not flying/levitating all the time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 my principle uk mage is the physician she hunts monster for the crown and uses a combination of enchanted fire arms and blades mundane weapons her look is tweed hunting garb riding boots in heavy combat she wears a bullet proof vest with a silver and cold iron strike plates. she also carries a satchel with extra ammo and spell gear plus a few white phosphorus grenades. something more modern for a male mage would be a waist coat(vest) in red silk or velvet embroidered with runes and sigils with a silver watch chain hung with a few amulets as well as a pocket watch with celestial calendar for calculating time for ritual magic. over a white linen shirt with rolled up sleeves to show off mystic tattoos and silver rings of power (great for punching werewolves) jeans or mole skin pants an leather trainers. something more casual would be a stylish hoodie and combat pants and a messenger bag for gear. hang some talismans and fetishes around your neck and w rist. I like the hoodie with the blue lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakboy6117 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 It's actually a colour changing hoodie with sound effects Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinniuint Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Regarding the mages bag: Sean O'Lachlan, the forensic sorcerer in the Lord Darcy novels, got arrested once and his bag was left behind. Once he was left alone in his cell, he cast a spell to summon it. People headed his way picked it up and carried it closer, setting it down when their path began to move away again. All without noticing. As for outfits with pockets available on the market, I own two fishing vests, and have never gone fishing. For that matter, I carried a camera bag for 5 years before putting a camera in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 What sort of footwear would a mage don? Consider that a balance between practicality and showmanship needs to be achieved. Sneakers, of course. The styles you can get them in nowadays are just insane. Examples: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted February 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 ^ Oooh, I dig the second type of sneaker. The bottom border (if you could share the appropriate term for this section of the shoe, i'd appreciate that) needs to be dark too, and the entire sneaker needs to be "fancied up" a bit. Finally, the golden emblem ought to reflect something suitably mystical (such as an ankh, pentagram, or Caduceus wand). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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