I ran into this image and well.
it's right.

the more skin an image shows the more armor / protection you get.. right?

LOL. that was one of the things that always amused me about videogames and some fantasy worlds.

It's like the more powerful/stronger the woman, the tinier thier clothes/armor gets for some strange reason.

I guess the theory could be this: The woman has become so competely kickass that she's able to defend herself well even without any real armor on, and is now able to to dress like a cheap floozy to distract the guys in battle without worrying about getting stabbed. Because she's the best when it comes to blocking blows that she doesn't need armor!

but of course there's this side of me just wanting to see sweet irony nail that “scantly-clad yet powerful women” where it hurts most… like her accidently tripping and then her body getting tore up by something sharp on the floor. or even better, freezing to death. Something that could had been aviodable if only if she wore more armor/clothing…

The operative word being ‘fantasy,’ not ‘armor.’

I wonder when this fetish trend started… probably Conan?

No it started with wonderwoman. The only armor she has are her bracersand she deflects EVERYTHING with them.

And all the women in my comic wear full armor and still remain slutty. It's all about prioritizing your sluttiness.

This point has been around almost as long as the fantasy itself. The answer is yes, it is completely stupid. But boobs!

See, nerds will be pedantic about everything. You show an episode of Star Trek to one and you'll get a list of errors a mile long, organised into separate sections like ‘historical’ and ‘physics’. But as soon as the tits are brought out, this sacred ideal is dropped and the panting and masturbating starts while they occansionally pointing out how silly it is in a desperate attempt to pretend it doesn't bother them and they're more mature than that. I don't know why I keep saying ‘they’.

Aurora Moon: You'll notice those sort of people tend to die very young. I WONDER WHY? Well they used to, not anymore what with modern medical science keeping stupidity in the gene pool and dragons being proved to not exist.

Is it just me or does she look like a guy? ‘Oh boy a Bra of Lifting and Separating +2! My wildest dreams are coming true!’

I can see the lack of armour in some cases, like Spartans…I think it's a way of striking fear in the hearts of your foes. You're so awesomely good at stuff, you're confident enough to go fight a battle in your undergarment. Assuming that's what the enemy thinks, they'll be all like ‘Dude, those guys are badass, look at their armor! They must be good!’ and they get all chicken.

As for women in little to no armour. Well, I cal distraction factor. “Hey babe, where are those legs-” *Kshunk* BEHEADED!

Another important factor to consider, is that minimal armor will mean more freedom of movement. (*Tries to rationalize the naked bits……..) No fantasy thief/archer elf thing is going to wear full on armor while they try to stealthily steal those items you've so rightfully collected from your fallen foes.

mlai
I wonder when this fetish trend started… probably Conan?

The difference between this and Conan, I think, is that in Conan both the male and female warriors are under-dressed. It's a primitive world in which strength and ease of movement is more important than constrictive armour. For everyone.

The more modern fantasy tradition, however, recognises the need of male warriors (and even war horses!) to be fully armoured, while allowing the female fighters barely enough armour to cover their, er … modesty.

Conan's actually quite egalitarian by comparison.

alejkhan
Another important factor to consider, is that minimal armor will mean more freedom of movement. (*Tries to rationalize the naked bits……..) No fantasy thief/archer elf thing is going to wear full on armor while they try to stealthily steal those items you've so rightfully collected from your fallen foes.

But she has all that heavy clanky stuff on her arm, she's not sneaking up on anybody anyway. There's really no reason for it except sex increases sales.

Hmmm, maybe she just can't afford more armour? How much does adventuring pay?

What the hell is armor?

I'm not getting iced because of the other thread am I? That'd suck.

Meh, I really don't find the sex appeal in the whole “TITS” thing. Honestly. I'm just not THAT horny. If I want sex I watch porn or bang my girlfriend. Though I'm not sure which is preferential that's my problem. When I don't want sex then it's just annoying.

But OBVIOUSLY they couldn't fight in the clunky armor because women are the weaker sex. Physically all you PC feminists. ^__^.

That's racist. You sir, are iced!

Seriously though, if I woman were a warrior, I'd assume her to be strong enough to wear armour. Maybe it's th whole ‘Warrior isn’t a woman's job' attitude, and they just don't make female armour? So they have to improvise with the stuff that does fit, and just throw together some cloth for the bits that don't fit.

I don't mind the scantly clad femmes, but it's ridiculous at some points. Also, this reminds me of a comic I once saw, about Soul Calibur. The chick with the chainsword ws facing some dude, and was like “Dude, you call that armour?”, and she'd be like “Yeah, it's not hindering my movement!”, and the fight would start and her arm fell off before he even hit her, which he then yells at her. I'll try to find it, because it's funnier when you see it…

-edit-

I found it:

Spartans wore armor. Not just on their heads.

mlai
Spartans wore armor. Not just on their heads.

So basically to mlai if a codpiece is big enough it counts as armor. I didn't know codpiece was a word. Awesome.

Actually women AREN'T physically as strong as men. At least the average woman isn't. I never work out or do anything and my girlfriend does, she loves to be outside and ride horses and run laps and work out from time to time, and I'm allergic to sunlight and spend my time on the duck. Yet I can beat her in most physical activities. I'm not saying women can't be, I know a few girls who could kick my sexist ass, but on the average they aren't. But women usually have better dexterity and are more agile. Look at the Olympics. Which activities are for women and which for men? Look at Sasuke/Ninja Warrior and it's counterpart. See the differences as to what is supposed to wear the body down? So the lighter armor helps them take advantage of their better movement.

Which I find this funny cuz only people that wear armor in my comic are girls and invariably they all die. It's a strange coinky-dink.

Yeah, but there's plenty of light materials that could allow freedom of movement while while offering much more protection than what female fantasy warriors often wear.

And as I said before, that arm thing was definitely not designed with efficiency in mind. Most fantasy armour isn't, (especially in anime) it's designed to look good.

I know, but hey I was trying to make them sound good. Wait a minute, light materials SUCK. They may protect you from one hit but after that you're history.

I'll never forget this. I had a teacher who was a huge fan of japanese history and talked endlessly about steelmaking and folding and blah blah. HE described the katana as “The steel nutcracker used to open the iron armor so you can get the juicy insides of the delicious samurai”.

That was really to illistrate the point of flexible materials being weak more then anything. But in reality it's all about the t'n'a and we all know it.

Sidwarrious

mlai
Spartans wore armor. Not just on their heads.

So basically to mlai if a codpiece is big enough it counts as armor. I didn't know codpiece was a word. Awesome.

You do realize that 300 was not an accurate representation of Spartan warriors, right?

PS: Ugh, CAD… painfully simple jokes since 1999

CAD?

And yes, I was kidding. O__o.

It's very hard to tell when you're joking. I assumed you were serious, since Mlai's post was about actual spartans and was wholly serious. Yours had a level of humor to it, but not enough to be certain that the entire post was meant as a joke. If anything, the joke made the rest of it seem more legitimate, since it's rare to see a joke that has a joke in it.

Anyway, CAD= “Ctrl-Alt-Del”, a popular and boring webcomic.



Back to the topic; how often are these “un-armors” justified by the creator saying that they're “magical”? And painfuly non-functional armor isn't limited to female warriors in fantasy paintings. The 90's-era comicbook heroes had an odd habit of having just one really big shoulder pad… and the rest of their outfit is just spandex and a shitload of pouches.

And I'm just that crazy. To make a joke with a joke in it. Also I really did know. Also Xerxis was never at the battle that was a Miller-made dream. See? I know things. It is a surprise ^__^ I know.

Me and my friend had a joke about Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance that the more important the character the bigger the shoulder pad. I don't really know who you're talking about though. I'm kinda ignorant on it. Maybe Cloud from FF7?

Sidwarrious
Me and my friend had a joke about Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance that the more important the character the bigger the shoulder pad. I don't really know who you're talking about though. I'm kinda ignorant on it. Maybe Cloud from FF7?

Yeah, I noticed that about Fire Emblem too. Man, the main badguy had at least Four shoulderpads.

…And seriously, Cloud? That's who you think of when I say 90's Era Comic Book Hero? Am I the only person on the internet who reads American comics? Anyway, the best example I can give is everything Rob Liefeld has ever drawn. The man sure loves him some shoulderpads.

Inkmonkey
Back to the topic; how often are these “un-armors” justified by the creator saying that they're “magical”? And painfuly non-functional armor isn't limited to female warriors in fantasy paintings. The 90's-era comicbook heroes had an odd habit of having just one really big shoulder pad… and the rest of their outfit is just spandex and a shitload of pouches.

All the time probably. I've seen a couple where they generated magical and conveniently invisible shield over the user.

I don't think males count in this case because the illustrations of them focused more on strength and bloodlust rather than the more sexual aspect. I realise that those concepts are sexulised as well, but it's less deliberate.

Again Sidwarrious, lighter materials offer maneuverability over protection. If it that was a problem then theoretical warrior would have either wear heavier armour or take up knitting instead.

No no. I meant PERIOD. I couldn't think of ANY shoulder pad'd hero. Which is sad. I was at a comic store all day…reading manga…DAMN YOU URASAWA! But I only really got into comics recently and even then I don't read very many. Sorry, more of a manga guy. But if you wanan know ANYTHING about Deadpool I'm your guy. ^__^

And to be on topic…uh…Ass n titties, ass'n'titties, ass ass titties titties, ass'n'titties. There are some female hero's with respectable armor…Like…Oh my god. Five minutes have passed. Wow…Uh.Trinity in Matrix? But armored…OH! Uh The girl in Suikoden 3! Priscella? Can't remember her name though. But she wears full armor!

Someone
But armored…OH! Uh The girl in Suikoden 3! Priscella? Can't remember her name though. But she wears full armor!

Her name is Chris.

The sad thing is I OWN the suikoden 3 manga, but I really couldn't remember. And I was too lazy to go to my room to get it X__x.

Your armor doesn't have enough pouches to hold things.

The durability and functionality of a piece of armour is proportional to the number of pouches it sports. Fact. Don't trust me? Well, look at Rob Liefield!*

I suppose, then, that my NaNoWriMo characters are destined for truly epic death-scenes, considering they're wearing honest-to-god, actual armour. With greaves and gauntlets and breastplates and everything. :P

*)On second thought, DON'T look at Rob Liefield. Rob Liefield is made of bluster and FAIL.

I don't think full armor counts when it's in prose form. Nobody can see the metal bikini anyways, so you might as well be authentic.

mlai
I don't think full armor counts when it's in prose form. Nobody can see the metal bikini anyways, so you might as well be authentic.

It can easily be described. You just need a thesaurus and a total lack of respect for anything you do.

marine


Your armor doesn't have enough pouches to hold things.

they just emenate steroids…