More Mage Robes!
Madhax
Member Posts: 1,416
Mage robes are sorely lacking in variety in the BG series. With the exception of the Robes of Vecna, all mage robes fall into one of three categories: Entry-level weaksauce, situational resistance gear, and forgettable archmagi crap.
Sure, the archmagi crap can actually be relatively useful, but their main use is for their armor class which is overshadowed by simple spells. For being supposedly the best armor mages can wear, they're unremarkable and uninteresting.
Here are a few robes found throughout Icewind Dale, which are much more interesting than the BG robes:
(Item descriptions may contain IWD spoilers)
Robe of Enfusing
Since the age of Netheril, mages have learned to bestow a wide variety of
magical properties upon the everyday objects that surround them. A favorite
item of such enchantment is the common robe. It is lightweight, affordable,
and holds its enchantment well, thereby making it ideal equipment for a mage.
Due to their magical heritage, however, only single-, dual-, and multi-class
mages may wear these enchanted robes.
STATISTICS:
Armor Class Bonus: 2
Resistance Bonus: +5% Magical Resistance
Lore Bonus: +5
Special: Memorize +1 additional 1st Level Mage Spell
Weight: 4
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
[/spoiler]
Robe of the Watcher
Made for a dark elf wizard from Rilauven, the Robe of the Watcher is
recognized among drow as a sign of great power. It is traditionally worn by
the most talented practitioner of divination magic in Rilauven's academy of
sorcery. Malavon was awarded the robe when he was still in good graces with
his city.
STATISTICS:
Armor Class: 3
Magic Resistance: +10% bonus
Saving Throw: +2 vs. Spell
Special:
Non-Detection
Immunity to Umber Hulk Gaze
Weight: 5
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
Robe of the Hand
Created during the golden age of the elves of the Seldarine's Hand and the
dwarves of Dorn's Deep, it was worn by the elven wizards of Hand. Although a
very cumbersome robe, it provided its wearer protection against the elements
of Cold, Fire, and Electricity.
STATISTICS:
Armor Class: 9
Dexterity: -2 penalty
Resistance Bonuses:
+40% Cold Resistance
+40% Fire Resistance
+40% Electrical Resistance
Weight: 10
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
Necromancer's Robe
This robe's plain nature hides the power that the item imparts to its wearer.
The Necromancer's Robe was previously owned by a wizard from Luskan who was a
member of the Host Tower of the Arcane. He created the item to protect him
as he went in search of exotic items for his research. Its power did not
save him when he got into an argument with a high-ranking member of the
Plague Rats, an organization of vile thieves and assassins in service of
Talona. Presio bought the robe from the murderer several years later.
STATISTICS:
Armor Class: 8
Magic Resistance: 3%
Saving Throw: +3 bonus vs. paralyze/poison/death magic
Weight: 6
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
Shadowed Robe
This robe is made up of some unknown corporeal material that gives its wearer
a shadowed look. Besides giving excellent protection, it also provides some
resistance against magic.
STATISTICS:
AC: 4
+15% Magic Resistance
Weight: 5
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
I suppose it's possible that robes of this caliber were intentionally kept from BG2 to avoid overpowering mages, but Vecna is better than all of them anyway. I'd just like to see some more variety and creativity in the robes we can acquire. Letting Neera get a wild mage-specific robe in a personal quest would be a nice start.
Sure, the archmagi crap can actually be relatively useful, but their main use is for their armor class which is overshadowed by simple spells. For being supposedly the best armor mages can wear, they're unremarkable and uninteresting.
Here are a few robes found throughout Icewind Dale, which are much more interesting than the BG robes:
(Item descriptions may contain IWD spoilers)
Robe of Enfusing
Since the age of Netheril, mages have learned to bestow a wide variety of
magical properties upon the everyday objects that surround them. A favorite
item of such enchantment is the common robe. It is lightweight, affordable,
and holds its enchantment well, thereby making it ideal equipment for a mage.
Due to their magical heritage, however, only single-, dual-, and multi-class
mages may wear these enchanted robes.
STATISTICS:
Armor Class Bonus: 2
Resistance Bonus: +5% Magical Resistance
Lore Bonus: +5
Special: Memorize +1 additional 1st Level Mage Spell
Weight: 4
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
[/spoiler]
Robe of the Watcher
Made for a dark elf wizard from Rilauven, the Robe of the Watcher is
recognized among drow as a sign of great power. It is traditionally worn by
the most talented practitioner of divination magic in Rilauven's academy of
sorcery. Malavon was awarded the robe when he was still in good graces with
his city.
STATISTICS:
Armor Class: 3
Magic Resistance: +10% bonus
Saving Throw: +2 vs. Spell
Special:
Non-Detection
Immunity to Umber Hulk Gaze
Weight: 5
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
Robe of the Hand
Created during the golden age of the elves of the Seldarine's Hand and the
dwarves of Dorn's Deep, it was worn by the elven wizards of Hand. Although a
very cumbersome robe, it provided its wearer protection against the elements
of Cold, Fire, and Electricity.
STATISTICS:
Armor Class: 9
Dexterity: -2 penalty
Resistance Bonuses:
+40% Cold Resistance
+40% Fire Resistance
+40% Electrical Resistance
Weight: 10
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
Necromancer's Robe
This robe's plain nature hides the power that the item imparts to its wearer.
The Necromancer's Robe was previously owned by a wizard from Luskan who was a
member of the Host Tower of the Arcane. He created the item to protect him
as he went in search of exotic items for his research. Its power did not
save him when he got into an argument with a high-ranking member of the
Plague Rats, an organization of vile thieves and assassins in service of
Talona. Presio bought the robe from the murderer several years later.
STATISTICS:
Armor Class: 8
Magic Resistance: 3%
Saving Throw: +3 bonus vs. paralyze/poison/death magic
Weight: 6
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
Shadowed Robe
This robe is made up of some unknown corporeal material that gives its wearer
a shadowed look. Besides giving excellent protection, it also provides some
resistance against magic.
STATISTICS:
AC: 4
+15% Magic Resistance
Weight: 5
Only usable by:
Mage (single, dual, & multi-class)
I suppose it's possible that robes of this caliber were intentionally kept from BG2 to avoid overpowering mages, but Vecna is better than all of them anyway. I'd just like to see some more variety and creativity in the robes we can acquire. Letting Neera get a wild mage-specific robe in a personal quest would be a nice start.
5