[Coda]

Originally Posted by ml1201

I can understand why you'd do that, why do video games have to sexualize outfits? Tera does that with all the female outfits, and I don't approve of bikini plate mail. :/

There's really no need to jump to conclusions. It's not sexualized. It's actually quite modest. It covers more skin than a real tabard would, because it connects underneath the armpits. And in the game it layers on top of whatever shirt and pants/skirt/leggings you might also be wearing. The modifications I made to the pattern were specifically to make the tabard follow the lines of my wife's body, because that's what she wanted me to make. (My first plan was to MAKE a proper real-world-style tabard! It certainly would have been less work.) Sadly I never actually finished it; I got the tabard itself made, but I ran out of time before Blizzcon before I could get the appliques applied so it wasn't just a blank purple dress.

And while I think bikini armor is ridiculous and impractical, it's also a staple of fantasy fiction, and plenty of women like it. World of Warcraft has a transmogrification system in place so you're never stuck having to wear a piece of armor that you don't like the look of. So if you're a female player who wants her avatar to be a strong, resilient-looking character, that option is available to you, and if you're a female player who wants her avatar to show off her skin as a display of power, that option is available to you as well, and neither choice puts you at a disadvantage.