Combat heels is the hill I will die on

[CarburetorThompson]

Another rant today. I saw a video on YouTube all about why female fantasy is horrible and I couldn’t help but disagree with a point. I concede that bikini armor is stupid, and it’s kind of pointless wearing a heavy chest plate if you’re just gonna leave your thighs exposed under a thin cloth skirt, but I draw the line at armored high heels.

I don’t care what anyone says using high heels in combat is badass. To me it’s a way to express the strength of a female character. Like this character is so skilled and strong that she doesn’t have to sacrifice form for function. Wearing something that would otherwise be harmful towards mobility has no effect on her, because she’s just that good.

In my eyes there’s a the same as having long haired characters (both male and female), despite the fact that long hair is extremely detrimental in combat, you don’t often see people complain, because especially in eastern themed stories, is a kind of expression of how untouchable a character is. I feel the same for armored heels.

Let me know if you think differently, but I doubt anyone has an argument that could sway me.

 

[Seaspecter]

Heels are peak men's fashion.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

I think just a bikini would be better than bikini armor.
I don't see the point in having metal plates.
In battle, you're either armoring up, or you're getting naked so it's easier to move.

 

[Seaspecter]

it’s kind of pointless wearing a heavy chest plate if you’re just gonna leave your thighs exposed under a thin cloth skirt,

The Greeks and Romans would like a word.

 

[John_Owl]

Another rant today. I saw a video on YouTube all about why female fantasy is horrible and I couldn’t help but disagree with a point. I concede that bikini armor is stupid, and it’s kind of pointless wearing a heavy chest plate if you’re just gonna leave your thighs exposed under a thin cloth skirt, but I draw the line at armored high heels.

I don’t care what anyone says using high heels in combat is badass. To me it’s a way to express the strength of a female character. Like this character is so skilled and strong that she doesn’t have to sacrifice form for function. Wearing something that would otherwise be harmful towards mobility has no effect on her, because she’s just that good.

In my eyes there’s a the same as having long haired characters (both male and female), despite the fact that long hair is extremely detrimental in combat, you don’t often see people complain, because especially in eastern themed stories, is a kind of expression of how untouchable a character is. I feel the same for armored heels.

Let me know if you think differently, but I doubt anyone has an argument that could sway me.

agreed on the heels and long hair. That said, I disagree with bikini armor, and not for the reason anyone would think. you said "fantasy". the thing about most fantasy worlds? They have some form of magic. So bikini armor would indeed make sense assuming it was enchanted to increase toughness of one's skin. Might even be better than men's full plate, in some cases.

Think about it - Your skin itself is now as tough as steel plate (given that most bikini armor sets offer comparable defense as men's full plate). However, it offers NONE of the drawbacks. it's quieter than leather, equally defensive as full plate, AND it's lightweight as hell, since it's made of barely any material! Additionally, because it's so lightweight, dodging is now a FAR more viable option. and let me ask this: Is it better to take a hit on armor plating or is it better to simply not get hit?

And don't get me wrong, I'm not justifying women wearing barely any armor. On the contrary, i think EVERYONE should wear enchanted bikini armor.

 

[Daydreamers]

For me it depends on the type of story. If the story is serious, I might even drop it because I wouldn’t have faith in the author like Imagine Casca in Berserk wearing something like that , but if fansrvice is already half of what the story is offering then complaining is bs.

 

[RepresentingDesire]

agreed on the heels and long hair. That said, I disagree with bikini armor, and not for the reason anyone would think. you said "fantasy". the thing about most fantasy worlds? They have some form of magic. So bikini armor would indeed make sense assuming it was enchanted to increase toughness of one's skin. Might even be better than men's full plate, in some cases.

Think about it - Your skin itself is now as tough as steel plate (given that most bikini armor sets offer comparable defense as men's full plate). However, it offers NONE of the drawbacks. it's quieter than leather, equally defensive as full plate, AND it's lightweight as hell, since it's made of barely any material! Additionally, because it's so lightweight, dodging is now a FAR more viable option. and let me ask this: Is it better to take a hit on armor plating or is it better to simply not get hit?

And don't get me wrong, I'm not justifying women wearing barely any armor. On the contrary, i think EVERYONE should wear enchanted bikini armor.

Indeed but that's depending on the magic system, the best use of bikini armor was in Black Pudding on this site because it had a logical reasoning and was used by males as well.

 

[Indicterra]

If it something like a background details in story then there is no problem, if one go up and beyond to emphasize on it, I naturally try to think it's realistic application for imagination purposes

High heels in combat might look cool, but it’s hard to take ‘badass’ seriously when one of the legit plan an enemy could use gain advantage in fight is a well-placed cobblestone."

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Low heels would make some sense (especially for warriors expected to begin the battle mounted but end it on foot).
Full on stiletto heels, though, would only be useful if they doubled as actual stilettos...

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Combat hills are the heel to warfare.

 

[Mystic_Grasshopper]

Another rant today. I saw a video on YouTube all about why female fantasy is horrible and I couldn’t help but disagree with a point. I concede that bikini armor is stupid, and it’s kind of pointless wearing a heavy chest plate if you’re just gonna leave your thighs exposed under a thin cloth skirt, but I draw the line at armored high heels.

I don’t care what anyone says using high heels in combat is badass. To me it’s a way to express the strength of a female character. Like this character is so skilled and strong that she doesn’t have to sacrifice form for function. Wearing something that would otherwise be harmful towards mobility has no effect on her, because she’s just that good.

In my eyes there’s a the same as having long haired characters (both male and female), despite the fact that long hair is extremely detrimental in combat, you don’t often see people complain, because especially in eastern themed stories, is a kind of expression of how untouchable a character is. I feel the same for armored heels.

Let me know if you think differently, but I doubt anyone has an argument that could sway me.

I think you have to understand who's saying that to make sense of the argument in the first place. If the video is about unrealism and historical inaccuracy then maybe it makes sense but still dumb on the basis of "fantasy doesn't have to follow all rules".

If the video is strictly about how women are portrayed in fantasy then it's merely the creator's contempt for male biased fantasy which again doesn't make it nonsensical it's someone who has opinions on such things and they're free to express that, but to those I say they should stick to what they like and ignore stuff they don't, you know "don't like don't buy it." Albeit that's the case if that is the only focus that they have but otherwise it's just an argument not a truth.

And definitely if it's someone who says all fantasy should fit in their socio-political-economic climate views they can just go fuck themselves.

All that to say yes I enjoy the bikini armor, and the combat heels, from a style and aesthetic approach in fantasy.

 

[laccoff_mawning]

Like this character is so skilled and strong that she doesn’t have to sacrifice form for function. Wearing something that would otherwise be harmful towards mobility has no effect on her, because she’s just that good.

This argument is the equivalent of saying twigs makes excellent weapons for eastern martial artists because their skill with the blade is just that good that they can afford to fight off countless foes with a subpar weapon.

Sure, you could use high heels as a weapon if you have nothing else around, but deliberately choosing to use them as a weapon when other, better weapons are available? Ask yourself, which does it scream more: "strong female warrior", or "incompetent silly woman"?

 

[MarekSusicky]

I don’t care what anyone says using high heels in combat is badass.

I agree wholehardly! That's why I put the line into synopsis

"Seriously though, fighting in high heels?"

It's like one of the side-points in book 1. Along with fighting in mud with high heels.

 

[CarburetorThompson]

I think some of you aren’t fully understanding my view. Obviously it‘s setting dependent, it would be stupid to see someone like Brienne of Tarth rocking stilettos.

But I don’t like the precedent of cherry picking places to apply realism. If I’m reading a story where people can deflect bullets with a sword, use magical superpowers, get thrown through a brick wall and be physically unharmed, but somehow it‘s unthinkable that in these settings that a person could be so skilled that fighting in heels offers no real disadvantage, and that such a person would choose to actively do so?

 

[beast_regards]

Leaving thighs exposed under the skirt, you say....

 

[cabbag3]

If I was in a battle and somebody is running towards me wearing high heels while carrying a 10 ft tall sword that's as wide as my torso, 3 fireballs spinning around their head, and some glowing lines on their body, then them wearing high heels would be least of my worries.
And as a reader (and watcher?), seeing people fighting with heels on is cool. It's a rule! jk
But I think this is more like a matter of taste, if people don't mind it, good for them.
If they complain about it's realism in a fantasy setting or not, then bless their souls.

 

[georgelee5786]

True...

 

[Elmir_Arch-Ham_of_Omega]

"Stacy!!! Stop fooling around, Take off those heels."
"It's your funeral"
Stacy tosses away her high heels
High heels make a huge crater on the ground.
Stacy now moves at light-speed.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

All that remains to be said: If you really want to die on that hill in high heels, you'll probably do so with broken ankles while looking fabulous.

 

[Gray_Mann]

The day anime/manga became mainstream, is the day whiny-arse people crying about "muh fan-service" became a blight on the entertainment medium itself.

Gate-keeping isn't always a bad thing. In fact, lately gatekeeping is EXACTLY what is needed. THAT is the hill I'll die on.