Cloak, Floating

Ultimate Equipment Guide II

Author Greg Lynch, J. C. Alvarez
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2005

Usually, a cloak is the first article of clothing shed when the wearer finds himself suddenly and unexpectedly plunged into the water, as its sodden weight threatens to pull even an experienced swimmer toward a watery death. The floating cloak, however, is a boon in such a situation, not a burden. The cloak has several large pockets inside it, lined with oilskin and fitted with a drawstring closure. In normal use, these pockets make for handy storage. Upon immersion in water, however, they serve a much more important purpose, trapping and holding air to keep the cloak’s wearer afloat. It is then a simple matter to close the drawstrings on the cloak’s pockets, holding the air inside the pockets. A character wearing a floating cloak receives a +5 circumstance bonus to his Swim skill check in order to stay afloat or to Swim on the surface, though he cannot Swim downward while wearing the cloak.

Even with the drawstrings closed, however, the pockets are not airtight, and will slowly begin leaking air. For the first ten minutes spent in the water, the floating cloak provides a +5 circumstance bonus to all Swim checks. Between ten and 20 minutes, the bonus decreases to +3, then to +1 between 20 and 30 minutes. After half an hour, the cloak has leaked too much air to be of any benefit to a swimmer whatsoever.

Though far less effective than the floating girdle (see below), the floating cloak remains the more popular item for several reasons. It costs less, it is useful as a garment and it does not look ridiculous when worn as does the floating girdle.

Cloak, Floating: 30 gp; 6 lb.