To provide a brief few comments on an already well developed conversation, here is my lot.

Writing a character's description, including what they oft wear or even always do in some circumstances is part of their identity. If these words were a movie, it would distinguish them and help put their personality in mind. You can learn a lot about a character, even their writer, by this as anyone might know, but you learn more than you would otherwise without. It gives you another in to their mindset, even if the two elements are disjointed and seemingly utterly mismatched. Like it or not, people usually wear things that you can define a pattern from that gives you a window into their mind - who they are, what they do, why, how they are themselves and so forth. Characters should be just that in my opinion - people.

If you want them to feel real, to feel a connection to them, even this outsider information is fairly essential. From my point, it is not even optional in the slightest. To not include it is neglectful - even disrespectful to me as a reader as I have less trust for you and your work; you are not supplying me with information I would consider as basic as it gets. Call me jaded by my life experiences, because I am, but appearance can be crucial as ever and as is its mere perception. Digging deeper, I find withholding it leads to a number of basic issues beyond characterization - just lack of fact checking or memory.

You probably have seen it, at least once, where two players devolve into an argument because they gave an inaccurate detail about a character. To me, the less you get someone's character wrong the more invested you are and the less disrespectful you come across; I go by the mentality of constantly trying to fact check people's sheets so I react appropriately with my own characters to theirs. Anything less is insincere and oft arrogant - just my feelings on it.

But what do they wear? Do they wear it all the time? Do they always look like that? Unless I, the Game Master or someone else changes it, consider that as is. What about if time passes or its a different day? Same concept. Consider it as is until it isn't. Why? Continuity. Some characters, like people, will wear the same things; some eveb do not have a choice about it, or the changes are thoughtful and deliberate. At times obvious leeway is given, but I try not to drone on about every single detail, but I will mention them at least at once. I weave them in where I can, especially if they are plot or identity relevant. That weird thing I might keep referring to from time to time in a post? Likely not a coincidence. It can be, but oft isn't.

What about pictures?

Unless I own the art, which for my characters I always do when I use pictures because of my philosophy and interest in the matter, I do not want to see them. Many issues I take with them is the raw differences in genre. Not to be too aggressive but I [i]loathe[/i] anime pictures in non-anime topics, as an example. Can I always hit the mark and theme? No, but I try to get close or use none at all - I can settle with sketches. But for real people? Almost every photograph of a character feels phony, fake or stock - because most are. Most are too beautiful, stylized or worse, celebrity.

Besides, if we are in a writing medium, I want written explanations and elaborations. I want you to make me envision your idea as best you can muster. Do I want an equipment list with every damn detail down to the name brand and the exact specifications? Never. But details are good - the difference between a "sword" and an "aged iron sword in need of a whetstone" are massive. I think I understand your angle better than before without.

Yet, what about the "Can they only use swords?" example. It depends - if they are carrying, wearing or wielding a specific thing even in appearance alone, my initial thought is going to be that is their go-to. The player with say, the handgun and laptop as his get tell me from the start he isn't dangerous because of the gun; the mage in emerald robes trimmed in gold, adorned by a elaborate headdress? She is probably a noble, or fancies herself one, in addition to wielding magic. It can work both ways, but few do it well with a "false appearance".

Also, common sense for where it all goes in disuse. If one really has [i]nowhere[/i] to stow or hide gear, your issues other than appearance every day are more pressing.