by Cu_ » Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:12 am
First of all, you probably should not monolithize an entire group of very distinct cultures. Algonquian peoples wore different things than Siouan peoples, or Hopi, or Iriquoian, et cetera. Wearing a smattering of different Native-looking garbs may make you look like an *. I realize that we amalgamate European cultures in this game, but it's an entirely different matter here, from a sociological perspective.
A lot of indigenous people are not cool with whiteys appropriating their garb or accoutrements. Opinions obviously differ from person to person, and if you decide to do it, be prepared to catch flak, even if you do it perfectly. I'd say a good course of action may be to do what Silo did, and seek the advice of a local leader, then aim to dress in that local fashion. Dollars to doughnuts, most leaders would be okay with you wearing traditional clothes, but may frown on you painting up, even if authentic (in many tribal American cultures, this is sacred, and copying for the purposes of playing a game may be uncouth).
As for the legality, I'd say that the spirit of the rules is that pre-gunpowder cultures are pretty much okay (it really bugs me when people just wear something non-Western and call it garb-- Rroma, Chinese, Native American, etc.) In this instance, I would say that means pre-contact, or just at the time of contact. Keep in mind that that may be exceedingly hard to do, as there aren't exactly many records available to you for these time periods. We don't know much about Native American ways of life before guns and horses. In fact, many tribal groups have lost their clothing culture from pre 1800s; the cultural genocide was just that effective.
As for the bone breastplate, it looks plastic. It may be real bone. Either way, it would not count as armor (though you may be able to make a lookalike out of armor grade leather, provided it covered enough of your target zone.