Why cant my sov. wear traveler boots?

What Class is your Sov.? Adventurers always start with Travelers boots. There might be a class/race restriction.

My sov. has this issue and they are race/faction Tarthan and class/profession of Thief.  The boots simply do not display in the list of items to purchase (same holds for some of the cloaks(scout cloak and traveller's cloak).

Some items have race/gender requirements based on the model, which we do need to convey better or get rid of.

Note that Traveler boots don't fit male fallen model (3 races, exempt Wraith). So they may be intentionally disabled to use them.

Still, with current ruleset, only first human faction, Men, can use those boots. While other human factions can work around and upgrade basic peasant unit (which also uses Man race). Also, that J guy you get at start is Man too, so he can always use those boots.

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These are also some other items that have similar restrictions, but with no good reason. Like some cloaks that can also be used only by Man.

That breastplate that you get from one of the dungeons is like that.  I can't figure out who can and who can't use it.

Heh... got same brestplate. Azur something... Gave it to J guy (can't remember his name).

Depending on which one you refer to, there is one that is not meant to be worn, only sold.

But P22 pretty much explained it, the problem lies in the race classifications and the default units.

When I got that Azur(?) brestplate, info screen said that my hero can't wear it and suggested selling it. But then, J guy was able to wear it. So I guess selling it is just friendly advice (so that player doesn't feel cheated), not a must.

I think Traveler boots are only for the "Man" race, as I have never been able to fit any other race with them. 

It's one of things you have to "guess" at. 

Wow, this is completely .... I won't comment.  I don't mind that the feature is in the engine; it's a neat way to set he races apart, but it should be documented in game via tooltips on each item.  Additionally what's weird is that it looks like this was casually used, but never once even attempted to balance.

Ex. What do the other races get that men don't get, to make up for the lack of traveller's boots and traveller's cloak?

Don't have to guess, it's all in the XML files.

The Traveling boots are restricted by the following tags

    <SupportedUnitModelType>KingdomMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
    <SupportedUnitModelType>KingdomFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

Several of the Core Accessories are limited in this way. And due to the way the default peasant designs are setup (Kingdom of Men), this further complicates matters.

Especially for a race like the Tarthans, their clothing/accessory options are even more messed up beyond these boots.

See this thread, and this.

The issues doesn't stop there since Stardock included several items in the default shop store.

Take a kingdom level 1 city for reference.

<!-- Item Shop - Base Items -->
        <UnlocksShopItem>SaltedPork</UnlocksShopItem>
        <UnlocksShopItem>GnarledClub</UnlocksShopItem>
        <UnlocksShopItem>Staff</UnlocksShopItem>
        <UnlocksShopItem>TravelingBoots</UnlocksShopItem>
        <UnlocksShopItem>Recruiting_Shirt</UnlocksShopItem>

And a fallen level 1

        <UnlocksShopItem>SaltedPork</UnlocksShopItem>
        <UnlocksShopItem>GnarledClub</UnlocksShopItem>
        <UnlocksShopItem>Staff</UnlocksShopItem>

Hah, nothing.

If you change that "Convey better" to "convey at all" (as they aren't conveyed in-game at all currently), I'm sure we'll all be happy though getting rid of them entirely if the restrictions don't add anything of significance to gameplay would be even better. While by no means the biggest problem Elemental faces currently, that sort of niggling details of things that "just don't seem to work and the player doesn't know why" just add up and give an impression of overall sloppiness.

Another thing about traveler boots:

They don't fit properly on human female sovereign/hero model. They are oversized!

Looks kinda ridiculous, if female is wearing pants as accessory.

So, to sum up:

Traveler boots look properly if used by:

-Human male model (used by all kingdom factions, kraxis and wraiths)

Traveler boots look undersized if used by:

-other fallen male models (undesized with clipping)

Traveler boots look oversized if used by:

-any female model

Currently in game can be used by:

-Men faction only (both male/female)

I like restrictions. Better feedback about it and improved implementations are always more than welcome.

Having messed with all the possible clothes, boots, capes and similars, I wish the distribution/restrictions were better and or included more adecuate things (boots for females are a no no except for tight boots and other type which name I don't remember right now but that is available for female Tarthans).

patchwork breastplate doesn't work for a female champion - it states in the text that she found a patchwork breastplate but gives her a robe that has no benefit or value.