What do people in the Imperium wear when they go swimming?

The reason I need to know is that my style of GM is about 90% your standard 40k grim dark, the other 10% is random anime mumbo jumbo, and as someone who has seen way to much anime, I know all anime's need an obligatory swimsuit episode. At some point, for what ever reason, my acolytes will have to spend some time on a beach, but I have no idea what they would wear. On the one hand I could see it being military, but im not sure modesty is really that big of a thing in 40k...Anyone have any suggestions?

Time for the standard answer when talking about the Imperium: It depends on the planet.

Some would go naked without a thought. Others would have swimwear designed to drown the swimmer because chucking someone in whatever large bodies of liquid exist on the planet is how they execute people. A lot of planets won't have bodies of water large enough to swim in. Or anything in between.

considering that 99% of all bodies of water in the imperium are either horribly polluted or filled with dangerous wildlife, sealed power armor or void suits.

but as far as an actual swimwear, keep in mind that swimwear only really became a type of apparel in the late 19th and early 20th century. Most imperial apparel is based upon times before that, with it getting more modern but more bland the closer to common people you get. Nobles would basically probably have water-resistant old timey ultra fancy underwear (corsets, bloomers and whatnot for women, and some sort of undershirt and shorts for men, all of them with excessive frills) and commoners would either swim in either light water-resistant clothing.

No bikinis, swim shorts, flip flops, or toplessness allowed, as that would be heretical by imperial standards, assuming the church is in place to enforce said standards. If no standards, then they probably just swim naked.

but as far as an actual swimwear, keep in mind that swimwear only really became a type of apparel in the late 19th and early 20th century. Most imperial apparel is based upon times before that, with it getting more modern but more bland the closer to common people you get.

Yeah. Especially combat suits or IG uniforms.

If you're using anime as an inspiration probably string bikinis with as little fabric as possible.

Using 40K absolutely any possibility as detailed above.

Slap some aquillas and purity seals on it, and you are good to go!

Especially a purity seal on the front part of their trousers.

Hmm..swimwear in 40k... you WANT a "swim suit episode", huh? Well..then lets see.

Graver gives a nice example, and one can definitively role with that. IF the populace/culture is against anything "form fitting" fo rone reason or another.

You could, without much problem, switch to swimwear we would use today. 40K has the bodyglove/bodysuit as a piece of garment used by specialists or those who are wealthy and "stylish". To frolic on the beach sounds like "wealthy", and "stylish" is never wrong for the wealthy. One could even go so far as having "swimmer (body)suits" that have some kind of "webbing" between the fingers of the hand, so that a sportsy swimmer can benefit from it (+1 level of success to all Athletic tests for swimming quick; Scarce). Those suits could come equpiied with complete head masks (think "zentai") with added, bulky lenses so one ca see while diving. No breathing apparatus, so: make it into a sporty pasttime hobby to dive using your lunges, actually.

Others might enjoy special full body suits that leave you actually floating on the surface, so that you can let yourself drift in the calmer (less frequented) parts of the water, enjoying the sun while experiencing a state of "hovering" without any thought. (like playing "dead man" in the water ,but with a much more even, horizontal position).

For a change in skimpy swimwear, how abot a society where a minor(!) belly is seen as sexy/attractive with women (or with men or both), leading to body suits that cover all but your minor "wealth belly".

A different approach: all but the most reserved people wear nothing but tight swim shorts (like boy-cut panties, skintight) and skintight gloves (for some reason, the wrinkles to the hands coming from longer water exposure are seen as undesirable).
Or the wealth could have certai "artists" walknig around the beach who are naked but for the feet, the hands and the head, all of which are covered in tight material like a body suit. This is meant as "added beauty" and is seen as "tasteful nudity". of course, only those who have well defined/shapely physique will be offered such jobs.... and it is nice for adding an martial-arts-assassine for a suprise attack.

Think about "beach wear", too! Perhaps elaborate, wide brimed sundhats are all the rage at the moment, or people wearing the equivalent of a head-mounted sun shade, like an oversized, reverse bowl. Do away with "beach towels" butch go for large, light-weight plastic bowls with a soft padding, lighly reminiscent of a clamshell. At least, for the beautiful ladies (the gentlemen will carry them...or their maids will). 40k never seemed found of sun-kissed teint, so have the people creme and powder until the are whie like clowns. Fine, waterproof make-up is added to still look beautfiul (instead of looking like a bad corpse..or clown). Beach wear jewelry could add to his. Perhpas nice, wide fitting jewelry chain for the ankle or wrists, or worn like sash. Or perhaps one piece veils, made of lacey-thin material, wrapped aorund the head, long end fluttering in the breeze (if their is any).

" 40k beach epsiode"...

Now I got an image of the admech sitting under a parasol on the beach, still fully robed and refusing to come in the water. The death watch space marine is doing push ups on the beach dressed in only a speedo (in chapter colors) the deathcult assassin is wearing <censored> while the psyker is shivering in a patch of ice water (hoarfrost psychic phenomena).

Oh and the adepta sororita swim suit looks something like this:

Talking Sororitas: HERE I would see those "late 18th/early 19th century swim garnments" you have shown. Unless you go for the bodyglove approach.

Oh, talking about it...how about "bathing Dresses" like a victorian night gown...which become shorter due to the coller water temperature (memnomic material, or whatever this was called) so that you have a lose Fitting mini Dress while being wet? This will for sure HINDER swiming a bit and will not be a favorite wear of athletic swimmer, but for those just wishing to frolic,, it might be posh, going for a Lorely-like look.

If it's all just about having an obligatory swimsuit episode, I'd just choose what style you want to convey and then work backwards from that to justify it. As others have stated, style and modesty norms are going to vary drastically from planet to planet. If you want neon bikinis and speedos like we have in the real world, no problem. You want something more off-the-wall, that's fine to. Just try to keep the tone reasonably consistent with the rest of that particular planet, and it really doesn't matter if it's jarringly different than the tone of the next planet over. Also keep in mind, again as others have stated, that "fun in the sun" is probably something that only the wealthiest of individuals have time for.

Also keep in mind, again as others have stated, that "fun in the sun" is probably something that only the wealthiest of individuals have time for.

"Fun in the sun": I.e. the Tarran (desert raiders) way of making war

Also best not said to an Ultramarine. What happend to Calth is still a bit of a sore spot for them.

Admech really don't like beaches and swimming:

1. It has nothing to do with the machine god.

• Even if there's a pumphouse or desalination plant nearby, that still doesn't count.

2. It's not productive. <Quotas need to be met>

3. There is no water on holy Mars/ most forgeworlds.

• If there would be it would be poluted gunk made up of lethal toxins and acids.
• If it would be pure it would still play havoc with cybernetics and wash away holy ungents/ blessed oils.

I don't think people swim for entertainment anymore. Water tends to be polluted. If one found a really lovely world though, then probably underwear.

I don't think people swim for entertainment anymore. Water tends to be polluted. If one found a really lovely world though, then probably underwear.

For most people and places, I would totally agree; but there are still 'Garden Worlds' in the galaxy that exist for the principle purpose of providing a place for important people to vacation. I'm sure, for example, that there is plenty of recreational swimming on Reth in the Calixis Sector.

Voidborn, Hive worlders and Forge worlders might not even understand the concept of swimming having likely never seen a body of water larger than a bathtube. Or at the very least not understand the idea of doing it for any reason beyond survival. Same with anyone from a really polluted world or desert area. Background could also have a pretty big impact. Many ad mech would be unable to swim which risking damage or simply due to how heavy their bionics are, while guardsmen regardless of howworld may receive training in it. So characters from nicer places might have to explain the concept and give them a bit of encouragement.

Feral and feudal worlders would probably just skinny dip. High born and shrine worlders would probably have something but how much would depend on modesty norms of their world. Anything from nothing to Robin Graves' first picture example and anywhere inbetween.

You'll have to tell us what you ended up with Twillera after you've had your obligitory swimsuit episode.

Will there also be hotspring, halloween and x-mass episodes?

As with most things that aren't endless war, labor, and pain, I think 40K is pretty sparse when it comes to information about swimwear. Do what you want! The innuendos, misunderstandings, accidental groping, and nosebleeds are just as important to a good beach episode.

If the planet/beach isn't heavily populated, I'm betting your characters would each bring their own planet's understanding of swimwear (or lack thereof) to the event. Maybe some are wearing full-length gowns, and some are wearing nothing at all. Good way to shoehorn in some background development.

I applaud your willingness to do a random beach party episode. 40K can always use some levity...

Admech really don't like beaches and swimming:

1. It has nothing to do with the machine god.

• Even if there's a pumphouse or desalination plant nearby, that still doesn't count.

2. It's not productive. <Quotas need to be met>

3. There is no water on holy Mars/ most forgeworlds.

• If there would be it would be poluted gunk made up of lethal toxins and acids.
• If it would be pure it would still play havoc with cybernetics and wash away holy ungents/ blessed oils.

One of my PC created a Admech obsessed with going to the beach and feel "natural" warmth. It is a bit strange ... But i think some circuits may have fried a part of his brain

(or read something he shouldn't ...)

I'll say 1940s two-piece outfits look quite right for your typical civilised world, and good enough for modern tastes: