ReBoot

Depends on the character and on the cape. On the realistic end, capes are really bad in a fight because they get in the way if they are too long and too heavy. They're fine shorter and made of something that isn't going to help a damn in a fight, easily ripped and easier removed.

Or, you know, if the cape's all an illusion or being used as a weapon then go for it. Capes as weapons are awesome.

I definitely agree it depends on the character and the story, but in general I prefer characters without. Great for Halloween costumes, though!

I think long coats are severely underrated. But that's just me.

Have you read "The Watchmen"? Dollar Bill was done in when his cape caught in a door or some such.

Capes look nice, but I don't see the coolness factor when I look at them. I think "showy and impractical." Leave 'em out!

The only character I have given a cape to is Aries, and that was mostly to help note that she is the group leader. It wasn't a very long cape either, just partly down her back. Originally, I thought it added alittle flare, but now I'm thinking it's not wholly nessecary.

Consider me old-school, I guess: I've spent the past two days working on character designs for my second pitch, and all but two of the superhero characters are sporting capes. I've tried to give them practical reaons for having them--a solar-powered hero has covered the surface area of his with flexible solar panels, to store energy and power him at night; another has had his enchanted as a 'cape of holding', so it's where he keeps all his stuff.

At the end of the day, though, I just like the iconic, dramatic look of them, and practicality be damned.