The Eerie Elf (with Sintuilë of Gladden)

Another outfit submission by Sintuilë and I am loving this one! I was actually planning on using that head piece for my hunter Eadyth but it just had not found a place just yet, so I'm really glad to see it in use here on Sintuilë, especially in conjunction with Halloween (note that I'm writing this post in November of 2017).

So what I like about this outfit is that it achieved exactly what I could not years ago when I created my own elf-maid champion: an outfit both elegantly dress-like as well as intimidating. My inspiration was of course the elves of the Hidden Guard during the Mirkwood expansion., but the dress-like pieces never flared outwards as much as I needed them to. Whilst this piece does contract in certain poses, I think it does the job very well, and really big congratulations to Sintuilë for being able to pull this off!

One thing I never noticed before I started writing this is that the leaf at the base of the shoulderpiece really matches the leaf-like patterns that flow down the robe, which I find absolutely fascinating as they aren't from the same set, but share this oddly similar motif. True, it's not that hard to find similar motifs, but even the chainmail in the game have so many variations to the point that they really don't go together sometimes, so this is a wondrous discovery!

I also really like the choice of location - I think, since it IS Halloween after all, this is the perfect place in game to take pictures, though it might just simply have been Sintuilë not wanting to move too far away from the Haunted Burrow where she does her dailies - I've bumped into her a few times already!

Head: Expeditionary Cap (red);

Shoulders: Lore-keeper's Shoulders (white);

Chest: Rune-maker's Robe (red);

Hands: Ceremonial Gauntlets of the Iron Arm (burgundy);

Feet: Ceremonial Wandering Bard's Shoes (burgundy).

Crimson Kin (with Jularr & Halygr of Gladden)

I'm pretty stoked to present to you two community submissions in one entry because they coordinated their outfits to match one another with a similar colour scheme. When I received the files I was so excited to post this, and at the time I'm writing this up, we are 10 months early, so you can guess how impatient I am for this to finally be published!

Here is Jularr, a Dwarven hunter, albeit a pretty heavy duty one. What I like quite a bit is that he doesn't wear a helmet, or cover his head, which shows how sure he is that he won't need it. I think it's pretty badass, and hey, it shows off his cool hairstyle too.

The intricate gold details on the shoulder guards are something that helps the outfit stand out as they contrast brilliantly with the black dyeable area. Another thing about it is that both the shoulder piece and the chest have a wing motif going, which I did not realise before, and that's pretty cool that Jularr managed to put the two together into one outfit.

Shoulders: Shoulder Guards of the Reclaimed City (black);

Chest: Lesser Blade of the West Breastplate (red);

Hands: Gloves of Might (navy);

Legs: Leggings of the Coastal Bulwark (black);

Feet: Pelennor Boots of Wrath (rust).

Jularr's counterpart, Halygr the champion, equips a more aggressive armour with more spikes to it, mirroring the sharpness of his blade. As he needs to engage in close combat, he protects his head with a helmet reminiscent of Dwarven design so his enemies know with whom they mess. Also worth noting is that Halygr's outfit here requires only pieces from skirmish camp barterers, so it's much easier to replicate.

Although I do love the outfit, the problem is quite obvious here: there is a lot of clipping. The armour clips through each other, the beard clips through the helm, and while I can't blame Halygr's player for putting it together, one can wonder why this is still a problem in LOTRO, especially with an outfitting fanbase that is as big as it is. Just a few days ago I saw Nathrien of Material Middle Earth tweet to the official LOTRO twitter page regarding the Harvest Festival cosmetic rewards clipping and stretching very badly. Let's hope this gets fixed soon!

Head: Ceremonial Helm of the Brazen Call (red);

Shoulders: Ceremonial Shoulders of the Gloom-bane (gold);

Chest: Ceremonial Town-saver's Jacket (crimson);

Back: Cloak of Many Worlds (gold);

Hands: Ceremonial Dragon-scale Gloves (grey);

Legs: Ceremonial Pathfinder's Leggings (red);

Feet: Ceremonial Boots of the Graven Word (gold).

Lü Lingqi (with "Li" of Gladden)

Once again we welcome a new member to the My Middle-earth Mode family, who requested she only go by "Li" on here. As her debut, she chose to put on display an outfit inspired by the stylistic and colour choices on the latest Dynasty Warriors 9 design for Lü Lingqi, the daughter Lü Bu.

As a huge fan of the series, I am completely excited to share this outfit with you guys not only because it looks great, but I'm in awe at her determination to capture a similar essence using armour pieces that really do not resemble at all the style of Dynasty Warriors, being set in a completely different universe and culture. Despite all that, the outfit turned out beautiful, and I think Li did a great job with it.

When we were determining the location for the photoshoot, we really could not agree on the most suitable location for this outfit, as the inspiration behind came from I think the late Han dynasty, during the Three Kingdoms period. This is a similar problem Kyix had with her Samurai Settler outfit, which we decided to form a narrative around the outfit almost depicting a samurai getting lost in Elven lands.

I haven't seen the Helm of the Hammerhand in so long, so Li, you have been a great refresher of it! Plus, I never thought I'd see it in this kind of use (not Rohan themed) because of its very prominent horse carving. But I guess on an outfit inspired by a member of the Lü family, it makes sense as Lü Bu was famous for riding the Red Hare into battle, and the horse on Li's helmet could be a nod to that.

Also, the dragon emblem on her chest could be interpreted as a demon, which is also quite appropriate as Lü Bu is likened to a demon on the battlefield. Now I'm not sure how historically accurate that is, but I'm almost 100% certain that in the games, he has been referenced as such. Thus his daughter would believably be attempting to bear that same infamy.

Head: Helm of the Hammerhand

Shoulders: Embossed Mantle of the Abyss (red);

Chest: Breastplate of the Slayer's Raiment (white);

Hands: Supple Gloves of Bard's Honour (white);

Feet: Anorien Battle Boots (walnut brown).

Samurai Settler (with Kyix of Gladden)

I'm really glad to see more outfit submissions - thanks once again to Kyix for the pictures!

Very obviously this outfit was inspired by the costumes of the Japanese samurai. Now I don't know much about history, but the samurai were regarded as highly skillful warriors, and Kyix is no exception on the battle-field. She settled in Middle-earth after some strange, headcanon, universe crossover between the real world and Arda and has helped the Elves of Eregion maintain order, and repel against the evil forces there.

Now, there are a few differences between the inspiration and the end product, but that I found came down simply to the availability of armour skins - there aren't any slipper-like foot pieces in game, and the colour scheme of chest pieces don't really match the ones you'd find on samurai. That being said, I think Kyix has done a wonderful job at capturing the essence of samurai. The helm pretty much says it all, and what's really great is that Kyix's weapon is a pole-based one, just like the Naginata that female samurai used. Way to pay attention to detail!

Head: Scowling Helm (red);

Shoulders: Fine Mathom-hunter's Mantle (steel blue); 

Chest: Strong Eastemnet Combat Armour (red);

Hands: Gloves of the Unflagging Dragon (crimson);

Feet: Boots of the Anorien Fields (red).

Sinister Silhouettes

Sorry not sorry about the inability to see much colour in the pictures for this outfit, because this time I tried something different: an outfit based almost solely around the overall silhouette.

Calonice would be my third (I think) toon to run through Mirkwood, and though I enjoyed the story the first time, the experience got pretty old. It also didn't help that I hate the gloom of the place, and it would have been a nice break from such gloom after spending 10 levels with it in Moria. My inability to see much colour in such an environment really annoyed me for a long time, but I thought I should make the most out of it by trying this new idea. 

I looked at the trees a lot in Mirkwood trying to find any light to brighten up my day, but instead I saw sinister silhouettes towering over me, just like the dark towers of Dol Guldur. Then it hit me: what if I tried mimicking the environment with what I wore? I threw a few pieces of armour together, ones mainly with accentuated points, stuck to a very basic and darker colour scheme (you could have it completely in black or grey, or really any other dark colour you wanted), and I was very pleased with the result.

Head: Helm of the Gentle Nudge (crimson);

Shoulders: Shoulders of the Deathstorm (crimson);

Back: Cloak of the Unwelcome Guest (black);

Chest: Jacket of the Shadow-walker (crimson);

Hands: Gauntlets of the Indomitable Protector (crimson);

Legs: Spellweaver's Leggings (red);

Feet: The Huntsman's Boots (black).

Worm Wrangler (with Kyix of Gladden)

Wearing the hide and scale of her foes, this fearless captain charges into the lairs of drakes on her trusty dragon-clad steed. Together, their might keeps the worms at bay and keeps Middle-earth safe.

I have to say I am loving the new cosmetic armour rewards for this Anniversary Festival; they just look amazing. Well done to the new design team who brought such freshness to the table - it's paid off, as I've already received an outfit submission based around the new helm. Granted it's not the most versatile piece, but it does look amazing.

It definitely looks great in combat stance too, as the points on the helm and the shoulders create this intimidatingly beautiful outline. I use the same shoulders on my Rune Keeper and I can testify to the silhouette of her riding down the dark forests of Mirkwood looking absolutely stunning.

Head: Helm of the Unflagging Dragon (red);

Shoulders: Shoulders of the Deathstorm (ranger green);

Back: Cloak of the Boar Warrior (ranger green);

Chest: Scaled Hauberk (red);

Hands: Ceremonial Dragon-scale Gloves (gold);

Feet: Boots of the Unflagging Dragon (crimson).

Captain Crook

Another shoot by this bridge with a hobbit... Ideally I'd have taken pictures of this outfit in Dol Amroth, but this toon isn't getting there any time soon, let's face it, folks. I'm already not enjoying the burglar class and it would just be hell to put her (and myself) through Moria and Mirkwood just for this.

I actually think she looks stunning in this outfit. I love it a lot, honestly. Also, I love how the blue and red go together when normally it's a little bit hard. Most of the reason I guess is that it's steel blue and not something like Evendim blue; that just looks a bit like a Power Ranger - yes, I've tried.

I think my favourite piece in the outfit are the gloves because they're a piece of armour that I never saw myself using ever. I mean, look at it. It's hideous! Of course, I feel incredibly lucky having found a great place to put them. That's what I enjoy with these outfits, I guess: putting pieces that I don't normally like to look at in my outfits and making them work.

I also enjoyed the shoulder pads, though they seem more versatile than the gloves, But let's talk about things that aren't as versatile for now, like the hat. I think I was lucky to find it on the Auction House because, again, let's face it, I'm not gonna play through the pirate event. There's just not that many interesting-to-me prizes to be won, so I usually just skip it. I'm thankful this outfit turned out as well as it did, as it'll be one of Brina's last.

Head: Feathered Felt Hat (white)

Shoulders: Dwarf Leather Shoulderguards of Determination (sienna);

Back: Dusty Seafarer's Cloak (red);

Chest: Ceremonial Town-saver's Jacket (steel blue);

Hands: Leather Gauntlets of Vigour (steel blue);

Legs: Leggings of the Coastal Bulwark (steel blue);

Feet: Ceremonial Boots of the Graven Word (umber).

Mischief Maker

She's at it again! This time, to celebrate the official completion of my A Level English Literature course! After robbing the folk at Bree, she ventures off into the west with her new garments, playing the role of a gambler, risking with her 'hard earned money.' But the Dwarves of Ered Luin know a trouble maker when they see one and wouldn't let themselves be toyed by a Hobbit!

It seems she finds similar places in all areas for lodging. I wonder if she chooses to rest her silly head on those hard tiles by intent or if she simply gets butted out everywhere else! Nonetheless, her new shoulderpads should serve as good cushions for her head, considering how thick they are with the extra padding on either side.

She thinks that putting on a large green top hat and a fancy red robe will get everyone believing she's a true classy gambler that might bring good sport to the Dwarves, but these stout men know far too much more about their gold than she does and wouldn't fall for her pesky mischievous tricks!

This was the first outfit I put together for Brina as it consisted of easy-to-get cosmetics from the Skirmish Camp. Not only that, but I had at the time played the blue line called The Gambler, and that's where I got my inspiration for this outfit. I wanted to create an outfit that showed a more classy side to the burglar class, as many burglar outfits I've seen online tend to go with the more dark and shady look (one which I also have for Brina). I just thought it would be fun to be different, and fun is after all everything that Brina seeks.

Sigh... Can I not give a proper commentary on your outfit without you finding trouble with these Dwarf folk? I really enjoy mixing colours together, especially in LOTRO, where very few take the risk of bright colour contrasts in their outfits. I especially love how the greens, yellows and reds mix so well in this outfit, reminding me of the time when the Tunic and Trousers of New Bloom from the Spring Festival had the undyeable yellow belt and green top (which now has been turned into dyeable space, which I don't enjoy one bit!) - I had created a nice colourful outfit for Eadyth that never lived to see the return of this blog simply because Turbine took that feature away and I discarded the outfit almost immediately. 

And now she's throwing a tantrum. Bear with me, readers. BRINA! GET DOWN FROM THERE! Sorry about that; she's quite the child. Her buddy Halygr couldn't stand her misbehaving he simply left. I'm so sorry for her troublesome nature, but thank you so much for taking the time to help take these wonderful pictures once again!

Head: Extravagant Festival Hat (dark green);

Shoulders: Padded Mantle of the Soothsayer (olive);

Chest: Ceremonial Silver-voice Robe (red);

Hands: Extravagant Festival Gloves (olive);

Feet: Ceremonial Pathfinder's Boots (olive).

Athenian in Anguish

LORE-BREAKING! But then again, I created Eafrith for this particular outfit (I had it equipped on Eadyth before). Anyway, she stands ready to face whatever may threaten the acropolis of her Goddess Athena. Nothing will show such disrespect for the sacred temple while she still draws breath defending it.

Upon coming back from the war, Eafrith discovers that her home has been destroyed, with only a few pillars standing and a lot of rubble. She ventures into the desolation that once was familiar to her, only to find sorrow and the stench of death.

I drew inspiration for the outfit from the collective costume design of Lampito (of course, Lampito is Spartan, but whatever right?) by my classmates for our A Level drama course, as we are exploring Lysistrata, a comedy from Ancient Greece. It features the only pair of 'skirts' in the entire game that mimic the skirt-like armour that we agreed Greek warriors wore. 

Up at the acropolis, she removes the cruel beaks that prey on the bodies of her friends. Fending them off one by one, she treats them as mercilessly as they have treated the carcasses within the broken temple. I chose to expose her head and face, not using a helmet as soldiers of Athens would normally, mainly because it was hard finding a helm that was reminiscent of Athenian warriors (one that I felt looked good was the Helm of the Eastment, but it is green and undyeable), and also I wanted the show the face and marks of her face, which I felt emphasised a sense of anguish.

Thank you again, Halygr, for helping me take the pictures. Once again, I couldn't have achieved the angles I ended up using for this post without your help.

Head: Arrows of the West Helmet (umber);

Shoulders: Lesser Blade of the West Shoulder Guards (steel blue);

Chest: Isengard Prisoner Shirt (sienna);

Back: Worn Cloak of the Ranger (red);

Hands: Leather Bracers of the Learned Stag (crimson);

Legs: Threadbare Leggings of the Dunland Healer (walnut brown);

Feet: Anorien Battle Boots (steel blue).

Mace and Mistress

You can tell it was hard to construct a name using alliteration when I refer to Eafrith's weapon as a mace instead of a Guardian's Great Club of the Second Age. Anyway, that's what this outfit was modeled after, and I tried to imitate the colour scheme and even shape of the weapon as much as possible. 

Now, I know that this outfit is very similar to Nathrien's Captain's Arm outfit, and that we both created our outfits based on the look of the weapon. In my defense, I hadn't yet seen her outfit by the time I finished making this. It's no surprise that we would do this though as cosmetic weapons are a fairly new addition to the cosmetic system in LOTRO, and I guess we're just outfit-holics trying to make use of the system as much as possible. But as I've told all my friends (in real life, anyway) Nathrien is a huge inspiration to me in the fashion of LOTRO and I have the utmost respect for her and her work. So please, if for some strange reason you know of my blog but not hers, go on and follow her, keep yourself updated, because her outfits are extraordinary! 

I love the detail on the different pieces of armour, especially how there is chainmail in almost every piece, and how it all matches in design and colour despite being from completely different sets (we all know how chainmail can differ from each other). I especially find it amazing how well the foot-piece fits with the entirety of the outfit, despite coming from an armour set that I wouldn't normally associate with the rest of the pieces. I remember trying out countless numbers of boots with more interesting designs, but in the end I realised that perhaps what I needed was something simple to fill the gaps, and that's when I turned to the 'heavy armour' filter in the Auction House. 

As you can see, I tried to recreate the star-like shape of the weapon using the shoulder and head pieces. I also deliberately used red on the gloves to imitate the small red gem-like ornaments on the handle of the club. Also, to compliment the star-like design, I used a leg piece that included an insignia of a sun also in gold. 

The location is Duillond as I love how the blue and gold stand out from the beautiful purple and green of the scenery. Aside from that, the outfit is what I thought a really high-ranked elf warrior would wear. The spiked edges are reminiscent of the sharp edges that the elves wear in Jackson's Middle-earth adaptations, but overall this outfit is more fantastical than the more realistic Lord of the Rings trilogy (well, I thought it was pretty realistic for a fantasy). Even in the darkness of the night does this outfit look beautiful against the purple sky. 

Again, let me thank my good friend Halygr for helping me take these amazing shots. I admit, this outfit has some of my favourite screenshots ever, and those could not be achieved without help from another player.

Head: Ceremonial Dragon-scale Helm (sea blue);

Shoulders: Ceremonial High-protector's Shoulders (sea blue);

Chest: Ceremonial War-captain's Breastplate (sea blue);

Hands: Sermaib (red);

Legs: Ceremonial Thunderstruck Trousers (sea blue);

Feet: Enduring Scale Shoes of Fleetness (walnut brown).