Sorrow for Elder Days - Nathrien of Gladden

This would be my first time posting a somber outfit. Generally, I like keeping my Middle-earth clothing bright and cheerful, even with earthen tones, but this week I wasn't in the mood. I've been becoming increasingly disenchanted with LOTRO since the release of Helm's Deep. Big Battles have been run so much that everybody has top end gear, become bored with them, or a combination of the two. The class trees have divided the playerbase. The population on my server has dwindled significantly and now I find myself logging in simply to make outfits. If it weren't for the cosmetic system, I wouldn't be clinging to LOTRO as I currently am. Many friends have left for other games. I have found myself pining for the days before the Riders of Rohan expansion. If you haven't heard, WB laid off 30+ employees from Turbine, some of which were long term Devs and QA members. I fear this game has permanently fallen into "maintenance mode."

As much as it pains me to say it, this blog's days are numbered...and it will function so long as I have the drive.

Anyway, I suppose my current feelings have led me to trying an incredibly grey outfit and dust off a couple of rarely used pieces. For the longest time, I've had the Urdhol-helm and the Grey Company/Worn Ranger sets sitting in storage. Considering how frequently that gear has been used cosmetically, I've shied away from them. It might be just me, but I've never liked looking like everybody else. Now that Isengard is two expansions behind us and very few people wear these anymore, I can safely use them.

I've been asked why I avoid hooded cloaks on numerous occasions. To be honest, I like being able to see my character's head...even if it's usually the back of it. Using the hood-style helmets provides me with the ability to simulate pulling up and down a hood that matches a worn cloak by simply checking/unchecking the head slot in the outfit panel. It's certainly a creative solution without ever having to alternate between hooded and hoodless versions of the same item via the wardrobe.

I did want to mention something else regarding my choice for the head slot. Originally, I was going to use the Hood of Night found from the classic skirmish vendor. In the dressing room, it was absolutely perfect. However, it was absolutely ghastly in game. Any time I encountered sunlight or turned the camera a specific way, it would shine like a freshly buffed eight-ball. Sometimes I wish little oddities like this would reveal themselves before I start dyeing gear outside of the dressing room. The Urdhol-helm had no such glare, thankfully. I guess that's my little cosmetic tidbit for they day! : )

Head: Urdhol-helm (Black, Isengard instance cluster drop)
Shoulders: Padded Mantle of the Dunland Soothsayer (Grey, Dunland quest reward)
Back: Cloak of the Grey Company (Black, Epic Vol. 3 Bk. 5 quest reward)
Chest: Robe of Resolve (White, ToO T1 barter reward)
Hands: Dunland Caretaker's Patched Bracelets (Grey, Dunland quest reward)
Feet: Padded Boots of the Dragon Clan (Grey, Westfold quest reward)