Double Outfit and A Blogging Departure

Back in late 2024, I did say that my return to Material Middle-earth would be a temporary one. The details are irrelevant at this point, but these are highly likely to be my final outfits. I'm on an indefinite break from LOTRO and probably not returning this time. I haven't felt inspired in some time and I feel comfortable where I currently am.

I'm going to keep this short and sweet. Despite in-game bugs, a busy life, and sporadic posting, thank you for showing your support these past 18 months with these 22 outfits. I hope these will serve as inspiration for your own creations!

Here are the last two outfits from my Hunter.

Head: Brilliant Forest Defender's Mask (White, Curator NPC)

Shoulders: Medium Nadhin Shoulders (Shire peach, reward from the Vol. 4 quest The Ruthless Dead)**

Back: Silvan Quiver (Washed, LOTRO Store)

Chest: Robe of Faramir's Faithful (Shire peach, Quartermaster found in Eastern Gondor)

Hands: Rakish Charmer's Gloves (Walnut brown, Rakish Patron's Enhanced Coffer)

Feet: Rakish Charmer's Boots (Walnut brown, Rakish Patron's Enhanced Coffer)

Swords: Malledhhrim Sword of Warding (T6 Weaponsmith recipe)

Bow: Well-worn Mumak Rider's Bow (This version only drops on T1 of the Osgiliath cluster)

**The shoulders also drop from random kills on the landscape, although this is rare. Can also be bartered at the Dol Amroth Quartermaster for medium armor.

Head: Potent Skirmish Helm of the Mark (Belegaer blue, T8 Tailor recipe)

Shoulders: Embroidered Mantle of the Doomfold (Walnut brown, T13 Tailor  recipe)

Back: Scholar's Ebullient Silk-weave Cloak (Walnut brown, Remmorchant Quartermaster in Estolad Lân)

Chest: Breastplate of the Slayer's Raiment (Belegaer blue, Keeper of Mysteries vendor in Mordor - figment barter)

Hands: Quick Gages of the Wyrm (Umber, Keeper of Mysteries vendor in Mordor - mote barter)

Feet: Nimble Boots of the Wyrn (Umber, Keeper of Mysteries vendor in Mordor - mote barter)

Swords: Sword of the Steady Mind (Bartered from the Riders of Stangard rep vendors)

Bow: Ornate Lebethron Bow of Speed (T4 Woodworker recipe)

Kingsfell Footpad

foot·pad [noun] a highwayman that operates on foot rather than on horseback

 

This is the first time I've ever used this mask, the Potent Skirmish Helm of the Mark in an outfit. It was also the first piece in this appearance. Typically, when I go through the outfitting process, the first piece is often the first to go. However, because I'm continuing my "mask challenge," it had to stay. It's not exactly the easiest one to use, as the piece itself is primarily colored umber and only the strip that runs across the top dyes. 

Traveling Solo

"You are surrounded by adventure. You have no idea of what is in store for you, but you will, if you are wise and know the art of travel, let yourself go on the stream of the unknown and accept whatever comes in the spirit in which the gods may offer it." -~Freya Stark, Baghdad Sketches

NOTE: Good news! The outfit panel bug appears to have finally vanished for me, so I can finally resume blogging. I have a lot of content to upload, and I hope to take advantage of this major blizzard raging through the northeastern US. Thank you for being patient. Without further delay, I present this next outfit...

Before I challenged myself to use masks on this Hunter, who has now reached the Walls of Moria, I made a single outfit. And, as you may surmise from the quote above and the blog entry title, I wanted some traveling attire. Fresh out of the gate, ready to explore, honest to goodness traveling attire. In a way, it was a symbol of a new beginning. First new character after the server consolidations. I knew nothing of the Peregrin community. I had yet to experience the Before the Shadows expansion. And the hunter class were had in 2025 was nothing like the hunter I'd retired back in 2019. For all of these reasons, this cosmetic appearance felt appropriate.

LOTRO's Outfit Panel Bug

I regret to inform everyone that, until the bug with the outfit panel is properly addressed and corrected, that I will be unable to share any content on Material Middle-earth. And this comes with the worst possible timing, having only published three new outfits after being away for several months.

If you're wondering what the issue is, it's that the buttons allowing a player to swap outfits through the character panel have been vanishing. To restore them, you have to log out and log back in, or, in some cases, fully restart the game. Even then, they'll vanish again after accessing the outfits tab for the first time. I however, have gone without seeing the buttons for outfits 1-8 on Peregrin, where 95% of my wardrobe is located, since just after Christmas. My two Meriadoc alts, so far, have been unaffected.

Based on what conversations I've had and what discussions have risen on the official forums, the bug itself isn't affecting everybody. If you've been unaffected, you've been fortunate and I hope you never encounter it. And for those of us who are, to varying degrees, I'm hoping there will be a speedy fix.

Fleet-feathered

 

Two weeks ago, I gave my readers a hint for this week's outfit at my previous entry's end. As much as I love Belegaer blue, which was used in those teaser screenshots, it too closely resembled what I used for Silvered Whispers. I felt that a splash of a darker color, one almost complimentary, would let the Jacket of the Wilds Hills and accompanying pieces shine. Crimson works well, lavender looks nice, but colors that fall into the spectrum between blue and green work best with the cooler silver found in the chest, gloves, and boots. This all goes to demonstrate how versatile any cosmetic piece can be when paired with the proper color.