Arcane Mage with Higher Learning?

A simple post from me this time. Just wanted to share my outfit for arcane mages with Kirin Tor Familiars - wonder why it took me so long to get it out here. Anyways...







I wanted to find an outfit that suited the color of arcane magic with whites, blues and purples and it wasn't an easy task really. I find many items to be either too light or too dark and not quite shiny enough. *laughs* You know how I like my mages shiny. Of course it had to look grand enough for a mage! ;)







Well, I settled down with stealing parts of the Vestments of the Devout set for this outfit. Sorry priests! It was the only robe that I really liked and that matched the pet perfectly.








The outfit consists of the following items:
Devout Robe
Devout Belt
Devout Gloves
Scintillating Headdress of Second Sight
Vestia's Pauldrons of Inner Grace
Staff of Dominance

Add to that your Kirin Tor Familiar from the Higher Learning achievement and you'll get a few looks for sure.









Speaking of the Higher Learning achievement... I really wish this particular achievement was mage-only. I wish every class could have their own special achievements like Higher Learning and finally leave Vargoth to us mages. *mumbles grumpily*










Rogues could for example have a space in the Dalaran sewers that can only be entered in stealth, and a pet that can stealth as well. I'm thinking some rogues would like to take their pets out to battlegrounds without worrying about being detected.
Shamans could have an elemental plain and an elemental pet (maybe choose between and air or earth elemental?), while druids could have some form of meditation tree. Warriors could have a Valhalla and paladins and priests a chamber of Light. Warlocks could have a portal to a chamber of rituals and a mini demon or imp for a pet... *drifts off*


What do you wear?

"Keep the noise down. People are reading here.."

One of my faults in WoW as in life has been hoarding. Or, if you wish, I collect everything. Something like that.
In WoW I started off with pets, continued with clothes and somewhere along the line I found I had also collected a small library of ingame books. With that in mind, plus a growing bagspace problem, I decided to create a librarian. Meet Lillith Pimbury - librarian at day, rogue at night. She is my Indiana Jones, my Clark Kent...





Why is the rogue a perfect librarian? And why do we stick to our preconceptions of class and professions?
I will admit that even for me a priest or a class of the higher social order and 'scholarly' attunement sounds more suited for the profession of librarian. However, I find that a rogue is perfect for stalking the library corridors and sneaking up on unsuspecting souls looking for a book. *grins* Try it, you might just like it.

Secondly, the pickpocketing skill is needed to attain some of the books you definitely should be adding to your collection as a librarian. To me, Lillith is a tribute to all those rogues who commited theft on a regular basis in order to keep my book supplies up.



Now what do you need to be a librarian?

There are a few books you can actually lend out (trade).
Most famous are the romance novels - A Steamy Romance Novel, Forbidden Love and Northern Exposure - of which my personal favourite is the second one published. Though I have not gotten my hands on this one yet, there is a fourth edition out there: Blue Moon.
There is also a cookbook and a self help book for the dead (Beetlejuice refrence?).

For those interested in warfare, more precicely tactics on defeating the opposing faction on battle grounds, there are the good old Peeling the Onion and The Frostwolf Artichoke. Yes, yes, even I know the tactics may be outdated, but who cares? Oh, and don't buy these on the AH as you can get them for no cost at their vendors. I made that mistake once and never again.

Don't foget notes and letters!
After hours and hours spent hunting messages in bottles scattered across Stranglethorn Vale, I have also collected the torn, ripped and crumpled letters written by the captive tauren Princess Poobah.

For those interested, the only attainable photograph that I have come across is Faded Photograph. Of course there is the Autographed Picture of Foror and Tigule but...yes, the mystery remains unsolved as you cannot see the image. I am sure they did this so I could not track them down and ask for chocolate ice cream. Sneaky.

Your death knights have most likely managed to gather a small collection on their missions against the Scarlet Crusade: Turning the Other Cheek, News From the North, Priestly Preening: Be Like Your Betters. The last one is quite a good read.


Certificate of Thievery made me giggle and think of Terry Pratchett's wonderful Ankh-Morpork Guild of Thieves, Cutpurses and Allied Trades, where every thief had to carry his membership card on him when out "working". I have a feeling someone working for Blizz is a fan. *smiles*




Soulbound tomes.
In addition to all this, those of the Alliance can get their hands on the Story of Morgan Ladimore and Legends of the Gurubashi. However, these books are soulbound. Such a shame.. But you could arrange some reading aloud sessions ;)
There are other soulbound books ingame, like for instance Diary of Weavil and Bloodstained Journal. If you are annoyed about not being able to trade these books, keep reading for an interesting solution:


Gryphonheart Items Addon.

As usual, when I get an idea in my head I go all out on it, so I actually mailed poetry and short stories to my librarian in order to pick up a copy of them as parchments. This way of creating your own ingame literature is doable, but not very practical. It takes a lot of bagspace as you cannot glue them together into a book, you cannot name your pieces of paper which makes it hard to keep your bags tidy and one single bit of paper does not give much writing space.
But!
Some time ago, I came across an addon that does exactly what I have been attempting to do. The name of this awesome little addon is Gryphonheart Items. It creates an extra bag that you can fill with books and items you create yourself, which you can also share with other players who have the addon. Love it!
This will also solve your soulbound tomes problem. Here is my copy of Alicia's poem. Yes, you can decorate the papers with images and choose the background. ;)



Outfits?

As for a librarian outfit, I am really not sure what to tell you. As miss Lillith is merely a level seven rogue, her clothing options are limited at the moment.
There are some ingame exampless. Kirin Tor librarians wear the purple Kirin Tor uniform or the Dalaran Wizard's Robe. Official librarians of Stormwind can be seen in the all white Aurora Robes but there are exceptions as pant outfits range from the finely dressed Milton Sheaf to the plainly dressed private librarian Gilroy and Ironforge librarian Mae Paledust. If you want to look really fancy, you can dress like the Scryer librarians and loremasters by wearing an Imbued Netherweave Robe. If you are Aldor, consider the Anchorite's Robes.

What Lillith often wears though are the Draenic Silk Robes, Knitted Belt, brown boots and gloves. She also carries a Sharpened Letter Opener and will at some point also have a Venomous Tome in her hand. Inside her bags is a well protected Rogue's Diary and an Elegant Writing Tool.



I have already covered an option for a librarian outfit in my post on theLovely Dress. But to refresh your memory, here is an image of Hanuma in a Lovely Black Dress, Tuxedo Pants and Shirt, Cincture of Polarity and Duskwoven Bracers. She is also wearing a Noble's Monocle and carrying the Tome of the Lost.








The benefit of having a rogue librarian in stead of a priest or mage is that you can go from really fancy robes to cool casual wear. In her spare time Lillith slips into a Stylish Black Shirt, a pair of Tuxedo Pants and her trusted Thug Boots. The belt is the Outfitter Belt while the gloves are the Knitted Gloves.





At night time though, when noone is watching she goes back to her Thug set - the undead and orc rogue set - and stalks the rooftops of Stormwind or even Dalaran. What she does there is unknown. Perhaps she gathers intelligence for Miss Hanuma, or simply juicy material for her very own fifth edition of the romance novel...

What do you wear?

Delayed...

I just got back from a Norwegian Civil Defence meeting - looks like I've been drafted - and my pc is still not working, so though I was planning on publishing something today, it will have to wait.
Sorry all!

All The Little Things: Tabards

First, I am sorry for not writing anything in a long time. These past months have been hard as I lost someone close to me to cancer and I have really had no wish to publish anything. Guild work has kept me occupied as well..and my PC gave out two days ago. And now my blog is mad at me and I have to do everything in html.
Aaaanyways...


I have however been working on the druid sets post, but am still waiting on a few items I need to farm before I put that one out there.
In the mean time, I think I'll publish what I have half ready. First post that is shamefully overdue: Tabards, tabards, tabards....


Guild Tabards

Often, I see roleplayers wearing their faction tabards with their rp and combat gear. Some to show their affiliation to a certain faction or group, others to display some of their greatest achievements.
And I really like this. But...what about our guild tabards?

If you are like me, then you have had that moment where you put on your guild tabard and shudder because it clashes so hard with your armor that you simply cannot stand it. And then when you are trying to shove the poor thing back into your bags and end up deleting it because there is no point as you will never wear it, you have that moment of guilt for not wearing your guild colors with pride. *sighs*

I have been thinking about this a lot.

Those of us who have rp outfits for non-combat wear could seriously consider creating our outfits around our tabards, in stead of ignoring them and then getting annoyed when they do not fit.
Sure, there is always the option of creating that tabard that is so basic, black and golden, and will fit all but it often ends up being dull and unimaginative! Why not take matters into our own hands?
All it really takes is a bit of good will on our part as proud guildmembers and the result is noticeable. Better guild morale as well as interesting rp possibillities and good guild pr.

Here is my tabard obsession.


My old server's HFC tabard and Djul working with it.
The outfit consists of Green Iron Leggings, Ikeyen's Boots, Handguards of Precision, Bog Spaulders, Feathered Waistband and Conjurer's Vest.
This was my first tabard set, and I liked it so much that I still have it, even though the tabard is no more.


When I moved to Darkmoon Faire, I went through a few tabards before settling down with a purple one. Yes, it is because purple is a mage color and the flame is because I am a fire mage. Here is my new banker guild tabard and my lovely ladies Djul, Andro and Elzi.




Androdamea's outfit is perfect for any banker really. Matching up your guild tabard with a Lovely Dress can be an easy way to start as it comes in four colors. Add a suitable shirt and belt to your robe and you're good to go. Andro is wearing a Lovely Purple Dress with a Formal White Shirt, Inscribed Leather Belt and Stratholme Lily.



The higher the level of your character, the more choice you have of course. For Elzi I chose a little more revealing outfit. She is actually not wearing much at all - no shirt. *blush*
The 'pants' are Revenant Leggings. Symbolic Greaves are the boots and the belt is The Plaguebringer's Girdle.









And then there is Djul in her Egg-Warming robe. The lovely purple/pink boots are the Headhunter's Slippers and staff is the Crystalfire Staff. This is more my style really.


I know the possibilities are endless when it comes to tabards and outfits you can create for them, and that I cannot even cover a small part of this. But those of you with blue tabards...well, you're in luck! Keep reading.







For my main guild, The Arcane Academy, I've put some work into both the school tabard and outfits that work with it. In fact we are currently making school uniforms for each student rank, and they will all be built around the tabard itself.

Being a mage guild we chose to go with water as the main motif. Here are some of the many outfits Hanuma and her guld members wear with their tabards.



The most basic outfits are easily craftable or found on your AH really. Keli is wearing the Journeyman's Robe with Knitted belt and gloves. The staff is the Apprentice's Staff from the blood elf mage starter outfit or you can buy it from Silvermoon Harry. :)

If you cannot find this robe on the auction house, check out the craftable Simple Kilt along with some shirts. I'd recommend the White Swashbuckler's Shirt, Formal White Shirt or for a clean blue outfit Blue Linen Shirt. Another nice robe for female characters is the Simple Dress.







And if you prefer pants over robes and kilts, try pairing up Azure Silk Pants with a Stylish Blue Shirt. Thanks a bunch to Harm for this cool outfit.





Another perfect set for our tabard turned out to be the Midrealm Hat set that I created for an earlier post. Just add a Glacial Robe and Talonite's Belt to your Midrealm Hat. Ben, thank you so much for posing again!




Hanuma has plenty of blue sets in her bags and has proudly carried the academy crest through both battles and towns. As co-guild leader she has taken the tabard business seriously and created several outfits for it.



To the left Hanu's wearing a simple combination of the Layered Frost Robes and Cincture of Polarity. Can you believe it, me going for Wrath items!
In the image to the right Hanu is wearing the Kalu'ak Pigment-Stained Robes with Miasma Mantle, Gloves of Dark Gestures and of course my fevorite belt again. Oooh and add the Cloak of Frozen Spirits - looks great with dark blue outfits!






However, Hanu's most worn set is this lovely combination of the Sorcerer Robe and White Swashbuckler's Shirt. The belt is the Mindfire Waistband from The Blood Furnace.
For the robe, keep checking your AH. It is a robe that is overlooked by many and shouldn't cost you more than a couple gold coins.












For proud draenei, I would recommend the Robe of the Dragon Slayer. The belt is the golden version of the Mindfire Waistband and is called Bridenbrad's Sash.
Since this is quite a romantic outfit, Hanuma is wearing a Forever-Lovely Rose in her hair. :)













If you are looking for suits, there are so many to choose from. You can go for the tuxedo or the Haliscan sets, the dinner suits or even the Festive Pant Suits. You should be able to find something to match your tabard as there are quite a few colors to choose from. I went for the Festive Blue Pant Suit. The blade is Seethe and the offhand is the Chalice of Benedictus. Love that offhand. Oh and the gloves are the Netherwind Gloves.





And last two little bits of Academy tabard gear are created with two of my favorite robes: Robes of the Exalted and Mooncloth Robe. These also come in purple and golden colors, if you are looking for the same model to match up with your tabard.
The shirt is again the White Swashbuckler's Shirt and the belts are the same as above: Bridenbrad's Sash (golden) and Mindfire Waistband (silver).

Glinting Azuresong Mageblade and Chalice of Benedictus are the weapon and offhand.

There's that! Hopefully this will provide some inspiration.
So, my advice is: Make your guild tabard work and REPRESENT!


However....

If you are still not convinced about the guild tabards, I went to an old friend of mine - a total hoarder of gear, shirts, achievements and of course tabards - and made him show me parts of his collection. You will see more of him in the upcoming druid post as well. Please welcome Sumec bear. ;)

The most familiar rare tabard you can get your hands on with a tiny bit of effort is the Tabard of the Scarlet Crusade. Who would want to be in the Scarlet Cusade? Well, it certainly does open the door for some interesting rp even though I am too much of a do-gooder to try it. And for the interesting rp opportunities, this tabard has earned a spot here.














Easiest tabards to get your hands on are of course the reputation tabards. Two I would wholeheartedly recommend to all who are into tabards that suit their faction, are the Honor Hold/Thrallmar tabards. The Honor Hold Tabard would suit an alternative Stormwind outfit very well.
Also, don't forget the Icecrown tournament grounds where you can get your city tabards!




All druids and those in love with the Cenarion Circle and Expedition should give this tabard serious consideration. I am in love with this tabard because it is one of the prettiest in the game. All you need to get your hands on your very own Cenarion Expedition Tabard is some easy reputation farming in Outland.


Speaking of classes... Mages automatically start out as friendly with the Kirin Tor - even at level one. This means that mages can get their hands on the Tabard of the Kirin Tor at any level and without any farming. *hopes some of her guild mates are reading*


But some of the most amazing tabards out there must be the PVP tabards. I had no idea about this before I saw them and I have to admit, it almost made me want to pvp just so I could get my hands on some of them. Almost... (Appologies to the readers of the Horde, but I have only had a look at the Alliance tabards.)
Here Sumec bear is wearing the Competitor's Tabard and yupp he has his little Spirit of Competition pet out. Neither of these are avaliable any more. Just wanted him to show off a bit. :) And now, my favorite pvp tabards:










Left: The Arathor Battle Tabard! To get it, you need to do the Arathi Basin battleground and you need to be exalted with the League of Arathor to get the quest which gives you the tabard. But isn't it a beauty? *hugs pretty tab*
Right: Tabard of Conquest. It's so yummy! I really envy all those who have this one, but hey, they earned it - Master of Isle of Conquest.




If you still want more shiny pvp tabards, try these two. The Stormpike and Silverwing battle tabards are easier to get as you can purchase them from vendors for honor points. Or...well, seems easier to me. Is it? (Yupp, I never ever pvp. Ever.)
Oh! Horde players, please check out the Frostwolf Battle Tabard. It's amazing!





Small comfort for those who are into the 'friendlier' aspect of this game and not in the mood to simply farm reputation...you can always go for the Loremaster's Colors or the Tabard of the Explorer. Unfortunately neither look very rp friendly in my oppinion. I even deleted my explorer tabard because it was a waste of my bagspace. Yeah Blizz - make it more shiny next time! Especially for achievements such as these.. *mutters*

Or you can try the Illidari Tabards. They come in green and purple - you can change your mind as often as you want too. Above, Sumec is wearing the Green Trophy Tabard of the Illidari. ;)









One last tip for those who want something oh so pretty and have reputations enough to go tabard shopping, try collecting 25 tabards to get your own Tabard of the Achiever.

That's it for this time. Huge thanks to Sumec, Lypip and Harm for posing for me and a big hug to Ben for giving me the inspiration to keep doing this.
Again, sorry for disappearing. Wish I was a more dependable blogger, but alas I am mage at heart...








What do you wear?