WoW Cosplay Armor Re-redux!

I hate the fact that I've put off my armor making for so long, but it's also been a pretty good thing.  Our server finally switched over to Cataclysm, so I started looking at Cata gear.  The armor I'm going to make now is infinately simpler than my Asynlynn build from before.  As much as I hate to admit that I'm completely scrapping that one (and not really bothering with the Blood Elf features, I hate to say) and starting over.  As always, click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.

My new design from the front.  The boots don't quite go with the set, but tier armor never comes with boots.  I thought these would go nicely if I changed the color scheme to match the rest of the armor's colors.  I didn't include a belt because the pants basically had a belt with them. /shrug.  Plus, the paladin belts look like wrestling belts and I kinda hate them, to be honest.  I also think I'm not going to bother with making a tabard since the armor is so cool.

Also, I am in love with those shoulders.  SO. MUCH. LOVE.

The weapon isn't even really Cataclysm gear... For those of you nerds who may notice, it's [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]!  Yes, I know.  But it looks super awesome and it's totally worth it for the WoW joke.

This offers another view of the shoulders and armor from the side.

Oh my god... Dat shield.  I know it looks a little out of place, maybe, with the pointed edges and whatnot, but it has a hammer in it which is the typical paladin symbol.  It isn't the best in slot, but the ones that are wouldn't be easy to make and looked much more out of place than this shield.  (I mean, come on, one of the ones that are higher iLevel than this one is a freaking turtle shell...)  This one is going to be difficult...
 

I offer to you two back images.  I haven't quite decided about the back... I don't think I'm going to worry too awfully much about it, especially since I don't think I'm going to bother with a tabard.  I posted both so that I can get opinions on whether or you think it would make or break the costume.  I feel like the colors don't quite go with the rest of the armor, but most of the time, the color is all that differentiates it from other capes. Right now, I'm leaning towards not bothering with it at all.


So, there you have it.  My revamped armor ideas.  Like last time, I'm going to post a link to each of the armor pieces and their Wowhead link so that you can see how they look in-game or isolated.  I'm really hoping to get started on it this weekend, to be honest.  I've already sketched out the armor and colored it so that I can see the pieces isolated from one another.  Again, I'm not bothering with a helm because I never display the helms.  (Also, the one that goes with this gear looks like the Pope hat.  See for yourself.)  Once again, here is the list of gear displayed:

• Shoulders:  Reinforced Sapphirium Pauldrons
• Back: Indefatigable Greatcloak  I still need to decide...
• Chest:  Reinforced Sapphirium Battleplate
• Hands: Reinforced Sapphirium Gauntlets
• Feet: Massacre Treads Scratch that! Wowhead showed me the ones that DO go well with this set...Yay! Life Force Chargers
• Legs: Reinforced Sapphirium Legplates (Lookalike image here.)
• Weapon:  Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker  Because it's awesome.
• Shield:  Blockade's Lost Shield

Here is a link to Wowhead's paladin set for this.  I think this is mostly going to be for me to use for reference when I'm not on my own laptop, but hey, it's pretty and the armor displayed is on a female, so that's a plus. I'm so glad that I looked at this set because I found a pair of boots that go perfectly with it.  Now I don't have to bother with trying to change the colors and the like!

Modifications:
I am going to modify the sword at least a little... I like the whole video game over-sized sword aspect, but at the same time, I don't want to lug around a sword that is so much taller than me.  Zach also suggested leaving out what he called the "giner v" (I had to include what he called it because it makes me laugh so much) and I think it's a good idea.  That means that I would leave out the topmost gold V in the crotch area, if anyone didn't understand from the name.  Of course, I don't think I'm going to make the little floaty metal feathers on the shoulders.  I know they look really cool, but I'm not sure how they would look in real life...  I'm also not going to try to make them glow, I don't think.

Long story short, I'm super excited!  My uncles have offered to help us, too... Mostly because they don't believe that I could make it on my own with this much limited time, but hey, help is help and I probably won't turn it down ever.  Now, I think I'm off to work on measuring and making patterns!

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Six Long Years

A lot can change in six years.  For example, six years ago, I was in band camp to start my senior year of high school.  I was applying to Jacksonville State University and preparing to start my collegial career in video game design.  I was mentally preparing to start my life on my own (with financial support, of course) living in a dorm and being on my own for the first time in my life.  In my senior year of high school, I was slacking and taking life easy, but at the same time, I was a little bit nervous about what was to come.  I hoped that my new-found relationship was going to last; I knew that he was special even that early in the relationship.  I had hope, but I knew the distance would be a strain.

So, fast forward to 2012.  I've unfortunately fell out of contact with many of the friends that I had during high school, with the exception of a small circle.  Styles have changed drastically -- for example, I've turned into a bit more of a girl than just a female.  I usually do my hair and makeup and I've strayed away from my usual attire of t-shirts and Converse every day.  I wear heels, even!  Interests have changed, somewhat...  But no matter what, through these six years, there is always a constant.  One thing never wavers.  One relationship to rule them all! (Sorry, I had to.)

Sure, things are not always happy.  We've had our fair share of fights.  They're usually over stupid things and we end up laughing about them later.  For every fight or tear shed, there are at least ten laughs and jokes to make up for them.  I'm finally starting to openly talk about my feelings with him, which is still difficult, but I'm making progress.  We've avoided several fights because I'm starting to discuss feelings as they arise rather than in retrospect.  What we have fought about has strengthened our relationship.

After six years, I find myself in nearly the same situation.  I'm in my senior year of college about to begin my student teaching.  Obviously, I'm taking my summer classes as easy as possible.  I want to keep my grades up because, as it is, I will graduate with honors and in an honor society.  I'm once more preparing to begin my life on my own -- financially and physically.  I'm nervous about what is to come, but unlike before, I'm not worried about my relationship falling apart.  I know that he will be there for me no matter what (or at least I hope) and he knows I will be there for him.

Like I told Zach on our actual anniversary:  "I look forward to becoming one of those cute old couples that you see on greeting cards."  So, here is to six years and hopefully at least sixty more!  (Yes, I hope to torture you for that long, babycakes. I love you.)  Unfortunately, this blog post is done nearly two weeks late, but as mentioned, due to school and nerdiness, it's been hard to find down-time to write a post.  Better late than never, right?

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