Rank 8

Merry Christmas to me!

Rank 8!

Thank you to those who've helped me with the last push over the past few days and to all the creeps I've killed (or have died while I healed the person killing them). 

Despite the L75 stuff being red, I decided to go crimson with my gear - goes better with my "war goat".

The Wandering Minstrel

Somewhere in Middle Earth roams a lone minstrel.

She plays tunes that lightens the spirits of all the weary travelers she encounters.

She is wearing:

Ceremonial Circlet of the Seven Stars (Dyed Ered Luin Blue)

Supple Great River Pauldrons of Vitality (Dyed Ered Luin Blue)

Footman's Armour (Dyed Ered Luin Blue)

Strong Eastemnet Combat Leggings (Dyed Ered Luin Blue)

Tursur-Lhopan (Dyed Ered Luin Blue)

Andadrien's Guide to the Minstrel

Check out my new guide to playing the minstrel!

It is almost complete (give me a couple days to finish it),

but you can click here to start reading!

This is up to date with the class changes we've experienced with the recent Helm's Deep expansion.

Gatecrasher

You will now be known as Master Guardsman Andadrien Aldaelon, Gatecrasher to those you meet in your travels.

Isengard trolls are no match for me... and Dravenn.. He helped too.

Wasn't actually all that hard.. I always thought they were one shotters as they have no level. I was surfing around LOTRO videos on YouTube, and I came accross an RK/Mini duo that took down the trolls. Naturally, for kicks and giggles, I had to try it too... If you do it, there is a deed for killing the two trolls - you get the title, a rune, and 5 Turbine Points!

Iorbar's Peak

Look what I did!

:3

IP T2C L95

Solo on my Minstrel

Enjoy!

Pinata

One thing I don't like about HD is that there is no armour sets... My mismatched gear looks like a pinata and a sombrero had a baby and that baby threw up on it. Pink and orange pants with green accents... sea blue gloves... zucchini colored shirt.. and those boots... yellow with little red triangles... 

So UGLY!

I need to find a tailor to make me crafted stuff.. depending on the stats.. because then, at least, my stuff might not look great, but it will match.

Brace yourselves!

I told you it was ugly! Ignore my stats.. I've have on all kinds of dps gear and purples and L85 LIs.. this will improve... I want to get my will up about another 800 at least, and once I get all the jewelry sets, have a dps set up and a healing set up. Right now my gear is completely schizo, but with the exception of the LI's it is at least all 95 gear already. I'm in the process of finishing off my L95 LIs.. they aren't perfect yet.

Warrior

So tomorrow, the Dawnbreakers will be having a cosmetics competition to celebrate the arrival of Helms Deep. This is the final event of a series of events planned to usher in the new expansion. There were a few categories - I chose Warrior.

This is what I came up with.

I love that cloak! Since I'm supposed to be portraying a warrior, I had to take one action shot. I snapped this on my mad race to get to 95.

This outfit has several components:

Fine Grey Company Wrap (Dyed Turquoise)

Supple Wildemore Cloak of Loyalty (Dyed Sea Blue)

High Officer's Armour (Dyed Turquoise)

Gloves of the Hammerhand

Thick Elven Soldier's Leggings (Dyed Turquoise)

Hardened Elven Officer's Potent Boots (Dyed Turquoise)

Where it all began...

I can pinpoint the moment that cosmetics became important to me. I was used to my character's shabby armored appearance. I didn't realize there was anything different - that is, until this one day I saw a vision in gold and white. I was astounded. This person's character was beautiful. The character had a white dress on with gold trim (not this dress) and her cloak matched it. It was, at the time, the most beautiful outfit that I'd ever seen. I didn't know anything about cosmetics, but I asked someone how she could possibly look like that. I don't remember who I asked, maybe Darror, but whomever I spoke with gave me a quick run down on how to cosmetically equip something and how to dye something.

This outfit pays homage to that character and that moment.

And a view of the cloak:

This outfit is made from:

Ceremonial Dress

Dolen-Palvais (Dyed Gold)

Billowing Cloak of Kingstead (Dyed Gold)

Helm's Deep has arrived.. or, well, almost.

Today, Helm's Deep arrives. I find myself anxiously sitting at my computer biting my nails while I should be sleeping. After being thoroughly upset after beta testing the Big Battels, I shouldn't be this excited; although, it's not pure excitement... anxiety, anticipation of change? I hate the looming feeling. I just want it to be done already. Waiting patiently is not my forte - I just feel antsy. Currently, my launcher is patching while the servers are down, and I sit here twiddling my thumbs trying to think of ways to pass the time.

I tried reading a book. I finished reading The Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw. It tells the story of a little town in Virginia that happened to have the highest per capita loss of life on D-Day. It tells the story of the 22 men that died fighting on that day. If you're ever in central Virginia, it is worth stopping to visit the National D-Day Memorial. It is a somber experience. In a quiet, little town is this memorial to the men from the United States, England, and several other countries around the globe that fought and died on that day. However, with my book done, I'm once again back to square one trying to think of things to do.

Candy Crush?

No.

Hulu?

No, the episode of the show I want to watch is Hulu Plus.

Damn you, Hulu!

Read the news?

Already done that 3 times...

Celebrity gossip?

You know I'm getting desperate for things to do when I'm reading about how Kelly Clarkson is having a baby and how Adam Levine was just named Sexiest Man Alive. I suppose he's good looking, but I think there are better.. I digress.

Come on LOTRO! It's only been 2 hours of downtime, and I'm struggling. Come back!

I don't think I'll mind the minstrel class changes TOO much from what I saw in beta.. Yeah, it is dumbed down a bit, but I think that the class remains a potent healer. I think the minstrel is one of the few classes that is going to come away slightly less changed than others. Some classes have been completely altered in how they function - their roles will be completely different. I just hope minstrel doesn't become too easy. In beta, there were no tales and significantly less anthems (you get more if you trait yellow, but I've never traited yellow before... ever). Honestly, minstrel is the only class I care about. Yeah, I have a L85 hunter, but I haven't played it since I hit 85.. which is a waste of the two first age weapons I gave it.. *shrug* oh well.. I'm lucky. I had 4 first age symbols drop for me in raids... and guess what! They weren't farmed. Yes, there was one day that I did 30 BFE T1's in one day (mind you, we were completing them in about 3 minutes each). That day helped me get several of the barter gems, but no first age symbols. I got my symbols from the non-farmed BfE T1 (before they nerfed), BfE T2C server first, and a couple from Flights T2.. I also never farmed Sambrog.. I've done it like 5 times.. and got my gold pocket the first time I ran it... and my second time... Never doubt the power of the magical horse shoe! It works!

Best item ever.

Hands down.

Yes, I have problems.

Helm's Deep Pre-Order Cosmetics

Well, everyone, Helm's Deep is upon us - like it or not. We're in for class changes and big battles and, of course, cosmetics. Today, I thought I'd take a look at our new cosmetics for Helm's Deep and at how they look on different types of characters.

All the cosmetics you will see are:

Helm of the Hammerhand

Shoulders of the Hammerhand

Hauberk of the Hammerhand

Gloves of the Hammerhand

Boots of the Hammerhand

Shield of the Hammerhand

First off is my little hobbit!

 

And then there is little hobbit on her war steed!

(The regular mount is almost indistinguishable from the war steed.)

Now comes Andadrien! I had to leave the 'moors for this. Dang cosmetics ban in the moors! The armour looks a little bit too bulky for her slender, elven frame. I don't think this is the look for her. However, here are a few views:

 

Lastly, for a male character wearing the outfit, we have Andadarthir. In my opinion, this is a much better outfit for a male character - probably even better for a man rather than a male elf.

 

Creepiest outfit ever.

And the award for the creepiest outfit that I've ever seen in lotro goes to this guy:

Bravo, sir.

Now everyone is going to have nightmares of your pumpkin head.

Red and Blue

Just a few days ago, I was doing Grand Stair to work towards my black goat for finishing the Moria meta deed. This cloak dropped and I decided to keep it as I liked the look. I had a similar cloak at one point but trashed it after not coming up with any ideas. Well, I was opening loot boxes and a hauberk that I've seen but not owned was inside. Low and behold, they match almost too perfectly. I tried it on Andadrien, but I didn't like the look. I thought it might look better on a male character, so off to log on to Andadarthir, my level 20 Rune Keeper and only male character.

Andadarthir is wearing:

Dorchol (Dyed Red)

Hauberk of the Eagle's Crest (Dyed Crimson)

Hardened Elven Officer's Potent Boots (Dyed Crimson)

37

Thank you so much for viewing my little blog!

There have been views from 37 countries from around the world.

I think that's pretty awesome!

Huntress

Evonii is a hunter on Vilya, and while crossing paths recently in Bree, I had to snap a screen shot. I do really like her outfit, and well, we usually only cross paths in the 'moors. I've been trying to think of a good hunter/huntress type of outfit lately, and I think she did a great job of accomplishing that and hitting the nail on the head. Her outfit looks feminine but deadly. I think the white dye was a great choice as it adds to the whole holy-assassin look.

This is easy enough to recreate with it being a set - you just have to be able to do Ost Dunhoth to get the barter pieces (I'm not sure how the Lesser Secret of the West which is acquired with Marks/Meds compairs cosmetically). She is wearing the OD burglar Secret of the West armour set along with Ryscdail for the boots - her headpiece is from the Lesser set while all of the rest are from the normal set.

Roshelle

Congrats to Roshelle on promotion to Officer in Dawnbreakers!

Ya might need this (though I do like the green).

Rank 7

I've been moorsing again a bit since I'm kind of bored with this game. Today, I ranked up to rank 7! :)

When it happened:

Anda with her new rank name:

Moors Gear is Ugly!

So I've been venturing out into the 'moors lately, and I have to say. That gear is SO ugly. You have to have it, but for those of you who haven't been to the Ettenmoors, cosmetics are not allowed. However, you can dye your outfit. As I generally dislike hats and headpieces that aren't circlets, I've hidden my headpiece - the rest, I have dyed purple. I think minstrels, being light and musical, should be brighter, more animated characters, and in turn, a colorful outfit is appropriate. The gear also looks good dyed white, in my opinion; however, I saw another minstrel a little while ago with their gear dyed white and didn't want to copy! I liked sea blue, but that was too close to the original turquoise. Also, I decided against red as the level 75 gear is red.. but yeah, purple!

Dar's a meanie.

So this one time I rolled a burg.. and I died in the starter area. My supposed best in-game friend, Darror, will not let me live it down.. Anywhoodle, the first out of the 3 times I tried to roll a burg, I died at level 4. Please don't ask me how it's possible... I have no idea! I finally partnered up with a friend, Tyragelmarth, and he rolled a mini and I rolled my 3rd attempt at a burg. It made it to the epic level of 7!!! The only reason I ever wanted to roll a burg was for the Hood of the Silent Knife, but I got a a cosmetic copy of it in Lalia's Market... No need to burg... 

Here is just another example of Darror being mean to me. :D

HATECHU!

He's so mean!

And in honor of Darror:

*sneak*

*sneak sneak*

*sneak sneak sneak*

*sneak sneak sneak sneak*

*sneak sneak sneak sneak sneak*

*sneak sneak sneak sneak sneak sneak*

...

...

...

OMFG!

*STAB STAB STAB STAB*

Final Fantasy XIV - Anda's Emotes

So this is totally not LOTRO related, but it's my blog and I don't care. I've started playing Final Fantasy XIV, and I like it so far. The in-game world is beautiful so far and the graphics are good! My favorite so far (since I've not gotten very far yet content-wise) is my character's look. She is so freaking adorable, and I love when she emotes. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Pink Satin

Outfit for Icye.

So I made Icye an outfit the other day, about the same day I made the crimson outfit a couple posts ago for Andadrien. I suppose I'm in a "red kick". I tend to get in color fads where I make a lot of outfits in the same color and then completely stop and move on to the next color. Maybe it's too much red, but oh well, I like it.

Here's a couple screen shots of Icye's character along with a surprise appearance from a silly little dwarf who decided to photo-bomb my screen shot! Hehe! I don't remember what I used for this outfit. If I remember to ask Icye what this is, I will update.

The Tiniest Rohirrim.

I made this outfit when my little hunter first entered Rohan - she certainly needed a new outfit to wear in this grand new place that she'd yet to venture in to. She's ready to ride and be as fearsome as the next!

She roams from the Eaves of Fangorn to the fields of the Wold in:

Ceremonial Doom-Hunter's Helm - Dyed Olive

Dunland Caretakers's Patched Mantle - Dyed Olive

Strong Dunlending Combat Armour - Dyed Umber

Traveller's Road-worn Bracers - Dyed Umber

Vibrant Brushed Skirmish Boots - Dyed Olive

"Quiet as shadow"

Same Dress, Two completely different looks.

I didn't bother to pick this dress up last time the festival rolled around, but when I saw it a week or two ago in the Auction House, I snatched it up. I made two outfits with it. One for the little hobbit hunter, and one for Andadrien.

When I looked at my hobbit, it just screams "Little Red Riding Hunter". With the hood and the crimson, it's kind of inescapable. While visiting a friend's home in the Shire Homesteads, she went jumping through a mushroom circle; however, don't be fooled by the sweet, little antics - she's a deadly little thing with her bow.

She is wearing:

Gifted Ancient Helm of the Horse-Lords - Dyed Red

(Yes, I realize this is a gold HL item, and that many people may not have access to it. I had it equipped, so it was readily accessible for me. There are so many other hood-like head pieces in the game that could be easily substituted in for this item.)

Harvest-brew Dress - Dyed Crimson

Plain Cloak - Dyed Crimson

~~

Andadrien has a little bit more expensive taste. She likes to throw gold in the air and inspect her gems to make sure that they remain flawless. This took me approximately 3 minutes from when I got the dress to create it - it's super easy: headpiece, cloak, and *bam* it's done. Not going to lie, I totally thought about the Lannisters from Game of Thrones when I saw this outfit finished it as it is all crimson and gold. If you like to read, they are good books. I'm on the 5th book.

Andadrien is wearing:

Ceremonial Hat of the Written Word - Dyed Red

Harvest-brew Dress - Dyed Crimson

Golden Tree Summer Cloak - Dyed Red

Horse of Many Colours

I may have beaten Saruman T2C on Tuesday.. It was pretty super exciting.

I know I paused because I got a killing blow. Actually, while watching through the video, I noticed at least one other KB that I got. Since I'm doing pure heals, I find this highly amusing. I suspect it is because I was using the ring to put a corruption on the various Sarumans, and once the corruption was removed, damage from that killed it to give me the KB.

And completing this (along with one last deed for one of the 3-mans) got me my Horse of Many Colours!

It's possibly the coolest looking steed in the game. For those of you who haven't seen it in person, the colours on it change and shimmer and whirl about.

Because the steed is so unique, it's practically impossible to match anything to it; although when the colours on the horse turn purple-ish, I think my recent violet outfit works well with it. There is only one robe in the game that matches the steed, and it is worn by Saruman himself. By the looks of him, he doesn't exactly want to part with him, so I'll have to make do.