I really like some of the inputs in this thread, it gives a lot to think on and about.
As an artist, I tend to draw my character first, and make their transmog around that. Rhaethas was made that way, I wanted a more civilian character with casual clothing who would fit in working a Dalaran shop (The Solstice Bazaar).
Though, ontop of that, I do prefer to have multiple transmogs for different activities and weather conditions. Like warmer looking armour sets for going to Northrend, or more protective padding for if Rhaethas goes onto an expedition. It is nice to have the variety and helps prevent your character from seeming like they wear the same thing all of the time.
The background of Blondie’s character is simply said: a Forsaken refugee mostly influenced by the Western Horde, but still a nihilistic Undead through and through.
So I tried to find a mix between the barbarity of the Western Horde, and mix it with the grizzly look of the Forsaken. So eventually I came with the armour set I got now, mixed with bones, blood stains, old worn leather or dark metal.
It fits both factions, and it fits her profession as a mercenary, wearing both metal and leathers to keep herself light-weight.
I love the raptorhide shoulderpad the most because it gives some trailer park pazzazz fitting her chaotic character.
For IC outfits I usually go with “What would fit this character? What they would wear and what they could get realistically?”, balancing that also with “What items do I already have or which wouldn’t be a huge pain to farm?”. Most of the time I try not to use already existing tier sets - or at least combine them with alternative items.
As an example, this is Daerron’s “main” outfit (https://www.argentarchives.org/node/268319 - his art in it, in case the armoury doesn’t show the one needed), which I felt would fit him as a trader, alchemist & noble through marriage, but he also have a few other outfits, for example if he has to travel somewhere dangerous or attends a party or goes to colder places - or him/me wanting to switch the set for a change, but most of the time he would wear this one.
My other characters tend to have the same or similar approach - how many “alternative sets” they have depends also on how “picky” they are about what to wear.
For OOC sets (when I actually do it and not just leave whatever the gear looks like, unfortunately it is too expensive for me to change it every time I get a new piece of gear) I either do the same thing or, if I have some specific item I want to wear for at least a while, I might make a completely new set based around that thing - even if it isn’t what the character would wear normally.
I’m a sucker for both ideas.
A proper shiny mage can be cool now and then, but seeing only chandeliers kinda gives me an headache!
I agree, seeing other’s people thought-process when making different/the same choices in the same hobby is a little treat.
Yes but are you sorry about the tree now.
Likewise, I see it in the same way.
I have mixed feelings about this because to me, it is often the exact opposite: if it is a major character of mine, I want to flex him, both IC and OOC, with rare and exotic items.
Imho a main outfit is very helpful because it helps other players to bring your character to mind.
I get it! I usually don’t have a lot of time to farm very rare things specially, but I also play a long enough time to have a decent collection too! (and if I really want to use something, I’ll try to find time for it too)
You are always welcome to! The easiest way to meet Daerron would be at Solstice Bazaar, where he works as alchemist (and we will be in Dalaran next Tuesday), but if not, we could always find another time for our characters to meet!
As many others stated, the identity of the character comes first when deciding on clothing for me as well. Unfortunately the Armory is bugged so my poor Ynesa is naked like a baby… fun!
Personally I hate finding mogs just as hate naming the character, since I’m spending hours and hours on getting the “perfect” look that I’ll hate five seconds later However, creating her story helped me a lot. I don’t mind sets, she wears the blue NElf heritage given from the Amirdrassil quest line as it matches the white hood, and she wears this as a general attire whilst out to explore or do general stuff. It’s extremely light, covers most part of the limbs and shows where she belongs (by her lore she had it from her past but was recoloured after some events).
Her other attire is the LFR hunter set from Nighthold with the same hood, which is used on heavier occasions, aka: war, or when she needs to be protected completely despite it slowing her down a bit. Besides the hood and the cape, the other consistent part is the single shoulder pad on her right, never on both sides as it would block her vision from that side (holding a bow or anything would bring her left forward as she’s right handed).
Her weapon is still in progress due to RNG gods hating me.
Although it’s a pain in the bumcheeks to come up with ideas
However, creating her story helped me a lot. I don’t mind sets, she wears the blue NElf heritage given from the Amirdrassil quest line as it matches the white hood, and she wears this as a general attire whilst out to explore or do general stuff. It’s extremely light, covers most part of the limbs and shows where she belongs (by her lore she had it from her past but was recoloured after some events).