Rise of Rohan has been out for a few weeks now and I’ve been busy enjoying myself in the new content. Ked and I got our first characters to level 85 last night and I thought it was time to show you some of the outfit ideas we have been playing with in this new expansion.

This is the outfit Ked is currently sporting. It’s great for stealthy type characters and it’s grey color blends perfect with the default warsteed color for those, like me, who are having a bit of trouble stomaching the high Lotro Store prices for warsteed customization.

The robe and gloves in this outfit are quest rewards from Rohan. There are not a lot of uniqueness between the different Rohan quest rewards. Most of the armour designs are recycled often throughout the quests. I wouldn’t even suggest holding on to the quest rewards for too long since the Hytbold armour designs look exactly the same as well. That being said though, I do really like the silhouette of this robe design. I can see many outfit possibilities.

Head: Fine Grey Company Hood, dyed White (Quest:Chapter 1: Separate Ways *Corunir*)
Shoulders: Gwir-Palvais, dyed Grey (BOE drop from any Isengard Instance)
Chest: Oldheart’s Ancient Robe, dyed White (Quest: Awake at Long Last)
Hands: Lèofdag’s Burnt Gloves, dyed Grey (RoR Quest Reward)
Feet: Nightshade Boots, dyed Black (Quest:Breath of the Dragon)
Back: Fine Elven Quiver, dyed Grey (Rivendell Outfitter)

This was the first reputation steed I ever purchased. It was a lot of hard work saving up the 5 gold purchase price and gaining the reputation with Men of Bree. I was so proud of myself and excited to exchange it for the starter horse I had acquired from Hengstacer Farm.

The main difference from this horse and the common starter horses is that is has a saddle and a rich green blanket. It’s legs also have black stockings that goes from it’s hooves up to it’s knees.

For the matching outfit I decided upon the Tier 7 (Westfold) crafted light armour robe. I don’t typically like the way this chest piece looks on most races but I think it’s adorable of female Hobbits. I love the stripes on her sleeves and really wanted to bring that out so I added the striped patterned Travel Pack, which can be found during the Yule Festival inside the Hobbit Gift Boxes.

After your starter horse, what was your first steed?

Head: Summerdays Hat, dyed Forest Green (Summer Festival)
Chest: Dunlending Campaign Armour (T7 Crafted)
Back: Travel Pack, dyed Orange (Yule Festival)
Steed: Prized Liver Chestnut Pony (Kindred standing with Men of Bree)

This outfit is inspired by the great golden Mallorn trees of Lothlorien.

Mellyrn are described as similar to birches: their bark was smooth and silver-grey, and the leaves turned golden in autumn. The golden leaves remained on the tree through the winter and fell to cover the ground in the spring, when new leaves sprouted, which were green on top and silver underneath, and golden flowers bloomed on the branches. Frodo Baggins explained that he could feel the life of the tree when he touched a mallorn in Lothlórien.

Lothlorien was the only place where the golden Mallorn tree grew in Middle-earth, brought there from Valinor by Lady Galadriel. Lothlórien became known as the Golden Wood because of them.

Galadriel gave Samwise Gamgee a box of soil containing a single silver mallorn nut. After the War of the Ring, Sam planted the nut in the Shire, in the Party Field where the Party Tree had stood. It was the only mallorn-tree in Middle-earth outside of Lórien. When the tree bloomed in the next summer it was said that all the Shire became golden from the flowers.

These shoulders can be bartered in Mirkwood at the Loremaster trainer for Medallions of Dol Guldur. You will need to have a Loremaster to interact with the trainer but the medallions can be earned pretty easily through running Mirkwood instances.

I don’t see too many people using this chest piece. The main reason I think is because it is from a quest in the Great River which shares the same quest reward as the very popular Ancient Inlaid Breastplate. (same appearance as the old heavy PvMP armour for guardians, captains and champions) I love that heavy metal robe and will definitely take another character through the quest line to pick it up, but I really thought this leather chest piece looked unique. I had to have it.

This outfit works very well with the Prized Malledhrim Horse which can be acquired once you have reached kindred standing with the Malledhrim.

Shoulders: Shoulders of the Learned Master (Mirkwood Loremaster instance armour)
Chest: Jacket of the Winding Road, dyed Umber (Quest:Banishing the Dishonoured)
Hands: Golden Host Gloves, dyed Umber (T6 Crafted)
Legs: Golden Host Leggings, dyed Umber (T6 Crafted)
Feet: Boots of the Swift Arrow, dyed Umber (Moria Medium Set)
Back: Cloak of the Autumn Wood, dyed Umber (Lotro Store)
Steed: Prized Malledhrim Horse (Kindred with Malledhrim)

“Mae govannen. Mae tollen an Imladris.” (Well met. Welcome to Rivendell.)

This outfit immediately made me think of an Elven ambassador and as I took the screenshots for this blog post I imagined her welcoming visitors to Rivendell. I saw her giving them a tour of the city, showing them their culture, perhaps teaching them an elvish dance and eventually inviting them to the Last Homely House to meet Elrond himself.

The silhouette of this robe is my favorite style for robes. The shape is very handsome on most models. One day I would love to be able to have in my wardrobe the Rune-Keeper (Runemaker’s Armour) and Loremaster (Lore-keeper’s Armour) robes from Barad Guldur in Mirkwood which have this same silhouette but a much prettier design. Until then there are a few other robe options in game to play with that have this silhouette. The Tawarwaith crafted armour, the Lorien Fancy Robe and the robe I chose to use today which can be either crafted (Armour of Lothlorien), bartered with Moria medallions or purchased from a cosmetic vendor at any skirmish camp with marks and medallions.

I mentioned the Loremaster and Rune-keeper robes from Barad Guldur as being on my wardrobe wish list. What are some of your dream items?

Head: Balladeer’s Hat, dyed Umber (Moria Light Armour)
Shoulders: Pauldrons of the Predator, dyed Umber (Hunter PvMP Armour)
Chest: Balladeer’s Robe, dyed Crimson (Moria Light Armour)
Hands: Gloves of the Predator, dyed Umber (Hunter PvMP Armour)
Feet: Greaves of the Dragonslayer, dyed Umber (Drops from Draigoch)

In the books, Tolkien wrote about a few special Hobbits whose adventures took them out of the Shire. But they were unique. Most Hobbits in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth never left their home in the Shire.

It is the reverse in Lotro. On Landroval, where I make my home, there are a few Hobbit characters who happily spend their days farming, cooking and living the life of a Hobbit in the Shire, but the average Hobbit is like any other character in Lotro, destined for adventure.

This is the problem I face when I attempt to make a Hobbit outfit. It becomes a battle of Lotro vs Lotr in my mind. Should Hobbits really wear Heavy Armour? Shouldn’t he be bare footed?

Lotro allows Hobbits to become Burglars, Guardians, Hunters, Minstrels and Wardens. We all have pictures in our minds of what each of these classes should look like. But what about if the race behind that class is a Hobbit?

The Lotro Guardian class was  inspired by the hobbit Samwise Gamgee, whose loyalty to Frodo Baggins knew no bounds. Sam may have had the spirit of a guardian but to my knowledge he never put on heavy armour and rode off into battle. Merry Brandybuck did however. Separated by Pippin and Gandalf’s journey to Gondor, he swore fealty to Théoden and became his esquire. Without permission from his liege, he rode to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields in the care of young  Éowyn. But that was a unique situation.

Today I have made an outfit for a Hobbit Guardian in Lotro. Guardians in Lotro have to be protected from the constant onslaught of blows they will receive tanking for their group. I tried on many different types of heavy armour on my male Hobbit. Many just didn’t look right. Hobbits have longer torsos than legs and sometimes the proportions just look odd. I personally preferred how they looked wearing the armored skirts. The ones I chose for this outfit can either be bartered in Moria with Moria medallions at the Guardian, Captain or Champion class trainers. Or you can get them from a cosmetic vendor at any skirmish camp for marks and medallions. The first option only works if you actually have an appropriate class since the trainers only will interact with someone of that class.

update: The leggings can also be bought at the Orc Watch and the Shadowed Refuge with any class. No class restrictions there as the vendors are not trainers. (Thank you Hymne)

Head:Dwarf Spiked Helm of Might, dyed Sienna (World drop)
Shoulders: Hyrde-Axle, dyed Sienna (Quest:Chapter 10: Herdsmen of the Starkmoor)
Chest: Shining Westernesse Steel Breastplate, dyed Sienna (World Drop)
Hands: Scorched Ox-Hide Gauntlets, dyed Sienna (Quest:Silent Riders)
Legs: Shield-Bearer’s Leggings, dyed Sienna (Moria Heavy Armour Set)
Feet: Shield Bearer’s Boots, dyed Sienna (Moria Heavy Armour Set)
Back: Dunlending Cloak of Tactics, dyed Sienna (T7 Crafted)

Just for fun I’ve added a poll. What do you think? Should Hobbits wear shoes in Lotro?

A reader requested an outfit that would fit a Ranger from Rohan.

“I am trying to figure out how to make my main, who is a hunter from Rohan, look Rohirric and still have a archer/hunter/ranger look to him. If you can help out in any way it would be greatly appreciated.”

My husband Ked plays a Hunter. He is always creating new Hunter outfits each week. In anticipation of the next expansion,  Riders of Rohan due out October 15, Ked made this outfit.

The hauberk used is from the RoI pre-order rewards. If you do not have access to the RoI pre-order hauberk there is a alternative piece I’d suggest, Rohirrim Tunic and Trousers, you can receive by achieving Kindred with The Riders of  Stangard. Beware though, that particular tunic and pants piece is notorious for boots not fitting it very well. You may have to hunt around for just the right pair of boots to work with it.

Head: Traveller’s Hood, dyed Umber (Lotro Store)
Shoulders: Padded Mantle of the Dunland Soothsayer, dyed Umber (Quest: Preparing for the Auction)
Chest: Hauberk of the Eorlingas (RoI pre-order reward)
Hands: Leather Gauntlets of the Leaping Stag, dyed Umber (Quest: Finding an Old Fiend)
Feet: Nightshade Boots, dued Umber (Quest: Breath of the Dragon)
Back: Fine Quiver, dyed Sienna (T2 Crafted)

I am really glad WB/Turbine decided to postpone the launch of their next expansion, Riders of Rohan. Not because I want them to give us a bug free game, although that’s very important, but because personally I have needed another month. If it had gone live when originally planned I would of missed out on enjoying this expansion at the beginning. In August I had surgery and have been recovering these last few weeks. Even sitting for too long has been impossible.

I’m doing lots better now. I even felt well enough today to put together a new outfit.

This outfit is perfect for a Hunter or anyone wanting a light leather look. The shirt and boots are apart of the Ceremonial Annuminas sets which can be bartered at any skirmish camp for marks and medallions. The legs can drop from any RoI instance. They are BoE so check the auction house also.

I’m really looking forward to RoR, especially the new cosmetics. What are you most looking forward to?

Chest: Ceremonial Nenuial’s Jacket, dyed White (Annuminas Medium Set)
Legs: Rhuvel-Socas, dyed Burgundy (ROI instance cluster drop)
Gloves: Fingerless Gloves, dyed Burgundy (Yule Festival)
Feet: Ceremonial Boots of the Seven Stars (Annuminas Light Set)
Back: Fancy Quiver, dyed Yellow (Trestlebridge Outfitter)

Why are there so few Dwarven Hunters in Lotro? I think when people typically think of Dwarfs they think heavy armor and big axes. This is not all a Dwarf is about in Tolkien’s world of Middle Earth. Fili and Kili from “The Hobbit” come to mind. They were brothers who were said to have the sharpest eyes of the party of 13 Dwarves and so they were often sent scouting or searching.

• They find the goblin cave in the Misty Mountains.
• When Bilbo spied the boat on the far side of the Enchanted River, Thorin chose Fíli as the youngest with the best sight to throw a rope with a hook attached to snag the small vessel. Fíli manages to hook the boat.
• They scout Ravenhill and the Frong Gate with Balin and Bilbo.
• They also find the Lonely Mountain (Erebor)’s secret door with Bilbo.

“The Hobbit” also mentions Dwarves using bows not just axes. In one passage Bilbo and the dwarves begin to go through the dark and dreadful forest of Mirkwood. They come to the enchanted stream Beorn warned about, and Bilbo sees a boat on the other side. With great difficulty, they use iron hooks from their packs to pull the boat toward them. They have just disembarked on the other side when they are startled by a deer leaping the stream. Thorin fires an arrow at him, as they need the meat, and in the confusion Bombur sets the boat adrift and falls into the stream. When they pull him out, he is asleep — enchanted by the waters of the stream. More deer appear, and the dwarves use all their arrows trying to kill one.

Using bows to kill a deer for meat…does this not sound like a Hunter to you?

Head: Traveller’s Hood, dyed Rivendell Green (Lotro Store)
Shoulders: Wynmar’s End, dyed Rivendell Green (Quest: The Orc Attack)
Chest: Pathfinder’s Jacket, dyed Rivendell Green (Hunter Moria Barter)
Hands: Leather Gloves, (Bree Medium Armoursmith)
Legs: Westernesse Protector’s Leggings, dyed Rivendel Green (T5 Crafted)
Feet: Resilient Brushed Skirmish Boots, dyed Rivendell Green (T7Crafted)
Back: Cloak of the Grey Company, dyed Rivendell Green (Quest: Book 5, Chapter 1: Separate Ways - Radanir

I often get requests for outfits that a low level character or new player could wear. Outfits that someone could wear even though they don’t have access to most of the cool looking armour options Lotro has to offer. My hope with this guide is that I can help take the frustration out of creating an outfit for the new player and encourage you to find a unique and stylish look that fits your character perfectly.

• Part 1 of this guide will be an inventory of pieces a character between the levels of 1-20 will most likely have access to.
• Part 2 of this guide will be several outfit options I’ve put together using the items I listed.

Part 1: Inventory

Starter Outfits
Outfitters
Armour Merchants
Festivals
Lotro Store
Other Resources

Part 2: Outfits

Ranger of the Forest Outfit
Winter White Outfit
Twilight Walker Outfit
Past Outfits

Starter Outfits
Each character begins the game with a starter outfit unique to their class.

Burglar	Captain	Champion
Guardian	Hunter	Lore-Master
Minstrel	Rune-Keeper	Warden

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Outfitters
Outfitters are special vendor NPCs scattered across Middle Earth who sell cosmetic items. They all sell many of the same items, however each one sells a few unique items as well.

Sold by All Outfitters

Blacksmith’s Apron	Calvary Hauberk	Chef Apron	Common Long Sleeved Dress
Common Long Sleeved Tunic & Trousers	Common Shirt & Trousers	Craftman’s Robe	Day Pack
Eastern Cut Hauberk	Fisherman’s Vest	Forester’s Garments	Plain Cloak
Plain Hooded Cloak	Prospector’s Garment	Scholar’s Vestments	Scout’s Hauberk
Warden Pack

Sold by Race of Man Outfitters (Bree and Trestlebridge)

Glossy Leather Boots	Light Buckled Boots	Padded Leather Boots
Soft Leather Boots	Soft Stitched Boots

Bree Outfitter
Dot Leafbottom is in the Weapons and Armour Shop across from the Bree Town Hall.

Fine Shirt & Pants

Leather Hauberk

Long Ranger’s Robe

Trestlebridge Outfitter
Percy Chesham across from the Task Board.

Fancy Quiver

Watcher’s Hauberk

Mitchel Delving Outfitter
Buttercup Grubb in the Mitchel Delving Vendor Hall next to the Auction House.

Fancy Shirt & Pants

Long Fancy Robe

Shiriff’s Hauberk

Sturdy Prospector’s Pack

Stock Outfitter
Ernald Boffin inside the Golden Perch.

Bounder’s Hauberk

Sturdy Woodcutter’s Pack

Thorin’s Hall Outfitter
Boltr inside Thorin’s Hall

Dwarf-make Hauberk

Dwarf-make Shirt & Pants

Long Dwarf-make Robe

Celondim Outfitter
Hambrennil up the stairs across from the stables.

Elven Hauberk

Elven Tunic & Pants

Long Elven Robe

Othricar Outfitter
Hatt inside Othricar, a Dwarven settlement in the North Downs.

Dwarf-make Chain Hauberk

Sturdy Dwarf-make Quiver

Rivendell Outfitter
Hammadelen at the market of Rivendell.

Elven Scale Hauberk

Fine Elven Quiver

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Armour Merchants
Armour merchants can be found in Cities and Outposts throughout Middle Earth. Pictured below are a few of the items you can find for purchase on an Armour Smith.

Bree Light Armour

Bree Medium Armour

Bree Heavy Armour

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Festivals
Festivals come around every few months in celebration of the changing seasons. There is dancing, drinking, game playing and of course the opportunity to pick up some really great cosmetic pieces. Pictured below are just a few of the cosmetic items you can collect at a festival.

Circlet of Fresh-Picked Flowers Farmer’s Faire	Sun Hat Summer Festival	Yule Scarf & Cap Yule Festival
Cloak of the Shining Star Anniversary Celebration	Spring Dandy Hooded Cloak Spring Festival	Golden Tree Summer Cloak Summer Festival
Extravagant Festival Dress Yule Festival	Long-Sleeved Summer Dress Summer Festival	Treasure Hunter Pack Treasure Hunter Event

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Lotro Store
Another option for cosmetic items at any level is the Lotro Store. The currency used in the Lotro Store is Turbine points which can be purchased with real life money or earned in game by completing deeds. I’ve pictured below just a few of the items that can be bought in the Lotro Store.

Ceremonial Worker’s Helmet	Feathered Felt Hat	Traveller’s Hood
Inn League Survival Pack	Cook’s Pack	Sea-Turtle’s Pack
Elf Queen’s Dress	Hauberk of Rhun	Ceremonial Robe of Viisaus
Cloak of the Steadfast	Hooded Cloak of the Autumn Wood	Hooded Elf Lord’s Cloak

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Other Resources
While adventuring in Middle Earth there are a few more resources available to you that you should be on the look out for.

Low Level Quest rewards
When ever you turn in a quest be sure to try on all the quest rewards in the dressing room. You never know when you will find an item you could use in your outfit.

Low Level World Drops
When you are out killing things remember to always try on the loot you pick up in your dressing room. There are some handsome items out there perfect for outfitting.

Low Level Crafted items
The Tailoring and Metalsmith skills especially have nice pieces you can craft for your outfits.

Reputation Vedors
Men of Bree is probably the first reputation faction you can achieve Kindred standing with. This can be done before you reach level 20. Tully Hopwood inside the Hunter’s Lodge in Bree is the NPC you will want to talk to once you have achieved the reputation. She will have a few nice cosmetic pieces to help your outfit along.

Great-Barrow Armour
By completing the Great-Barrow Instance cluster (level 20s), You will earn medallions and marks which can be used to purchase the Great-Barrow armour sets at any “Classics” vendor at Skirmish camps.

Pre-Order Rewards
When you pre-order an expansion it will come with exclusive cosmetic rewards. At first it may seem like they are not very rare because everyone is wearing them but as time goes by these items will become very rare and unique. A treasure for any outfit collector’s wardrobe.

Auction House
Each day new items are placed on the Auction House for purchase. You never know when the perfect piece for your outfit will appear so be checking often.

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Ranger of the Forest Outfit

Back: Hooded Leather Cloak, dyed Olive (Farmer’s Faire)
Chest: Shirriff’s Hauberk, dyed Umber (Mitchel Delving Outfitter)
Hands: Leather Gauntlets, dyed Umber (Bree Medium Armoursmith)
Feet: Leather Boots, dyed Umber (Bree Medium Armoursmith)

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Winter White Outfit

Back: Fancy Snow Cloak, (Lotro Store)
Chest: Forester’s Hauberk, dyed White (Bree Land Gift Box during Yule Festival)
Hands: Chainmail Gauntlets, dyed White (Bree Heavy Armoursmith)
Feet: Barrow-Warrior Boots, dyed White (Heavy Great-Barrow Armour)

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Twilight Walker Outfit

Head:Traveller’s Hood, dyed Black (Lotro Store)
Back: Plain Cloak, dyed Black, (Any Outfitter)
Chest: Exquisite Elven Dress, dyed Black (Lotro Store)

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Past Outfits

Horse Master

Sneaky Sneak

Pretty Archer

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I’ve been taking another character through the In Their Absence questline this week. You rack up quite a bit of Medallions of the North-men while doing these quests. This gave me the opportunity to pick up the Hunter Shoulders from Harndirion that I have been coveting for awhile.

I knew I wanted to pair them with a dress. I wanted to go in an elegant feminine direction with this outfit. However, I wasn’t sure what head piece to use. I looked through everything I had in my vault and wardrobe and almost decided upon the Winged Circlet. The winged look of the circlet would of matched well with the feathers on the shoulders.

Then I looked through the head pieces in the Lotro Store. I’ve never really thought much of the Battle-Mask of Rhun. I’ve never purchased it or used it in an outfit before. I tried it on in the Dressing Room and was amazed to discover I really liked it paired with this outfit.

Head: Battle-Mask of Rhun, dyed Gold (Lotro Store)
Shoulders: Lesser Shoulder Guards of DunGost (Hunter Shoulders bartered with Medallion of the North-men)
Chest: Elegant Dress, Dyed Umber (Skirmish Camp or Lotro Store)