capy-capy-capybara! *boing boing*

The Patch 8.1 PTR is turning up some cool stuff already — upgraded Blood Elf Guard armor that may or may not be the Blood Elf Heritage Armor, a Boomkin form of their own for Highmountain Tauren Druids, new Night Elf stuff — but what has me most excited is that there will be capybaras!

I’m rather fond of capybaras. I think they’re funny and cute. Guinea pigs are my favorite small animal pet; we had a series of them when I was growing up, and by the time I was in college, the guinea pig was my special pet. I keep telling my toddler that when he gets big enough, I’ll get him some guinea pigs — but they will really be for me, and I’ll just be sharing them with him. And capybaras look kind of like gigantic guinea pigs.

I sure hope the capybaras will be tamable — both as big ones for Hunters and as little ones for Pet Battles. I haven’t tamed any new Hunter pets for quite awhile now — I’ve been meaning to tame a manasaber and to make the Mecha-Bond Imprint Matrix and then go tame the purple-gold-blue mechanostrider in Gnomeregan, but because I rarely actually use any pets other than the faithful cougar who’s been with me since level 10, adding new pets to my collection always seems to be so low down on my priority list of ways to spend my game time that I never get to it. I think I’d go out of my way to tame a capybara, though 😀

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Things my Night Elf Druid Wears

A collection of Transmogrification Kits actually worn in-game by my Night Elf Druid. Outfits are listed from most recent to least recent. Items that are no longer obtainable are marked with an asterisk (*).

9) Jolly Molly and Her Polly

Netherstorm Eyepatch, Pozzik’s Vest, Coarse Leather Waistguard, Bluegill Breeches*, Nimble Leather Gloves, Prospector’s Boots, Thunderstrike
Alunaria is so sweet! She gave everyone who participated in her “Happy Thoughts” project over the holidays a Cap’n Crackers!
In consequence of this unexpected and generous gift, Kerithian is my first Alliance character to break level 110. She did some of the Druid Order Hall Campaign and some questing in Val’sharah to get to level 111 so that she could wear the Kul Tiras belt that I wanted to use for this outfit.

8) Vivacious Val’sharah Violet

Conqueror’s Nightsong Cover, Heroes’ Dreamwalker Mantle, Tranquil Bough chestpiece leggings & boots, Girdle of Lenience, Grips of the Chosen Dead (LFR), Dreamweaver Initate’s Tabard, Springrain Staff
A little something purple with this alternate coloration of the Dreamweavers tabard, for Alunaria.

7) Cyclops’ Ruin

Rune-Enscribed Hood, Fire-Chanter Shoulders, Decaying Herbalist’s Robes, Riplimb’s Lost Collar (N), Skygrip Handguards, Steppebeast Boots, Wild Wood Staff
Lord of Icecrown from WoWable requested a design for a Druid kit using the Mythic version of the Spur of the Great Devourer from Hellfire Citadel. I don’t have that weapon myself, so I chose an alternate staff with similar coloration and pointyness to actually make the kit with after I’d designed the outfit in the Dressing Room.
I thought that the creepiness of this Warlords Monk tier-lookalike hood would go well with the creepiness of the intended weapon. Then I built the outfit around the teal-contrasted-with-rust color scheme of the hood.
Here’s how the kit would look with the Spur of the Great Devourer:

I like how the overall effect of the ensemble has turned out — but now I’m having some totally different ideas for a Druid kit to go with this weapon…

6) Drassil Defender

Conqueror’s Nightsong Cover, Furious Gladiator’s Wyrmhide Spaulders, Malfurion’s Vestments of Conquest, Girdle of Lenience, Mana-Saber Hide Gloves, Dark Leather Boots, Darnassus Tabard, Kihrawr’s Scratching Post
Kerithian was wearing this outfit (without the tabard) when she went to meet with High King Wrynn in Stormwind. Athough she is personally not particularly fond of Teldrassil and Darnassus, after she arrived in Kalimdor and began to understand the situation there, she put on the Darnassus tabard to express her support for her beleagured kin.

5) Guardian of Hyjal

Nordrassil Headpiece & Wrath-Mantle, Merciless Gladiator’s Wyrmhide Tunic & Legguards, Girdle of Nefarious Strategy (LFR), Heth’Jatari Battlegloves, Leyman’s Boots, Staff of the Verdant Circle
Kerithian was one of the druids who tended Nordrassil during its recovery following the battle with Archimonde. She left Nordrassil to assist in the areas surrounding Shaladrassil after the defeat of Xavius in the Emerald Nightmare.

4) Frost-touched Flamestrider

Shoulderpads of the Chosen Dead (LFR), Flamestrider Robes, Supple Waistguard (stage 3), Trickster’s Leggings, Supple Gloves (stage 2), Warmongering Gladiator’s Boots of Victory, Tabard of Summer Skies, Frostbitten Staff
The cloth Silksand Wraps is identical to this leather robe. The rest of the outfit would look quite different in cloth, though!

3) Druid of the Summer Flame

Jewel of the Firelord, Passive Resistor Spaulders (H), Vestment of Summer, Manimal’s Cinch, Murkblood Gloves, Dragonhawk Boots, Funeral Pyre (N)
Although I used Firelands shoulders in the outfits I made with this robe for all the other armor types, the Druid Firelands shoulders just weren’t right for it. I made up for it by using a Firelands weapon. I was going to call this outfit “Leyara’s Legacy”… until I saw on Wowhead that in BfA there will be a set that closely resembles the Druids of the Flame.
If I had it, I would use the Hidden appearance for the Scythe of Elune, Sunkeeper’s Reach, with this outfit.

image from Wowhead
Acquiring it requires Exalted rep with the Dreamweavers and getting a rare drop from the first boss of Darkheart Thicket. I’ve been feeding Kerithian Dreamweavers rep tokens, but she’s nowhere close to Exalted, and she hasn’t done any dungeon running. Kerisa has the rep, but she hasn’t run Darkheart Thicket often enough to see the item drop.

2) Vindictive Archdruid of the Alliance

Vindictive Gladiator’s Dragonhide Armor with Conqueror’s Nightsong Cover, Runesworn Grips, and Intensity
It’s so nice that when I purchase a PvP appearance with a Horde-side character, I also get the corresponding Alliance appearance. I’m so very very fond of the blue-white-gold color scheme that whenever there is gear with faction-dichotomous appearances, I almost always like the Alliance version better.

1) Spring Rain

Springrain Armor
Boosted characters recieve this set of armor. It can also be obtained from the Warlords Garrison Salvage Yard.

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minipost: aquatic form and flight form will be separately glyphable!

Last night, Wowhead posted an exciting news tidbit from the BfA beta. Aquatic Form and Flight Form have been separated out from Travel Form. Travel Form remains an activated ability that will switch between land, air, and water forms based on environment; the other two are passives. What this means, though, is that now Aquatic Form, Flight Form, and Travel Form can be individually glyphed! Currently, it is only possible to have one aspect of Travel Form glyphed. I’m currently using the Orca for my Aquatic Form, but once BfA launches, I’ll also be able to use Cheetah for my land Travel Form!

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Things my Druid Wears, part 6 (outfits 51 – 60)

A collection of Transmogrification Kits actually worn in-game by my Tauren & Highmountain Tauren Druids. Outfits are listed from most recent to least recent. Items that are no longer obtainable are marked with an asterisk (*).

60) Skyhorn Shapeshifter


Feathermoon Headdress, Preened Ironfeather Shoulders & Breastplate, Headhunter’s Belt, Stormrage Legguards, Hewn Kodo Gloves + Bristlebark Bindings, Ogre Mage Staff
I suspect that Kashina will end up wearing a lot of green to coordinate with her green warpaint.

59) World Tree Guardian


Antlers of Malorne, Spaulders of the Unseen, Umbrafen Tunic & Britches, Forest-Lord’s Waistwrap (LFR), Forest Leather Gloves, Padded Running Shoes, Tabard of the Guardians of Hyjal, Wildfury Greatstaff/G’hanir (upgraded, first tint)
This had to be a pants outfit because this belt is so fun — but oh, it clips so badly with a skirt on a Tauren!
When the class trainers were added to Shattrath, the alcove for the Cenarion Expedition was given a banner with a symbol more like that of the Guardians of Hyjal tabard than like that of the actual Cenarion Expedition tabard.

58) Nether Devoured

Crown of the Forest Lord, Dreadleather Shoulderguard, Netherfiend Chestpiece, Relic Hunter’s Cord, Netherfiend Trousers, Cannonball Loader’s Grips, Griftah’s Authentic Troll Shoes, Cerulean Filigreed Doublet, Malroc’s Staff of Command
Lord of Icecrown from WoWable requested a design for a Druid kit using the Mythic version of the Spur of the Great Devourer from Hellfire Citadel. I don’t have that weapon myself, so I had to choose an alternate staff with similar coloration and pointyness to actually make the kit with after I’d designed it in the Dressing Room.
This outfit went in a very, very different direction than I originally thought it would — nothing remains of the original idea that I started with.
Here’s how it would look with the Spur of the Great Devourer:

57) Alunaria’s Adornments


Conquerors Nightsong Cover, Mantle of Gnarled Overgrowth, Shaladrassil Tunic, Hozen-Speed Waistband, Kilt of Immortal Nature, Shardtooth Gloves, Dreadlord’s Tattered Wingcover (LFR), Embroidered Shirt, Tabard of the Dreamweavers, Warmongering Combatant’s Battle Staff
This beautiful Dreamweavers outfit was originally designed by Alunaria. I couldn’t make it with Kerithian because she doesn’t have the rep for the tabard yet. As I thought about it, I liked how doing it with Kerisa instead (with a few substitutions for items I don’t have) would show some cross-faction we-all-weep-for-a-World-Tree-in-the-Moonglade-and-the-Dreamgrove Druid solidarity.

56) Grove Keeper

Garb of the Astral Warden (LFR-lookalike) with Nordrassil Headpiece, Runesworn Grips, and Scythe of Elune (Pillar of Creation tint)
There weren’t very many Legion raid sets that I wanted enough to LFR for them. This was one of them.
The hat I would love to use with this outfit is the Crown of Courage from the Lunar Festival.

The T5 hat is almost as good, though — I only noticed recently that it has those little leaves wrapping around the head!

55) Guardian of the Dream

Conqueror’s Nightsong Cover, Veil of Turning Leaves, Moonglade Robe, Shado-Pan Initiate’s Belt, Leggings of the Chosen Dead (N), Shining Buckle Gauntlets
Kerisa was finally ready to finish her Order Hall Campaign — and to do so, she needed to look the part of The Archdruid.
I left the Trial of Valor pants on because I liked the way their side panels looked on the robe.

54) Garb of the Chosen Dead

Garb of the Chosen Dead (N) with Icecore Staff
I finished the quest and now I have these awesome shoes in two colors!

53) Aspirant’s Garb of the Chosen Dead

Garb of the Chosen Dead (LFR) with Nibelung
Kerisa was fortunate enough to have the Ensemble for the LFR version of the Trial of Valor set drop for her while she was working on the quest to get the Normal version.

52) Shu’halo Furs

Bristlebark/Lupine set with Chieftain’s Headdress, Sentinel Girdle, Cape of Thunder Bluff, Thunder Bluff Tabard, and Agamaggan’s Quill
Because of the Lionfur Armor — a brighter, more golden version of the chestpiece of this set which is a rare drop from a Mulgore rare spawn (and is therefore hideously expensive on the AH) — I think of this style of leather armor as being characteristically Tauren.
Kerisa happened to be wearing this outfit when she did Highmountain. I liked how it looked with the baby basket, and she is the only one of my Tauren characters who has marriage and a child already established in her RP story.

51) Darkmoon Flower Seller

Songbird Blouse, Dervish Belt, Leggings of the Fang, Inscribed Leather Gloves, Dark Leather Boots, Cloak of the Darkmoon Faire, Staff of the Verdant Circle
“All I want is a place somewhere,
Far away from the cold night air,
With one enormous chair —
Oh, wouldn’t it be loverly?
Lots of coal making lots of heat!
Lots of chocolate for me to eat!
Warm [face (?)], warm hands, warm feet!
Oh, wouldn’t it be loverly!
Someone’s head resting on my knee
[Nice and cozy (?)] as it could be
Who takes good care of me —
Oh, wouldn’t it be loverly…”
—My Fair Lady
(If you’re going to wear the Darkmoon Top Hat to get that sweet 10% XP and rep buff, you might as well own the look.)

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Zandalari Balance Druids

Image from Wowhead
I am not sure whether to be jealous that they get a High Arakkoa-like form, or to be horrified by how it looks like a bizarre hybrid of High Arakkoa, Falcosaur, and Elekk…

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Kerisa takes her daughter to the Moonkin Festival

Kerisa leveled to 80 with BTH’s only male Tauren character, a Warrior named Watha*. I imagined them as a betrothed couple. They were wed at the end of the Northrend campaign, after the defeat of the Lich King and shortly before the beginning of the Cataclysm. Their daughter was born a little bit over a year later, in the Grove of Aessina on the slopes of Mount Hyjal .

This dress is based on a Lakota/Cherokee woman’s dress from around 1825, and the baby carrier is based on one made by the Dakota around 1840.

Perhaps because her mother spent so much time in Moonkin form while she was in utero**, Kerisa’s daughter has displayed a remarkable affinity for Moonkin form herself. She began attempting the transformation almost as soon as she could walk. Kerisa was shocked, then astonished, then delighted the first time she saw her daughter toddling around with feathered arms.

For the background, imagine the interior of a Pandaren inn, with Watha sitting on the side of one of those oval Pandaren couch-beds

The child had mastered the shapeshift by the time she was four***. When Kerisa arrived at the Dreamgrove, she was profoundly relieved to discover that other Druids’ children are similarly affected — and her daughter hooted with glee when she was introduced to the Moonkin School.

One afternoon, Kerisa’s daughter came home from Moonkin School with a parchment from Taronn Redfeather announcing that the next week, he would be taking the children on a field trip to the Moonkin Festival in Moonglade. Interested parents were also invited to attend.

Kerisa was surprised. In her years of studying moonkin, she’d learned that every four years or so, the moonkin tribes of Kalimdor gathered in Moonglade for an event that seemed somewhat similar to the Orcs of Draenor’s Kosh’harg. As a courtesy to the moonkin, the leaders of Nighthaven always closed Moonglade to all others for the two or three days of the event. Even Druids who took Moonkin form as their preferred shapeshift weren’t allowed. What had changed?

“The Legion”, said Taronn simply, when she inquired. Then he elaborated. “As this is now the third time the Legion has encroached upon this world in force, the moonkin tribes have concluded that they need to encourage friendly relations between their hatchlings and other peoples. They want the other peoples of Azeroth to see their people — not just Druids who emulate their form and powers — as helpful allies. Therefore, they are opening one day only of the gathering to the other races. From what I understood, this part of the gathering, this cultural exchange event for the hatchlings, will be held annually from now on — though the rest of the festivities will continue to be held only every fourth year.”

Many screenshots follow. Click through the cut to

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Things my Druid Wears, part 5 (outfits 41 – 50)

A collection of Transmogrification Kits actually worn in-game by my Tauren Druids. Outfits are listed from most recent to least recent. Items that are no longer obtainable are marked with an asterisk (*).

50) Stormcrow Smash

Shoulderpads of the Forgotten Gate (N), Preened Ironfeather Breastplate, Belt of Fierce Competition, Kilt of the Forgotten One, Oilrag Handwraps* + Storming Vortex Bracers, Hammer of the Sporelings
I had a hard time finding shoulders for this combination of chestpiece and kilt. When I first tried these, I liked how their color coordinated, and I liked their general shape, but I wasn’t completely sold on the hawk-head details. After much comparison with other options, I finally returned to these as the ones I liked best.
Looking for a weapon after the armor was assembled, this 2H mallet seemed the most fitting; from the shape of the shoulders and the weapon comes the name I gave to the outfit.

49) Lunar Efflorescence

Crown of Courage, Cenarion Spaulders, Festive Green Dress, Rope-Grip Gloves, Staff of the Verdant Circle
I used this combination (with the antlers that match the shoulders) as an RP-wear outfit for Lunar Festival in previous years, before the holiday clothes were Moggable.
Moonglade is THE location for the Lunar Festival, of course — but the lighting there is terrible!

48) Wedding at the Well



Crown of Courage, Spring Robes, Wound Dressing, Spring Flowers
A well might be a traditional location for a Tauren wedding — for a migratory or semi-nomadic people, a good well might become an anchoring location for their journeys, a resting place, and a gathering place where different tribes would meet and trade.
Unfortunately, my ideal Tauren bridal attire isn’t truly Moggable — the Crown of Courage can only be Mogged during Lunar Festival, and the Spring Robes can only be Mogged during Noblegarden. At other times, the actual items must be equipped. Despite this outfit not being a true Transmogrification, I wanted to post it here anyway because this is what Kerisa wore for her wedding, which took place between the end of Wrath of the Lich King and the beginning of Cataclysm.

47) The White Stag II

Ghostwalker set with Moonrage Girdle and Ravenbear Disguise
The Ravenbear Disguise grants the white leaf shoulders coveted by every Druid since their first meeting with Morthis Whisperwing in Zangarmarsh.
Without the Ravenbear Disguise, this kit could also be used with the Ghostwalker shoulders and Crown of the Forest Lord.
The Moonrage Girdle fits so perfectly with this fur-trimmed white leather gear that it almost seems like it was made to go with it.

46) The White Stag

Crown of the Forest Lord, Pauldrons of Malorne, Boneshredder Jerkin, Moss Cinch, Jinxed Hoodoo Kilt, Ghostwalker Gloves, Conifer Cone Staff
This outfit was designed for me by Erinys. It represents Malorne, or Apa’ro, as he is known to the Tauren, based on this text from the fourth of the Shu’halo creation myths:
This tale speaks of how the Earthmother gave the Shu’halo the love of the hunt. The Tauren became great hunters, but one spirit eluded them, Apa’ro, the white stag (called Malorne by the Night Elves.) The Tauren hunted Apa’ro to the ends of Azeroth, and finally the stag fled into the heavens. where his great antlers became tangled in the starts. As the moon, (Mu’sha) chased her brother across the skies, she saw the helpless stag, and immediately fell in love with him.
Because I couldn’t use the Conifer Cone Staff in the Earthmother kit, I decided to use it in the Malorne kit, instead. Then this belt seemed like a good addition, to pull in a little bit more of that orange from the eye in the staff. I felt like this Malorne-themed kit should have something from the Druid tier set named for Malorne, so I’ve put in those shoulders.

45) Chieftain’s Pride

Bronze-Tinted Sunglasses, Chieftain’s Shoulders & Gloves, Pridelord Armor, Supreme Sash, Warchief Kilt*, Shadow Wing Focus Staff
For a Druid, these Classic armor items were the obvious choice to complement the 13th Anniversary shades.

44) Guardian of Cenarius and G’Hanir

Cenarion Raiment with Belt of Cheapened Lives, Cloak of Enthralling Darkness, and Wildfury Greatstaff
The Cenarion belt has always seemed too bright, somehow. I like the overall effect better with this darker belt.

43) Heart of Thunder

Thunderheart helm shoulders & gloves, Canyon Runner’s Vest, Mighty Girdle, Leggings of the Immortal Night, Naturewarden’s Treads, Wisdom of Dionor, Origin of Nightmares
Though it drops in Naxxramas, this staff has always seemed to me like it was made to go with the Druid Black Temple set. I’m not particularly fond of the torso part of the chestpiece of that set, however, so after a bit of fiddling around with chestpieces and leggings, I settled upon this combination.

42) Malorne’s Nightmare

Gladiator’s Dragonhide Armor with Cloak of the Untamed Predator and Crimson Steel/Dagger of the Horde Vanguard/Shadow Wing Focus Staff/Funeral Pyre (H)
After doing the main storyline of Val’sharah twelve times to collect the Tears of Elune and unlock the “acquire a Pillar of Creation” Artifact tint with each class, I felt inspired to create a set of Nightmare-touched Transmogrification kits.
This Druid-specific kit was way too obvious and appropriate an idea to pass up.
If you’re capable of raiding Heroic or Mythic Emerald Nightmare — and you get very lucky — then of course you should sub in the The First Satyr’s Spaulders.
Fist weapons for Guardian; daggers for Feral; Shadow Wing Focus Staff for Balance; and Funeral Pyre for Resto. I like Funeral Pyre for Resto because it looks sort of like the twisted, cracked, glowing corrupted roots of Shaladrassil. The Talon Guard Staff would also be a good choice for the Resto version of this kit.

41) Morrowgrain Researcher

Straw Hat, Spore-Covered Tunic, Tree Warden’s Belt, Ranger Pants, Gloves of the Pathfinder, Swift Cenarion Footwear, Garden Scythe
When I found out that the Balance Artifact weapon would be a scythe, I started saving up my Draenic Seeds to get the Garden Scythe to Transmogrify it with.

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