Transmog By Race Part I: Dwarves

Tired of getting beaten to the punch on various transmogrification ideas I’ve had (I keep my sanity by arguing great minds think alike), I present to you the first in a series of posts where I suit up each race based on their classes and the role I envision them playing.  To kick things off I went with the race I likely have the most familiarity with in terms of “fantasy:” Dwarves.

Dwarves have access to every class now except for Druids and quite frankly they shouldn’t ever get it.  For the most part, I argue against Rogues as well but that’s a whole other story (and for this purpose, I’ve made it work).  Also, aside from the Forsaken I will refrain from using the Death Knight class (I’m treating it as their quasi-Antipaladin equivalent).

The Dwarven Kingdom is heavily stacked with Priests.  Now since this is my view, I don’t see Dwarven Shadow Priests (sorry, Dark Iron casters fall under Warlocks).  That means you you’re walking in the light where either Holy or Discipline suits the race just fine.  The outfit I built for Tumunzahar really feels like a Dwarven Priest for me, so I just tweaked him a little bit.

• Gossamer Headpiece
• Magician’s Mantle
• Kharmaa’s Shroud of Hope
• Runecloth Robe
• Gloves of the Avatar
• Historian’s Sash
• Ringo’s Blizzard Boots
• Staff of Immaculate Recovery

As I said a moment ago, I’ve had issue with Dwarf Rogues since my introduction to the game.  Especially since back then there were no Dwarven Mages and to have Rogues first completely baffled me.  In compiling this list, though, I came up with a role that a Dwarven Rogue would play, and that would be someone of a Dungeoneer or Siege Sabatoeur.  In both cases, I see them as Engineer infused, though the Dungeoneer may do more with Gnomes and the Siege Sabatoeur would be more Goblin/demolitions.

• Weakness Spectralizers
• Hide of the Lone Hunter
• Opulent Cape
• Dark Arctic Chestpiece
• Supple Gloves
• Hillman’s Belt
• Hogger’s Trousers
• Caribou Boots
• Excavator’s Brand
• Brutal Gladiator’s Chopper

When it comes to Dwarven Hunters, they fall into one of two rolls as a hero.  The first, is a Game Hunter type.  Not to Hemet Nesingwary lengths, but a game seeker just the same.   So, I started with the wolf shoulders and built from there.  I like that the pants look leather crafted as well, adding to the trapper idea.  I could’ve gone further with it, but was happy with how it turned out.

• Pauldrons of Wild Magic
• Gambler’s Wrap
• Beast Lord Cuirass
• Skom Gloves
• Heavy Scorpid Belt
• Wrathful Gladiator’s Chain Leggings
• Tundrastrider Boots
• Longbeard Rifle

On the flipside, a Hunter could also fit the role of a Dungeoneer.  Where a Rogue would disable traps and what have you, the Hunter would get by using his tracking skills to navigate the dangerous mobs that lurk behind every turn.  So with this outfit I went with a crossbow instead of a gun, but focused on including some elements of chain (specifically links) in the armor with the idea that it would come from the dungeons he’d explored.

• Frostscale Shoulders
• Earthpeace Breastplate
• Tidefury Gauntlets
• Banded Girdle
• Void Reaver Greaves
• Dragon Slayer’s Sabatons
• Marvelous Crossbow

I see Warlocks being a Dark Iron only class.  In the modern Dwarven hierarchy that’s mostly fine as they’ve been loosely accepted into the mountain, albeit under a mighty watchful eye.  I based this outfit loosely on the shades seen in BRD, as that’s where I would picture these guys prior to old Moira moving the clan into the Forge.

• Circle of Flame
• Cataclysmic Gladiator’s Felweave Amice
• Furious Gladiator’s Felweave Raiment
• Black Mageweave Gloves
• Cord of Screaming Terrors
• Ritual Sandals

One of the defining race and class combinations in the game, there’s no shortage of Dwarven Paladins  in Azeroth (or fantasy lore period).  Whether it’s as Champion of the Light or the Mountain, one can easily see them standing at the forefront.  So I built a pretty straightforward outfit, with a heavy gold/light influence.

• Glowing Wings of Hope
• Justicar Shoulderpads
• Cloudburst Cloak
• Glowing Breastplate of Truth
• Reinforced Sapphirium Gloves
• Belt of Valor
• Replica Legplates of Valor
• Replica Boots of Valor
• Anubisath Warhammer
• King’s Bulwark

Clerics are as prominent as Priests when it comes to Dwarves, and since they can wear armor it left me wanting to use the Paladin, as one could simply spec into Holy to properly represent them.  While I used a piece of the “definitive” Paladin gear in the game (Judgement), I was really happy with how unique and good this turned out.

• Symbolic Crown
• Replica Lieutenant Commander’s Lamellar Shoulderpads
• Merciless Gladiator’s Scaled Chestpiece
• Gauntlets of the Soothed Soul
• Lofty Belt
• Judgement Legplates
• Heroic Greaves
• Dathrohan’s Ceremonial Hammer
• Ironmender

Now Dwarves are wise and scholarly (to a stubborn fault), and it only stands to reason they count Mages among their ranks.  I debated on drawing on the element of Frost when putting the outfit together, but then reconsidered that for something more transcending.  I like the green offset in the design which very much veered away from some of the more traditional Dwarven colors.  Mages can get away with it.

• Mantle of Nefarius
• Robes of the Umbral Brute
• Cold Sweat Grips
• Cataclysmic Gladiator’s Cord of Accuracy
• Arachnidian Footpads
• Staff of Restraint

The Dark Iron Dwarves brought Warlocks, and Wildhammer Dwarves brought us Shamans.  In designing the Dwarven Shaman outfit I wanted something that relied on earth tones for the Dwarves, but also to be sure to include a node to the Wildhammer heritage.  Unfortunately, players can’t select any tattoos for the clan (hoping that changes in Mists).  What I’m most happy about with this outfit is how I managed to line up the three components around the waist perfectly(which is waist, legs, and even the chest).  I’m thinking Elemental, with lots of casting so weapon choice may vary.

• Gryphon Mail Pauldrons
• Embrace of the Phoenix
• Thalassian Ranger Gauntlets
• Skyshatter Cord
• Valorous Earthshatter Kilt
• Talhide Lined-Boots

I saved the best for last when it comes to Dwarves, as there is no shortage of them who like a good fight.  Said fisticuff is usually after a few good pints.  Despite the many options and roles for their Warriors, I picked two -the Defender and the Berserker.  The Defender is a fair bit on the cliched side, but still I was happy with what I came up with.

• Warleader’s Crown
• Ramshorn-Inlaid Shoulders
• Prospector’s Cloak
• Overlord’s Chestplate
• Dauntless Handguards
• Overlord’s Legplates
• Ancient Skeletal Boots
• Militant Shortsword
• Ebonhold Buckler

For the Berserker I wanted something a bit unique, and it needed to be a culmination where I could see the Warrior charging from a ledge and leaping out, axe in hand, to embed in a target.  It took a number of tries, but I ended up with a look I was happy with.

• Ironbark Faceguard
• Pauldrons of the Wardancer
• Carapace of Tuten’kash
• Furious Deathgrips
• Savage Saronite Waistguard
• Savage Saronite Legplates
• Tyrant’s Greaves
• Gorehowl

Hope you enjoyed my take on the Dwarf options in the game and will check back in to see what I do with the other races.  In part two, I’ll be flipping factions to tackle my favourite race in the game.