Day 10 of catching up on Costumes (just one today since this one is a big one).
What's that at the end of your insect glaive? It's Monster Hunter Mama Dodo!
In case the name didn't give it away, this costume was made for the game Monster Hunter. "But 1dealist", I hear you say "There are like 87 different monster hunter games, which one was this one for?" This one was for Monster Hunter Wilds and, as someone who put in over 300 hours into World, I was really excited about this one!
For those that don't know, Monster Hunter is a game series where you hunt monsters that have disrupted the local ecosystem, use their parts to make cool armor and weapons, and use those new gear to hunt more difficult monsters. A combination of a deep combat system, strangely positive environmental outlook, cool giant monsters, and some even cooler fashion to chase after; it's a favorite for a reason!
I was especially excited for this one b/c this was one of the few games I really wanted to implement more of something lore heavy to the costume pool.
So...Lore Drop!
1dealist the Paleomancer is well...a Paleomancer, meaning he raises creatures from the dead that may be too expired for most necromancers to utilize. However, he was a crafter before he became one, meaning that he just can't help himself from "modifying" his summons to improve on their strengths or help remove their weakness. This goes from catapult Ankylosaurs to weaponized artificial limbs on an Achillobator (big raptor).
So when a game comes out that have monsters that look like a T-rex with a sword for a tail, I like to imagine all of the little summons like to watch to see if there is anything they can "request" as a modification. Almost like a shopping network but with more teeth.
So in addition to this costume there was a other things that were added. A little background that made it look like there were a bunch of eyes watching the screen, TTS that chat could utilize to make it seem like they were talking, as well as introducing a new summon to the public eye, King the T-rex (you can see the pictures of these below).
King himself is fairly modified, his teeth replaced with metal conductive ones to amplify his magic and also had requested a sword tail ever sense he saw Glavenus. To say that Wilds didn't disappoint would be an understatement and 1dealist may be trying to figure our how to retrofit a Railgun on a Quetzalcoatlus as we speak.
So discussing the idea around the costume and the experience is cool and all, but what about the costume itself. Well funny enough, it's just kinda...meh. I didn't really enjoy this costume. The fact that you couldn't tell WHICH Monster Hunter game it is from just looking at it is also a failure of clarity. The core idea was that Mama Dodo made a nest at the end of a players weapon and they are trying to get her off. I think there is a way to make this work but the execution of it is a complete failure.
Don't get me wrong. Every costume is beautiful in it's own right and there is always someone who can find something from each art piece regardless of quality. However, when talking about these costumes I need to be able to look at these objectively, and objectively, this isn't a good costume.
That doesn't mean the whole event was a failure however. Most of my attention wasn't on the costume, but creating the experience and impact on the community that I was trying to express. A new character that people can fall in love with, an interesting background of behind the scenes of a world I'm trying to create, and giving my community a voice for the first time.
I think it's less to do with the costume itself and more to do with the costume is just part of the whole much more in this situation than before. Each piece by itself may not be up to ones own standard (especially for a workaholic like myself) but together it's something that is more than enough to feel proud of.
I always say this, but remember to be kind to yourself on your own journey. I mean, this is my longest post so far and yet one of my most disappointing costumes. That tells you how much thought and effort goes into something even if it just didn't quite turn out the way the creator wanted.
A lesson that I know I will carry on for every creation after and wish I had for every creation before.