Guild Wars 2

One of the major issues that people have often brought up with Sylvari is that, while you are leveling a character, the armor and gear you get while leveling does not look like the “natural,” Sylvari-plant armor that all the Sylvari NPC’s around you have. Instead, players constantly receive the standard human-esque armor that all other races get while leveling.

With the old transmutation system, sometimes players would be able to purchase Sylvari cultural armor, and transmute them with Transmutation stones. However, with the new transmutation charges system, this is no longer efficient unless one is willing to spend an exorbitant amount of transmutation charges on a lower level character.

I’ve recently been introduced to a pretty simple solution to this issue to allow a Sylvari-esque look while maintaining a very reasonable cost, especially if you have alts. The Cook’s Outfit (about 700 gems.) With the new outfit system, you are able to use outfits even in combat, making this new solution available.

Attached is a picture of a Necromancer I am currently leveling using the cook’s outfit to better illustrate this solution. Hopefully this information will be useful.

There are plenty of Sylvari NPCs who wear “human” gear as well. Even some in the personal story. I never felt out of place having my Sylvari in that type of gear as I leveled personally.

But yes, for those people who absolutely need some sort of natural leafy look this is a good alternative. The outfit itself is a tad costly, but at least there’s no transmutation charge or anything.

good solution. I like. I’ve been using the pirate suit on my memsmer because most of the light armor is the wrong look but this opens up a new option. Thanks for sharing

I fully agree. I would also love to see more leafy / flowery armors for the Sylvari among us that prefer a “natural grown” outift.

yep. Switched from the pirate to the chef. Now my Mesmer looks like an awesome wandering sylvari traveler that you wouldn’t want to mess with. Thanks Reikou!

It’s simple.

Most sylvari-related karma items sold in Caledon Forest and Brisban Wilds should have been Tier1 cultural in appearance (not stats). Also some sylvari PS rewards could have been also Tier 1 cultural (I believe at least one is?) (Kitten! One of the quest is to help a smith!). Finally, some chest loot tables could have had more Tier 1 cultural too.

Backgrounds skins could also have been made culture-dependant (mesmer and necromancer are to some extent, and not warrior, engineer and guardian).

Otherwise, like Electro, I found “normal” gear adapted to my characters.

That is a very nice Sylvari you’ve got there.

Haaznahnuff.1907:

It’s simple.

Most sylvari-related karma items sold in Caledon Forest and Brisban Wilds should have been Tier1 cultural in appearance (not stats). Also some sylvari PS rewards could have been also Tier 1 cultural (I believe at least one is?) (Kitten! One of the quest is to help a smith!). Finally, some chest loot tables could have had more Tier 1 cultural too.

Backgrounds skins could also have been made culture-dependant (mesmer and necromancer are to some extent, and not warrior, engineer and guardian).

Otherwise, like Electro, I found “normal” gear adapted to my characters.

The weapons you get from personal story rewards are often cultural during the early levels.

I remember I got the staff with my engineer (did I?).

But generally speaking, it’s unlikely you get cultural equipment (my sylvari warrior got chaimail chest etc.). Or… things changed in between.

Eager to see what you get after helping the Warden?
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Called_to_Service

Reikou, how did you get rid of the giant club hand the cook’s outfit has? Like in Dustfinger’ kitten above? Does the gloves toggle work on outfits the same way the helm toggle does? If so, hallelujah. I was using Cook’s for my guardian’s townclothes before the system got wrecked, but that giant mallet on the forearm wasn’t right.

Donari.5237:

Reikou, how did you get rid of the giant club hand the cook’s outfit has? Like in Dustfinger’ kitten above? Does the gloves toggle work on outfits the same way the helm toggle does? If so, hallelujah. I was using Cook’s for my guardian’s townclothes before the system got wrecked, but that giant mallet on the forearm wasn’t right.

If you hide your gloves on your normal armor, when you equip the cook’s outfit, the mittens will also be hidden.

Same can be done with the helm/cook hat.

I don’t think there are any parts linked to the shoulders though.

Confirmed. You can hide the gloves and helm but not the shoulders.

I don’t personally follow the belief Sylvari MUST have plant armor. They look fine in a number of outfits besides the plant armor.

Haaznahnuff.1907:

It’s simple.

Most sylvari-related karma items sold in Caledon Forest and Brisban Wilds should have been Tier1 cultural in appearance (not stats). Also some sylvari PS rewards could have been also Tier 1 cultural (I believe at least one is?) (Kitten! One of the quest is to help a smith!). Finally, some chest loot tables could have had more Tier 1 cultural too.

Backgrounds skins could also have been made culture-dependant (mesmer and necromancer are to some extent, and not warrior, engineer and guardian).

Otherwise, like Electro, I found “normal” gear adapted to my characters.

There are a few tier 1 weapons given out as personal story rewards, including a greatsword, shortbow and staff (possibly others). I haven’t ever seen any racial armor as a personal story reward.

Haaznahnuff.1907:

It’s simple.

Most sylvari-related karma items sold in Caledon Forest and Brisban Wilds should have been Tier1 cultural in appearance (not stats). Also some sylvari PS rewards could have been also Tier 1 cultural (I believe at least one is?) (Kitten! One of the quest is to help a smith!). Finally, some chest loot tables could have had more Tier 1 cultural too.

That wouldn’t really work since cultural gear (well, armor anyway) is race-dependent. No other race can wear cultural armor, or even talk to the vendors who sell it. And heart vendors and loot need to be accessible to all races. It may be primarily new players with Sylvari characters playing in Caledon for instance, but there are still plenty of players using other races coming through either for map completion later, or just on a new character for a change of pace (for example, my 3rd Charr I took through the Shiverpeaks areas instead of the Charr starter areas for variety).

The most they could have really done was added a low-level cultural set for new players sold by the same vendor that sells the usual cultural sets. But perhaps they wanted it to feel like an accomplishment to get to the point where you can wear your first set of cultural armor.

Not sure there. Look at the Tier1 weapons that are affordable to all as quest rewards and loot (Shiverpeaks, Krytan, Glyphic, Steam,… but no sylvari ones). Why not the armor? Or yes, five other Tier 0 “regional” sets for karma vendor instead of all those basic skins.

A charr leveling-up in the Shiverpeaks would loot and buy either basic equipment or regional (Shiverpeaks’) one (plus ogre, modniir, etc.).

Kalavier.1097:

I don’t personally follow the belief Sylvari MUST have plant armor. They look fine in a number of outfits besides the plant armor.

Agreed. IMO these plant armor are like a reward when you reach 80 level and you can show that “your plant has grown”
You start as a sapling, and when you’re fully grown you start to grow addditional leafs, flowers and stuff on your body. However, even without that there are still many combinations of armor that look so nice you almost dont want to change into plant-like look. Example? I transmuted some gear to make my elementalist look less like peasant. Now i fear i will keep that look instead of cultural i planned.

It looks like the sylvari luminescence does impact this non-sylvari armor, or what?

No, that armor is the zodiac armor. it glows blue no matter who is wearing it.

I see. Those shoulders and leggings do really match the other parts. Cheers!
The trick is then to have a blue skin or a blue luminescence.