Tolkien Week is the week containing Hobbit Day. Hobbit Day is the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Both Bilbo and Frodo were said to be born on September 22, but of different years.
Thanks to J.R.R. Tolkien’s amazing works, we can play Lotro today. Lotro allows us to move and act in Middle Earth in ways that would otherwise be confined to pages in a book and pictures in our minds. As Lotro players we participate in the experience of Middle Earth, and we all affect it in some way or another. We are all different in how we play Lotro and what we enjoy about Middle Earth, but probably my own greatest enjoyment comes from creating outfits.

Since this week is Tolkien week, I was wondering what he would wear if he were to walk around in virtual Middle Earth. Judging from the few pictures I know of him, he dressed like an Englishman in proper tweed and necktie, and was always smoking pipe. Of course Lotro does not provide that type of style, so I tried to imagine an outfit that would fit his character and make him look like a distinguished gentleman. I gave him my best robe to wear. It is the minstrel robe that I got from the Rift raid, and since it is called “Wandering Bard’s Robe” I think it is quite fitting. I tried to capture the atmosphere of Tolkien as a writer with the indoor pictures, but the outdoor pictures do more justice to the intricate design of the robe.

Happy Tolkien week!

Chest: Wandering Bard’s Robe, sienna dye (Rift raid, minstrel only)

Shoulders: Shoulders of Fém, navy dye (quest reward, light)

Feet: Leather Shoes*, black dye (medium armour smith, Esteldin)

* Even though I think boots look better with this robe, I am convinced Tolkien would wear shoes. Polished.