The Pretender
New Member
I'd like to make Maiev's armor and weaponry from Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. The partial reason behind this, though, is that I want to be able to appreciate all the details that artists like Samwise, James Zhang and others put into deciding Maiev's aesthetics in their works and the physics behind the armor itself. I hope that, by making the prop, I'll better be able to understand how it works and how practical it is in real life.
Eventually, when I understand the suit well enough, I want to make a male version, customized for practicality, comfort and aesthetics to wear at cons.
1.0 Publication History
I have yet to decide which version of the armor I want to make. There are a number of iterations, which I will highlight in the image below;
The 2005-Samwise iteration is the one that everyone seems to have fallen in love with and it's hard not to see why.
It shows the warden uniform in it's most imposing way that had been recorded since the release of the Frozen Throne. It painted the silhouette perfectly. However, despite it's visual beauty and the texture that was given to the metal, one alteration out of creative license would continue to scar Maiev Shadowsong over it's history, as displayed in the picture below.
All her helms, all of them, have become enclosed helmets after that moment. But the strong silhouette was maintained, with varying degrees of success.
1.1 The Slippery Slopes
A few artists attempted to wrestle Maiev into boobsock-armor to my chagrin and it doesn't look good on her. The loading screen of the Burning Crusade zones especially tries it's best to emphasize her chest. Makes me grimace. Oh, not because they tried to do that, but while demanding the player's attention to her chest, they themselves didn't pay attention to the chest in Samwise' 2005 depiction; at the very least, her chest area was stylized to resemble an owl. Not especially clever, but at least it had a point, then. [Sidenote; I also think that the barbute design is not unreasonable, but just ugle; the cleft is actually fairly owl-like, but I just think it looks horrible.]
James Zhang in 2011 made her look like even more of the night elf equivalent of a mobile tank, complete with bascinet. Even her moonblade looks like it's strong, and powerful, like the law. Excellent job, James, that's probably my second favorite depiction. Between the Esad, 2004 and James' version, James' iteration probably makes the most historical sense, because he transformed the helm into an actual great helm, meaning that the helm underneath would probably be an open bascinet, the bascinet not being an awful interpretation of the original.
So, overall, all the works maintained something that most fictive female characters lose over their publication history; a strong pose in a strong silhouette. This makes Maiev one of the strongest female warrior designs in gaming. Perhaps the best overall. It's simple, but distinctive. Artists have strayed from the original, but I was very, very pleased to see in Legion that the chest was not exaggerated and even the owl motive returned to the chest.
1.2 The Moonsword/Moonblade
I'm happy that the moonsword/moonblade didn't follow the 2007 Samwise design. Nothing wrong with the 2007 design; in fact, that is probably the best design of all the moonblades overall from an objective designer's standpoint.
However, from someone interested in martial arts and having done extensive research into it's usage, I personally consider the 2005 design the superior one and I'm incredibly happy that Legion seems to agree with me in that regard. I don't like the purple in the center, but the silhouette is what's important to me and I'll continue my work on making it a RL prop with my preferences in mind.
1.3 Losing her Wings
Oh, and the kicker of all the changes made? The one the I am personally the biggest, biggest fan of...? Maiev lost her wing motif. Between 2004 and 2005, when Illidan captured Maiev, the outcrops from her shoulders went from having wings to being clipped. And this is not just a change of design; you can see that in the original design, those half-crescents were actually already part of the wings; the feathers, though, were removed.
It's a strong show of poignant symbolism for Maiev's character. She pursued vengeance and with her obsession, she lost her wings and a life separate from Illidan. It tells a story of how someone can be abused, but abuse themselves by not letting go. Maiev could have sent for someone else, Maiev could have surrendered the cowl in her failure. But she didn't and, rather than being painted as something valiant, it was portrayed as what it was; an unhealthy obsession with returning to the status quo that ended up costing her everything, including part of her own soul. As Illidan would say when Maiev finally defeats him, "the huntress is nothing without the hunt".
1.4 The Sneer
So, throughout the publication history, we have seen several changes and several approaches with several areas of overlap. One of the things that I mentioned before is that, since the 2005 Samwise iteration, all helmets have become enclosed. And I think that's a shame, because, while the silhouette is maintained, the most striking feature of Maiev in The Frozen Throne was the determined look on her face and the imagined sneer she had as a result of this icon whenever she'd dish out Spartan-level quips at anyone she resented.
So, if I'm gonna be making a replica, I'll make a replica of the original helm. I actually have a cool idea about what I could do with the gap that's left.
I once watched a documentary of the making of the Warcraft universe and one of the things that was mentioned was that the night elves were intended to be a mix of Shinto, Celt and Norse cultures. Interestingly, I can see Japanese and Norse elements in this helmet; with the spectacle cheekbone guards from Northern traditions and a particular Sogonari (translation; unusual/intriguing, I think it is) crest that I found on a Japanese helmet.
Some Japanese helmets have what is called an "Mempo" gap, where a mempo mask would be place to guard the face from incoming weapons and to strike a fearsome appearance. This matches Esad Ribic's design of what is called a "falling buffe", which is best described as a kind of upside down visor, which comes from the bottom up rather than from the top down.
I had an idea of making a mempo which also serves as a nose-flute or a bocorina. That's not quite as icky as it sounds; the way that it works is that it presses over the nostrils and the lips like a gas mask and if you blow air through the flute with your nose, it creates a whistle that is much easier to control than doing it with your lips as well as providing greater range and volume. Playing into the bird themes, I think that might be a neat way to explain why the open face also serves a practical purpose.
2.0 Real Life References
With all of these iterations and depictions built, I hope to find reference material that I could use in order to recreate versions of the helmet and the armor that would preserve elements of the publication history as well as matching historical references.
2.1 Moonsword/Moonblade
The weapon is based on the sun-and-moon, wind-and-fire wheel traditions from Baguazhang (八卦掌), Choy Li Fut (蔡李佛) and Taijiquan (太極拳) and the Agni Purana (अग्नि पुराण,), but supersized, in addition to incorporating protrusions reminiscent of the Filipino kerambit.
The weapon seems clunky to wield, but I imagine it becomes more practical in combination with other weapons, such as a dagger or shortsword. In addition to the the techniques from traditional martial arts, I think that tonfa (トンファー) techniques could be translated for trapping. These moves are called "gyakute-mochi", as I understand it, refering to inverse grip, shifting to regular grip. This serves two functions; when inverse, it must offer a glancing block or a full block of an incoming weapon. The second function is to flip outwards in a smooth motion to capture any weapon that enters the torus-shape centered around the grip of the weapon. Based on these functions, it is possible to calculate candidate radii and ratios of the weapon to the arm that's wielding it.
Finally, unique to the moonsword/moonblade design, a third function emerges in gyakute-mochi for the 2005-Samwise iteration; one of the protrusions creates a kind of sickle-sword grip when held like this, meaning that it can still be used offensively while in an otherwise "defensive" grip, similar to half-swording. Further, the hook behind the blade could be interpreted as a finger-ring. In European swords, there are weapons with guards that allow the used to loop an index finger through a ring shape. This supposedly helps with edge-alignment and a more secure grip. Complex hilts would evolve around these kinds of grips to protect the hand further. Such grips can also be seen in karambit use.
Karambits have a preferred length and curve, which I will be taking into consideration for this piece.
I found a manual which describes how such a weapon might have been used, with the help of some martial artists on the Rum Soaked Fist forum.
3.0 Extrapolations
With these references above, I'll start extrapolating things I see in the weapons and armor and draw my own conclusions about the dimensions and composition.
3.1 Moonsword/Moonblade Edge
One striking feature in the moonsword/moonblade is the parabola shape. I have done many calculations on this subject in the past. When I find them again, I'll present my findings.
4.0 Fan-Art
There are several pieces of Fan Art which explore Maiev's uniform from different angles and I'll take them into consideration when designing a uniform customized to "Jarod"'s specifications.
5.0 Prototypes
First, I made a test version in a 3d printer in under an hour of the "moonsword" or "moonblade" to get an idea of the geometry of the real thing;
Eventually, when I understand the suit well enough, I want to make a male version, customized for practicality, comfort and aesthetics to wear at cons.
1.0 Publication History
I have yet to decide which version of the armor I want to make. There are a number of iterations, which I will highlight in the image below;
The 2005-Samwise iteration is the one that everyone seems to have fallen in love with and it's hard not to see why.
It shows the warden uniform in it's most imposing way that had been recorded since the release of the Frozen Throne. It painted the silhouette perfectly. However, despite it's visual beauty and the texture that was given to the metal, one alteration out of creative license would continue to scar Maiev Shadowsong over it's history, as displayed in the picture below.
All her helms, all of them, have become enclosed helmets after that moment. But the strong silhouette was maintained, with varying degrees of success.
1.1 The Slippery Slopes
A few artists attempted to wrestle Maiev into boobsock-armor to my chagrin and it doesn't look good on her. The loading screen of the Burning Crusade zones especially tries it's best to emphasize her chest. Makes me grimace. Oh, not because they tried to do that, but while demanding the player's attention to her chest, they themselves didn't pay attention to the chest in Samwise' 2005 depiction; at the very least, her chest area was stylized to resemble an owl. Not especially clever, but at least it had a point, then. [Sidenote; I also think that the barbute design is not unreasonable, but just ugle; the cleft is actually fairly owl-like, but I just think it looks horrible.]
James Zhang in 2011 made her look like even more of the night elf equivalent of a mobile tank, complete with bascinet. Even her moonblade looks like it's strong, and powerful, like the law. Excellent job, James, that's probably my second favorite depiction. Between the Esad, 2004 and James' version, James' iteration probably makes the most historical sense, because he transformed the helm into an actual great helm, meaning that the helm underneath would probably be an open bascinet, the bascinet not being an awful interpretation of the original.
So, overall, all the works maintained something that most fictive female characters lose over their publication history; a strong pose in a strong silhouette. This makes Maiev one of the strongest female warrior designs in gaming. Perhaps the best overall. It's simple, but distinctive. Artists have strayed from the original, but I was very, very pleased to see in Legion that the chest was not exaggerated and even the owl motive returned to the chest.
1.2 The Moonsword/Moonblade
I'm happy that the moonsword/moonblade didn't follow the 2007 Samwise design. Nothing wrong with the 2007 design; in fact, that is probably the best design of all the moonblades overall from an objective designer's standpoint.
However, from someone interested in martial arts and having done extensive research into it's usage, I personally consider the 2005 design the superior one and I'm incredibly happy that Legion seems to agree with me in that regard. I don't like the purple in the center, but the silhouette is what's important to me and I'll continue my work on making it a RL prop with my preferences in mind.
1.3 Losing her Wings
Oh, and the kicker of all the changes made? The one the I am personally the biggest, biggest fan of...? Maiev lost her wing motif. Between 2004 and 2005, when Illidan captured Maiev, the outcrops from her shoulders went from having wings to being clipped. And this is not just a change of design; you can see that in the original design, those half-crescents were actually already part of the wings; the feathers, though, were removed.
It's a strong show of poignant symbolism for Maiev's character. She pursued vengeance and with her obsession, she lost her wings and a life separate from Illidan. It tells a story of how someone can be abused, but abuse themselves by not letting go. Maiev could have sent for someone else, Maiev could have surrendered the cowl in her failure. But she didn't and, rather than being painted as something valiant, it was portrayed as what it was; an unhealthy obsession with returning to the status quo that ended up costing her everything, including part of her own soul. As Illidan would say when Maiev finally defeats him, "the huntress is nothing without the hunt".
1.4 The Sneer
So, throughout the publication history, we have seen several changes and several approaches with several areas of overlap. One of the things that I mentioned before is that, since the 2005 Samwise iteration, all helmets have become enclosed. And I think that's a shame, because, while the silhouette is maintained, the most striking feature of Maiev in The Frozen Throne was the determined look on her face and the imagined sneer she had as a result of this icon whenever she'd dish out Spartan-level quips at anyone she resented.
So, if I'm gonna be making a replica, I'll make a replica of the original helm. I actually have a cool idea about what I could do with the gap that's left.
I once watched a documentary of the making of the Warcraft universe and one of the things that was mentioned was that the night elves were intended to be a mix of Shinto, Celt and Norse cultures. Interestingly, I can see Japanese and Norse elements in this helmet; with the spectacle cheekbone guards from Northern traditions and a particular Sogonari (translation; unusual/intriguing, I think it is) crest that I found on a Japanese helmet.
Some Japanese helmets have what is called an "Mempo" gap, where a mempo mask would be place to guard the face from incoming weapons and to strike a fearsome appearance. This matches Esad Ribic's design of what is called a "falling buffe", which is best described as a kind of upside down visor, which comes from the bottom up rather than from the top down.
I had an idea of making a mempo which also serves as a nose-flute or a bocorina. That's not quite as icky as it sounds; the way that it works is that it presses over the nostrils and the lips like a gas mask and if you blow air through the flute with your nose, it creates a whistle that is much easier to control than doing it with your lips as well as providing greater range and volume. Playing into the bird themes, I think that might be a neat way to explain why the open face also serves a practical purpose.
2.0 Real Life References
With all of these iterations and depictions built, I hope to find reference material that I could use in order to recreate versions of the helmet and the armor that would preserve elements of the publication history as well as matching historical references.
2.1 Moonsword/Moonblade
The weapon is based on the sun-and-moon, wind-and-fire wheel traditions from Baguazhang (八卦掌), Choy Li Fut (蔡李佛) and Taijiquan (太極拳) and the Agni Purana (अग्नि पुराण,), but supersized, in addition to incorporating protrusions reminiscent of the Filipino kerambit.
The weapon seems clunky to wield, but I imagine it becomes more practical in combination with other weapons, such as a dagger or shortsword. In addition to the the techniques from traditional martial arts, I think that tonfa (トンファー) techniques could be translated for trapping. These moves are called "gyakute-mochi", as I understand it, refering to inverse grip, shifting to regular grip. This serves two functions; when inverse, it must offer a glancing block or a full block of an incoming weapon. The second function is to flip outwards in a smooth motion to capture any weapon that enters the torus-shape centered around the grip of the weapon. Based on these functions, it is possible to calculate candidate radii and ratios of the weapon to the arm that's wielding it.
Finally, unique to the moonsword/moonblade design, a third function emerges in gyakute-mochi for the 2005-Samwise iteration; one of the protrusions creates a kind of sickle-sword grip when held like this, meaning that it can still be used offensively while in an otherwise "defensive" grip, similar to half-swording. Further, the hook behind the blade could be interpreted as a finger-ring. In European swords, there are weapons with guards that allow the used to loop an index finger through a ring shape. This supposedly helps with edge-alignment and a more secure grip. Complex hilts would evolve around these kinds of grips to protect the hand further. Such grips can also be seen in karambit use.
Karambits have a preferred length and curve, which I will be taking into consideration for this piece.
I found a manual which describes how such a weapon might have been used, with the help of some martial artists on the Rum Soaked Fist forum.
3.0 Extrapolations
With these references above, I'll start extrapolating things I see in the weapons and armor and draw my own conclusions about the dimensions and composition.
3.1 Moonsword/Moonblade Edge
One striking feature in the moonsword/moonblade is the parabola shape. I have done many calculations on this subject in the past. When I find them again, I'll present my findings.
4.0 Fan-Art
There are several pieces of Fan Art which explore Maiev's uniform from different angles and I'll take them into consideration when designing a uniform customized to "Jarod"'s specifications.
5.0 Prototypes
First, I made a test version in a 3d printer in under an hour of the "moonsword" or "moonblade" to get an idea of the geometry of the real thing;
Last edited:
