|
|
Drannes
SITH WARRIOR - JUGGERNAUGHT Specialization - Level 47
I created Drannes to play through the Empire storyline with BFF Lightsider. I wanted to do something very different from previous characters, so I went with a tank this time around. A lot of his early outfits are the same as my previous Sith Warrior Doriyen's, but as their class specializations diverged, so did their choices in armor.
Drannes comes from wealth, owing to his Sith-red skin, was was brought to train on Korriban. He found himself a pawn in a power game between a Sith Lord and one of the Academy instructors, but managed to turn the situation around to his benefit. Powerful and happy to lord it over others, Drannes demands instant respect, and tends to act quickly to extort it from those who fail to recognize his authority and power.
He's a jerk, essentially.
Last Updated 2013-09-27: An entire new gallery for the Elder Vindicator's Chestguard and a new Ancient Vindicator's Chestguard gallery added.
|
 The heaviest armor available for purchase on the starting planet, Drannes picked up a set of these clothes to tide him over until his Master finally saw fit to properly equip him.
|
 I wasn't really partial to the crimson-skinned Sith player-race, but it quickly grew on me. My friend Tohru's own Sith character Siri'ous had a lot to do with that.
|
 This was the first character I created where I had the foresight to save his starter weapon for postarity. This is Drannes's Sith Warblade, which was a special vibro-weapon he was sent to retrieve as part of his accellerated training.
|
 Drannes's master finally gave him some halfway-useful armor soon before completing his training on Korriban. I liked this outfit, but mainly just because it was a step up from the absolutely forgettable Street Vest I'd been stuck with up to this point.
|
 Somewhere around this point, naturally, Drannes also finally earned his lightsaber while on a mission for his master. I really like how this outfit compliments his red skin so well.
|
 A close-up on Drannes's expression. This outfit didn't stay in use very long, since just after completing Korriban it becomes outdated very quickly. Still, it suited Drannes very well.
|
 Completion of the starting planet brings with it several advantages, including Drannes's first set of mod'able armor, the Bladestorm's Chestguard. It's a painfully unimaginative retexture of the previous Warrior's Vest, but the ability to accept upgrades means it's tons more useful.
|
 Drannes contemplates his new armor. I didn't care for this armor set with my other Sith Warrior Doriyen, who's a DPS-centric Marauder; but on a Juggernaught tank like Drannes it actually works. Makes him look buff and hard to knock over.
|
 About the same time, I also received a very rare and very valuable Phantom Helmet cartel market item from generous Lightsider. It's modifiable, and looks great on a Sith. It immediately became Drannes's staple "look."
|
 Drannes gets used to his new duds. This outfit reminds me a lot of the ol' Cobra Vipers, just more Sithy. Drannes maintained this outfit from about level 10 to level 25, at which point it was time for a change.
|
|
[PROTOTYE] GLADIATOR CHESTGUARD
|
 And now Drannes's evolution as a Juggernaught is really starting to pick up speed. By pure luck I found this chestpiece on the Galactic Market for a very good price. Reminiscent of Darth Vader's uniform, and goes well with the helmet Lightsider gave me.
|
 Some close-in detailing. I don't like the lighter grey sections of the outfit, but it's still a solid-looking set of armor. This is much more like what I'd expect a Juggernaught to wear while tanking.
|
 Quick action shot of the new armor, also showing off Drannes's news lightsaber, which was taken from poor Yadira Ban during the Black Talon flashpoint.
|
 One thing about this armor I don't quite like is how it makes Drannes look a little heavy in the middle. There's an extra vest layer on top of his chest, and it makes his arms look a little scrawny compared to his torso. Still, even with a minor proportion problem, it's a great step in the direction I want to take my Sith tank. As of this writing, this is where Drannes stands, armor-wise.
|
 Drannes and his companion/servant/hired gun Kurokino, the Bounty Hunter. Kurokino took a job early in his career to protect Drannes while he was still at the Sith Academy (and under the threat of murder at any turn thanks to his teacher's political agendas), and the two seemed to have concluded that sticking together is to their mutual advantage.
|
Turns out there's really good drugs to be found on Nar Shadaa.
|
|
JUGGERNAUGHT'S FOUNDRY CHESTPLATE
|
 Update 2013-04-26Basically the same as the previous armor, but in a rad-black-white color scheme this time; it was a drop from a flashpoint I ran recently. Honestly I wasn't fond of it, the color-matching is really off, in my opinion. See how the legs have all that white in them?
|
 Update 2013-04-26This chestpeice may look better with a different set of leggings/greaves, so I'm keeping it. But for now, this one just doesn't work for me. It would look cool with a purple saber blade, though...
|
 Update 2013-04-26As said, the outfit works but for the greaves. This shot of just the waist and up looks pretty cool, though it also has the same "fattening" effect as the Gladiator Chestguard. I'm keeping this one on standby for when a more viable set of pants comes along for it.
|
|
RAMPAGE ASSAULT CHESTGUARD
|
 Update 2013-04-26These robes-and-armor variants are a favorite of mine, but it wasn't actually my first choice for my Juggernaught. I was wanting to go for a more Darth Vader-y look, more than a cosmic dark Jedi... But as Lightsider put it, if that's what I wanted, I should have selected a bigger body at character creation.
|
 Update 2013-04-26So okay! Let's embrace what we have and work with it. This heavy armor set does have a cool "covert" look to it; Drannes could almost be a bounty hunter in that outfit. And to my delight, his helmet works with it perfectly. This detail zoom-in shows off the weird tiger-stripe pattern on the right shoulder.
|
 Update 2013-04-26I'll give it to Lightsider: he's right. Thinner, lighter-looking armor suits Drannes. I'm not giving up on a more Vader-esque outfit later on, but for now this one's working just fine.
|
Update 2013-04-26The plain ol' red lightsaber compliments the purple and black of the outfit really well, I thought. I'd actually just acquired another purple crystal for his saber, but now I don't think I'll use it. Red works better, here.
|
 Update 2013-05-10Drannes has a new helmet and a new girlfriend! Jaesa is one messed up chick, but she brings the DPS so I love her. It looks like they're practicing walking away from an explosion, doesn't it?
|
|
ELDER VINDICATOR'S CHESTGUARD
|
 Update 2013-05-10As level 40 approached, I decided it was time to update Drannes's look again. I found an outfit identical to his purple Rampage Assault Chestguard except that it had a grey-black color scheme, but this Elder Vindicator's outfit really hit the mark, I thought. The new helmet is a flashpoint drop, and it makes his voice sound really menacing.
|
 Update 2013-05-10This is a lot more like what I was invisioning when I decided to make a Sith tank. Pads and armor and a Vader-style cape. That mask is creepy; I was impressed with how well they made a unique and iconic mask that didn't look a thing like Darth Vader's and yet was also immedaitely identifiable as Sith.
|
 Update 2013-05-10A nice closeup that shows just how wild this new mask is. It also flangs up Drannes's voice, makes him sound like a monster. Sadly it's no substitute for James Earl Jones, but it's a nice creepy effect.
|
 Update 2013-05-10A red saber just clashed with all that red. So it's time to upgrade my lightsaber too! Purple's a status symbol in this game that's lost some of its status, but it's still cool seeing a red-armored Sith swinging around a violet-bladed lightsaber.
|
Update 2013-05-10This one really gets the menacing edge of that helmet across. It also brings out a slight color mis-match between the chest and pants; eventually I may need to address that. As it is for now, though, he's still on Taris and Taris is really dark, so I doubt anyone's even noticed yet...
|
|
ELDER VINDICATOR'S CHESTGUARD REDUX
|
 Update 2013-09-27When the "Customization" patch dropped last summer, Drannes decided it was time to check out this new appearance customization thing. Drannes is a lot stronger since starting out on Korriban, and it's high time it showed.
|
 Update 2013-09-27And the enhancements are complete. Drannes is now the hulking crimson Darth Vader I originally intended for him to be. Finally, those shoulder pads don't look so silly any more.
|
 Update 2013-09-27Drannes approves! With his more Juggernaught-esque build coupled with his trusty Elder Vindicator's armor, he's finally found the perfect, iconic, unique look that will let him stand apart from the Empire's other champions while-
|
 Update 2013-09-27...Oh.
|
 Update 2013-09-27But never mind-! His new enhancements help fill out his armor much better, now.
|
 Update 2013-09-27The mask is more menacing now, too, sitting on top that huge gorilla body.
|
 Update 2013-09-27Fun dramatic shot as Drannes thinks deep thoughts.
|
 Update 2013-09-27That's better. This is not something you want to see when the elevator doors open.
|
 Update 2013-09-27Purple saber still goes great with the red armor. Drannes is ready to do some major damage.
|
 Update 2013-09-27A redux of a a previous pose, demonstrating just how much menace that helmet can project when weilded properly. Drannes has given up the appearance of being agile and precise, but has gained considerable leverage in pure powerful terror.
|
 Update 2013-09-27On Quesh, the new enhanced Drannes and henchman/partner/paid assassin Kurokino demonstrate the Slow Walk technique, protecting themselves from a devastating explosion by turning their backs and walking away slowly in accordance with the laws of cool.
|
 Update 2013-09-27Drannes and suddenly-much-smaller Kurokino humor a local Imperial officer on Hoth, who apparently can't even be bothered to greet them in person.
|
 Update 2013-09-27A good cutscene zoom-in on Drannes's murderdeath helmet, and the Sith Lord decides which of the local garrison lieutenant's arms to rip off first.
|
 Update 2013-09-27The Imperial duo meet more bureaucracy than snowflakes on Hoth; the Empire's entire operation on the planet seems to be split into so many little independent cells with no central command and no communication, that the whole thing's falling apart...
|
|
Ancient Vindicator's Chestguard
|
 Update 2013-09-27But the changes keep coming. As Drannes clears the upper-level-40s, it's time to return to the Galactic Market and research new options. And wow was it worth while.
|
 Update 2013-09-27A more black-themed version of the previous red armor, this outfit is the perfect fit for my "like Darth Vader only cooler" mission statement for the character.
|
 Update 2013-09-27Some nice detailing on the new outfit. The mask looks even meaner, in black and white.
|
 Update 2013-09-27Drannes demonstrates his versatility by weaving a small display of Sith sorcery, courtesy of the legacy emote system.
|
 Update 2013-09-27But a new, dark outfit like this demands a better saber; that old purple blade and basic hilt Drannes has been dragging around since the starter planet just aren't sufficient anymore. An angry red-orange blade courtesy of a Blood-Red color crystal and a new "plasma saber" Volatile Derelict Lightsaber hilt, and Drannes is finally stylin'.
|
 Update 2013-09-27It's hard to tell in still-shots, but that gassous effect on the base of his saber blade bubbles and boils, a very cool affectation for the weapon of a massive Sith engine of destruction. The hilt is larger than a standard saber hilt, as well, which works well for obvious reasons. Quite a victory.
|
|
|
