The MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online can also be found on the streaming platform Twitch. One streamer stands out, as she presents herself in her impressive homemade cosplays. We at MeinMMO wanted to know how this MMORPG has captivated her.
The story content of ESO, often praised by fans, features some remarkable characters. Both because of their personality and their appearance. This prompts some fans to dress up as their favorite characters.
This also applies to the streamer WesensCostumes. In her streams on Twitch, she often presents herself in beautiful or eerily beautiful cosplays of ESO characters. Anyone who has ever designed and crafted cosplays knows that there can be a lot of work behind such a costume.
In our cover image (taken by vyn_photo), she embodies Queen Ayreen, the leader of the Aldmeri Dominion. Both in the garb of such a revered personality from the Elder Scrolls lore, as well as in the guise of the most depraved characters, such as the traitor Mannimarco, she manages to shine.
We wanted to take a closer look at her cosplay works and learn more about the creation and ideas behind her cosplays. And why she is particularly fond of the characters from The Elder Scrolls Online.
Anime cosplays have led her to the ESO legends
How and when did you first become aware of cosplay?
“Through a friend, around 2007. She gave me a ticket for an anime cosplay convention for my birthday because she noticed that I had started to get interested in animes. That’s when it slowly began and has captivated me more and more since then.”
When did you create your first cosplay? What was it for a cosplay?
“After we went to the convention, we immediately planned our first cosplay. My first cosplay was Sabaku no Gaara, also known as Gaara from the desert. That was my absolute favorite character from the anime Naruto. My whole family helped with that cosplay. We all worked together to make the pumpkin bottle that Gaara carries out of papier-mâché. It was a really nice time.”
In this post via instagram, Wesens shows you her first cosplay:
Did you already plan to show your cosplays since you started streaming?
“Yes, definitely! My laptop, which I used at the beginning of my streaming career, couldn’t handle recording a stream while running a game at the same time. Therefore, I started with crafting streams, that is, how I construct my cosplays, how I build my weapons. When I then had a better PC, I started to stream my favorite game, The Elder Scrolls Online. At that time, I had already completed the cosplays for Mannimarco and Queen Ayreen, so it was clear to me that I wanted to share these cosplays with the ESO family.”
How does a cosplay stream usually go for you?
“I have now done 3 different cosplay streams. They basically go the same way. First, I do the make-up for the cosplay during the stream. Either I am already wearing the appropriate clothing or something similar. Sometimes my viewers can also see me as I put on armor. My husband helps me with that, and finally, a background that suits the character is added via green screen. Then there is a 10-minute break, during which the first photos are taken. Those are then shown directly in the stream. In the future, people should also be able to see the shooting live.”
The ESO cosplays hold a special place in her heart
Do you currently have any planned projects or are you working on a new cosplay? And when can we see it?
“At the moment, I am still working on Lyranth from ESO. Only 1 to 2 details need to be completed. Otherwise, a cosplay of Cadwell is planned next. However, I will present the cosplays no earlier than the end of next year.”
For which ESO characters have you already created a cosplay?
“My very first ESO cosplay was Mannimarco. But the Mannimarco from the cinematic version, that is, the trailer. I thought to myself right away when I first saw it: I need to do that! Next came Queen Ayreen. I had the same thought when I first saw her during a quest in Auridon. From Greymoor I could be seen as Fennorian, and then I started my current project, Lyranth. After Cadwell, there is still a Daedric Prince planned, but I don’t yet know which one it will be.”
What other content can be seen besides ESO and your cosplays in your streams?
“I’m planning to do more crafting streams again soon. Otherwise, I occasionally play something else from time to time; at the moment, I’m playing Cult of the Lamp occasionally. But I always stick with ESO, that’s my absolute favorite!”
You must also have a favorite quest in ESO?
“I love the questline with Narsis Dren, a Dunmer that you meet in various places across Tamriel. Something interesting happens in every quest.”
Is there a class or role in ESO that you particularly like to play? And do you have a favorite among your own characters?
“My first character that I created in ESO is a Nightblade, and she is still my favorite character. She is a stamina DD, but nowadays I generally prefer to play tank or healer. I just love throwing glitter with my little Templar. Therefore, my healer and my tank are also on my cosplay to-do list. Since my Nightblade is a Khajiit, I won’t be making her as a cosplay. I would just be way too perfectionistic about it.”
Do you have a personal favorite cosplay?
“That’s very difficult! I love all my cosplays and all ESO cosplays hold a special place for me because I love the game so much. But my absolute favorite is, just barely before the ESO cosplays, the Elven Warrior. I really wore that one continuously for 5 years. With this cosplay, I first realized how I could put a smile on people’s faces.”
What connects you to ESO right now and makes the game so special for you?
“Because of Skyrim, I was immensely looking forward to ESO even before its release. At gamescom 2013, I loved it after just 15 minutes of playing. I kept re-registering just to play again. The storytelling is just great in every chapter, and the side quests are all so beautifully detailed and lovingly designed. It just captivated me and I wanted to discover more of Tamriel. Just the fact that everything is fully voiced is perfect for immersion.”
If not, check them out:
What do you like to spend your time on in ESO and what do you like to show in your streams?
“My favorite pastime in ESO… I really enjoy thievery (she laughs)! I have devised entire thieving tours in individual cities to find the perfect routes for pickpocketing.”
The cosplay community is totally open-hearted
What were your most beautiful cosplay moments?
“The moments that warm my heart the most are when I wear a cosplay for the very first time. That is a highlight for me personally, seeing everything I have worked so long on come together. When I then see that people are grinning and shining because they like the cosplay, it makes me incredibly happy.”
What other positive experiences have you had through your cosplays?
“I always had a good connection with other cosplayers right away, and we quickly warmed up to each other and exchanged ideas. It didn’t matter if you knew a specific character or not. If someone liked a costume, they just said so, and both of them were happy about it and took photos together.”
Cosplay newbies, pay attention: Here are some tips!
Are there aspects of cosplay crafting that you particularly enjoy? And with which steps do you sometimes have to grit your teeth?
“I always start with the weapon. I enjoy designing and carving the weapon the most. At first, you also test which material fits best. Ideas can really develop well there. Then comes the armor. I usually work on wigs in between when I don’t feel like crafting. I try to push the entire sewing part as far back as possible because I don’t like it at all, even though I’ve gotten better at it. Sanding the armor pieces isn’t so much fun, either, because you end up with debris all over your home. However, I find painting at the end great. You can really refine the details there. It’s amazing to see what effects you can bring out.”
What motivates you to bravely endure the unwanted tasks?
“That’s the beauty of it. Even when you sometimes think: “What am I doing to myself?” And then it looks so wonderful at the end when it’s finished. That’s just a really nice feeling.”
What were your biggest or most annoying blunders?
“I think back to when I used to work with Styrodur and didn’t know that you could sand the material. Mind you, only with a mask! I carved for days and then frequently had moments when I ‘mis-carved’ and ruined three days’ worth of work. It was much more pleasant with sanding afterward.”
Do you have crafting tips for newcomers to the cosplay scene?
“I usually make my armors and weapons from Worbla thermoplastic. You heat it with a heat gun and can then shape it however you like. As long as it is warm, it feels similar to modeling clay. The nice thing is that there is no waste because you can also re-use scraps by melting them again. Another material I work with is EVA foam. In contrast to Worbla, it is lighter and overall stays softer and more flexible. The advantage is that it is more comfortable and also more durable if you get bumped while in cosplay. However, with the processing, you create a lot of waste.”
Do you already know WesensCostumes, or is the name still quite new to you? How do you feel about cosplays? Are you enthusiastic fans and maybe have you made a cosplay yourself? Feel free to let us know in the comments!
We asked Wesens about her favorite class in ESO. But how does it look for other ESO players? You can find out in our Ranking of the 6 classes of the MMORPG ESO – From unpopular to popular.
