I'm going to New York Comic Con this year, and I'm making a Morrowind-inspired costume, loosely based on the chitin armor from Dragonborn. So far I've got a couple of crab shells, and I'm making a helmet out of a horseshoe crab. I also plan to make some goggles and the armor itself, but what do you guys think?

Look up a few how-to guides on making chitin armor, or armor that looks similar. also, post what it looks like when you're done

I don't know anything, but I want pics too!

I think I’d like pictures, too! Good luck with your project. Sorry I don’t have any advice, though.

You've got my vote on wanting to see pictures of it when it is finished too. The crab shells sound great, but will they be large enough? (and if so, I am coming to dinner there!)

I'm planning to use a shell as a mask with some holes, and the other two as a belt buckle and a pauldron. I've also decided on more of a leather look for the whole thing.

I didn't know what the armor looked like (haven't got that DLC yet), so googled it - they really do look like crab shells!

Keep us informed of your ideas and changes you decide to make, this is extremely interesting and intriguing!

This site had a costume contest before Oblivion came out, you should see the awesome pictures of everyone in their costumes! Really nice, I'll try to find a link for you.

Here is the link (I believe it is the correct thread) :

Never mind


The link for the pictures was broken when we got our new server! Urk.


All the "Waiting 4 Oblivion" history of this site was lost when they changed domains ... urk.



I am really glad that back in 2010 when I first came to this site, I took the time to look up all that wonderful old stuff from before Oblivion came out, from back when Minque and Burnt, Alexander and Starge were on here all the time - some of the most fun TES stuff on the internet took place on this site (we still got it when it comes to that, lol).

So the shells are done drying, now i just need to varnish and find something so that I can pierce them without shattering them. Thumbtacks, maybe? I don't know. Anywho, I found a nice cheap leather vest and a cloak online, so if that gives you something to think about, good for you. I appreciate all the support you've been sending my way, this is way more than I expected. Do you want pictures of the shells?

Sure on pictures. How brittle are they? Might try an electric drill if you have one or know someone that does.

I agree with KC, a drill with a small bore will probably be the only way to do it.

I thought I should give you guys a better idea of my vision of the armor itself:

-The horseshoe crab will look something like a kettlehat, with a Redoran insignia stenciled on, and have the horseshoe crab thorax as a kind of neck protector, might include some goggles to hide my outlander-ness.

-The cuirass will have a red silk or silk-looking base, with some brown linen and leather over that.

-The greaves will be linen, with chitin-styled knees and shin guards, same on the arms.

-The shoes will be either sandals and socks, boots, or leather boot-looking shoe covers.

-I'm considering a polearm, maybe a billhook, as my weapon, to fit the whole peasant-soldier motif.

-Any accessories you guys can think of? Again, anything is much appreciated.

I'm also afraid the crab shells are too brittle to use, I'll have to find a substitute, but the horseshoe crab is A-OK.

OK then. The horseshoe crab shell is cracked, warped, and otherwise broken. I'll still try to make the costume, but the shell was what originally inspired me. Goodnight, sweet arachnid. I mean, you were dead when I found you, but...

Nooooo! Can you make a mold of it or something? That might work for the crab shells, too. Use one shell to make the mold, then you can make as many "shells" as you need.

Maybe. I'll probably try soaking it and then trying your idea. It's pretty broken, I might put up a pic later.