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ESO fan Katie wowed us and her fellow players with an incredible Alchemy cosplay during the recent in-person Celebration event, so we had to ask her about the much-loved character and her cosplay in our latest Community Spotlight!
Hi Katie! Tell us about your history with ESO. How did you first come to play the game?
I joined in 2017 after being obsessed with both The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Skyrim. Like so many others, I really got to dive into the game during quarantine to gain back the social aspect of life that was missing.
How did you get your start creating cosplay?
I have little history with cosplay. I enjoy dressing as either a forest witch or fae and going to my local Renaissance Faire. However, this was my very first character cosplay! Like ESO, there is a huge welcoming community at the Ren Faire that allows folks from any and every background to come together to be who and whatever they can imagine.
Alchemy is one of ESO's most-beloved NPCs. What appealed to you about her story?
To me, Alchemy's story is one of transformation, strength, and acceptance.
I wanted to bring attention to those much-admired aspects of her background as they apply today more than ever. I encourage those who haven't been to Summerset to experience her story to do so!
Is it daunting to cosplay a character that holds such importance to so many members of the ESO community? How did they react?
Absolutely, yes. Aside from being a well-recognized NPC, everyone has their own connection and appreciation for Alchemy, so I was nervous about disturbing that for anyone. However, the community was incredibly receptive and kind. Speaking to other folks at the community event was a great inspiration to keep trying my hand at cosplaying.
What was your process for creating this costume? How long did it take?
It took about a month between finding out I was invited and the actual event. First step was creating Alchemy's outfit. I was fortunate to find a purple sleeveless tunic and was able to hand sew on some silver frog-clasps for an easy replication of her clothing.
After recreating her tunic, my goal was to break down the mask into separate, craftable pieces that would fit together like a puzzle. I traced the general shapes onto a template mask and from there was able to cut those shapes from dried foam/clay medium. Once I had my puzzle pieces of mask, I was able to apply more of the foam/clay medium to build up the depth of those incredible flowing swirls. Several coats of gold paint later, I hot glued those puzzle pieces atop a purple-painted paper mask and applied some black netting behind the eyes.
Completing the look with black leggings, turtleneck, and scarf from my closet—we have Alchemy! The hand fan was added for drama, but I think Alchemy would approve.
The mask takes shape
Was there any part of crafting this that was especially challenging?
Alchemy's mask, for sure. It is very human-looking at its base compared to the paper mask used, and then the lovely free form on top was an intimidating piece to tackle. The main medium I used to create the form of Alchemy's mask was an interesting material that felt like foam but acted as clay when wet. I'm not well-versed in physical mediums, so creating such a sculptural, shapely piece, in hopes that she was still recognizable, was incredibly tricky.
What advice do you have for people wanting to dip a toe into cosplaying?
It's best to just jump right in, no matter how intimidating! This being my first cosplay, I've learned so much that I can't wait to apply to my next project. Don't let perfection be the enemy of progress!
Do you have plans for your next cosplay? Is it another ESO character?
I would love to plan another cosplay for next year's community event. As for whom, I'm not sure. Back to adventuring in Tamriel to find inspiration! :)
Thank you to Katie for taking the time to share her amazing Alchemy cosplay with us—you’ve done an incredible job bringing such a well-loved character to life. If you’ve crafted or enjoyed something you think the rest of the ESO family should see, share it with us via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
