since people didn't make functional swords out of gold, i didn't really get the feeling that the original astora greatsword was not some legendary relic. why would i expect a relic of a long lost kingdom to be made of a less functional material? actually i really like the look of the astora greatsword. but i guess some gold trim would be cool, it seems like you could have been better off doing a UV mod to make just the pommel and hilt golden, and the grip navy blue or something. maybe make the little inlay at the base of the blade gold as well.
i always imagined "gold" on fantasy weapons and armor to be more "gold plating" in truth than actual solid gold, as more of a stylish symbol of nobility than an actual enhancement to the blade itself. Brass also has a very similar appearance to gold, and is a much more practical material. As such it was actually used in real historical weapons in a similar context. Not quite for the blade, since steel is obviously stronger, but for decorative flair like on guards and pommels. The Astora Straight Sword also has a very similar aesthetic to this mod, with the gold guard, pommel, and stripe going down the center of the blade, so, as a matter of fact, it's very much in keeping with Astora's aesthetic style
when it comes to purely aesthetic mods, no one is "right". making parts of the weapon appear gold doesn't actually weaken the weapon in game. If it breaks your immersion too much, then this mod is simply not for you. One of the things I like about fantasy games, though, is that weapons can have that fancy gold trim and still be just as, if not more functional than a plain steel weapon.
besides, i didn't make the whole sword solid gold. I'm not a fan of solid gold aesthetics. I only made the guard, pommel, and central inlay on the blade gold. Gold guard and pommel is already how the Astora Straight sword appears. The only thing different this does to the greatsword is the central inlay. Now that i look back on the screenshots, though, i can see how the lighting in high wall makes the blade appear gold, but I assure you the blade itself is unchanged from the vanilla color.
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besides, i didn't make the whole sword solid gold. I'm not a fan of solid gold aesthetics. I only made the guard, pommel, and central inlay on the blade gold. Gold guard and pommel is already how the Astora Straight sword appears. The only thing different this does to the greatsword is the central inlay. Now that i look back on the screenshots, though, i can see how the lighting in high wall makes the blade appear gold, but I assure you the blade itself is unchanged from the vanilla color.