Desert warrior style hilt

Howdy,
I've been tinkering with the design of my personal hilt. I decided to go a bit more "fringe" (outer rim, more like Wild space) sort of build. This is what I came up with.
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/...psvu2dqjod.jpg
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/...psz65wywzp.jpg
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/...psjh4gg3t5.jpg
So now I come to one problem, well not a problem. More of a question I can't really answer on my own. So I thought I may pick some brains...any thoughts.
Shroud
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/...psxt8l6gle.jpg
Or, no shroud
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/...psfrjabydj.jpg
I still have a couple trim rings on the way (for the grip), and may consider a box with two buttons (recharge on the chassis) here in the future. For now I'm just making smaller improvements. So don't be bashful speak up :) good or bad comments welcome.

It really could go either way, but with the shroud is fine.

Shroud, totally. Really fits well with the rest of the hilt, and it gives it a bit of a TFUII feel. Nice job with the weathering and the leather!

Either way looks good. My personal taste has me wanting to vote for with shroud.

Without the shroud it feels as though my eyes are being drawn to the ribs on the hilt (pommel, center, & emitter).
I really like the leather wrap, and the wooden beads on the end are a nice touch, almost like a good luck charm.

I'm gonna go the other way and say no shroud. A step away from what can sometimes be the norm. The emitter has enough character to stand on its own.

I like the shroud. Like Tryp said, it has a nice TFU2 feel.

IMO it looks better with the shroud and the emitter looks a little stubby without it. It doesn't look bad either way though, it's a nice piece.

Without the shroud, it kinda looks like it fell off or was lost in 'battle' ;)

Very nice weathering! I like the overall design, but the weathering is what does it for me.

I like the shroud. That aside, I think you hit your concept head on with wild space. It looks like it could be nice to duel with as well!

Very cool. Thanks for all your input(s). I've been considering taking the shroud off for a bit. As I sit here looking at it I found there is a pretty striking similarity to Starkillers TFUII hilt. So I'm considering doing a bit more custom work to the shroud itself. Similar to this
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/.../FUconBL10.jpg
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/.../FUconBL12.jpg
I think giving the emitter a bit more depth will give it a little less "plain" feel from the box up. I may be over thinking it :D

Just to toss the idea out there, what if you rotated the shroud so that the angle faces down towords the pommel?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wilbur

Just to toss the idea out there, what if you rotated the shroud so that the angle faces down towords the pommel?

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Well, its not a bad idea. But it leaves the top a little bare. So I'm back to looking at it like there is no shroud. But I do like the set up for that, possibly on a different hilt ;)

I like the shroud.