Alteration

Alterations are GM mediated custom changes to a facet of your character, usually an item. In most cases, these alterations are purely cosmetic, but sometimes additional factors can be added.

In addition, there is also a specific type called LTB Alterations or Premium alterations and Feature alteration that have their own special rules.

Process

Alterations can come from a variety of sources, but the two most common are merchant sessions and scroll alterations.

Merchant Sessions

Most common at festivals, alterers will show up either randomly or at prescheduled times. They will open a list, that when JOINed will place your name on said list. The list usually remains open for some time, to allow everyone to join, an occasionally it will remain open during the entire event. But usually, it will be closed after a decent amount of time, preventing any other joiners.

At this point, the alterer will usually either pick the first name (very uncommon) or a random name from the list (usual) to do work with. It should be noted, getting on the list does not guarantee work unless the alterer specifically states it. Some alterers will only work for five or ten people, others do multi-hour events working for fifty or more.

Like all alterations, all rare materials must be on hand and as well as payment required by the alterer.

Assistants

It has become more common in recent years for alterers to employ player assistants to do the initial examination of someone's idea, as these people tend to be experienced in the process. They'll help people with incomplete ideas enhance them, pick out any typos or rules violations, and just generally clean up the idea. While it is not required that the assistant's ideas be listened to, it is highly likely the alterer will not look favorably upon complete disregard of their rule corrections.

Scroll

Scroll alterations are often done either through the LTB system or as a reward for purchasing an event. These differ in that all contact with the alterer is done via an ingame item, the scroll, and depending on the complexity or requests, may take several days.

Items

General Rules

• The tap (the name of the item that you see when you type INV HELD) cannot exceed 80 characters (including the leading article a/an/some and spaces)
• The look (what you see when you type LOOK [ITEM]) cannot exceed 500 characters, including spaces and punctuation. (There must be two spaces between sentences.)
• A read (what you see when you type READ [ITEM]) should be no more than 50 characters and 10 words. (Most writing should be in a separate read and not in the tap or look.)

• Words or phrases in any racial language will have to be verified and may not be possible at all times.
• Character names are generally not allowed.

• Items cannot dictate how people feel or react. (For example, your armor can't strike fear into the hearts of your enemies.)
• Glyphs, runes, and sigils are not permitted. Other synonyms, such as "symbols," are usually permitted.
• Items cannot glow or otherwise emit their own light (unless one of its materials naturally glows). Shimmering and other similar words are acceptable.
• Merchants generally do not add special mechanics or scripts to items.
• Merchants generally do not change where an item is worn or how much it can hold.
• Items cannot imply that they have mechanics they do not have. For example, stalking leathers can be "designed to aid stealth," but they do not actually and cannot be said to aid the wearer in moving about.
• Items named after a race are usually not permitted. For instance a Kaldaran shield needs to be specifically described in such a way that it can only be Kaldaran.
• Some descriptions should specify "when worn" or similar phrasing to prevent confusion or strangeness when an item is not being worn.
• If containers are being used as a source for material (and not the item altered), they must be empty.
• Obvious out-of-genre or out-of-character references/designs are not permitted.
• Nothing obscene, vulgar, or sexually explicit is permitted.

The history of the item cannot be described, as a stranger looking at it would have no way of knowing this information:

• Descriptions of the origin, provenance, or chain of ownership of the item are not permitted.
• Descriptions of the cause of damage to an item are not permitted. However, the damage itself is usually acceptable. (For example, you might describe a robe as "scorched" but can't say that the damage was caused by a lightning strike.)

Noun Changes

As a general rule, the noun cannot be changed for weapons, shield, or armor, even if it's the same crafting template or type of weapon.

Noun changes for other items are often permitted if it's a similar type of item, such as dress -> gown or backpack -> pack.

Note: Some merchants are willing to change the noun to a racial noun when appropriate. For example, a "robe" might become a "gamantang" or an "odaj."

Maker's Marks

Maker's marks on player-made equipment have some special rules:

• If a mark is present on a piece of equipment, it must be incorporated in the new design. There are no exceptions, even if the crafter is present to waive the requirement.
• If a mark is not present on an item, and you want to add it to the item, the merchant must be able to independently verify who made it. There appears to be a short window of time (a few days) in which it is possible to tell who made it even without a mark.

Magical/Scripted Items

Many items with special magical effects or scripts can only be worked on by certain merchants. Please ask in advance and come prepared with a Plan B in case your merchant cannot work on the item.

Additionally, some items (such as the dull serpent earcuff have special alteration rules or cannot be altered at all. If known, such rules or limitations will be described on the relevant item page.

Note: generally, an item cannot have two scripts. For example, feature-modifying jewelry can not also function as a magical item hider.

Examples of items with magical effects or scripts that may require a special merchant:

• ashcloaks
• atmospheric items
• cambrinth
• chakrel
• feature-modifying items (see below)
• flying brooms or carpets
• magical item hiders (you may now combine as many hiding mechanics as you want, provided the merchant works on such items)
• passive stat regenerating items, such as dull serpent earcuffs
• pets
• pilgrim's badges (only the tap can be altered, not the look)
• ritual foci
• soulstones (special verbs may be lost by the addition of a soulstone)
• spell-casting items

Feature-modifying Items

Q - Can they be altered?

A - Yes, they can be altered, but only the TAP usually shows up in features, and sometimes (depending on the setup) only the SHORT. Alterers likely will not change that setting in a session.

Q - Can they be altered via LTB scroll?

A - Yes, but probably not "location" change.

Q - Are there any special rules (character limits, etc)?

A - No limits other than the normal. Because these can be pushed into the features and pulled out, the TAP should never mention anything about the features, it should only be the item.

Q - Is their script stackable with any other scripts (like hiders, etc.)?

A - Not stackable, but should work with beard jewelry script as well, so you can wear both.

Titles/Professions in Item Designs

Unless the profession or title you want to use is listed below, you must display the title to prove that you have earned the right to use it. Additionally, the item design should explain how that title is appropriate. For example, a "legionary's" pack might be designed to be more comfortable on long marches.

Explicitly Permitted Titles

actor advocate alchemist animal handler apothecary architect archer aristocrat armorer artisan artist astrologer baker banker barber barkeep barmaid beekeeper beer seller beggar blacksmith boatman bookbinder bookseller brewer buckle maker builder butcher caravan leader carpenter cartographer captain (nautical themed) chandler charioteer chatelaine chef chieftain chirurgeon (surgeon) clergyman/clergywoman clerk clock maker clothworker cook

cooper copyist counselor courtier cowherd crossbowman cutler dairymaid diplomat distiller diver diviner domestic servant explorer farmer fighter first mate fisherman fishmonger footman furrier gardener gladiator glovemaker groom (animal groomer) harness maker hatmaker hay merchant hearthwitch herald herbalist herder hermit highwayman illuminator innkeeper interpreter inventor jailer jester jeweler jongleur judge

knight laborer lady lady in waiting leatherworker locksmith longbowman maidservant majordomo man at arms mason mercer merchant messenger midwife miller miner minstrel monk mortician mourner nun nurse page painter pariah pastry cook peasant perfumer philosopher physician pigkeeper pilgrim plasterer potter priest/ess professor pursemaker ratcatcher roofer ropemaker rugmaker sailor

scabbard maker sculptor saddler scavenger scholar scrivener servant shaman shepherd ship's captain shoemaker silversmith smith soldier spice merchant squire stablehand storyteller steward surveyor swordsman sycophant tailor tanner tavernkeeper tax collector teamster thatcher tinker town crier trapper vendor vermin catcher vintner warrior water carrier weaver wine seller witch wizard woodcarver woodcutter wood seller

Prohibited Titles

Some titles are not permitted in items, even if the character can display the title.

• ambassador, royal advisor, seneschal, etc.: This includes any items with names or descriptions that imply royalty or royal appointments.
• assassin, enforcer, hitman, etc.: This includes any items with crime-related names or descriptions.
• commander, corporal, general, sergeant, etc.: This includes any items with names or descriptions referring to military ranks or insignia (other than "Captain" for ship owners).
• galley slave, slave, slaver, etc.: This includes any items with slavery-related names or descriptions.
• sniper, hunter: This includes any items with sniper- or hunter-related descriptions.
• Torturer: This includes any items with torture-related names or descriptions.

Do not ask for any adornment or description with wording that signifies a special military rank, governmental position, royal connections or appointments. The exception to this rule is the title "captain" for nautical/boat themed items. Any ranks above captain (admiral, etc.) aRE, however, subject to this rule.

Avoid requesting an alteration that mentions a reference to royal ancestors or divine lineage. We want to try to keep historic lore within that which has been approved for the game. Likewise, we have a distinguished list of gods and goddesses and feel there are enough to go around.

Restricted Materials

If you wish to use the below materials in an alteration you must provide them. This doesn't cover depictions of the materials (e.g. embroidery of a vela'tohr flower). Some of this information was taken from the list on the DragonRealms Wedding Team website.

Some materials have special alteration rules or limitations. If known, such rules or limitations will be described on the relevant material page.

Below is a partial list of restricted materials. Please check the relevant material's wiki page for any special materials you may be considering.

Fabric

Albaran lace any material "woven by fae hands." Bloodlace Bluefire velvet dragonar dragonfire brocade duchess satin Elven silk Elven wool Elven snowlace eolienne gemfire velvet ialalhe icesilk (not suitable as thread for embroidery) Imperial Weave khiynit Lava samite lotusweave marblesilk moonspun silk

Oceanmist satin petalette rosecloth ruazin wool Shadesatin silveress snowflake tulle Starlight velvet stormsilk (not suitable as thread for embroidery) sunkissed chiffon titanese turbaurs velakan linen/velakan wool watersilk (not suitable as thread for embroidery) whisperlayne windstorm gossamer zenganne zerarin lace/zerarin wool zibeline

Creature Parts and Leather

• diamond-hide
• firecat pelt (has magical properties in armor)
• hiro bear pelts (This was from ice quest)
• Ice-veined leather (imbued with elemental magic)
• jaguar pelts
• meshor fox pelts (This was from ice quest)
• nightstalker/nightweaver/nightreaver silk (player to provide spinnerets)
• onyx-hide
• serpentine-hide
• Unicorn horn

Metals

• animite
• audrualm
• black gold (note: cannot be melted down to be added to another item, if made for weddings must have initials "A+D" somewhere on it)
• blue gold
• damite
• darkstone
• glaes
• haralun
• icesteel
• Kertig's Tears
• lumium
• mistglass
• moonsilver (Must stay its original type - 'regular' moonsilver, blackened, crimson, or blued)
• muracite
• niello
• niniam
• orichalcum
• silversteel
• tyrium
• vardite

Stones

• Felstone
• Nightstone
• Senci
• Xenomite

Runestone Materials

• Asketine
• Avaes
• Axinite
• Azurite
• Calavarite
• Elbaite
• Imnera
• Rhodonite
• Scheelite
• Selenite
• Sraeth
• Xibaryl
• Zengalmi
• Celestite
• Hafaltu
• Lemicule
• Erythrite
• Iheaneu'a
• Ilmenite

Woods

• Adderwood
• Alerce tree
• Azurelle
• Bocote
• Darkspine
• Diamondwood
• Dragonwood
• Durian
• E'erdream
• Glitvire
• Gloomwood
• Goldwood
• Iroko tree
• Kapok
• Pozumshi
• Rockwood
• Smokewood
• Tamarak
• Tamboti
• Zingana tree

Flowers

• Blazing Star flower
• clerical roses (Insanity rose, Betrothal rose, etc.)
• Dusk Rose
• fawn lily
• ghost orchid
• golden Eu's Promise flower
• Midwinter's Sickle
• moon lily
• phofe flower
• Queen of the night lily, or Queen-of-the-night lily
• samatak blossoms - we don't do samatak anything for weddings, including flowers.
• tidal lily
• vela'tohr blossoms
• Velvet Lily

Gems

bearclaw emerald black diamond bloodmist garnet blue hawkseye blood ruby Cloud ruby crystaline dragon tear Dalaeji black sapphire demantoid garnet dragonfire amber dragon fire opal dragon's blood crystal dragon's eye ruby dragon's heart ruby dragon's scale sapphire dwalgim Ebon jackal's heart pearl Elamiri sapphire eldring fire agate fortune's star diamond forest's heart garnet (must be faceted) gemfire ruby gloamstone Heke'mhhg lazuli Hav'roth's Ambrosia Haze Sapphires heartstone howlite Huntress diamond Idon's sapphire Imperial gems Imperial ruby Imperial sapphire Imperial topaz Katamba's Spire

lightning amethyst lion's heart topaz (must be faceted) molten-core diamond moon pearl Night Diamonds nightfire opal Pitch Pearls Plumed agate red diamond royal star diamond sana'ati heart Scorpion diamond Serpent's head sapphire serpent's heart ruby Shrike's Eye Sapphire siato star emerald sky opal soulstone Spiritgem stormfire topaz summer's heart sapphire (must be faceted) sunderstone svelae Taisidon emerald Taisidonian pearl Teiro's Hate ruby tempest sapphire thealstone unicorn spinel violet's heart amethyst (must be faceted) viper's eye sapphire viperscale alexandrite volcano's heart citrine (must be faceted) Xibar topaz watermelon tourmaline wild horse jasper zephyr heart

Blanve's Bounty Gems

• Vela'tohr Tourmaline (wedding usage counts as a verbed item)
• Orchid Alexandrite (wedding usage counts as a verbed item)
• Phantom Sapphire (wedding usage counts as a verbed item)
• Nimbus Garnet (wedding usage counts as a verbed item)
• Zenith Spinel (wedding usage counts as a verbed item)
• Mystic Topaz (wedding usage counts as a verbed item)

Planetary Gems Elanthite Yavasite Xibarite Katambite Grazhite Verenite Estrildite Durgauldite Yoakenite Penhetite Szeldite Merewaldite Ismenite Morleenite Amlothite Dawgolite Er'qutrite

Immokokkon and Sons Gems glacier emerald moonspun ruby pink diamond saffron topaz starlight ruby sunset opal twilight sapphire winter emerald Midnight diamond Champagne diamond Smoke ruby Musparan gold sapphire lotus flower sapphire Zoluren white sapphire Frost flare opal Aurora opal Nature's Canopy emerald Ocean's Deep emerald Starfire topaz Zoluren Royal topaz Fire Maiden topaz

Tattoos

General rules

These are mainly common sense, and shouldn't be considered a comprehensive list. As with all alterations, the alterer has the final say. This list also designed to provide information for Assisted Wedding tattoos, which may be very different than those provided by the average tattoo merchant (the main difference being that wedding tattoos can cover multiple body parts in the description).

Tattoos are available for Queen's and King's weddings. There is a maximum of two per wedding, and they go to the couple only -- so no tat for the mother-in-law. They also count as a verbed item slot.

Generally speaking:

• Tattoos cannot appear to move on their own.
• As with all wedding alterations, they must not be sexually themed or be inappropriate for a family game.
• No tattoos with pictures of people mentioning only their name. How do I know that's your neighbor Samantha on your bicep? I wouldn't, but I would be able to see a blonde with green eyes perched on a boar.
• Tattoos are ink only. No throwing gems on top, scarification, branding, etc.
• Limit for the length of tattoos is approximately 512 characters, spaces included. Don't forget that in DR, we double space between sentences!
• Tattoos must begin with "She/He has a tattoo of" and end with "on his/her (area)".

Tattoo Rules for Prydaen

Prydaen tattoos should be kept minimal and on areas where the fur is likely to be thin or sparse (like limbs, wrists, cheeks). Something on a back or chest or the like would never actually show up unless they are bald in that area.

Valid Areas

* face neck arm chest (male) / shoulder (female) back leg hand ankle wrist tail shoulder

* forehead cheekbone thigh left wrist right wrist chest abdomen forearm chin left cheekbone right cheekbone

* calf left ankle right ankle left temple right temple left hip right hip lower back left palm right palm right knuckles

* left knuckles upper lip lower lip lips shins knees right shin left shin right knee left knee scalp (only if a bald race)

Titles

• 2 words, maximum
• 20 characters, maximum (may have a very LITTLE wiggle room here)
• Title cannot currently be in the system.
• If your request uses a title that is in the system, you must meet all requirements for that title. If I wanted "Mystic Scythe", for example, I'd need to be able to display the Mystic title to the GM working on it in order to use the title.
• The GM working with you has the final say on the title.
• Please do NOT pick up the custom title pins with only one title in mind. If your initial choice is turned down, there are no refunds on these pins. You should only get a custom title pin if you have numerous potential titles in mind.

Creatures

• Familiar Alteration Rules
• Shadow Servant Alteration Rules

Specific SubTypes

• Embiggening: enlarges containers to hold more items
• Feature: changing text features in your character's LOOK
• Rebecho: adds ties to items

Related Forum Posts

Click here to search for related posts.

Additional Information

• General play.net alteration info
• Wedding Team Rare Materials List
• Restricted and Permitted Titles List