Here we will walk you through each step of the process, starting with the basic rules. On this page, you will find all of the fundamental rules of designing Niravar, so even if you're familiar with the ARPG design process, please, read through the text below carefully!
Basic Terminology
Marking Edges
Mottled - The outer range of the marking may have a soft mottled texture to it consisting of small, soft-edged "holes" cut out into the marking's edge.
Mottled will not create any "spots" floating outside of the marking's range and there should still be no edge visible. Please also avoid making the marking too wispy and streaky, as this would too closely resemble our Zephyr anomaly. |
Semi-Soft or Slightly Soft - The outer range of the marking can have a slightly blended edge. The edge should be softer, but still recognizable and should not seamlessly transition into the base coat.
Additionally, semi-soft markings may have a slightly "painterly" edge. However, please avoid using exaggerated canvas or fabric textures for this edge style - a slight grainy look around the edges is allowed, but the marking shouldn't be pixelated and there shouldn't be an obvious 'canvas' showing through it! Lastly, with this edge style, please make sure the marking has one discernible edge and not multiple layers of different opacity. |
Sculpted - This descriptor denotes that an marking's edge may have some variance in its outer range including dips, crests, and points. The edges do not need to be smooth or uniform. Just avoid making it into actual shapes.
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Hard Edge - The outer range of the marking must have a crisp anti-aliased edge. These edges should never be pixelated.
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Marking Colors
Derived from Base
Derived from the Base Coat - qualified with either 'lighter' and/or 'darker'. This means that the marking should be lighter or darker than the specific color you chose as your Niravar's base coat (not any color in the same box on the basecoat palette). Value and saturation may be altered to an extent, but it should be clear that the marking color is derived from the base color. When altering the saturation and value, keep the following in mind:
Regardless of which colour you pick, however, the marking should be visible against the Niravar's basecoat - markings cannot be "derived from the base" in that they are identical to the base in color and thus invisible. If you're interested in removing markings from a design, you'll want to see the Blotting Potion page!
Some markings may additionally ask for a specific color, in which case you can either pick from a slider provided in the guide, or select a color yourself as long as it fulfils the general description given.
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Black
The marking may be black in color. This does not mean it has to be fully desaturated as black colors may display a subtle tint.
White
This marking is allowed to be white. Selecting a white color is more flexible than black shades as there is no minimum value threshold to worry about. When selecting a white tone for your Niravar's markings, please keep the following in mind:
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When a marking is described as being able to have 'Any one color selected from the Niravar's base coat palette', it means that you may select one single color from anywhere on the basecoat palette of the Niravar. On any other marking, this is not possible, and markings have to instead be derived from the basecoat, that is, slighthly lighter, darker, or more or less saturated than the specific swatch your Niravar is using for their coat color. With this option, the following rules apply:
- It must be one swatch. Even if the Niravar is using a two-tone vertical gradient, this marking is limited to one color. There may be a subtle gradient that's slightly darker or lighter than the color you end up picking, but there should be no hue changes made to it whatsoever.
- It must come from the Niravar's base coat palette. If you have an Emerald Niravar, this swatch must be pulled from the Emerald palette, not the Dilute Emerald, or Jade, or any other similar palette - only the specific basecoat swatch set is allowed.
This feature is exclusive to event markings.
Marking Visibility
Without the Blotting Potion, markings:
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Marking Layering
- Level 1: Will sit over all other markings. These markings must always appear on top of all other markings below this level. This level is reserved solely for free markings which sit on top and cover all normal markings.
- Level 2: Will sit over all other markings, with the exception of free markings. These markings will appear on top of all other normal markings, but may not cover any free markings that sit in Level 1. Markings that sit in this level include Crackle and Blackout.
- Level 3: May sit over or under other markings, unless otherwise specified. These markings may be freely layered with other markings in the same Level. They should not cover any markings that sit in Level 1 or 2. Exceptions to this rule will be listed in the marking's guide.
- Level 4: Will lay directly on the base coat. Any marking in Level 4 will appear beneath all other markings and sit directly on the base coat. Commonly markings that sit over a Level 4 marking will instead derive it's color from the marking beneath.