Character Creation/Design
Character Design
How to Design an Anomalous Character - A 10-Step Guide
Hey there! So you'd like to design an Anomalous, eh? You've come to the right place. This is a step-by-step guide of how to design and submit your Anomalous character!
Step 1. Which Design Type Are You Making?
There are two kinds of designs: Foal Designs and Starter Designs. Foal designs come from an in-game breeding. They have two PC parents, and you roleplay them right from birth! If you're creating a foal design, make sure you've submitted the breeding form. You can read more about breeding in the breeding journal.
The other kind of design is a Starter Design. Starter designs have no PC parents, and can be whatever age you desire! Only normal Anomalous Starters are free to be created without payment. Saevarg starters require a Legendery purchase to be made!
Step 3. Figure out your design's limitations.
First off, you should figure out what your design will look like. All designs have a phenotype (what it looks like) and a genotype (the genetics behind what it looks like). You should figure out one or both before you begin your design! Depending on the design/herd the design is intended for, there may be some limitations on what can and can't be done.
If you're going for a foal design, if you choose to have a non-RNG foal you can design any possible combination of the parents' genetics, or if you choose to RNG your foal, you have genos made for you! If the parents can create it, it's possible. If you don't know what the parents can create, feel free to note the group or use a genotype generator such as this Equine Coat Color Calculator.
If you're making a starter design, the design limitations depend on the design level! Free Creation designs are the most basic of design levels. They are free to create, with a bay, black, or chestnut base and a limitation of three modifying genes such as dun, cream, or a paint pattern.
If you want more than three modifiers for your starter design, or want a special design, you must pay Salamanders for the design! If that's what you're looking for, head over to the Salamander Rewards Journal. Salamander designs allow you access to special genes that are unique to Anomalous; for more information on that, check out the Anomalous Mutated Genes journal.
The modifying genes that you can use on a Free Creation design are:
Saevarg characters can use the Anomalous Gene, Wolf, as a free addition.
Appaloosa Complex.
Requires the Leopard Gene (nLp, LpLp) to be visible on a coat. * Note that nLp & PATN1 or PATN2 are considered their own modifiers. It takes up two of your three free starter genes to get a design with Lp and a PATN gene. Considered a paint marking, this gene cannot appear on Purebred Scybilline coats.
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Varnish/Snowflake Appaloosa: nLp, LpLp.
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Blanket Appaloosa: nLp/nPATN2, nLp/PATN2PATN2.
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Leopard Appaloosa: nLp/nPATN1, nLp/PATN1PATN1.
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Snowcap Appaloosa: LpLp/nPATN2, LpLp/PATN2PATN2.
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Fewspot Appaloosa: LpLp/nPATN1, LpLp/PATN1PATN1.
Bend-Or Spots (nBnd, BndBnd)
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A random gene that pops up from time to time on a character's coat! Bend-Or Spots are caused by an uncommon gene that creates dark spots/grease stains upon an individuals coat. These spots can range from simply a darker shade of the base coat to nearly black in color! Most commonly, this gene can be found on coats lacking a cream gene. Bend-Or spots can be found on Scybilline coats!
Birdcatcher Spots (nBc, BcBc)
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A random gene that pops up from time to time upon a character's coat! Birdcatcher Spot markings are tiny white dots that can appear in clusters across an individual's coat. While they can be quite extensive, there may be as few as one spot on an individual's entire body! A simple dominant, only one copy of the Birdcatcher Spot gene (nBc) is required for Birdcatcher markings to appear on a coat. Considered a paint marking, this gene cannot appear on Purebred Scybilline coats.
Champagne (nCh, ChCh).
All champagne coat colors, regardless of nCh or ChCh, will have green/amber/hazel eyes.
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Gold Champagne: ee/(any combo of A, At, A+, or a) + /nCh OR /ChCh.
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Amber Champagne: Ee or EE/(AA or Aa) + nCh OR /ChCh.
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Classic Champagne: Ee or EE/aa + /nCh OR /ChCh.
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Sable Champagne: Ee or EE/At plus any combo of At, A, or a + /nCh OR /ChCh.
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Wild Sable Champagne: Ee or EE/A+ plus any combo of At, A+, A, or a + /nCh or /ChCh.
Cream (nCr, CrCr).
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Single Cream: Any base coat plus nCr; counts as a single modifier!
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Double Cream: Any base coat plus CrCr; counts as two modifiers! Will result in blue eyes.
Dun (nD, DD).
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Any base coat plus nD or DD. Can alternately be noted Dd, DD.
Flaxen (Ff,ff).
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Flaxen Carrier: Any base coat plus Ff. Will NOT show in phenotype.
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Flaxen: Any base coat plus ff. Will only show on chestnut base coats (ie, black horses with ff are carriers).
Grey (nG, GG).
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Any base coat plus nG or GG. Will grey out completely by 10 years old, at the latest. Homozygous greys (GG) will grey much faster than nG. Can alternately be noted Gg, GG.
Gulastra Plume (nGp, GpGp).
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Gulastra Plume Carrier: Any base coat plus nGp.
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Gulastra Plume: Any base coat plus GpGp. Creates a light colored tail on an otherwise solid-colored horse which can be a smattering of lighter hairs or the whole tail that starts at the bottom. Occasionally makes the tail completely white. Does not change the mane color. This gene cannot appear on Purebred Scybilline coats.
Overo (nO).
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Any base coat plus nO. There are no OO genos due to it being lethal in-utero! Overo markings have generally smooth edges and never cross the topline of the horse, creating a 'frame-like' effect (ie, white surrounded by the base coat color). Markings may be minimal or somewhat extensive but, if more complete coverage is desired will need to be paired with another paint gene. A paint marking, this gene cannot appear on Purebred Scybilline coats. Does not result in blue eyes.
Pangaré (nPg, PgPg).
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Any base coat plus nPg or PgPg, although will only show on bay or chestnut base coats. nPg creates more minimal pangaré (example) while PgPg will feature more drastic pangaré (example). Pangaré typically affects the areas around the muzzle/underside of body, and avoids the throat/neck
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Rabicano (nRb, RbRb).
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Any base coat plus nRb or RbRb. Can cause white at the base of the tail. Considered a white marking, this gene cannot appear on Purebred Scybilline coats.
Roan (nRn, RnRn).
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Any base coat plus nRn or RnRn. RnRn will create more drastic/whiter roaning while nRn will typically create a more sheer roan. Grease/corn spots can be sometimes be found on a roaned coat. Considered a white marking, this gene cannot appear on Purebred Scybilline coats.
Sabino (nSb, SbSb).
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Any base coat plus nSb or SbSb. nSb will feature more minimal roaning while SbSb may nearly completely white out the individual! Sabino is characterized by white markings with ragged edges and can appear in a sort of 'psuedo roan' flecking across the body (example). Does not result in blue eyes. As a paint marking, this gene cannot appear on Purebred Scybilline coats.
Silver (nZ, ZZ).
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Any base coat plus nZ or ZZ. Will only show on bay or black base coats. Can alternately be shown as Zz, ZZ.
Sooty (nSty, StySty).
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Any base coat plus nSty or StySty. Darkens the topline of any base coat.
Splash (nSpl, SplSpl).
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Any base coat plus nSpl or SplSpl and makes the horse look as if it has been dippled in paint! nSpl creates more minimal markings while SplSpl creates more extensive markings. Splash markings will have smooth edges, unlike Sabino. Splash may result in one or both eyes being blue. Can be VERY minimal, and appear only as blue eyes on an otherwise solid horse. As a paint marking, this gene cannot appear on Purebred Scybilline coats.
Tobiano (nT, TT).
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Any base coat plus nT or TT. Tobiano markings have jagged edges and are known for creating chest 'shields' and belly spots but can be more minimal in appearance. In TT, this can result in Medicine Hat or War Bonnet horses. Will not result in blue eyes. As a paint marking, this gene cannot appear on Purebred Scybilline coats.
Dominant White (nW).
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Any base coat plus nW. There are no WW genos, as it is lethal 'in-utero'. Dominant white can cover the entire horse, regardless of base color, in complete white but can also be a tricksy little gene and appear in patterns similar to Sabino, including white on the throat, belly, etc. As a paint marking, this gene cannot appear on Purebred
Scybilline coats.
A Note for Scybilline starter characters:
If your Starter design is for a Scybilline, your design must be homozygous black-based (EE/aa) and you are limited to ONE of the following dilutions: champagne, dun, or pearl (prlprl) with the addition of the Sooty, Flaxen (Not visible on Bay/Black), Grey, Pangaré (Not visible on black), or Silver (Not visible on chestnut) if you so desire. Scybillines are the ONLY herd where you are able to have Pearl as a Free Creation design! All Scybilline designs must also be solid (no white markings of any kind). Other coat base colours or black genetic variables for Scybilline characters are available for purchase in the Mander or Token pages.
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The following genes require salamanders or tokens of various levels to add to your character!
Mushroom.
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A Chestnut based gene that results in a silvery coat, with pale mane and tail. Will only show on Chestnut base coats. The coat loses all red tone, much like Silver on Bay/Black. (Mushroom Horse Examples)
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Mushroom Carrier - Uncommon Mander: Any base coat plus Eem, eem
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Mushroom - Rare Mander: Chestnut base coat plus emem
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Pearl.
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A gene that affects all three base coat colors, diluting them on the same locus as Cream. Also known as the Barlink Factor. Pearl (prlprl) and Cream (nCr, CrCr) cannot exist separately on the same horse.
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Pearl Carrier - Uncommon Mander: Any base coat plus nprl. Cannot be added to nCr to make Crprl with an Uncommon Mander.
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Pearl - Rare Mander: Any base coat plus prlprl. Crprl = Pseudo-Double Cream
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Brindle - Non-Genetic
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Rare Mander.
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Brindle - Dark stripes of color on a lighter base coat. The texture is patchy and uneven, like brindling on dogs and cattle.
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Reverse Brindle - Pale stripes of color on darker base coat. The texture is patchy and uneven, like brindling on dogs and cattle.
Somatic - Non-Genetic
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Inheritable via RNG. Rare Mander. A misfiring of genes within a horse, causing blocks, splots or brindle chunks of different colors upon the coat.
Chimera - Non-Genetic
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Inheritable via RNG. Rare Mander. A non-genetic phenomenon that causes two separate embryos to merge in utero, causing a patchy effect on the coat of a horse which show the two genotypes.
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Example: [CHIMERA] Ee/aa/nCr/Dd/ | Ee/aa/Ff/nCr/Dd/nRs/
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Albinism - Non-Genetic
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Albinism. Extra Rare Mander. Inheritable via RNG. Coat turns white, with pink skin and red/pink eyes. All genes are covered by Albinism.
Melanism - Non-Genetic
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Melanism. Extra Rare Mander. Inheritable via RNG. Coat darkens, though it is never pure black, and often shows markings underneath. All genes are darkened by Melanism.
Step 4. Decide what you want your design to look like.
Now that you know what you can and can't do with your design, you have to figure out what you want! We recommend doing image searches for the design you have in mind to make sure that's the appearance you desire. If you aren't sure exactly what the genes should look like, or if you have no idea what you want, feel free to play around with horse color generators such as this one.
Step 5. Create your design.
This should be fairly simple! Once you have your design made, upload it to your sta.sh as a PNG.
NOTE: If you are using a pre-made design from an Adoptable maker, or a design someone else has created as an adoptable, the design needs to be
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Transferred to our lines
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You need to provide proof of ownership to the moderators when the design is sent in via Note.
Step 6. Decide on the mutations you want your character to have.
If you aren't sure which mutations suit your character's herd, be sure to check the herd journals! Each herd comes with one or multiple automatic mutation or set that nearly all members of that herd have. On top of that, you're allowed to add up to three other mutations that follow the 'theme' of the herd! If you want more than three mutations, or if you want certain mutations that can only be purchased with Salamanders or Tokens, check out the Salamander Reward Journal for more information.
Step 7. Put this information in the image's description.
In the description of your stashed design, you should put the following information! Please be sure to choose the correct form (either Starter Design or Foal Design):
Starter Designs
Please title the deviation "Starter Design | *insert name of character*" and copy-paste the below in the artist's comments:
Designed By: Who designed this design?
Played By: Who will be playing this design?
Name: Name of the character.
Gender: Will this design's character be male or female?
Season, Year of Birth: Season, Year ____
Phenotype: What is the physical appearance of this design?
Genotype: What is the genotype of this design?
Eye Color: What is the eye color of this design?
Intended Herd: What herd is this design intended to live in?
Bloodline: If your character is a purebred, this will be 100%. If a crossbred token has been purchased, please list the percentage (ie, 50x50, 75x25, etc). Only up to two bloodlines may be included with one Extra Rare Crossbred purchase. A Legendary Crossbreed token can be used for an Infertile 3 Herd Cross.
Height: How tall will your character be? Keep herd standards in mind!
Build: What build would you like this character to have?
Ability: What ability would you like this character to have?
Mutations: Please list these in bullet points or dashes, see below for an example! What mutations will be featured on this character? Remember that Starter/Herd restrictions do apply. If you have purchased an extra mutation with a reward purchase, please follow the mutation with (Basic Mander) or (Token Reward). For example, in an Austerian that you have purchased an extra mutation for, see the example listing below:
- Branching Tines (Automatic)
- Magic-based Mutations (Automatic)
- Deer Tail (Starter)
- Deer Nose (Starter)
- Deer Ears (Starter)
- Cloven Hooves (Basic Mander)
Salamander Rewards/Tokens Used:
- Please list out any token #'s or Salamander Rewards that will be used for this design.
Foal Designs
Note that this is ONLY for In-Game born foals. Please title the deviation "Foal Design | *insert name of character*" and copy-paste the below in the artist's comments:
Name: ---
Gender: ---
Season, Year of Birth: Season, Year ____
Eye Color: (Must align with the appropriate coat color! Aka, bay horse will have brown eyes.)
Predicted Height: In hands. The height inherited by the foal! Non-RNG Foals follow herd values.
Predicted Build: Must be within parents' build range.
Phenotype: (The physical color of the foal.)
Genotype: (The genetic makeup of the foal.)
Inherited Ability: The ability inherited by the foal!
Inherited Mutations: (Mutations inherited from the parents! Includes Random Rare Mutations. Please list these out with Dashes, as shown in the main profile.)
Purchased Mutations: (Mutations purchased for the foal. If none put N/A.)
Intended Herd: (Must align with the herd of the mother/caretaker!)
Bloodline: If your character is a purebred, this will be 100%. If a crossbred token has been purchased, please list the percentage (ie, 50x50, 75x25, etc). Only up to two bloodlines may be included with one Extra Rare Crossbred purchase. A Legendary Crossbreed token can be used for an Infertile 3 Herd Cross.
Sire: (Link to the father’s reference.)
Dam: (Link to the mother’s reference.)
Breeding Proof: (Link to breeding proof).
Salamander Rewards/Tokens Used: (List any rewards being used on this foal!).
Played by: (The dA username of the intended player! If the foal will be auctioned, type ‘TBA’.)
Designed by: (DA username of who designed this foal!)
Step 8. Submit your design to the correct Anomalous gallery folder for approval.
- For Starter Designs ONLY, you may submit your design directly to the Starter Designs folder.
- For Foal Designs ONLY, you may submit your design directly to the Foal Designs folder.
See? It's quick and painless!
Step 10. Be patient!
A design mod will look over your design and approve it or recommend changes as needed. Please allow them time to look over the design and give feedback. Do not note admins on their personal accounts! Don't worry, we see your submission and will get to it as soon as it's your turn. Once approved, you may create your character's reference and profile and submit it to the appropriate herd folder!
Tips for Designing!
- Check out the Design Feedback room in Discord!!
- To make your design look natural, use several different colors rather than one flat one. Follow the natural contours of the equine body; for example, a chestnut would be a darker shade of red on its shoulder and back, and a lighter red on the underbelly! Avoid over-saturation! Do not color pick from super saturated horse photos.
- Do not shade your design! Un-shaded designs are much easier to work with than shaded ones.
- If you are asked to make changes to your design, you don't have to make a different sta.sh file for the updated design! Simply click "Submit to DeviantArt" and when the image submission form pops up, click the tiny edit pencil in the top right corner, switch out the old image for the new one, and voilà - updated design.
- Remember that certain colors are more liked in some herds than others! You can see on the herd journals which herds prefer which colors.
- If your design has white markings on its feet, it is your preference whether the hooves remain their base color or become the beige-"shell" color like horses.
- Don't use pure white or pure black! We must be able to see the lineart for acceptance. Those colors never crop up in nature, so to keep a design natural-looking, pick a very light or dark color instead.
Design Updates
So, an existing character is getting a design update? Wow. Fancy-
Please leave your old design posted and upload a new one with the form below.
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Both the old and the new design sheets should be linked on your character's profile, formatted like so:
Pre [Season, Year when the design change takes effect]: Link to original Design
Post [Season, Year when the design change takes effect]: Link to updated Design
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The new design should be submitted to the Update Design Folder and the form bellow!
Accepted Profile: Link to your character's already accepted profile!
Previous Design: Link to your character's previous design sheet!
Designed By: Design credits for both the new AND the Original design sheet
Played By: Your Username
Name: The character's whose design is being updated's name
Gender: Biological sex of the character
Season, Year of Birth: The Year in which your character was born.
Season and Year of Design Change: In-game year and season the design change takes place.
Reason for Update: Mutate? Divine Blessing? Fairy? link to the proof here as well.
List of Design Changes: List out the gene additions or removals here!
New Phenotype: Updated Phenotype of the new design.
New Genotype: Updated Genotype of the new design.
Eye Color: Genetic eye color, in case new genes have changed it.