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Signature Verbs

Signature verbs are essentially extremely flexible ACTs unique to a given character in that they omit the parentheses normally attached to an ACT. This permits a GM to craft a totally personalized "verb" for you when creating a fully custom signature verb. Remember, though, that signature verbs should not force another character to appear to do something nor should they allow a character to appear to do things that are impossible via the normal magic and physics of GemStone.

In essence, a signature verb must make sense for anything that a player can do with ACT. This means that if you wish for lightning to bolt out of your fingertips via a signature verb, that will not fly, since this is something that does not really make sense with ACT, but is instead in the realm of spells that certain professions cast. There is a fuzzy line when it comes to magic and signature verbs, and one must always remember that these are meant for normal actions within Elanthia -- not for actions that are not normally possible. Also, a signature verb is not intended to replace SAY, nor is it intended to create situations (whether props, people, or critters) that fall outside of what you, by yourself, can do with an action.

The signature verb, when chosen, can be either an existing verb or a verb that does not exist. This will not affect the way that your existing verbs work in any way at all. The signature verb simply creates an extra option for the verb.

You will need to decide whether you want the verb to act:

1. With no target (ie. not directed at a person or item)
2. Directed at another character
3. Directed at an item/object

Some examples of a signature verb that would pass through QC with no issues:

Using SIGNATURE WHISTLE (this one is set to be directed at an item/object):

1st person: You raise your head and let out a piercing whistle aimed in (object target)'s direction.

3rd person: Quilic raises his head and lets out a piercing whistle aimed at (object target).

Using SIGNATURE EXAMINE (this one is set to be directed at another character):

1st person: You stand unusually close to (target), carefully examining (his/her) face to look for signs of emotion.

2nd person: Quilic stands unusually close to you, clearly examining your face.

3rd person: Quilic stands unusually close to (target), examining (his/her) face.

Using SIGNATURE BOW (this one is set with no target):

1st person: You bow respectfully, taking note of just how close the ground is while in this position.

3rd person: Quilic bows respectfully, the motion accentuating his short stature.

Examples of signature verbs include the following from options available at Rumor Woods:

Gazing at {Character}, you quirk your eyebrow in a questioning manner.

Overcome with frustration, you stare at {Character} as your fingers curl into talons. You take an almost involuntary step forward, your hands raised as if you might strangle her, but at the last-minute throw your arms in the air and turn around.

You try hard to stifle a laugh and cover your failure with a loud clearing of your throat.

Feeling mildly skeptical about the current commentary, you wipe all emotion from your countenance and mouth, "Yeah, right."

Gazing blankly ahead, you toy with your earlobe, allowing your mind to wander.

Gleefully leaping into the air, you click your heels together once.

Additional examples of pre-written signature verbs can be viewed in the character customizations category.

Custom Swears

Fully custom swears must follow specific guidelines due to how the swear system functions. They cannot use his/her. The verb must remain the same for all messaging (1st, 3rd, and targeted 1st/2nd/3rd). The substance of the swear must remain the same.

One example of how to format a custom swear:

1st person: glower

3rd person: glowers

Targeted: glowering

Substance of swear: while muttering something indecipherable and twitching violently with anger.

Examples utilizing the above:

1st person: You glower while muttering something indecipherable and twitching violently with anger.

3rd person: Quilic glowers while muttering something indecipherable and twitching violently with anger.

Targeted 1st: You swear at (target), glowering while muttering something indecipherable and twitching violently with anger.

Targeted 2nd: Quilic swears at (you), glowering while muttering something indecipherable and twitching violently with anger.

Targeted 3rd: Quilic swears at (target), glowering while muttering something indecipherable and twitching violently with anger.

In the example above, the substance of the swear doesn't change in any of the messaging; it just gets slapped on after the verb. The example also does not use his/her at all. All custom swears must fall within these guidelines.

Examples of SWEAR MINE messaging include the following from options available at Rumor Woods:

Person chuffs about idiots trying to cram square pegs into round holes.

Person issues a quiet curse, insisting that some people are more useless than a ring gear load bolt.

Person raises an angry fist to the sky and rails at the waste of spilled blood.

Person expounds upon all the unflattering features that accosts the senses, ending with "... No better than a weather-bitten harpy!"

Person unflatteringly laments upon the capricious nature of the elements, the sky, and the very weather that has destroyed the mood.

Person blurts out, "Rassa frassa frazzle git."

Additional examples of pre-written custom swears can be viewed in the character customizations category.

Custom Logon and Logoff Messaging

Logphrase message sets consists of four total messages:

1. Story window arrival
2. Story window departure
3. Dialog window arrival
4. Dialog window departure

Story window arrival and departure messages must be something that makes sense and is possible for the character to do. They message the room a character is in when they log on or off and thus must be entirely in character. In contrast, the dialog window can push the IC boundaries a bit. The dialog window message always begins with an asterisk (*).

Examples of logphrase customizations include the following sets from options available at Rumor Woods:

Story window arrival: Person wanders in, bowing with a flourish and mocking grin to an unseen crowd.
Story window departure: Person bows with a flourish and departs.
 * Raucous catcalls let you know that Person has arrived.
 * Raucous catcalls let you know that Person has departed.

Story window arrival: Whirring and clanking noises precede the arrival of Person.
Story window departure: Person wanders off in a cacophony of whirring and clanking.
 * Person arrives, followed by an army of whirring and clanking automatons.
 * An army of whirring and clanking automatons escort Person away.

Story window arrival: Distant, predatory howls are a precursor to Person's arrival.
Story window departure: As Person leaves, feral wails sound off in the distance.
 * A chorus of distant howls marks the arrival of Person.
 * A chorus of feral wails signals the departure of Person.

Story window arrival: Person meanders in, nose in a book. With a start, she becomes aware of her surroundings and quickly puts the book away.
Story window departure: Person glances around, then pulls a book out and begins to read even as she wanders away.
 * Person has left her library and joined the rest of the world!
 * Person wanders off to take solace in her library.

Story window arrival: A pair of knitting needles drops to the ground as Person arrives. Muttering to herself, she quickly picks them up and stows them away.
Story window departure: As Person leaves, she pulls out a pair of knitting needles.
 * Person has reluctantly put away her knitting and left her crafter's haven behind to join the masses!
 * Person cheerfully wanders off, knitting in hand, to rejoin her crafter's haven.

Additional examples of pre-written logphrase customizations can be viewed in the character customizations category.

Custom Titles (Prename and Postname)

Custom titles are personalized titles made up by a player for their character. They may be either pre- or postname titles. They are sometimes available at festivals and pay events and are a delayed service. They are also available via Premium points. Custom titles are accessed via TITLE LIST UNIQUE.

General Title Guidelines

Custom titles can be tricky to navigate, but here are some guidelines that will hopefully make the process clearer and easier for players and GMs alike:

• Custom titles may not grant or imply any sort of authority within any region, city, or officially recognized organization. Examples of this would be King, Mayor of Solhaven, Grand Magister of the Hall of Mages, etc.
• Custom titles cannot emulate another class or profession. For example, it would not be appropriate for a warrior to request "Great Wizard" as a title.
• Custom titles cannot copy preexisting titles that are awarded through in-game means.
• Custom titles cannot copy unique or special titles possessed by Elanthian historical figures or non-player personas.
• Custom titles should not be considered exclusive to the player as other players may end up requesting the same title in the future, whether intentionally or coincidentally.
• Custom titles should avoid references to the Arkati and/or Lesser Spirits due to the potential for mechanical conflicts. For example, it would be an inappropriate conflict for a player to select a title such as "Servant of Lorminstra" and then convert their Arkati affiliation mechanically to Luukos further down the road.
• Custom titles should not make reference to player-run organizations since players can depart or change such organizations at their will, and it would be inappropriate to have a title referencing a PRO they are not a part of.
• The decision as to whether a custom title is acceptable falls first with the GM handling your title, then ultimately with QC. A GM will not submit a title to QC that they believe is a violation of guidelines, and QC's final decision is independent of the handling GM's initial decision.
• The format for titles is as followed: (Prename) (Your Name) (Your Last Name, if you have one) the (Postname). The is a static part of the system, so you need to work with it in your custom titles.

Postname-Specific Guidelines

• Postnames may incorporate nickname-style titles such as "the White Wolf" as long as the nickname is appropriate for the Elanthian game world. Nicknames are commonplace in both the fantasy genre as well as the real world. Nicknames from popular media should be avoided even if they are technically in-genre.
• Custom titles of an occupational nature should be postname titles, not prenames.

Prename-Specific Guidelines

• Prename titles should avoid occupational terms since they are generally not formal terms of address. The fact that there are some existing prename titles available that are occupational in nature cannot be used to justify an exception to this guideline.
• Some terms can blur the line between a term of address and an occupational term. If you are absolutely unsure where a term falls, it doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion or seek guidance from QC.
• Prename titles should be short – ideally, two words or less.
• Prenames are ideally reserved for nicknames that directly flow into the real name (i.e., Big Bob) or, in the case of nouns/professions, are already accepted as prenames (i.e., Chef Bob, or The Intrepid Bob). Otherwise prenames should be reserved for formal terms of address (i.e., Lord / Lady) and the postname should handle the actual nicknames (i.e., Lord Bob the Stalker Extraordinaire).