Saddle Me Up saddle/saved posts
Topic: Rumor Woods
Message #: 142
Author: GS4-KAIKALA
Date: 6/3/2019
Subject: Saddles
Hey guys,
Some info on the saddles, for those who have been asking and/or are curious about them.
Per ANALYZE, the saddles are saddles for... horse mounts ;) OTS they come with the following Verb Set 1: DROP/PUT, GET, MOUNT (with styles), and DISMOUNT (with styles). The available mount/dismount options per saddle style are listed in ANALYZE.
There are certificates to add Verb Set 2 (ATTEND, NUDGE, PULL, RUB, LEAN) and Verb Set 3 (TILT, RAISE, TOUCH, CLENCH, PUSH) to the saddles. You can get one or the other or both (or none at all), since they're set up to be independent of one another. The verbs for both of these sets have variations on the messaging based on whether the saddle is in your hands, on your horse while you're NOT mounted, and on your horse while you ARE mounted.
Verb syntax is a little more work than usual when the saddle is on the horse since it's on a creature rather than directly on your person. If you're not mounted but your saddle's on the horse, you'll usually have to do something like NUDGE SADDLE ON HORSE (or if there are multiple horses in the room, use the horses's adjective as well -- NUDGE SADDLE ON ROAN HORSE, etc.). If you're mounted on your saddle, NUDGE SADDLE ON MY HORSE.
Mount syntax: MOUNT {STYLE} {target horse}. As long as the saddle's on the horse, that's all you do. So for example, MOUNT MANE HORSE.
Dismount syntax: DISMOUNT {STYLE}. As long as the saddle's on the horse (and you're on the horse, too), that's all you do. So for example, DISMOUNT MANE. ANALYZing the saddle should show that syntax properly now (it did not before). The issue folks were having with DISMOUNT styles was an underlying verb issue that is currently fixed up -- but please absolutely bug your saddle if you find styles not working again.
Saddle styles
There are currently 3 saddle styles being sold: Finnian, Kannalan, Minstrel's. LOOK and ANALYZE both state the saddle style and some of its defining characteristics.
Finnian: Lightest of the 3 saddle styles. The pommel is low-rise (doesn't really jut up vertically), and the cantle is what you'd expect from a "normal" saddle. The stirrups are loose (no flaps). It utilizes a billet and buckle girth type system for saddling. It will usually include a pad or not use anything underneath at all. Closest RL equivalent would be an English riding saddle (leaning toward a jumping saddle).
Kannalan: Heaviest of the 3 saddle styles. It has a horn. Its stirrups have stirrup flaps. It utilizes a cinch/latigo/D-ring type of system for saddling. It will most commonly utilize a blanket or pad + blanket combination. Closest RL equivalent would be a Western saddle.
Minstrel's: Mid-weight of the 3 saddle styles. The pommel sits just upright (pretty much vertically) from the trunk, as does the cantle. The stirrups are loose (no flaps). It utilizes a billet and buckle girth type system for saddling. It will most commonly not utilize anything underneath it, but if it does, a pad is the most likely choice. Closest RL equivalent would be a 14th c. jousting saddle.
The differences between the 3 saddles right now are largely aesthetic -- the only big difference in verbs on them currently is how you saddle/unsaddle the horse, slight differences in some of the mount/dismount messaging and options (like, you can only use the horn style of mounting/dismounting on the Kannalan saddles), and the PULL verb lets you run the stirrups all of the way up their leathers on Finnian/Minstrel's saddles but not on Kannalan.
Hopefully obviously, given their names, there are different origins for the saddle styles -- however, I want(ed) more time to flesh those details out before putting them into a more formal format/write-up. But yes, it's safe to assume that the Finnian style originates from somewhere in Finnia and the Kannalan style finds its roots in the Kannalan Empire. And yes, it's safe to assume that the saddles for sale at the event reflect some of the distinct aesthetics (in terms of colors, embellishments, materials, etc.) associated with each styles.
Pads and blankets. These show up in some messaging if your saddle is set to utilize them. There's information in the ANALYZE about alteration guidelines for them.
Side saddles. Some folks have mentioned being interested in these. Funnily, I started writing this as a mount style, but I figured out pretty quickly that quite a bit of the messaging (rather than just the mount/dismount) would need to be different given that some of the things you can do on a 'regular' saddle in the verbs just doesn't make sense for a true side saddle's build. And I just didn't have the time and creative prowess to tackle a full-on fourth style when doing the initial script build. But while I can't promise that it'll become a reality, the side saddles are definitely on my wishlist of feature creepin'.
Popping a few of the expansion verbs below (it's a lot of messaging, so just a few for now!):
ATTEND: ! you're on the saddle on the mount
- You turn slightly as you inspect your ebon saddle, then reach back behind it to pat her roan horse's rump.
- Kaikala turns slightly as she inspects her ebon saddle, then reaches back behind it to pat her roan horse's rump.
! saddle on mount but you aren't
- You run your hands over the saddle on a tall roan horse, thoroughly inspecting its placement and the sturdiness of its straps, then continue the inspection of your horse by checking each of his hooves.
- Kaikala runs her hands over the saddle on a tall roan horse, thoroughly inspecting its placement and the sturdiness of its straps, then continues the inspection of her horse by checking each of his hooves.
! saddle's in your hands
- Removing the stirrups and girth from your ebon saddle, you pull out a small cloth and first dust off each piece of tack. Then you use a new cloth and water to thoroughly clean the items, allowing them ample time to dry before carefully conditioning the leather and reattaching the stirrups and girth to the saddle.
- Removing the stirrups and girth from her ebon saddle, Kaikala pulls out a small cloth and first dusts off each piece of tack. Then she uses a new cloth and water to thoroughly clean the items, allowing them ample time to dry before carefully conditioning the leather and reattaching the stirrups and girth to the saddle.
RUB:
! you're on the saddle on the mount
- You lean forward in your saddle and rub the side of your horse's neck, then pat him gently while quietly uttering several words of encouragement.
- Kaikala leans forward in her saddle and rubs the side of her horse's neck, then pats him gently while quietly uttering several words of encouragement.
! saddle on mount but you aren't
- You stand to the side of horse, lightly resting one of your hands against his ebon saddle, and occasionally rubbing at his neck, as you gesticulate with your other hand to show your horse off.
- Kaikala stands to the side of horse, lightly resting one of her hands against his ebon saddle, and occasionally rubbing at his neck, as she gesticulates with her other hand to show her horse off.
! saddle's in your hands
- You pull out a light cloth and sweep your ebon saddle over it, giving it a good, thorough dusting off.
- Kaikala pulls out a light cloth and sweeps her ebon saddle over it, giving it a good, thorough dusting off.
PUSH:
! you're on the saddle on the mount
- You lean forward in your ebon saddle, and, using the stirrups as leverage to lift yourself farther up, you give your roan horse a little rub between his ears. Once you sit back down, you ensure your feet are properly angled in the stirrups, then relax your legs.
- Kaikala leans forward in her ebon saddle, and, using the stirrups as leverage to lift herself farther up, she gives her roan horse a little rub between his ears. Once she sits back down, she ensures her feet are properly angled in the stirrups, then relaxes her legs.
! saddle on mount but you aren't
- Your roan horse attempts to nuzzle you as you begin inspecting his ebon saddle. You affectionately pat his nose before pushing it away.
- Kaikala's roan horse attempts to nuzzle her as she begins inspecting his ebon saddle. She affectionately pats his nose before pushing it away.
! saddle's in your hands
- Retrieving your saddle's lambskin pad, you shake it out, then roughly brush your hands over it, thoroughly removing dust, hair, and any loose debris.
- Retrieving her saddle's lambskin pad, Kaikala shakes it out, then roughly brushes her hands over it, thoroughly removing dust, hair, and any loose debris.
RAISE:
! you're on the saddle on the mount
- You raise yourself up in an ebon saddle's stirrups, standing tall atop your roan horse as your eyes sweep over your surroundings.
- Kaikala raises herself up in an ebon saddle's stirrups, standing tall atop her roan horse as her eyes sweep over her surroundings.
! saddle on mount but you aren't
- You unfasten the straps of an ebon saddle and lift it up, moving its placement on your roan horse's back and lambskin pad a smidgen. Once satisfied, you settle it back down, refasten the straps and give a tall roan horse a pat on the rump.
- Kaikala unfastens the straps of an ebon saddle and lifts it up, moving its placement on the roan horse's back and lambskin pad a smidgen. Once satisfied, she settles it back down, refastens the straps and gives a tall roan horse a pat on the rump.
! saddle's in your hands
- Displaying your ebon saddle for all to see, you heft it up, turning it from side to side before lowering it back down.<
- Displaying her ebon saddle for all to see, Kaikala hefts it up, turning it from side to side before lowering it back down.
If there are other specific questions I can answer for ya'll on these items, please ask here :)
~Kaikala