Base description

A base description consists of three fields, each with a 15-character capacity, and makes up the most basic description of items in GemStone IV. When displayed by the game engine, each 15-character field has a 'free' space that is inserted between it and its neighboring field. Spaces and articles such as 'a', 'and', or 'some' count against the 15-character allotment of each field.

The first 15-character field is generally referred to as the article field, presumably because it tends to begin with the articles 'a' or 'an' (or 'some' in the case of some plural items.) This field is not limited to only containing an article, however.

The second 15-character field is generally referred to as the adjective field, presumably because it tends to contain adjectives which describe the item in broad terms. Color, material and basic size or shape are examples of common types of adjectives use in this field.

The third 15-character field is generally referred to as the noun field, as it contains the noun by which item are primarily referenced by when issuing commands. In general the noun field is required to be a single noun, or rarely a hyphenated noun-like phrase (e.g. thigh-sheath.)

Base descriptions are sometimes referred as short descriptions or an item's 15/15/15 description.