Lightening

Lightening is a common merchant service in which excess weight is removed from an item. Players can usually tell if an item is able to be lightened using the ANALYZE verb.

Yes, item can be lightened:

You might be able to have a talented merchant lighten the felt pouch for you or have its pockets deepened.

No, item cannot be lightened:

You can tell that the vestment is as light as it can get and that its pockets could not possibly get any deeper.

Most items have set standards for how light they are able to get depending on what they are, and, in the case of containers, where they are worn. An item's base material may cause it to start at a higher base weight, but it will be able to be lightened to the lower limit.

Merchants typically lighten items in 10% increments of an item's base weight. Maximum lightness is typically 50% of base weight. Adamantine is an exception, which is rumored to be limited to be limited to 50% of its starting weight, rather than base weight.

Example

Step	Calculation	Final Weight
Full leathers base weight	N/A	13
Lighten 1	13 - Ceiling(13 * 0.1)	11
Lighten 2	11 - Ceiling(13 * 0.1)	9
Lighten 3	9 - Ceiling(13 * 0.1)	7 [Max light reached]

Containers

Prior to February 2016, containers had to be fully deepened before being lightened in order to maximize the capacity of the container, but that is only the case now if one lightens an item below the minimum weight for the item's set maximum capacity for its worn location. For example, a cloak's minimum weight is 6 lbs for the maximum allowed standard of 140 lbs. If the item is taken to 5 lbs, then the maximum capacity will be lower and, thus, the order matters now only once the minimum weight for maximum capacity is reached. Epic deepening does not have any minimum weight restrictions, and during that service maximum capacity may be taken above the standard maximums.

Standard Lightening and Deepening Levels

Worn Location	Minimum Weight (lbs)	Maximum Capacity (lbs)
Cloak & back-worn	6	140
Cloak & back-worn	5	120
Cloak & back-worn	4	90
Shoulder-slung	3	60
All others	2	varies based on location
All others	<1	≤5

Container Storage Descriptors

Descriptor	Maximum Capacity or Item Limit
Very Small	<2-4 lbs
Small	5-7 lbs
Fairly Small	8-11 lbs
Somewhat Small	12-15 lbs
Slightly Small	16-19 lbs
Medium	20-39 lbs
Slightly Large	40-49 lbs
Fairly Large	50-59 lbs
Large	60-69 lbs
Particularly Large	70-79 lbs
Very Large	80-99 lbs
Significant	100-119 lbs
Exceptional	120-139 lbs
Huge	140-159 lbs
Incredible	160-179 lbs
Enormous	180-199 lbs
Gigantic	200-1000 lbs
one item	1 item
a couple of items	2 items
a few items	3 items
several items	4-6 items
a number of items	7-9 items
any number of items	10+ items

Automated Lightening Certificates

At the June 2017 run of Return to Delirium Manor, certificates were introduced to automate the lightening of items. REDEEM the ticket with the item in hand to use. They cannot be used to take an item below its minimum weight.

Denied Scripts

The following list is provided by GM Haliste. Do not request these items for the certificates again; they are denied for both lightening and deepening, as applicable. The "Clarifying Description" column is a simple description of the item, in case the GM name is different from how players refer to it, or the item does not have its own page. All other items the certificates do not work with can be BUGITEMed (the item, not the certificate) to request review.

Item (GM Name)	Clarifying Description
Weight reducing container	Takes a % of encumbrance off the contents
Morphing container	Containers with different "sides" that have to be lightened/deepened individually
Dwarffest shield	Shields with built-in sheaths
SimpleBooks	Books with a pocket
Smuggling sacks

Examples

Bold emphasis added.

Light Yellow Note

This note can be REDEEMed to reduce an appropriate item's encumbrance by 1 pound. Most worn containers, armor, and weapons are eligible for this service.

Bright Orange Note

This note can be REDEEMed to reduce an appropriate item's encumbrance by 2 pounds. Most worn containers, armor, and weapons are eligible for this service.

Black Lightening Note

This note can be REDEEMed to reduce an appropriate item's encumbrance by 3 pounds. Most worn containers, armor, and weapons are eligible for this service.

Hazy White Note

This was a jackpot level find.

This note can be REDEEMed to reduce an appropriate item's encumbrance by 5 pounds. Most worn containers, armor, and weapons are eligible for this service.

Glimmering Silver Note

This was a jackpot level find.

This note can be REDEEMed to reduce an appropriate item's encumbrance by 10 pounds. Most worn containers, armor, and weapons are eligible for this service.

See Also

• GALD
• Saved posts