Elnin Tail Guide

0 MP (Miniature): Tails that are considered miniature version of their natural size.

1 MP (Standard): This tail size is considered the baseline shape/size for all tail types. Standard tails should feel like they're more or less balanced in size with the rest of the body.

3 MP (Infused): Infused tails are visibly larger than standard sizes due to having a higher than normal mana capacity. If your elnin looks like it could probably use its tail as a comfortable bed then it's probably an infused size...

4 MP (Giga): There is no precise upper size limitation to 4 MP tail sizes and hair/ear fluff lengths. At 4 MP an elnin can basically circulate ambient energy through themselves to support any extra sizing. If your elnin looks like it could host a sleepover in its tail then it's probably giga...

• Elongated tail styles (ones that are not Warren or Canopy) follow these rules of thumb for sizing:
  
  • 0MP (Miniature) - Generally a kittom sized tail on an adult elnin body. About half an elnin's body length or smaller! ( < 1/2 )
  • 1MP (Standard) - Typically about a half a body length to two body lengths. ( 1/2 - 2 )
  • 3MP (Infused) - Usually about two to three body lengths ( 2 - 3 )
  • 4MP (Giga) - Three body lengths or longer. Currently there is no upper limit, however if pushed too extreme we may be required to implement one. Fluff responsibly! ( 3 < )
  
  

  

• Rounder tail styles (like Warren and Canopy) follow these rules of thumb for sizing:
  • 0MP (Miniature) - Generally a kittom sized tail on an adult elnin body. About half an elnin's body length or smaller! ( < 1/2 )
  • 1MP (Standard) - Typically about a half a body length to one body lengths. ( 1/2 - 1 )
  • 3MP (Infused) - Usually about one to two body lengths ( 1 - 2 )
  • 4MP (Giga) - Two body lengths or longer. Currently there is no upper limit, however if pushed too extreme (aga) we may be required to implement one. ( 3 < )

NEW Please reference the guides above for sizing. The specific tail style guides below will eventually be adjusted to better match but are currently due for adjustments!

[MARSH]

General Description: Marsh tails can be described as squishy cat tails. They can be as fluffy or as thin as you like.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Marsh tails generally end in a rounded tip. They can have some fur separation/fluff bits, but shouldn't be overly pointy.
• The fur length/tail width should be more or less uniform down the entire length of the tail. There should not be any noticeable tapering at any point.

[MEADOW]

General Description: Meadow tails are quite fluffy, with the fur being flipped and poofed in different directions.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Think of meadow tails as messy fox tails. They don't have to have the messy floppy styling if you would prefer to draw the fur more smoothed out, but I like to think meadow tails tend to struggle with bedhead fluff.
• Meadow tails should be kinda chunky in the middle and taper a bit at the end.

[STEPPE]

General Description: Steppe tails are high arcing, relatively inflexible tails. The fur on steppe tails falls in light layers similar to lagoon tails, but shorter and far less heavy. This tail actually has quite a lively bounce when an elnin is trotting along, giving elnins with steppe tails an impression of being perky and ready to break into a jaunting sprint at any moment.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Steppe tails are really not very flexible. Think of it like the tail is one giant feather. It can flex a bit, but it's not going to curl around or bend back on itself without well... breaking. XvX;;;;

[Warren]

General Description: A perfect little cotton ball bun tail.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Round masses of fluff attached to your elnin's bum.

[CANOPY]

General Description: A good ol' curlicue tail.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• The tail can be tightly curled with densely packed fluff, loose and floppy, or anywhere in between.
• You can uncurl the tail just a little bit from the base, but the majority of the tail must remain curled up.

[GLADE]

General Description: Glade tails are your basic pony tails, silky and ready for brushing.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Nothing too tricky about glades. You are welcome to adjust the volume of the tail higher if you'd like an especially teased look or lower if you want a more sleek style.

[GROVE]

General Description: Somewhat like a unicorn tail. Groves are slender and flexible, with a tuft of fur at the end.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Generally, the main tail fluff should not extend up past the halfway point of the tail.
• Grove tails sometimes have extra bits of fur that drape loosely underneath the base of the tail.
• Grove tails can have a little bit of fluff on the top of the tail base, but it should be kept short

[LAGOON]

General Description: The tail all kittoms love to hide under. Lagoon tails are made of sections of fur all draping loosely from a gracefully upheld tail. It creates a lovely cascade effect that also handily doubles as a nice tent.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• The actual length of the draping parts of the fur should be at least the height of an elnin from toe to chin (so no super short cropped lagoons). 

[Shoal]

General Description: A furry tail with a fishy flare.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Standard shoals have a fan of fluff at the base of the tail as well as a fin-shaped fan at the end of the tail.
• There is always at least a partial section in the middle that is mostly sleek or otherwise lacking excessive fluff.
• The "fin" shaped fur placements are always vertical. Horizontal alignments are only present on hybrid versions.

[WELKIN]

General Description: Welkin tails are characterized by their silky spiraling swirls. These distinct shapes are caused by underlying energy whorls and often look artificially distinct in shape when compared to natural curls.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Welkin tails are not truly weightless, but the hair is so light and delicate that it tends to billow outwards in fluffy clouds.

[Zephyr]

General Description: Zephyr tails have a windswept, feathery quality. The supporting tail limb is usually held upright, causing a pronounced arc and elegant fall of fur that sometimes brings to mind the shape of a rooster's tail.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Zephyrs often sport additional streamers of fur that flare stylishly from the base of the tail.
• This is not a feathered tail. The fur is just prone to separating into sections that can appear feather-like.

[HYBRID]

General Description: Unique tails or a combination of standard tails both fall under this category.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Hybrid tails have quite a variety but they must be furred.

[UNDINE]

General Description: Aquatic tails fall into this category.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Most aquatic creatures are acceptable as tail inspiration.
• Exceptions: ???

[IMP]

General Description: Imp tails are similar to chameleon or possum tails.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Imp tails are flexible and prehensile. They can grip items, be used to hang from things, etc.
• Imp tails can have a split at the end of their tail similar to a snake's tongue.
• Imp tails can curl at the end like a chameleon tail.

[PUCA]

General Description: Puca tails are basically firefly bums. They can be compared to a pudgy, furry gecko tail in terms of texture. Sections of fur and the flesh underneath can emit light.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Puca tails cannot be bigger than the standard size (1 MP).
• Puca tails come with the Luminous anima mutation. This mutation affects:
  • Antennae (glow must be anima or fae accent color).
  • Mana Saturation (fleshy bits/paw pads).
  • Tail (glow must match anima color).

[SYLPH]

General Description: Sylph tails have a tapered shape with additional plumage at the end.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Sylph tails are flexible but they lack the extra muscle and dexterity that imp tails have.