Hey folks! The mod team has been hard at work chugging through as many design approvals as we can. Since the site was opened we've approved 91 design updates! So we're making great headway on the approvals queue. We just wanted to give you guys a bit of a summary on recent issues / changes that have come through the approvals pipeline since site launch.

Updates on Allowing Outfits in Masterlist Art

We have updated our design submission rules to allow for outfits in the masterlist art, since a lot of people were really wanting to show off their Elnin's swag in their masterlist card. ;)

Cost Breakdown for Masterlist Updates:

• Accessories or Outfit that was part of an Official Guest Art Sale = Free
• Accessories with Visible Markings = Free
• Outfits Submitted with Design Approval = Free
• Consecutive Outfit Submissions = 2EC

Regarding Outfits Submitted with Design Approval: Please be aware that for record purposes we require the first image framed from the design approval to be the naked (or minorly accessorized) version of the elnin where the markings are unobscured. As only one image upload can occur at a time through the design approvals system, we will then allow a free update (limit one) after the approval so that the clothing version can be displayed in the masterlist frame.

Since there have been a lot of design submissions already, we are allowing those who have already gotten their design approved to submit a design update with an outfit for free (as long as it uses the same art as the existing masterlist art!). We're leaving this open for a 1 month window, so if you want to have your outfit art in the masterlist free of charge please submit it via a design update prior to Oct 27 at 11:59pm.

Delays on Certain Design Updates

We've already run into a lot of design updates where we've needed clarifications on mutation and trait details, and have been working with Manaberry on nailing those down. If you're still waiting to hear back to us on a priority submission this is probably why. However, getting these clarifications is taking a while, so we have started sending back design updates that were pending review from Manaberry to let the owners know what the hold up is and give them the option to just change the art rather than waiting. We usually err on the side of not requesting changes unless we're sure it's an issue, which is why we've been checking with Manaberry on some of these things instead of just sending them back, but we understand some people might rather just alter the art rather than wait to get a definite ruling on it. If you get a feedback like this it's totally up to you if you'd rather wait in case Mana gives you the OK. However, waiting does not guarantee you won't be asked to make changes even after Mana does review it.

Here is a brief summary of some rules clarifications and decisions we're currently working on. Just so you know if you submitted a design update with this mutation or trait it's likely the reason it's being held up.

• Luminous Markings
  • Can these appear on the tail?
  • Do these have to use existing markings or can you add new markings? What about Elnin with little to no markings?
  • What counts as "markings" vs "base coat"
• Sectoral Heterochromia
  • Clarification on how much of the eye/horn it should occupy, and also when stacked with other kinds of heterochromia
  • Clarification on allowances for icons / symbols such as hearts and stars
• Hybrid Crowns
  • Just more information in general since they tend to allowed to be "more fancy" than the regular version of crowns and Mana has been the only one approving them until now
• More details on what Mana considers allowable as "natural progression" for growths without having to pay for edits

There are more special cases that require manaberry's input, but these are the main contenders for the hold-ups.

Updates to Mutation / Trait Resources and Guidelines

As part of the process of getting these mutation and trait clarifications from Manaberry we are being sure to update our guides to reflect that information. We're working really hard to make our mutation entries and trait guides cover more ground, and head off any potential issues you may run into in getting your design approved. We're also adding examples from existing Elnin that we feel exemplify the mutation or trait best (click the thumbnail to see the full size image!). Here are some of the mutation and trait guidelines that we've updated so far.

As a general note to find the most up-to-date information for mutations be sure to refer to the Enclycopedia entry. This can be found either by going to Browse -> Encyclopedia or "Mutation List" in the Directory. The end goal is for the Encyclopedia entries to have all the nitty gritty details, and for the guides to be more generalized information / how it works.

• Fauna Crowns
  • Added: “A small fantasy tweak can be added to the creature, but overall it should be a recognizable real-world animal. If you are submitting a fantasy-esque creature design please be aware that, if approved, it would be accepted into the canon of Eyre and considered a part of the World of Eyre. Any fauna crown creature design would be able to be drawn by other community members in prompts and activities.”
  • Added: “Rule of Palm: The creature in a fauna crown should be able to fit in the palm of your hand in its real-world equivalent. So something like a deer would obviously not fit in the palm of your hand, even if it's drawn to be miniature it would still not be allowed.”
• Starlit Anima
  • Added: "The sparkles / stars need to be white or near-neighbor to the anima color."
  • Added: "Exception: If Elnin has starlit suffusion it can match the starlit suffusion color"
• Cloudlet Crowns
  • Added: Should be only one cloud / piece of cloud
  • Added: Hybrid cloudlets can contain multiple clouds / clumps of clouds
• Hybrid Crowns
  • Added: Only faerie orbs can display a sparkle effect on the crown without any extra mutations affecting the crown
• Trinket Crowns
  
  • Added: Must either be 1 material OR 2 colors

This is definitely a constant work in progress for us, but we plan to keep documenting these changes and sharing them with you guys periodically! As well as rule updates we'll be going through each trait and mutation entry and adding good examples for you to reference when working on your designs, like you can see in the entries above. It will take us a long time to get through the whole list but we'll work on it slowly but surely!