Guide to Custom Requests
The below requests represent more complicated types of requests, which often involve lengthy user-created descriptions. These requests are made using the @request menu, under the "[A] Custom Item/Alteration/Makeover" option.
Generally, all below purchases come with a Role Point cost, and an IC money cost, the exception being when it comes free as part of a Veteran Character package. The minimum IC money cost is typically 5 talents, with the price increasing for more elaborate changes.
There is an expected limit of one item request (i.e. Item alteration, Gear Alteration Package, Custom armor, etc.) per month, per account. Typical turnaround for these requests is within 30 days.
Following these will minimize the back and forth during the request process, which will help expedite your requests.
Basic Guidelines
These basic guidelines are applied to all request types in this guide, but item-specific guidelines are also included in their related sections.
- How to submit: Use @request and choose Option A (Custom Item/Alteration/Makeover). Include the type of request in your subject line (custom item, roleplay prop, item alteration, or character makeover)
- Realism: Your item or makeover must be period-appropriate and something that could be conceivably found in Midlight, which is based on ancient Rome.
- Restrictions: Some items or character makeovers were created before the current guidelines and may not be available for new requests. If you're not sure if something is allowed, just ask!
- Word limit (items only): The name (short description) is 9-ish “big” words or less. The long description (look) can be as long as you want (no paragraph breaks), but a longer description will add to in-character costs.
- Accurate descriptions (items only): The name must always include the base item, for fairness reasons. An iron helmet with a faceplate in the shape of a screaming owl must include the words “iron helmet,” for example.
The game staff is here to help! Confused about the process, or not feeling creative? Just submit an @request to the staff and they’ll work with you to bring your vision to life! 🙂
#Item Alterations
The Item Alteration request allows the requester to alter the name and description (a.k.a. the short/long description) of an item they own.
The name and description must still contain the base noun for the item. For example, you can't change "a bronze-tipped spear" to "a bronze dagger with a long pole lashed to it", or "an iron nagoda" to "an iron cuirass", nor can you change the base material type.
If desired, requesters may omit the material type from the item's name and replace it with a color for painted items (e.g. changing "a retalq gladius" to "a sharpened crimson gladius with a scorpion-shaped grip"), as long as the material and the fact that it's colorized appears in the item's (long) description.
If the item can't normally be written upon, adding text such as engravings or inscriptions is a mechanical change that must be purchased with a Custom Item or Custom Roleplay Prop request.
Item alterations can also be used to change the appearance/description of an item or exit of an owned property.
Update the cosmetic look of an item you already own, so it better suits your character’s personality. This is purely a cosmetic update, with no changes to the mechanical function of the item.
Examples of alterations:
Altering a plain cotton stola to "a green and cream silk stola stitched with prancing foxes"
Altering an iron helmet with a faceplate of a bear to "a black and gray enameled iron helmet with a fox faceplate"
Adding rubies to a scabbard: "a ruby-encrusted scabbard"
Properties
Change "Against the eastern wall is a stone bench." to "Against the northern wall is a polished marble bench carved with flying doves."
Change "You see a thick oak door to the east." to "You see a tall crimson double door with bronze hinges and large faceted glass knobs to the east."
Examples of prohibited alterations:
Transforming a bronze-tipped spear to a retalq-tipped spear
Upgrading an excellent quality weapon to a superior quality one
Adding a sheath to a pair of boots
Making your sword glow
Pricing:
Item alterations have both a role point (RP) and IG coin cost:
- Role point pricing is determined by account status (see pricing list).
- The is a minimum cost of 5 talents in-game. That price increases based on material type, complexity of work, and materials removed or added. You can potentially reduce costs by supplying materials (for example, providing a pouch full of rubies will help mitigate the expense of that ruby-encrusted scabbard).
What to include in your @request:
- The character this request is for:
- The item’s name (short description) and long description (look)
- The item’s location: It’s easiest if you deposit your item and any components in a sack in your bank account, or keep it on you. Otherwise, submit your request from the item’s location (if it’s in your bedroom, for example). Regardless, let us know where we can find it!
- Optional: Which bank account you want the coin withdrawn from (by default, it is withdrawn from Seneda’s forum bank).
#Custom Roleplay Prop
A custom prop is an item for non-combat use. If these items do not yet exist in the game world, they may be introduced upon your request/creativity and on the condition of staff approval. Examples of past custom props include: a painting easel, a musical instrument, etc.
A Custom Roleplay Prop request is similar to the Custom Item, except that it cannot be used on weapons, armor, or shields. This limitation applies to metal masks and faceplated-helmets (as they are armor), but not to hooded cloaks which are only clothing.
Upon a recent change, the staff will no longer provide the subject item of a Custom Roleplay Prop request. The requester must already own the base item they want customized.
Examples of these types of requests include:
- a bird-embroidered pillow that chirps when squeezed
- a reversible sagum that changes colors when turned inside out
- a skirt that has been shortened to not cover the shins
- a jar of makeup with a custom color and appearance when applied
Notes
- These requests include all the benefits of an Item Alteration.
- You may include additional custom emotes and dynamic name/description changes. (e.g. scabbard that emits a sound when the sword is unsheathed)
- For pieces of clothing or jewelry, this allows editing of its coverage and/or transparency.
- Allows adding readable text to an item that normally can't be written upon, such as engravings or inscriptions.
#Gear Alteration Package
Staff now offers a "Themed gear alteration package" at a cost of 2,000 RPs (Basic account) or 1,000 RPs (Premium account).
With this package, you will need to submit up to 5 pieces of armor and/or clothing at once for alteration. These items must all share the same "theme" or overall look. IC costs still apply, and there is a limit of 1 package per calendar year.
#Custom Items (Armor, Weapon, Face covers)
The purpose of a Custom Item request is to modify an existing item to enhance a character's appearance, role play, and play style, not to be the primary way characters can effortlessly obtain rare or special items.
Upon a recent change, the staff will no longer provide the subject item of a Custom Roleplay Prop request. The requester must already own the base item they want customized.
Custom Item Requests can also be used to change an owned property's room, exit, or item's mechanics, or edit which items are permanently fastened in a room.
This type of request is basically an Item Alteration, Superior Weapon Upgrade, and a Custom Roleplay Prop all rolled into one request.
Examples of custom item requests:
A wickedly sharp retalq gladius
An ebony black fluttering hooded cloak
A battle-worn and tarnished lorica squamata
Hidden (cosmetic) spikes that click into place when a weapon's handle is twisted
a stola with a transparent mesh back that shows off your back tattoo
a gladius with an engraved blade that when read displays, "Legio I Forever!"
Properties
Change a room into a bedroom, allowing characters who sleep there to regain fatigue while logged off.
Make a "secret" door or other special type of exit.
Add a compluvium or window that allows characters to see the sky, and the room to be illuminated by the sun during the day.
Add periodic echoes in a room e.g. "The pleasant aroma of fresh water and lilies fills the area."
Unfasten a room's bed and cabinet so that you can replace them with other items.
Examples of prohibited items:
A two-handed knife
A retalq lorica squamata
A machine gun
A bow with knife ends that can be used as a fangstave
Pricing:
- Custom items included as part of a veteran character package are completely free – there is no role point or in-character cost. (Veteran character custom items must still follow the above guidelines.)
- Outside of Veteran Character packages, Role point pricing is determined by account status (see pricing list).
- IG costs are based on the type of item, quality, and material.
What to put in your @request:
- The character this request is for
- The type of item you are requesting (e.g. “a superior retalq gladius”)
- The name (short description) and long description (look)
- The location of any components you are supplying
- Optional: Which bank account you want the coin withdrawn from (by default, it is withdrawn from Seneda’s forum bank).
Hidden Plate Customization Example
Syntax: Item = helmet name + " with " + faceplate name.
- When open, it shows only the helmet name.
- When closed, it concatenates the helmet name with the faceplate name using "with."
Example:
Helmet name: "A tin helmet"
Faceplate name: "a faceplate in the shape of a wild ox"
Name when open: "a tin helmet"
Name when closed: "a tin helmet with a faceplate in the shape of a wild ox"
The prose will be similar but will show independent descriptions based on whether the faceplate is open or closed. The helmet prose and faceplate prose are separate and shown depending on the faceplate's state.
- The limit is 60 characters for weapons, shields, and face covers like masks, faceplated helmets, and hooded cloaks. For other items, the limit is 100 characters.
Notes
- These requests include all the benefits of an Item Alteration.
- These requests include all the benefits of an Custom Roleplay Prop.
- You may include additional custom emotes and dynamic name/description changes. (e.g. scabbard that emits a sound when the sword is unsheathed)
- For pieces of clothing or jewelry, this allows editing of its coverage and/or transparency.
- Allows adding readable text to an item that normally can't be written upon, such as engravings or inscriptions.
- Free Custom Items that come as part of a Veteran Character package may no longer be exchanged for IC money. Instead, there is a new button in the Veteran Character lobby that will allow VCs to exchange unwanted Custom Items for 20 attribute points each. VCs created before this change, but who have not used one or more of their free Custom Items, may exchange their Custom Items for attribute potential via @request if desired.
- Properties: You may request to unfasten Permanent Light Fixtures, but only to move it to another room within the property or discard it. You may not keep them as moveable objects.
- Properties: A row of chairs, bar stools, cots, etc. counts as only 1 item.
#Character Makeovers / Custom Descriptions
The Makeover is an excellent way for a character to express themselves, deepen their roleplay, and craft memorable moments with their friends and fellow players. If you take the following tips into account when writing your custom description, it will have a high chance of being approved and quickly implemented by the staff.
Your character will exit the character generator with a description based on the physical characteristics you chose. However, this description can be customized in a variety of ways:
- VC Package (Level 4 and up)
- RP Expenditure (i.e. A complete makeover, a single feature makeover, or the custom scar menu available through @play)
- IG Makeover Event (e.g. A GM-NPC holds a tattooing event.)
- IG developments as part of role play (e.g. A GM-NPC may grievously injure and scar your character permanently as part of a storyline.)
Provided by GM Nikolah 08/14/2025
General Makeover Guideline / Tips:
How makeovers work:
Your character has a list of body parts. Makeover items are attached to these. This is why a back tattoo is no longer visible when you put on a tunic. We strive to keep these as close to the body part as possible so that clothing properly covers your character.
Sometimes people want a tattoo that progresses along their body. This can be accomplished, but body parts read off in a certain order. Knowing this may help you all work into a more realistic full sleeve or a shoulder to leg piece. Here is the way body parts read to the visible description, pulled directly from looking at a test NPC:
Order of Body Parts in Visible Description
Base description (the stuff you see when they have on a hood). Face description. Eye/skin color and facial features here. Head description. Hair goes here. Chest description. PG-13, please. Right hand description. Left hand description. Back description. Left thigh description. Right thigh description. Waist description. PG-13 please. Neck description. Left shoulder description. Left arm description. Right shoulder description. Right arm description. Left shin description. Left foot description. Right shin description. Right foot description.
Its hands appear to be empty.
Help me help you:
If you want to make sure that everything goes in like you want it, you're welcome to break up your description by part.
Example:
Base description: You see a bulky woman of average height.
Face: She has greasy olive skin and a pointed nose.
Head: Straggly black hair falls around her head in a tangled mess.
Right foot: A crow has been tattooed on her right foot.
This will read:
You see a bulky woman of average height. She has greasy olive skin and a pointed nose. Straggly black hair falls around her head in a tangled mess. A crow has been tattooed on her right foot.
Final note:
I mention PG-13 stuff. While I understand we're adults (technically), we don't want to have to write about your perky bits or that elephant trunk buldge. If you can't live without everyone knowing about your characters junk, please provide that stuff in the format above so that it can just be copy/pasted.
Wearing certain items cover aspects of your character's description. For instance, a bronze-visored helmet will cover your character's head, making your head/hair description not visible to someone looking at your character.
Example:
> look JohnSmith
You see a tall muscular man. He has green eyes set above a rugged chin in a pleasant brown face.
He is wearing a bronze-visored helmet… […].
His hands appear to be empty.JohnSmith removes a bronze-visored helmet.
> look JohnSmith
**You see a tall muscular man. He has green eyes set above a rugged chin in a pleasant brown face. He has short curly brown hair. **
He is wearing… […].
He is carrying a bronze-visored helmet in his right hand and nothing in his left hand.
Wearing certain types of "covers" may also obscure your character's name, in addition to obscuring portions of your character's description. (Examples: When closed, a faceplated helmet will cover your character's name, head and face; a mask will cover your character's name and face; a hooded cloak will cover your character's name, head, face and body.) The first line of your character's description is considered their "body type" and will never be covered.
Faceplated Helmets:
Open:
You see a very tall stalwart man. He has obsidian eyes set above a large nose, thin lips and a pointed chin. He has an oval face, with a dusky complexion.
He is wearing a saffron alanti-studded bronze phylax, a saffron silver-embellished lorica squamata, a radiant silver bronze manica with radiant silver doeskin bands, a clumsily-made sack, a heartwood quiver bound in saffron cotton brocade, a radiant silver bronze manica with radiant silver doeskin bands, an engraved bone bracelet, an engraved bone bracelet, a finely crafted pine bow, an ash iron-capped quarterstave with a speckled violet haft inside a deep amethyst supple leather baldric, a loose silver silk cloak, accented in silver homespun wool, a flowing purple rawhide sash, reinforced with purple suede, a light ivory leather sheath, a fang-shaped white leather sheath, an elegant bone white sturdy leather belt, some radiant silver studded leather pteryges, a radiant white bronze helmet, some flowing amethyst doeskin pants, some pale silver sturdy leather boots with bronze studs, and a black iron signet ring bearing the symbol of the Blackvine Militia.
Closed:
You see a very tall stalwart man.
He is wearing a saffron alanti-studded bronze phylax, a saffron silver-embellished lorica squamata, a radiant silver bronze manica with radiant silver doeskin bands, a clumsily-made sack, a heartwood quiver bound in saffron cotton brocade, a radiant silver bronze manica with radiant silver doeskin bands, an engraved bone bracelet, an engraved bone bracelet, a finely crafted pine bow, an ash iron-capped quarterstave with a speckled violet haft inside a deep amethyst supple leather baldric, a loose silver silk cloak, accented in silver homespun wool, a flowing purple rawhide sash, reinforced with purple suede, a fang-shaped white leather sheath, a light ivory leather sheath, an elegant bone white sturdy leather belt, some radiant silver studded leather pteryges, a radiant white bronze helmet with a face shield resembling a sniffing fox, some flowing amethyst doeskin pants, some pale silver sturdy leather boots with bronze studs, and a black iron signet ring bearing the symbol of the Blackvine Militia.
Hooded Cloaks
Open:
(coming soon)
Closed:
You see a tall, slender man.
He is wearing a black hooded cloak, some leather gloves and hobnailed sandals.
Below are further guidelines provided by staff in response to a player ticket:
Note appended by Analog on 2:49 pm, Friday, July 02, 2021:
Most things can be changed, within reason. For example, if your character is short and obese, you cannot make him tall and athletic, for example. Descriptions must be within the realm of reality, and, be characteristics that a Roman could have (e.g. you cannot have purple hair or three eyes).
Guidelines:
- The first line in the description is always the build, and only the build.
o Allowed: "You see a short muscular man."
o Not allowed: "You see a green-eyed, twitchy young woman."
- Describe visible physical elements. You can be poetic and creative, as long as what you are describing is something that can be seen.
o Allowed: "His deep-set eyes are green with brown flecks, like the mossy floor of a forest."
o Not allowed: "His green eyes convey an inner sense of anguish and fear."
- Be realistic - your description must be conceivable in ancient Rome.
o Not allowed: Rainbow-colored hair (unless described as dyed, with a color used in ancient Rome), glowing or luminous eyes, three arms, outlandishly tall or short characters.- Describe a permanent state. The description must work in all situations your character might find themselves in.
o Not allowed: "His eyes shift back and forth constantly." "He stares down at you with piercing blue eyes." "A smirk is plastered on his face."
- No power-emoting. You can't force a feeling on someone else just by looking at you.
o Not allowed: "Just looking at his handsome visage makes your heart melt."
- Tattoos and piercings* are allowed - go wild!
Sample description:
You see a tall muscular man. His round face is the color and texture of cured leather, with dark deep-set black eyes below bushy brows. Atop his head is a mess of black hair, loosely tamed into a braided bun at the crown of his head. Encircling his neck like a tight necklace is the tattoo of a coiling serpent.
*Note from GM Senses (14-Mar-2023): "Anything that should reasonably be removable while you're KO can't be a part of your custom makeover e.g. jewelry." These will incur an additional custom item cost.
Submitting a Request
When you're ready to submit a request, we recommend following the below guidelines to ensure the best use of both your and the staff's time in putting together all necessary information.
Sample Request Format
Requesting any form of customization needs to adhere to certain staff guidelines. We (the players) suggest your request state the following information, which typically helps reduce the number of back and forth communications to be had with staff, who will eventually ask this of you the following (example):
Type of Request: Custom Item/Alteration/Custom Prop/etc.
Short Description: An Altene double mace studded with blue sapphires (superior quality).
Long description: You see a staff measuring five-feet long, the dursc haft embedded with large sapphires… (so on and so forth)
Base Item/Materials: Altene Double Mace + some large blue crystal-like stones.
Location: These items are in a sack with a labeled parchment in my character's (bank account/first sack/floor of their domus bedroom/etc.)
Questions (optional): e.g. Can this staff be lighter than normal maces? Can it glitter when I take it out of my sack? Etc.
Staff will typically respond with either clarification, their questions to you, and/or an estimate of costs (IG coin and RPs.)
Tips
- The base material of an item should be specified in a short description. While there are many items that don't have this, going forward current TEC staff appears to insist on that inclusion, especially for combat items. Not Allowed: "a matte black faceplated helmet." Allowed: "a matte black iron faceplated helmet."
- Let a custom item's details speak for themselves. Your item does not necessarily need to state "this wood has been blackened by the eternal fires of hell." How would the viewer know the type of fire? Simply stating what the appearance of the wood is like is sufficient.
- The in-game costs can sometimes be lowered by providing some/all materials yourself. Example: Requesting 'a lion-skin black hooded cloak' and providing 'a lion pelt' in your character's possession.
- The short description of an item should be "short". A rule of thumb is 10 words or less, especially for items that are often part of "combat spam" such as armor or weapons. Cut down on repetitive filler words and leave the detail for the long description.
- Write descriptions that avoid forcing a specific reaction (aka "power-emoting"). You may, as an example, want others to feel "intimidated". But keep in mind that characters with different personalities and perspectives may look upon your item (or your character), but not be "intimidated" or "enchanted" by your item/appearance. Example: With character descriptions, try to write phrases that would be true for your character's appearance in whatever state they're in - happy, sad, unconscious, resting, angry, etc.
- Once a custom item is completed, mark your custom items with the @custom-item tag. In the event of a loss (evicted inn rooms, accidental sales to a shopkeep, etc.), your special items are easier for staff to find.
Catalog
Colors
The color and descriptor lists below currently exist in-game and are meant to be used for inspiration when creating your own custom item. Theses are all colors recently found describing items sold in the Forum.
| Colors: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabaster | Amethyst | Aquamarine | Argent | Beige |
| Black | Blue | Blue-grey | Carnelian | Cerise |
| Charcoal | Cherry | Chestnut | Cobalt | Coral |
| Eggshell | Fuchsia | Gold | Golden | Goldenrod |
| Green | Fern green | Pine green | Grey | Honey |
| Ivory | Olive | Orange | Orchid | Pink |
| Plum | Purple | Red | Rose | Saffron |
| Sapphire | Scarlet | Silver | Sky blue | Slate blue |
| Slate grey | Tan | Tangerine | Turquoise | Yellow |
| Violet | Viridian | White, pearl white, snow white | ||
| Colors Descriptors: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnt | Dark | Deep | Glittering | Light |
| Opalescent | Pale | Pearlescent | Pure | Scintillating |
| Smoky | Vibrant | |||