Transformations
Transformations in the Merlot ARPG.
These apply a special alternate form to your character. Learn more by visiting the Information page.
Beast Form (Event) |
Your character gains a secondary form, or transforms permanently. This form resembles their normal form, but they gain beastly traits. The look and presentation of this form can vary (within reason). Their traits can optionally change in this beast form to any of these “beast” themed traits for free, or you can purchase and apply any non themed traits to appear in this form only:
For an example of a beast form, look at Edgar.
You can change your character's palette when they transform.
Devil Form (Event) |
Your character gains a secondary form, or transforms permanently. This form resembles their normal form, but they gain devilish traits. You can pick and choose any of these traits to apply to their devil form for free, or you can purchase and apply any non themed traits to appear in this form only:
For an example of a devil form, look at Agnes.
You can change your character's palette, as well as optionally change your character's markings to any of these: stripes, ember “flecks”, light freckling
Bewitching Form (Event) |
Your character gains a secondary form, or transforms permanently. This form resembles their normal form, but they gain bewitching traits. Their traits can optionally change in this form to any of these “bewitching” themed traits for free, or you can purchase and apply any non themed traits to appear in this form only:
For an example of a bewitching form, look at Anwir.
You can change your character's palette, as well as optionally change your character's markings to any of these: mask/face marks, sock markings, dress markings, clothes-looking markings
Sugar Rush Form (Event) |
Your character gains a secondary form, or transforms permanently. This form resembles their normal form, but they gain saccharine traits. Their traits can optionally change in this form to any of these “sugar rush” themed traits for free, or you can purchase and apply any non themed traits to appear in this form only:
For an example of a sugar rush form, look at CMY.
You can change your character's palette, as well as optionally change your character's markings to any of these: swirls, stars, carnival stripes, freckles, piebald marks, bullseye spots, polka dots, Lace marks, syrup marks.
Imp Form (Divine) |
Your character gains a secondary form. This form resembles their normal form, but they become cutesy, with reduced size. Your character can also transform permanently, if you'd like. This form should have the same markings as their normal form, but you can change their palette. You can purchase and apply any non themed traits to appear in this form only.
For an example of an imp form, look at Chimerical.
Rainbow Form (Divine) |
Your character can shift parts of their body into an ethereal rainbow. They can simply turn rainbow, or turn into a rainbow mist. This effect can be permanent or be turned on and off again.
Shifter (Shop) |
Your character can shift into an alternate form. This form can theoretically be anything within the rules and guidelines of the site.
When designing an alternate form, please make the design have at least one of these things so that it still at least hints at the original design of the character:
- Has similar colors
- Has similar markings
- Has a similar shape or traits
Feel free to ask in the help chat in the discord before getting a trait item if you want to be sure that the design will be acceptable onsite.
Toy Form (Event) |
Your character gains the ability to transform back and forth between their normal form and that of a toy. This differs from strange texture and other similar traits, as their body can undergo a large swath of changes that can fundamentally change their anatomy as it currently stands.
For example, your character could have button eyes if they turned into a plush, and their body could become segmented if they would turn into a marionette or action figure, etc.
The acceptable forms for this trait are at the mods' discretion, but generally, they should at least resemble the original character, and shouldn't be something absurd.
(Your character couldn't turn into a wooden block or RC car, but they could become a wooden doll, or have flashing lights or wheels attached to their feet.)
Winter Coat (Event) |
Your character gains the property to shift between their normal coat color and style and into a "winter" coat instead. Despite the association with winter, the coat color can be any shade of white, gray, light brown, or mid-black, it doesn't have to be white! Bright hues or other colors aren't allowed for this trait, natural tones only.
Your character's winter coat can optionally become fluffier. Their markings have to stay the same, but there is some leeway with how fur growth can change the war the markings are drawn.
Species Shift (Shop) |
Your character gains an alternate form. This alternate form resembles that of one of the other species on the site.
- Traits should remain the same between forms, or remain as similar as possible if exact anatomy can't be kept, unless if extra items or traits are being used.
- The exception to this rule is downgrading-- if the shifted species has a common trait you would like to keep instead for that form, you can downgrade to common rarity only for that trait.
- Example: A sqwagul has a blank horn. Shapeshifting into a sugar beast would give it a no horn style. You can change it to any common sugar beast style.
- Shifted characters can have traits that would not normally be possible on other species. Otherwise, their new anatomy should match the anatomy of the shifted species.
- Example: Ringlings cannot have artist's antennae. A shifted mothman can still keep its antennae.
- Traits that are unique to a particular species and are required should default to common rarity.
- Example: Ringlings usually have pawed feet. A ringling shifted into a mothman would have standard mothman feet and hands, not paws.
- Markings and colors should remain the same unless if items are used to change them.
Character example: Alphie. Click on the "notes" tab of each image to see some notes about the design decisions made for each form that will hopefully help with drawing shifted forms.
- When uploading a new species shift, it helps to clarify which species it is for by setting the species for the image to the species that you have chosen.
- Listing any traits is not required if they aren't universal (species-agnostic.)
- The character's masterlist code will remain the same, as this is an alternate form, not a main form for the character.
Alt (Common) |
Alt forms are alternate images that can be attached to a character.
These are unique in that they are not really... forms. They can be anything that showcases off another part of your character and their reference.
Alts do not count as an actual transformation, and can be applied regardless of major/minor form status.
Should not be:
- An outfit
- A transformation
Can be (not limited to these):
- Color Shift
- Glowing Markings / Hallow Glow
- Showcasing hair up/down
- Showcasing prosthetics, mobility aids, etc
- Showing a no-wing view
Uploading to the masterlist
- You may add an alt to a character at any time for free.
- Upload these alts like any other transformation when uploading to the masterlist.
Curse of the Snowman (Event) |
It seems like Noel Kwee wasn't the only one who found this curse.
Your character becomes afflicted with the Curse of the Snowman, transforming into a golem of snow and ice.
- Your character becomes made out of snow.
- Their eyes and certain body parts may become replaced with some or all of these things:
- Carrots
- Coal
- Twigs
- Leaves
- Dirt
- Your character can appear as if they are melting, or even have icicles dripping off of them.
- Other "snowman-like" themes and traits may apply. Feel free to ask if you have an idea.
If you're unsure if your idea is valid, feel free to ask.