What is an Amelio Phenomena?
Amelio Phenomena (often just called "APs" or "upgrades") is the term which refers to frequent sudden and unexpected changes of one's body. It is believed that Amelio Phenomena (shortened to AP) comes about when you achieve something and your body changes to better reflect your growing uniqueness! AP come in a variety of shapes and forms, and as you grow and experience more in the world, you will change physically as much as you will mentally.
Some AP occur naturally as a result of experiences, but others are earned. These rare AP are considered "Blessings" are are bestowed on individuals whom do or achieve greatness in some way.
What makes Amelio Phenomena appear?
Lore-wise, AP can appear for any reason, or none at all!
Finley report Upgrades most often appear during special events (like Heartsgiving, Starsail, and Halloween Havoc), during intense emotional moments (like a burst of inpsiration, when they're very happy, or very sad), but sometimes AP will also just appear seemingly out of nowhere.
Whistler Crest's own Kavalan is a certified expert on the study of APs. She's also a teacher, and will help you learn to better understand the changes your body is experiencing and where they stem from. She's always happy to help, so don't hesitate to seek her out if you're struggling with your newfound APs! She's currently residing in the Museum.
What kind of AP are there?
"Common" upgrades
Standard
These are alternatively known as standard upgrades as they are always accessible. They only ever have drawing/prompt or level requirements for application.
Seasonal
These are upgrades that, in addition to having a level and (possibly) a drawing prompt, need to be applied during a certain time of year.
Xaaida
These are upgrades that are exlcusive to those living on Xaaida.
These upgrades cannot be stored, as once earned, they may be freely removed and re-applied.
These upgrades can be passed down through breeding, amount of passed down common upgrades is rolled randomly.
"Rare" upgrades
Rarity
These are alternatively known as "exclusive" upgrades and are only accessible at certain times of the year under certain circumstances. You will commonly find event exclusive upgrades on this swatch.
Early Bird
These swatches are only ever used for upgrades that were awarded to members who pre-registered to join our community, or who were present for the release of a new player species.
These upgrades can be stored.
These upgrades can be passed down through breeding. A baby can inherit a maximum of two upgrades, from any (combination of) parent(s). These are seperate from the randomly rolled commons.
"Special" upgrades
Radiant
These are alternatively known as "RAPs", and are created by specific staff members. These are often given away as rewards for events.
Breeding exclusive
These are upgrades that are only accessible to bred characters and can be acquired by breeding two characters to produce a child or multiple children.
Pog collection
These are upgrades that are only accessible once you have reached a certain milestone in your Pog collection.
Guardian
These are alternatively known as Blessed/Cursed. These are upgrades that are only accessible once you have completed a pilgrimmage.
Quest
These are upgrades accessible through quests. A series of prompts has to be completed by the character in order to be able to apply them.
Birthday
These upgrades can be applied once each annually, resetting on your birthday.
Unreleased
These upgrades are not fully released in the group, but are sometimes given to adopts. They could be any rarity once released.
These upgrades can be stored.
These upgrades cannot be passed down through breeding.
Terms you might find as AP rules
"Standard color rules"
On many upgrades, especially one that add a new colour, you may see a phrase stating "must follow the standard color application rules."
These rules are:
1. No pure black (#000000) or pure white (#ffffff). Colors must have at least 1.04 contrast between pure black or white. Exceptions are made for ablinistic and melanistic Finley.
2. Eye (iris) colour cannot be used unless otherwise stated on the upgrade. This rule is obsolete for characters with Color Surge unlocked.
3. Mana organ colours cannot be used unless otherwise stated on the upgrade. This rule is obsolete for characters with Color Surge unlocked.
Standard colour rules apply to every upgrade unless stated otherwise. If a standard color rule is allowed to be broken for an upgrade, it will be specified in its description. Rule-break changes cannot be colour mixed. For example, if your character has Imp Tail, you may not colour mix the pure black to any other area.
"Mana organ"
Each species of Finley has a different body part which they use to draw or manipulate mana!
For Nyulop, this is their whiskers.
For Draken, this is their "third eye gem", also referred to as a TEG, which only shows on adult Draken.
For Astralit, this is their palm stars.
These mana organs are incredibly important, both in society and in lore, and because of that will sometimes have specific rules surrounding them. For Draken specifically, the Third Eye Gem color may never be used elsewhere on the design unless Color Surge has been unlocked for the character.
"Any colour on your character's pelt"
Your character's pelt refers to their base colour, their placements, and any markings they might have.
Pelt colours does not inlcude:
The mana organ
Eyes or Eyebrows
Claws, Horns, Paw Pads, Hooves
Inner Ears
Hair
Anything else that is not their "skin" or "fur".
"Any colour on your character"
This includes any colour on your character, excluding;
The mana organ
The eyes
Any area that is pure black (#000000) or pure white (#ffffff).
Storing upgrades
At times, you might find yourself realizing that a rare or special upgrade your character has earned in the past doesn't quite suit them anymore. Fret not, for AP can be stored!
Storing an AP essentially means that it's on the character, but not visible. Think of it like a keepsake tucked away safely in a drawer, or like a recessive trait found in genetics! When an AP is stored, it may be taken out of storage at any time without having to earn it again. Stored APs can also be passed down onto any children, just as an unstored AP would be! Do note that storing and un-storing an upgrade does not change the way in which it is applied. In order for upgrades to be edited, you must use Rarity Editor, Marking Color Changer or Color Mixup.
To store a trait, make a design update with a new image for your character.
In the notes section, add "Stored".
To take an AP out of storage, simple make them a new design update showing the AP, and remove the "stored" note!
"Storing" common AP
Common AP cannot be stored in the same way rare, or special AP can be, Common AP are be considered permanently unlocked once their requirements have been met once. As such, to "store" a common upgrade, just remove it from the list! To un-store it, simply add it back.
For seasonal AP, these are considered "unlocked" once they have been applied once. To reapply a seasonal AP outside of its timeframe, please link back to where you originally applied it.
How do I apply upgrades?
Applying upgrades is relatively simple! There is three steps to this process:
- Obtaining the upgrade
- Drawing the upgrade
- Getting the upgrade approved
Obtaining the upgrade
How exactly to obtain an upgrade is usually listed on that upgrade's encyclopedia entry.
Obtaining common upgrades
To obtain a common upgrade, you must simply meet the requirements in order to apply it.
The first of these, Level, will be listed as the third line in an entry. Flourish Ears has a level requirement of 35, Mage's Cape has a requirement of 17. If an Upgrade does not have a level requirement listed, like Ink Capped Hooves, the character can be any level.
The second, Age Group, simply means that for most upgrades your character will have to be an adult. Some upgrades, like Deliverer's Ears, will have a little baby bottle icon. This means the upgrade can be applied to any character, regardless of age. If the upgrade does not have this icon, like on Ikka Ears, the character will have to be an adult.
Lastly, some common upgrades have an art requirement. An example of this is Unicorn Tail. For art requirements you must simply draw/write the prompt described in the description. This can be combined with other prompts, as well as magic, expeditions or anything else you set your mind to.
SUbtype, species & alignment restrictions
Some upgrades may be restricted to only characters of specific Subspecies, Species, or Alignment! A character may only earn Species/Alignment locked upgrades of their Alignment or Species. For example, a Lucky Nyulop does not have access to Unlucky Nyulop upgrades! The information on an upgrade's restrictions will be clearly present in its description.
There are a few workarounds to Species locked upgrades;
The Rainbow's Delight allows you to acquire an upgrade that is normally species locked. The only restriction is that it may not grant Alignment locked upgrades to Nyulops, or Element locked upgrades to Draken.
The Enchanted Orange Star Transmogrification Potion allows you to change your Finley's species, whilst keeping their previously earned Species-Specific upgrades. They may not freely earn new upgrades locked to their previous species, however.
MYO TYPE RESTRICTIONS
Certain MYO Types are restricted on what types of AP they are able to earn.
The details are as follows;
Memco Finley are unable to earn any fur or feather AP, in addition to being unable to earn AP in specific parts of their body depending on which type of Memco they are;
Round Memco are unable to earn Horn Upgrades
Thorny Memco are unable to earn Back Related Upgrades
Speedy Memco are unable to earn Tail Related Upgrades
Flower Blessed Finley are unable to gain certain AP depending on their species;
FB Nyulops are unable to earn Tail Upgrades
FB Draken are unable to earn Horn Upgrades
FB Astralit are unable to earn Wing or Mane Upgrades
Flying Diamond MYOs are restricted on which Eye Upgrades they are able to earn; they may only earn Pupil Upgrades and Celestial Sclera.
Anniversary MYOs are relatively unrestricted, however Anniversary Astralit may not cover/replace their false eye gems with other upgrades.
DRAWING THE UPGRADE
Once you've earned the upgrade for your Finley, keeping in mind any restrictions that apply to them, you then have to draw it on them! Of course, the main things to keep in mind when doing this are:
1. Make sure you draw the upgrade the way it is supposed to look, using the example art and upgrade description to guide you.
2. Choose your colors based on the AP's color rules!
3. Submit the completed artwork to the Design Updates gallery, assuming it isn't for any other purpose(e,g, an Expedition piece would go in the Expedition Gallery instead).
Staff will mostly make sure the EXP is calculated and distributed correctly at this stage, however, if an error with the upgrade's application is spotted here, you will be notified with a staff comment!
GETTING THE UPGRADE APPROVED
Once you've drawn your Finley with their new upgrade(s), you'll need to submit a Design Update!
1. To begin, go to the Finley's page, scroll to the bottom, and click the 'Update Design' button.
2. You will then be required to link proof of them earning their upgrades in the 'Comments' tab; this will most likely be a link to the gallery submission where it was applied, or the art done to earn it.
2.5. For Rare Upgrades specifically, you will need to link a valid submission that meets the requirements to earn you the upgrade(s), along with the newspost stating that it is available for that event.
3. The Masterlist Image should be on this background, (this background for Islanders) clearly showing the character with their most up to date design. If making a full Main Reference, there is no specific background template you need to use, however you may use this template if you so desire!
4. In the 'Add-Ons' tab, add any items you are using, such as a Trait Ticket, Rainbow's Delight, a Time Ticket used to extend an upgrade application deadline, or any other item that has granted you the upgrade!
5. In the 'Traits' tab, the transformation should be marked as 'Main Reference', or left blank if it is only an ML image. The only other thing you will need to do is click the blue 'Add Trait' button to add any new traits they've earned! Remember, to store traits, add (stored) to the Extra Info tab next to them.
If there is an issue, staff will cancel the request and explain what needs fixing!
Looking for other ways to change your character's appearence?
There is, of course, other ways to edit your character's appearence!
Scars and injuries can be used if your character experienced some hardships lately, and washes can be used to apply fun colours, textures, and effects to upgrades ignoring colour rules.
Clothing & Accessories may be freely given to your characters with no need for upgrades!
And that should be it! If you have any questions, staff are more than happy to answer in the #questions channel in the discord server!