Colors

Lost Souls supports a method of colorizing text that can be used by players. The basic method looks like this: {{blue}colored text}, resulting in blue colored text. The colors produced are only visible to those with a terminal setting that supports ANSI color or who are using Lost Souls client software; see 'help term' for more on terminal settings.

The ability to use colors requires responsibility. While we understand that many people enjoy having complex color patterns associated with their character, please refrain from being truly gratuitous about it, and most certainly refrain from using colors strictly to confuse or obscure information. Irresponsible use of colors may result in administrative sanctions.

In addition to the basic form above, color sequences can be embedded within one another; for example, {{blue}one {{white}two} {{green}three} four} appears as one two three four, with 'one' in blue, 'two' in white, 'three' in green, and 'four' in blue.

The basic colors available are:

bright black black matte black night-black pure black raven-black dark black bright blue azure blue cerulean cobalt blue deep blue indigo midnight blue navy pure blue dark blue bronze bright brown auburn beige brass brown chocolate copper dusty brown golden-brown hazel honey-brown light brown rich brown sandy brown tan tawny umber dark brown bright cyan blue-gray blue-green cyan greenish light blue ocean blue pale blue pale green sky blue teal dark cyan gold golden bright gray gray light gray shadowy silver silvery silvery-white dark gray bright green chartreuse emerald forest green green jade light green olive verdant dark green bright magenta fuchsia magenta dark magenta bright orange burnt sienna orange saffron dark orange peach bright pink hot pink pink puce rose salmon violet-pink dark pink bright red blood-red burgundy coppery-red crimson light red maroon pale red red reddish reddish-brown reddish-gray ruby russet rust scarlet dark red golden-red orange-red red-orange bright violet blue-violet lavender lilac mauve pale violet purple red-violet violet dark violet bright white ivory milky off-white platinum blonde pure white white dark white bright yellow amber blonde lemon yellow light golden light yellow ochre pale yellow yellow yellow-green yellowish dark yellow

There are seven alternate general modifiers that can be applied to colors in a way similar to how 'bright' and 'dark' are used:

dull fluorescent glowing intense radiant translucent vibrant

Besides simple foreground colors, you can specify foreground/background color pairs. This is done by separating the colors with a slash; for example, {{black/white}text} produces black on white text. Use this capability sparingly, if at all; its overuse is, quite frankly, very irritating, and effects achieved solely with foreground colors are often much more pleasing.

These are the simplest capabilities of the color mechanics. Beyond this, the system can also handle patterns of color. There is a set of predefined color patterns called color textures; these are:

airy arctic camouflage auroric bay bright fire calico camouflage chaotic chestnut chiaroscuro cloudy coruscating darkfire dazzling desert camouflage dim fire double rainbow earthy fiery filthy forest foul hellfire hellplasma holy fire hyperrandom icy iridescent jungle kaleidoscope lightfire lightning mottled opalescent paisley palomino pearlescent pearly plaid polychromatic prismatic rainbow random roan shadowfire shifting shimmering siamese sickly snowy sorrel soulfire sparkling spectral spectrum fire starry strawberry blonde sunset swampy tabby tarnished unholy fire watery

You can also specify color patterns yourself. There are a number of different forms supported. These are:

Alternation: A simple list of one or more colors or color patterns in the form {{<color>, <color>... and <color>}text} or {{<color>-and-<color>[-and-<color>...]}text}. The intervals between the parts of the alternation will grow or shrink according to how much text they are being applied to. For example, {{red, yellow, green and blue}text} results in alternating red, yellow, green and blue text.

Sequence: A list of colors that will be followed exactly, one character at a time. Specified in the form {{<color>-<color>-<color>... sequence}text}; for example, {{white-orange-white sequence}text} creates a sequence of white, orange, and white.

Presequence: A sequence which will be followed a limited number of times, after which a different pattern will be applied. Specified in the form {{<color>-<color>-<color>... sequence <repeat>x then <color>}text} or {{<color>-<color>-<color>... sequence then <color>}text}; for example, {{white-orange-white sequence 5x then black}text} creates a sequence of white, orange, and white followed by black.

Centered: A certain percentage of one color centered within another color, in the form {{<percent>% <color> in <color>}text}. For example, {{40% pink in black}text} designates a region of pink centered in a region of black.

Randomization: One color selected at random from a list, of the form {{<color>, <color>... or <color>}text} or {{<color>-or-<color>[-or-<color>...]}text}. For example, {{red, yellow, green or blue}text} results in text that is either red, yellow, green or blue.

Banded: A base color with bands of another color, in the form {{<color>-banded <color>}text}. For example, {{blue-banded green}text} results in a banded color pattern.

Camouflage: A color with camouflage-style mottlings, in the form {{<color> camouflage}text}. For example, {{yellow camouflage}text} produces a camouflage color pattern.

Checked: A base color in a checkerboard pattern with another color, in the form {{<color>-checked <color>}text}. For example, {{black-checked violet}text} creates a checked color pattern.

Coruscating: A base color with coruscating highlights, in the form {{coruscating <color>}text}. For example, {{coruscating white}text} designates a coruscating color pattern.

Dappled: A base color dappled with another color, in the form {{<color>-dappled <color>}text}. For example, {{red-dappled cyan}text} results in a dappled color pattern.

Dazzling: A color dazzling with different hues, in the form {{dazzling <color>}text}. For example, {{dazzling pink}text} produces a dazzling color pattern.

Dotted: One color with dots of another color, in the form {{<color>-dotted <color>}text}. For example, {{orange-dotted blue}text} creates a dotted color pattern.

Fiery: A colored fire pattern, in the form {{fiery <color>}text}. For example, {{fiery green}text} designates a fiery color pattern.

Fire: A colored fire pattern, in the form {{<color> fire}text}. For example, {{yellow fire}text} results in a fire color pattern.

Flame: A colored flame pattern, in the form {{<color> flame}text}. For example, {{black flame}text} produces a flame color pattern.

Flecked: One color with flecks of another color, in the form {{<color>-flecked <color>}text}. For example, {{violet-flecked white}text} creates a flecked color pattern.

Flickering: A color whose hue varies in flickering patterns, in the form {{flickering <color>}text}. For example, {{flickering red}text} designates a flickering color pattern.

Freckled: One color with freckles of another color, in the form {{<color>-freckled <color>}text}. For example, {{cyan-freckled pink}text} results in a freckled color pattern.

Gleaming: A base color with gleaming highlights, in the form {{gleaming <color>}text}. For example, {{gleaming orange}text} produces a gleaming color pattern.

Glimmering Mixed: A color with glimmering highlights of another color, in the form {{<color>-glimmering <color>}text}. For example, {{blue-glimmering green}text} creates a glimmering mixed color pattern.

Glimmering Single: A color with glimmering highlights, in the form {{glimmering <color>}text}. For example, {{glimmering yellow}text} designates a glimmering single color pattern.

Glinting: A base color with glinting inclusions, in the form {{glinting <color>}text}. For example, {{glinting black}text} results in a glinting color pattern.

Glistening: A color with glistening highlights, in the form {{glistening <color>}text}. For example, {{glistening violet}text} produces a glistening color pattern.

Glittering: A base color with glittering inclusions, in the form {{glittering <color>}text}. For example, {{glittering white}text} creates a glittering color pattern.

Gridded: A base color gridded with another color, in the form {{<color>-gridded <color>}text}. For example, {{red-gridded cyan}text} designates a gridded color pattern.

Inlaid: A base color with inlays of another color, in the form {{<color>-inlaid <color>}text}. For example, {{pink-inlaid orange}text} results in an inlaid color pattern.

Iridescent: A color with iridescent hue patterns, in the form {{iridescent <color>}text}. For example, {{iridescent blue}text} produces an iridescent color pattern.

Lightning: A colored lightning pattern, in the form {{<color> lightning}text}. For example, {{green lightning}text} creates a lightning color pattern.

Lined: A base color with lines of another color, in the form {{<color>-lined <color>}text}. For example, {{yellow-lined black}text} designates a lined color pattern.

Metallic: A color with a metallic tone, in the form {{metallic <color>}text}. For example, {{metallic violet}text} results in a metallic color pattern.

Mottled Mixed: A base color with mottled inclusions of another color, in the form {{<color>-mottled <color>}text}. For example, {{white-mottled red}text} produces a mottled mixed color pattern.

Mottled Single: A single color of mottled shade, in the form {{mottled <color>}text}. For example, {{mottled cyan}text} creates a mottled single color pattern.

Opalescent: A color with opalescent hue shadings, in the form {{opalescent <color>}text}. For example, {{opalescent pink}text} designates an opalescent color pattern.

Patterned: A base color with patterns of another color, in the form {{<color>-patterned <color>}text}. For example, {{orange-patterned blue}text} results in a patterned color pattern.

Pearlescent: A color with pearlescent hue shadings, in the form {{pearlescent <color>}text}. For example, {{pearlescent green}text} produces a pearlescent color pattern.

Pearly: A color with pearly hue shadings, in the form {{pearly <color>}text}. For example, {{pearly yellow}text} creates a pearly color pattern.

Polkadotted: One color with large dots of another color, in the form {{<color>-polkadotted <color>}text}. For example, {{black-polkadotted violet}text} designates a polkadotted color pattern.

Polychromatic: A color shot through with other colors, in the form {{polychromatic <color>}text}. For example, {{polychromatic white}text} results in a polychromatic color pattern.

Prismatic: A color with prismatic hue variations, in the form {{prismatic <color>}text}. For example, {{prismatic red}text} produces a prismatic color pattern.

Rotting: A rotting shade of a color, in the form {{rotting <color>}text}. For example, {{rotting cyan}text} creates a rotting color pattern.

Runed: A base color with runic patterns of another color, in the form {{<color>-runed <color>}text}. For example, {{pink-runed orange}text} designates a runed color pattern.

Shadowy: A shadowy shade of a color, in the form {{shadowy <color>}text}. For example, {{shadowy blue}text} results in a shadowy color pattern.

Shifting: A color shifting through different hues, in the form {{shifting <color>}text}. For example, {{shifting green}text} produces a shifting color pattern.

Shimmering Mixed: A color with shimmering highlights of another color, in the form {{<color>-shimmering <color>}text}. For example, {{yellow-shimmering black}text} creates a shimmering mixed color pattern.

Shimmering Single: A color of shimmering hue, in the form {{shimmering <color>}text}. For example, {{shimmering violet}text} designates a shimmering single color pattern.

Sickly: A sickly shade of a color, in the form {{sickly <color>}text}. For example, {{sickly white}text} results in a sickly color pattern.

Sparkling: A base color with sparkling highlights, in the form {{sparkling <color>}text}. For example, {{sparkling red}text} produces a sparkling color pattern.

Spattered: A base color spattered with another color, in the form {{<color>-spattered <color>}text}. For example, {{cyan-spattered pink}text} creates a spattered color pattern.

Speckled: One color with occasional speckles of another color, in the form {{<color>-speckled <color>}text}. For example, {{orange-speckled blue}text} designates a speckled color pattern.

Splotched: A base color with splotchy areas of another color, in the form {{<color>-splotched <color>}text}. For example, {{green-splotched yellow}text} results in a splotched color pattern.

Spotted: One color with intermittent spots of another color, in the form {{<color>-spotted <color>}text}. For example, {{black-spotted violet}text} produces a spotted color pattern.

Stained Mixed: A base color with stains of another color, in the form {{<color>-stained <color>}text}. For example, {{white-stained red}text} creates a stained mixed color pattern.

Streaked: A base color with streaks of another color, in the form {{<color>-streaked <color>}text}. For example, {{cyan-streaked pink}text} designates a streaked color pattern.

Striped: A base color with regular stripes of another color, in the form {{<color>-striped <color>}text}. For example, {{orange-striped blue}text} results in a striped color pattern.

Swirling: A color with swirling hue patterns, in the form {{swirling <color>}text}. For example, {{swirling green}text} produces a swirling color pattern.

Tabby: A base color with tabby stripes, in the form {{<color> tabby}text}. For example, {{yellow tabby}text} creates a tabby color pattern.

Tartan: A single color in tartan-style variations, in the form {{<color> tartan}text}. For example, {{black tartan}text} designates a tartan color pattern.

Tinged: A color with a tinge of another color, in the form {{<color>-tinged <color>}text}. For example, {{violet-tinged white}text} results in a tinged color pattern.

Tinted: A base color with a tint of another color, in the form {{<color>-tinted <color>}text}. For example, {{red-tinted cyan}text} produces a tinted color pattern.

Traced: A base color with traceries of another color, in the form {{<color>-traced <color>}text}. For example, {{pink-traced orange}text} creates a traced color pattern.

Veined: A base color with veins of another color, in the form {{<color>-veined <color>}text}. For example, {{blue-veined green}text} designates a veined color pattern.

On an ordinary ANSI terminal, it may not be clear why many of these alternate forms of color pattern are available. Many of them are provided so that client software will be able to render them in a more detailed form than is possible in simple text. So it may be that a spotted color pattern is much the same as a sequence, to an ANSI terminal, but a client could render the text as actually spotted rather than simply using alternating colors. Use the color pattern form that most closely describes the effect you want to achieve.

Lastly, there is a set of abstract color styles that you can set to appear however you like. This lets you customize the appearance of the elements of the Lost Souls interface that use them. Styles are customized using the set command; see 'help set color style' for details. The color styles are:

alert: low alert: medium alert: high content: emphasis content: deemphasis interface: base interface: contrast interface: mute interface: error layout: border layout: section layout: label layout: value layout: text layout: table head layout: title layout: table index layout: table cell layout: emphasis layout: deemphasis layout: extended text OOC: name OOC: content OOC: global context OOC: individual context OOC: border status: enhancement status: safety status: recovery status: risk status: danger status: failure status: loss

The Lost Souls color system provides an extensive set of capabilities that can spice up the visual aspect of play when used with care. We hope that you will use the system's power to enhance the quality of the game for yourself and others.