Voyage to Ashlands: Transmog, Armor Dyeing & Mannequins

Ahoy, captains!

We're back with another look at what's coming in Ashlands, our next major update for Windrose! Over the past few devblogs, we've been talking quite a bit about ships and the ways you'll be able to make them your own. But a fine vessel deserves an equally fine-looking captain, doesn't it?

This time, we're shifting our attention from ships to the pirates who sail them. Today, we'd like to introduce three new features coming with Ashlands: armor transmogrification (transmog), armor dyeing, and mannequins.

Let's take a closer look!

Dress the Part: Armor Transmog

As you progress through Windrose, you'll come across all sorts of armor, each with its own appearance and characteristics. Naturally, some pieces might suit your preferred playstyle better, while others simply look too good to leave behind.

With the introduction of transmog, you won't have to choose between the two anymore. For those unfamiliar with the term, transmogrification, or transmog for short, is a system that lets you change your character's appearance without affecting their equipment stats. In other words, you can wear one set of armor for its protection and bonuses while displaying the appearance of another.

And that's exactly how it'll work in Windrose.

We're adding a new set of five cosmetic armor slots to the character equipment panel: head, torso, arms, legs, and feet. You'll be able to switch between your regular equipment and cosmetic slots directly in the inventory.

Your equipped armor will continue to provide all its usual stats and benefits, while any armor placed in the corresponding cosmetic slot will determine what your character actually looks like. Want to keep the protection of your hard-earned armor but prefer the appearance of something you found much earlier in your adventures? Go right ahead!

You can mix and match different pieces to create your own outfit, and if you leave a cosmetic slot empty, your character will simply display whatever armor they're wearing underneath.

Of course, your chosen appearance won't be limited to your own screen. Other players will see your transmog outfit too, so you'll be able to show off your personal style while sailing with your crew. One important detail: transmog applies exclusively to armor. Weapons and accessories, including rings, necklaces, and backpacks, won't be affected by this system.

A Splash of Color: Armor Dyeing

But changing the appearance of your armor is only part of the story. We're also introducing armor dyeing, giving you even more freedom to customize your pirate's outfit. To do this, you'll have access to a new Dyeing Station, which can be placed through the building menu.

At the station, you'll be able to recolor individual armor pieces using three separate color channels:

• Main Color — the primary color of the armor piece.
• Secondary Color — an additional color for different parts of the design.
• Detail Color — smaller accents and decorative elements.

This means you won't be limited to a single color for an entire piece of armor. Instead, you'll be able to experiment with different combinations, whether you're trying to put together a coordinated outfit or something a little more extravagant.

And yes, both your regular equipment and transmog armor can be dyed. You're free to customize the appearance of either one.

To make experimenting easier, you'll be able to preview your changes before committing to them. The dyeing interface will let you rotate your character, inspect the outfit from different angles, and see how your selected colors work together.

Once you're satisfied, you can confirm your choices and apply the changes using the required materials. We're still working on the exact crafting requirements, so those may change as development continues.

Another important detail is that colors are saved directly to the armor piece itself. Your custom colors will stay with the item when you move it between inventories, drop it, or place it on display.

There are a few limitations, of course. Not every armor piece currently supports recoloring, and some items don't have dyeable regions. Still, we're looking forward to seeing the combinations you'll come up with!

Show Off Your Collection: Mannequins

And finally, what good is a collection of fine armor if you have nowhere to show it off? With Ashlands, we're introducing mannequins, giving you a way to display your favorite armor sets even when you're not wearing them.

You'll be able to place armor on mannequins and use them to decorate your home, organize your collection, or simply show off the spoils of your adventures. Both male and female mannequins will be available, allowing you to choose how you'd like to present your armor.

Whether you want to put together a proper armory, preserve the equipment from your earlier adventures, or create a display worthy of a legendary pirate captain, the choice is yours.

And since dyed armor retains its colors, your customized equipment will look just as you intended when placed on display.

Looking the part

Taken together, these features are all about giving you more freedom over how your character looks.

• With transmog, you can separate appearance from equipment stats.
• With armor dyeing, you can make individual pieces your own. And with mannequins, you'll have somewhere to display the armor you've collected along the way.

As always, everything shown here is still work in progress. We'll continue refining these systems as we work toward Ashlands, and your thoughts and feedback will help us shape them further.

That's all for today, captains! We'd love to hear what you think of these additions. Are you planning to put together the perfect pirate outfit, or are you more interested in building an armory to showcase your collection? May your adventures be legendary and your outfits even more so!

Fashionably yours, Kraken Express