TraitS! Traits! Traits!

As our artists are currently deep into designing Corrupted Fauns and work on custom orders and adopts has slowed, we felt this was the perfect time to chip away at traits. We want to provide as much notice as possible for any trait changes or additions so that our community is as informed as they can be when they plan for customs, Fawning Season, etc. 

This news post will likely be by far the biggest update, but there may be more minor adjustments posted in the near future for the trickier traits we want to take our time discussing in full. The last thing we want is to rush out any changes without thinking about how anything we do impacts our community! 

Our artist team has had several formal meetings to discuss every trait one-by-one, and all of our proposals were brought to the moderation team as well.
Many traits are perfect as-is! The majority of traits are unchanged and simply need visuals attached to their names, which we are working on at the same time. 

Trait Guidelines Disclaimer

We looked through existing Faunids when we discussed these traits to determine the best general minimum and maximum lengths.
Some Faunids exist outside this standard, especially with some of the unique ways Adopts and Auctions can present these traits.
These Fauns don't all necessarily need to be edited to exist within the standard, and can present a fun element of diversity in the outcomes during Fawning!
The updated standard lengths are meant to be a guide for future Faunids and for those aging up or re-referencing existing Faunids. 
We want to preserve unique stylization, allow future Fauns who are stylized outside the standard range to be special, and make traits visually distinct. 

With each change, I (hi, it's me, MUTT) will be listing our reasoning behind these edits. This reasoning will not be copied into the trait descriptions themselves, just expanded on here. It is important to me that any changes like this have a very strong why  behind them, and if they do not, then they remain unchanged! 

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Updated Visuals

Green = Minimum Coverage 
Blue = Maximum Coverage

Beard (Standard) 

Beard has had a visual update to reflect a longer fur length and may include the muzzle. This trait will override Cheek Fluff. 

Collar Fluff (Standard) 

Collar Fluff has an updated visual. At minimum, this trait flows along the collarbone and at maximum loops around the body below the neck.
There is some overlap between this trait and Shoulder Fluff, however Collar Fluff cannot cover the shoulders. 

Rib Feathers (Standard)

Rib Feathers now have a visual. Unchanged; rib feathers are quite a versatile trait, and we wanted our visual to reflect that.

Back Feathers (Standard) 

Back Feathers have an updated visual. More centralized on the back, they can extend wider out than Dorsal Feathers.

Dorsal Feathers (Standard) 

Dorsal Feathers now have a visual. At minimum, they start at the base of the skull and stop above the tailbone.
On fur tails, Dorsal feathers can travel as far down as there is bone structure beneath the fur.

Hip Feathers (Standard)

Hip Feathers now have a visual. The length is unchanged, with an added note for reference that Hip Feathers start at the hip bone.

Feather Skirt (Standard)

Feather Skirt now has a visual. As an exclusive trait, the minimum is significantly more pronounced than the maximum of Hip Feathers. Since it loops around the back, it overrides Tail Feathers.

Satyr Pants (Standard)

Satyr Pants now have a visual. Originally, this trait was meant to look like fluffy shorts like the trait's namesake. At minimum, Satyr Pants start at the belt line to just above the knee. At maximum, they cover the entire leg. Satyr Pants will override any fur and fluff traits.

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Condensed And Altered Traits

Pectoral Feathers (Bra) (Standard) is now Pectoral Feathers (Standard) 

Pectoral Feathers (Bra) has been renamed to Pectoral Feathers. At minimum, this trait goes along the bottom line of the pectorals. Unlike Chest Feathers, Pectoral Feathers typically flow upwards and are more exaggerated. This can accentuate or obscure the chest, depending on stylization. Some may prefer to go for a 'bra' look that gives the chest a pushed up appearance, and others may simply want to frame the chest more than Chest Feathers can do. 

Sternum + Chest/Pectoral Feathers = Chest Feathers

Chest Feathers now have a visual. Sternum Feathers is being condensed into Chest Feathers. The name change prevents confusion between Pectoral/Bra Feathers. We have combined the maximum range of Sternum and Chest and expanded them, which allows more clarity and more freedom for this trait in one go.

Arm Wings (Bicep Primary) + Arm Wings (Bicep Secondary) have been condensed into Arm Wings (Bicep) 

Minimum coverage must be either Primary OR Secondary feathers. 

The header image for this trait is the Maximum coverage for Bicep Arm Wings. 

Arm Wings (Forearm Primary) and Arm Wings (Forearm Secondary) have been condensed into Arm Wings (Forearm). 

Minimum coverage must be either Primary OR Secondary feathers. 

The header image for this trait is the Maximum coverage for Forearm Arm Wings. 

Other Existing Trait Changes

Sacrum Feathers have been condensed into Tail Feathers. 

The visual for Tail Feathers will be made to include coverage for both.
Tail Feathers were always intended to start above the tailbone, and this trait has caused unecessary confusion for both artists and users. 
(Jack thought Sacrum Feathers would make more sense to match the location, but everyone hates the word Sacrum and he was outvoted.)

Underbelly Scales have been condensed into Belly Scales. 

Belly Scales are, in fact, along the Underbelly.  

Feather Mohawk has been removed as a trait.

This trait has given our entire community so much trouble. It is one of the least consistent traits despite having just slightly over a full page of Faunids. It was initially defined as 'downy feathers', though this often makes it completely indistinguishable from hair and many Fauns with this trait had feathers that were not downy feathers categorized as this trait. Since users are free to stylize Hair and Feather Hair and Hair (Feathered) in numerous ways, including as mohawks, this trait is redundant even though the name is super fun. 

On the staff team, we went through all of the Faunids with this trait and have placed them into either:
Hair
Hair (Feathered)
Feather Hair 

This categorization depended on how they visually presented and there were some we were genuinely stumped about.
If you own a Faunid who previously had the Feather Mohawk trait, you may discuss with MUTT about changing the look slightly to fit one of the above categories better regardless of what it was changed to in the meantime. This will be case-by-case but we will try to honor those requests. 

new trait variation

Shiba Tail and Wolf Tail are being expanded into a broader "Canine Tail" category! 
All four versions of Canine Tails are Standard traits. 

Shiba Tail has been renamed to Canine Tail (Sickle).

Within the breed itself, the most common and preferred standard is referred to as “curled” or “ringed”. “Sickle” is a less common shape, which is slightly less curved and pointed upward. While not an official name, sometimes these tails are referred to as “Naginata” tails due to their resemblance to the weapon with this name. Faunids have been drawn with Shiba tails that present differently, and we want to continue allowing for that freedom with stylization. 
So, the trait itself has not changed! Of all the names, Sickle implied the most freedom. 
Therefore, dog breeds with similarly curling tails may be used as references when ordering customs. Just check with your artist! 

Wolf Tail has been renamed to Canine Tail (Wolf).

It is also unchanged, though the wording implies a bit more freedom. Canine tails under the Wolf category may be stylized to look similar to Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, etc. Again, please check with your artist.

There are two new variants to Canine Tail. These are available through customs, adopts, or Standard Trait Applicators.
While all of the tails are listed separately, in this specific category they are variations of the same trait, so if you have a Wolf-tailed Faunid you would like to change to Sickle, you would need a Trait Modification token, not a Trait Removal + Trait Applicator. You cannot have your Faunid’s official reference reflect a different Canine Tail without this.

Canine Tail (Silken) 

Canine Tail (Silken) is meant to mimic the feathery tails of Saluki and similar sighthounds. It is distinct from Lung Tail not only by its much smaller length and size, but also by the thinness of both the tail itself and the fur that drapes from it.

Canine Tail (Lycaon) 

Canine Tail (Lycaon) is named after the scientific name for the African Wild Dog. This tail is meant to have a minimum that is most similar to tails you might see on dogs like the beagle, with a maximum that presents more closely to the thin but fluffy tail of the AWD.

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Applicator and Token Updates

"Antler Modification" is now "Accent Adjustor"

The range of edits that come with this token are largely experiemental. When considering alterations to your Faunid's design, please keep in mind that these designs are made with love, care, and attention from the artists, and we take efforts to combine design elements that compliment each other. Please be thoughtful about any alterations you want to make, and consider adjustments with intent to compliment the Faunid that is there already.

Saying all that, we totally get that a minor accent can make or break a connection to a Faunid's design! So, we wanted to try this out and see how it goes.

[View the full list of guidelines on the Accent Adjustor's item page HERE]

Trait Applicator [Mutation]

We wanted to have a clear 'no' list for applied Mutations before we planned to release any during events. 
As of right now, we have decided the only existing Mutations that cannot be obtained via applicator are Behemoth, Chimerism, and Lifesource.

Existing and Upcoming MYO Slots 

We would love to introduce a few more opportunities to gain Faunid MYO slots, as well as make sure that existing ones are used. 
All existing and future MYOs now have an expiry date. 
For all currently existing MYO slots, the expiry date is exactly a year from the date of this news posting, which is October 17th, 2026.

For all future MYO slots, the expiry date will be exactly a year from the date they are granted. 

Thank you all for sticking it out through this update!