Malakye's Rule of Three

Over the years, I've been blessed to help a number of folks with adjustments to their treasured things. Sometimes weapons but most often garments. They buy a cloak or what-have-you and while they enjoy it, they also find that it could be better in some regards. This is where imagination puts in its daily work and we dream up all the things the cloak could be instead of what it currently is.

Now, in addition to helping put someone's ideas into reality, I've also done some consulting work. This is where they already have a firm idea of what they want, they just need someone to hear them out and make sure it sounds halfway reasonable and decent. During these sessions, I've been driven to near insanity with some of the things people desire to adorn themselves with. The constant inclusion of rare materials on top of rare materials inlaid with rare materials and overlain atop rare materials just causes my brain to go into a catatonic state where I can no longer process information in a rational manner.

So, thus, I bring you one of my own personal rules: The Rule of Three.

At any given time and for any given item, three is the most amount of materials you should need to accomplish what you're seeking to have done. You can split them up any way you like, have them used however you like, but most folks will agree that anything more than three and the viewer loses all sense of what you've just shown them.

You should endeavor to live by the credo that "less is more" instead of by the "more is more too" line of thinking. The more you include, the more that is lost and the more lost the viewer becomes when you attempt to brag by showing them the ostentatious creation you had made.

As such, I have provided some examples below for you to use when you're aiming to have something made special for yourself.

 * shirts, blouses, tunics, jackets, etc. - You really only need two materials for this, the cloth and the buttons or other fasteners. Stone, bone, metal or wood are all acceptable as buttons. If you wanted to push the limits, you could inlay your clasps with another material. Though, this isn't always needed.

 * pants, trousers, skirts, etc. - Same as above, you really only need two materials. For pant-like garments this is generally the major material (either leather or cloth) and a secondary material for fasteners. One could also choose a lining if the major material is something coarse or rough to the touch. Skirts, on the other hand, tend to be a major material and a supporting material underneath or even trimming the hem. Some folks like to bead skirts and pants with a tertiary material like gemstones, though it's not really suited for all garments.

 * jewelry - This is a much easier subject for the rule of three apply to because things often jive so well. What I find looks best is to have the major material that the item is mostly made of, some sort of inlay added to the base, and then the tertiary material would be a gemstone that serves as the focus for the item in question. This works with all jewelry, from rings to necklaces to armbands.

 * weapons - The construction of most weapons is a simple matter. You have the part you hold and the part that does damage. Nothing to it, right? Well, you'd think so, but you'd be surprised at how often this is fouled up with all sorts of unnecessary additions. I find it best for the business end to be of one type, and the part you hold to be of something else which is suited for the work of swinging deadly implements. If you simply must, you could hilt or haft the thing in some nice metal or wood and construct a grip of nice leather. And, really, including one or two gemstones isn't the end of the world so long as they are the same type.

Those are just simple guidelines, there is so much more to it than that. But, whatever you do, do not try to come at me with something like:

a deep reddish-black silverweave fashionista's frock coat bearing orichalcum-inlaid silversteel epaulettes

Polished silversteel epaulettes inlaid with mixed orichalcum and tyrium arabesque patterns adorn the rich korograth-hide-covered shoulders of this aesthetically pleasing clothing.  Hidden between the heavy layers, a mesh of damite ringmail provides form and function from its resting place between the garment's exterior and the Velakan linen lining the interior, a statement to the dangers of everyday life when attempting to be the most fashionable person in the world.  A thin belt of finely braided westan wool and spun glitter encircles the high waist and is fastened by a thick kadepa buckle set with a massive blood ruby carved into a bleeding heart.

I may not be very strong, but I will find a way to kill you for offending myself and the rest of the world with your poor taste and horrid view of stylish fashion.

Trust me.

I know people who know people who get their hands dirty with the blood of other people.