magic-building/SETTINGS_GUIDE.md

Settings System - Style Reference Guide

Overview

The Settings system provides reusable visual style references that can be applied across multiple characters, worlds, and scenarios. These are thematic style guides rather than specific entities, designed to ensure consistent visual aesthetics across the universe.

Available Setting Categories

📗 Clothing (settings/clothing/)

Visual style references for character attire across different worlds and scenarios.

Created Examples:

• ancient-mage-robes - Traditional high-status magical practitioner attire

  • Flowing robes, rich fabrics, runic embroidery
  • Perfect for [Character:camelot], [Character:eliot], high-ranking mages

• modern-tactical-gear - Contemporary military/security equipment

  • Functional tactical clothing, protective gear, modern materials
  • Suitable for [World:modern-world] action scenarios

Suggested Additions:

• medieval-noble-attire - Royal and aristocratic clothing
• casual-modern-wear - Contemporary everyday clothing
• winter-survival-gear - Cold weather protective clothing
• scholar-robes - Academic and research attire

🚗 Transportation (settings/transportation/)

Vehicle and mount styles for different worlds and scenarios.

Created Examples:

• magical-mounts - Fantasy creature transportation
  • Dragons, unicorns, winged horses, magical steeds
  • Perfect for [World:camelot-world] and fantasy travel

Suggested Additions:

• modern-vehicles - Contemporary cars, motorcycles, aircraft
• medieval-horses - Traditional horseback transportation
• futuristic-transport - Advanced sci-fi transportation
• naval-vessels - Ships and boats for water travel

⚔️ Weapons (settings/weapons/)

Weapon styles and designs for different combat scenarios.

Suggested Content:

• medieval-weapons - Swords, shields, crossbows, traditional arms
• modern-firearms - Contemporary weapons and tactical equipment
• magical-weapons - Enchanted and mystical weapons
• futuristic-weapons - Advanced technology armaments

🌲 Environments (settings/environments/)

Background and environmental style references.

Suggested Content:

• magical-forests - Enchanted woodland environments
• urban-landscapes - Modern city environments
• ancient-ruins - Historical and archaeological sites
• winter-landscapes - Cold weather and snow environments

🏰 Architecture Styles (settings/architecture-styles/)

Building and structure design patterns.

Suggested Content:

• medieval-castles - Traditional fortress and castle designs
• modern-buildings - Contemporary architectural styles
• magical-towers - Fantasy magical structure designs
• ancient-temples - Religious and ceremonial architecture

✨ Magical Effects (settings/magical-effects/)

Visual effect styles for magical phenomena.

Suggested Content:

• elemental-magic - Fire, water, earth, air magical visualizations
• healing-magic - Positive magical effect visualizations
• dark-magic - Shadow and necromantic magical effects
• protective-magic - Barrier and shielding magical effects

How Settings Work

Automatic Application

Claude Code automatically applies appropriate settings based on:

• Character Status: High-ranking characters get more elaborate styles
• World Context: Settings must match the world's technology/magic level
• Scenario Requirements: Combat, formal, casual, travel scenarios need different styles
• Character Preferences: Established style preferences from character descriptions

Cross-References Integration

Settings can be explicitly referenced in entity descriptions:

## Cross-References
- **Typical Attire**: [Setting:clothing/ancient-mage-robes]
- **Preferred Transportation**: [Setting:transportation/magical-mounts]
- **Combat Style**: [Setting:weapons/magical-weapons]

Style Override Commands

Users can request specific style applications:

• "Style Camelot in modern tactical gear" - Apply unusual style for contrast
• "Show Eliot in ancient mage robes" - Apply formal attire
• "Generate Nataly in winter survival gear" - Apply environmental clothing

Creating New Settings

File Structure Template

settings/{category}/{style-name}/
├── description.md          # Comprehensive style guide
├── images/                # Reference images for the style
└── prompts/               # Successful prompts using this style

Description Template

# {Style Name} - {Category} Setting

## Basic Information
- **Setting Name**: {Style Name}
- **Category**: {Category}
- **Style Period**: {Time period/aesthetic}
- **Application**: {When/who uses this style}

## Visual Characteristics
[Detailed visual description]

## Applicable Worlds and Characters
[Cross-references to compatible entities]

## Usage Guidelines
[How and when to apply this style]

## Prompt Integration Notes
[Keywords and phrases for prompt generation]

Style Combination Rules

Compatible Combinations

• ancient-mage-robes + magical-mounts = Classic high fantasy aesthetic
• modern-tactical-gear + modern-vehicles = Contemporary action scenario
• winter-survival-gear + winter-landscapes = Cold environment survival

Incompatible Combinations

• ancient-mage-robes + modern-vehicles = Avoid unless specifically requested
• modern-tactical-gear + magical-mounts = Requires careful narrative justification
• medieval-weapons + futuristic-environments = Only for specific crossover scenarios

Quality Standards

Visual Consistency

• Settings must align with established world aesthetics
• Character status should be reflected in style complexity
• Environmental appropriateness is essential

Narrative Appropriateness

• Styles must serve the story and character development
• Anachronistic combinations require narrative justification
• Cultural sensitivity in style design and application

Technical Standards

• All settings follow PROJECT_STANDARDS.md requirements
• High-quality reference materials and detailed descriptions
• Successful prompt patterns documented for reuse

Integration with Existing Entities

Character Applications

• [Character:camelot]: ancient-mage-robes, magical-mounts, magical-weapons
• [Character:nataly]: modern-casual-wear, modern-vehicles, modern-environments
• [Character:eliot]: ancient-mage-robes (simpler), magical-mounts, apprentice-weapons

World Compatibility

• [World:camelot-world]: All magical and medieval settings appropriate
• [World:modern-world]: Contemporary settings only
• [World:winter-world]: Winter-themed settings, magical ice effects

Location Enhancement

• [Location:central-castle]: medieval-architecture, magical-effects, ancient-weapons
• [City:gronin]: modern-architecture, urban-environments, contemporary-styles

Future Expansion

Priority Categories

1. Weapons - Essential for combat scenarios
2. Environments - Critical for location consistency
3. Architecture Styles - Important for location and world building
4. Magical Effects - Key for fantasy world visualization

Style Suggestions

• Steampunk Elements - For worlds mixing magic and technology
• Cyberpunk Aesthetics - For futuristic modern world scenarios
• Post-Apocalyptic - For destroyed world environments
• Underwater Themes - For aquatic world and creature scenarios

The Settings system ensures that every generated image maintains high visual quality and narrative consistency while providing flexibility for creative storytelling across the universe.