Given the unique color, depth, culture, and "feel" of Talislanta, it has never ceased to amaze me that many players don't really pay much attention to making their characters appear exotic, especially in locations such as Cymril and Zandu where enhancements of all imaginable varieties (and a few that aren't) are available. Time and again we see the hackneyed "long haired, possible moustache and/or bearded" magician, etc. But, pause for a moment and think: alchemicals and magic can alter your appearance in pretty cool and interesting ways, and what's more, in Cymril and Zanth at least, such alterations might be entirely common. You can have skin of any color, shade, or hue, sparkling, marbled, luminescent, etc. etc. Your hair can be magically colored as well, or styled in bizarre ways (mohawks, metallic spikes, cascades of curls, flame-like, waves as if in a constant breeze, etc.). Your eyes can also be colored, and your wardrobe knows few limits when enchanted (Cymrilians even start with such trinkets). Even such basic things as the cut and style of clothing can be quite radical. When you describe your Cymrilian, you can really give your imagination some leeway, and your character's semblance can be truly unique and personal.

Likewise, such cosmetic variances can be applied to weapons. Why should all longswords (or whatever) look the same? Providing the different appearance you describe has no effect on game mechanics, does it really matter if you have a wavy-bladed longsword, or a slightly curved, single-edged longsword, or one with a forked tip, or one with a bucket hilt instead of a straight crossguard, etc.? No, such cosmetic variations shouldn't really matter, and once again, they seem just that bit more interesting. Given the unknown qualities of Talislanta's various irons, forging them might be easier than it is on earth, for all we know, and magic or alchemicals might make the task even easier in some cases.

Now we get to spells. With the massive freedom given in the new edition to describe just what your spells look like (smell like, sound like, etc. as well), you can really tailor some unique and bizarre spells, and ones that really fit your character concept. Why opt for a boring old firebolt or lightning blast, when you can just as easily describe your Attack spell as a beautiful firework display that engulfs the target and hurts them with lots of tiny explosions? Or a flaming skull that cackles as it hurtles towards and bites the target? Or a stream of razor-winged butterflies that flutter around the target, etc.? Once again, think beyond the immediately obvious (and usually hackneyed) ideas, and once again add a touch of the exotic.