Post by hrsegrl on Mar 13, 2008 17:55:55 GMT -5
(This article is the work of Dawnsisters Weyr with some adjustments made by HG)
Article One: Gold dragons are neat.
Of course they are, have you SEEN how they shine in the sun? Aside from that, impressing a gold makes you feel really special, since it's the ONLY dragon that color on the sands. And even better, your character then gets to boss around all the other characters. What could possibly be better?
Article Two (a): Gold dragons aren't fun.
Did I mention that along with bossing people around, you're also responsible for their collective wellbeing? You have to make decisions and do paperwork and yell at people when they do things wrong... Goldriders aren't always the best liked. In fact, it can be rather difficult for them to have a normal social life. Even when they aren't busy, the fact that they are Bosses of Everyone Else puts them in a slightly different social class. Would you feel comfortable going out for a drink or to a dance with the CEO of your company or the Principle of your school? (Heck - can you imagine Lessa sitting down for a nice social dinner with a greenrider?) Even worse - it is an undeniable fact that greenriders get a LOT more nookie.
Article Two (b): Gold dragons aren't unfun.
The last article must, of course, be qualified. ANY character is as much or as little fun as you want them to be. But generally speaking, goldriders just have to work harder to be fun. The MOST important part is that your character be original. Very often, goldriders seem to be cut from the same mold, which leads to the next point:
Article Three: Cookie Cutter Characters
The gold dragon will NOT impress to a Cookie Cutter Candidate. A CCC qualifies as anyone fitting more than two of the following characteristics (each one by itself is not necessarily so bad):
- Is the daughter of a Lord Holder/Weyrwoman/Master Crafter
- Has overcome impossible social odds to stand
- Is seriously misunderstood by everyone, especially the Weyrleaders and her fellow candidates
- Has spent their childhood as an orphan wandering the planet
- Plans to be in the Stands the day of the hatching
- Can hear all dragons
- Is loved by everyone far and near
- Has a dulcet singing voice
- Impressed 6 fire lizards
- Has hair that falls to her knees
- Has sparkling green or purple eyes
Article Four: Gold dragons can't do miracles
Are you having a hard time getting involved in posts? Do you feel like no one ever wants to write with you? Is it hard to come up with ideas for new stories? Are all your posts about how your characters are lonely? Impressing a gold dragon will not fix this! The only thing, I repeat, the ONLY thing that makes role playing fun is how much work you put into it.
What do the Goldriders end up doing? Yelling at delinquent riders, lecturing weyrlings and candidates on responsibility, and cleaning up after hatching messes. Are the goldriders fun to play with? Sometimes. Are they fun to read? Sometimes. Are they original? As often as possible.
The point is, once again, the status won't make the game, it won't make you well-liked, it won't solve your problems in real life, and I must warn you: if you expect that it will, your problems will probably only get worse.
Article Five: You still wanna ride a gold?
Very good! Get in line! At Dawning our golds are given out on a combination of merit and luck. That is to say - you have to EARN a chance to be considered for the gold, and once you've earned that, you'll be thrown in the pot with everyone else who has earned it and the results will be random. Earning your chance means proving you can write intelligently (spelling, grammar, more than one-liners) and proving you have original ideas. Characters who always conform to stereotypes, who are copies of Anne McCaffrey's characters, or who never do anything but wander around the Weyr hoping to bump into someone who wants to talk to them will have lower chances than someone who creates unique and interesting characters that instigate role play opportunities, inspire other writers, and get involved when APPROPRIATE opportunities arise.
Article Six: Now that you've got her...
Gold riders are high maintenance! If you have one, we expect to hear from her AAAAAAAAALL the time. Participate in posts, start posts, suck other people into posts - let us know that you're out there! There are consequences for unplayed Gold riders... trust me.
Article Seven: Y'know... Everyone read this!
This letter is addressed to people planning goldriders, but there are good points for everyone, the main one being: your characters are what you make of them. You get from this club what you contribute. So make it good, and shine baby, shine!
*If you are submitting a persona that you want to be a prospective candidate for a GOLD please put at the bottom of the sheet ALL THAT GLITTERS to notify the persona approval team that you have in fact READ this*
Article One: Gold dragons are neat.
Of course they are, have you SEEN how they shine in the sun? Aside from that, impressing a gold makes you feel really special, since it's the ONLY dragon that color on the sands. And even better, your character then gets to boss around all the other characters. What could possibly be better?
Article Two (a): Gold dragons aren't fun.
Did I mention that along with bossing people around, you're also responsible for their collective wellbeing? You have to make decisions and do paperwork and yell at people when they do things wrong... Goldriders aren't always the best liked. In fact, it can be rather difficult for them to have a normal social life. Even when they aren't busy, the fact that they are Bosses of Everyone Else puts them in a slightly different social class. Would you feel comfortable going out for a drink or to a dance with the CEO of your company or the Principle of your school? (Heck - can you imagine Lessa sitting down for a nice social dinner with a greenrider?) Even worse - it is an undeniable fact that greenriders get a LOT more nookie.
Article Two (b): Gold dragons aren't unfun.
The last article must, of course, be qualified. ANY character is as much or as little fun as you want them to be. But generally speaking, goldriders just have to work harder to be fun. The MOST important part is that your character be original. Very often, goldriders seem to be cut from the same mold, which leads to the next point:
Article Three: Cookie Cutter Characters
The gold dragon will NOT impress to a Cookie Cutter Candidate. A CCC qualifies as anyone fitting more than two of the following characteristics (each one by itself is not necessarily so bad):
- Is the daughter of a Lord Holder/Weyrwoman/Master Crafter
- Has overcome impossible social odds to stand
- Is seriously misunderstood by everyone, especially the Weyrleaders and her fellow candidates
- Has spent their childhood as an orphan wandering the planet
- Plans to be in the Stands the day of the hatching
- Can hear all dragons
- Is loved by everyone far and near
- Has a dulcet singing voice
- Impressed 6 fire lizards
- Has hair that falls to her knees
- Has sparkling green or purple eyes
Article Four: Gold dragons can't do miracles
Are you having a hard time getting involved in posts? Do you feel like no one ever wants to write with you? Is it hard to come up with ideas for new stories? Are all your posts about how your characters are lonely? Impressing a gold dragon will not fix this! The only thing, I repeat, the ONLY thing that makes role playing fun is how much work you put into it.
What do the Goldriders end up doing? Yelling at delinquent riders, lecturing weyrlings and candidates on responsibility, and cleaning up after hatching messes. Are the goldriders fun to play with? Sometimes. Are they fun to read? Sometimes. Are they original? As often as possible.
The point is, once again, the status won't make the game, it won't make you well-liked, it won't solve your problems in real life, and I must warn you: if you expect that it will, your problems will probably only get worse.
Article Five: You still wanna ride a gold?
Very good! Get in line! At Dawning our golds are given out on a combination of merit and luck. That is to say - you have to EARN a chance to be considered for the gold, and once you've earned that, you'll be thrown in the pot with everyone else who has earned it and the results will be random. Earning your chance means proving you can write intelligently (spelling, grammar, more than one-liners) and proving you have original ideas. Characters who always conform to stereotypes, who are copies of Anne McCaffrey's characters, or who never do anything but wander around the Weyr hoping to bump into someone who wants to talk to them will have lower chances than someone who creates unique and interesting characters that instigate role play opportunities, inspire other writers, and get involved when APPROPRIATE opportunities arise.
Article Six: Now that you've got her...
Gold riders are high maintenance! If you have one, we expect to hear from her AAAAAAAAALL the time. Participate in posts, start posts, suck other people into posts - let us know that you're out there! There are consequences for unplayed Gold riders... trust me.
Article Seven: Y'know... Everyone read this!
This letter is addressed to people planning goldriders, but there are good points for everyone, the main one being: your characters are what you make of them. You get from this club what you contribute. So make it good, and shine baby, shine!
*If you are submitting a persona that you want to be a prospective candidate for a GOLD please put at the bottom of the sheet ALL THAT GLITTERS to notify the persona approval team that you have in fact READ this*
