So you Want to Be a Dragon?

If you DO want to be a Dragon, there are some things you need to think about - firstly, what type of Dragon are you? There are many different basic types, and you don't HAVE to be any of  them, but if one of them feels 'right' to you it can make things simpler. Karenji is basically a small Western Dragon, with fairly typical abilities, but Alfandra is home to spirit creatures, semi-robotic beings, 'ghosts', and beings almost indescripable.

If you DON'T want to be a Dragon, what type of being are you? Some people prefer a being with physical capabilities and characteristics fairly close to the 'human' norm, so choose to be an Elf or other demi-human being, but it's perfectly acceptable to be a common-or-garden human, especially at first. You won't be rejected because of it, and it might make it easier for you to settle in.

How to make an Entrance

1. The simple way - Just post a brief message along the lines of 'My name's such-and-such and here I am.' This approach is good if you don't have a dragon-character in mind, or don't know who or what you really are inside. You can always discover your draconicity later, and this way others can give you help if you need it.
2. Or the more complex way: Post a longer (in-character) message explaining who you are, what you look like, and how you got to Alfandra. There have been some GREAT examples of this since I arrived, and they can lead to some interesting RP conversations. Again, if you discover that you're not comfortable with the way you've set yourself up, you are free to change it at any time so that it reflects the 'real you' more accurately. Just try not to do it TOO often - it gets very confusing not knowing who you're talking to when someone changes their name and/or physical description once a week... another reason for Dragon Codes.
3. Either way, you will be welcomed with open arms, and plenty of Goodies.

A couple of tips on 'Entrancing'

• Watch your language (please!) AFD has a very high proportion of teenage readers, and while I doubt anything you said could shock most of us, there are a few sensitive flowers who might wilt under the strain [grin] either that or flame you for it! The Official Standard is a PG rating. 'Sexy' opening posts (there've been a few) are pretty much a waste of time for the same reason - Dragons are only interested in voluptuous maidens with cleavage down to their ankles if they're carrying a pie.
• No Dragonslayers need apply! AFD is a community for those who LIKE dragons (and I don't mean for breakfast!)
• Gods in general are discouraged (If you declare yourself to have Godly Powers, where's the fun going to come in?), and anyone pronouncing themselves the God of Dragons needn't expect to be worshipped.
• Preferably, don't come in wounded and desperate for help, or with other beings pursuing you - the AFD group was established way back in 1993, and it's been done many times before. You'll get the response you were looking for from the other newbies, but Draks who've been around the block a few times will probably just ignore you until you've established your credentials.
• Be courteous to the other Draks. You'll get many replies to your opening post, and it's polite to reply to them - this is a good way to get involved in conversation and settle in.
• It's perfectly acceptable to 'lurk' for a while before you start posting - this can help you to figure out who everyone is, and how best to introduce yourself to them - but it's NOT obligatory. In a recent discussion of lurk periods, the longest was six months, the shortest was six seconds, and the average was somewhere in the middle. My own lurk period was more like six days. I read the group for one day, decided I liked it, went away and invented Karenji, and came back a week later ready to go.

If you'd like a few hints, I've decoded my Dragon Code on this page and written a detailed description of Karenji on this page.