The trick is to make gold-candidates aware of what they are getting into without:

A. Scaring them all away.
B. Not making them suddenly all that much more important.

Because believe it or not, the weyr is all its riders, and an active weyr is possible without an active weyr-woman.

However, it is also true that a weyr-woman is everything from a figure-head to an administrator. Not only are they supposed to look good, rp well, generate rp, desc, and just generally keep the respect and admiration of those that know them, they also have to see that StuffGetsDone, whether it is delegated or not (delegation is good. *hee*). Just know that all riders and weyr-folk and shards, just characters in general are all important. There's a part to play for everyone.

Just in Nuffie's opinion its important that riders know, and metallic riders realize that by chooosing to ride a dragon but most especially metallic, they are **Expected*** to commit alot of their time to ensuring their Weyr runs as smoothly as possible. Oh sure, dragons are emblems. But they are so much more than that, and taking one on is, in a way, a job. They need care OOCly, which means attention and rp. Give them a life, wub them, show them off to the game. But in the end they are nothing more than what YOU make of them. A rider is no Spiffier than a non-rider simply because they have a dragon. It will not suddenly make you famous or infamous, nor catapult you into rp you were not getting before. In essence, whatever you are doing before you ride, you will be doing afterwards. Impression will not suddenly bring people flocking to you for rp, nor make you Kewl, nor make life any easier. IF you are unhappy with the Game, impression will not solve this. If you are frustrated with rp, impression will not solve this. If there are things that irritate you about the game... impression will not solve this. If you are having trouble with relationships OOCly, impression will not solve this. A dragon should not be impressed to fix your life, it is a Large And time Consuming puppet that will only live if you let it. Nor do we appreciate people who collect them and stuff them into their Trophy-case of dragons. Alot of work goes into Search and Dragons and the hope is that you will wub it here with us, in rp and out, and help round up the next set of riders.

Whee, Nuff spams again!! Never ever get Nuffie started on dragons...

Anyways, here's some non-Nuff spam (okay, daNuff edited so its what Nuff would say were Nuff's player at all as coherent), of gold-riders past and present on what, for them, gold-riding is all about. This is GamesAtLarge; Ista(Harper's Tale) has had more than its fair share of rider-trouble because once started into a negative spiral, its sharding very difficult for anyone, or the weyr-entire to re-acquire that Spirit that makes the weyr a joy to rp in. Most all of it applies to riding any dragon. Ideally the dragon would know who it fits best; Search just muddles through alot of work to try and figure out a dragon's choice. Just know no choice is made easily or arbitrarily; every decision we make is weighed as carefully as possible and we work hard to match your choices with what we (being ever so wise and experienced --hahhahahhah) think in the end you could play, play well, and have lots of fun playing. Granted dragons are limited, colors are limited -- just when its all over, step back and try and see why Search settled this Who with that Dragon. Cause sometimes regrets/anger/disappointment clouds the fact that these people, the candidates, are sharding truly amazing people.

And yes, Yer all getting this:

A. Cause I think the more open the weyr is the better.
B. Its just as important that Others know what a WW is or should be.
C. It basically applies to riding any dragon..

Just metallics this is what you can expect... and what you are expected to take on. For other colors you have more choice in what it is you'd like to do at Weyr. Granted this is Nuff and Friends' take on what it is to Ride. You needn't feel constrained or defined by these opinions... just this is what is expected. To impress a dragon is to become a dynamic part of the weyr and what it is, hence one develops one's own place in the grand scheme of things.

To those of you that are gold-candidates, this might seem overwhelming, but don't despair. Concerns and questions and perhaps a re-evaluation of your choices is expected Just know that [Weyr] thinks you are totally Spiff or there would not have been a gold-egg. We are not trying to scare you away at all! Nonono. We want you! Just we also want you to be aware of what you can expect, and what we expect of you. In the end it is your choice to stand for gold or not, just don't run away unless you truly know this isn't for you. Because you will have support, and if you impress gold its because alot of people though you'd be a wonderful addition to the weyr. Being worried about it all is Sane. Knowing you can't do it is saner. But if you truly think you could do this, and do this well, then don't be afraid to tell us so. And in the end it is again. You make mistakes, we make mistakes, [Weyr] will go on with gold or without it. Just it'd be really nice to settle on someone who wants to be here and do this with Us. And yes!! That goes for anyone out there looking for [Weyr] dragons.