Cool It on the Giveaways?

Silver Midnight · Post by **Silver Midnight** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:19 pm

Pardon me, but um... I think perhaps this whole giveaway business is getting out of hand. >.>; Yes, I know, I've taken quite a few myself, because I can't pass up pretty art. But, whatever happened to running clutches and doing the apply-and-wait? o.o; You know, making people actually WRITE stories for the dragons? Isn't that a bit of what it's about?

Rachael · Post by **Rachael** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:37 pm

Hence why I've been neglecting (choosing to not participate in) the majority of giveaways. Busy updating and writing.

I say feel free to have everyone do their giveaways - We all have to take control of ourselves to not jump in on them all. Pretty art or not, we will all prioritize. For me, I drool at the pretties, and remind myself what I need to do, and work on that.

I don't think people need to cut back on the giveaways - most are concerning breeding projects anymore - though I understand what you are saying.

Writing is my passion. Hence, I have longer sponsor stories. I also have this issue with not producing low grade candidates. Hence why none have gone out. So I am focusing on getting old pages updated and transferred, while writing for sponsors, dragons, and candidates.

Astra · Post by **Astra** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:47 pm

Rachael wrote: Writing is my passion. Hence, I have longer sponsor stories. I also have this issue with not producing low grade candidates. Hence why none have gone out. So I am focusing on getting old pages updated and transferred, while writing for sponsors, dragons, and candidates.

My sentiments exactly. I'm in this because of the writing side, much more than the art side (though the art side is fun too). I try to put a lot of effort into all my candidates although, granted, some I put more effort into than others. I have never done a stat sheet candidate though. My "filler" candidates just have stupid pointless stories with them. I always enjoy reading your stories, Rachael.

*goes back to writing the In Darkness Light story*

Silver Midnight · Post by **Silver Midnight** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:47 pm

I dunno, seems like people are starting to neglect clutches to me, instead just going all to the giveaways and stuff. *Shrugs* I'm not getting anymore, though, other than from my breeders--which I'd want to get anyway.

Xalia · Post by **Xalia** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:00 am

Which is why I set up a page for my breeding project and will be requiring things from those who want one of my dragons...nothing for free! Free things make us lazy...

Though I do agree...there are an awful lot of giveaways...I'm looking forward to our candidate writing week so I don't feel the desperate urge to check the board rather than work on my ROF candidate for fear I might miss something!

Katasev · Post by **Katasev** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:37 am

i didn't realize there'd be this many, or i'd've agreed when somebody (don't remember who) said there should be a separate giveaway board... @_@;;; only reason i did a giveaway for dunans was coz they're pet-like animals, not bonds, and i wanted to get a larger base out from the start. ^^;;

Post by **DragonFlight** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:23 am

Fair enough. I'll finish the last of the Shades of Blue generation and then you won't hear a peep from me.

I'm still doing the clutch-and-wait-for-applications deal. I've barely gotten a reply at all, pre-giveaways or otherwise, including commentary that people didn't apply for my first clutch because they thought my dragons would have a white background. -_-

I'll finish out what I'm doing, then I'll shut up. Seems only fair, since that is what you want, right?

Post by **StarFyre** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:26 am

Oi *hugs DF* I didn't get in on it because of RL issues. *sniff* As soon as I have time I'm writing up a candidate or two for you *nods* =P I honestly don't care what sort of background pictures have, pretty art is still pretty art. *laughs, sounds so... shallow =P*

-StarFyre

Starburst · Post by **Starburst** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:28 am

Yes, I agree. Rest assured, the one I will run very quickly is the last one from me for a while. It's a breeding project as well, and I figure that I'd better get it underway. ^_^

Post by **DragonFlight** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:31 am

It's hardly an issue now since they -are- transparent, but that's really not the point. It seems like unless I'm doing a giveaway, I'm just blowing hot air. And now that that seems to be a no-no, I feel very similiar to how Myrror does. I don't feel wanted. So your precious dragons will grow and be finished, and then I'm probably done, unless I find some other method I enjoy.

Post by **StarFyre** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:38 am

*sigh, hugs again* Well, I suppose if that's how you feel... I do wish you'd stay, though. I like your company, even though I don't get much chance to talk with you.

... Not that the words of a near-complete stranger seem to matter much to anyone. *mrrs, sighs*

-StarFyre

Skysong · Post by **Skysong** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:38 am

I stopped writing the epic flight and hatching stories when I closed Dragonsclan Weyr, since I prefer the drawing to having to think up a new hatching gimmick each time. However, if people are mostly after the stories and the writing.. eh. I really don't write much anymore, and I hated what a chore it felt like before I finally stopped doing it.

Sure, I like having people RP creatures from me and writing up a nice page from them.. but it's just not the main focus for me anymore. I used to spend hours and hours writing up those hatching and flight stories, but I'm at a point right now where the drawing is more important to me.

I like getting a nice base of basic creatures out there when I start adopting out a new species, and I find a giveaway the easiest way to do it.. The times when I do do 'special' individuals or races, they do tend to have elaborate backgrounds and back stories. Isn't that enough?

If Silver Midnight's opinions are the general concensus, maybe this isn't the place for me after all :/

Mystic Dragon · Post by **Mystic Dragon** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:39 am

DF, I'm sorry I didn't get in on your clutche. I really have been meaning to, but I wanted to have a candidate you'd be proud of to send in. With how life's going for me right now, that's just not working.

If you stick around, I swear your candidate intake will go up. We just need to reorganize ourselves.

Astra · Post by **Astra** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:40 am

Heeey don't leave

I like your dragons, white bg or not! And I had at least one candidate in mind *glomps Norton* Though I suppose I could send Norton elsewhere, I was really looking forward to one of your dragons. I just don't want people to quit/go on extended hiatus over this ... or anything, really.

Xenoqueen · Post by **Xenoqueen** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:45 am

I think these two modes of providing images-- giveaways and timed clutches-- can certainly coexist with one another. I've been involved in both kinds of imaging-obtaining for a couple years. My sig links to both my stashes-- the Sanctum Dream for most "giveaway" type creatures, and my Character Database for all my earned-by-clutch creatures. I love both methods, and don't see why one has to exclude the other. If people don't like a certain method, then they don't have to use it! It doesn't mean they have to chase it away.

JKatkina · Post by **JKatkina** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:47 am

I think I'm with Phe.

Honestly, I don't mind having a myriad of 'extra' creatures, and I think if life were calmer I'd want to do a breeding project of my own. Part of the fun for me in dragoning is the breeding aspect... and honestly, I only finish three or four candidates a year anyways. XD

Post by **StarFyre** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:53 am

From the way it looks, I don't think Sil's opinions are the general concensus. It seems that they're mostly just that - opinions. Which we're all entitled too.

We all have slightly different interests - some leaning more towards art, some towards writing, some sitting calmly in the middle, some bouncing from side to side. One of the best aspects of the Nexus, in my opinion, is that we let everyone do their own thing in their own way. If that means less writing and more art, more power to them, not every one of us is able to dedicate ourselves to art, and vice verse - not everyone is able to dedicate themselves to writing. Heck, at this moment, I can't seem to dedicate myself to anything - which is why I'm mostly just sitting here chatting instead of arting or writing constantly like I used to.

If what you're into is the art behind all of this, then by all means -follow- that. It's understandable to want to get a nice base of creatures out in the world before officially adopting something out - and it makes perfect sense!

I think what it mainly is is that some people have become overwhelmed with everything that's going on - so many things being offered up so fast that few can keep up with it. If they don't feel like getting involved in anymore giveaways, then that's their choice, but for the rest of us...

Mostly, seconding Astra...

I just don't want people to quit/go on extended hiatus over this ... or anything, really.

*sighs* That's my two cents on this. Do with it what you will.

-StarFyre

Mystic Dragon · Post by **Mystic Dragon** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:00 pm

Some of us feel we possess inferior art skills, so we stick to writing. Then let us write for those with superior art skills.

Myrror · Post by **Myrror** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:07 pm

...and some of us can't write worth squat.

Astra · Post by **Astra** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:09 pm

Mystic Dragon wrote:Some of us feel we possess inferior art skills, so we stick to writing. Then let us write for those with superior art skills.

As I said in Myrror's thread ... some of us are writers, others artists. So the writers should write awesome stories to get awesome images *from* the artists. To go on with my "we are the world" speach from Myrror's thread: Celebrate Diversity! Mwa!

But I really do NOT want the writing side of this community to die out, because that's the side I have the most fun with. And the art side really CANT die out ... if you want writing without art, go to a fanfic or RP community, right?

Post by **StarFyre** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:09 pm

And some of us can't really do either, and delude ourselves that we can. *coughmecough*

-StarFyre

Mystic Dragon · Post by **Mystic Dragon** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:13 pm

Some of us can't DRAW worth squat. The fact that you pop out hundreds of new images every day makes my head spin. I was never so happy as when you took on drawing some of Effie's dragons and got them done THAT DAY.

If I don't come up with a good piece of writing to honour those images, I feel like I've failed. Hence why I've been taking so long with updates. I want to WRITE for them because that's what I'm good at.

Seriously, you and DF and Skysong are near legends around here. We were adopting from you three long before we started up our dragoning agencies (I'd say Pern but I was never a part of that world. Evil little thing *shudders*).

Myrror · Post by **Myrror** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:19 pm

Well, if you want to prioitize, Mystic, I do need that catdragon URL by the 22nd. ^.^ Otherwise....well, deadlines aren't going up until I get caught up on my parent list. Which is mocking me. I hate doing HTML work, it's so tedious...

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:22 pm

Bah!

If there's something I've seen in the 5 years or so I've been watching this community evolve, it's that we all develop skills that we didn't think we have.

Artistically, all of us develop SO much with the instant gratification of feedback. Even if it's just learning how to shade better or a new pose developed, that's improvement, and change. Writing is a little harder but still, we've had lots of folks go from a "you walk into a weyr" to a 20 page epic in those years, learning to use characterisation and setting, plot and drama...

It's all for the dragons.

I just don't want to be overwhelmed by the updates I need to do, at the cost of not writing anything of substance. I have *so* many ideas, especially when I get one of the beautiful images from ANY site here, but no time to share those ideas...

Don't feel put on the spot - anyone. We're all here from different angles. I don't want to force anyone to do anything against the grain.

Mystic Dragon · Post by **Mystic Dragon** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:22 pm

Catdragon... AH! I did her page yesterday! You see?! Once I'm organized, I get things done. :3 She's in the Whorling Wing too. The name's kinda deceptive, but it is make up mostly of whorlings.

http://www.geocities.com/new_warren/amospiastats.html

She'll have a small part in a story I'm writing for the Jewel Crests soon.

Here's the Wing list if you want to look through it at the others I've gotten semi-put up.

http://www.geocities.com/new_warren/

Sargon · Post by **Sargon** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:26 pm

*raises hand*
I completely agree with you Sil. I know i'm not taking giveaway dragons at Azon ever. Not that i don't like them but i think you should work for a dragon as coola s the ones some kids are giving away. ><;

Myrror · Post by **Myrror** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:34 pm

Mystic Dragon wrote:Catdragon... AH! I did her page yesterday! You see?! Once I'm organized, I get things done. :3 She's in the Whorling Wing too. The name's kinda deceptive, but it is make up mostly of whorlings.

http://www.geocities.com/new_warren/amospiastats.html

Not that Catdra. Mirasova Friskers. From Clutch 1?

Mystic Dragon · Post by **Mystic Dragon** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:35 pm

>.< Aldkfjalkdjal... Right. Getting her a stats page RIGHT NOW. And then I'm taking a shower. I've been up since 11am strictly on the forum, and now I smell.

Kitsuneko · Post by **Kitsuneko** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:47 pm

I like both methods of giving out images. I really don't think one is better than the other. I know there are people who just aren't interested in writing (a large part of why my standards for ranking dragons has dropped at Darkling Dawn lately) and can understand why they prefer to have giveaways instead of clutches.

...Me, I just have ungodly amounts of spare time and can handle quite a lot of new dragons.

Mystic Dragon · Post by **Mystic Dragon** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:51 pm

Voila! Mir has a page all her own. And a story to come.
http://www.geocities.com/new_warren/miroslavastats.html