Limited Edition FAQ
The Dragon I want is sold out?! What do I do?
Don't panic :) While the Dragon population is limited, it hasn't been cut off completely. In SL, Dragon "mating season" occurs during the weeks before every Solstice and Equinox. On Noon of the celebrated day, 5 new dragon eggs of each species will be released. Later at midnight of that day, 5 more eggs of each species will become available. If a Solstice or Equinox doesn't occur again for a few months, remember: good things come to those who wait :) Your welcome to choose a hatchling or wyrmling form until a large-sized Dragon is available.
I heard the dragons were limited, why are there eggs available in "hatchings", what does this mean?
When I first decided to limit the dragons, my intent was simple: I wanted to maintain the grandeur and status of -being- a Dragon. A giant Dragon isn't something you should see around every street corner: A Dragon is a mysterious mythical creature, and should be respected as such. So I limited the number of dragons sold.
However, my initial intent of limiting the dragons wasn't as easy as I thought: the avatars turned out quite well and have become quite popular, even revered. Certainly I wanted to keep our population small, but how could I refuse the multitude of requests I received for dragons? The expanding SL population brought more and more people seeking Dragon form, but without new egg's the Dragon species would surely just fade away.
So, after careful consideration, I've decided that the dragon population should remain limited, but not indefinitely. The seats available on the Council of Wyrms will be what limits the Dragon population.
Four times a year, on the two Solstices and Equinoxes, a new clutch of large Dragon eggs will be released. These eggs will be available to the humans outside the Council who desire to become Dragons themselves. Their resolve will be tested by time, as most will have to wait several months for the next clutch of eggs. Their contribution to the Council as they purchase a dragon helps maintain the Isle of Wyrms monthly costs and support events, and keeps the Dragon population on the Isle active and growing.
When you become a Dragon you are given a seat on the Council of Wyrms, and as a member you can purchase other dragon species. Thus, once you own one dragon you're welcome to collect other species, without depriving a human from also becoming a dragon of that species.
How many eggs releases when a new species comes out?
When a new Dragon species is released, there are 35 eggs available. These eggs represent new seats on the Council of Wyrms, for those who do not own a dragon form yet. Four times per year a new clutch of Dragon Eggs is released, with 10 eggs of each species.
Why even limit the dragons in the first place?
Limiting the Dragons was a specific choice I made as the artist. Certainly the SL toolset lets me replicate any model I make en-mass. I simply chose not to. Our population (as of this notecards writing) is 295 dragons, approximately 0.185 % of the total population. Personally, I think that's a perfect percentage: but our population could also certainly grow a little without there being "dragons everywhere". There are currently 8 species, so this means there's roughly 37 dragons native to each species, although some dragons have more than one form or have combined several species to create new looks. Allowing new Dragons to periodically join the Council keeps our community growing and expanding with the rest of SL, while also keeping our group small, elite and even revered.
What is the significance of the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice? Why release eggs then?
I picked these dates mainly because of their mystical importance, so they seemed like good times for Dragon mating seasons. If you're not sure when the next clutch of eggs arrives, just check your calendar. Solstices occur in June and December, and Equinoxes in March and September. Dragon eggs will be released Noon SL time on the day of the solstice or equinox.
Okay, so the dragons are limited, but I also get a discount on them ?
After you've purchased your first large-sized Dragon and joined the Council, you receive a 1000L discount on other Dragon or Wyrmling species. Thus, dragons are 2500L and wyrmlings are 1200L. (The eggs will automatically apply your discount if you pay them these amounts, not the listed ones. Make sure your Council group is active so the egg can recognize you.) This lets you get other dragons, to mix and modify as you need to create the look you want.
--Daryth 00:55, 16 August 2006 (PDT)
