Flight Rising Discussion

[quote name="Hemilan" date="2024-11-13 20:09:06" ] As a long term player, I feel really disappointed not just in the breed execution, but also staff on player's reactions to this breed in general. I love bugs, I pick them up all the time and drive people crazy. [b]I don't think what was done well here though is communication between staff and players on expectation on this breed.[/b] The concept of bookwym is fantastic, and i think players will agree Light Flight is definitely about the pursuit of knowledge, but it also comes off as calloused how they were given what many feel is a chunky grub with fancy wings. There is of course some players who say some absolutely nasty and horrible things about the bodies, and while i do not think those are ever ok things to say, the reason they are saying such things is because we were given a chunky grub for what is expected a regal and knowledge seeking flight. There are those of course who say the criticism by players is just deeply rooted fatphobia, but I don't think that's a fair thing to say about every critical thing about this breed. [b]Players were given the expectation of angelic and regal themes, because in the light festivals and events that is exactly what has been given.[/b] And saying it's only fatphobia also doesn't sit well, because there are other chunky breeds that exist, like Bogsneak and Guardian dragons. Not to say chunky can't be regal and beautiful, but being honest, when 97% of people think regal their first thought isn't the caterpillar from A Bug's Life when he gets his butterfly wings, it just isn't. [b]I think the concept is great and it's there, but it doesn't feel well executed or communicated here and so players are reasonably upset.[/b] Even if bookwyms were based on or inspired by real life animals/insects as other things on Flight Rising has been before, [b]it feels like more player feedback needed to have happened before we got here.[/b] I also don't feel that Light Flight is not about being pretty and regal, because that also hasn't been communicated if the case. Imperials and Pearlcatchers take pride in their appearance in lore as well as Everlux. They really do feel like a resident evil grub enemy was just given feather wings and told to go eat some knowledge. I think the concept of bookworm could have been executed so, so much better. After all, bookworms can range from book lice to moths to silverfish to beetles. No matter what the inspiration is, [b]these dragons just don't feel like they meet the standards that were set for the flight and player expectations.[/b] [b]I think of course tensions are high and everyone is upset about this breed, because TLDR expectations weren't met that were provided, and now players are reasonably upset and staff feel to be lashing out to players for not liking what they worked hard on.[/b] Everyone just needs to take some time to cool down, both players and staff, then come back when we aren't as upset sow e can can talk about this like grown, mature adults. [/quote] Highlighting/bolding the points I am addressing here. There is very little, if any, precedence for the staff asking players what their expectations are for dragon breed designs, especially flight-specific ones. We have never given explicit input, or told what we can expect. This is, unfortunately, an ongoing trend in the playerbase, where players spend a long time discussing hopes and expectations for upcoming breeds (inevitable, when the dragon design pipeline is such a long one)- and then are absolutely gutted when the reality is something completely independent from what they were thinking of. The dissonance between player expectations vs FR reality isn't actually staff's fault! We have been warned so many times by the devs like, "Hey guys, we love that you're all having fun theorizing but temper your expectations for the actual result if it's different, okay? [emoji=new friend size=1]" Everyone: [img]https://media.tenor.com/s-wsDidmMmoAAAAM/lord-of-the-rings-no.gif[/img] I don't think the backlash is reasonable and I don't think everyone is upset. It's just not a surprising backlash to me either. It happens with every single breed release. And while the Light flight aesthetic can be interpreted as regal, sure, the angelic vibes are not site canon at all. Maybe I'm just not involved in the UMA scene enough to have this association but even just looking at the festival lineup: [item=Sunchaser Jewelry] [item=Illuminated Armband] [item=Illuminated Emblem] [item=Illuminated Crown] [item=Sunguard Chest] [item=Solar Blades] [item=Luminous Legguards] [item=Illuminated Sash] [item=Hewn Philosopher's Veil][item=Luminous Sundrapes] [item=Luminous Halo] [item=Brightshine Raiments] [item=Standard of the Lightweaver][item=daybreak decorations] [item=Light's Charm] [item=Lustrous Mantle][item=Light Aura] [item=Gilded Compass][item=sunshield cloak][item=golden rays][item=light sword] The vibes here are a lot of gold and black, a lot of glowing orbs, and a lot of spiky bits to represent rays of light. This is also reflected in the festival skins, with very few of them being explicitly angelic, but rather more along the lines of gold armour and glowy wings. I don't mind if people hate the Everlux breed or think they're icky or whatever, I'm not going to try and like... argue my way into making anyone like them. I'm not that invested! I just kind of take issue with the idea that the staff promised one thing and delivered another. ------------------------ And to answer the initial question of this thread: No, I'm not disappointed.

I'm starting to suspect a lot of folks on here have issues with fat people. "Told to go eat some knowledge"?? Girl.

The gumption to suggest that Staff are "lashing out" when they've been nothing but professional and patient in the face of 50+ pages of what definitely does not even come close to qualifying as constructive criticism is Peak Entitlement wow.

As someone who detests these things, I do think some of the comments are a bit unreasonable and based on fanon expectations.

I'd have loved a more angelic dragon, but like..come on, folks. That's purely something stoked by player fanon and the UMA market. I don't really see any official support for that lore. I'd have liked it because of personal preference but we can't be mad at the staff for it.

And I also agree (despite my own phobia being set off by these) that we can't expect other members to cater to us. I've seen a few others expressing this as well, and I think it's very reasonable. I'll be managing by keeping them out of my lair and doing lots of blocking and filtering. I already do this when insect gathering or choosing coli venues. I straight up gather insects with my eyes unfocused and convert them to food instantly. Kind of stupid, but that's the play.

I'm hoping that these won't be so plentiful that I can't play forum games anymore, but if it turns out FR isn't the game for me anymore I can't begrudge it. My lair is covered in snakes, after all. And it's not my problem if someone else doesn't want to look at them.

Critiques on the actual design are the most valid IMO. I stand by thinking it's the worst dragon on the site even outside of my issues. It's cluttered, the legs are weirdly skinny, the body segments don't extend to the belly, and it looks gross in a toothless way. I really wish the first TRULY chonky dragon looked better, or if something was going to be gross they actually made it gross.

[quote name="Twizz" date="2024-11-13 21:38:12" ] The gumption to suggest that Staff are "lashing out" when they've been nothing but professional and patient in the face of 50+ pages of what definitely does not even come close to qualifying as constructive criticism is Peak Entitlement wow. [/quote] This There has been some very valuable feedback and critique I’ve seen about the new breed! But a lot of what they’ve been responding to has been not that. It’s okay to not like a breed because you don’t like bugs or are sad it varies away from your headcanons but this response has been…extreme.

I freaking love them. Abie level ancient for me. I do think the lore could have been tweaked to be a bit more different from aethers, but the design? Love it. They’re round like the sun and give me eldritch vibes from the wild legs, like rays coming off of that bright orb. No notes on my end.

Didn't wanna throw myself into this discussion here but a lot of the backlash against this breed feels incredibly hostile and overall uncomfortable for people who have similar body shapes as these dragons (like me!). I know it's not all about that, but it seems to really be at the forefront of most of this.

I completely agree with MissAri, the devs have been great about this despite how hostile it can get sometimes, and nothing about the light flight suggests we should've expected a certain type of dragon. Yes, the ones we did already have align with what the expectations of some have been, but 90% of the dragons here are slender. That's not a flight thing, that's just how it is. People have been bringing up they want poofier dragons, and now we get these goofy lil guys and now it's all wrong.

I say devs have been doing exactly what people have expressed to want in this breed; we've been asking for a poofier breed, a breed that very clearly doesn't follow the modern's blueprint, and a breed that isn't just Western Dragon V50. This breed perfectly aligns with those frequently expressed desires, and it's saddening that some act like this is some horrible thing the devs did without thinking about what the players wanted. Many have wanted exactly this for a while now. Myself included.

Overall I do hope this thread gets locked soon, the discussion is getting rather out of hand and it's not pretty. I recommend some people take a bit of a step back as opposed to getting hostile over fake digital fantasy dragons on a website.

None of this is anything bad about people who dislike them because they dislike bugs! I'm a bug person, but I understand bugs aren't for everyone. Luckily they're rising in popularity and starting to become very acceptable to enjoy, but bugs are incredibly understandable to dislike still.

Just... Can we quit acting like light dragons should be regal or elegant? (or by the apparently more common opinion here; slender and flowy. Don't try to beat around it, it IS very obvious what you mean. Like what has been said, people who hear similar cloaked ways of speaking about this body type can pick up on it. Even if unintended)
Fanon isn't canon. And canon has said nothing about how a dragon should look. Which I think is great, as it leaves opportunities open for dragons who look different and interesting.

Sorry if I was repetitive, hard to understand, or a little hostile-sounding. It's not my intention. I have autism, am sick, and I haven't been able to sleep. So everything is a little foggy and words are difficult :c