For me it's always been the right colors >>> whether or not they're a g1. Especially for fandragons, even if I were to try to be a g1 lair, I'd make an exception for them because the things I tend to want out of fandragons are far too specific for any g1 (lots of xxx or xxy dragons, dragons with wildly specific color combos I refuse to budge on, wildclaws or imps, etc.)
What I mean is I like to focus more on the feeling of making a project with them than what their origin or offspring list looks like. It feels valuable because I put in the effort and I like the result, not because the word "none" is written instead of parents. (Though I also love to make breeding projects of fandragons with their canon parent names, and even some with canon accurate sibling names-- if that inspires you any.)
For me it's always been the right colors >>> whether or not they're a g1. Especially for fandragons, even if I were to try to be a g1 lair, I'd make an exception for them because the things I tend to want out of fandragons are far too specific for any g1 (lots of xxx or xxy dragons, dragons with wildly specific color combos I refuse to budge on, wildclaws or imps, etc.)
What I mean is I like to focus more on the feeling of making a project with them than what their origin or offspring list looks like. It feels valuable because I put in the effort and I like the result, not because the word "none" is written instead of parents. (Though I also love to make breeding projects of fandragons with their canon parent names, and even some with canon accurate sibling names-- if that inspires you any.)
I have never been a G1 only lair so idk if it's as applicable, but I have a tendency towards G1s and sort of an issue with them (
stares at my over 40 unfinished projects) and one thing that has recently steered me away from the impulse buys and constant auction scouring is making ultra-specific scries in the scrying workshop. Instead of looking for good G1 colors, I try to find the PERFECT single (or a couple of options) dragon for a concept (like my
Unfathomable Odyssey Rest Banner tribute dragon, which is practically a fandragon) and this scratches the same "I built this from scratch, it's special to me personally" itch that G1 collecting does.
Then, you have to do a breeding project of course, which although breeding projects are a WHOLE NEW issue, they're slightly less expensive because you can often find gem-gene (or coatl/wildclaw) parents within reasonable color ranges. Additionally, I've found it leads to less burnout because it's more of a passive search than an obsessive one and I already feel the satisfaction of my scry even before I've gotten it, which is a plus compared to G1 hunting.
I have never been a G1 only lair so idk if it's as applicable, but I have a tendency towards G1s and sort of an issue with them (
stares at my over 40 unfinished projects) and one thing that has recently steered me away from the impulse buys and constant auction scouring is making ultra-specific scries in the scrying workshop. Instead of looking for good G1 colors, I try to find the PERFECT single (or a couple of options) dragon for a concept (like my
Unfathomable Odyssey Rest Banner tribute dragon, which is practically a fandragon) and this scratches the same "I built this from scratch, it's special to me personally" itch that G1 collecting does.
Then, you have to do a breeding project of course, which although breeding projects are a WHOLE NEW issue, they're slightly less expensive because you can often find gem-gene (or coatl/wildclaw) parents within reasonable color ranges. Additionally, I've found it leads to less burnout because it's more of a passive search than an obsessive one and I already feel the satisfaction of my scry even before I've gotten it, which is a plus compared to G1 hunting.
I'd suggest breeding projects if you want a very specific color/gene combo for fandragons, and collecting G1s as G1s instead. It's fun to make pretty dragons out of weird XYZ combos, that's the appeal of G1s to me. It also lets me be super picky with projects but still look forward to my/other's hatches.
I'd suggest breeding projects if you want a very specific color/gene combo for fandragons, and collecting G1s as G1s instead. It's fun to make pretty dragons out of weird XYZ combos, that's the appeal of G1s to me. It also lets me be super picky with projects but still look forward to my/other's hatches.
if youve never designed a dragon in the scrying workshop from scratch and tried to make that dragon exist, I definitely recommend that. its very hard but also for me extremely rewarding; I do have a good deal of g1s but in some ways I am more proud of my breeding project dragons since I didnt have to just wait around til that dragon existed, I went out and made em myself!
ofc depending on how persnickety you are with a breeding project, its no less costly to make a dragon that way—however it does take a minute to complete a breeding project, so just doing dailies up until you hatch your goal can often net you enough profit to gene up the dragon anyway!
oh and with fandragons, I actually find it to be a fun little thing to make themed names for the dragon’s parents. if the character doesnt have named parents in canon (often) I get to put whatever I want there and usually its just vague references or silly little jokes and I’ve come to love that ritual
if youve never designed a dragon in the scrying workshop from scratch and tried to make that dragon exist, I definitely recommend that. its very hard but also for me extremely rewarding; I do have a good deal of g1s but in some ways I am more proud of my breeding project dragons since I didnt have to just wait around til that dragon existed, I went out and made em myself!
ofc depending on how persnickety you are with a breeding project, its no less costly to make a dragon that way—however it does take a minute to complete a breeding project, so just doing dailies up until you hatch your goal can often net you enough profit to gene up the dragon anyway!
oh and with fandragons, I actually find it to be a fun little thing to make themed names for the dragon’s parents. if the character doesnt have named parents in canon (often) I get to put whatever I want there and usually its just vague references or silly little jokes and I’ve come to love that ritual
Being a mixed lair is the best of both worlds. I do get a kick out of the perfect g1 project. It's a big sense of accomplishment to look at a g1 wildclaw or gem gened dragon and think, "I made this from scratch." But not everything has to be a big effort. Sometimes I just want to browse the AH after midnight and buy a cheap g+ starcon double who looks cool. I think it's that balance that keeps me from feeling overwhelmed or burnt out on the game.
Being a mixed lair is the best of both worlds. I do get a kick out of the perfect g1 project. It's a big sense of accomplishment to look at a g1 wildclaw or gem gened dragon and think, "I made this from scratch." But not everything has to be a big effort. Sometimes I just want to browse the AH after midnight and buy a cheap g+ starcon double who looks cool. I think it's that balance that keeps me from feeling overwhelmed or burnt out on the game.
I've been here just a little bit longer, but I've never felt overwhelmed enough to stop playing because of all the gem genes I need. If nothing else, all my projects keep motivating me to stay and complete them.
And as someone who *also* has g1 fandragons, sometimes you get lucky.
Very lucky. Sometimes you
settle.
Sometimes you have to be able to
spend lots of dragon money lol.
But then again, I've never been a g1 only lair. I could never get rid of my sentimental dragons that aren't g1.
I've been here just a little bit longer, but I've never felt overwhelmed enough to stop playing because of all the gem genes I need. If nothing else, all my projects keep motivating me to stay and complete them.
And as someone who *also* has g1 fandragons, sometimes you get lucky.
Very lucky. Sometimes you
settle.
Sometimes you have to be able to
spend lots of dragon money lol.
But then again, I've never been a g1 only lair. I could never get rid of my sentimental dragons that aren't g1.
[quote name="NataliaRomanova" date="2025-01-04 20:59:04" ]
[quote name="Direclaw" date="2025-01-04 20:58:15" ]
Start liking Imperials.
[/quote]
Ironically they're one of my favorites but I don't own any simply because I could never have a G1. This might work for me
[/quote]
Get into gen 2 Imps and suffer even more than if you were a g1 hoarder
NataliaRomanova wrote on 2025-01-04 20:59:04:
Direclaw wrote on 2025-01-04 20:58:15:
Start liking Imperials.
Ironically they're one of my favorites but I don't own any simply because I could never have a G1. This might work for me
Get into gen 2 Imps and suffer even more than if you were a g1 hoarder
In my personal opinion, especially for fan dragons, I always adore when people set up breeding projects with canon parent or media related parent names, breeding projects are a game of patience and planning but I derive a lot more satisfaction from a job well done and it keeps me coming back to check the cooldowns for my project pairs.
Some cool examples I’ve seen of parent names are things like father: Aperture, mother: Science for a GLADOS fandragon
In my personal opinion, especially for fan dragons, I always adore when people set up breeding projects with canon parent or media related parent names, breeding projects are a game of patience and planning but I derive a lot more satisfaction from a job well done and it keeps me coming back to check the cooldowns for my project pairs.
Some cool examples I’ve seen of parent names are things like father: Aperture, mother: Science for a GLADOS fandragon
