Samurai War Link Exchange Forum

[Grandpa]

I have nothing but appreciation for the job that you have been doing, engelina!
Nothing but appreciation.

When THRIVING DRAGONS was created the first emperor wanted to establish a dynasty where Dragon Owners could allow their babies to thrive.
It wasn't as easy as the lone emp thought.

First Thoughts
It sounds simple, but members of Yarold's Link Exchange have to click to get credits.
Posting a link here only to forget it simply does not work.
If a dragon egg got 50 clicks per day over a period of a week it would total 350 clicks, certainly enough for the egg to hatch.
50 per day was the thought when Thriving Dragons had 20 members, four alliances and no way to grow.
Teaching others to use Snaplinks was the only problem that old emperor encountered.

Alliance Changes
Back then the number of alliances was capped to four (4) only.
Every dynasty dreamed of being able to ally with on of "The Big Five" so their members would have enough links to click.

A good change happened around the time that Thriving Dragons started to grow.
Dynasties were allowed to have an unlimited number of total alliances, as long as the total membership of the entire alliance was equal to or less than 350.
Many new alliances were formed and our members enjoyed the benefits of clicking in the ally system that only the very top dynasties had previously been able to have.
With 300+ total links possible the "problem" changed to include keeping a positive credit balance as well as learning to click.

Growth
The vision of the emperor shifted to adjust to the change and the needs of the dynasty.
The emperor noticed that day after day more than 1/2 of the members of Thriving Dragons did not have links that could be clicked.
Was it a selfish thought?
Should we require our members to have clickable links?
About that time (Thriving Dragons were less than one month old) the third "problem" presented itself.

Each day the emperor would have 4 to 6 new members applying to the dynasty.
Thriving Dragons was growing too fast.
A decision would need to be made, a valued alliance (with The Untouchables) would have to be broken.
Growth had not only stopped Thriving Dragons from accepting new members, it also had the same effect on our allies.
If the total number of members and allies of the dynasty grew to 350, and any member of the alliance (we had 10 allies then) wanted to accept a new member, the message about the 350 total would be seen.

Transitions
The emperor (me) was faced with problems that prevented him from continuing as leader. The "job" had grown from simply clicking and having fun to that of administrator and as life began to make more and more demands on his time, so did the task of raising dragons. The Good News was that Metalteo had created a Forum area for Thriving Dragons and there was finally a way to communicate with the entire dynasty.

Hundreds of mails were sent. Mail to the Emperors and Shoguns of other dynasties were exchanged. More mail within Thriving Dragons itself especially to those in the highest positions. Grandpa would step down. The dynasty was entering the most difficult stage, changing from a Growth period to one of stability. Stepping down was probably the meanest "trick" that the emperor could pull on his trusted leaders. Life pressed in.

The problems (as seen by the emperor) were:

1. Communication to new members regarding dynasty requirements
2. Helping others learn how to click
3. Helping others learn how to maintain a positive credit balance
4. Managing growth (accepting new members means removing others)
5. Only one member was able to transfer credits
6. Establishing a reward system
7. Managing expectations and keeping promises to other dynasties

There were probably more "problems" than that when the decision to establish co-emperors of BlueYellowKulay and engelina was made.

If we take a moment and look at the effort that is needed to run this dynasty ...
... Then look at the number of posts in forum about appreciation ...
One fact becomes clear.
It is with this in mind that I've opened this post with the statement:
I have nothing but appreciation for the job the leaders of Thriving Dragons has been doing!
Nothing but appreciation.

Being an emperor is a thankless job for the most part. Being such an excellent one (as you are, engelina) deserves thanks and praise.

With my thanks,
~Grandpa