====== The Revised Dragon Code (DC2) ======
The Revised Dragon Code v2.6 is the last iteration of the Dragon Code; all information in this portion of the wiki will be based upon it.

Work on DC2 was begun at some point after 3rd June 1997, when the last update on the original [[DC:|Dragon Code]] site was made, and before 19th July 1999, the point when DC2 was taken over by Wyrm from Baxil, who had maintained both the original and new codes since 1996. DC2, intended to expand upon DC and address some of its shortcomings, was released as beta on 30th August 1999. The last version, v2.6, was issued by 10th January 2004 at the latest, as that was the date when [[https://web.archive.org/web/20120206225118/http://www.wyrm.org.uk/dc/|Wyrm's site]] was last updated.

===== Syntax =====
Revised Dragon Codes always begin with the identifier DC2. This is followed by a series of tags standing in for various characteristics and attributes. Tags should generally be separated from one another by spaces.

Internally, tags have several components. These are not separated by spaces ([[dc2:mating_status#space|though spaces themselves may be used]]), but should be in a particular order. The head of each tag is usually a capital letter but sometimes a symbol or a capital-lowercase pair, acting as an abbreviation for the name of the characteristic. For those tags with known subtypes, the head will generally be immediately followed by the letter or symbol used to indicate the subtype applicable (if any); there are also, in some instances, sub-subtypes (ex. **[[DC2:species|DC2.D]]**, a dragon; **DC2.Ds**, a serpent; **DC2.Dsf**, a fire serpent).

Tags may also include modifiers, often indicating the strength or quantity of the characteristic. While there are modifiers specific to certain tags, the general patterns are:
  * Pluses and minuses can be used to indicate relative strength; up to three can be used, though an exclamation mark may be placed after to show an "extreme" value (ex. **[[DC2:age|A-]]**, a young adult; **A++**, "old enough to know better"; **A+++!**, ancient).
  * A question mark can be used to indicate an unknown value (ex. **A?**, "I have no idea how old I am, I lost count years ago!")
  * A tilde can be used to indicate a value that is variable or not fixed (ex. **A~**, age changes over time... which, technically, is always true, isn't it?).

It is also often permitted to include free text within double quotes, to specify a value for the tag that is not covered by, or more specific than, the current set of subtypes and modifiers will allow (ex. **A"173 years"**).

Tags consisting only of headers generally indicate a "standard" or "average" value for quantifiable tags and a "generic" one for ones not relating to quantities, though this latter usage can get a little strange. There's technically no reason why you couldn't use the [[DC2:native land]] tag **N** by itself, but it would be the equivalent of stating "I have a native habitat" without further elaboration. If that's what you intend, you do you! But if a tag doesn't apply to you or you don't want to advertise that characteristic, you can just omit it.

===== List of tags =====
The following is the list of DC2 tags in their accepted order. The subtypes and modifiers specific to each, and their meanings, can be found on the individual pages.
  * **[[DC2:species|DC2.*]]** (species)
  * **[[DC2:gender|G*]]** (gender)
  * **[[DC2:length|L*]]** (length)
  * **[[DC2:width|W*]]** (width)
  * **[[DC2:weight|T*]]** (weight/tonnage)
  * **[[DC2:appendages|P*]]** (appendages)
  * **[[DC2:skin_type|Sk*]]** (skin type)
  * **[[DC2:colouration|C*]]** (colouration)
  * **[[DC2:breath_weapon|B*]]** (breath weapon)
  * **[[DC2:age|A*]]** (age)
  * **[[DC2:fruitiness|Fr*]]** (fruitiness)
  * **[[DC2:native_land|N*]]** (native land)
  * **[[DC2:mating_status|M*]]** (mating status)
  * **[[DC2:offspring|O*]]** (offspring)
  * **[[DC2:hoard_size|H*]]** (hoard size)
  * **[[DC2:monetary_philosophy|$*]]** (monetary philosophy)
  * **[[DC2:diet|F*]]** (diet)
  * **[[DC2:reality_index|R*]]** (Reality Index)
  * **[[DC2:activity_index|Ac*]]** (Activity Index)
  * **[[DC2:humor_index|J*]]** (Humor Index/joviality)
  * **[[DC2:social_life|S*]]** (social life)
  * **[[DC2:ubiquity|U*]]** (ubiquity)
  * **[[DC2:irritability|I*]]** (irritability)
  * **[[DC2:magical_ability|V*]]** (magical ability/voodoo)
  * **[[DC2:psy_power|Q*]]** (psy power)
  * **[[DC2:technology|Tc*]]** (technology)
  * **[[DC2:huggability|E*]]** (huggability/emotion)
  * **[[DC2:dragon_friend|Df*]]** (dragon friend)

===== Example code =====
As an example, the following code, or something close to it, applies to the current incarnation of my namesake character Shyriath:

**[[DC2:species|DC2.D]]"[[https://shyriath.a2hosted.com/public_html/avishraa2/wiki/doku.php?id=takma:start|takma]]" [[DC2:gender|Gm]] [[DC2:length|L-]] [[DC2:width|W-]] [[DC2:weight|T]] [[DC2:appendages|Phawlt]] [[DC2:skin_type|Sks]] [[DC2:colouration|CGr+]] [[DC2:breath_weapon|B-]] [[DC2:age|A]] [[DC2:mating_status|M-]] [[DC2:offspring|O/]] [[DC2:hoard_size|H---]] [[DC2:monetary_philosophy|$-]] [[DC2:diet|Fo--]] [[DC2:humor_index|J---]] [[DC2:irritability|I]] [[DC2:magical_ability|V++[stoneshaping]]] [[DC2:psy_power|Q++]] [[DC2:technology|Tc]] [[DC2:huggability|E-]]**

This leaves out several tags, such as **[[DC2:native land|N*]]** - he technically //has// a native habitat, but he doesn't live in it; **[[DC2:dragon_friend|Df*]]**, because being a dragon in a world almost entirely populated by other dragons, his level of dragon-friendliness is a moot point; and **[[DC2:fruitiness|Fr*]]**, **[[DC2:reality_index|R*]]**, **[[DC2:activity_index|Ac*]]**, **[[DC2:social_life|S*]]**, and **[[DC2:ubiquity|U*]]**, which all pertain to online existence and role in the AFD community, which don't really apply here.