How to Distinguish Browncoats From Dragon Riders

Brush up your Geek Fu. Laced up leather boots and pants, jerkins, long coats, riding gloves--how can you tell Browncoats from Dragon Riders? Here are a few tips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Dragon Rider Origins

1. Author Anne McCaffrey waits to sign books for her many loyal fans. Dragon Riders are fans of the works of author Anne McCaffrey. This Queen Rider created the "Dragon Riders of Pern" series of books, as well as many other fantasy novels. She has handed her crown to her heir apparent, her son Todd McCaffrey. Over 400 of her fans waited for hours in devilish heat at Dragon Con Atlanta in 2005 for a chance to speak with her and get books signed.
2. This couple was waiting for the fourth time to see Anne McCaffrey. Anne McCaffrey is so popular, and holds book signings so infrequently, that one couple in line was trying for their fourth time to see her.
3. The fire lizard says this is a Dragon Rider. The distinguishing characteristic of the Dragon Rider is the fire lizard, a miniature dragon, usually found on the shoulder or coiled around the neck.

Browncoat Origins

4. Browncoats are fans of the short-lived "Firefly" series by Joss Whedon. Full of self-referential humor, this dystopian space western struck a nerve with fans, who mustered enough support to resurrect the characters to make a movie.
5. A Browncoat playing Wash Browncoats are rebels at heart. They love the underdog and are fiercely loyal. Diehard Browncoats portray themselves as the rebel side characters of the series, "Firefly," although some prefer to play the villains and the members of the Alliance.
6. Zoe, Wash's Amazonian wife, and Mal's former fellow soldier The characters are all larger than life, and Whedon's women are particularly known for strength, courage and cunning.

Tips & Warnings

• Dragon Riders are frequently found in or near the "filk" room, can easily be mistaken for SCA members or Tolkien fans and often are members of both those groups.
• Don't be fooled by cross-genre dressers. No self-respecting Browncoat would ever sport a fire lizard.