Neofriends 101

      Jump over to the boards and you will find a host of topics ranging from “Whoa, just logged on after 12 years! Anyone around?” to “None of my neofriends play anymore :(“ Whether you are a returning player or withered veteran, neofriends are a vital part to enjoying Neopets for all it has to offer! This article will cover making neofriends and how to deepen those relationships. Let’s get started!

      There are several great avenues to making neofriends but before diving into those, it is advisable to audit how you spend your time on the site.

          Do you enjoy collecting avatars, trophies, or pets?

      Is the battledome the first place you hit up upon logging on?

      Does Food Club intrigue you to no end?

      Are you obsessed with making the largest shop or most unique gallery?

          Knowing what you are about is the best way to know where to start looking for friends!

      However, even if you are brand new or rusty in terms of Neopia, no fear. There are tons of players who are excited to share knowledge and encouragement. The best place to connect with players is through the neoboards and guilds.

      1) Neoboards

      The neoboards add such a great aspect to Neopia. Through forums players buy, sell, quest, encourage, connect, ask, game, compete, battle, and relax. There are (NUMBER) boards total, giving players with different interests their perfect niche. In 2005 I discovered the avatar chat, simply because it was near the top of the page. Tripping into this crazy fast and hilarious board was honestly life changing in terms of my neo-experience! I had never considered collecting avatars but upon chatting with other players, it became something incredible important and special to me.

      Boards not only lay avenues to learn about new topics of account improvement, they also connect already established players with those who hold similar interests. Kadding boards are a great example of this! If you visit the Avatar or Game Chat, you will most likely see a board with a witty title and a kad emoji. These boards are filled with seasoned kadders who have stuck together for years feeding kadoties. The best part? Despite their close nature, they are beyond welcoming to newbies and share their wisdom freely! Similar boards exists for gaining high scores, playing food club, customization, and artwork. Diving into the communities these boards host can see daunting at first. Asking for a critique concerning a customization, putting out a new artwork piece, or attempting to feed your first kad is huge! It is important to remember that every player starts somewhere.

      If you find yourself visiting the same board daily and are becoming increasingly bored with your neopets adventures, maybe it is time to check out a new board and learn a few things from other players! It is never too late to pick up a new neo-hobby and connect with players, we are all here for the same reason after all! To love and care for our pets while growing our accounts.

      Important things to remember when perusing the neoboards:

      -Don’t be a n00b and watch out for n00bs. If you are looking for new friends, be the type of friend you are seeking out. Likewise, stay clear from players who push site rules and boundaries. Getting caught up in their drama is no good for your account.

      -Respect the rules. Even though late teens and adults make up the main player base for Neopets, remember that kids still play! Keep your words encouraging and thoughtful.

      -Be yourself! One of the best things about the boards is seeing a bunch of different personalities coming together and clicking. Due to the nature of neopets being an online format, people can easily let down their walls and open up. Allow yourself to do this, people want to know YOU!

      2) Guilds

      The second most common way to make neofriends is through joining a guild! Most likely at one time or another, every player has joined a guild. Whether they stick with you is another matter! There are tons- TONS- of guilds on Neopets that host an array of themes, topics, obsessions, and member types. Here are a few of the most common guild types:

      -Account Improvement

      -Neo Related (NR)

      -Role Playing *insert any site appropriate topic here*

      -18+

      -Battledomers

      -Gamers

      -Fandom Related

      Looking for a guild can be absolutely exhausting, even more so if you are unsure of what you are looking for. The guild chat is a great, albeit crazy place. Upon entering, be prepared to receive invites for many guilds that do not appeal to you! On the board, guild owners and recruiters create topics where you can post and ask questions about their guilds. You may also create a topic stating that you are guildless and what kind of guilds you are looking for. Joining a guild, depending on the type, is a very real commitment. Owners and members invest their time into creating games, activities, graphics, while cultivating a welcoming environment. It is okay if it takes a while to find a guild that clicks but guild hopping is not the most admirable trait and makes connecting with neofriends that much harder!

      Instead, I advise being semi-picky in your guild search. These are a few questions to ask when you are on the hunt:

      -What type of guild am I looking for?

      -Do I have a member minimum/maximum?

      -Is the purpose for joining a guild to help me better my account or provide a place to relax?

      -Do the members seem friendly and like-minded to my interests?

      -Do I possess the time to get involved and meet people within the guild?

      These questions should help you narrow down your search and find the perfect guild! A guild that feels like home is truly a special place. Knowing that there is a continuous forum to meet with your neofriends and chat about similar interests is awesome! Getting involved in a guild is what has kept my interest and activity so high over the past year. My guild friends have become my closest neofriends because we cheer each other on and work together on becoming better neopians.

      The neoboards and guilds are the most common ways of connecting with other users, however there are other ways as well! If you read a piece in the Neopian Times that you find fabulous, neomail the author and strike up a literary conversation! Admire a piece of art in the art gallery, or adore a recent pet spotlight winner? Congratulate through a nice neomail and share your most recent creative endeavors. These small connections can lead to a blossoming friendship. Just remember that not all users respond to random neomails, don’t take it personally if someone doesn’t reply.

      Once you have built friendships with other users, whether on the boards or in a guild, go the extra mile to start fostering those friendships. Send a neomail to check in and see how their week is going or to celebrate them getting a high score in that game they’ve been working on. If it is their birthday or a special holiday, consider surprising them with something from their wishlist or contribute an item towards their gallery. Being a good neofriend doesn’t have to cost any neopoints or items though, If you have something to share or celebrate, tell them! I love getting neomails from friends who have just adopted a new pet or achieved a new avatar. One neofriend simply neomails me to ask opinions on their customizations. Another friend neomails me every time they log on just to say hello and we have short conversations while we browse the site. Friendships with your neofriends will look different for each person. Finding out what you can bond over for each one is one of the best things!

      Taking the initial step to seek out neofriends isn’t always easy, but it is good for you! Neofriends add a new and exciting dynamic to the site that keeps older players intrigued. Challenge yourself this week to check out a new board or chat group. Look into joining a guild or getting involved in new ways in your current one.

      How can you make a new neofriend this week?