Flamethrowers
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All goldriders must be certified not only to handle and maintain the ground crew agenothree sprayers, for the times when their dragons are egg-heavy and grounded, but to handle and maintain their flamethrowers as well. Basic certification follows the same lines as for groundcrew ('+wrr groundcrew'). The biggest difference is that goldriders are required to perform more than basic upkeep, and must know how to do everything with their sprayers and flamethrowers, up to and including the manufacturing of simple parts.
While a flamethrower's inner mechanisms, the filling, the cleaning, the maintenance, and tank pressurisation are nearly identical to its ground-crew cousin, the goldriders' flamethrowers are designed differently, to be used on dragonback rather than carried or strapped to one's back for use on the ground.
The nozzle: Flamethrowers have elongated nozzles. These nozzles, also called wands, are difficult to aim because they are longer than the ground crews' sprayer nozzles, and minute angular changes at the hand will be met with wide differences in aim at the tip of the wand.
The mount: Normal agenothree sprayers are worn upon the back, with the weight distributed between the shoulders and hips of the user. Goldriders and other mounted users of flamethrowers get to keep the fuel tank, refills, and most of the bulk of each sprayer strapped to their dragons rather than to themselves, unless they prefer to carry the tanks (which would be heavy, not to mention cutting down on the rider's mobility and flexibility). There are several configurations available.
- Knee-mount -- sensibly enough, this refers to the location of the bulk of the sprayer apparatus in front of the rider's crouching knees. Advantages: Everything in easy reach. Disadvantages: It may be harder to reach the furthest tanks while leaning forward over the nearest tanks.
- Rear-mount -- the apparatus sits like a runner's saddlebags at the rear or below the thighs of the rider, when the rider is seated in a crouching position atop the dragon's neck ridges. Advantages: Everything in easy reach. Disadvantages: It may be harder to locate and use things that are not in one's field of vision, and to lean backwards to grasp the cannisters of fuel.
- Dual-mount -- full cannisters are located in front of the rider, while emptied ones are placed in saddlebags behind and below the rider's thighs. Advantages: Everything in easy reach with minimal bending. Disadvantages: Putting away empty cannisters may be difficult until one is very practiced at the motion.
- Back-mount -- the back-mounted flamethrower is worn like the ground crew sprayer: straps over both shoulders with a support belt about the waist. Advantages: Keeps the back and shoulders strong enough to wear the back-mount sprayer when confined to ground crew. Disadvantages: Interferes with mobility and flexibility due to awkward weight placement and the bulk of fuel cannisters.
Goldriders often experiment with the various positioning of sprayer and canisters, finding the one that best suits themselves based on their natural strengths, body configuration, and preference.
