utilize existing art for more gray variation

there's a lot of support for adding more shades of grey, but the big issue is the additions to the art that would be needed. right now we have progressive graying, which I think is an awesome addition and actuslly already gives us many shades of gray, even if they are only temporary.

what if rather than having all grey horses of a breed end at the same shade of white, some stopped at varying levels of the progressive greying process? that doesn't give us fleabitten grey, but does include dapple for some breeds, as well as rose for the chestnut/bay based horses.

it could be randomly chosen or perhaps have some genetic component (two dark grey parents are more likely to have a dark grey foal). I suppose the different shades of grey could have different names like the did on the old EV or just all stay "grey" - either would be fine with me as long as there was more variety :)

edited to add: for those that don't support, please do share why!

Last edited on 2016-05-01 at 05:01:57 by ᴋᴀʜᴢɪᴇ ɪ

I like this idea a lot! I think that if we were to carry out with it there would be a lot more diversity and new breeding opportunities! Although I think that this idea was mentioned a few posts down...

Last edited on 2016-05-01 at 09:13:23 by Silver Birch Stables

I like this. I would even better if we get fleabitten gray back. I know a fleabitten gray horse and he died at 25, he never grey out to solid light gray.

Also, that idea will encourage people to breed grays for fun as well.

Last edited on 2016-05-01 at 14:23:48 by Aɴᴅʀᴏᴍᴇᴅᴀ

I miss the fleabitten grays, and old dapple horses. I've known may old timers that kept their dapples, and fleabites till the end.

I really like this idea, because not all horses gray out as fast others. The diversity would be seriously loved!

I would like to add more variation into the greying process (random dapple grey and fleabitten for all breeds). I do not support ending greying at random points in the process, as that's just not how it works in real life and we're aiming to be a realistic game. If a horse lives long enough, it will eventually completely grey out. The only reason a horse wouldn't is if it dies before it finishes greying.

@ Vos, but it is realistic... not all horses grey out completely at 10 years old. Like I said earlier, I know at least two fleabitten horses who died at 22-25 years old. They never went solid. EV's life span is up to 22 and those horses I knew had beaten EV's life span. Therefore, it will be realistic if EV horse die with fleabitten gray. I knew a pony who gray out to solid light gray but his legs remains dark gray/silver as well.

Last edited on 2016-05-01 at 18:02:14 by Aɴᴅʀᴏᴍᴇᴅᴀ

Stratus- 5yrs in this photo. Around 10 you could no longer tell he was a gray paint
Mav- about to turn 20, he hardly lighted anymore before he passed naturaly
Val- Completely grayed out by 6ish

I get that a horse will keep graying out, but they all kinda go at different speeds.

I know when it comes to the Lipizzaner they all seem to gray out like clock work. Making them all shinny and white around 8ish, but not all horses will gray like them.

Last edited on 2016-05-01 at 20:57:42 by Dox

No they don't, but it would take way too much programming to make variant greying times. Fleabitten is essentially the solid white end phase of grey. I've never known a fleabitten horse to go completely white. There's no known rhyme or reason behind why some white greys are totally white and why some are fleabitten.

I do like this idea, especially if maybe we could get a bit of dappling here and there, but did also want to say vos is correct re: fleabitten greys. For that specific type of greying, that IS the 'end result'. Not all greys will turn completely white, like Dox's examples demonstrate. Is that what you meant by 'ending' at random points? For some to retain some appearance of grey/dappling, while others go white or fleabitten? I could get behind that if it didn't turn out to be a coding nightmare. :D

I know that fleabitten is end point. That's my point. That is the reason I want to bring back fleabitten gray. They don't go solid and it will add more variable to gray. I would like to add Mav's coat as well. I've seen many horses died like that. It is not realistic for all horses to ends up solid light gray at 10 years old...

I think we should just code three or two ending point of graying. One at 10 years old, other one at 17 and 21. It is better than random. Fleabitten, Mav's coat, Solid Gray can be set up similar to face and leg markings. Random but would pass on foals.

Its a shame the greying on equiverse is a little less "Dappley" and more just faded but I must I disagree with the grey stopping at certain stages of the process (rose grey, dapple grey etc) mainly due to the realism and partly because I love the all white horse. Its kind of sad to see a flashy colour disappear however its fun to watch its colour slowly drain away.

Fleabitten (and its shades) I will be happy to have introduced. I love the idea of having a pure "white" horse at 10, then it starts to develop its old pigment again. If variations of a fleabitten grey came into play (at random) by 15 years, I would be happy. Or watching my old grey's (when they get there) develop a few coloured spots, and everyday, more and more come up (like the greying out but "freckling in") sounds perfect too. Programming for such might be the bigger problem.

Getting back to the main subject: a 15 year old "Iron Grey' horse just makes me cringe and sigh heavily at its incorrectness (its gorgeous!.. but not right)