modify breeding formula ASAP

This is an add-on to a previous suggestion of: modify breeding formula

Without the ability to breed down non-specialty stats (and therefore make a new generation better than its predecessors) there is minimal incentive for me to breed on this, a horse breeding sim.

I  can buy a limitless number of foundation horses that are just as good at showing as second gens (or third or fourth, assuming post-recode parents), and I suspect this might be aiding in the terrible stagnation of the horse market we’ve had since the recode. 

Abbey mentioned that the adjustment of the formula was not a priority, but given the very large role it has in the way I play the game, this suggestion is to make that change a priority. 


example: i’ve bred six generations of post-recode foundies into a single horse. that horse, while having nice color, good confo, and being bred for generations to excel in a single disiclpline...is a even match when it comes to showing with a foundation that has identical training, tack, and stats. What’s the point of breeding if putting time and effort into generations doesn’t at least give you a small leg-up? 

I agree with this whole-heartdley, but I'm not sure how fast it'll be implemented because I think Abbey is taking some personal time :/

You literally posted this just as it was on my mind LOL

While I am glad that this is on the list of things to look into, I'm kind of disappointed knowing that this is not a priority for the game. I do not want to sound ungrateful for the hard work being done for foal art, farming, bonuses, events, etc. I would love all of these, but I would like to see the change in the breeding formula sooner most of all. 

The way I see it is that this is a breeding sim about building up your horses so they reach the top, and that is almost impossible for post-recode horses when the pre-recode horses have that leg up already (when post-recode lines dont have that chance of catching up). 
I just do not see post-recode horses going anywhere the farther up they go in show levels. The higher up they go, the harder it is to win with the non-spec stats that is impossible to breed down (without breeding with a pre-recodes constantly)

I really do hope Abbey reconsiders, simply because new lines are at an unfair disadvantage. 

oh i’m fine with waiting the time it might take to be implemented (all changes take time!) this is simply a suggestion to move it to the top of the list when it comes to changes. (for example, i want this MUCH more than i want foal art, farms, correct colors, accurate patterns, etc - though i do still look forward to all those changes!)

THISTHISTHISTHISTHIS!!!!!

You have hit the nail straight on the head.  There is no reason to breed, except for conformation, which doesn't help with showing at all.  There's no challenge.  There's no advantage to a horse to have a deep pedigree, post recode.  You can ruin horses for showing, but you can't make them any better - just move them up through the grades.

Even if we get a ton of horses bred up into the International levels, all the post recode horses are all going to be pretty much the same.  All the good breeding strategy in the world won't give your horse an edge without pre-recode ancestry, and even that is of limited value, because you'll probably have to use a lot of post recode in the lines just because those really low non-specialty stats are really rare.

If we don't get foal art or the ability to grow our own treats, it's not going to stop me from breeding my horses, but if we don't gain the ability to breed those stats down, I will pause my breeding operation until it is changed.  And I know I am not the only one who will do so.  It is far too important to our goals in this game.

"What’s the point of breeding if putting time and effort into generations doesn’t at least give you a small leg-up? "
THIS.
although I think breeding down stats should be slightly more difficult than in EV1.

Yes. Absolutely and one hundred percent yes. Breeding down non-specialty stats matters more to me than any other feature that could be implemented, including foal art and farms. To me, being unable to breed down non-spec stats is a huge downside, and greatly reduces my game satisfaction and user experience. To add extra "fun" features but to ignore this aspect is like putting a new coat of paint and an expensive stereo system in a car with a faulty motor! What good are the extras if there is a flaw in the essential components?!

@North that’s a great analogy! 

@marigold sunshine it already took 7 generations to breed down to 0 non-spec stats; taking any longer than 2 years and 7 months would be TOO hard, in my opinion.

It doesn't have to take that long, if you breed your horses sooner. I don't, but if you bred your horses younger, you'd get your non spec stats down sooner, the horse wouldn't have as many stats, and therefore be more competitive at lower levels (gaining stats quickly).

I didn't mean significantly slower, just a bit.

Why would the process need to be slower? I mean I wouldn't mind if it was, as long as my horses' nonspec stats lowered. I just don't see the point in it taking longer than it was before.

I guess my thinking was that if it takes longer for established breeders it would be easier for newer breeders to be competitive with their lines against the long lined horses.

Although this wouldn't be a case once there was a bunch of horses bred down to non specs of 0 in a year, two years...whenever

Also, the horses from pre recode lines/mixed lines would be at a HUGE advantage to players starting new lines

Last edited on 2018-01-29 at 09:27:36 by marigold sunshine

that’s definitely true. 

but i personally can’t see making people who breed later have to wait longer just so that people who breed younger can’t breed down faster as a valid reason to slow down the calculations when it’s already going to take seven generations regardless of time of breeding. if anything, it’s a good incentive to NOT wait so long to breed, especially when starting lines from foundations. Sure the parents would give birth to a higher states foal if need at 20, but a foal bred when they were 10 could feasibly surpass their 20-year foal in terms of overall time it took to reach X stats. 

six months is still a fairly decent amount of time (which is how long breeding asap would take). 

Idea: Instead of disagreeing on the timeline and presenting to Abbey a picture of dissent (as I understand, Abbey doesn't like to implement ideas without heavy suppport and only those with a low chance of complaints following the change), we should perhaps use this thread to show our suppprt for the implementation of the feature in whatever form it might come? A unified group may be more convincing! Just a thought - personally, I want this to happen more than anything and the minor details matter so little to me in the face of it simply becoming possible!

Edit: Future readers, please disregard the above; I have been told this is a bad idea. Please do not waste time and thread space yelling at me but focus on the topic at hand, an outcome most of us want passionately. Thank you!

Last edited on 2018-01-29 at 09:51:12 by North

North, I want this to happen too, and I do support changing the breeding formula to lower non specialty stats and reward showing.

Personally, the timeline isn't a huge deal to me. I'm still going to breed TWH no matter what it is. I was just putting my two cents out there.

Last edited on 2018-01-29 at 09:28:11 by marigold sunshine

@North
I have to disagree. It is quite obvious that the majority of players want this, the support/no support ratio proves that. However, I believe that everyone's opinions on the subject should be heard. We know that the majority want this, its obvious, so why shouldn't we move onto the smaller details? They are just as important.
We may not agree on some smaller details but in the end, we all believe this should be implemented.

Last edited on 2018-01-29 at 09:39:25 by RemRem