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Helping the Breeding Economy

Alacrity Economy.

This has been a topic for awhile and personally I'm glad to see some attempts to fix it come about. However, I could not help but wish when I saw the two choices for a third one. I have a third proposal, one that could possibly have a greater positive effect on the economy.

What I am proposing is to limit the upgraded accounts breeding. Now I have two upgraded accounts, that means I can breed as many times a month as I want. What I am suggesting it to limit it to a reasonably high number for upgrades. Say 10. That's more than two litters a week, most people do not breed that much, so it's probably fair. And it's still a huge benefit to upgrades.

Now before you don't support this, I ask that you hear out the problems with the other two, and why this one will work better.

There's been voice opposition for #2, the limited litter amount for bitches. There's the fact this would have a hugely negative impact on any custom dog or any dog you give a lifelong locket to. It also means your prized bitch will only be worth x number of litters, and the bitch you have just because she's cute and never plan to breed will have unused litter possibilities because she's low TP or inbred or whatever. Now I am assuming it's limiting to a fairly low number, like 10 per bitch, versus something like 35+ litters. 35 litters is a lot for a non-immortal dog. 10 is not a lot for a dog who will live several months.

The major problem with the alacrity economy, one that affects both suggested fixes, is people who overbreed. There are a few of them on Alacrity currently and personally limiting their breeding will ultimately curb most of the issues. They have 50 or more pups being sold at any given moment and they're selling them dirt cheap because of this fact. This undersells people who breed three or four times a month only and causes the problems we've seen. Even if we limit the breeding number for bitches, if you've got 20+ bitches at any given moment, it's still many, many litters. I'm not saying it isn't their choice to have that many dogs being bred at any one time, but I am pointing out that having unlimited breedings can cause this situation we're in with the economy. If they had a limit of 10 breedings per month, there would be less puppies being sold.

And carrying on to #1 offered by the quiz, if you have 20+ bitches, even if you have to wait 12 months ala time, you can still do a lot of damage to the alacrity economy. I have 34 bitches between my two accounts. Given 12 days between breedings, that means every month I could have 68 breedings. Since I breed large dogs, that could be anywhere from 204 to 272 pups born. I am not doing this. I breed, if I averaged it out, once every week or two. But I'm showing the potential damage of people who can and will do this.

Now even if there is only 5 people doing this essential overbreeding situation on Alacrity, that's about 1000 pups flooded into the market monthly that could have been prevented. 1000 pups that are sold dirt cheap by 5 people. That would be 1000 pups from other breeders that could be bought.

Limiting upgraded accounts breeding to 10 per month would mean any one person could only have tops of 40 puppies a month per account if they bred large dogs and got litters for 4. That's still a lot, but it's much less damage they could do any other way. The majority of breeders out there who are breeding selectively, are not breeding 10 times a month. They're breeding once week. This therefore seems reasonable to me right now.

Doing this will also limit overbreeding situations, or breeding purely as a means to make money. Everyone wants to make some money from their litters. But overbreeding means ways to make a ton of easy cash, even if you just put down half your pups.

So that is my two cents. I'm curious to opinions, especially from upgraded players. Do you feel limiting yourself to 10 breedings a month, for the good of the economy, hurt you? Or would you prefer the other options put out?

Edit: I'm not here to debate the benefits or negatives of low tp and breeding unmaxed dogs. Or that we should cull the lot below x tp. If you'd like to discuss that, perhaps another thread needs to be created. I'm curious as to what people think of my idea, if they're for or against it or if they think other options beyond the two Rob offered and what I offered ought to be put out there.

Edit2: I should clarify, 10 breedings between your bitches a month. Stud out your dogs to your hearts desire.


Replies


I like Calibs idea, that only maxed dogs should breed.
Sort of a combination. I'm not against a short cool down period, maybe 2 days, that could mean syncing with going into heat again would be easy.
I agree with this idea completely, however like Keeta said I also think there should be a "cool down" for breedings. Definitely NOT 12 days though, maybe something around 2?
I think we should limit the number of breedings per upgraded account. BUT, I also like the idea of a waiting period between breedings, it would keep lines from getting too cluttered and help cut down on puppies born. but 12 months (12 RL days!) is a long time to wait
well I like the idea of not breeding more than 10 times a month I'm not upgraded so I'm only 2 per month anyway.. and I have to say I don't reckon I'll be missing not being able to breed whenever or where ever.. perhaps when I have more dogs.. I also like the idea of maxing the dogs before breeding, sure some will have the benefit of magical waterbowls, but most of us most will not, but at least it gives time to ensure good quality pups and reduce the speed of the lineage at least some.. a combination would be nice..
well I like the idea of not breeding more than 10 times a month I'm not upgraded so I'm only 2 per month anyway.. and I have to say I don't reckon I'll be missing not being able to breed whenever or where ever.. perhaps when I have more dogs.. I also like the idea of maxing the dogs before breeding, sure some will have the benefit of magical waterbowls, but most of us most will not, but at least it gives time to ensure good quality pups and reduce the speed of the lineage at least some.. a combination would be nice..
You make a good point, I must admit, it would be very nice to see that implemented. <br /><br />So I will concede the fact that even if it's drastic, it is necessary to completely end the problem. <br /><br />Frankly as long as the puppy milling stops, I'm happy, but to have more being done to improve the quality of breeding would be fantastic as well. One step at a time.
I know my solution looks "drastic", but unless you cure the root of the problem the problem will keep growing.<br /><br />Actually, I'm not the most dedicated member out there. Still, I play alacrity as it's supposed to be played (as a trial dog sim) and feel that the designers need to keep that in mind and put her foot down or else it won't be a trial dog sim anymore, but a "lets breed pretty dogs in mass to make money" site instead. If I wanted to play Wajas, I'd go back there. <br /><br />Will a few players leave if the designer puts her foot down? Probably. Will the site be better for the wear? <i>YES!!</i> <p> Creating a userbase that is playing the game you envisioned and loyal to your game because it sticks to the vision and is not like other games is worth more than letting the players morph your game into something it's not.
Yeah, I sort of feel like upgraded accounts are getting too much of an advantage, because there are people like me that are in a situation where it's impossible to pay for an upgraded account. (Too young -_-) Rejoice! I can finally post on forums!
You make a very good point Calib. And I myself prefer to breed maxed only, although I did breed an unmaxed litter once for fun and once when I didn't know any better.<br /><br />My solution is less drastic than yours, it will not fix everything but it's a less dramatic fix. I would like to see maxed dogs being bred only and I think that way you wouldn't have to cull the lower TP dogs necessarily as they'd eventually go by default.<br /><br />The puppy kennel thing I can get behind. I see the benefit of the puppy kennel for newbies who necessarily cannot afford slots, but it's been abused extremely. Perhaps a limit of what can be in the puppy kennel would help? 10 puppies or they start running away?<br /><br />A compromise, because as much as the more dedicated members would like to see things like this, generally we're a minority.<br /><br />I'm mostly out to stop overbreeding/puppy milling first as that is the biggest problem we have, versus the low tp thing. But I seriously think you should post about taking advantage of the puppy kennel in a separate thread. I would support limiting it at the very least, if not removing it.

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