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Search Options ►Breeding Pendants: Discussion and Poll
Site Update
We said we would be back for your input on some big changes, so here we are.
We've been making many short-term changes to breeding lately, namely in the withholding of Coins until the queues die down. However, there was one aspect that we didn't touch on at the time as we were still working to gather ideas on how we could compromise between fairness to the userbase (you guys!) and to everyone working behind the scenes on the breeding panel.
So now, let's discuss breeding pendants.
Unfortunately or not, depending on where your opinions lie, Breeding Pendants are going to have to change. However, we wanted to let everyone share their voice and opinions on the matter. We've come up with a few ideas that we think you'll like!
Pendants become predict-only, but the regeneration time is reduced. This means that Pendants will work as Half Breeding Coins, but will have a faster regeneration time than they currently do.
Pendants have their regeneration time doubled. For instance, Breeding Pendants currently have a 3-month cooldown. If this option wins, that time will be doubled to a 6-month cooldown, and so on as applicable for each Pendant.
Pendants take more time to regenerate but can be traded in for a predict-only version that retains the original regeneration rate. The new rate will be discussed among staff, but, as said, the Pendant could be traded for a version that works as a Half Breeding Coin with the current cooldown.
Pendants have a longer regeneration time but owners are compensated with a regenerating custom-making item. This will vary between Pendants, but if, for instance, a Pendant that could be used 4 times a year was changed to having a regeneration time that made it so it could only be used 2 times a year, then the custom-making item would have those 2 lost uses per year. As Eve put it when we were discussing it, " 4 uses reduced to 2, custom maker gives 2 uses a year"
The 2nd most voted-for option with the addition of turning in the Pendant for another item. This one is fairly straightforward -- if this choice wins, we'll take the option with the 2nd highest vote count and then, later down the line, release a second poll with options for the turn-in.
We understand that some of you are going to be upset, that you feel like your Pendant isn't worth what was paid for it, but we also need to maintain a balance on the site to ensure our breeding artists don't get burnt out almost before they begin. Staff hopes that these options, or at least one of them, will appeal to you!
Posted by Juke
(#7625) on Fri Jul 17, 2020 5:01pm
- Wisp & Lei
(#1343)
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Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:00am
I understand why pendants need a nerf or to be removed completely, my preference is longer wait time because I don't usually do predicts, but I can understand why that would be a popular choice.
Regardless of what is decided, not everyone will be happy with the outcome. I still remember when lesser breeding pendants were removed from the SP shop because there were too many onsite.
Would it be possible to create design tickets or something similar feature for predicts that can be attached to breedings?
- Kita🦊
(#3988)
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Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:36am
helix (#50548) Wisp & Lei (#1343) (since I think this pertains to what you are asking Wisp/Lei? If you want to elaborate on the design ticket idea please do or feel free to jump into my inbox)
Staff are discussing prediction caps, kickbacks, perks, etc. for breedings to make predictions more desirable to submit - I'm hoping it is something we can announce either soon after or alongside whatever is happening with pendants.
Lol bye. (#57182)
Please keep it civil, I understand that this is a very personal topic and a lot of artists (including myself) depend on art for/to supplement their livelihood but your comments are bordering on targeting other users.
- Quit
(#359)
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Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:02pm
Honestly reading the comments, the best thing it looks like to do is increase time and offer the predict turn in. Some things need to be changed about some coins (like making holiday breeding coin just.. a seasonal breeding coin instead of excluding hybrids as it's confusing for people) and predicts just more desirable. With the site only offering GP, at it's current, it limits what people are willing to do. It would be better at least for a while to have some uncapped predicts opened up to try to clear the que out or pay the artist their going GP rate (usually 1:3 as that's the current though that's what got the GP to it's current worthlessness) or offer them more than a monthly grab bag for a full complete list. like, being an artist, I wouldn't mind predict only coins but I feel for those who can not or don't have the extra money to make/purchase art for something they grinded out to get in the first place.
Pendents hurt the site, they always have, but forcing everything into predicts but still requiring regular art to continue other things from users is starting to push more and more away. Breeding is the main part of the site and it's starting to make people feel if they aren't an artist they really aren't welcomed anymore and that's not a good thing.
- ✦ NineVulpine
(#808)
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Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:05pm
I agree with Helix abt maybe offering PPP perks to predicts for pendant breedings, something to add incentive to getting predicts, because they are tough to find right now even with USD in your hand. Good to know that's being discussed.
I like the idea of the regenerating custom making item as well - maybe they can be for an exclusive (and easily edited) genus? A random edit % (metal up to gold) every time it regenerates? I know this would require even more resources though with coding & art so I understand that may not be feasible. I know people will definitely respond better to being given something to soften the blow of a very valuable item being nerfed though, as opposed to a nerf with no compensation.
I'm glad regardless that this is being talked about & that the issue with the queues is being addressed through this PPP & the pause on selling coins. PPP drew me back actually - the proactive staff & fact steps are being taken to fix stuff is what's kept me around. :>
- Kandria
(#293)
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Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:15pm
Silvers (#1464)
Sites can't run on no profit anymore, even sites that seem to at the surface are profiting other ways (ads, other functions, a prime example is Google, it's free to use its e-mail, search engine, etc, but they charge for search results to be prioritized for some sites, they also have other features like domain hosting, ect)
It's a balancing act of what you can offer for free, and what you have to charge for.
Aywas was built badly on the notion that users would be able to work for site currency. It works when things were new, but as the site ages, and artists get older the can't do things for free ALL the time. Even fresh artists fizzle out quickly.
Here or there for fun, or practice or even to support the site? Sure! But if you want breedings back on a good timeline you can't wait for an artist to have free time between real-life jobs and taking USD commissions that rightly should take priority because they help the artist support themselves.
Your statement makes it seem like all the site is pay to play but it's not, things like adventure, gathering site pets, the daily games, all automated things that don't require we have to have someone hand making art or hand-processing work is free. They don't require much other then matiaince to make sure the features don't break!
The site is moving to properly compensate the artist for the work put in, in order to do that yes, staff is dealing with items made by staff that is no longer on site that drains the site. Those items were made under a premise that just doesn't work, and while those items might only be held by a few users they are draining the site and making problems for users that don't own them too.
They can't be just left as "relics of an older age" of the site, like some items that don't work well or otherwise don't make much sense on how the site runs, because they are directly damaging the site.
While the options might seem like the staff is throttling the choices or options, the facts are options where heavily debated and argued, before presented to weed out things the site can't support and not end up losing more support and help for the breeding feature.
While opinions and suggestions are being read, right now, these are the options presented for a reason, many of the things users are offering for suggestions where brought up in staff talks and declined because they push the issue out 2--5 more years, but don't solve the underlying issue. Or they crash a different part of the economy just shifting the problem from one feature to another.
What it comes down to, is features that pay out money to the artist, need to be backed by money coming in.
Users who pay money, want those features not to take 1-3 years to come back
Pendants are paying out money, without any backing to replenish the money, forcing us to have to pay site currency, rather than money.
Site currency does not get us artists that stay on the team long or can take regular lists on regular time frames. Leading to 1-3 year waits on some coins.
We have to break the cycle or breeding will hit a point (where some coins are already) where precision will be the only way to get babies back quickly or, as some users have expressed, what feels like ever.
Cash grabs, add-ons for cash-paying to the artists, and so on, don't' work, we've tried it before. Users say they'd do it to support the artist then only 1% of users follow through.
Does it feel like it sucks? Yes, absolutely, but there is a balance that was never set in the past that HAS to be now if the site is to find a normal rhythm that will keep it going.
Yes this got a bit more or a ramble, but I hope that helps some people see why this is going on, and that this isn't just staff wanting to make the site more pay-to-play and less friendly for free players.
- Tin & Bloo
(#9)
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Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 5:08pm
If all the pendants are predicts only, then they are basically custom items instead of breeding items right? If the pendant owners wanted a " predict only" they would not have spent a fortune to get a breeding item.
if you do not have the necessary skills, "Predict only" option does not just mean that you have to find extra fund, but you also have to find an artist with the appropriate level of skill to do it.
- Tae
(#66637)
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Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 6:27pm
Lol bye. (#57182) My problem with getting USD predicts is that the USD cap is so restrictive. I can get predicts made during PPP when the cap is removed, but the rest of the year I have trouble because their time and skill is worth more than we are allowed to pay.
I had one person last fall who was all set to work on a predict for me, quoted a price which was over the USD cap, as they hadn't done predicts before didn't know there was a cap, and then had to decline the commission as they said they wouldn't be able to make the predict for such a low fee.
And I see people saying I have gp buy can't pay usd, there are a number of users who do have funds and would be willing to do Escrow for the com panels but again, it's finding an artist that would work within the predict cap range.
- Tae
(#66637)
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Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 6:29pm
Silvers (#1464) Have you tried the escrow forum? I know myself and a couple others often offer to pay USD for requests to get GP once the artist gets paid (I am bad at explaining but check it out if you have not, it could help)
- The Cavalry💀
(#42995)
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Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:34pm
I just really wanted to be post #100.
Sorry.
Posted on: Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:40am
i think maybe adding on a perk to pendants, such as their predicts not having a cap or offering ppp perks to them year-round, might make the predict-only option seem more fair. once queues are caught up i'm sure that there will be artists that are more available to do work for site currency, but as it is any artist on aywas with enough time and ability can make pretty much unlimited site currency by working on the backlog of breedings.