Some thoughts about local shows

[sunandshadow]

Currently, local competitions are something you spend as much time per turn as you can afford to do repeatedly with your best trained horse. This is kind of boring, which can be seen in the fact that players call these horses grinders.

What if, instead, players could set a competition type for each horse, and at the end of each turn each adult horse automatically competed in a local event of that type? Or if this is too much it could be limited to six horses or 10 horses or one horse per competition type. I think this would make players more interested in training several horses and keeping them all at the right weight and temperament for their event.

[BlackOak2]

Currently, local competitions are something you spend as much time per turn as you can afford to do repeatedly with your best trained horse. This is kind of boring, which can be seen in the fact that players call these horses grinders.

What if, instead, players could set a competition type for each horse, and at the end of each turn each adult horse automatically competed in a local event of that type? Or if this is too much it could be limited to six horses or 10 horses or one horse per competition type. I think this would make players more interested in training several horses and keeping them all at the right weight and temperament for their event.

The reason they're called grinders, is because they grind in locals. But it's not because it's a necessity to use them in locals, it's because they earn us random turn and PT drops as well as the daily monies we use up each turn, 'Grind For PT'. If you don't want to gain extra monies as well as random turn and PT drops, you don't need to have a grinder at all.
Local shows is one of the only reoccurring ways (other than leveling up) that we can get PT regularly. So, if you don't want to grind for PT and you have the funds to support the game, you're free to purchase all the PT you desire.

I don't know if automatically entering horses into locals appeals to me. Although I grind with horses, I like to keep an eye on each conclusion of each local show I enter. I like to make sure my grinder is still at optimum and sits at the highest chances of earning PT and turns. Once a line of horses gets into that competition area, more of the foals are trained and go into locals and eventually hosted competitions. I don't think, personally, we need to encourage more horses to be trained. We have plenty and are already maxing out many of our public trainers. Encouraging even more horses to be trained will likely burn out the few public trainers we have.

It will be interesting when we get the training release, how the training of our horses change. With all the changes already given to us, what more would change or even if it's still coming to us?

I cannot currently support this as it is. I'd be interested in listening to other thoughts if you feel there should be a change.

[sunandshadow]

I actually like games to be challenging, so I'm not opposed at all to entering local shows, they are actually my favorite. I think they could still be quite exciting if the results were presented as a page after the player chose Go To Sleep for that turn. It would help, though, if the event choice interface listed the ideal temperament and body condition for the chosen event. I don't know about the upcoming training release you mention though, that might change a variety of things. Perhaps tempo will be removed as a trainable stat, or instead added as a compete-able stat with some new events? Who knows.

[BlackOak2]

I actually like games to be challenging, so I'm not opposed at all to entering local shows, they are actually my favorite. I think they could still be quite exciting if the results were presented as a page after the player chose Go To Sleep for that turn. It would help, though, if the event choice interface listed the ideal temperament and body condition for the chosen event. I don't know about the upcoming training release you mention though, that might change a variety of things. Perhaps tempo will be removed as a trainable stat, or instead added as a compete-able stat with some new events? Who knows.

A lot in this game is left up to us to figure out (just like in real life) and we've figured out quite a bit and have shared such things in guides. To help you along to what temperament and body condition, check out these guides (I have more in my quick links):
https://www.horseworldonline.net/forum/ ... =3&t=11683
https://www.horseworldonline.net/forum/ ... p?p=274416

If you want a real challenge on this game, try going after one of the world records. Even though it's not difficult (in the grand scheme of things) to achieve, it's not easy either. If you happen to break a world record, it gets even more tough for the second and third one.

Talking about challenges, the best one to partake in, is the completion of all the breed recipe quests. Although I'm sure there've been a few players to have done so, to date, I may have been the first one to get through all of them. It took me a year and a half (give or take), but I didn't go after it with some sort of plan to minimize my breeding attempts (silly me. ). There is a list in my quicklinks that also helps to streamline this process (this one's under breeding).

There has been some discussion about allowing us to keep a record of local shows, but so far admin hasn't acknowledged the ability for the future. There are a number of people that use locals to determine if they should even compete their foals and as well as to keep an eye on where their bloodline is going (better in comps or worse in comps without actually training and entering in hosted competitions).

I was one (I think) that also wanted to see a local record.

As far as the base stats, think of them as pure, wild talent. In order for us to get the most out of the horse, we need to train them how to harness these things. For instance, they have intelligence, but unless we teach them that they can think instead of being wholly reactive (flight or fight responses), they won't be able to utilize their intelligence. Same goes for the other stats. Unless they understand what their strength is, they'll just be trotting around, unable to actually use their body properly.

So, training these base stats enables our horses to utilize these stats in competitions. The training release we were promised, was supposed to allow us to hone our horses into a certain discipline. The best example is dressage where we would be able to train these horses to do things like shoulder in, shoulder out and piaffe. All of our disciplines were slated to have these extra training regimes.

But I'm getting just a little off topic.

We're also hoping to someday maybe get additional disciplines. Although we have plenty now, some select people are missing some favorite events. In my case, I'd like to see a slight expansion on the racing end. Because, after all, all races aren't 8 furlongs. We have 6 furlongs (sprints) but no long ones. I'd like to see classic or even long-long.

I think I could agree with an expansion to the locals, or a change. But I don't currently have any suggestions. You are correct that the use of locals is rather limited right now. It's better than it was, now we have some more information to help us hone our horses toward selected disciplines (temperament and weight suggestions), but there does seem to be a lot of unused options for them.

[sunandshadow]

Do we have a thread with suggestions for additional disciplines? I can think of 2 or 3 that could fit stat combinations that aren't currently useful, like intelligence/strength.

By the way, I want to explain that I have a background as a game designer. So when I make a thread like this it's because I enjoy looking at an existing design and imagining how it could become more fun, balanced, or newbie-friendly so it has good player retention. I like thinking about how activities in a game can cause player satisfaction or excitement vs. frustration or boredom. So that's me and my motivation here. I do think the world records are quite interesting, I'll try reading up on them.

[BlackOak2]

We like game designers around here. By all means, add your two cents and the community will at least take a look. Fresh eyes are always helpful.

I think a thread for new disciplines may be quite old by now (I don't even remember how old it is). A new one might be in order, especially since we've updated to a new version of the game. However, there are two that might interest you already.

https://www.horseworldonline.net/forum/ ... p?p=371616
https://www.horseworldonline.net/forum/ ... p?p=370520 <--This one is a little further off topic but can still be useful.

Just to refresh your memory (forgive if this is just review):
Each discipline already has four stats. Even racing has speed listed twice. The order they're in, corresponds to the weight the system uses to determine the horse's scoring... plus a little extra inputs from other things... First is weighted heaviest, last is weighted lightest and any other stat not listed is not given any weight at all. Size, weight, body form, temperament, even height are determining factors for the scores (give or take ). So suggestions with more info are usually more easily accepted and debated then less.

I'll be looking toward reading it.