From BFS: "Secondarily, one of the most fun things about the game (in my opinion) is breeding. You mix a Plant and a Fire Dragon...and who knows what you'll get. Forest? Poison? Flower? The not knowing is part of the fun. When we guarantee a result we're essentially removing the fun from breeding."
People don't all play in the same way, or for the same things. Nor should they. We are all individuals and play somewhat differently. It my mind it is pretty arrogant to dictate what "fun" should mean for all people.
It is true that some people do find it fun to not know their breeding results in advance. These folk will have two of a certain dragon and still use other dragons to attempt to get the third for an egg. It is true to say that this is what is fun for them. However, it is NOT true to say that this is what is fun for everyone. There are players who have gone through umpteen attempts to finally get the dragon pairs they want, that do not find it "fun" to have to go through umpteen more attempts to get an additional dragon of the same.
If BFS wants to say that removing guaranteed pair breeding will improve the longevity of the game, that may be true. However it is false to say that having guaranteed pair breeding essentially removes the fun from breeding. I see that statement as just a sales pitch that they are trying to get us to buy into.
Post by emandbuddy on Oct 25, 2013 16:01:01 GMT -6
I thought it was comforting that BFS cared enough to send me not just one but two separate emails on the subject. I too, do not find dragonvale as fun. I, like many of you, was collecting two of everything and then planning egg displays. I didn't plan my park to make money, but who cares if some did? I think once this whole dumb magic thing goes away the changes might be okay. I would email backflip at the email they gave with some of the great ideas others shared! Maybe they will give us a x+x=x weekend! a bring 'em back old rules.
John won t like that story, furthermore, he is not the type to go to a soup kitchen. John has invested a lot of money in his breakfast restaurant. He wonders what next change of rule the owners may introduce making his life even less enjoyable.
John has "invested" no money in the restaurant. He has eaten there for free as often as he wanted and occasionally paid extra for some desert. But he has always received what he paid for and plenty of free stuff beside. If John doesn't like the new menu or the service he should stop going. He doesn't owe the owners anything and they don't owe him anything either.
I was frustrated at first with the change too, I have several pairs that I saved to make an egg later... But it's not like I can't make the egg, it will just take a few more breeding to do it. Of course BFS makes unilateral changes without consulting us first, this is their game they created, so they can make changes they think will improve the game. Of course they will make changes to benefit their profits, because that was the point in creating the game, fun for folks so they will spend money. You can still play the game without spending a dime; I never have and have each dragon except the zombie, plus have large dark and light habitats working on a second egg. Yes I get frustrated when it seems like I will not accomplish a goal, but I am not going to get angry at BFS because they allow the gAme to be completely playable without spending a dime and this is not always the case for a game that updates as often as DV.
I always thought it a bit weird to have X+X= X. I'm looking forward to some interesting breeding results, and the thought of epic breeding has my mouth watering at the prospect.
I also had lots of pairs waiting for a gap to breed eggs. Oh well. *shrugs shoulders*
Kindle park1: nearly all dragons are frolicking in their habitats! (A Thorny little problem to resolve...)
Smartphone park2: Geode, a dragon with rocks in! Still to breed 4 dragons...
Post by Susie Spieler on Oct 26, 2013 11:34:38 GMT -6
My feelings are mixed so this will probably be the scrambled eggs version. As a mid-level player I'm disappointed in the breeding rule change but mainly because I hadn't taken the opportunity to take advantage of it yet. I knew the "rule" would be there when I wanted to use it. That was going to be when I got to a higher level in the game and had first earned the hybrids and as many specials and epics as steady playing would get me. Never assume. I play often but I'm not overly competitive. One of the reasons I fell in love with this game is that I could proceed at my own pace, more like the tortoise than the hare, knowing that even when I reached the higher levels there was still plenty of game left to play. I 've tabled display egg production because it didn't make sense to make that sort of investment when there are stll basic dragons to earn and islands to buy. The bigger problem for me is that I can't use the rule to increase my earnings now that I've reached the point in the game where I need mountains of food and islands come at astronomical cost. I don't want a park full of rainbows (it sounds boring but if someone chooses to play that way then more power to them) but I would like to be able to maximize my profits. Once this magic stuff is over my plan was to start breeding not only epics but a few more high earners like cotton to get ready to take my game to the next level. Those of us without armies of panlongs already needed a plan B. As for a weekend or event of like breeds like, that would be great for those people that already have two of everything. For lower level players, we're still working on getting our first or second in some cases. I would think that they would want special events to be something all players can participate in. What might work is to place limits on like breeds like instead of eliminating it entirely.. For instance, like breeds like for two Level 20 dragons only. Allow epics to be raised to Level 20.
What might work is to place limits on like breeds like instead of eliminating it entirely.. For instance, like breeds like for two Level 20 dragons only. Allow epics to be raised to Level 20.
It's not eliminated entirely.
You can still breed Like + Like to get a clone, it's just not 100% anymore.
Well, in most cases. Autumn + Autumn = Autumn is still 100% due to what appears to be a glitch. Not sure how much longer that will last.
More testing is still needed to figure out exactly what the percentages are. It was quite favorable for Zombie + Zombie and seemed pretty good on some early tests of DR + DR.
I really didn't like it at first, but I'm growing to accept it. I can still get my eggs, it'll just take a lot longer for me to do so. The problem I have is that I'm always breeding for some sort of limited dragon so I'm not sure when I will get the time to breed for an egg since it's not guaranteed. But I do like the fact that BFS are going to be adding new things and changing things up for the breeding rules. These things will certainly add to the longevity of the game which is always a good thing.
I really didn't like it at first, but I'm growing to accept it. I can still get my eggs, it'll just take a lot longer for me to do so. The problem I have is that I'm always breeding for some sort of limited dragon so I'm not sure when I will get the time to breed for an egg since it's not guaranteed. But I do like the fact that BFS are going to be adding new things and changing things up for the breeding rules. These things will certainly add to the longevity of the game which is always a good thing.
I'm not collecting all eggs. Never intended to. didn't like the rules change because it was, in the end, a change.
But I thought back and... I haven't actually taken advantage of it that often EXCEPT for making money (Magnetic+Magnetic to get an egg that would be sold on incubation). So it won't affect me that much. I've never been interested in having an island full of the best grossing dragon -- too interested in having at least 1 dragon of my favorites. And gotten two most of the time "just in case" for some reason I found I needed them in the future when I couldn't breed them anymore.
Post by reikiquilter on Oct 28, 2013 18:35:17 GMT -6
hi all! 'supose this is really a vent... as a low-mid level player (@ 29 now) I am finding the change very frustrating too! I have been trying for ten days, 24/7 to breed a zombie with level 15 meteor and pollen with zero luck in either ebi or nbc . In the past (aka prior to 2.0), I got a ghost in a few days, bones took 5 but then I got three in a row (and with only level 10 parents!)...as today is the 28th I have almost zero confidence that i will get a zombie before november heavy sigh! very disenchanted and wondering if it is worth continuing. this is suppose to be fun not work...
GCID: reikiquilter--no longer playing on GC--please send me Facebook friend invite to connect Facebook: Leslei Fisher (am in Oklahoma)
Zombie is more difficult than either bone or ghost. It is a rare limited which makes the odds of getting one lower. Keep grinding away, hopefully you will find one in your park.
Little story: Like every morning, John goes to the restaurant nearby to have breakfast. Like every day, he orders two eggs sunny side up and hash brown. Couple of minutes later, the waitress comes back with scrambled egg and half the amount of hashbrowb as usual. John : what is this, this is not what I ordered!!! Waitress: oh, we just changed the rules, if you order eggs, sometimes you get them scrambled, or an omelette or pancakes, and the new rules has also divided by two the amount of panlong hashbrown. This is a breach of contract, says John, an order being a contract. And if things are now turning this way, i also introduce a new rule and I do not pay for the food anymore.
Terrible analogy. Here's a better one.
John goes into a soup kitchen every Wednesday Night because it's Free Ministrone, tastes fantastic and there are unlimited refills. One Wednesday he discovers he can still get free Ministrone, it tastes as good as ever but he can only get one bowl full. He witches and complains about it endlessly to everyone he knows.
hi all! 'supose this is really a vent... as a low-mid level player (@ 29 now) I am finding the change very frustrating too! I have been trying for ten days, 24/7 to breed a zombie with level 15 meteor and pollen with zero luck in either ebi or nbc
I'm sorry, but you're just having a bad streak of luck.
There is nothing in the new rules that would apply here to make it harder to acquire your initial zombie dragon.
In fact, most likely 2.0 makes it easier for you to acquire a second one, since you should be able to breed Zombie + Oreo or Zombie + Apoc at any time even once zombie is out of season.
However, your third and subsequent zombie dragons WILL be harder to acquire than would have been possible under the pre-2.0 rules.
John goes into a soup kitchen every Wednesday Night because it's Free Ministrone, tastes fantastic and there are unlimited refills. One Wednesday he discovers he can still get free Ministrone, it tastes as good as ever but he can only get one bowl full. He witches and complains about it endlessly to everyone he knows.
Actually, I think Viviane's analogy was spot on.
To me, a contract is a verbal, or written agreement between parties which is enforceable under the law.
I dont think there is a contract. The order, in this case, is more like an offer. And w/ any offer there may be or may not be a counter offer...
Last Edit: Oct 28, 2013 21:42:39 GMT -6 by Deleted
All I know is this: Some of us started playing this game when it first came out, following a set of guidelines AS SET FORTH by the game itself...which stayed in place for YEARS. We worked hard to have at least two of every dragon...paying for the right to breed a clone, both with time and effort, and maybe gems as well.
Now Backflip decides to succumb to greed, change these rules, call it a "glitch" and send a message.
I read this message loud and clear. "You don't matter. Sooner or later people will accept this...probably you, too. BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Actually I do believe it may be a glitch in DV, or at least an oversight in the way they programmed the breeding rules, that x + x = x because, look at gizmonauts, which was a later release, this breeding rule of x + x = x/y/z/some other epic bot provided breeding pair met criteria of "genetic parental makeup"!
I quite like the change they made to the breeding rule. I've been playing since February and I'm level 48. So I am not from the very old players (I have no Panlong ) but I am not among the beginners either. I've been breeding a pair of each limited dragon in order to be able to breed the egg later, but I had not yet started on this goal yet since I did not have at least one of every available dragon. (This changed just a couple of days ago with my long-awaited-for cyclops and my brand-new zombi !). Now my new goal will be to work on my egg collection and I'm quite happy to find that this will become a new challenge instead of the more boring task of putting each pair in the breeding cave. Since the change with the shrines, I have no need of huge amounts of gold/food so I do not need to breed for profit. I find my park produces enough gold coin as it is, with all kind of dragons displayed. With my new goal in my mind, I am happy to know that producing the eggs is still possible (limited + limited still gives a chance at limited even if it is no longer available otherwise), so I don't feel like I've wasted my time with the breeding of pairs. And I welcome the challenge, since it increases the game fun and interest for me.
Also to say, I've been playing DV since Oct 2011, I'm annoyed at the new breeding rules which means I will no longer breed for a pair of the same dragons, then bred a third for egg pedestal display, instead I breed for a pair, one dragon and one egg display. With an anticipated update of 38 new dragons, I won't bother with a second dragon in storage when I'll have so many different ones to display! New rules and changes favour new players with increased breeding chances on lvl 11+ dragons and the removal of shrine requirements for levelling dragons to 20, and the ability to breed limited dragons when they are no longer on the market.
My analogy: John goes to an establishment where all clothing on the racks are free. He is able to get anything he wants for nothing but the service is poor and he can be given an item of clothing he does not want or may have to wait a very long time to be served (although he is occasionally served more promptly when he winks at the salesgirl called Luck). Some of the other customers pay a premium to jump the queue and buy a wider range of clothing and not wait too long. John has always been able to get exactly the same item of clothing he wants, if he's previously got 2 identical items and so have the other paying customers but now due to the expanding range of clothing and also more new customers, the establishment has decided to change the policies and John (and other customers) can't get exactly what he requires even if he has previously ordered 2 identical items. Now the establishment provide faster service at higher levels of the store (increased chances with lvl 11), last season's limited items can be ordered in (making new customers happy) and he is able to acquire a higher quality item without having to first obtain the entire range (shrine grinding). He is in his rights to stop going to this establishment, but he might find most other establishments have similar policies and he might not get what he requires there!
Just my 2 cents, although I really do get people being annoyed why you can't have the x + x = x rule.
I posted this in the magic thread, but probably more relevant here:
So... Seeing as my magic is looking ok at the moment, I decided I might as well start breeding for the Solstices needed to fill my park - after all, the magic earned from these breeds should still be decent.
I went to the sandbox just to make sure I wouldn't get something silly.
I got a bit of a surprise when breeding Solstice + Solstice could only give you a Solstice or an Earth.
So I decided to try it. Sure enough, got an Earth on my first go. Sped it up and got a Solstice.
Read up the breeding rules, and apparently Solstice only contributes the Earth element! I wish I had known sooner!
Looks like I'll be breeding Solstice in both caves until the next dragon comes out then. Not sure what the odds are, but I'm 1 from 2 in the island so far. Might as well keep a record of them. I'm after about 30 more Solstice dragons...
I quite like the change they made to the breeding rule. I've been playing since February and I'm level 48. So I am not from the very old players (I have no Panlong ) but I am not among the beginners either. I've been breeding a pair of each limited dragon in order to be able to breed the egg later, but I had not yet started on this goal yet since I did not have at least one of every available dragon. (This changed just a couple of days ago with my long-awaited-for cyclops and my brand-new zombi !). Now my new goal will be to work on my egg collection and I'm quite happy to find that this will become a new challenge instead of the more boring task of putting each pair in the breeding cave. Since the change with the shrines, I have no need of huge amounts of gold/food so I do not need to breed for profit. I find my park produces enough gold coin as it is, with all kind of dragons displayed. With my new goal in my mind, I am happy to know that producing the eggs is still possible (limited + limited still gives a chance at limited even if it is no longer available otherwise), so I don't feel like I've wasted my time with the breeding of pairs. And I welcome the challenge, since it increases the game fun and interest for me.
I love the challenge of riding my bike to work. It's a great workout, it brings me closer to nature, it elevates both my heart rate and my self-esteem. Bully for me!
BUT, I worked HARD to own a car so that I could have the CHOICE as to whether or not I wanted to ride my bike to work. It's a good thing the rest of life isn't like this little game on my phone. Gee...wait a second. That game IS PART OF MY REAL LIFE. I've paid real money for gems. I've spent more time on it over the last two years than I have riding my bike to work, that's for sure.
I guess, if I wanted some sure bet, I should have bought some game that was contained in a box at the store. My bad.
I certainly CAN'T WAIT to see what wonders this new breeding rule will open up for us.
I love the challenge of riding my bike to work. It's a great workout, it brings me closer to nature, it elevates both my heart rate and my self-esteem. Bully for me!
BUT, I worked HARD to own a car so that I could have the CHOICE as to whether or not I wanted to ride my bike to work. It's a good thing the rest of life isn't like this little game on my phone. Gee...wait a second. That game IS PART OF MY REAL LIFE. I've paid real money for gems. I've spent more time on it over the last two years than I have riding my bike to work, that's for sure.
I guess, if I wanted some sure bet, I should have bought some game that was contained in a box at the store. My bad.
I certainly CAN'T WAIT to see what wonders this new breeding rule will open up for us.
Why do you play DV in the first place ? Why do you like it ?
If the breeding of any dragon was just : "choose the dragon you want and wait the corresponding time", would you play to such a game ? Would you have kept playing for so long ? Would you be so proud of the park you build ?
"Triumph without peril brings no glory"
'... overwhelming goodwill, and witty humour, profound grace and compassion blended with the spice of relentless taunts.'
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. In the past (aka prior to 2.0), I got a ghost in a few days, bones took 5 but then I got three in a row (and with only level 10 parents!)...as today is the 28th I have almost zero confidence that i will get a zombie before november 
) but I am not among the beginners either. I've been breeding a pair of each limited dragon in order to be able to breed the egg later, but I had not yet started on this goal yet since I did not have at least one of every available dragon. (This changed just a couple of days ago with my long-awaited-for cyclops and my brand-new zombi !). 
