Just shooting the breeze here. It is unlikely that anything will change as this is not something that is really looking the change, but your thoughts/opinions will help us in the future!


Some topics
1. Get rid of the dragon color to royalty and color to gender chart (ie, so you can have a male, common gold dragon, or a female black royal dragon)

2. Get rid of species specific companions entirely - make them all achievable by every one?

3. Add more mythical companions in the future? On the flip side, don't add more companions it's confusing

4. Do the drops differently (suggest a way)

5. Or state something you like!

6. Favorite companion type?

7. Least favorite?

8. Would you want "one-of-a-kind" companions? (Like special event companions ie such and such character got a harpy eagle from a darkness SWP)

1. I'm not really in favor for getting rid of the color to royalty aspect of the dragons. I really don't mind if the gender part of it changes. I feel the whole idea of finally being able to get that golden, royal dragon that you've wanted so long is so rewarding it just kinda takes away from it to do away with it.

2. Please, no. I really like that there are specific companions for each species becuase in some ways it cuts down on the amount of competition. Because only equines and equine hybrids can seek out dragons, pegasus and pegasus hybrids can get zephyrs, etc. If the species specific companions were made open to everyone I think that the competition for those specific companions would skyrocket and make it harder for everyone to get what they want.

3. I think there are enough mythical companions already, lol.

6. Rougarous and Dragons <3

8. I do love the idea of one of a kind companions. Evangeline's orange dragon was a 'one of a kind' color-wise because he was hatched after the Halloween games on Isilme, hence his orange color and black eyes.

1. I'm... unsure about this. I think have it differ based on class maybe just make it less restrictive? Have different, broader options. IE:

Plain: Only nature tones, browns, grays, etc.
Common: Any basic color on the rainbow.
Royal: Metallics, patterns, iridescent, clear, etc.

That way there is more variety but still some prestige of having a gold dragon or whatnot.



2. Definitely no. I think people should have to think about why they choose what species they choose and how that will affect their companion options. Plus, it's always made sense to me that dragons go to equines, who are at a mythical/physical disadvantage otherwise. I would be really upset to see this system gone, I think species specific is a good way to create variety and thoughtfulness in character creation. Plus, without species specific, equine hybrids will become essentially pointless.



3. No, I think there are plenty.



4. I think there should maybe be polls based on desire for certain types of companions, or something, to decide what to drop. All I know is the probability of getting the type and class you want is... slim. And the amount of people competing lower your chances of getting it if it even shows up. I mean, how long has Irrydae been wanting that Roc, for example? I understand there will always be someone who wants something other than what gets dropped, though, so therein the problem lies. And I know from an administrative perspective that simply "doing more drops" isn't a solution. But there's got to be some way to strike a balance, maybe. I feel as though at the moment, simply probability wise, getting the companion you want can take years OOC, and while I understand that mythical companions is supposed to be hard, that feels a little extreme to me.

This is my best possible solution: maybe just do drop based by class and let the player pick what companion type once they win? That makes it easier for admins to keep track of what has been done, too; all they have to calculate is how frequently to do them based on class rather than species type or any of that. Players could pick normal, mythical, species specific, whatever they want, with the only restriction being whatever class they won it from.

There would be more drop participants so probability of winning might be lowered somewhat but at least people wouldn't be waiting around just for the right thing to show up, you know? And if you wanted to slightly increase drop frequency, you could maybe place a restriction that you can't participate in two drops in a row or something, with an IC explanation of it being improbable for characters to encounter an RE that soon after the first. That would lower the number of participants.

OR, you could use a system similar to the new invasion one, where depending on where you are in relation to the drop's location (which could be determined randomly by a die roll for fairness) your odds are lowered or, if you're too far, you can't participate at all.



5. I like that they take into account previous rejections, I think it really helps those who have been waiting longer. And the objectivity of it all will always be a pro for me, considering fairness.



6. I like non-mythicals but I'm kinda boring. Dragons are always classic, and I think the Cerndyr are interesting.



7. Honestly, I don't really get the Boggarts. But that's just me. I like the Kitsune and Hellhound but a part of me also wonders why there are two canine-based mythicals.



8. Yes! This would be awesome! Especially if they were a mythical species that could not be otherwise obtained, like a wyvern or a mini hippogriff. I think this would be really unique and a great reward for active characters/ those who IC save the day with SWPs.

@[Ashamin]

I think there should maybe be polls based on desire for certain types of companions, or something, to decide what to drop. All I know is the probability of getting the type and class you want is... slim. And the amount of people competing lower your chances of getting it if it even shows up. I mean, how long has Irrydae been wanting that Roc, for example? I understand there will always be someone who wants something other than what gets dropped, though, so therein the problem lies. And I know from an administrative perspective that simply "doing more drops" isn't a solution. But there's got to be some way to strike a balance, maybe. I feel as though at the moment, simply probability wise, getting the companion you want can take years OOC, and while I understand that mythical companions is supposed to be hard, that feels a little extreme to me.


----> I actually ran the numbers on this once when I was miffed that there was not much competition for companions lol. IF the character COMPLETES the drop and gets an increased chance the next time around, their chances of getting a companion increases considerably. For example, the more drops you attend, the more chances you can use next time, and thus the more likely it is that you get the companion that time around! You just have to look at how many drops that character actually COMPLETES (posting and dropping doesn't count). Take a look again and tell me what you think about that, just for curiosity's sake.



This is my best possible solution: maybe just do drop based by class and let the player pick what companion type once they win? That makes it easier for admins to keep track of what has been done, too; all they have to calculate is how frequently to do them based on class rather than species type or any of that. Players could pick normal, mythical, species specific, whatever they want, with the only restriction being whatever class they won it from.

-----> We actually do this :) We have NSS drops (non species specific for Cerndyr, Boggarts, Kitsunes, etc, etc) and then we have SS drops (species specific for griffings and such). They alternate. The class is stated ahead of time and the winner chooses the companion species etc, etc,. We keep the NSS and SS separate so that there won't be an over-abundance of one or the other.

I like the idea of adding normal companion drops though!

I will look again! It is true I was not taking completion into account.

In regards to the drop being non specific, I was saying you don't even need to separate them by SS or NSS, just make them all mythical. I knew you had them broad but I figured you could make it even easier on yourselves to just do "mythical" drops, or just "companion" drops and allow people to choose non-mythical if they even wanted.

Thanks @[Tamme]!

1. Noooooo. Dragon colours/ranks are some of my favourite things on here. It's my ambition to get a gold for Vol one day and if I ever achieve that I'll be so, so happy and have such a sense of accomplishment. If golds could just be common, it would take the shine (lololol pun) off it somewhat. Similarly, I like the 'alternative' thing of female dragons being larger and higher ranked. If this went, I would be hugely sad.

2. Again, noooo. SS companions make each species unique, and I still love the old-school thing of equine x dragon. If any species could bond to anything, it'd make them less special, I think.

3. I'm on the fence about this one. On the one hand, it would be awesome to make up new, unique companions. On the other, the novelty could wear off quite fast, and we have some mythicals that hardly anybody goes for anyway - like cerndrys and boggarts, I can only think of a handful of charries with those.

4. I do actually have a suggestion on this, but it's quite...odd. My suggestion is that if a character takes the time to research the companion they want, by interacting with characters with those companions, finding out info on them etc, they should have a higher chance in drops. ICly it could be because the creature doing the drop 'sees' more potential in a character who's put the time into finding out about the companion they want. Vol for example has fangirled over dragons since the day he was born, found out as much as possible about them and is like a walking encyclopedia on them. Nyx, on the other hand, knew nothing about lions before 'oops suddenly lion'. Out of those two, to me Vol is more 'deserving' of a companion.

I was thinking something like...if you complete three threads interacting with/researching your chosen companion, you get your name entered an extra time in drops for that companion. If you complete, say, eight threads researching/interacting, you get your name entered twice. I just think it would be an incentive for characters to put effort into their companion choice, and encourage more selection of companions rather than just 'oh look there's a drop meh I think I'll go for it'?

5. I like the refusal system!

6. DRAGONS.

7. Idk I've never had another mythical that wasn't a dragon :O

8. Yesss I'd love this! Would definitely give a sense of uniqueness to those charries.

My biggest suggestion, one I've been meaning to PM as a suggestion for a while, is to standardize how companions are listed next to the avatar. My poor, poor OCD hates how they're all formatted differently. Like here's just a handful of dragons:

Vérzés :: Red Dragon :: Frost Breath
Khan :: Blue Common Dragon :: Frost Breath
Akaith :: Gold Royal Dragon :: Fire
Lilómiel :: Black Plain Dragon :: Firebreathing
Tallis :: Common Orange :: Firebreathing & Toxic Breath

Some are Colour then Class, some are just colour, some are just class. Their ability is sometimes Fire, or Fire Breath, or Firebreathing. Some normal companions are Type then None (if they have no ability), some say Type then it's just blank. It's the same for other companions, some are Rank then Type, some just type, etc. It could just be me and probably is LMAO but it makes me twitch xD I suggest that all companions should be listed:

Name :: Rank (then colour here for dragons) Type :: Ability listed as 2 words so Fire Breath rather than Firebreathing or just Fire?

@[Volterra] - It's supposed to be all the same verbiage :) Thanks for pointing it out! I will get the updating team on fixing that pronto.

Yay tamme <33 My OCD says thanks haha!

1. Get rid of the dragon color to royalty and color to gender chart - No no no no no no no! Please don't do that. I love the royalty and gender chart. I've been looking forward to playing my companions around plain or royals(since they are all common) and playing off that with their personalities.

2. Get rid of species specific companions entirely - make them all achievable by every one? Once again, please don't. It makes those companions a bit more rare to have as those drops aren't often not to mention you have everyone trying for the SSC at once which makes them even harder to get.

3. Add more mythical companions in the future? Yes. This idea I do like.

4. Do the drops differently - No, I like the way they are done as it makes it more fair.

8. Would you want "one-of-a-kind" companions? (Like special event companions ie such and such character got a harpy eagle from a darkness SWP) - This i'm not so sure about. I think it would be cool, but at the same time the later players wouldn't have a chance to get that companion. The other thing I would be concerned with, is how they would be "one of a kind"

1. Get rid of the dragon color to royalty and color to gender chart (ie, so you can have a male, common gold dragon, or a female black royal dragon)

-I actually really liked the premise of it. It gives more depth to companion on companion interaction. I also think its kind of cool to be like, hey, you have a royal badass dragon. Or hey, you got the cool underdog black dragon. That kind of thing. :) Although, I think the gender could all be chosen, I don't see any color having to be male or female. Just make females generally heavier than males.

2. Get rid of species specific companions entirely - make them all achievable by every one?

- I would like to keep this. Its cool that Peg's get little bebe birds, and equines get flying counterparts. The only thing I wish was a thing (which is now kind of) is that unicorns had like badass ninja narwhales. Or something with a horn, but thats just my weird quirks. xD

3. Add more mythical companions in the future? On the flip side, don't add more companions it's confusing

- I think to eliminate some, or rotate them? Like cicadas some only come every couple In game years. So the more "unpopular" companions like the Cerndyr & Boggart could rotate? Or Boggarts could be special halloween/autumn companions only? I also think drops for NSS companions should only be included for what is asked for. So like, if you ask for a hellhound, and get two denials, if you want to change to a boggart, you can't use the denials. Idk if this is a thing already, but something that bumped into my head.

4. Do the drops differently (suggest a way)
- I like em! Especially if characters with extremely creative/in depth posts throughout get something cool. Like Auriel's feather, etc. Little gifts are motivational, to me at least. xD

5. Or state something you like!
- I like it when the RE's communicate with characters. Gives a little character building. ^^

6. Favorite companion type?
- DRAGONS.

7. Least favorite?
- I don't particularly have a least favorite, but I'm not a fan of SS Unicorn companions.

8. Would you want "one-of-a-kind" companions?
- Yeah! Clear colored animals would be so boss for like a one-time drop, or rainbow, or extra sparkles. Something like that would be cool. Also like I said above, having companions that only drop every so often would be cool. (Like a mini basilisk cause I want one *cough*).

1. Get rid of the dragon color to royalty and color to gender chart (ie, so you can have a male, common gold dragon, or a female black royal dragon)
Please! I think these would be really nice because wanting one colour of a dragon but never getting it because there's extremely rare chances of it is a bit annoying.
I've been pushed off taking a dragon companion in the past due to this and the sex chart, so personally, I'd enjoy this.

2. Get rid of species specific companions entirely - make them all achievable by every one?
The idea of having companions only attainable by certain species is nice. You get a feeling of specialty with them, and since they're harder to receive, it makes it so much more worth it.
I would of never gone for a Rougarou if I didn't feel that it'd be unique.

3. Add more mythical companions in the future? On the flip side, don't add more companions it's confusing
As stated before, I'd prefer that the unwanted companions that no one really goes for be removed and offered specially. I rarely ever see Boggarts be asked for in a drop, or on a wishlist.
It would be nice to see maybe one or two, but the ones that are in place now are already comfortable and cozy.

4. Do the drops differently (suggest a way)
The drops are fine the way they are. Everyone has a chance that they deserve depending on the work they do in that drop and the drops they've done in the past.

5. Or state something you like!

6. Favorite companion type?
Rougarous because they're fabulous and endlessly unique.

7. Least favorite?
I don't have one, honestly.

8. Would you want "one-of-a-kind" companions? (Like special event companions ie such and such character got a harpy eagle from a darkness SWP)
Ooooo. That would be interesting! I wouldn't mind seeing them but I don't think i have much to offer here.

1. Get rid of the dragon color to royalty and color to gender chart (ie, so you can have a male, common gold dragon, or a female black royal dragon)
I really like Jen's suggestion of simplifying it so that royal is metallic, common is rainbow colors, and plain is monochrome colors. I think is still gives some status, like the other companions have, but isn't as restricting. The gender part of it I don't feel should apply, since it doesn't apply to the other companions and I like uniformity - that or make the other companions more in depth with gender/ranking in comparison, but dragons shouldn't stand out in this regard.

2. Get rid of species specific companions entirely - make them all achievable by every one?
As mentioned by many above, I think it's best to keep the species specific, because it makes them rather special!

3. Add more mythical companions in the future? On the flip side, don't add more companions it's confusing
I don't really want more added because we have so many, but I like the idea of temporary, or one of a kind, companions which are available. Or maybe a "design your own" mythical, where if you win it, you can bring an idea to an admin for approval allowing you any mythical creature to choose from. I think someone also mention making some of the local mythical fauna into companions? Love it :D

4. Do the drops differently (suggest a way)
I'm satisfied with the way the drops are working.

5. Or state something you like!
I like that you reward people for completed attempts by giving them an extra roll next time, and that every once in a while people get small trinkets as rewards if they still did awesome in the drop, but didn't win.

6. Favorite companion type?
Really I love all of the SS companions. Rougrou are so awesome, but we've hardly ever had any!

7. Least favorite?
The boggart is definitely my least favorite for a variety of reasons x.x I also dislike that hellhounds and kitsune's are so similar, I'd love if one could be replaced with a feline variant. Now that we have leviathans too, boggarts can be "replaced" by them?

8. Would you want "one-of-a-kind" companions? (Like special event companions ie such and such character got a harpy eagle from a darkness SWP)
YES love this idea! Emily's concerns above, about not everyone having a fair chance, I think are very valid - but I feel we've had other prizes in the past that were one of a kind that haven't been an issue so far, and it might help motivate more people to interact with the SWP and etc. So I feel there's more pros than cons for this idea.

1. Get rid of the dragon color to royalty and color to gender chart (ie, so you can have a male, common gold dragon, or a female black royal dragon)

YES. DO THIS. Or maybe, to preserve rarity .. you can ONLY have a golden/bronze/silver dragon if it's royal, BUT, royals can also be any other color. So that way if you see a gold dragon, you know it's a royal. But if you see a blue dragon, it could be a royal, or not.

2. Get rid of species specific companions entirely - make them all achievable by every one?

No. I like having SS companions.

3. Add more mythical companions in the future? On the flip side, don't add more companions it's confusing

No, don't add more. If you want other mythical companions, get a rougarou and have mythical forms! :D