I have been playing Lioden for years off and on. My last off period was nearly a year because there's been a couple additions to the family and they've kept me pretty busy with college going on too. Now, there have been quite a few changes since I stopped playing and started again. (Time reference, when I quit, I think we were on Special Lioness raffle #3)

One of the things that seems to have become quite big is Stats. It didn't seem to play such a big role before. My lion is 9 years old, dreamboat, and a level 11. I never had the issues I have now when exploring. The only place I can win battles in the 2-5 zone. I might be able to win one once in a blue moon in the 6-10 zone, but I would say 95% of the time the enemies just wipe the floor with me. You can imagine how frustrating this is as a level 11.

I bought a Sub-Male very recently, who I have raised his stats nearly by 100 just by sending him on patrol, with a couple of drones thrown in. My main lion though, the king, hasn't leveled once in the weeks I've been playing again (obviously because I'm stuck battling level 5 monsters as a level 11) . Even when you do win a fight, you don't get any addition to stats, you just get experience and impression points.

So in short, Sub-Males gain stats by exploring, and lionesses by hunting, however with our Kings, the only ways to get stats is by leveling, getting lucky while eating or playing with something, or sharpening your nails...which by the way I'm going on day 5 of pure "You sharpened your nails."

I think that there needs to be a better way to build your king's stats. Maybe when they win fights, 50% of the time one of their stats might improve. Anything is better than crossing your fingers every time he plays or eats something, or praying that at least once on his daily 2xs of sharpening his nails you just might get a +1 somewhere.

It is just so incredibly frustrating to me that my king, who never had issues before, can't win a fight with any enemy, lion or otherwise, 5 levels below him because I can't build his stats, meanwhile nearly every time I send out any other lion they always come back with at least a single +1 somewhere.

Suggestions
Stat gained in fighting linked to NPC. IE: Win against Cheetah and gain speed.