Lioden Genetics Overhaul

Important Things To Note
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This topic will be split into three sections that describe the new genetics
based on the genetic stage.
Genetic Shades will not be changed, as I believe they are fine where they stand.
The intention of these changes are to make genetics more cohesive and thorough for breeders and their own preference, along with fixing bases that are in categories
they have no business being in.
I have been on Lioden since 2016, and have been here since
before the first major breeding update.
I have tried to create the best method for change based on my own breeding experience and the experience of breeders who have been here for just as long or longer than myself.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and discuss in the comments!
I am open to criticism as this would change things for everyone.

New Base Rarity Groups
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The new Base Rarity Groups would be as follows:

Ordinary, Uncommon, Rare, Special, and Limited.

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Ordinary:
The same as Common, just renamed to differentiate from Uncommon better.

Uncommon:
No Change.

Rare:
No Change.

Special:
Applicator bases, Raffle bases.

Limited:
Bases that have a specific breeding limitation.
Combo bases, Hybrid bases.
No change in current breeding or method, just easier to separate from other specials at a glance.

New Base Color Groups
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The new Base Color Groups would be as follows:

Stygian, Auric, Sanguine, and Iridescent.

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Stygian:
“ Like Black.”
Bases that fall under the Monochrome Category or close to it.
(ex: Celestial, Seer, Albino, Soul, Penumbra)


Auric:
“Like Gold.”
Bases that fall under the gold and cream category or close to them.
Merged together to make the ‘natural’ breeding style more effective,
and to help the category flourish in the long run.
(Ex: Kimanjano, Citrine, Victor, Skyward, Mandarin)


Sanguine:
“Like Red.”
Bases that fall under the red/brown category or close to it.
(ex: Peach, Sidereal, Liver, Ukame, Ember, Cherry Blossom)


Iridescent:
“Strange Colors.”
Bases that do not fall under any category and can be considered outlandish in appearance.
(ex: Labradorite, Green, Teardrop, Pulsar, Sha)

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My reasoning for merging both Cream and Gold together to make Auric is due to the common complaint that those base groups, while just as important as Red or Black, are often ignored or have bases that do not fit into the categories, such as Seer, added just to fill space. Not only would merging them fix the issue of 'shoehorned' bases, but it would also allow for more variation in the natural cream and gold categories as it would promote the idea of a nice overarching tan and gold scheme instead of being forced to fit in one category alone and depriving the other category of a good natural base.

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My reasoning for creating an entirely new category, Iridescent, is to not only make up for the merging of Cream and Gold, but also to keep the "crazy" bases in one spot. This would not only be a bonus to Natural breeders, but it would also be beneficial to people who love Colorbombs, as they would be able to breed their crazy colors without the fails from ranging color groups that come with them.
(Ex: Teardrop is Cream, Green is Gold, Pulsar is Black, Sha is Red.)

New Base Gradients
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The new Base Gradients would be as follows:

Flat and Distinct

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Flat:

Bases that are the same color throughout or have little to moderate variation.
(ex: Chocolate, Fiery, Vandal, Green, Pewter, Madagascar)

Distinct:
Bases that have many changes and variations.
(Ex: Interstellar, Temporal, Scoundrel, Labradorite, Anubis, Sunrise)

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My reasoning for changing Solid and Countershaded into Flat and Distinct is not only to make the wording more clear, but also to give more leeway into the categories to make it easier to label them.
As it stands currently, there are many bases in Solid that belong in Countershaded, and vice versa.

Examples are the following:

Solid that SHOULD be Countershaded:

Interstellar, Nuummite, Demiurge, Frostbitten, Sphinx, Trophy, Gregarious, Labradorite, Gilded, Festive, Locust, Rose Gold.

Countershaded that SHOULD be Solid:

Black, Dikela, Slate, Dun, Cocoa, Dove Gray, Dusty, Opal, Dark Vanilla, Deep Fawn, Mongoose, Deira, Sunflower, Sorrel, Palomino.

In Closing
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In my opinion, this change would be beneficial for everybody in the long run. It would make it much easier to breed for what your particular tastes and interests are, as well as separating bases into categories where they belong.

The prior time a genetics overhaul was suggested, it was rejected by many including myself due to the fact that it would directly destroy years of work put into our breeding projects.
I believe that now, with the inclusion of so many new bases than there were then, it would be easier to pick up the pieces and go back to work.
For example, I was a Lilac breeder, and the closest base at the time to Lilac was Flint, which was breed only. If the change would have gone through, I would have had so many Flint lions with nothing able to be applied to continue my project. Now that so many new bases exist, this would no longer be a problem as it's almost guaranteed that my base of choice would fall into a group with applicators.

I would also suggest an easy fix to placate anyone who may be upset due to the changes now;
When personalities were implemented, a dropdown box was added in order to choose the new desired personality as to not have random good lionesses in a negative karma king's territory. This could be implemented as well, with the option to change Ordinary, Uncommon, and Rare lions to a new color of the same rarity in another category.

Thank you all for reading, and I look forward to hearing your feedback :)

Other User's Suggestions
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Angela #77401:

They admins could just automatically add the number of base changers to match your dens lion total and be done with it. Make them no trade, one use exclusive items.


Heda #56702:

The drop down is an amazing idea that I like better but touching on the account bound base changers they did that on wolvden with... an elk heart I think? Whatever you get for the bond pair quest I do believe? I don’t really remember but the admins do have the technology for account bound items in their possession.