Overview

So, even though I've been playing LioDen off-and-on for years (since 2014), I actually just started my first-ever breeding project! I've had a few people ask about the process and my progress, so I'll break it down as simply as I can step-by-step and try not to make it too complicated to help out anyone on the game! Breeding projects can be a lot, depending on how difficult you make it, so please don't get scared or discourage you from breeding your ideal/perfect lion! They an be as simple as just wanting a few specific markings/attributes, or a full breed-only lion!

Onto the Project!!

1.) First, I listed out ALL the markings I potentially wanted for my dream stud. You can find a list of all markings in the game here

Breed-Only markings here


2.) Next, you do your marking research for which are the most common and rarest slots for each of the markings you like here


3.) Then, play around with a design in the Wardrobe, so I'd use a lion as the base and compare his empty/non-bo marking slots and see what bo markings would look nice in those gaps. This is where if can get as easy or difficult as you want; use common marking slots to fill in those gaps for easy breeding (meaning, you'll find more lions with the marking you want in a specific slot the more of them there are). So if you're wanting a long, difficult project, but an expensive stud, then go for rarer marking slots. If you want a simpler/easier/shorter breeding project, then go for markings in more common slots.

Example: (using my project)
I like Jellyfish Quail Flecks:


I came up with a design that included it:



So, here is the slot info on this specific marking:


To make for an easier project, I would want to gather lions with Jellyfish Quail Flecks is slot 9, as the most amount of lions in the game with Jellyfish Quail Flecks has that marking in slot 9. OR for a rarer and more difficult project, I could find lions with Jellyfish Quail Flecks is slot 7 since there are way less lions with Jellyfish Quail Flecks in that marking slot.


Now, for breeding specific markings:

4.) You'll want to crown a "project breeder stud" that has most of the bo markings in the slots you want and/or bo attributes in general (like a specific base, eye color, etc). This can be difficult if you are working on a design from scratch as there may or may not be lots of lions with just the right markings in the right slots you're needing them, especially for newer markings, like Jellyfish Quail Flecks. If you're after an easier project, I highly recommend going through the Raffle Lioness Directory to find a set of specific markings in slots you like, you may get lucky!

I was fortunate as there was a Raffle Lioness (1.13.23 Smog RL) with some of the markings that I wanted, just in different slots than I had originally designed, but to keep things easier on myself, I changed the markings from my original design to those slots so they'd be easier to find.

Example: (using my project)
For markings Seal Siamese, Celestial Speckles, and White Underfelt, I looked them up without specific slots in the Trade center:


And I got several hits! Those markings were in different slots than on my original design, but like I said, to make things easier on myself, I changed the design to match those specific markings to the same slots of the original 01.13.23 Smog RL so that I would have an easier time finding breeding stock.


5.) Now, for the tricky part: your lioness breeders must have either: the same marking in the same slots as your breeder stud OR have those specific markings on your breeder stud empty.

Example: Since my stud has Jellyfish Quail Flecks in slot 9, I need to breed her to lionesses with Jellyfish Quail Flecks in slot 9 OR to lionesses with no marking at all in slot 9. If you have a different marking in the same slot of the marking your breeding for, it's 50/50 on which marking from either parent will show up on cubs, if either one shows up at all (breeding can be random ^^').

Helpful Breeding Items and Info

With breeding for bases/manes/eyes/skin those can be easier.

There are 2 Monkey Business items that are cheap and will make cubs inherit specific eye/skin color of chosen parent.
Opal Saltlick - eye color; Eye Genetics

Rock Salt- skin color; Skin Genetics


For bases, you'll want to breed to lions of the same base color or at least in the same base genetics (so black dark solid with black dark solid, etc). Base Genetics

There are items for inheriting markings and manes as well.
Ochre Gnawrock - specific marking in specific slot from chosen parent, can stack multiple markings from either parent
Ochre Powder- higher chance of inheriting non-rosette markings from chosen parent, can stack on both parents
Ochre Saltlick - inherit mane shape and mane color from chosen parent

HERITAGE DOES NOT MATTER WITH BREEDING PROJECTS
Whether you're a clean or dirty breeder, or just don't care "pretty lion is pretty lion," you DO NOT have to worry about breeding to dirty lions because ultimately the lion you're breeding for will be your stud. You can heritage rep your stud and keep the same looks for clean breeding, or just leave the lion dirty if you don't care. I breed clean, but I've got dirty project breeding stock because my project breeder stud is heritage repped and my final project stud will be heritage repped as well.

Afterwards

I definitely WILL be updating this thread as I proceed with my project and find any more useful information to share! Also, please feel free to comment/DM questions or about things I may have left out! That way I can be sure to add them <3