HGG Community Forums

My thoughts exactly, i had a "Duh" moment when i went to look for the achievement tasks since it's been a long time since i last finished them on my main account.

Agreed - when I first started in 2017 I was selling rank specials for create price. Rank specials aren't worth as much as they used to be but pointed creates are the new "RS" that new players are losing money on. Thankfully either Cheers or Confluence (can't remember which) let me know back then and helped me out by buying a few from me at the correct price.

Okay back to achievements.

They don’t seem to go in order. I created a mare and stallion of breeding age the first day, however now two days later the achievement to breed them pops up. It would be nice if they popped up in a systematic order, that got progressively harder.

@Fiddler for the most part I play completely off the game with no RL money involved.


Another thought would it be possible to close off certain aspects of the game until a new player either reached enough day’s seniority, completes the achievement tasks, and or buys an upgrade with real money?

I know other games open in stages, as they walk you through figuring it out. I was wondering if it would be possible to lock the game down for a new player so they get directed straight to the FAQ, Form and other helpful places instead of getting lost in everything we have.

Like show 5 horses, achievement.
Now you have unlocked breeding.
Breed 1 foal, achievement
Genetic testing unlocked
Genetic test 3 horses achievement

Have 50 show results achievement
Pasture is unlocked.
Exc.

My pointed auction horses never sell for what they would if I posted them on the board. I just get bored waiting for some of them to sell, so into auction they go.

Okay I have reached a dilemma. As an old player I know the best way to start the game off right is to build a small show herd, then save until I can buy a bigger show horse barn. Aiming for a 1k barn or 210 barn. Then building my show herd by buying bargain horses. Only after having a decent daily bonus should I start making a breeding line. However I know new players want to breed right off the bat. So I’m torn.

New thoughts for possible improvement.

I find the FQA extremely cluttered and difficult to read and search through. If it was a little more broken up I think it would be helpful. Like a blank line between the different categories. Something to give the eyes a break.

Also the genetic guide seems extremely outdated. Not the information, but how it’s presented. The web link looks old, plus it is confusing trying to figure out the genes required to get a horse to look like the ones in the examples. It’s hard to find in the search bar. I also don’t think many people know you can access it directly from their horses page. I know a lot of people use the search bar for genetics now. But for new players the search bar is very complicated, so it’s nice to have something a bit less technical. However the genetic guide makes my head hurt. It doesn’t look like it’s been updated since I joined the game 4 years ago, beyond adding new genes. I think it would be a huge asset to new players if it was easier to find, and maybe a bit easier to understand.

The updated to the FAQ is amazing.

I also thought there should be something somewhere explaining user ID # and what they are used and needed for.

Also it would be nice if we could search users by name and ID# I know sometimes I have their number but don’t remember how to exactly spell their username. Or have several names pop up, like how they do on private message on the form.

I think there are a lot of great things about the game and still a lot of things that should be improved for new users.

The pointed creates are amazing and I’m curious to see how the changes you have made to them will affect how new players use them.

I didn’t play with the updated achievement tasks. So have no new thoughts on those yet. Beyond having a possible step by step how to do xyz achievement, so they don’t have to figure it out on their own.

I have been thinking it would be nice to pull new players into the form more. I know there is the achievement task for posting on the Peer group. But I think for something so Important there should be more of a push for it.

I also think there should be an achievement for sending a private message through the form. How you would go about making that work I don’t know. But at the moment there is nothing for new players to know it’s even there, without old players saying something somewhere they happen to read, and happen to be curious enough to go find and figure it out themselves. I am currently trying to get ahold of a new player on Mesa because they severely underpriced a horse, and I want to pay them it’s correct worth. However I’m limited until they find the private message mailbox...

Really something that explains the form would be nice. I know you have the rules posted, but that just explains what not to do. It doesn’t explain how to navigate the form.

I know new players in the past have gone without genetic testing to save hbs and because of that it takes them a bit to start understanding and figuring out genetics. Maybe you could add into the achievement tasks something like “breed a chestnut foal” then they would have to go looking for what genes the parents have to have to get that color. Then have a huge hb reward for that achievement. If you really wanted to get them critically thinking about genes maybe have multiple “breed x color foal” while progressively asking for more difficult colors. You would have to make the reward big enough to cover their breeding and create fees, while they figure out how to breed for the correct color, and yet still be worth their time. But that would get them looking and figuring out genetics which is really the point of the game.


I have seen several players say something about how they feel like the game is impossible to play without spending RL money. I know there is a little blurb in the FQA, but that really isn’t enough for those who can’t spend money on the game. I know that’s how you make money. However as someone who had a hard rule for not spending money on a game and built my account that way, and only after my account was stable did I break my rule and buy some things for the game. My opinion is if you keep people around long enough eventually we will spend some RL money, or possibly invite someone who does to the game. So something more expletive for how to go about playing without spending RL money would be nice, even if it’s only how to buy a basic upgrade using Ivs.

I still think the actual genetic guide you have is severely under used and appreciated. It needs an update, and be easier to find, and navigate. Maybe an achievement task for using it?


In all honesty I think the game is set up beautifully, and has all the resources new players need, but there is no connection for new players to find those resources without digging themselves. That isn’t fun or welcoming. Those connection lines just need to be made.

I didn’t play with the updated achievement tasks. So have no new thoughts on those yet. Beyond having a possible step by step how to do xyz achievement, so they don’t have to figure it out on their own.

If you had played with them you would know each one has a complete step by step guide on how to do each thing ;)



Awesome write-up. I sent you 5 Brand New Day straws, a 60-acre pasture, and 4 GMTs.


Also bonus Brand New Day straw for @Pinkie2