HGG Community Forums

I'm having a hard time choosing a direction for my breeding goals. I believe this is how I started all of my accounts- a little bit of everything and in every color. I breed riding ponies on my main account, and I breed red-based ponies on Bluegrass server. I know part of this game is about choosing what you like but when you like a lot of things it can be hard to make a decision! Maybe we need some kind of new user "how to pick a breeding goal" guide... I'm imagining some kind of quiz where you just pick between two images, which do you like better, and then maybe it spits out what you chose most frequently? There are a lot of gene loci in this game, so I know it would be hard to be all-encompassing, but maybe it would be a start? I'm just brainstorming...

How does everyone else pick breeding goals? I'm stumped choosing for my account haha.

Another idea: can we add an achievement for buying IVs and using them? Or buying a GMT token and using it?

I didn't understand these things when I first started in the game. I definitely didn't know that you could buy a basic upgrade with game money (and that made a HUGE difference in me staying in the game).

I also am about to buy my first GMT token on this account because I created a Pretzel Twist with nearly 2000 points and I think that one will become a boy and be my first stallion on this account...

How would this quiz work and what would it look like?

I can see it, Stormwood! Picture A and B, or up to four pictures - click on the picture you're most attracted to. Do this several times, as the AI narrows down the things you are looking at - did you choose black more often than bay or chestnut? Did you choose appy spots or splash? It would be sort of like a game of Master Mind where the computer guesses which right color is in the right place. You'd have to go through several iterations though, at least 10-15 image groups. The coding would need to determine that a player prefers black-based over red based, patterned or solid, and from there you might be able to go further into dilutions or darkening genes, and which white patterns are preferred.

@FolliesMarionette yes! Exactly like that. I think it could help make at least some preliminary decisions.

But which two images from the game? Just random ones?

I think there are builders out there where you guys can make your own versions of such a quiz using the game images. That could be cool.

I'm excited that others are interested in this, too! I think it could be really fun.
@whywishesarehorses I'm not sure how bootstrapping versus even breeding would work here? What are you thinking?

Ok, I think what we are looking for is called an "outcome quiz."
Google Search: Personalized Outcome Quiz

First question, what are our defined outcomes? Black, Bay, Chestnut are simple. But then we add layers of complexity with darkening genes (Sooty, DP) and dilution genes (Dun, Pangare, Silver, etc.), and further layers of complexity with pinto (Tobiano, splash, frame, appy...)
Second question, what images would we use to get there?

This was just a quick search, I'm too tired to go any further with this right this moment. It was a long day.

It's been well established that the genetics guide needs work. Lots of it. I'd love to see search links to example horses, maybe I'll try to tackle some of that, and send my stuff to Confluence to see where it might go next.

I feel like if it can, at the end, show you the genetic information and colour names of all the horses you clicked on to signify that you liked them. That way people would seem a common thread. "I have clicked on all horses with 'D', maybe I need to look at that gene more" etc etc

I'm so glad others are interested in the quiz! I think it would be helpful. I eventually came up with an idea for breeding goals, but I'm still just not completely psyched about them. (Maybe my problem is that I chose horses and not ponies this time! Lol).

I really enjoyed this experience to look at the game with fresh eyes. I love the new updates on the create page and on the sale page. The link to what herd helpers generally sell for is especially helpful! This is something that I still often struggle with. As an actual new player, I was often confused as to why certain herd helpers (for example, Pretzel Twist) would sell but my Vault of Stars creates would not. This new resource is going to be extremely valuable to new players and to the HAJ community in general.

I really appreciate how many changes were made "in real time" with our observations and suggestions. We all know that Ammit is wonderful, but this is a very visible example.

Some things I think could still be done:
1) A separate tab for achievements instead of having it on the home screen. I think it could be highlighted in orange, like other important links.
2) Player guides really need some updating. I have a hunch you're already planning to get our input for these with another fun contest, but it's still worth mentioning.
3) Is there a chart somewhere that shows the benefits of an upgrade? Some kind of chart that shows what you get with no upgrade, with a basic upgrade, and with a premium account would be useful.
... I don't think I'm 100% clear *still* on what features are available at the basic upgrade. I only just realized I could change my breed name!
On this chart, a link to how to get a basic upgrade with game money could be helpful, as well.

I know we have an achievement for posting to the peer group, but I personally didn't find the peer group itself that helpful. I'd assume that linking to the peer group is intending to get people involved on the forum, but maybe there are other achievements to add that will lead people there? The forum is such an important resource! I'd imagine you lose more players that don't engage in the forum community than those that do...

Thanks for a fun opportunity to view the game through fresh eyes and for offering some bonuses! It's been fun. :)

Ammit, you mentioned there are places you think we could create our own quizzes. Could you point me in the direction of a few? I might try my hand at it.

Thanks, Ammit! I’ll have to see what I can figure out quiz-wise. It sounds like it could be a fun project!

If there's enough interest I'll set up a chat room for this project. What do you think, Stormwood?
Edit: I set one up. I'm game to see if this idea is feasible.
HAJ Breeding Goals Quiz Group