Dragon Mating Display Variety - Songs, Bile Display, Etc.

[steep owl]

As stated above, I think it would be interesting if some dragons did a "song" along with their display. Some birds combine a little hopping dance with a song, and generally the longer/more complex the song or string of sounds, the more desirable it is. I think it would add a little variety as opposed to just different varieties of flashing the wings and tails. Especially so if it were a smaller dragon or one with higher-pitched or generally "prettier" sounds.

It also wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if some dragons' displays included some demonstration of their bile attacks, since a strong fire/acid/plasma/etc. ability would indicate they might pass that down to their offspring. Also, it would just look cool.

Third and lastly, maybe there should be skills tied to a dragon's mating displays? They could be tied to stats, hidden dice rolls, skill points, or actual practice, but the result would be that a dragon could "fail" a display and fumble it or do an exceptionally good display. This would take more animation work, but the variety it would add would be interesting. Also, if tied to stats, it'd give other players a sense of whether a particular dragon would produce high-quality offspring.

[serene hound]

I like the idea of maybe A bloodline males doing better "displays" or "songs" than E bloodlines, not really 'failing' but just advertises the quality. Make it easier for a female to judge the quality of her mate before choosing. 🤔 Wont even have to advertise in chat. Just dance around and see who comes to your calls. lol

[stark lance]

I like this idea. The courting could become like a "dance-off" mini game. The level of your success can help with stat and skin crits.

[steep owl]

Yeah while people would still probably spam the chat for it, aside from the skill tied to it, the variety of different styles of display would make things overall more interesting visually and aurally. But it'd also prevent anyone from potentially griefing other players who are new or want to upstat by claiming better stats than they actually have. I don't know of anywhere that's been the case, but I'm sure if it hasn't happened it will sooner or later.

The downside is, through sound and vision, there's still no good way to tell "Is this dragon related to my dragon?" So, maybe there should be some sort of scent indicator? Dragons could also sniff one another in that case to double check there's no close relation. There have been cases of people intentionally inbreeding dragons to give to new players or people upstatting. At least, I've heard of them--haven't seen them personally.

Actually making it a minigame where males congregate to display, like in certain animals' lek style mating, would be pretty interesting. Most females would probably pick the same male(s) based on quality and skin popularity, but, maybe the male wouldn't mate with females who don't also dance well, or he runs out of breeding chances until X amount of time, so any players of females looking to nest need to seek out a different male, who may not be as good of an option or may just not have the skin someone wanted.

[maiden fog]

Some could be of building the nest for the female, like how lirebirds do it
The better the nest the better the male's chances for a girl

[serene hound]

While it is a nice idea in theory... as far as game play goes I hate when playing a female and you can't get your mate to put the nest where you like it. Especially if they are just coming by for a quick bonk and they care not where the nest lands. Hated it when males choose the nest spot in other games. Best if the female puts the nest down if she is the one sitting on it for a half hour+ or the only one staying to care for hatchlings.

[maiden fog]

Well then you don't mate with those males and they'll learn where to put the nest to appeal for the ladies

[gentle grail]

I feel like there could be a more involved aspect like talon locking and diving towards the ground or juar something more complex.

[hard marten]

Well the new nesting system won't involve sitting on the nest for hours I am pretty sure so that's already a good thing, but about the nest placement they could perhaps make it so the female gets to choose where and the male has to "prove" himself by gathering the materials to build it. I know that The Isle has something like this where both parents have to find materials to build it, but in The Isle I don't know if males can do nests with different females at once

The males coming by for a quick bonk is why I hope Jao will think about making some future species after Wolves, Snow Foxes or just lots of species of birds and make them a one bonk at a time kind of thing. Someone told me that if no points are put in Fert males can only bonk once but then you don't have the other benefits, and it'd just be nice to know that on some species you can expect the male to stick around more often than not

[serene hound]

I could get behind the female choosing the placement and the male building it. I actually play males more often so I think doing the building could be fun too. Just when I play female I prefer to choose the location. XD

As for the quick bonks/dances, there is a limit already in place but people only have to log out and then back in to bypass the limit.

[hard marten]

I know there's a limit, but I was talking about like how Wolves or Snow foxes mate for life (if I am not mistaken) they could make some species with one nest at a time for the males. For the sake of variety and knowing that on these species you can somewhat expect the male to stick around to help with the babies

I just want the game to have differences in many things, just like our Earth's fauna

[serene hound]

No, I agree with you. I was just mentioning about how limits are broken. That would need to be fixed.

[maiden fog]

Altho "mating for life" is a cute idea, I don't think it's relevant in a game where you change your dragon more often than your underwear XD

[serene hound]

Well, some people do change that often. XD It also depends on your playstyle - PvP or PvE or RP in the mix.

Truly though I suppose it should still be left up to the player. Could put it in the lore and people can follow it if they want or not.

[hard marten]

Well it's not only for the whole cute side but also to prevent players to overpopulate with either something that grows really fast and could be an enormous nuisance or on the other side something extremely powerful. Let's say the Fire Behemoth, males will be the rare one, if they are as powerful as the Ice one is supposed to be I think it'd be nice that the males can only have one or two nests at a time, imagine the carnage clans could do if they could have up to 3-4 nests at a time

[maiden fog]

The fire behemoths will have a restriction on them, I think it was one nest of one egg/day?

[hard marten]

Well that is very good, I'm happy they thought about it. The carnage that would be

[maiden fog]

Yeah otherwise it would only take one behemoth male to overpopulate the server

[hard marten]

Exactly my thought 😅