(Disclaimer: This is mostly going to be a ramble/speculation on aspects revolving around the mechanics of evolution/ARPG-type groups. And also based on my opinions, not facts, so if you don’t want to go down this rabbit hole with me, bail now~)
While A Thing is still mostly just a brainstorm corner for me to have fun worldbuilding, potential mechanics if it ever became a Multiplayer Type of Thing have been rolling around in my head. Consequently, all the things I’ve grown to like and/or dislike about evolving species have come to mind. So, let’s talk about that!
Earning Upgrades
Generally speaking most evolving species have a limited number of ways to earn upgrades (or: a certain number of ‘blockades’ between a member and their ‘ideal’ character form): Time, “Art” Currency, RNG, Art Prompt, Special Events, or “Adultifying” your Character.
These artificial blocks are in place to do a number of things. One, the feeling of Earning your character. By being forced to go through hoops for certain aesthetics, it’s more satisfying to reach the completion of the design. Two, the feeling of ‘growth’ of the character. All Evolving ARPGs start you off with a simple design that is made to be added onto. These are not bad things: the point of a game is to eat up time and provide entertainment value. In most Evolving ARPGs, the game would break down if upgrades were too ‘easy’ to acquire.
But there are definitely some aspects I wouldn’t want to use in A Thing, purely because after the first round (aka first character) of doing it, the grind gets old (for me, personally). This’ll likely make the game aspect ‘easier’ in some respects because of less grind, but eh. I’m still brainstorming it.
Time
Some upgrades tend to have time-stops. As in: “Your character must be X days/weeks/etc old in order to apply this upgrade”.
The first time or two going through an evolving species with this limitation was actually fun. But after a while (and as characters accumulate if you are like me) it becomes easier just to make a character then shelf them until most of the time-required milestones are done.
One potential fix is to not have time-requirements at all that I’m leaning towards (one less thing to moderate), or to tie the ‘time requirements’ to a member’s “membership time length” instead. So new members would still have to wait for some things, while older members have an easier go of things without repeating wait times per character. (“Proof of” this would just require the member linking their first approved character, perhaps.)
“Art” Currency
One thing many ARPGs I’ve seen love (not just evolving ones) is drawing-math grind. Breaking down drawing elements (lining, coloring, shading, backgrounds) into a point system that awards members either per-account or per-character a currency that is used to unlock more upgrades.
This is an awesome way to get members comfortable drawing for the sake of it, because everything earns just a little more $$ in the upgrade pool. It’s a staple of most evolving species and is generally similar enough across the board for most folks to get the hang of quickly.
HOWEVER: I, personally, hate the math of it. Counting it myself, or having to moderate it: hate hate hate. NO. I am a words dude, not a numbers dude. Even with spreadsheets that do the math for you: you have to link things and number things and bleh. BLEH I say. Away with it.
RNG
Depending on how it is done, RNG awarded upgrades can be fun. Especially to new members! Little RNG games with low stakes are very fun when you’re just starting out and don’t have a lot unlocked. But as an older member I found RNGs (even RNGs with upgrades that couldn’t be found elsewhere, which I don’t really like) not as worth it. I’m the kinda person that prefers saving up pennies for something instead of parting with even one on a game of chance, but that's just me.
I’d probably keep A Thing away from too much RNG stuff, with the exception of when breeding comes into play because randomized bbys be fun, ya know?
“Adultifying” your Character
While this is not true of all evolving species, it is true for quite a few: there’s a hard line between “Baby” upgrades, and then all the other upgrades are only applicable to adults (outside of item use/special instances). While this does help push home the ‘growth’ aspect of evolving species as well, it’s something I won’t think I’ll do. There's generally enough push in lore and mechanic-wise of things adult characters can do that children cannot that adding upgrades to the pool is just one thing too many (to me). If you wanna make a super-stacked-upgraded baby potato, rock on man.
Special Events
These are cool, everyone loves them. Special event with lore and things and upgrades? Good times. Not much else to say. Well, except the obvious downside that most events are time-limited.
But I’m thinking of focusing more on special events being larger plot points of group-mechanic-unlock events, so they at least won’t be tied down to specific holiday seasons which leaves room to put event months down to a vote. And the unlocked upgrades will be obtainable (probably a harder way?) elsewhere afterwards instead of being event-locked. (Siiince they won’t be seasonal and won’t be ‘cycling back’ year by year.)
Art Prompts
Probably my favorite! And also at times, my least favorite. Same newbie/oldie problem as most other things: doing it the first time is great and fun, but having to do the same requirement (especially if it’s Ultra Specific or a harder prompt to do) over and over really sucks the joy out of it and encourages a “just get it done to get it done” feeling instead of “Ooo, I haven’t tried this before!” spark. So I’m leaning towards most upgrades being member-unlocked (one and done) instead of per-character unlocked.
This’ll make it easier potentially in a less-fun way for folks who do need the push to art and prefer repeatable prompts, but will make things more accessible for those who can’t art grind but still want multiple characters with Things and Upgrades and Stuff.
The accessibility in general of the upgrade prompts is another thing I’m hemming and hawing over. Would I want to have some traditional only unlocks? Or do I want to strictly keep things within free art software abilities for folks who don’t have a lot of supplies available for real life stuff? It’s something to chew on, for sure.
General Upgrade Design and Compatibility
WHEW. That’s the baseline things out of the way. Onto designing upgrades. I’ve been pretty set on a few things with A Thing: Trying to make as wide a range of possibilities I can, with as few upgrades as possible. More “sandbox/mix it all together as you like once you’ve unlocked it” instead of “Make as many upgrades as possible to fit the doll-maker type set up”.
A good example of what I’m thinking of that’s present in most evolving species that makes no sense besides “well everyone does it” is: fur. Yes, fur.
Fur for most evolving species is divided between several upgrades: head fur (only the top of the head), cheek fur (you guessed it, only on the cheeks), body fur, and limb fur. This makes sense if you’re thinking of a character by cutting them up into different sections that can only have one thing applied at a time, but I’m too tired and old to think up and draw up that many individual upgrades.
I’m just … gunna … make fur a texture upgrade and leave it there. Put fur wherever you want to once it’s unlocked, have fun. On he tips of your ears? Go ahead. All over your tail for a fluffy tail? Yes. In your ears? Sure. On ‘fin’ type upgrades to make them fuzzy or give a textured effect to the end of fins? Go ham. On your tongue? That’s crazy dude, but you do you. Approved. Combo and freak me out as you like.
Wings? Heck yeah, you unlocked wings slap some on, I don’t care where. They your wings now. Your problem to draw! (I love wings but yes jeeze they can be haaard to get right x’D Always in the waaaay.)
It’s super cool what most groups can think up to creature unique and eye-catching upgrades! I am just NOT that sort of creative creature, alas. (Nor would I want to moderate more than a decent bunch of sandbox upgrades x’D)
But that’s the general gist of my thoughts. It is what it is, and A Thing doesn’t even have most things yet. It’s my chill project for me that may not ever be a multiplayer thing. I do know most folks have thought about making or creating this kind of group though (and I’m sure a number of you follow me are aware or in evolving species or ARPGs in general that still have a number of these elements). Any thoughts? Any pitchforks for knux disliking numbers in general? Which group do you think does the formula best, or has aspects that you really, really dig?
(Also yes I am counting this for my chilltober entry of the day. Rambling totally counts as an artform. Shush.)
Hello people of the Wyngro Group! I am in need of some wyngrew (specifically fluffeh ones) to help me this coming Heartkindle (Febuary 2021)~
First, I need a biological male to pair with Todd!
The wyngro needs to have a lot of fur/fluffy upgrades (Specifically: Body Fluff + Fluffy Limbs at least)! But I’ll also take a closer look at potential boys who have:
Ice Magic (because it’s cool~)
Coatala Ears, Cub Ears, Naked Ears, Folded Ears, or Pudge Ears
Fluff Tail, Waggle Tail, Curled Fluff Tail, Supple Tail, or Scruff Tail
This egg will be canonical to Todd, and live with her! She’s at the point in her life where she’s financially stable enough to be able to care for a wyngling, so this breeding will canonically be her seeking a one-off partner for a night for the end goal of makin’ an egg.
Todd is off cooldown, so I can likely get the breeding posted at any point during February!
Todd is very blunt, can have a sense of humor, but isn’t one for romance or flirting. Romancer boys beware x'D
x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x
Secondly, I need a biological female for my noodle once again!
The wyngro needs to have a lot of fur/fluffy upgrades (Specifically: Body Fluff + Fluffy Limbs at least)! But I’ll also take a closer look at potential ladies who have:
Coatala Ears, Cub Ears, Naked Ears, Folded Ears, or Pudge Ears
Fluff Tail, Waggle Tail, Curled Fluff Tail, Supple Tail, or Scruff Tail
This egg will potentially be given to someone that is not me, so I cannot guarantee what plot may be chosen for it!
Jac’s a young guy fooling around wanting a good time 
He is responsible enough to be willing to take the egg to the Nook and pay the fee for it though!
Jac’s cooldown just barely ends near the end of February, so the breeding comment won’t be posted til February 27th!
General Things to Note for Both Breedings:
In the event of multiple eggs I’d like to keep them because twin plots are my jam~
I can do all the breeding images, no worries! (unless you really wanna do one!)
I have no compensation to offer but my thanks for letting me borrow yer gro~
No changes to your gro are required, I’ll take ‘em or leave ‘em as they are! (Please let me know if you plan on overhauling/changing your gro in any dramatic way before February~)
Having a character tracker for your character would be appreciated for that chance at a sweet sweet extra upgrade, but it is not required!
The breedings will be canonical to my characters, but do not have to be to your character if you so desire~
Comment below if interested, and please fill out this form~
Which would your gro be breeding with?: Todd/Jacques
Your Wyngro’s name:
Your wyngro’s gender:
Link to your wyngro’s current form/reference:
Canonical or Non-Canonical?:
Any preference to how your wyngro will be drawn in the interactions with mine (personality-wise, location, etc)?:
DTE Raffle Winner!
For the winner of this raffle!:
Time for the mass tag to terrify each and every one of you muhahahaha:
Thank you everyone for the lovely entries, and I hope you all are having (and will continue to have) a cheerful holiday season!
Without further ado, the winner is~
@davespritenotdave Congratulations!
The egg has been transferred to your inventory! You're free to hatch it at your leisure~
But that's not all! Between all the entries (and after a LOT of hemming-and-hawing) one stuck out as deserving a little something extra~
The "surprise" winner is~
fushigiseeds Congrats!
I've awarded you a Marble! It's in your inventory to use as you see fit~
In Closing~
I hope you all had a fun time doin lil drawings for this raffle! As always, if there's any aspect of the raffle you all feel could be improved upon/tweaked for maximum fun, let me know below~
DTE Wyngro Egg Raffle [CLOSED]
YA’LL KNOW THE DRILL BY NOW, but I’ll repeat it all again anyways~
Welcome to my merry December DTE Imp-Blood Egg Raffle!!!!
The egg to be raffled is this one:
Egg # 1297
Subspecies: Standard (Imp Blood)
- Jacques' Base Color (Dual Palette Used)
- Eyescope
Inherited Traits: Colored Sclera, Tiny Back Wings, Peg Ears, Thumbs, Forked Tongue
Magic: Intermediate Water (Water Propulsion)
Oh my, it seems this wyngling will instinctively be able to perform some Water Magic when it hatches! It seems when this wyngling is very excited in the water, they can push themselves around! That'll make bath time extra fun!
Biological Parents: Jacques x Aukai
To celebrate the holiday season, I thought this lil water dragon would be a good gift to give!
Rules:
You need to be a member of the Wyngro Group in order to enter! This contest will be running for a bit, the exact end-date is at the bottom of this journal. So if you’re a new member still getting your first wyngling processed you have time to get them approved (and yourself into the group) before entering!
Only those who do not own (and have never owned) a Imp/half-Imp wyngro can enter!
If you win this egg, it cannot be traded away. Only enter if you’re interested in owning them as a character!
You can only enter this contest once! No multiple entries~
How to Enter:
In order to participate in this raffle, you need:
To create a colored drawing!
The drawing needs to have at least one of your own wyngrew!
The drawing needs the egg itself visible! (A reference image for the egg is provided below~)
The drawing needs to be in the Wyngro Group! (If you do a Polished Piece or Monthly Prompt and your image is waiting to be "approved" into the group, you post it here once it's in the "waiting acceptance" stage!)
Reply to this comment > HERE < with a link to your drawing in order to be officially entered!
Optional extra requirement:
The drawing needs either Jacques (anywhere in Wynsiph, on his way to the Nook) OR Alma (at the Nook)!
Jacques is pretty casual about the whole drop-off process thinking the Nook is pretty great (since he had a good time there before he was adopted by his dad). So he’s in no rush, having him sitting someplace playing his quitar would not be out of character.
Jac, Alma, and/or the egg do NOT need to be the main focus of your artwork. You can have them only as vague background elements if you so desire! They just need to be recognizable~
The wyngro/wyngrew you own that appear in the image can be doing anything— it doesn’t have to be related to the required characters or the egg if you don’t want it to be! This contest is more focused on trying to give you an excuse to easily add a single BG element on top of whatever else you’re drawing for your character at the time!
Q&A
When can the egg hatch?
The egg was rolled October 27th, so you can hatch it right when you get it!
Are collabs allowed?
Yup! You can collab with another artist, but you have to have done at least some of the work yourself and posted the completed picture to your own account!
When you say artwork just has to be “colored”, is that really it?
Yup! You can find examples of acceptable entries from my last egg raffle >HERE<
Only do whatever quality you’re comfortable with & will have fun with (remember, it’s just a raffle: not an art contest!)
Deadline:
This contest will be open until December 13th! I will officially CLOSE it whenever I wake up on the 14th (I generally wake up at the earliest around 4AM EST). So plan to get your entry in on the 13th, and you should be fine!
Welp, that's it! Hope you all have fun, and have a wyngling concept as you go on your way~
(Apologies to non-wyngro folk, I used to be able to post up all miscellaneous group-related journals to stash-writer but now that is not an option. So you all get to have this in your notifs, RIP)
It’s that time again!
I’m looking for a biological female surrogate for a breeding with my noodle boy!
I need a:
-Biological Wyngo Female
-Needs to be RTB with a complete breeding reference by the 20th of October.
-Has a ‘pleasing’ design that’s fun to draw (not too overcrowded with upgrades, I am but a simple Knux *sweats) [Keep in mind the choosing will come down to my artistic opinion and also likely some degree of random-chance if more than one ‘pleasing’ design is submitted!]
-No upgrade/color requirements or anything!
-Cannon/Noncannon to your wyngro’s story are both okay!
You must be willing for:
-The egg to be open-plot, as I may use this egg in a DTE Raffle (Like this one:
)
-Letting me keep any multiples in the unlikely event the breeding throws triplets/twins/etc. (I ... I love sibling plots. It is my curse, I need them.)
-Letting me draw your wyngro with Jac!
-I’m willing to draw the art myself, so any art on your end is optional~
Da Facts:
-Jac is a young charismatic boy-o who loves attention and making friends!
-He sees hooking up as just another way to make a new friend.
-As a wyngling who grew up for a time in the Nook and was also adopted, he doesn’t see an egg being given to the Nook as a bad thing. He thinks Alma is awesome, and that kids finding a forever home is a real possibility!
-Jac would not do the do with a sapped-up gro!
Please fill out the following form and comment below if interested:
Wyngro's Name:
Wyngro's Gender: (Any gender is acceptable, just has to be biologically female~)
Magic: (Does your wyngro know any official magic? If yes, add it here!)
Personality/Interaction Reasoning: (Basically a little blurb on how you'd prefer the art depicted between your wyngro and Jac for the polished piece images)
Annnd that’s it! ^w^