Fully support this.

Imo if they added unique markings for WWs, it would make more sense for how difficult they are to get.

Counterpoint! I found three WW's today. Getting a WW is not difficult with RNG. It's getting one you like that's the problem. Adding genes that would be breeding only would absolutely force a play style of a certain choice.

I kind of support this. I don't love the idea of making WWs even more special then what they already are, I'd prefer breeding mutations/alternative patterns/something like that like I said in the other thread about bred wolves, but I still support some alternative methods to get new patterns. Having all the patterns ready to be bought in the marketplace is...boring, even when we'll have more of them it will still be boring and repetitive.

Now, I can still love my old wolves even if they can't have the shiny new pattern, but a lot of people aren't like that and will shot down any suggestion like this one so what if WWs came with the exclusive gene in the form of a scroll and not with the gene already applied, would that be enough? So people could sell just the scroll, you could buy it from the FM and apply on any old wolf you already have (I think I saw this already suggested somewhere though).

WWs sold without the gene applied would still devaluate over time, but...I don't care that much about that, I didn't sell any of the WWs I've found to begin with XD

No support. I feel like this would be forcing breeding as a playstyle*. I like the ability to customize any wolf I think looks nice with enough time and effort.

Some things I think would help with WW desirability

• encouraging releasing of WWs-perhaps a special bonus for it being a WW specifically. (perhaps a knucklebone for releasing a WW at any level instead of just level 10?)
• I think releasing in general should be looked at more, as to why people aren't releasing undesirable wolves as much.
• Over time as more markings are added to the game some of those markings should be added to wild wolves so there's more variety and a potential for better outcomes
• I think as more breeds get added over time, there should be at least 1 or 2 more added to the wild wolf breed options-this would incentivize wild wolf hunting in the short term

I think the base problem is even if you add exclusive markings, WWs are still RNG and they still have the potential to be very ugly. I don't know that WWs need a boost to desirability because the RNG element will always be huge barrier for making them look great, and it's only a problem if undesirable wolves aren't being removed from the game.

*I realize the bracchus exists as a counter to this, and I'd just like to add that I'm not a fan of that choice either. I'd rather have seen the bracchus be a rare breed, perhaps the breed changes are only available at certain times of the year, but that decision was made long ago and is unchangable. going forward I think the ability to customize any wolf should be an option.

@Markie

Isn't breeding the focus of the game? Why would people play this game if they don't engage in breeding?
Plenty of other petsites are available for users who don't like breeding games.

@Shadoo

It's been a month since I've bred any wolves and I'm having a fun time. I also don't breed dragons on FR. There are lots of things to do on here if you don't want to engage in breeding-the professions, the campaign, the arena, collecting and leveling familiars. I would much rather seek out a wolf with colors I like and customize them then engage in a long term breeding project.

Edit: you also don't need to breed to earn money, so I would say it's entirely optional.

@heirdragonair

I think we disagree on what a "key and important" feature is. Breeding is definitely a feature that has a lot of time and effort into it, and it's an important part of the gameplay to a lot of people, but if you can play the game and entirely ignore it I wonder how key and important it is. playing without breeding is still a valid plastyle, and it's worth noting a play style the devs are not discouraging. All wolves can be customized however you want (bracchus breed change being the one exception, and I expressed my feelings on that already) and I think that is a feature the devs should keep doing going forward, hence my suggestions here.

Obviously this is a suggestion section, and we each have our opinions, and I am merely offering feedback for other ways to value WWs as that seems to be core problem people are trying to address both here and in other threads. If the devs do give WW exclusively markings I will be disappointed, but at the end of the day it is what it is. My opinions here to express my thoughts about the development of lorwolf, and not so much an invitation as to what play style is the right one.

Edit: typos

no support, I like to collect and make projects around my WW's and adding adding another layer of rng to WW collecting isn't all that fun.
Part of the appeal of WW projects is that apart from one scroll, you can change the breed/genes of your wolf anyway you want, when ever you want. Having a WW only gene kinda "locks" in the gene slot so to speak, making the player feel more limited in their choices, because A WW exclusive gene is not reapply-able.
Furthermore, because the gene is WW exclusive, older wolves will be locked out of the gene entirely, which is kinda a bummer. I really don't want an eyepocalypse 2.0 happening here on lorwolf if it can be avoided.