Skip to main content
Main Content

Traveling Wolf Mechanic

Traveling Wolf Mechanic
Posted 2022-07-01 21:49:23
I'm relatively new to the game but I've noticed several missing traveling wolves. As of now, the only option for players is to operate their travelling wolves completely on a blind-trust and this unfortunately leaves room for the wolf to get lost. To fix this problem I'd like to suggest a traveling wolf mechanic.

1. SIMPLISTIC: The most simple mechanic would be to have a traveling wolf role. Once a wolf's role is set, they cannot be chased, killed, or abandoned unless it is by the original owner. The wolf will automatically be returned to the original owner by 7 yrs old, with an option for the creator to press a button and essentially "recall" their traveling wolf. If a wolf is recalled, a small banner message saying something along the lines of " After many years of travel this wolf decides that it's time to end its journey" would appear to the current person hosting the wolf.

2. INTERACTIVE: The second option is pretty similar to the first, but has more interactive features, and therefore more coding work to be done. When setting a wolf's role to traveler, a page would appear and allow the player to pre-set when the wolf would leave their pack, how long it would stay in proceeding packs, and when it would return home. I also think it would be cool to randomize what pack a travelling wolf goes to. This would be done by putting an option on a Den's page that states "Is this pack currently accepting travelling wolves?" and allowing a player to select yes or no. This would give travelling wolves a more "out of my hands" feel in regards to where the wolf is going next but also ensuring that the wolf is going to a pack that wants it and can take care of it.
2a. EXTRA: I think it would also be cool to have random events that could happen to your wolf along their travels. These events could be good or bad and would happen randomly upon rollover or not at all. Good events could include finding random items, SC, or décor to deliver back to their own pack upon return or just a friendly encounter with the local wildlife. Bad encounters wouldn't be life-threatening, but could result in leaving scars, small injuries, dropping some items collected while running from a threat, etc.
2b. EXTRA: Maybe add a small section on a players den page that shows travelling wolves that have recently passed through(within 2 wolvden years) so that packs can keep tabs on the wolf that they got to meet. :)
Artistry
#68509

Posted 2022-07-01 22:35:27
i agree to this even though i dont engage in travelling wolves

it is a very popular thing here and i feel like WD should atleast try accomodate this group of players, simultaneously not being able to talk about people that steal and strip travelling wolves whilst not having protection for folks that engage in travelling wolves is horrible cus it just makes scammers able to constantly get away with it

additionally, ide suggest some way to lock decor and backgrounds onto the wolves, making them unremovable other than by their original owner because that still leaves the issue of travellers getting stripped naked then passed on

Derpy
#6646

Posted 2022-07-02 13:22:50
You know what? I wasn't sure how to accommodate this niche part of the player base, but these are both very well thought out solutions to the problem. I support them both, especially the first. Even though I don't play this part of the game, it would give a way for wolves to travel without involving mods and having to "unchase wolves" which I believe is impossible.

I do think wolves locked into this roll need a unique icon and a large text at the top, similar to wolves in trades, so people can be easily aware of their status :)

Slothie
#2938

Posted 2022-07-02 15:41:01
This is a fun idea! I haven't seen traveling wolves on here aside from when it was addressed in the community posts, but I've been on sites where users did something similar.

What if the role was more like a Pack Ambassador, and they could bring gifts? The user that owns the wolf could pick something from their inventory or choose a set of game-generated ones (something small like a one-use amusement item/accessory or a critter carass). The user who owns the wolf could also be allowed to include a message from a list (to prevent an increased load on moderation, though I wouldn't be against a custom one) that the user welcoming the wolf would see. Maybe they could be found through explore? Something like this:

"A strange wolf approaches you.
Welcome | Send Away"

With the welcome option bringing the wolf into your pack and giving you the message and reward, and the send away one basically being an ignore button.

Also, I think packs should only be able to have one visitor at a time, if that hasn't been mentioned yet.

Mrnnki
#46396

Posted 2022-07-03 09:01:18 (edited)
Oh traveling wolves popping up in explore would be super fun! Maybe they stay in a pack for a set number of rollovers (5-7?) and then move on unless nested or nursing pups. There's still the risk of a wolf getting stuck on an account that doesn't roll over, but I don't know of any good fixes for that - I like the idea of a recall button, but I don't think that should apply if a traveling wolf is pregnant or nursing pups, because that opens a whole new can of worms.

I think there should be a limit on how many travelers a pack can send, maybe 1-2? Maybe traveling wolves on inactive accounts don't count towards the limit.

Edit: the obvious solution to both problems is that traveling wolves can't be bred; they definitely shouldn't be eligible for pair bonds

Badger
#10939

Posted 2022-07-03 23:06:33
(@Mrnnki Oh wow I see traveling wolves all the time, but that's probably because I always have the giveaway chat open. There is always at least one player looking to pass on a traveling wolf.)


And I like the idea of traveling wolves appearing on explore as well, but idk how the game makers would keep them in a "traveling wolf pool" while still keeping track of the wolf. If they could do that as well as keep the wolf's info intact, that's be another option!
Artistry
#68509

Posted 2022-07-04 08:24:59
That's a good point about the pool. Probably the biggest problem is more people will want to send wolves than will be interesting in hosting - burn out among people hosting travelers and being unable to pass them on to a new host was a huge problem in another game I played.

I think an important feature to get people to agree to host traveling wolves (especially with the first option) is the ability to push a button and send a wolf home at any time.

Badger
#10939

Posted 2022-07-04 09:20:56
Yeah that's why I kind of feel a role would be better than a pool. That way you aren't getting a random one.

There could be many reasons you don't want to take a certain traveler, so if you were presented a random one without knowing it's past, or just an image, it might cause issues. Some reasons might be: it's from a pack that you've originally blocked, it's inbred (could conflict with lore), it has too much decor/writing already and you want something easy, you just like to filter your traveling wolves in general, you might have already taken this wolf. Following a pool system feels really complicated.

I think a roll, where people could still just pass around wolves, but they are locked from being chases/removing decor, might be the best possible option

Slothie
#2938

Posted 2022-07-04 10:17:13 (edited)
It certainly sounds like the simplest to code and easiest for users to interact with or ignore as they please! So the restrictions of the role would be:
- can't chase/remove decor
- can't set as breeding wolf or put in pair bond
- automatically returns home at 7 years old
- can send home by host or recalled by owner at any time
—maybe can't be bred? to avoid issues with wolves being recalled home
I have mixed feelings about traveling wolves being listed in trades, it feels like there's a lot of room for miscommunication (not everyone will take the time to read the banner on the wolf's page), so maybe they can only be gifted?

Edit: If it's a role and not a pool, I don't think people should be restricted in how many wolves they can host or send - but perhaps traveling wolves continue to take up a slot in their home pack? To ensure they can be sent home.

Badger
#10939

Posted 2022-07-04 10:19:47
Yeah makes sense that they'd only be able to be gifted. Also you don't want people selling the traveling wolves? That might be kind of weird? Like they could pay a certain amount because they really want to contribute for it to just be recalled

Slothie
#2938

Search Topic