Based on the climbing space discussion from a few weeks ago, I would like to propose something that could potentially add a unique challenge to the game. I know that the developers want unique challenges for different animals, and I believe this idea will bring quite a unique creative challenge to building habitats for certain animals.
I have read in many threads on the forum that making space requirements too big isn't really a unique creative challenge and that terrain and enrichment difficulties would have been more challenging, in this case for the polar bear, so I hope this idea will also help that particular case as well. So the idea is simple, as the title says, climbing space requirement for some of the animals that don't have climbing animations. This might sound too absurd at first, but it is actually very plausible when you realize climbing space in the game isn't limited to vertical poles and beams. All animals can climb ramps that are wide enough for their hitboxes, it's just that right now those spaces are painted blue for animals that can't climb instead of the green framework type highlighting climbing animals get with the heatmap.
I had the inspiration for this idea when a few weeks ago we had been discussing climbing/activity space needs for animals in captivity that are not particularly arboreal, like cheetahs, polar bears, lions, tigers and jaguars. All these animals are given elevated spaces in zoos for their enrichment either from natural pieces like logs and boulders or artificial platforms, or a combination of both types. Pretty much like the large animal climbing frame blueprints we have in the game. This idea would also make players use those blueprints that are seldom used in contrast to the small animal climbing frames that are mandatory for others.
So to summarize, the idea is as follows:
1) Climbing Space Requirement for Animals that Don't Have Climbing Animations
It makes sense polar bears and cheetahs never get climbing animations as it would look very awkward on them given the way climbing works in the game. For more detail you can take a look at the old discussion, I don't want to go into too much detail on it in this thread. Click here for the link to the mentioned thread.
These animals will have a very small "climbing space need", and due to the unique creative challenge they provide, players will need to pick suitable pieces like platforms and ramps that are wide enough and not too steep when building these "climbing spaces" (elevated activity space as explained in the other thread).
Polar Bear: 20 square meters
Cheetah: 20 square meters
Dall Sheep: 20-40 square meters
Llama: 20 square meters
2) Climbing Space Requirement for Animals that Do Have Climbing Animations but are Not Arboreal
These animals are perfectly able to climb structures but do not have an arboreal lifestyle in their natural environment, but would require elevated activity space in captivity.
Jaguar: 20 square meters
Siberian Tiger: 20 square meters
Bengal Tiger: 20 square meters
West African Lion: 20 square meters
3) Climbing Space Requirement for Animals that are Somewhat Arboreal and Have Climbing Animations but Currently do Not Have Any Climbing Space Requirement
These animals display arboreal behavior and somewhat have an arboreal lifestyle in their natural environment, at least at one point in their life cycle, and would also need both elevated activity space as well as climbing structures in their captive habitats.
Giant Panda: 40 square meters
Grizzly Bear: 40 square meters
Himalayan Brown Bear: 40 square meters
4) Climbing Space Requirement for Animals that are Partly Arboreal but Don't Have Climbing Animations and Currently Do Not Have Any Climbing Space Requirement
Animals that are partly arboreal in their natural habitat, and would require arboreal space in captive situations. Even more arboreal than the previous category.
Chinese Pangolin: 20 square meters, since it is a small animal
I would like to also mention that, with this change, some of the animals that already have climbing space requirements that are relatively more arboreal than the first three categories, like the Formosan black bear, should see an increase from the current 40 square meter requirement to perhaps 60 square meters.
Another thing worth mentioning based on the previous discussion is, some animals, like the polar bear and Komodo dragon, can be given climbing animations for their juvenile phases.
I have read in many threads on the forum that making space requirements too big isn't really a unique creative challenge and that terrain and enrichment difficulties would have been more challenging, in this case for the polar bear, so I hope this idea will also help that particular case as well. So the idea is simple, as the title says, climbing space requirement for some of the animals that don't have climbing animations. This might sound too absurd at first, but it is actually very plausible when you realize climbing space in the game isn't limited to vertical poles and beams. All animals can climb ramps that are wide enough for their hitboxes, it's just that right now those spaces are painted blue for animals that can't climb instead of the green framework type highlighting climbing animals get with the heatmap.
I had the inspiration for this idea when a few weeks ago we had been discussing climbing/activity space needs for animals in captivity that are not particularly arboreal, like cheetahs, polar bears, lions, tigers and jaguars. All these animals are given elevated spaces in zoos for their enrichment either from natural pieces like logs and boulders or artificial platforms, or a combination of both types. Pretty much like the large animal climbing frame blueprints we have in the game. This idea would also make players use those blueprints that are seldom used in contrast to the small animal climbing frames that are mandatory for others.
So to summarize, the idea is as follows:
1) Climbing Space Requirement for Animals that Don't Have Climbing Animations
It makes sense polar bears and cheetahs never get climbing animations as it would look very awkward on them given the way climbing works in the game. For more detail you can take a look at the old discussion, I don't want to go into too much detail on it in this thread. Click here for the link to the mentioned thread.
These animals will have a very small "climbing space need", and due to the unique creative challenge they provide, players will need to pick suitable pieces like platforms and ramps that are wide enough and not too steep when building these "climbing spaces" (elevated activity space as explained in the other thread).
Polar Bear: 20 square meters
Cheetah: 20 square meters
Dall Sheep: 20-40 square meters
Llama: 20 square meters
2) Climbing Space Requirement for Animals that Do Have Climbing Animations but are Not Arboreal
These animals are perfectly able to climb structures but do not have an arboreal lifestyle in their natural environment, but would require elevated activity space in captivity.
Jaguar: 20 square meters
Siberian Tiger: 20 square meters
Bengal Tiger: 20 square meters
West African Lion: 20 square meters
3) Climbing Space Requirement for Animals that are Somewhat Arboreal and Have Climbing Animations but Currently do Not Have Any Climbing Space Requirement
These animals display arboreal behavior and somewhat have an arboreal lifestyle in their natural environment, at least at one point in their life cycle, and would also need both elevated activity space as well as climbing structures in their captive habitats.
Giant Panda: 40 square meters
Grizzly Bear: 40 square meters
Himalayan Brown Bear: 40 square meters
4) Climbing Space Requirement for Animals that are Partly Arboreal but Don't Have Climbing Animations and Currently Do Not Have Any Climbing Space Requirement
Animals that are partly arboreal in their natural habitat, and would require arboreal space in captive situations. Even more arboreal than the previous category.
Chinese Pangolin: 20 square meters, since it is a small animal
I would like to also mention that, with this change, some of the animals that already have climbing space requirements that are relatively more arboreal than the first three categories, like the Formosan black bear, should see an increase from the current 40 square meter requirement to perhaps 60 square meters.
Another thing worth mentioning based on the previous discussion is, some animals, like the polar bear and Komodo dragon, can be given climbing animations for their juvenile phases.
Last edited:
