Sometimes I get bored playing PZ because I always struggle to decide what to build/what animals to choose, so I decided to make myself a challenge to make choices in the zoo based on randomly generated results and giving myself some limitations/consequences. I was having some fun with it so thought I would share my challenge if anyone else wants to 'play' 
Your zoo will be created using random number generators to prompt decisions for the direction of your zoo, including which animals to adopt and what major landscaping features you will build around.
Ideal to play in Challenge mode.
You require a random number generator to play which allows you to set a minimum and maximum number to generate. Here is one:
www.mathgoodies.com
Getting Started
Roll to choose a continent to build your zoo on. Roll from 1 – 6. You can choose to play on any flat biome available for your Continent:
1. Africa
When you open your new zoo, you must immediately place down these facilities:
1x Trade Centre
1x Keeper Hut
1x Staff Room
1x Power supply
1x Workshop
1x Vet Surgery
1x Quarantine
1x Food stall
1x Drink stall
1x Information OR Merchandise store
1x Toilet
Immediately hire these Staff members and follow these steps:
1x Keeper – Rename this Keeper to “HEAD ZOO KEEPER”
1x Veterinarian – [Open Staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck “Conduct Vet Research”]
1x Mechanic – Immediately have Mechanic begin Research JUST ONE THEME to begin decorating your zoo. (If you feel adventurous, roll a random number to determine which theme if you don’t want to choose – everyone will have a different number based on their DLCs) Remember this should be a THEME and not research like Food/Drinks/Power etc.
--Once your Mechanic has researched at least ONE LEVEL of your chosen Theme they can no longer complete any further Research –
[Open Staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck “Conduct Mechanic Research”]
1x Caretaker
1x Security
The numbers have already helped you choose your very first animal – Your animal MUST be native to the continent you created your zoo on.
Open your Zoopedia and filter by your continent. You can choose one species as your first zoo animal.
Search your desired species in the Animal Market and adopt as many as are available/you can afford/you want on Page 1 of the Animal Market– even if that means just adopting a single animal.
In the unlikely event NO animal from your Continent is available in the Animal Market, choose a species that matches your zoo’s Biome.
Your next animal adoptions will be determined by Random numbers. Adjust your Random Number Generator to generate numbers between 1-10.
“ROLL” OR GENERATE YOUR NUMBER
Next, open the Animal Trading screen and on the Animal Market, set the PRICE filter and enable both the Cash Listings and Conservation Credit listings. Set your Minimum to 0 on both of them, and your Maximum should match your current available funds and credits -Rounded down. (Make sure you update the maximum funds every time you are ready to adopt to ensure you can afford every animal)
Eg.
If you currently have $24,680 and 225credits
Cash Listing
Minimum – 0
Maximum – 24,000
Credit Listing
Minimum – 0
Maximum 200
Now set the filters on the animal market to AUCTION TIME- This allows true random selection of animals. (If you toggle the filter you will get the most recent animals and the longest listed animal. You can choose from either of these lists)
Choose whatever animal on the list in the same position as the Number you rolled.
eg. If you rolled a 7 on your Random Number Generator, count down to the 7th animal after all the appropriate filters are applied- that is your animal.
If there is more than one animal of the same species rolled in the list on Page 1, you can adopt as many of them as you like/can afford but you cannot look through other Pages for animals, only what is available on Page 1)
If you do not want the animal in the position of the roll, then you do not have to adopt it, but you cannot choose any other animal. You must wait for the next round of adoptions to try again.
However, all other adoptions can only occur under these conditions:
1. Random Number Generate to fill the habitat with a new species.
2. Leave the habitat empty and wait for the next Zoo Inspection and try again searching the specific species after the report is completed.
3. Destroy the habitat and build something else in its place.
If you have not placed your new animal into their habitat before the next Zoo Inspection, you cannot adopt a new animal this round.
Now you know how to get animals in your zoo, you must get some staff in to look after them.
You can only train or hire Staff after a successful Zoo Inspection with no fines.
Keepers
Only the HEAD ZOO KEEPER can complete all 3 Tasks available to Keepers (Tend Exhibits, Feed Habitat, Clean Habitat)
All future Keeper employees must specialise in only ONE task.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – asks – Uncheck all but One Task.] Feel free to rename staff member to keep tabs on who can do what.
Vets
The task of Vets is only to look after sick animals.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck “Conduct Vet Research”.]
Scientists
To Conduct Vet Research, you must hire a new Vet and rename them to “SCIENTIST” and ensure the only task available for them is Research.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck all tasks except “Conduct Vet Research”.]
You can hire as many SCIENTISTS as you want, but each Scientist must have their own RESEARCH CENTRE and must have an allocated STAFF ROOM specifically for Scientists. (Note a Small Staff Room can hold up to 4 Scientist). Scientists cannot share a staff room with any other employees!
Scientist MUST complete all levels of ONE Research Topic before moving on to the next one.
SCIENTISTS can only be fired after they have completed all tiers of their current research topic. Struggling for cash and need to save money? Too bad, you have to wait to fire them.
Mechanics
The task of Mechanics is only to look after the grounds of the zoo.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck “Conduct Mechanics Research”.]
Engineer
To Conduct Mechanic Research, you must hire a new Mechanic and rename them to “ENGINEER” and ensure the only task available for them is Research.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck all tasks except “Conduct Mechanics Research”.]
You can hire as many ENGINEERS as you want, but each Engineer must have their own WORKSHOP and must have an allocated STAFF ROOM specifically for Engineers. (Note a Small Staff Room can hold up to 4 Engineers). Engineers cannot share a staff room with other employees!
Engineers MUST complete all levels of ONE Research topic before moving on to the next.
ENGINEERS can only be fired after they have completed all tiers of their current research topic.
Security Guards
Can be hired and fired with no conditions.
Caretakers
Can be hired and fired with no conditions.
Vendors
Can be hired and fired with no conditions.
If you receive a fine for any reason during a zoo inspection report, you must immediately fire ONE Scientist -or- ONE Engineer, regardless of their current research status. You can only hire a new Scientist or Engineer after a new successful Zoo Inspection and they must continue any outstanding research before moving on to a new topic.
If there are no Scientists or Engineers to fire, you must fire a Zoo Keeper or Vet. The “HEAD ZOOKEEPER’ can NOT be fired.
After your Zoo reaches 2 Star Reputation OR you have built 6 unique habitats, you are ready to spend some money Landscaping your zoo to build around. Let the Numbers decide what your zoo will look like. Generate a Random Number from 1-4.
You must also adopt ONE animal species that has a water requirement as a condition of their habitat build (The habitat does not have to be connected to your Lake or River). This animal adoption does not require a Random Number Roll.
If you rolled a 3, you must have an ENGINEER research Transport Rides, and you must incorporate a Train OR Adventure Tour.
You must also adopt ONE animal species that will feature in the Ride for guests to view. This animal can NOT have a water –or- climbing requirement as a condition for their habitat. This animal adoption does not require a Random Number Roll.
If you rolled a 4, you must have an ENGINEER research Transport Rides, and you must incorporate a Gondola for guests to easily access high elevated areas.
You must also adopt ONE animal species that has climbing requirement as a condition of their habitat build. This animal adoption does not require a Random Number Roll.
Once your Zoo reaches a Reputation level of 3 OR you have 10 unique habitats, it is time to build a reptile house and adopt some exhibit species. The Reptile House must have a Keepers Hut built in.
Roll a number between 1- 4
Once you have reached this goal, it is time to give your guests something to get excited about! You will Roll to choose how to entertain your guests. Roll a number between 1-3.
Congratulations! You have built a large and successful zoo! Your zoo is famous enough to adopt a ‘star’ animal species.
Once you have reached this goal, it is time to build a themed zone surrounding one big ticket “Star” animal of your choice, eg an elephant, tiger, lion, panda, gorilla. Whatever animal you choose, must also be ‘supported’ by 2 other animals from the same region.
Eg if you choose a Lion as your ‘star’, your 2 supporting animals may be the warthog and meerkat, or if you have a Bengal Tiger as your ‘Star’, your two supporting animals may be the tapir and Babirusa.
These animal adoptions do not require a Random Number Roll. If you already have the ‘supporting animal’ currently in your zoo, you can move them to the new zone instead of adopting another species.
|| Random Number Zoo Challenge ||
Are you tired of making difficult choices? Play the Random Zoo Challenge and let the numbers build your zoo for you!
|| The idea ||
Are you tired of making difficult choices? Play the Random Zoo Challenge and let the numbers build your zoo for you!
|| The idea ||
Your zoo will be created using random number generators to prompt decisions for the direction of your zoo, including which animals to adopt and what major landscaping features you will build around.
Ideal to play in Challenge mode.
You require a random number generator to play which allows you to set a minimum and maximum number to generate. Here is one:
Official Random Number Generator | Math Goodies
Use our random number generator to generate numbers chosen by chance from a set range. Pick a number by entering a lower and upper limit number.
|| Getting Started ||
These steps may look long, but don’t worry it is very easy and straight forward.
These steps may look long, but don’t worry it is very easy and straight forward.
Getting Started
Roll to choose a continent to build your zoo on. Roll from 1 – 6. You can choose to play on any flat biome available for your Continent:
1. Africa
- Desert
- Grassland
- Tropical
- Desert
- Grassland
- Tropical
- Temperate
- Taiga
- Tundra
- Desert
- Grassland
- Tropical
- Grassland
- Temperate
- Taiga
- Tundra
- Desert
- Grassland
- Tropical
- Temperate
- Taiga
- Tundra
- Desert
- Grassland
- Tropical
- Tundra
When you open your new zoo, you must immediately place down these facilities:
1x Trade Centre
1x Keeper Hut
1x Staff Room
1x Power supply
1x Workshop
1x Vet Surgery
1x Quarantine
1x Food stall
1x Drink stall
1x Information OR Merchandise store
1x Toilet
Immediately hire these Staff members and follow these steps:
1x Keeper – Rename this Keeper to “HEAD ZOO KEEPER”
1x Veterinarian – [Open Staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck “Conduct Vet Research”]
1x Mechanic – Immediately have Mechanic begin Research JUST ONE THEME to begin decorating your zoo. (If you feel adventurous, roll a random number to determine which theme if you don’t want to choose – everyone will have a different number based on their DLCs) Remember this should be a THEME and not research like Food/Drinks/Power etc.
--Once your Mechanic has researched at least ONE LEVEL of your chosen Theme they can no longer complete any further Research –
[Open Staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck “Conduct Mechanic Research”]
1x Caretaker
1x Security
|| Choosing your FIRST Animal ||
The numbers have already helped you choose your very first animal – Your animal MUST be native to the continent you created your zoo on.
Open your Zoopedia and filter by your continent. You can choose one species as your first zoo animal.
Search your desired species in the Animal Market and adopt as many as are available/you can afford/you want on Page 1 of the Animal Market– even if that means just adopting a single animal.
In the unlikely event NO animal from your Continent is available in the Animal Market, choose a species that matches your zoo’s Biome.
|| Adopting new Animals ||
Your next animal adoptions will be determined by Random numbers. Adjust your Random Number Generator to generate numbers between 1-10.
“ROLL” OR GENERATE YOUR NUMBER
Next, open the Animal Trading screen and on the Animal Market, set the PRICE filter and enable both the Cash Listings and Conservation Credit listings. Set your Minimum to 0 on both of them, and your Maximum should match your current available funds and credits -Rounded down. (Make sure you update the maximum funds every time you are ready to adopt to ensure you can afford every animal)
Eg.
If you currently have $24,680 and 225credits
Cash Listing
Minimum – 0
Maximum – 24,000
Credit Listing
Minimum – 0
Maximum 200
Now set the filters on the animal market to AUCTION TIME- This allows true random selection of animals. (If you toggle the filter you will get the most recent animals and the longest listed animal. You can choose from either of these lists)
Choose whatever animal on the list in the same position as the Number you rolled.
eg. If you rolled a 7 on your Random Number Generator, count down to the 7th animal after all the appropriate filters are applied- that is your animal.
If there is more than one animal of the same species rolled in the list on Page 1, you can adopt as many of them as you like/can afford but you cannot look through other Pages for animals, only what is available on Page 1)
If you do not want the animal in the position of the roll, then you do not have to adopt it, but you cannot choose any other animal. You must wait for the next round of adoptions to try again.
|| When can you adopt a new Animal? ||
After you adopt your very first animal, you can adopt another straight away so you will start your game with two animals (The first is native to your continent and chosen by you. The second is randomly generated)
However, all other adoptions can only occur under these conditions:
- The Zoo Inspector has completed an inspection of your zoo and you received NO fines during the inspection – You can adopt an animal using the Random Number technique explained above.
- The Zoo Inspector has completed an inspection of your zoo, you received NO fines during the inspection and you were awarded 5 Stars on a habitat inspection. You are able to search the animal market for the species that received 5 stars and choose to adopt as many animals of that species available on Page 1. (If more than one habitat species received 5 Stars, you can only choose one to adopt in the Market)
- All animals of a habitat died of old age resulting in an empty habitat- You can search the animal market and fill the empty habitat with as many animals of the same species from the habitat currently available on Page 1 – even if that means just one animal.
1. Random Number Generate to fill the habitat with a new species.
2. Leave the habitat empty and wait for the next Zoo Inspection and try again searching the specific species after the report is completed.
3. Destroy the habitat and build something else in its place.
If you have not placed your new animal into their habitat before the next Zoo Inspection, you cannot adopt a new animal this round.
|| Hiring new staff and Training ||
Now you know how to get animals in your zoo, you must get some staff in to look after them.
You can only train or hire Staff after a successful Zoo Inspection with no fines.
Keepers
Only the HEAD ZOO KEEPER can complete all 3 Tasks available to Keepers (Tend Exhibits, Feed Habitat, Clean Habitat)
All future Keeper employees must specialise in only ONE task.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – asks – Uncheck all but One Task.] Feel free to rename staff member to keep tabs on who can do what.
Vets
The task of Vets is only to look after sick animals.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck “Conduct Vet Research”.]
Scientists
To Conduct Vet Research, you must hire a new Vet and rename them to “SCIENTIST” and ensure the only task available for them is Research.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck all tasks except “Conduct Vet Research”.]
You can hire as many SCIENTISTS as you want, but each Scientist must have their own RESEARCH CENTRE and must have an allocated STAFF ROOM specifically for Scientists. (Note a Small Staff Room can hold up to 4 Scientist). Scientists cannot share a staff room with any other employees!
Scientist MUST complete all levels of ONE Research Topic before moving on to the next one.
SCIENTISTS can only be fired after they have completed all tiers of their current research topic. Struggling for cash and need to save money? Too bad, you have to wait to fire them.
Mechanics
The task of Mechanics is only to look after the grounds of the zoo.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck “Conduct Mechanics Research”.]
Engineer
To Conduct Mechanic Research, you must hire a new Mechanic and rename them to “ENGINEER” and ensure the only task available for them is Research.
[Open staff Overview Panel – Employment tab – Tasks – Uncheck all tasks except “Conduct Mechanics Research”.]
You can hire as many ENGINEERS as you want, but each Engineer must have their own WORKSHOP and must have an allocated STAFF ROOM specifically for Engineers. (Note a Small Staff Room can hold up to 4 Engineers). Engineers cannot share a staff room with other employees!
Engineers MUST complete all levels of ONE Research topic before moving on to the next.
ENGINEERS can only be fired after they have completed all tiers of their current research topic.
Security Guards
Can be hired and fired with no conditions.
Caretakers
Can be hired and fired with no conditions.
Vendors
Can be hired and fired with no conditions.
|| Fines During Zoo Inspection ||
If you receive a fine for any reason during a zoo inspection report, you must immediately fire ONE Scientist -or- ONE Engineer, regardless of their current research status. You can only hire a new Scientist or Engineer after a new successful Zoo Inspection and they must continue any outstanding research before moving on to a new topic.
If there are no Scientists or Engineers to fire, you must fire a Zoo Keeper or Vet. The “HEAD ZOOKEEPER’ can NOT be fired.
Building your Zoo
|| Reputation 2 or 6 unique habitats ||
Landscaping your Zoo|| Reputation 2 or 6 unique habitats ||
After your Zoo reaches 2 Star Reputation OR you have built 6 unique habitats, you are ready to spend some money Landscaping your zoo to build around. Let the Numbers decide what your zoo will look like. Generate a Random Number from 1-4.
- Lake – 1 large lake or several smaller lakes
- River – Large river or thin creek
- Minor Terrain modification – Small hills and/or minor terrain elevation.
- Major Terrain modification – Mountains and/or major terrain elevation.
You must also adopt ONE animal species that has a water requirement as a condition of their habitat build (The habitat does not have to be connected to your Lake or River). This animal adoption does not require a Random Number Roll.
If you rolled a 3, you must have an ENGINEER research Transport Rides, and you must incorporate a Train OR Adventure Tour.
You must also adopt ONE animal species that will feature in the Ride for guests to view. This animal can NOT have a water –or- climbing requirement as a condition for their habitat. This animal adoption does not require a Random Number Roll.
If you rolled a 4, you must have an ENGINEER research Transport Rides, and you must incorporate a Gondola for guests to easily access high elevated areas.
You must also adopt ONE animal species that has climbing requirement as a condition of their habitat build. This animal adoption does not require a Random Number Roll.
|| Reputation 3 or 10 unique habitats. ||
Building a Reptile House
Once your Zoo reaches a Reputation level of 3 OR you have 10 unique habitats, it is time to build a reptile house and adopt some exhibit species. The Reptile House must have a Keepers Hut built in.
Roll a number between 1- 4
- Place a minimum of 8 exhibits
- Place a minimum of 5 exhibits and one habitat lizard species
- Place a minimum of 5 exhibits, one habitat lizard species AND one tortoise species
- Place a minimum of 4 exhibits, one habitat lizard species, tortoise species AND crocodile species.
|| Reputation level 4 or 15 unique habitats ||
Guest Interaction
Once you have reached this goal, it is time to give your guests something to get excited about! You will Roll to choose how to entertain your guests. Roll a number between 1-3.
- Walk-through habitat
- Restaurant with animal viewing
- Animal education show with seating
|| Reputation level 5 or 25 unique habitats ||
Themed Zone
Congratulations! You have built a large and successful zoo! Your zoo is famous enough to adopt a ‘star’ animal species.
Once you have reached this goal, it is time to build a themed zone surrounding one big ticket “Star” animal of your choice, eg an elephant, tiger, lion, panda, gorilla. Whatever animal you choose, must also be ‘supported’ by 2 other animals from the same region.
Eg if you choose a Lion as your ‘star’, your 2 supporting animals may be the warthog and meerkat, or if you have a Bengal Tiger as your ‘Star’, your two supporting animals may be the tapir and Babirusa.
These animal adoptions do not require a Random Number Roll. If you already have the ‘supporting animal’ currently in your zoo, you can move them to the new zone instead of adopting another species.
Enjoy your Random Zoo
Feel free to add suggestions or create and share your own Zoo Challenge
Feel free to add suggestions or create and share your own Zoo Challenge
