Farm Days DLC

[SotF]

This is kind of a petting zoo idea that merged with a few other ideas. Using it for an education upping thing mixed into it. Several animals in it would also work well as a framework for future animals

Animals
Rhode Island Red Chicken
Large White Pig
Clydesdale Horse
Canadian Arcott Sheep
Holstein Friesian Cattle
Boer Goat
Dumbo Rat (Exhibit)
Red Junglefowl (Added as bonus to the update tied to it)

Other than the Rat and Junglefowl, the animals would all be compatible with each other for a shared exhibit, and as walkthrough exhibit friendly. The Junglefowl is more of a minor animal that would share most assets with the Chicken, but would be more of a bonus for people not as into the farm animals/petting zoo portions of this. While there are other ground birds that would fit into the theme, I went with the 5 main types of farm animal, and chickens are more common than ducks or geese or turkeys. Most of the animals are also picked for being relatively iconic in appearance, and most are relatively docile ones. The rat is also a small mammal that fits the theme (barn rats are a common thing, though the option picked is more of a pet species), that should be able to function in exhibits with zero issues.

The llama would also be workable with this, letting it share and exhibit with the rest.

There would be various enrichment items such as alternate climbing and swinging options such as pallet and tire based structures and swings.

One other addition would be round exhibits, that would use, largely, the same internal decor as the cube ones.

Paths
Straw Paths would be the big one, basically a dirt covered with a layer of straw scattered over it.

A padded mat path would be added, along with a gravel and a few other that would designate an area for playground use.

There would also be a plank and a packed earth staff path, along with some more versions of queue paths.

Themes
Country Home: The basic "classic" farm building designs, such as the seemingly iconic bright red barn.

Old Stone: This is more of a european style stonework such country cottage appearance

Decor
Things like haystacks and farm decorations, several fences commonly used for farms would be added as barriers and for scenery. There would also be versions of existing shells for exhibits to fit the round version. Rocking chairs would be an addition to the benches. Some things like pumpkins or other fruits would be usable.

Adding in playground equipment, and the ability to designate climbing items for guest use, this would use a new "path" type that would be peaceable, normally in grid fashion to create the area for it.

Nature
Various wildflowers and field options, along with fruit trees, berry bushes, and similar things. Hay Fields would be possible.

Apiary: These would have a "dislike" aura similar to the staff buildings such as power and water, but would up the value of various plants in a larger radius, so being a useful thing in the zoo.

Shops
Pied Piper: Food shop with pies
Cideraide: Fresh ciders (probably the non-alcoholic, US version there...unfiltered juices).
Photo Op: A souvenir stand with a setup for pictures, some preset things, but the ability to customize the stage part.

Rides
Tractor Pull: Uses the 4x4 setup, and is a tractor pulling a hayride behind it.

Tour Post: Not technically a "ride", but would function similarly to them, you can place down a starting point which uses benches rather than the queue line for people to gather, and waypoints that must be on paths to direct the course of the tour, would normally use a Guide to staff it.

Employees
Guides: This type of Employee will do one of two things, either lead tours or be placed on vehicles. Without either, they will randomly wander around and provide increased education at exhibits they are near. On vehicles, ups the education of those on the same one as them (1/set of vehicles...so a full train with several cars would only need 1, but each 4x4, boat or Tractor Pull would need one for maximum benefit). You could also assign them to a walkthrough exhibit in the same way.

Specialization: Several employees will have the opportunity to specialize in various ways. Keepers being able to specialize in a specific species, upping their capability for dealing with them, and increasing breeding results and animal happiness while decreasing agression between members of the same species. Vets would have a chance for field medicine and be able to handle them better in the field (And with the assigned species would accelerate research). Vendors would have better results in a single assigned shop, Guides for their tour or ride. Other employees might do similar things or just not have specializations. The abilities would get better the more training the employee has.

 

[ElectricMonk]

Personally I’d prefer they add very substantially to the wild animal roster before going down the petting zoo/ domesticated animal route (I wish they’d swapped the llama out for a wild alternative, for instance).

 

[SotF]

Personally I’d prefer they add very substantially to the wild animal roster before going down the petting zoo/ domesticated animal route (I wish they’d swapped the llama out for a wild alternative, for instance).

A chunk of this would be things that could then have more reskins, it also works to add other mechanics such as a tour guide and other things that would be more education focused. It also adds things such as playgrounds and the like for visitors in order to have other things available for it. The Junglefowl is something that would have a lot of info and work split between it and the chicken, which would open up a non-domesticated animal for the zoo, but the main thing is that there are a LOT of zoos that have farm animals in a petting zoo area...it's something that would allow more guest interactions, and it's an easy thing to do in order to include walk through attractions.

It's mainly aimed as a children and education concept for the theme.

Technically, both the goat and sheep could use a lot from the Dall Sheep to make, the pig could use the warthog, the cow could use a lot from the american bison.

Chicken/Junglefowl would use the same thing, and the horse would be the unique one, the intro of smaller mammals for the exhibits is the other thing there. Having most of it being easy allows for the heavier other things with it as a dlc concept

 

[Aramar]

I also think that the petting zoo should be one of the last things to be added to the game. It is true that it is very common in zoos, but birds, penguins, small mammals, african rhinos, leopards and many other animals are very common too, and for me, they are much more interesting than a petting farm.

 

[avietar]

Against Holstein Friesian cattle, as they are high maintenance cattle and kinda skittish. Use a friendly low maintenance breed instead, like a Lakenvelder cow (Dutch belted), or Blaarkop (Groningen white headed).

I think that petting zoo animals should not be breeds kept and bred for intense farming systems. Instead they should be low maintenance, friendly in temperament, and authentic breeds with long histories. This last part would tie in with the conservation message of the game, as many rare livestock breeds are in danger of going extinct. These rare livestock breeds represent valuable pockets of old genetic diversity found in their respective species, and they have cultural value as living heritage.

For example, the cattle breeds I mentioned above are extremely rare Dutch breeds with long histories. Lakenvelders have a population of 2500 cows, and Blaarkoppen have a population of 1900 cows. They are both kept at petting zoos here in the Netherlands. I especially love Blaarkoppen, I took the photo below myself. They have such lovely personalities.

Blaarkop cows

Lakenvelder cows

 

[avietar]

Also a nice idea:
Have a couple varieties per breed, to represent different regions in the world, so people can make realistic petting zoos for the area their zoo is built in.

 

[Casperite]

I'm with the couple others above, I think farm animals are low priority compared to others. You can add the other mechanics like guide with any other dlc too. For me personally a farm dlc doesnt seem very interesting. It has always seemed to me that petting zoo areas of zoos are just a last addition to entertain small children,and I don't think there are many small children playing this game.

Again, just my personal opinion on a farm dlc. I would like to see more large birds, seals and penguins first. I went to my local zoo last week and was also interested in the owls and foxes. The bald eagles were also great to see.

 

[ElectricMonk]

A chunk of this would be things that could then have more reskins, it also works to add other mechanics such as a tour guide and other things that would be more education focused. It also adds things such as playgrounds and the like for visitors in order to have other things available for it.

But those mechanics don't really relate specifically to domesticated animals - I think an expansion of the eduation system, or instance, would be better as a part of an endangered species DLC... Playgrounds (or any child-specific interactive objects), meanwhile, are unlikely to happen, since the peeps are coded as groups (to save computing power)- children are always accompanied by adults and they all act as a single unit - as they're coded i don't think that playgrounds would be possible.

The Junglefowl is something that would have a lot of info and work split between it and the chicken, which would open up a non-domesticated animal for the zoo, but the main thing is that there are a LOT of zoos that have farm animals in a petting zoo area...it's something that would allow more guest interactions, and it's an easy thing to do in order to include walk through attractions.

Sure, a lot of zoos do have petting zoos (though many don't) - Wild animals, though, are what defines a zoo whereas domesticates are more optional.

Technically, both the goat and sheep could use a lot from the Dall Sheep to make, the pig could use the warthog, the cow could use a lot from the american bison.

Chicken/Junglefowl would use the same thing, and the horse would be the unique one, the intro of smaller mammals for the exhibits is the other thing there. Having most of it being easy allows for the heavier other things with it as a dlc concept

Well yes, they could use the same rigs as existing animals, but so could many, many, many wild species. I'd prefer they worked on adding substantially to the wild animal roster before adding any more domesticates - I can easily think of >100 species that I'd rather get than any of the breeds / species you've suggested, and that's even without the addition of swimming or flying animals.