Should shrubs have more depth? Anyone got ideas?

[BionicMeatloaf]

One of the things that does kinda bother me is that Herbivores will never stray far from their feeders. Mechanically this makes sense as it makes it easier to keep them in one place and together with other animals, however I can't help but want them to be independent of these feeders. The concept of a site B or a safari park hinges on the belief or illusion that the animals are in their natural habitat or the closest thing to it and feeders break that so hard cause it sticks out like a sore thumb.

So what's this got to do with shrubs? Well the herbivores are frequently seen grazing and while it looks good, it doesn't do anything to satisfy their hunger meter, similar to shrubs, which look nice and contribute slightly to forest needs, but otherwise is just for show. Should we change that?

Since herbivores graze a lot why not have shrubs act like an alternative to feeders? After all a lot of dinosaurs were browsers and fed on ferns and shrubs and it would really add to the immersion. You could even treat them the same way as feeders and have the dinosaurs stay in proximity of the shrub fields.

On top of that small carnivores like the raptors could use the shrubs to hide and stalk prey if more hunting behaviors are planned in the future

Anyone think this a good idea? Anything y'all think would be good to build on top of it?

 

[tagdab1738]

One of the things that does kinda bother me is that Herbivores will never stray far from their feeders. Mechanically this makes sense as it makes it easier to keep them in one place and together with other animals, however I can't help but want them to be independent of these feeders. The concept of a site B or a safari park hinges on the belief or illusion that the animals are in their natural habitat or the closest thing to it and feeders break that so hard cause it sticks out like a sore thumb.

So what's this got to do with shrubs? Well the herbivores are frequently seen grazing and while it looks good, it doesn't do anything to satisfy their hunger meter, similar to shrubs, which look nice and contribute slightly to forest needs, but otherwise is just for show. Should we change that?

Since herbivores graze a lot why not have shrubs act like an alternative to feeders? After all a lot of dinosaurs were browsers and fed on ferns and shrubs and it would really add to the immersion. You could even treat them the same way as feeders and have the dinosaurs stay in proximity of the shrub fields.

On top of that small carnivores like the raptors could use the shrubs to hide and stalk prey if more hunting behaviors are planned in the future

Anyone think this a good idea? Anything y'all think would be good to build on top of it?

I think it is a good idea. There are plenty of plants and herbivores have to rely on feeders. I say that when a herbivore graze, it should raise their hunger level. When it is full, they do something else like walk, rest under a shade of a tree, play with other species of their own, etc. I really like the idea of small carnivores using shrubs as a hide out for hunting!

 

[jessydion]

I think it is a good idea. There are plenty of plants and herbivores have to rely on feeders. I say that when a herbivore graze, it should raise their hunger level. When it is full, they do something else like walk, rest under a shade of a tree, play with other species of their own, etc. I really like the idea of small carnivores using shrubs as a hide out for hunting!

Some people im this forum brought up what Owen said in JW1; " Raptors will lead a prey to a kill zone." The herbivore goes there for food and raptors use it as cover! And yes, adding shrubs should compensate for those ever empty feeders.

 

[DragonNTiger]

Don't know about all that... but I would certainly enjoy seeing herbivore grazing restricted to areas with short shrubbery... makes no sense for browsers to graze from grass. If it actually satisfied hunger needs, well, that would certainly be a nice addition as well...

 

[Howqualepis]

Myself and numerous others have requested herbivores gaining sustenance (as they do in JPOG) from the local flora multiple times in the wishlists here, on reddit and on steam. Even if it means having to replant due to overgrazing.

Free-browsing without feeders should be a late-game/sandbox feature to avoid a major shift in gameplay = Maybe free-browsing requires research into lysine-enriched paleo-flora that is a lot more expensive to plant that the standard shrubs.

You'd also need to implement cohesive herding mechanics before you can have free-roaming herbivores. Current situation = you release 6 stegosaurs into a large open safari exhibit => one wanders off too far from the rest => stegos get stressed due to low population => stegos gallop across the map to the nearest wall and start smashing it down.

 

[JohnMiller1132]

Some people im this forum brought up what Owen said in JW1; " Raptors will lead a prey to a kill zone." The herbivore goes there for food and raptors use it as cover! And yes, adding shrubs should compensate for those ever empty feeders.

It was me you’re talking about. No? [rolleyes]

In fact, I thought on this topic too. I was working out how to make large carnivores ambush hunting via forest. While it was straight forward for sauropods (might be made to feed on trees), it is not so simple with medium/small herbivores. Nonetheless, I believe evolution will ensure that resources to function as a double-edge sword. Maybe they use the forest as a shelter from weather? A place to hide from the crowds? Or a place to sleep? Whatever it is, I hope they will actually make use of the forest requirement implicitly (not to overwhelm players with complicated dependent variables), not just as a stat to meet.

To OP, it certainly feels more natural with herbivores able to graze freely. I like it. However, as you mention it yourself, feeders are the mean for us to control their behaviors to some degree and some people may make the argument of nutrition requirements. To those, I would say – what if it acts as a secondary food source in such that it will never fill up the hunger meter but somehow decreases the rate of descend when they are grazing? In that way, feeder will remain its status as the primary food source as the herbivore always need to go back to it. It is just a matter of time.

You'd also need to implement cohesive herding mechanics before you can have free-roaming herbivores. Current situation = you release 6 stegosaurs into a large open safari exhibit => one wanders off too far from the rest => stegos get stressed due to low population => stegos gallop across the map to the nearest wall and start smashing it down.

You are so right with herding behavior needed. The Stegos and Trikes in my free roam western portion of Sorna will forget where to eat once in a while when they wander off too far. That’s why I brought up the Territorial Home Concept. It can serves as the basis for herding behaviors. With that implemented, herbivores will no longer forget where to eat, where their friends are, where to go back to their forest/grassland needs. Furthermore, a dynamic ecosystem can be achieved as the territorial fighting will not always lead to death when the losers (defined by low health) can simply retreat to their homes or find a new home somewhere when there is space available.

 

[jessydion]

It was me you’re talking about. No? [rolleyes]

In fact, I thought on this topic too. I was working out how to make large carnivores ambush hunting via forest. While it was straight forward for sauropods (might be made to feed on trees), it is not so simple with medium/small herbivores. Nonetheless, I believe evolution will ensure that resources to function as a double-edge sword. Maybe they use the forest as a shelter from weather? A place to hide from the crowds? Or a place to sleep? Whatever it is, I hope they will actually make use of the forest requirement implicitly (not to overwhelm players with complicated dependent variables), not just as a stat to meet.

To OP, it certainly feels more natural with herbivores able to graze freely. I like it. However, as you mention it yourself, feeders are the mean for us to control their behaviors to some degree and some people may make the argument of nutrition requirements. To those, I would say – what if it acts as a secondary food source in such that it will never fill up the hunger meter but somehow decreases the rate of descend when they are grazing? In that way, feeder will remain its status as the primary food source as the herbivore always need to go back to it. It is just a matter of time.



You are so right with herding behavior needed. The Stegos and Trikes in my free roam western portion of Sorna will forget where to eat once in a while when they wander off too far. That’s why I brought up the Territorial Home Concept. It can serves as the basis for herding behaviors. With that implemented, herbivores will no longer forget where to eat, where their friends are, where to go back to their forest/grassland needs. Furthermore, a dynamic ecosystem can be achieved as the territorial fighting will not always lead to death when the losers (defined by low health) can simply retreat to their homes or find a new home somewhere when there is space available.

Hahahah! I believe it was you. I don't remember his exact line in the movie, but I'd like to see an ambush zone system in that game. I really wish they would nap and sleep first, and then use the shade of trees once in a while ( in a day setting option. In case of day/night cycle implemented, would be 2 or 3 times a day. It's funny how as a kid we learn how Stegos are big but had a tiny brain. Well they really prove it in that game!! Lol

 

[BionicMeatloaf]

Personally I'm hoping for at least an option to turn off the need for feeders in sandbox mode once herding is implemented, though I do hope they keep this idea in consideration too as it would imho make the game tons more enjoyable to play

 

[MarcWP]

But what about the lysine contingency?

 

[Howqualepis]

But what about the lysine contingency?

As I mentioned in my post, assuming the lysine-contingency is still considered in effect, there could introduce a genetically-engineered lysine-rich feeder flora that is more expensive than the basic decorative shrubs and needs to be periodically replanted due to overgrazing.

Besides that, it was already demonstrated in The Lost World that the lysine contingency doesn't work (at least for all of the dinosaur species seen on screen, it was implied that some species were doing better than others)

... and furthermore, many have pointed out that the entire concept is rubbish because No animals in real life are capable of producing lysine in the first place, including humans. All animals gain lysine via dietary intake or symbiotic microbes, so the entire idea would be a waste of time.