Equihound genes
Equihounds have a unique set of marking and color genes, thanks to their strange hybrid status. It is theorized to look something like this:
~Basic pigment locus: BB/Bb-black base; bb-white base
~Brown pigment locus: MM-light brown base; Mm-dark brown base; mm-no brown pigment (Basic must be BB/Bb for this locus to be seen)
~Agouti modifier (points are darkened): AA/Aa-agouti present; aa-not present
~Brindle: BdBd-total; Bdbd-partial; bdbd-none (base must be black and brown must be Mm)
~Dilution: DD-black to blue, dark brown to fawn, and light brown to cream; Dd-black to gray, dark brown to dusty, and light brown to golden; dd-no dilution (overrides agouti and is overriden by bb)
~Dapple: DpDp - gives any coat save white a lighter dappled sheen; Dpdp/dpdp-none (overriden by dilution and brindle)
~Albino (total lack of pigment): AbAb/Abab-none; abab-present
~Melanistic (total saturation of pigment): MlMl/Mlml-none; mlml-present
~~~~~~
~Snakeback (a white stripe running from forehead to rump): SnSn-broad; Snsn-narrow; snsn-none
~Eartips (white color on the eartips): EE-full ear; Ee-partial ear (top down); ee-none
~Birdcatcher spots (random white spots): BrBr-many; Brbr-few/none; brbr-none
~Shoulder stripe (gray wavy stripe on the withers): StSt-large; Stst-small; stst-none
~Blue eyes: BlBl/Blbl-none; blbl-blue eyes
~Underbelly (white under-marking that can run from chin to tail): UU-wider and longer; Uu-narrower and shorter; uu-none
~Eyepatch (white area around both eyes): EyEy-eye fully surrounded; Eyey-partial; eyey-none
~Flank stripes (lighter-base stripes on flanks): FF-many; Ff-few/none; ff-none
~Mealy muzzle (lighter-base area around muzzle): MuMu-large; Mumu-small; mumu-none
~Boots (white foot markings): BoBo-tall; Bobo-short; bobo-none (need not be on all 4, but all present must be ~ same height)
~Tailtip (black tail tip): TT-present; Tt-possible; tt-none
~Freckles (small, darker-base spots on face): FrFr-many; Frfr-few/none; frfr-none
~Skewbald (black patches): SkSk-none; Sksk-minimal; sksk-present
~Piebald (white patches): PbPb-none; Pbpb-minimal; pbpb-present
Although this guide is fairly accurate and should be used when crossing Equihounds, not all genes are fully known and surprises can happen.
EquiHounds also have two performance genes - keenness and durability. These are ranked on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being lest desirable and 10 being most. Oddly enough, where one gene may be a 10, the other is often a 4 at best; they are inverses often.
Keenness: this gene determines how likely your Equihound will be able to sniff out any items in the exploration area. while even a 10 cannot guarantee a find, the higher the number, the more likely a find.
Durability: this gene determines how long your Equihound can explore, and also how it holds up in rough weather. While even a 10-ranked Equihound can refuse to explore, a 10 makes a longer exploration much more likely.
The Monetary System
Equihound owners and breeders use a special currency among themselves. It is called the Shiny Pebble, or SP for short.
There are several ways to get SP:
~charging stud/dam fees
~exploring
~winning an Equihound or being in second or third place
~Entering in shows and other events
These SPs are used to buy breeding services, purchase items, enter some events, and maybe more
Remember, it will be up to you to accurately keep track of your SP balance! You can do so on the player-kept archive page!
The Shop
Here, you can spend your SP on a variety of items. PM Scottish9 what items you wish to buy. Await confirmation, then detract the SP from your balance and add your items to your inventory
Ultrasound
This reveals how many whelps a female will have, and sometimes the sex of the whelps! (limit 1 per litter)
100 SP
Sniffing kit
This can raise your Equihound's keenness rank by at least 1 point, but no more than 5 and never above 10 (limit 1 per Equihound)
200 SP
Endurance course
This can raise your Equihound's durability rank by at least 1 point, but no more than 5 and never above 10 (limit 1 per Equihound)
200 SP
Dowsing rod
Use this to up your chances of finding some stuff in explore! (limit 1 per outing)
100 SP
Rain coat and booties
Use this outfit (not drawn onto your Equihound) to keep them exploring longer! (limit 1 per outing)
100 SP
Random collar
Pull a random collar out of this bin! (Gets you a random collar for your Equihound)
50 SP
Build-a-Collar kit
Design your own collar and mail it in for a model! Maximum of three colors on the leather, please.(limit 1 per Equihound) (gets you a custom collar for one of your Equihounds)
100 SP
Hoof paint
Use some of this pretty, 100%-safe polish to make your EQH's hooves look oh-so-pretty!
Colors in stock: red, pink, blue, green, white, black, and yellow (alters your Equihound's hoof colors to color purchased)
75 SP
STEM cells
Use these cells to modify ONE aspect of an Equihound (limit once per Equihound)
500 SP
Embryo in a tube
With this unborn whelp in a tube, you can completely design your own EQH! Performance genes rolled randomly, and gene laws must be abided by. (limit 2 per user)
1000 SP
So, I am no longer really playing. I am sticking around to collect pets which I will exchange for art. Please only contact me about art or if you need some advice or a listening ear.