Whats up with Gens?

[Nym]

I've been wondering, how important are Gens, and why?
Is a lower gen more valuable than a higher gen? and whats the reasoning?
I didnt know you could see what gen an animal was, is that just because I have stream borns so they have no lineage to view?
Thanks for any help!!

[wolfeyedangel]

Rough run down (note this does NOT apply to how lineages track gens... lineages track 'lineage generation' differently and it has zilch bearing on what actual generation the creature is.)

Why:
Lower gens are easier to verify that they are what they are claimed to be.
Many people, for a variety of reasons, prefer non-inbred creatures.
Many people, for a variety of reasons, prefer pure and 'even generation' creatures.
Many people, for a variety of reasons, prefer creatures that are not inbred.

I'm not going to elaborate on those reasons since they vary from person to person though there are some common threads, that would turn this post into more of a novel than it's already heading towards.

Mechanics.
'lower' generation means 'closer to Stream Born or eqiv.'
SB/GB/critters without parents are SB/GB/etc.
SB+SB = 1st gen offspring.
1st gen + 1st gen or SB = 2nd gen offspring.
2nd gen + 2nd gen or lower = 3rd gen offspring.

Basically the generations go like this:
SB
1st gen
2nd gen
3rd gen
4th gen
5th gen
etc

based on the LONGEST single line. Offspring of that creature are the creature's generation +1.

You'll see 1.5 gen which is a term that is somewhat discouraged it generally means that it's a 2nd gen creature with one 1st gen parent and one SB parent, but the 'half generations' are confusing and the moderators (and Morgaln) have formally decreed that over all it's the longest 'path' that determines the generation, and that 1st gen is the offspring of 2 SB (or equivalent) creatures.

~Wolfeyedangel

[Majick]

So, if I breed a 4th Gen to a SB that would still mean it's a 5th generation?

[KooshyKoKo]

So, if I breed a 4th Gen to a SB that would still mean it's a 5th generation?

Yep.

[Majick]

Okay, good to know. Thank you ^__^

[Nym]

So being of a higher gen (4,5,6 ect) doesnt effect them essentially, then, right? like a high gen still has the same percentage chance of breeding for example... because i know in some games a high gen is not favoured because their ability to breed decreases with each gen. the higher they get, the lower the chances of successful breeding.

But here its just a preference, correct?

[Kriever]

But here its just a preference, correct?

Yep.

[Nym]

Great, thank you!!