Wed Dec 14, 2005 3:37 pm
There are a couple of reasons for not allowing pet transfers:
First, it would cause people to start selling pets, which is definitely against the rules. It just wouldn't be direct - "I'll give you my pet for free. By the way, a Faerie PB is on my Christmas List."
Since there'd be no actual middle body to hold things in escrow until those materials were transferred, there'd also be a lot of reneging on deals like that, which would cause a lot of tension and accusations flying back and forth.
Another reason is if your account gets scammed, and you have a nice pet, then the scammer could take your pet as well as your goodies, and then sell it to someone unsuspecting.
First, it would cause people to start selling pets, which is definitely against the rules. It just wouldn't be direct - "I'll give you my pet for free. By the way, a Faerie PB is on my Christmas List."
Since there'd be no actual middle body to hold things in escrow until those materials were transferred, there'd also be a lot of reneging on deals like that, which would cause a lot of tension and accusations flying back and forth.
Another reason is if your account gets scammed, and you have a nice pet, then the scammer could take your pet as well as your goodies, and then sell it to someone unsuspecting.
Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:17 pm
I just pounded a lab pet this morning, and it was snapped up by a 1 month account. Looks like the rule isn't in effect, yet.
Personally, I like the rule. While I don't mind newbies getting my lab pets, I was getting tired of my pets getting nabbed by autoadopters who would just get themselves frozen the next day and the pet would be lost forever. It's not a perfect rule, but I appreciate the effort to stop the nasty autoadopters.
Personally, I like the rule. While I don't mind newbies getting my lab pets, I was getting tired of my pets getting nabbed by autoadopters who would just get themselves frozen the next day and the pet would be lost forever. It's not a perfect rule, but I appreciate the effort to stop the nasty autoadopters.
Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:26 pm
I was all set to adopt a hissi from the post on the adoption thread, but my account's only 2 1/2 months old at the moment. I'm not going to risk losing a hissi even if the rule's not in effect yet. I'm going to ask one of my friends to hold him for me till my account's matured.
Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:21 pm
Zombie wrote:Eh...I have sort of mixed feelings about it.
As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with the Pound being the risky place it is. It lets younger users potentially get really lucky and have the pet of their dreams even though they are still learning about the site.
See, though, that's the thing. In my opinion, a new player can think "wow, that grey gelert is really cool, and look at that Darigan eyrie!" but neither of those is going to be "the pet of their dreams," because they haven't been around long enough to... well, dream about it. They don't understand how much NP it takes for a pet like that, and how coveted those pets are by many. To them, it's just a cool-looking bunch of pixels -- it only becomes more when you've been around for a while, grown attached to your pets and really want to paint them one of those colors. And like you said:
most of those accounts didn't go anywhere, yeah, they probably didn't take care of the pet that well or train it or improve it, and yeah, a lot of the time the users left Neopets.com anyway
And that's because the pet didn't mean much to them, as they never worked for it themselves, or had time to get attached to it before it turned a cool color. I know that doesn't matter to you, but I find it kind of sad -- those pretty pets could have gone to users who had been playing a long time, and who would have been ecstatic to receive one.
Anyway, I don't think this new rule is fostering elitism or anything. Anyone can paint their pet any color if they work hard and save up enough. They can even buy a lab map for a pretty good price and have fun zapping their pet and seeing it turn all kinds of species and colors. <4-monthers shouldn't get shortcuts -- I'd wager that hardly any of us did!
Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:37 pm
Cranberry wrote:Zombie wrote:Eh...I have sort of mixed feelings about it.
As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with the Pound being the risky place it is. It lets younger users potentially get really lucky and have the pet of their dreams even though they are still learning about the site.
See, though, that's the thing. In my opinion, a new player can think "wow, that grey gelert is really cool, and look at that Darigan eyrie!" but neither of those is going to be "the pet of their dreams," because they haven't been around long enough to... well, dream about it. They don't understand how much NP it takes for a pet like that, and how coveted those pets are by many. To them, it's just a cool-looking bunch of pixels -- it only becomes more when you've been around for a while, grown attached to your pets and really want to paint them one of those colors. And like you said:most of those accounts didn't go anywhere, yeah, they probably didn't take care of the pet that well or train it or improve it, and yeah, a lot of the time the users left Neopets.com anyway
And that's because the pet didn't mean much to them, as they never worked for it themselves, or had time to get attached to it before it turned a cool color. I know that doesn't matter to you, but I find it kind of sad -- those pretty pets could have gone to users who had been playing a long time, and who would have been ecstatic to receive one.
Anyway, I don't think this new rule is fostering elitism or anything. Anyone can paint their pet any color if they work hard and save up enough. They can even buy a lab map for a pretty good price and have fun zapping their pet and seeing it turn all kinds of species and colors. <4-monthers shouldn't get shortcuts -- I'd wager that hardly any of us did!
I think they need to redo this rule to something like "Owners trying to DISOWN pets with an account younger then four months CAN NOT Disown them!"
Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:53 pm
What good would that do? 
Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:59 pm
Erin wrote:What good would that do?
Stop people from spamming "red_grall_omg" pets
Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:08 pm
Actually, that does make a lot of sense. Pound spam is annoying.
And I guess maybe part of my resentfulness over the four month rule is that I have been playing neopets for less than 4 months, and I don't like that being seen as equivalent to being a bad or unproven player. I mean, habitual scammers and spammers are constantly referred to by a term that in other games means "new player". What does this say about the attitude at neopets? I've invested time and effort into my account, and I have one pet that I have painted myself. I've put some effort into a lookup and petpages, and gotten involved in my guild, and in a plot. And yet, I'm not worthy of adopting a level 2 pet?
I knew what kind of painted pets I wanted to have within one week on neopets. The likelihood that I'll find one of them at the pound randomly? Not very high. And a lot of people who put pets up for adoption won't adopt out to accounts younger than a certian age. But I'd like to at least have the chance to get lucky at the pound. Because in my experience so far, a lot of success in neopets is based on luck- REs and luck-based games predominate, and even methods of income such as wiz-sniping and restocking rely heavily on luck as well as practice and a fast internet connection.
When new players getting lucky and coming across a good pet in the pound hurts players who are trying to transfer pets, it's a sad thing. And maybe there should be a safer way to transfer pets. But when you've invested months or years into a game, it's a lot easier to say "you shouldn't mind waiting." When you've just starting, and someone says "oh, you have to wait 4 months before you can do this" it seems like forever, and not really worth it.
Honestly, this rule won't affect me for that much longer. And I do see the reasons behind it. I just don't think it's the best way to handle the situation, and I think it does send out a bit of an elitist message. But, as was mentioned before, it's just a bunch of pixels there for entertainment value, so I'm not sweating it too much.
And I guess maybe part of my resentfulness over the four month rule is that I have been playing neopets for less than 4 months, and I don't like that being seen as equivalent to being a bad or unproven player. I mean, habitual scammers and spammers are constantly referred to by a term that in other games means "new player". What does this say about the attitude at neopets? I've invested time and effort into my account, and I have one pet that I have painted myself. I've put some effort into a lookup and petpages, and gotten involved in my guild, and in a plot. And yet, I'm not worthy of adopting a level 2 pet?
I knew what kind of painted pets I wanted to have within one week on neopets. The likelihood that I'll find one of them at the pound randomly? Not very high. And a lot of people who put pets up for adoption won't adopt out to accounts younger than a certian age. But I'd like to at least have the chance to get lucky at the pound. Because in my experience so far, a lot of success in neopets is based on luck- REs and luck-based games predominate, and even methods of income such as wiz-sniping and restocking rely heavily on luck as well as practice and a fast internet connection.
When new players getting lucky and coming across a good pet in the pound hurts players who are trying to transfer pets, it's a sad thing. And maybe there should be a safer way to transfer pets. But when you've invested months or years into a game, it's a lot easier to say "you shouldn't mind waiting." When you've just starting, and someone says "oh, you have to wait 4 months before you can do this" it seems like forever, and not really worth it.
Honestly, this rule won't affect me for that much longer. And I do see the reasons behind it. I just don't think it's the best way to handle the situation, and I think it does send out a bit of an elitist message. But, as was mentioned before, it's just a bunch of pixels there for entertainment value, so I'm not sweating it too much.
Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:17 pm
Well, I think where they are coming from on this front is that they're basically saying all new players, or players in general, should work to getting their pets at higher levels.
yes, it's superb to see a lv. 20 pet in the pound when you have a new account. But, why should the new user have it when he/she may leave two days later? Why not give the older, more loyal user to have it?
And I want to see this Spam Rule emplied. I am sick of seeing "lovely_grahhl" and "blue_acara2000aaa"'s
yes, it's superb to see a lv. 20 pet in the pound when you have a new account. But, why should the new user have it when he/she may leave two days later? Why not give the older, more loyal user to have it?
And I want to see this Spam Rule emplied. I am sick of seeing "lovely_grahhl" and "blue_acara2000aaa"'s
Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:29 pm
I think transfers should be allowed between accounts that share the same email address or such. That would cut down on people selling pets since they'd have to share an email addy.
I think the 4 mth rule is fine. Yes, new players will have to wait longer, but why not just wait and work and build up your own pet rather than take one that could be a possible transfer and you did absolutely nothing for? As soon as I saw the Maraquan Draik released, I loved it. I worked very hard and was patient and eventually was able to get it. I appreciate her so much more now because of everything it took. There's a certain feeling of accomplishment when you finally get that pet you've been wanting. So much more than just snatching one up instantly.
I think the 4 mth rule is fine. Yes, new players will have to wait longer, but why not just wait and work and build up your own pet rather than take one that could be a possible transfer and you did absolutely nothing for? As soon as I saw the Maraquan Draik released, I loved it. I worked very hard and was patient and eventually was able to get it. I appreciate her so much more now because of everything it took. There's a certain feeling of accomplishment when you finally get that pet you've been wanting. So much more than just snatching one up instantly.
Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:23 am
Jasujo wrote:I think transfers should be allowed between accounts that share the same email address or such. That would cut down on people selling pets since they'd have to share an email addy.
Dear lord, could you imagine the amount of scamming that would go on that way?
Personx: "Switch your email to match mine so we can transfer pets!"
PersonY: "Okay" *changes email*
Personx: "Muahahahaha!" *hacks account and runs off giggling*
Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:45 am
Pff, if someone got hacked because they changed their email address to someone else's then they deserved it.
Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:55 am
Thank-you. I totally agree. Pet sales can end up one of three ways:
1. You give up a pet first, and not get paid.
2. You make a payment up front and not get the pet.
3. You do one or two and the other person actually keeps their end of the deal.
I can't imagine 3 being very likely, but nothing in the current system would prevent it either. It's going to happen either way and I'd rather see some sort of new transfer system that would at least ensure that pets in the pound were really meant to be there.
1. You give up a pet first, and not get paid.
2. You make a payment up front and not get the pet.
3. You do one or two and the other person actually keeps their end of the deal.
I can't imagine 3 being very likely, but nothing in the current system would prevent it either. It's going to happen either way and I'd rather see some sort of new transfer system that would at least ensure that pets in the pound were really meant to be there.
Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:47 am
It seems the new rules for adopting have now been activated. A few boards have sprung up but not many.
I still think it is a good idea. At least after 4 months you CAN adopt, it is not like you will never be able to find a good pet in the pound.
Selling of pets should never be allowed.
The adoption centre is a good idea, but needs to be tweaked a bit more. This new rule is a start in the right direction.
I still think it is a good idea. At least after 4 months you CAN adopt, it is not like you will never be able to find a good pet in the pound.
Selling of pets should never be allowed.
The adoption centre is a good idea, but needs to be tweaked a bit more. This new rule is a start in the right direction.
Thu Dec 15, 2005 8:27 am
I agree completely. I have only lost two pets, ever- IshizuIshtar_ and Kaltherad. Isis was a Desert Peophin, who was going back on ankhzalika with Malik, but she was autoadopted and frozen a few days later.
And Althe... Poor Althe. He was a HUGELY powerful Chokato Chia, who I had finally found the perfect owner for... he was merrily on his way, when WHACK, autoadopted and frozen in less than five minutes.
Both of them went to accounts of under two days in age.
Yes, I like this rule. I like it a lot.
Now to go back to earning the three million NP I need to remake my pets. *Sigh* (Wish there was a Mara Kyrii MP, that would make my job so much easier...)
And Althe... Poor Althe. He was a HUGELY powerful Chokato Chia, who I had finally found the perfect owner for... he was merrily on his way, when WHACK, autoadopted and frozen in less than five minutes.
Both of them went to accounts of under two days in age.
Yes, I like this rule. I like it a lot.
Now to go back to earning the three million NP I need to remake my pets. *Sigh* (Wish there was a Mara Kyrii MP, that would make my job so much easier...)