Newbie Fundraiser

Mike Eaton · Post by **Mike Eaton** » 16 years ago

oh ok. Thanks for all this feedback im suprised! Thanks and keep it coming! I also put it for newbies because people have said to me they werent as lucky as me and never recived a horse. That was emplying to me that people are being left out.

Inca Stables · Post by **Inca Stables** » 16 years ago

Mike

I do not think it is necessarily being left out. Some just do not ask for horses. I never asked for horses when I first started (though I wish I did because I really purchased some bad horses). I now do occassionally recieve horses that are gifts and I am thankful for them. Some people do not wish for help and will never ask, it depends on how you go about playing the simulation.

Miryam

I have also given horses to those that I feel deserve them and have a way of giving up horses. I would probably never give a horse to someone that asked I would generally feel better about giving a horse to someone that surprises them.

Mike Eaton · Post by **Mike Eaton** » 16 years ago

what if there is a newbie who doesnt know how to ask or doesnt feel like they can or should?

Anna Leroux · Post by **Anna Leroux** » 16 years ago

You shouldn't ask for free horses. When I joined I mentioned that I didn't know much about racing, wanted to learn more and wanted to learn tons about this game. I was simply gifted some horses. I have Baccie left of all my gifts. She's an amazing horse and I love her. But I didn't expect to receive free horses.

Gifts should be something unexpected. I give gifts to those who generally seem to be learning everything they can. Never do I give them because one is asking for a free horse.

Paul Sellers · Post by **Paul Sellers** » 16 years ago

Paul Heinrich wrote: Frankly, though I'll be a new player until week 7 next year, I'll feel a little embarrassed running horses at Trial Park next year, or picking up those 1k horses from abandoned stables. I've got 180 horses and nearly 400k in the bank.

Wow, color me impressed! I have been playing since 12-23-2006 and have less $$$ and less horses.

I think that this has been one of the more interesting and dynamic forum topics in a long time. I honestly believe this may be the biggest issue facing the SIM as it goes forward.

With Em's stated goal of growing the SIM to a size whereby it can serve as a full time job for her, there is a very good chance that the "community" that so many of you enjoy will be greatly diminished.

I, for one, came into this game with a background in horse racing as it pertained to gambling, and new pedigrees as they pertained to wagering value. (You may remember I was the one adamantly opposed to the elimination of real horses and real tracks). I didn't join the Forum for a long time (not until I was in Junior status) and played the game far more as a competitive outlet than for its availability a social community. Today I think I would agree that I play it for both.

So part of me likes Mike's idea as a method to spread the wealth to New Players who may not be regular Forum contributors and need that extra boost to remain competitive, but the discussion raises a bigger issue: What is the barrier to entry?

Eric talks about the specific necessity of game points, and there is no doubt that game points drive the SIM. How else could this be a full time job for the Steward if there isn’t a continuing large stream of GP purchases? But for many players (long-time veterans who have millions in SIM $, younger players, and spend-thrifts) buying game points is not an option.

But to really advance to the next level, I honestly believe that you either need help from other players (in the form of donated horses or SIM $) or real dollars to purchase Game Points. I would contend that the amount of time it would take to grow $100k into a top-level stable would be well outside the interest threshold of the newly joining player.

So the solution? I don’t know, I personally have spent a significant amount of GPs building my stable, but know that not everyone can do this. So if Mike’s idea was tweaked a bit it may a viable solution for improving the SIM.

Why not take all of the SIM $ spent at the auction and distribute it evenly among the new players? That way those who don’t forum post won’t be disadvantaged, and those who cannot buy GPs can afford to spend on the sales page to “buy up” to the next level?

(And Randall Graves … no communism comments!)

Mike Eaton · Post by **Mike Eaton** » 16 years ago

Well then we could randomally search a newbie a give them a horse. Although I feel nobody is willing. But it was worth a shot =). Personally I have an opinion about newbie races. I feel they should not happen! I feel this because in real life they dont have races like this that i know of. I think without it it would make it more real. In real life new trainers take time to become a winning trainer. Thats my opinion on that. Opinions?

Stormy Peak · Post by **Stormy Peak** » 16 years ago

My slant on things...

Those newbies who are going it alone...not coming to the forum - don't care enough about this aspect of the game to join in...so leave them be - don't rescue or help people who are probably not in need of it.

As far as give away horses. That's one of the first things I said here, that I would never ask for a free horse. But, when one is offered...I, with humble (and excited/happy) thanks will accept - and then there are those opportunities to win horses in contests and purse bonuses....most of which are privately sponsored by players who wish to help others out.

I also try not to pester people about selling their horses to me.
Since I've been here, I've only asked two people if they would sell me a horse. One person did, and was even graceous enough to give me discount on the price he first quoted me (he had a good racing weekend that week...lol).

The other person, had a mare, and I inquired if she would sell me that mare. The answer was nope she wasn't interested in selling. But, in typical sim kindness, that person allowed me to pick a sire for her mare, she paid for the breeding fee and gave me the foal.

I keep wanting to say I was stunned by such kindesses, but at the same time I keep seeing things like this happen all the time here...to me and to others. I shouldn't be stunned by how nice people here...it's a common occurance.

Em, doesn't really need to do much more for the newbies in my humble opinion...she has so many helpers who are paying attention to those newbies who post and offer help when asked and many, many times even when not asked for help they step forward and offer it.

I think that says a lot about this game...and it's why I did become a paying member.

Stormy

Alex Puderbaugh · Post by **Alex Puderbaugh** » 16 years ago

Mike, if you're trying to help newbies, then why are you saying to get rid of Trial Park races? I know it's not as realistic, but I think we need it. We also have to make sure it isn't too hard because we don't want people to get so frustrated they just leave. Now, I'm not saying we should make it super easy. However, Trial Park is a nice way for new players to ease into the game, build confidence, and WANT to become Simperior players, spend game points, etc.

Mac Silver · Post by **Mac Silver** » 16 years ago

Thats not communism... thats socialism...lol

Steph Lonhro · Post by **Steph Lonhro** » 16 years ago

yes trial park is a nice place, and I wish that when I was a newbie that I would have used it more, and I think the idea of getting rid of it is beyond ridiculous

free 'gift' horses should be something that is unexpected, I honestly want to get to know someone before I send them anything, maybe just a hello or an introduction or something, and pretty much agree with what Jade said

I did not initially receive free horses when I first arrived, nor do I think I asked, but I have received a few pretty nice horses, including my newest Stallion Officer(thanks Brianna) since then and I do appreciate it

Nikki Everdeen · Post by **Nikki Everdeen** » 16 years ago

Mike, if you're against the Trial Park races because they're unrealistic, then you should be against giving away free horses, because that doesn't happen in real life either...at least with good horses.

Also, I only received one free horse when I started, and that's because The Steward told me I should go buy a filly off the sales page she had just put up the day I joined, and when I couldn't find her, it turns out someone had JUST bought her. So she asked that person if they could send the horse my way. Otherwise, I never would have received a free horse.

Some newbies don't want to ask for freebies. I surely didn't ask!

Keith Maidlow · Post by **Keith Maidlow** » 16 years ago

Did Mike just flip from helping newbies to not??

If Mike wants no Trial Park racing and wants to be like real racing, then there would be no gifts, no money distribution from auctions, etc.

In real racing, I had a one horse stable consisting of a low level claimer purchased at auction as a yearling. After winning her first out at 3 in MD 5K, she was claimed second out at CL 7.5K. My understanding is there is an unwritten rule you don't claim from a one horse stable, but the new owner never researched if we had one horse or not, didn't care when our trainer/co-owner contacted him and we were out of business/fun for awhile.

Anyhow I don't think we should go there but I think things are working just fine as is. I'll say it again, work hard and be a little lucky and you'll be successful over time.

Nikki Everdeen · Post by **Nikki Everdeen** » 16 years ago

Keith, you're right. There is in general an unwritten rule not to claim from a one-horse stable.

Laura Smith · Post by **Laura Smith** » 16 years ago

NikkiSherman wrote: Keith is right. The value of the SIM dollar has changed significantly. I first started playing near the end of Year 16, and I remember that spending $5,000 on a horse was a BIG deal for me. Horses could often sit on the sales page for $100 and not sell...and they weren't very bad horses, either!

I remember I could have bought Adjust The Lens for something like $25k on the sales page when I first joined at the beginning of Year 16. Had I had $25k at that point. *cries*
I also recall literally having to count the money I'd spent to see if I had 10k to buy <a href='http://www.simhorseracing.com/horse.php?HorseID=16887' target='_blank'>this mare</a> without going into negative money (this was before the money was counted in real-time...)

Horse value has skyrocketed since then, of course.

Gary Cooper · Post by **Gary Cooper** » 16 years ago

Stormy Peak wrote: My slant on things...

Those newbies who are going it alone...not coming to the forum - don't care enough about this aspect of the game to join in...so leave them be - don't rescue or help people who are probably not in need of it.

Stormy... we will agree to disagree on this one.

30 horses and gifts ! whewwwww !

And I will just back Eric ... for I think we have paved the same road. Though Mr. Skaggs has been my mentor and I have many people I talk with.

Everyone enjoying their break?