Hi all, I'm a new player that just started yesterday. I know it's kind of early to start breeding pets, but I'd just like to start planning out which pets I want to breed later. But since I need to look at genes for that and I don't have a lot of vermillion, is there a general rule of thumb I can use for figuring out which pets are worth using silvers and vermillion on? 

Okay, new question out of curitosity. 

How does gene expression work regarding special abilities and research? I've been looking at the list of genes for a few days and it says that there are some special abilities that are activated in battle if both genes are dominant. For example, agile paws and quickmind creates the counterstrike ability, the spitting muscle and napal glands creates fire-breathing, and so on and so forth. Or even single dominant genes like second breath or berserker - ones that aren't immediately obvious by looking at stats.

My question is if these abilites are expressed even if you haven't researched them - you aren't aware that they are there or actually dominant. Some genes are obviously expressed even if we don't know that they are there; the agile paws gave my puma's agility stat the green bonus long before I researched it. Does this apply with special abilities as well?

Also, how do golems and item schemes work? I know blueprints = building, and that's that. But what about schemes? Are they reusable or would I have to get my hands on another scheme to make the same item? Same with golems. If I use a golem scheme and make 100 food from 50 food, does the golem go away afterwards and I have to get a new scheme to make another one? Or could I just indefinitely multiply whatever material that the golem makes? (That sounds way too good to be true.) This might have been covered in the tutorial, but I don't remember haha..

That would really depend on you, but for me, I typically first check the parents, then the stats, to speculate how their gene pool would look, if I like how it looks, then I'll research it fully. -- Though this is only when I'm hurting for vermillion, :P, otherwise I'd just research.

If you need an example:

She was just born today: http://beastkeeper.com/pet/571423

If you look at her parents, you'll know for sure she has Petrifying Gaze homo and may have a bunch of others homogeneous, so you look at the stats, for any that could be visible -- she has Steel bones homogeneous, but too bad for Quickmind, it's a recessive.

With this, you'll figure out a few of what she has, and can choose to research it fully, and maybe save some vermillion and silver if you have a Genetist visiting your Inn.

I see. How about if you don't have access to the parent genes? Say that the parents either don't have researched genes or are wild. I'd have to look at stats next. Would you say it was worth it to research the parents or the offspring if they have a couple of red stats? 

Specifically I guess I'm asking about my rocs. The tutorial had me breed them; both parents started out with two red stats, and now the baby is born, and he's not looking too great either with three red stats. Should I assume that they've all got too many bad genetics to bother with? 

Just looked at your Rocs, and from my view point, yes, I presonally wouldn't want to spend the vermillion & silver to research it, unless I want to continue breeding with them, or am willing to take a gamble.

If you head over to here: http://beastkeeper.com/gen-lib -- it tells you all the genes which species may possess;

Your male has Weak Muscles and Fragile Bones, for sure

Your female has Weak Muscles and Slow Mind, for sure

The baby has, you can probably tell so I'll skip.

Now, I responded to someone else's post earlier about gene power, and it may play a part in your decision here (the gamble part). -- The 3 listed genes are all the highest Gene Power of their branch, so they can potentially have quite a few useful genes, but when you look at Frequency, the chances are they'll be normal, so it's a gamble.

Anyways, the Red Genes aren't all bad, as there are some quests that ask for them, and they help you know which genes you get. It's pretty much up to you, if you want to research, then research, otherwise hold off till you want to, which may be never.

Lastly, there are quite a few helpful tips in the Player Guides section of the forum: http://beastkeeper.com/threads/21 -- should have linked it in my earlier post.

Okay. I'll guess I'll keep the rocs around and maybe research them.. Unless I run out of stable space. Anyway, thanks again!

You should really post, either a new thread, or another post stating you have edited / your new questions, instead of editing your first post and the title, as not that many players will check otherwise -- I was just bored, and saw the unanswered, so here I am :P

I'm not sure what you mean by 'expression', but most of them are either a percentage change of working, or are situational. Examples are: Counterstrike, you need to dodge the attack to counter; Second Breath is pretty much what it says, you get a free turn to clobber the opponent, meaning it doesn't move that turn, like it's been petrified, scared, etc; Berserker, and Boiling Blood, adds something like a bonus counter to the pet. -- Also, it doesn't have to be researched in order to work, this should answer your 2nd paragraph.

Schemes are pretty much the same as blueprints, only difference is that once the item/golem is used up, you'll have to build a new one. Example: For golems, once they collapse, you'll have to make a new one.

Ah, got it. Thank you again for the info! 

I'm going to leave this open because it was a really good explanation and question - It will be useful for others :)

Super helpful, thanks!