Color theory in horse breeding can seem complex, but understanding the underlying mechanics can significantly improve your breeding outcomes. This guide aims to clarify the process, focusing on how color values and tiers influence the potential offspring. For reference, a helpful chart can be found at https://imgur.com/a/DaeiQ.
When referencing horses from the chart, we’ll use the format “T” followed by the tier number and a letter, for example, T4-E for “the Hulk,” a green horse in Tier 4. Each horse is characterized by three distinct color values: Red, White, and Black. The lower the tier of a horse, the lower these associated color values.
A “purebred” horse, in this context, is defined as a horse that has a color value greater than 1 in only one of the three color categories. Several horses are considered purebred, including T1-A, T4-B, T4-I, T5-J, T5-K, T5-L, T6-A, T7-A, T7-B, T7-C, T8-C, and T8-E.
The Mechanics of Breeding: Combining Color Values
To predict the potential foal colors, we need to sum the color values of the two parent horses. Let’s consider two horses from Tier 5: T5-C and T5-D. T5-C has the following values: Red 4, White 1, and Black 1. T5-D has: Red 3, White 0, and Black 2.
Adding these values together for the potential offspring yields: a combined Red value of 7, a combined White value of 1, and a combined Black value of 3. This can be concisely represented as 7/1/3.
When the game determines the foal’s color, it first selects a color channel—Red, White, or Black—and then picks a number between 1 and the maximum value within that chosen channel. For our example (7/1/3), this means the foal could inherit a Red value between 1 and 7, a White value of 1, or a Black value between 1 and 3.
A crucial rule in breeding is that a desired foal’s color value must be matched or exceeded in at least one of its color channels (Red, White, or Black) by the combined parent values. Therefore, the possible results from breeding T5-C and T5-D include:
- Any horse with a Red value from 1 to 7, if Red was the chosen color channel.
- Any horse with a White value of 1, if White was the chosen color channel.
- Any horse with a Black value from 1 to 3, if Black was the chosen color channel.
It’s important to remember that only one color channel is chosen per breeding roll, which opens up a wide range of potential offspring. The dominant color of the parents does not necessarily dictate the dominant color of the foal, as long as at least one color value is present and matches the criteria.
The Advantage of Purebred Horses
Purebred horses are highly valued due to their specific color value distribution. For instance, a purebred white horse has values like 0/4/0 in Tier 4, 0/5/0 in Tier 5, and 0/7/0 in Tier 7. The key benefit here is the presence of ‘0’ in their color values. This effectively “skips” that color during the foal generation process, forcing the selection to occur within the color channels that have a value greater than 1. This significantly increases the chances of producing the next purebred horse in a desired color line. For example, breeding two Tier 5 purebred white horses can improve your odds of obtaining a Tier 7 purebred white horse. However, it’s still possible to produce a foal that has a White value of 1 but is dominant in another color, such as T5-H.
Understanding these color mechanics and the strategic advantage of purebreds can greatly enhance your success in horse breeding. Good luck with your breeding endeavors!
