In your opinion, what is a good number for a pack? Also if you want to go into a little more detail, what ratio of the dynamics (secondary and tertiary) in a pack would there need to be to make an ideal pack balance?
Ahhh thank you for being my first anon!
Honestly, I don’t really think there’s one good number OR ratio for a pack- it all depends on the needs and preferences of whoever’s in it.
Speaking practically, however, it might not be realistic for an irl pack with more than, say, 10-15 or so members to come together. While their might be some people who could manage a very large pack, miscefolks planning to have a pack irl should take into consideration space, schedules, etc. Having a pack larger pack online seems a bit easier, as long as you make sure to stay active and not let things fizzle out. Most omegaverse fiction I’ve come across is more or less along those lines, with packs being around 10 members.
This leads into dynamic ratios, which I’ve pretty much only seen in fiction as 6 betas + 1-3 omegas + 1-3 alphas, or 3-4 betas + 3-4 omegas + 3-4 alphas. However, that often doesn’t work when actually trying to form a pack, since a “perfect” ratio and exclusively primary dynamics aren’t realistic for most miscefolks. The vast majority of miscefolks are omegas or on the omega spectrum - which is so interesting to me considering in most fiction theyre the ~rare and coveted~ dynamic but that’s a separate can of worms lol - so packs in my experience usually end up leaning towards an omega majority. Due to the emphasis on a pack head (usually an alpha specifically) this can sometimes cause a feeling of your pack being incomplete, but not every dynamic is necessary for a pack to thrive! In an ideal world, sure, at least one person of every dynamic (primary and secondary) would be in a pack, but it all boils down to what feels right for you and your pack. For example, while some people might feel the need for variation in dynamics to provide balance, fulfill roles, etc, other people might prefer the company of their own dynamic and feel more content with a pack wired similar to themselves.
I do have to say, though - personally, my ideal pack number and ratio... is the one I have! Three zetas (including me lol), two omegas, one dynamifluid person, and our lovely alpha ^-^
Remember, at the end of the day, while miscecanis/lupus/animalis can be a big part of someone’s identity, it’s a lifestyle that we choose to engage in. Your pack is a group of friends - arguably an extremely close group of friends - who share that lifestyle with you. So don’t bring someone into your pack just because you feel like you need more members or someone of a certain dynamic - there’s no right way to have a pack, it’s just what feels right for you.