#puppy points

[soulsrpg]

Does SA keep track of puppy points? Because I swear some players use more than three or even four they're allotted for the year.

Yes, we keep track of points.Remember that not every litter has points contributed by both parents, so it may be that a player’s characters have totaled more than 3 puppies a year, but they didn’t contribute points for each of those puppies. If you feel there’s been a mistake, you’re free to let us know.

[soulsrpg]

I know the 4th puppy point is intended for players w/ many characters to make it easier to spread points out between all those characters. However, if I had several characters, but wanted to use all my puppy points (plus the extra) just on one or two of those characters, would that be okay even though it's not in the spirit of the rule? Or would it need to be spread out like intended?

We’re not gonna say it’s a hard “no.” You’re right that it wouldn’t be in the spirit of the rule, but again, since the 4th point scenario occurs very infrequently, we prefer to judge on a case-by-case basis.

[soulsrpg]

At what # of characters is a 4th puppy point feasible? 5? 6? what are the guidelines for that 4th point?

We don’t have a lot of hard guidelines for this because it happens so infrequently. So far, we’ve only granted a 4th point to players with five or more characters though.

[soulsrpg]

I saw a question a while back I think regarding adoption contracts. If a player specifies that all children of their reclaimed adopted character become their "property" as well, what is SA's thoughts on this? The adopter didn't put forth any puppy points for them so in my opinion they shouldn't be allowed to claim ownership of those puppies. If anything only the players who put forth their own puppy points should be the only ones that has any say in what happens to them...

We did explain our stance in that previous question, including caveats about puppy ownership when puppies are adopted out or paid for by the other parent’s points. Players attempting to create contracts that overrule those caveats – such as contracts that seek to reclaim all puppies, even those who’ve been adopted out or which belonged to the other parent’s player – cannot be enforced.We don’t really want to police adoption contracts. Players are allowed to include whatever stipulations they wish, reasonable or otherwise, in their contracts, including stuff like requiring the adopter makes 50+ posts daily with the adopted character or they’ll be reclaimed. That said, if you think that an adoption contract is unfair, you don’t have to adopt that character – or if you really like the character, why not talk to the creator and try to reach a compromise?Generally speaking, we agree that it makes the most sense for the player contributing puppy points to have “default” ownership of puppies created. However, if they agreed to a contract dictating otherwise… that’s on them, isn’t it?

[soulsrpg]

It is possible for a player to use their puppy points for a character that is adopting a puppy? i.e. Wolf finds Coyote puppy that is <2 months old, Coyote's mother is dead/gone, can Wolf's player use one of their three points to adopt the puppy (if activity approves) instead of placing it in their cNPC slot? I would imagine it would run along the same line as same-gender couples and puppies?

No, puppy points cannot be used for a “found” puppy; it would have to be a cNPC.Puppy points are meant to be used for biological children born on-board, or for same-sex couples making use of a surrogate on-board. This is to encourage more realistic child-rearing, active parents with active ties, and to increase chances of the pup being successfully adopted/picked up by a player. The benefits that come with yNPC status – the ability to be listed on the official Open Characters list and to be played months earlier than a cNPC puppy – are all to see to that end. A “found” puppy given the benefits of yNPC status would likely encourage more found puppies, which we don’t wish to do.

[soulsrpg]

Is it allowed to have a same sex couple litter with a NPC character where the NPC character is the one pregnant and the active character donating the points? i.e. Female coyote is cNPC to female wolf, female coyote is pregnant and in a same sex relationship with female wolf, female wolf donates points to have a live litter with female coyote.

Yep, this is fine!

Do note that, just like with a same-sex couple between two players, only the intended parent(s) can contribute puppy points – so in this situation, the biological father (if played) cannot contribute points.

[soulsrpg]

I know this must be posted on the forum somewhere but I cant seem to find it. What are puppy points?

Puppy points are mentioned in the Procedures regarding puppies, though perhaps the description isn’t quite explicit enough?

Puppy points are used to determine how many surviving puppies a litter will have. Each player is allotted three points per calendar year, pending approval based on activity.Players request and use their points when requesting a litter. Any pups born in a litter without the use of a puppy point is not permitted to survive past two months of age.

[soulsrpg]

Clarification on who can contribute pup points! Say Male 1 and Female 2 are mates, but Female 2 has an affair with Male 3. Would Male 1 be able to contribute points, given that he'd IC'ly consider them as his / raise the pups as his or would only Female 2 and Male 3 be able to contribute, since IC'ly they'd be his although not biologically?

In this scenario, only Female 2 and Male 3 would be able to contribute points to the litter. (It looks like you may have mistyped the last part, as Male 3 would be the biological father?)

Only the biological parents of a litter may contribute puppy points except in the case of same-sex couples using a surrogate.