Okay, ignore the fact that this is like... Six.... years late.
Linked markings were never really popular. I think on the other thread, only two Dralons with them were ever ordered, and none were bred. And... I never did breeding tests with them. I think the rules I have now stems from the fact that Dralons with linked markings actually had their layers combined, so if a Dralon had... I don't know, Paint Horse with Small Dots linked to it, Small Dots would then be merged down onto the same layer as Paint Horse. Makes what was said about all linked markings in a marking chain getting the same mode if mode shift was present, as well as a linked marking always showing up if its 'parent' marking does make perfect sense.
I could, technically, keep that. Maybe all I did wrong with the breeding I tried a few days ago was unlinking 50% of the markings. I don't like that. That doesn't make sense with the other attributes of markings. A gradient marking doesn't lose its gradient if that marking only shows up once in a breeding. What would it even revert to if it did? Just the first colour in the gradient? Ew.
So, we've at least established now that the linked nature of the marking is tied to the marking itself in the same way as gradient and mode shift. If that marking shows up, it's going to be linked, unless the other parent has the same marking not linked, then it can be 50/50.
I think it also makes perfect sense that it'll only show up if the marking its linked to also does. It would have to for the stats to make sense and for me to be able to build litter templates. I also think full marking chains should show up if the parent marking does.
So on a Dralon with... I don't know
Paint Horse
LINKED Small Dots
LINKED Tiger Stripes
All three would show up 50% of the time, and if they showed up, they would all show up.
Good, getting there. Figuring things out. Linked markings are weird.
Here's where things get interesting though. I think I want the linked status to always be preserved on a linked marking during breedings, but not necessarily what it's linked to.
So let's say... We have two parents. One has
Paint Horse
LINKED Small Dots
and the other has
Stockings
LINKED Tiger Stripes
If the advanced breeding form isn't used and I randomize the markings, they could turn out like, say... (Well, technically they could become that way if the advanced breeding form is used and the user wants the markings in this order, but, you know XD)
Stockings
LINKED Small Dots
LINKED Tiger Stripes
Paint Horse
So Small Dots and Tiger Stripes would be linked to Stockings, with Tiger Stripes further being linked to Small Dots.
Maybe visuals, one second...
So, in that litter template example...
X
=
That is, of course, just one possibility. The markings could be arranged any number of ways. Could even have both linked markings first, in which case the first one would just appear normal since its linked to the base.
Okay, so still the opportunity for a lot of fun shenanigans, without screwing over anyone who uses the advanced breeding form.
This is good.
I also want to scrap the rule that says mode shifts are condensed into one. I think each linked marking should have its own mode shift if applicable. I did tests with that yesterday so I know it'll work as long as I don't merge down the markings, which wouldn't make sense for breedings where I need to change the colour of the linked marking anyways. It can be considered linked without needing to be on literally the same layer.
So, in light of that, new rules
*Neither parent with linked marking = 0% chance of linked marking on each cub
*One parent with linked marking = 100% chance of the marking being linked if it shows up. The colour will be the exact same as the parent's colour. Whether or not the linked marking shows up depends on the marking above it in the breeding form. If that marking shows up, then the linked one will too.
One parent with linked marking and one without = 50% chance of the marking being linked if it shows up. The marking will be linked or not linked for the entire litter. Marking colour can be the same as either parent or a colour somewhere in between (colour mixing occurs at the stat level) Whether or not the linked marking shows up depends on the marking above it in the breeding form. If that marking shows up, then the linked one will too.
*Both parents with linked marking = 100% chance of the marking being linked if it shows up. Marking colour can be the same as either parent or a colour somewhere in between (colour mixing occurs at the stat level) Whether or not the linked marking shows up depends on the marking above it in the breeding form. If that marking shows up, then the linked one will too.
*Linked markings can become mode shifted, gradient, blended or Rainbow <3 if bred to a parent that has those types of markings
*If marking chains are present (more than one marking linked to each other) the entire chain showing up is dependent on the parent marking (Marking they're all linked to) showing up. Either the entire chain will show up, or the entire chain won't
*If a linked marking occurs as the first marking in a breeding, it will still have it's linked status, however will be linked to the base, and so appear normal looking
Takeaways
When breeding...
Linked markings will always retain their linked status unless bred to a parent that has the same marking but unlinked
Linked markings can become linked to different markings depending on the order of the stats
Linked markings will only show up if the parent marking does too
Marking chains are all or nothing, dependent on the parent marking
Further type of marking changes such as gradient or mode shifted will work normally when combined with a marking being linked
Yes. This makes sense to me now.