Suggestions

Just had a bit of an idea that might make the game a little more appealing to people who cannot stand the coliseum or the fairgrounds, or cannot visit the site constantly throughout the day.

Part of the idea came to me while gathering, and the other came while reading the gardening suggestion. (While I do like the gardening suggestion, implementing it seems like it would be killer on the coding, and wouldn't really give a good variety of items back to the player. I believe patrolling, (Or whatever you'd like to name it.) Would be a far simpler solution, while solving some of the same problems.

Basically the idea would consist of a "dragon patrol". Where a player can choose a set amount of dragons, (Thinking along the lines of __ many dragons per lair space / page.) These dragons are then sent to patrol a specific area, like in gathering. They are sent for preset time limits. (20-30 minutes or so) During which time the player would be prevented from entering A. The fairgrounds, and B. The coliseum. Preventing the player from using the patrols as "extra loot". This feature would be intended for use only when the player isn't actually "playing". So to speak. By patrolling, they could receive the same type of items/treasure that could be earned during a similar time in the fairgrounds or coliseum. Or heck, even less than could be earned. It would simply give time limited players a way to earn a bit more without needing to spend many hours a day on the site.

When the time limit runs out, the dragons return with loot consisting of gathering type items and possibly some small amount of treasure.
This idea is meant to be simple, in both the way it would run, and in coding. The items to be gained would already be in existence, and would not require anything being created specifically for it. (Although it could be possible.)

As far as visual application, the idea as it is in my mind comes out as a set of drop down menus with check boxes for choosing the areas/dragons/time. (Again, simplicity is key.)
Item distribution would be chosen with a similar rate as coliseum drop/gathering turns.)

And of course, a limit on the amount of patrols per day could be implemented to prevent overuse / extortion. As well as a limit to adult dragons only, and perhaps even dragons who are not sitting on a nest.

Well, anyway, that's my random idea that came to me in the middle of the night when I need to be in bed.

I do agree, people shouldn't be rewarded for not playing, and this feature would no way encourage that. The way I envision it, you would receive far less rewards for using this feature vs playing fairgrounds or the coliseum. However, some people such as myself, have other commitments that cannot be pushed aside to play a game. Be it work, family, pets or hobbies aside from games. Having a feature like this would be another "mini game" so to speak, that would replace the fairgrounds and/or the coliseum for people who cannot use the fairgrounds or coliseum.

Gathering turns would not be effected.

Many other games have features like this one, meant for use only minimally. The fairgrounds and coliseum should always have a better payout, and if you have the time to play a lot, you would still make far more by doing so than using patrols.

But giving us the OPTION to get some sort of reward for minimal input would be a great way to boost interest in the game. I rarely have the time to spend more than 30 minutes or so on this game a day. My main reason for logging in is simply to feed everything and collect gathering turns. When I do get a chance to play for more than an hour, I use the coliseum (when it works) to level and exalt the dragons I've hatched recently.

If there was a way for me to gather more items when I cannot grind the coli for 3 hours would certainly make me want to play the game more when I do have time. Simply for the fact that I would not be falling so far behind everyone else who does have that time.

Other features could easily be worked in later on, such as having the level of a dragon effect how much or value of items returned. (Thus encouraging player to use the coliseum along with patrolling.)

My idea is simply just a basic idea that could be used to make game play a bit easier on those of us who cannot dedicate hours at a time to a game. I know the world isn't fair, and that those who have more time will always have an advantage. I see no reason why we shouldn't strive to make things as fair as we can.

Support.

This is a fairly simple implementation on Lioden that acts as filler activity, it's all about chance, I don't see what the issue is. You're more likely to turn up with nothing after the wait.

Although as a suggestion, perhaps don't bar people from the fairgrounds or coliseum (although, maybe the dragons on patrol are disabled from coli selection to make sense?). On Lioden you can still Explore (Adventure game), play the chance mini-game, etc.

I like the general idea, especially since some people do not get to choose how much time they spend on FR and are simply limited by reallife obligations.. But as also mentioned in the OP, to discourage any misuse, it really has to be a trade off.. Something for people who really only have time to gather, incubate, feed and perhaps bond and then have to leave again. For them they will be able to earn just that tad more extra, but for people who do have the time to grind the faireground or the coliseum, it will be a huge loss to use the feature..

I hope there can be a good way to implement this, as a total coding-noob I have now idea how much coding this'll require or how much it'll strain the server.. But I think, especially if you add a bit more lore to it, this could be a really cool feature! :-)

Another support count. I barely have time to log on and hit the Feed Dragons button, some days, so an option for me to get something and not feel like I've a day or so is a plus.