Nesting and Mating

**Nesting** and **mating** are gameplay mechanics in *Saurian*, applicable to every playable dinosaur, currently. Each species goes through a process of courtship to attract a mate, and if successful, the player will have the opportunity to build a nest, produce and rear eggs until their eventual hatching into offspring.

In all species the **mating call** is accessible in the call wheel. An icon with three hearts is visible and that can be selected to a potential mate. This icon is locked and unable to be used throughout the hatchling, juvenile and subadult stages, and after an unsuccessful use of the mating call during adulthood; in the latter case, it is usually locked for a certain amount of time, before you can do the mating call again. The mating call works when it is selected to a member of the opposite sex to attempt to attract it. When the mating call is made when there is no suitable mate around, it will heighten the chances of a suitable mate spawning in close.

The success of your courtship is dictated by your general health status, which is accessible in the pause menu, just below the age indicator, the **fitness indicator**. If your condition is excellent, your chances to succeed in mating are the best. This status is based on your general health throughout your gameplay, so staying well fed, hydrated and uninjured throughout the course of your progress will heighten the chances of a successful mating later on.

Mating attempts can be rejected, but those that are successful allow the appearance of another option in the social menu, replacing the mating call button, which is the **nest placement icon**, permitting the player to lay a nest. Once selected, the nest can be placed down on the ground, and once the nest blueprint turns green, it can be built on that location. If it is in red, it means it cannot be placed down in that specific place. The player will have to press LMB to place down the nest, and, when the player is over the nest, the player has to press LMB to dig the nest and build it up with dirt, before it can be suitable for egg rearing. Once the nest finishes construction, a pair of cutscenes plays, showing your player and your mate cuddling close to the nest, and later your nest with your eggs.

Over the course of the egg development, the player will have to constantly monitor the temperature of the nest and eggs. By activating scent, your nest will be highlighted, including your eggs. If the eggs are highlighted in white, it means that they are alive, but if they're highlighted in a duller and fainted grey, it means your eggs have died. If they are too cold they'll start flashing in scent mode, and require protection. Eggs can be taken by predators, so you will also have to defend them from egg eaters. Flooding is also destructive to nests, completely destroying and killing the eggs, therefore it is advised to lay eggs in relatively high ground to avoid changing water levels from killing the developing offspring.

Once the incubation period ceases, a cutscene will play zooming in on your nest, showing one or a few of the eggs wobbling, and then the cutscene ends to reveal newborn hatchlings on your nest, with cracked egg models left in the nest. Your babies will grow and be protected by you until they're old enough to become juveniles. For them to transition to their next growth stage, you have to press 'C' to sleep, to signify the passing of time.

## *Dakotaraptor* nesting and mating

*Dakotaraptor* is not a social animal, so the mating call can work in a different way to that of *Triceratops* in certain situations. You can use the mating call when there is no suitable mate around, but this will heighten the chances of a potential mate from spawning in close. The courtship display of *Dakotaraptor* is consisted by subtle wing and tail motions, signifying the use of their long pennaceous feathers for display.

The *Dakotaraptor* nest is simple to construct. Once the nest is placed down, the player will have to press LMB over the nest a few times to build dirt on the nest, and once completed, a pair of cutscenes will play, with the latter being consisted by the player sitting over its nest with eggs. *Dakotaraptor* eggs are elongated and blue, in color. To keep the eggs warm, the player must brood them by sitting over them, transfering body heat to them.

Once the babies hatch, both you and your mate will stick around for the offspring. Baby *Dakotaraptor* are largely independent at birth, being able to hunt for themselves. Your biggest concern is them being caught by predators, so they stick around you, or the other parent, for protection overall.

## *Triceratops* nesting and mating

*Triceratops*, being social animals, can use their mating call more often on members of their existing herd, but a mating call can also be used when a suitable mate isn't around, allowing one to spawn in close. The courtship display of *Triceratops* is composed by a head bob, to signify the display of their frill and horns.

The *Triceratops* nest is similarly constructed through the process of digging. However the eggs are not incubated through sitting over them, instead the player must click and hold LMB to grab a piece of vegetation and press RMB to drop the piece of vegetation over the nest. The decaying plant matter warms up the eggs, and you may have to do this over time to keep them at a good temperature. The plant matter will deteriorate over time, so the player must be aware that it may have to replenish the nest with more vegetation over time.

Once the babies hatch, they may have to be wisely watched over, for they are quite small, slow and defenseless against predators. *Triceratops* often live in herds and the mutual protection can be benefitial for this. Your babies can feed for themselves right after hatching.