What is Variety and how do I raise it?

[(TheFallenGEM) Mackeral]

I have over 10 species (4 carno 6 herb) in 3 pens, all of them have genetic modifications and all are at 100% everything (including gene's). Despite all of this I am at -301 variety penalty.

[JohnnyG]

I think its how many different species you have in one enclosure.

[(TheFallenGEM) Mackeral]

Originally posted by JohnnyG:

I think its how many different species you have in one enclosure.

I would that however, on my other island I have 11 species (6 carno, 5 herb) with groups of 2 for the carno's and then all 5 herb species in 1 pen. On my current island I have 10 species, 6 herb all in the same pen and 4 carno in groups of 2 in two pens but yet I get -318 variety for this island and on the other one i dont get any

[Marasume]

It is different species on the island.

[(TheFallenGEM) Mackeral]

Originally posted by Marasume:

It is different species on the island.

I presume you are asking 'Is it different species on the island' and if that is the question then the answer is yes. I have 6 herb species and 6 carno species on my current island with -284 variety penalty.

[Erook D Weeb]

It's about different species of dinosaurs, not the amount that you have..
Having 4 velociraptors, 4 parasaurus and 2 diplodocus in the park is only 3 species of dinosaur.

[(TheFallenGEM) Mackeral]

Originally posted by Erook:

It's about different species of dinosaurs, not the amount that you have..
Having 4 velociraptors, 4 parasaurus and 2 diplodocus in the park is only 3 species of dinosaur.

I understand that, I shortened the words to make it faster to type and I think that confused you carno : carnivore , herb ; herbivore.

I have currently:

Pen 1 : 5 parasaurs, 1 Edmont, 1 Diplo, 1 Brachi, 1 Archaeorn, 2 Struthi and 2 Gallimimus
Pen 2 : 1 Spino and 3 Dilo
Pen 3 : 1 T-rex and 2 Raptors
Pen 4 : 2 Cereto and 3 Deinonychus

Current variety penalty: -255

[RanchSmoothie]

This is mostly guesswork, (as I haven't done any sort of extensive testing, but I have 5-starred all islands) however, it may also work off of how large the island is. With larger islands able to host a wider variety explaining some of the difference in score. Also class differences...16 hadrosaurs vs 1 sauropod and 1 nodosaurus and a few ceratopsids may bring different/more variety. Skins may also play a part, having 6 species all with the Alpine skin doesn't count as much towards variety. I have found that meeting the social need of herbs and pairing them with 1-2 other species/skins and having a ratio of like 1:3ish - carnivore:herbivore exhibits has been plenty to 5-star an island, excluding Isla Pena which was solely carnivore. Hope that helps, or at least gives a decent starting point to testing :)

EDIT:

Originally posted by (TheFallenGEM) Mackeral:

I understand that, I shortened the words to make it faster to type and I think that confused you carno : carnivore , herb ; herbivore.

I have currently:

Pen 1 : 5 parasaurs, 1 Edmont, 1 Diplo, 1 Brachi, 1 Archaeorn, 2 Struthi and 2 Gallimimus
Pen 2 : 1 Spino and 3 Dilo
Pen 3 : 1 T-rex and 2 Raptors
Pen 4 : 2 Cereto and 3 Deinonychus

Current variety penalty: -255

Looking at this I would suggest branching out classes, to see if that changes anything. Currently Pen 1 looks to have 3 classes (hadro, sauro, ornith thero) . I would add (space allowing) another herb pen with ceratopsids/stegosaurians and maybe a nodosaurus or 2 or . Also make sure you have skin variety. Idk if it changes anything, but my parks never had more than 2 dinos of the same species+skin combo.

Another thought: Do all your dinos have the same genetic upgrades (maxed for a specific stat such as lifespan for example)? Again, I'm unsure if this changes anything, as I havent really tested any of it, but I tried to make each species as "unique" as I could on my initial playthrough.

Just trying to give you some thoughts/insight into how I did it to see if that sparks anything/helps.

[(TheFallenGEM) Mackeral]

Originally posted by RanchSmoothie:

This is mostly guesswork, (as I haven't done any sort of extensive testing, but I have 5-starred all islands) however, it may also work off of how large the island is. With larger islands able to host a wider variety explaining some of the difference in score. Also class differences...16 hadrosaurs vs 1 sauropod and 1 nodosaurus and a few ceratopsids may bring different/more variety. Skins may also play a part, having 6 species all with the Alpine skin doesn't count as much towards variety. I have found that meeting the social need of herbs and pairing them with 1-2 other species/skins and having a ratio of like 1:3ish - carnivore:herbivore exhibits has been plenty to 5-star an island, excluding Isla Pena which was solely carnivore. Hope that helps, or at least gives a decent starting point to testing :)

This is a very good idea, I never thought of it that way. I will have to test it some time because it does make good sense and would be a very easy fix.
Thanks!