Arena FAQ
What is Arena?
Arena is a Simulation Internet Based Game, which revolves around members caring for their Sim Horses and interacting with other players. Interaction may include buying and selling horses, breeding horses, entering shows, hosting shows, running associations, running businesses and more. None of it is real, but it's all fun!
What is Arena Not?
Arena is not an automatic game. Arena Gameplay is done via real interaction, webpages, email, forum etc. Members are expected to interact reguarly (at least weekly or preferably every few days or even daily).
Why the Minimum Age Limit?
Arena has been created to cater for mature players, 15 years and over. This so a fun, realistic, mature environment can be created for older sim-players. There are plenty of games which cater for the younger sim-players.
What do I need to play Arena?
You need to have regular access to the Internet (at least once a week, preferably once every few days) as well as an email address. A basic knowledge of horses helps, but you can learn a great deal about horses by playing Arena. Players who want to run mini-barns, barns, associations or businesses, need to have knowledge about creating webpages.
Do I need money to play Arena?
No you do not. Arena is an entirely free game. All we ask is that you particpate regularly!
What is the money used in Arena?
When you make a transaction in Arena (buying a horse, paying show fees etc.) you write a 'cheque' (with Sim Money, which is fake). You are required to keep track of your finances. Using Xcel, a Notepad etc. would be helpful for this.
An example of a cheque is below:
To: Windrun Acres
Amount: $50.00
For: Show Fees
Date: 10th February 2000
Signed: Joe Smith
Of course, many people have different variations on a cheque, and this is just an example.
How do I join Arena?
Go to the Joining page. Make sure you read the rules first!
How do I know If I am a Member?
You are not a member until you have been emailed saying Welcome to Arena.
What does it mean by starting as a Boarder?
New players start off as a boarder. Find a barn on the Explore page that is open for boarding, and email the owner. Once you have found a barn to board at and the Barn owner has said you can board, you now are a boarder at that barn and can start playing Arena.
What is the Forum for?
Found under the 'Interact' Button, the Forum is an integral part of Arena gameplay. Check it on a regular basis as most messages will be posted there. You can interact with players through the forum, whether it be selling horses, buying them, entering shows and more. You are required to register on the Forum to post.
How do you get horses?
You can 'get' horses in Arena by either creating them, buying them or breeding them. We prefer that most players look around to buy some in the Sales forum before breeding or creating any, as someone may have for sale just the horse you need!
How do you create horses?
You can create a horse by making it up. You decide it's name, it's breed, it's colour, it's height, it's age, it's sire and dam etc. etc. until you have the horse you want. Please be realistic as to the breed's characteristics.
Heights of Horses
Horses and Ponies are measured by a system called 'Hands'. You will often see a pony or horse referred to as 14hh, or 16hh. The 'hh' stands for Hands High. They are measured from the ground to their withers using this measurement. One 'Hand' is equal to 4 inches. So, if you had a horse that measured 16 hands and 2 inches, you would refer to it as 16.2hh. If you had a horse that is measured 16hands, you would refer to it as 16hh. There is no such thing as 16.4hh, as you would then be referring to the horse as 17hh. There is also no such thing as 16.7hh, as there are only 4 inches in a hand.
How do you breed horses?
Read the rules relating to breeding horses before breeding a horse. To breed a horse, you need a stallion and mare. If you own a mare, and don't have a stallion to breed to her, look on the Breeding forum for Stallions Standing at Stud. If you find one that you think would be a good sire, email the owner and arrange for the horses to be bred. Mares need to be in foal for at least one 'real-time' week. So, if you breed a mare to a stallion today, you need to wait at least a week before she foals. Of course, this does not mean you have to do so, you can wait the whole 11 months, or a few months. It's up to you. Please remember to breed mares responsibly, and remember when aging your foals, that the mare can only have one foal in each year. (ie, she can't have two foals whos birthdates both say 1999). You can breed your mare multiple times (although please be responsible) in a real time year, but please age the foals accordingly!
How do you decide what the foal will be?
The breed of the foal's sire and dam will determine what breed the foal is. This can also determine the foal's colour (What colours are the sire and dam?). You can choose the foal's gender and name yourself (some stallion owners will have special naming conditions) and the height is generally determined on what the sire and dam are (for example, a 16hh Sire and a 16hh Dam, will not breed a mature at 12hh foal).
Can I give the foal a barn prefix?
You can only give the foal a barn prefix if you own a mini-barn or main barn. If you are a boarder, you may not have 'Caraway Thoroughbreds' etc. on your boarding page, as you are a boarder. You need to wait until you have a Mini Barn to do this.
AEAP Database
You can read more about the AEAP Database in the rules, but we'll say a little about it here. The AEAP Database is where all the horses/ponies in Arena need to be registered in the AEAP Database to 'exist'. Now, if you buy a horse or pony from another player, that player needs to remove the horse/pony from the AEAP Database from under their name (they delete them), and then you re-add them under your name. The horse WILL get a new AEAP Number. DO NOT PUT YOUR OWN AEAP NUMBER IN OR THE HORSE'S OLD AEAP NUMBER, OR YOU FACE BEING SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS THIS MAY CAUSE.
How do I open a Mini-Barn?
You can open a Mini-Barn after 1 month of active gameplay. It is entirely up to the Barn Owner where you board, as to whether you can own a Mini-Barn or not. 1 month of gameplay is not the only requirement; you need to have the experience needed to open the Mini-Barn and the dedication to update your Mini-Barn webpages regularly.
How do I open a Main Barn?
Vacancies for Main Barns are open at most times; however, you must have been a member of Arena for 3 months, have owned a Mini-Barn for at least a month, and be an active player. You must fill out the Barn Approval Form on the Info page. A reccomendation from your barn owner is mandatory, as is a reccomendation from another barn owner within the game. Not all players will be approved for a Main Barn straight away - you need to be an active player with the dedication required to own a Main Barn. Helping with associations and businesses while a Boarder/Mini-Barn owner will help you gain experience. You also need to be posting on the forum regularly, as whether or not you post on the forum will be part of the assessment of whether or not you are ready for a barn.
I want to run a Business. What do I do?
All Arena players are welcome to open a business of any type. Whether it be a Tack Shop, Farrier Service, Vet Service, Feed Store etc. You must have the time to run the business and a basic amount of knowledge of the area you are specialising in. Votes are not required to run a business, and you simply need to send in the URL in the Game Update Form.
I want to run a Registry/Association. What do I do?
First, make sure you have the time to run one. They require monthly shows, horse registration and more, and will take at least an hour out of your time each week. Read the rules on the rules page about starting up an association.
If you have further questions, feel free to ask on the forum in the Newbies section :)