Why do kids end up in Gold?

[SaraMK]

Here's something that's been bugging me.

Say you have a toddler who is maxed Platinum. The toddler also has a want to Grow Up Well, which is worth 1000. The toddler grows up... and the child is in Gold. Not just gold, but very often the lowest gold possible (just above green).

WTF?

[Ness]

I'm guessing it's because the aspiration meter expands with each age.

ie, the maximum aspiration level for a child is higher than it is for the toddler.  When the toddler ages to a child, they aren't losing aspiration points, but the aspiration level they have is only enough to make it to gold, rather than stay in platinum.

[SaraMK]

I'm guessing it's because the aspiration meter expands with each age.

It does? I never noticed that. They look exactly the same. Are you saying the meter can hold less aspiration points for a toddler than for a child? That would make sense, since small gains seem to raise the meter much faster for toddlers than other ages.

[Ness]

Yes, that's it.  The maximum aspiration points available rises for each life stage.  Ever noticed just how difficult it is to get an elder into platinum if they aren't permaplat?

[SaraMK]

Yes, that's it.  The maximum aspiration points available rises for each life stage.  Ever noticed just how difficult it is to get an elder into platinum if they aren't permaplat?

Elder?... what's that?   


Well, thanks for solving the mystery. It explains why there is no challenge in raising kids in the game.

[J. M. Pescado]

The same effect happens when an adult ages to elder: The aspiration meter drops because the elder aspiration meter is larger than the adult one. It's just less noticeable, perhaps because you either are trying to shorten the elder lifespan by aging them green only, or remain platinum anyway.

And the reason there's no challenge in raising kids in the game is because it was never challenging to begin with, especially not for readers of More Awesome Than You! It's obviously not hard in real life, either: Sure, it SOUNDS hard, but then you realize any idiot can still manage it. It's too dumbed-down and mainstreamed to be hard.

[Orikes]

It makes sense to a certain degree. You can make a toddler happy with just a snuggle or a tickle, but an adult has more complicated needs. A hug is nice, but it doesn't go far in the goals of life.

[Frankenbeasley]

And the reason there's no challenge in raising kids in the game is because it was never challenging to begin with, especially not for readers of More Awesome Than You! It's obviously not hard in real life, either: Sure, it SOUNDS hard, but then you realize any idiot can still manage it. It's too dumbed-down and mainstreamed to be hard.

It obviously can't be hard because so many more people do manage to raise kids than fail... of course, raising kids into decent human beings... that's more difficult.

[Jelenedra]

That's why we have parents that chain their kids down and feed them dog poop.


Because raising kids isn't hard.

[Orikes]

Getting them from birth to adulthood isn't necessarily hard.

Raising them well, as sane, productive adults, is another issue entirely.

[Avalikia]

Especially if you've set insane skill, relationship, and other quality-of-life goals for them.