allow players to direct what pets do?

[BenMakesGames]

as players progress throughout the game, and seek out new content (or to complete their museums), the randomness of some pet activities becomes increasingly frustrating.

at the same time, one of the appeals of PSP is in watching & supporting the pets as they kinda' do their own thang. "it makes them feel more like living creatures."

there are lots of ways to address this.

1. do nothing - it is what it is
2. double-down on "they do their own thing" - make PSP more of an idle game, including removing existing player direction
   • maybe pets should just equip themselves
   • why even manage inventory? what a chore!
3. double-down on "direct the pets" - give players more ways to direct their pets, and reduce pets' ability to act on their own
   • instead of pets taking actions on their own, have players tell them what to do - "go to the forest and hunt; go home and craft"; etc?
4. as players advance through the game, progressively add options that let players direct pets (transition from "pets do as they please" to "pets do what you say")

[xigzagoon]

4 is certainly my preferred option!
Though imo the absolute ideal (that might be impractical) is having toggleable options to have your pets equip themselves & manage your inventory and unlockable toggleable options for directing them to specific goals. (e.g. maybe you tell them to go to the forest and hunt but you also have the option for them to recycle or store items themselves if the house is getting full or change their equipment to something a different pet made with their materials when you weren't active.)