Yes I am new here and very curious about how other users see/use the custom breeding aspect of this game. The prices of customs are very reasonable, even if the "cheaper" ones might not be the exact colors you chose.

1] Breeding is obviously a huge portion of what makes up Sylestia but is it worth the time/money?
2] Is there any way to see if another user created the same design you've come up with previously?
3] Do custom pairs generally bring better money in?
4] Is releasing your unique idea to the public for pre-sales advisable?
5] Do you create custom pets for purposes other then breeding?

I know this thread seems more fitting to be in the FAQ forum but much of these questions are very debatable and that is why I chose this forum c;

*Answering your questions, by how you have them numbered*
#1: It depends on how much you like the project. Mine for instance, is VERY worth while.
#2: Krin has recently scripted in the advanced search option, so one can look up specific traits for specific sylesti, just for that reason.
#3: Indeed, because they are harder to get perfect.
#4: I honestly do not know...
#5: Most don't, me, I do. In fact, several people have picked up breeding for stats, rather than appearances and traits. Which, in the end, makes them more helpful in arenas, missions, and general questing.

First, I dunno how you define customs to this site, as compared to other sites. xD
So I assume you mean generating pets as the first parents, and so using cash for better essences?

A lot of it is what you make it out to be.
Honestly, I think people go really wrong when they make projects just to sell them. Your tastes might not fit the tastes of others, and it's hard to please people unless you know the game well enough to hit the sweet spots of peoples' tastes.
That being said, most projects come from self-interest (ie "oh I wanna make this happen"), and then if there's interest, the project-maker can sell the offspring to others per request.

1. It is what you make of it; you have to consider all the breeding time it takes or the budget you have and compare it to how much you want your project to happen.

2. You can check via Pet Search if people have the same visibles as the design you have, then see the pictures of the pets if they match the colors. Often, I think colors and designs are thought of independently anyways, so I think matching is all coincidental, and it's extremely unfair to think otherwise or accuse otherwise.

3. You can ask different project-makers how their stuff sells or fares. You have to consider the general success rate, and how much each is priced (there's no set price anywhere for what project is what, it's often set by the breeder themselves). There are others who make better gold by selling themed holiday pets, which are caught during events, or other misc. pets that aren't "custom" aka generated.

4. Up to the person. People show off designs before they're made to see who's interested (and people respond likewise).
btw, I never seen ideas copied blatantly or publicly, if you're worried.

5. I know lots of people do because of self-interest. Personally, I would too.

Again:
Approaching everything with the intent of profit isn't exactly the best imo.
I stress it because you can't please everyone lol.
A lot of people just generate things they like, and then if they want to sell it at whatever price they choose, they just do.

Sylestia at the current moment isn't what I call prestigiously economy-driven in its pets. I don't think any breeder is on some high horse generating things for profit.
A lot of it is player-to-player independent.

@Oogbar
Thank you for responding! The only answer that caught my attention was #5 when you said " In fact, several people have picked up breeding for stats, rather than appearances and traits." Do you mean that users are breeding simply for a higher stats? Perhaps its because I'm new but I thought better stats came from how much nurturing the pet got as an egg.

@Flute
I meant exactly what you assumed when I said custom, I apologize if that is not how users refer to pets that were created via essences! As for your response to #2 I would never dream of accusing another user of copying my idea as there are only so many routes you can go with customs. I was merely curious as I know this has been an issue in the past (not here).

Just to answer your question to Oogbar:
Users can directly affect the stats of offspring by using philters upon hatching (cash bought philters greatly speed up the process (+20) compared to letting the pet hatch itself (+5 bonus). It adds onto the base stat, which is the only thing enhanced and inheritable through breeding.

I figure that most pet sites have things in common. xD
But, naw, I think people who come from other sites call generated pets customs, and those who are native or used to Sylestia's system call them generated.
I've come to abhor "customs" after my friend showed me how customs in Aywas worked. They came off as one of those things only rich people have, y'know?
On sylestia, everything's more leveled. It isn't blatantly pay2win here.

@Flute
Thanks for answer another one of my questions! I do like how reasonable the prices are here, I always disliked how expensive some other sites were as if they're entitled to butloads of money for a single image. I don't always have money to spend on a site but when $5 can get me two generated pets.. I jump for joy c;

Sylestia truly lives up to the "micro transaction"!

Yeahh...I've seen crazy spending on different games. I'm no newbie myself when it comes to internet games, like I've spent my fair share of dollars. But customs games sure are hardcore the more you spend time on them. *o* And the more you're sucked into their art and stuff. I guess it's alluring to some point.

I definitely love games that try not to suck the money out of your soul. xD
Not only that, but if you persevere and learn how to do more things on Sylestia here, you can really go a long way making nice pets without generating them.

For example, I buy cheap offspring of other people who have to get rid of their pets (it's an economy problem I guess), then breed them together. Then I can dye the final product to be just as nice as some generated project pets.
It's a dirty and messy bloodline, I guess, if people care about it, but to me, most of it is an image, so for me, it doesn't matter. I just achieved something with virtual currency that someone could've achieved in $5, and that makes me happy. xD

Hehe, I know the feeling... I can be a bit stingy as well. If I can do something awesome for dirt cheep, you BET I'll do it! :D
As for bloodlines... My eyes bleed, trying to look up the bloodline of my most recent set... SOO many generations! T_T

One thing that makes it more level between players is that to make better 'customs', you have to spend a lot of time on them as well. Since generating can only give you a set amount of traits, even with rarer essences, to get those with more than 2 visible traits, you have to breed for them.

You are better off if you can get enchanted essences (purchasable with diamonds), but it still need lots of breeding. And the waiting time for them to grow...

Indeed. xD
Tbh, I can't even fathom using pies to speed time up. For every pet that goes towards a project's hopeful success, pies are just...too big of a cost. 5 pies can give one more essence, y'know?

That's why I partly like bred pets. Why reinvent the wheel waiting for stuff to grow when pets that already have the traits are out and about? That's assuming one can have access to them, anyways.