HGG Community Forums

I’m worried, too.

There is so much I want with my own game, but with the limit being 1,000,000 and not even having that many hbs, I feel like I can’t spend anything on myself.

I’m worried about being able to give a good enough gift, too, and spending all my hbs and having it all not be worth it in the end.

I think I’ll feel better when I know who I’m buying for. Maybe. But right now I’m feeling overwhelmed.

I'm not sure if you guys saw it but Ammit made another post on the forum about it this morning :) might ease some anxiety about it now

Here's the one it was posted on at the bottom

https://www.huntandjump.com/forum/discussion/40260/hj1-secret-santa-how-to-rules-etiquette-and-entry-form-for-2019#Item_3

I can understand your anxieties, but I think if the person is not happy with their gifts it is their problem and not yours (as long as you at least put in a little effort). The way I see it is that SS is about the gifting to others, that is the most fun part for me, trying to find/gift something someone else wants and make them happy by doing so.

When I started out I had not much to play with either, but I just groomed the salesboards, auctions and the forums trying to buy some straws and some foundation horses. I think I first only gifted a handful of straws and around 5 ponies, but I tacked them all up in christmas colors and my SS was happy with them. And I would be happy with that too, I'd rather have 1 horse that someone put effort in (tacked up for example) than 100 horses as they get 'lost' between the many others I have.
The only thing you have to do for SS is put in some time/effort, not money necessarily. I think that is what SS is about; taking time to give special attention to someone.

And yes, with all these people talking about 'I can't wait to spoil my SS' it can seem a bit daunting or people might expect to get spoiled, but I think that is the wrong mindset. If you happen to be the SS of someone that is able to spoil you that is nice, but that isn't the standard.
As long as we are all thankful for what we might get, all try to make some efforts in finding/acquiring a nice gift, and all appreciate each other for the effort someone has put in, then we're all gonna be fine, and everyone will feel good. I mean, if you do a Secret Santa in real life you are also not complaining about what you get right? A wish list is a wish list, not a demand list, and if you get something different from your list that's okay too! We all know life can get in the way and that everyone might have a different budget. So why would that be different in this game?

Because exactly as you said, this is a positive game and SS is an extra positivity boost (as maaany people are also happy to help out if needed, just message them [me included!]).
Just remember: put in effort and everything will be fine!

Edit: this has been a bit long, sorry :')

Yay I'm glad I gave you a good idea! :) And I hope this helped ease your anxiety. I mean I understand, I am also still afraid I'll let down my SS so I tend to overgift/spoil to ease my own mind, I guess we both want to put in our best efforts for our SS.
But the overall experience is definitely more enjoyable if you try to let go of this anxiety and enjoy the gift finding process and the revealing of the gifts. (Wow I sound so mindful now :p)

Seaswell, Maribo, and MasterStables have it 100% right. I can't guarantee that there won't be some lackluster Santas out there. I see names pop up for Secret Santa that I have never seen on the forum, so I don't know if they will make a good Santa or not, and, yes, we have had people who just don't want to play nice. But let me tell you....once I find out about it, and the Secret Santa Elf corps gets involved, you will have more well thought out stuff than you could ever dream of!

And also, remember that there are 3 spending categories. The people who are selling off their limited gene horses, or have saved for months, are probably also aiming for the higher spending categories :)

And people can also enroll in all 3 of them, which means they need to go on a huge gift-hunt!

And also, people will never know how much you are actually spending, because the prices are all different, depending on who you are buying from etc.

Like others have said, taking thre time to find a few perfect things is much better than a herd that would not be a fit for their stables.

People help a LOT with deals in straws, etc.

Just put in an effort and it will be appreciated. :)

its funny i remember secret santa at shools when i was like in 4th grade my best friend ended up bei g my secret santa and i got a girft thay was not as nice as the onea a gave out to my secret santa... funny thing is now it might be my favorite gift ever. Bottles of ketchup. i loved ketchup and drowned everthing in it but my parents only got my organic which I hated. so i ended up with my own stash of hanz ketchup for a year. 25 years later still think laugh abkutbir. i was not going to do secret Santa but after all the talk figured wnated to contribute to the spirit i have plenty of projects od my own but hoping i can help someone else out especially a newer playe. i have been help my older players over the years would not be where i was at with out the generosity of players.

And just to be sure that no one misunderstands, I just sent in my entries in multiple categories, with an extensive wish list.

I do ABSOLUTELY NOT expect everything on the list, it is just to give people some ideas, and something to have fun with.

I am more than happy with a few good horses/wishes.

If you all check out the thread where everyone lists what they'll help out with.... there's a lot out there. And a lot of us will part with certain high value things for next to nothing. I haven't fully participated in SS for probably a decade, I don't like getting things (I HAVE ENOUGH) but if I can give.... oh boy. So you'll see a lot of players out there that just want to help the smaller barns have a great experience at little cost.

Also, I saw Master MS mention tacking up your gift horses...... that's something I remember from my last SS was receiving a handful of super tacked up adorable ponies. This was years ago and I STILL REMEMBER IT because my SS (danged if I could even remember who it was anymore) but I remember those ponies, and how much work that player put in to wrapping them up for me.

But seriously if anyone's intimidated, just IM me (and probably a lot of other people) and we can send you what you need.

I could not have managed last years SS without the valuable assistance of the other members, esp with closed genes I don't posses.

Look closely at the wish list and then check out the thread where people list what they have and are happy to help with. With a few exceptions my barns are open to everybody.