Thats an adopt + artwork I got a while ago <3 https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50749915/
My first adopt, a simple, and unique design, I could easily interpret and work with for future redesigns! To give it my own spin so to say https://www.furaffinity.net/view/47756991/

Oh both are very neat looking (sorry mis read it the first time) :D

I haven't bought many adoptables... only two, really. But generally, I'd prefer not something not created from a base. And yeah, I realize that that's a lot more work and thus more expensive. But I'd prefer to know that I'm not just buying a pallet swap. And yeah (again), plents of artist are putting in a lot more work than changing the colors. But that's still what it feels to me.

That said, I did buy one made from a base, this one: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/42014801/ I just really liked the colors. I thought it would make a great Hc Svnt Dracones (furry sci-fi RPG) character and I was meaning to get myself a bunny character, so things kinda lined up right.

The other is this one: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/49837594/ Bought her right in the stream where Jonas drew her. I think it was before the adoptable thing really took of. Jonas probably didn't even mean to sell a character that day. He just drew her and went "Hey, anyone want her?" and I bullied everyone else away ;) I kid of course. But it did feel like since everyone knew my love for lionesses they let me have her. I really like the mix of more primitive tribal-esque look and sci-fi. Plus, lioness :)

So... for me I guess it is very individual. If there's something about the adopt, if I can see a character that appeals to me or makes me go "I can see myself using this character in a story or play them in an RPG" I'll try to get them. Assuming I have the spare money at the time. Had to let several I REALLY wanted go because of that.

That's probably not very helpful though. Sorry.

Hm... I usually get adopts that fill a niche' or role. I've gotten elementals (one of each for the six known types), characters to fill background roles (no-power or "regular" roles), and some to tie to ideas or thoughts. I usually don't stick with just one type in general.

(Noting on the selection below, I go by LotoSoretsen on DA due to naming issues at the time of the account creation)
https://www.deviantart.com/mongoose.....rice-801149144 and https://www.deviantart.com/mongoose.....rice-797973981 (right side) are two adopts that I took in to be Virtual Interaction Artificial Intelligence characters to assist my main characters.

I've only bought your adopts. That said I was really tempted once by a black curvy dragoness that had hair that looked something like liquid gold. That was shortly after you did that modified adopt for me. I'm glad I didn't, as I found out and stopped watching that person(I don't remember who) because I realized that all their adopts were someone else's bases. While they had permission as that person allowed the sale of adopts, I still find that immoral.

Honestly? There's a long answer I feel I've already given before. The short answer - adopts I can afford and not have to go to war over.

^ this 100%

what's considered affordable?

Most of my adopts I got for $30-40.

I see quite a few people selling adopts in this price range.

Yes, exactly. There are actually a lot of them and so I tend to stick to those.

It's a line of thinking I hadn't considered before. Those adopts also tend to be very cookie cutter or low quality, often the same base in different color variations sometimes bases made by other artists, which is likely why I didn't consider it, but that doesn't change the fact that's competition and helps set the expectations of price. While Cybercat's adopts are of higher quality, even the ones where she uses her bases, they still go around commission prices.

You brought up a worthwhile train of thought.

I don't mind cookie cutter designs personally. The bigger answer I gave Cybercat in their journal awhile back is that I tend to buy adopts when I see one that tells me a story. As an artist myself, I know from the get go that I'm going to use the adopt as a starting point and change it from there. I'm not the best at character design and so having a place to start really helps me. For example:

This is an character Anuvia sold as an adopt: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/12726951/

This iw what she turned into: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/37906135/

She is the main character in my story "The Brightest Spots of the Moon": https://www.furaffinity.net/view/36242594/

Along with Athena, who was designed for me by Stray and turned into this: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/26918337/ (her 'adopt' is in the corner)

I don't need people to give me stories, accessories or be super unique - I need just something to go off of.

I'm terrible about making characters, so I don't need help with them, though I have bought two of Cybercat's adopts and decided they were sisters and she modified one of them for a character idea I had already.

But yeah, most people's answers come down to something that boils down to "I buy adopts that I like", and I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't know what to do with that answer if I was trying to come up with something to help me sell stuff.

I don't care if an artist makes a base and sells several adopts off it as long as they eventually do change, I have some issues with people that buy other people's bases and sell adopts off it but ok, but using even with permission free bases, that one is something I frown on pretty heavily.

From what I'm seeing from your and other people's answers people buy adopts for an idea they like that they want to further develop.

I don't think you're wrong. Really "I buy adopts that I like" is basically the only real answer. I don't think there's a formula or magic feedback that will make anyone go OOOOOO! EUREKA! That's what will make my adopts sell every time. XD

Mostly I'm trying to figure out what the difference between what I'm doing and what I've seen several others doing and wondering if it comes down to style, price or the fact they do NSFW designs.

So, I'll disclose the four adopts I've actually bought (one of them was a gift to me):

Wendy Trevelyan: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/44276592/
She's the first adopt I ever bought. I bought her from  KittMouri (one of my closest friends online) for $15

Parvati Yadav: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/45391969/
Second one I bought from  RockBaker (guy's a mixed bag in the personality department, but a decent enough artist). I paid about $30 for her.

Choi Mi-Sun: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/46911314
This one was a random one that my friend  FeatheredMasque was wanting to part with, and I just so happen to have a background for her. I paid $20 for her.

Marcella del Torres: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50236869/
For this one, I was looking for a plus-sized OC of any kind, and this gal that  confettipuff fit the build. I paid $40 for her (initially $30 but +$10 for the dress she's wearing)


Hope that clears some of the air.

it helps thanks!