PC Alpha 18 Dev Diary!!

[meilodasreh]

I thing, we should make BM Horde to cumulative over time,[...]So you have to kill them each night, because if you miss they come back stronger...[...]And I think it is fun ...

As said many times before, the game engine can't stand a big number of entities, so that would mean the zombies would literally kill your fps. BM nights would just become veeeeery long/slow.

So at the end, the many Zeds would kill the fun because of lack of performance.

 

[RipClaw]

Lets say "hmmm i'm going to make some bandages"

I go to the my menu and look for bandage, oow i need ductape dont have it. i need to find ductape.

It would be world changing if i could click on the missing part (ductape) and then got the crafting for the ductape.

You mean like in Raft ? Yeah, that would be really helpful.

 

[Hamburglar]

We need an official server

 

[RipClaw]

So I think a lot of proposals in recent days are different forms of the same core idea. If you don't put a dent in the Blood Moon zombies, you'll have a bigger zombie problem in the future than you would otherwise. Or conversely if you do go on a killing spree, they're less of a problem for a while. There are a lot of different ways you could implement that, with carrots, sticks, or both. I'm not attached to any one proposal at this point, but I think we're onto something with this core idea. I find it compelling.

It would definitely be an incentive. The question I ask myself is how it would be implemented. Lowering the gamestage would be probably the fastest and easiest way to implement this. However, this might not be so popular amongst the developers.

 

[DatDamnDutchie]

You do realize every item we add to the game takes up an inventory slot? We have all the minerals we want right now, more would be over design and clog up inventory. Realism is the worst game designer, his ugly little brothers name is over design.

Add more slots :beguiled: Just kidding. I think one thing thats a bit snowed under of all the changes is weapon/tool mods.

I hope there will be many more...? I found myself making it the priority late game to gather them, more than anything else.

Also players on my server seemed to make it their priority when looting. It would be great if there was a bigger variety etc, I think it's a very nice addition to the game and one of the few motivators late game.

Also, the airdrops need some love IMO, they are not worth it after a while..

 

[Kanaima]

Similar to what I posted, but I like my idea better where the more kills you score on a BM the chance to drop bags goes up. This method you could let the traps do the work and just make sure to kill the special zed who drops loot and conserve ammo.

Had an idea a while ago related to this as well as airdrops:

I feel like instead of blood moon horde zombies dropping loot, it'd be nice to have players earn a kind of score (could be an invisible number, similar to heatmap mechanics) that builds up based on the type/number of zombies your party kills during the night. Could even have it give different multipliers based on how you killed them, with things like melee kills being the most rewarding for the risk. Then at the end of the night, you get air drops of varying amounts/quality based on performance.
Seems like it could also encourage people who log out at night, or hunker down in some unreachable place to actually participate in a fairly major part of the game.

It'd be like the remaining military forces see you as an asset, and want you to thrive. At least so long as it suits them.

Always seemed weird to me that some mysterious benefactor is dropping valuable supplies seemingly for the zombies/wildlife.

 

[mikey91]

You mean like in Raft ? Yeah, that would be really helpful.

If this is also is in raft then yeah, but i dont like to scroll klick and search all the time.

SO pimps PLEASE PUT THIS IN !!!!!

 

[alchemi2]

You don't need duct-tape to make a bandage in A17.4 ! Isn't it in A18 pretty sure I remember seeing something along those lines in MM video, on perk system and books.

 

[Hamburglar]

- - - Updated - - -

So I think a lot of proposals in recent days are different forms of the same core idea. If you don't put a dent in the Blood Moon zombies, you'll have a bigger zombie problem in the future than you would otherwise. Or conversely if you do go on a killing spree, they're less of a problem for a while. There are a lot of different ways you could implement that, with carrots, sticks, or both. I'm not attached to any one proposal at this point, but I think we're onto something with this core idea. I find it compelling.

In terms of ballancing this is bad. Imagine for example you're out of luck and are starting up with just a few tools and no weapons. You can't go on a killing spree very easily on the first 7 days, and the horde would hit you unnecessarily hard, so conversely It would be best if we did the opposite and make it so that KILLING alot of zombies would ANGER the HORDE, whilst keeping a low profile would generally lower the risk of getting your ass handed on horde night.

This also means what you have a trade off, either go kill zeds for exp and deal with horde night the harsh way, or earn EXP more passively with other activities. This presents a ballanced risk / reward factor in my opinion.

 

[The Gronk]

Next, we'll find out TFP has hired a new programmer, called, Elom Dam.

An engineer who takes ideas that were unfeasible in the sixties and tries to implement them with modern technology?

I think they already have one of those.

 

[Kage848]

Which is why I pointed out the flaw, most players couldn't handle it. I could, but I don't make the game based on my own personal wish list, so no worries it won't happen.

It's not about handling it, its about fun gameplay.

You could argue that kinda gameplay would be fun, you'd be wrong, but you could argue it

 

[Kage848]

+100 to game staged loot on horde night would do it IMO. Lucky looter on steroids during the blood moon, and increase chance to drop.

This sounds awesome!

 

[Kage848]

The new zombie rage feature has been the toughest adaptation I've had to go through from one alpha to another. I'm very curious to read all of your reactions to it. There is always a slight change that must be made to melee each Alpha it seems but this time melee has been turned on its head. I have had to change almost everything about how I engage the zombies because of it.
The other tough thing to adapt to is the new icons because after 5 1/2 years of associating pictures to what they represent and then having those pictures completely change makes it feel like you are playing a different game. My brain is slowly making the transition but the new icons definitely take some getting used to.

I expect that there will be some negative feedback given for these changes because they both are such dramatic departures from what has always been and people don't often like such things until they make the adjustments but I think they are positive changes on the whole and people will end up being happy with them.

How does the rage thing work roland?

 

[Aldranon]

+100 to game staged loot on horde night would do it IMO. Lucky looter on steroids during the blood moon, and increase chance to drop.

You got my interest. Now there's a reason to fight zombies on BM again!

 

[Aldranon]

Updated again to make it even more clear and noticeable. What about melting Dukes down in the forge for brass? Is that going to make it into A18 or at all? You considered the idea before.

For that reason alone, I would sell much more stuff to the trader.

 

[Kage848]

From the OP
"+ When wounded, zombies will randomly speed up for a short time."

Zeds 'rage' when hit now adding some needed variance in zeds combat technique.

Hmmm. Dont know if I like this or not.

Depends on other alpha 18 balancing. Also depends on the % chance of the enrage. We rarely one shot zombies. So we could be dealing with sprinting zombie quite often.

Would be unfair to have zombies set to walk during the day just to have then sprinting all the time anyway. Maybe tie the rage % chance to gamestage?

 

[sillls]

Don’t tell the traders how to play the game. They might like standing there. Not everyone likes moving around and picking their nose.
I speak for the Tree...aders

But they look like cardboard cutouts! They don't even move there mouth when they speak. You would have more interaction at a drive though, talking to one of those robots. You know, the ones that they used in the 80's.

Speaking of which, it's really weird when Trader Joel try's talking to you when your (under) the tree house.

Traders play the game!!! What play??? lol

Since when is just standing around playing?

I'd get more play with a wall. At least I can bounce a ball off of that.

I think your confused.

I speak for the enter-actors.

 

[SnowDog1942]

Hmmm. Dont know if I like this or not.
Depends on other alpha 18 balancing. Also depends on the % chance of the enrage. We rarely one shot zombies. So we could be dealing with sprinting zombie quite often.

Would be unfair to have zombies set to walk during the day just to have then sprinting all the time anyway. Maybe tie the rage % chance to gamestage?

If the rage thing is simple to mod it would be cool to be able to speed it up, slow it down, make it happen less or more often, hopefully it is not brain surgery.

 

[sillls]

Well good news! Trader Rekt has been making rude gestures every time you turn your back for the last three years.

Coward!

 

[Viktoriusiii]

Hmmm. Dont know if I like this or not.
Depends on other alpha 18 balancing. Also depends on the % chance of the enrage. We rarely one shot zombies. So we could be dealing with sprinting zombie quite often.

Would be unfair to have zombies set to walk during the day just to have then sprinting all the time anyway. Maybe tie the rage % chance to gamestage?

this combined with infection gives a real incentive to use your bow more often -> uses up feathers more quickly -> makes you choose between safety and ressource management.

I really like this. It makes close combat not such a mindnumbingly easy affair. Close combat should always pose a risk to you.

THIS is a meaningful choice. "safety vs ressource"

But if melee is just "backpaddle and play whacka(mad)mole" then there is no choice. Why waste arrows when this is so much more efficient.

I personally love this, even if the chance is 50%. Gives even more incentive to either stay at a distance or get the "know down" skill early.