PC Alpha 18 Dev Diary!!

[AtomicUs5000]

I think that trying to balance everything so that each pure build is capable of the same level of survival but in unique ways isn’t something that they should put a lot of focus on right now. These builds are using a lot of new features that should get some good use and testing first. There are also a few major new features that will be coming soon in the next couple alphas that could completely skew all that work... leaving the devs with the same work to do all over again. These things need to be in place and working to even really begin thinking about changes and additions that might make pure builds a reasonable possibility.

 

[Adam the Waster]

Given what I know on the Intellect tree thus far (specialization on traps, technology, turrets, and vehicles), combined with the eventual multi turret and stun baton/other gun set-up, I see it as a very interesting and viable build. It may not be the strongest attribute earlier on, but in a variety of situations, I can see it excelling mid to late game. This is not taking into account that the player would most likely spec into another attribute, such as Fortitude, to combat some of the Intelligence tree's weaknesses. I have full confidence in this build, and while I won't be going under Intellect in my first playthrough (for I am ecstatic in finding schematics for myself the first time around), I nonetheless cannot wait to give it a shot.

yeah i Just Mix stuff up but i'm mostly a Fortitude and Intellect Kind of guy.

 

[ZombieSurvivor]

Also, that little glow can be added for all dropped objects? Like if you drop an AK-47 for a friend? Something similar to Left 4 Dead's Glowing silhouettes View attachment 29136

No offense but I hope this is never a thing in 7D2D. IMO the glow around weapons or anything else would change the feeling of this game and not for the better.

 

[RipClaw]

Interesting question if friendly fire is on.
I would guess the turrets would not really be usable outside of horde night if they can hit you AND have a 360 degree field of fire, but we'll have to see.

Friendly fire doesn't have to be on. You can get shot by your own traps. For example, I was killed by my own dart traps when I wanted to test the trigger but ammo was still in the trap.

I also don't think that the turret has a 360° coverage. The detection area of the turret will probably be as big as the other turrets. About 90° to 120°

 

[Cazmyr]

So to chime in on some things that have been happening the last few pages:

The 'viability':

What I am going to say was mentioned, but I would like to flesh it out. In the old days of D&D you had a Mage and a Fighter. The Fighter got d12 hp and more strength, fortitude, etc. They could do and take more damage EARLY ON. The mage had d4 hp and had to be very creative early on to stay alive and contribute. The D&D mage and INT build in 7d2d are very similar, in that early on you will have to be more careful, resourceful and creative than a Strength or Fortitude build. BUT, like the mage in D&D as you gain levels and perks you will be able to obliterate the damage of the Strength build with your turrets and a gun in your hands. Or 2 turrets and a stun baton, etc.

'There are plenty of points to go around'

We are getting 1 point per level with no max level. There is NO reason to assume you have to do a PURE build of anything. Being a one trick pony is not a good idea IMHO. Spread some points out and don't try to be killing the hardest thing in the game by day 10 (hyperbole)

Keep up the great work pimps! Very excited about A18!

 

[Blake_]

You realize that you have 3 fully automatic turrets firing at once? 2 deployed and 1 in hand? Was my fortitude guy pure? No he used a shotguns and grenades when ammo was low. He used some traps. The concept of a pure build isn't what we're selling. There are pros and cons.

I think I'm an idiot. I didn't know that you can hold them and shoot them on a daily basis. It was shown in the videos but somehow slipped my mind. That detail makes int a bland attribute but not such a trivial one. Still needs a bunch of tweaks, but nothing that you haven't said before.

 

[meganoth]

I'm seeing devs using the old "mix it with other builds and it would be awesome" argument. If Int is not standalone with some downs while its fellow attributes are, that is indeed bad design.

Whatever build I have ever done and will be doing I always used and will use a bow, unperked or not. I even did this in LBD-heavy alphas or mods where not using your primary weapon slows down its leveling.

I expect from 7D2D that a lvl6 gun I find is a good and effective weapon even if it is unperked by me. Anything else and you could just rename the "attributes" to "classes" and remove any idea of real choice. (slightly hyperbole here :cocksure: )

Turret ammo is cheap.... yeaah. The less used resource in the game is iron.

#validargument

An endless resource if you still get iron from any gravel block. It doesn't matter if it is needed for other stuff too, you always know where to get it if you need it. And it is always practically at your fingertip.

 

[ZombieSurvivor]

You realize that you have 3 fully automatic turrets firing at once? 2 deployed and 1 in hand? Was my fortitude guy pure? No he used a shotguns and grenades when ammo was low. He used some traps. The concept of a pure build isn't what we're selling. There are pros and cons.

As with any good game, when selecting a class each should have its own strenths and weaknesses. *thumbs up*

 

[Adam the Waster]

Friendly fire doesn't have to be on. You can get shot by your own traps. For example, I was killed by my own dart traps when I wanted to test the trigger but ammo was still in the trap.
I also don't think that the turret has a 360° coverage. The detection area of the turret will probably be as big as the other turrets. About 90° to 120°

I have died to my traps so many times i've lost count lol. That's why i live on the roof tops and have my traps Low to the ground

 

[madmole]

Do the turrets have 360 rotation? If not then you need to address some other things...
Like Vs an ordinary strength build wherein the player has full degree flexibility, those turrents would require choke points, which in turn requires planning and block placement.

Great at homebase, or killbase, not so good when out in POIs and you get sprung on...

(Some may mention POI doorways as organic chokepoints but there may be serious trouble if the junk turrent noise attracts a wandering horde.)

Also strength taking on a bunch of zombies is quite a different story to a player using a limited charge stun baton against the same gang of zombies.

I won't assume, but instead ask - is the stun baton low damage but high incapacity? If yes there's another consideration for when you get gang-banged.

No they don't have 360. Its easy to set them up in a room and go into the next room, then back pedal into the room you set them in and the zombies get owned.

Wandering hordes are serious trouble in any situation, not just to int guys.

 

[ZombieSurvivor]

I have died to my traps so many times i've lost count lol. That's why i live on the roof tops and have my traps Low to the ground

My arch nemesis are my own spikes. I swear I have died more times walking in to them than any other method of dieing in this game lol. =P

 

[AtomicUs5000]

No offense but I hope this is never a thing in 7D2D. IMO the glow around weapons or anything else would change the feeling of this game and not for the better.

I agree. It’s a feature for run and gun only games.

If it ever went in, I hope they only have it working for a few select items at most. While it is nice to recover things like arrows, I happily sacrifice any losses to not having my screen lit up like a Christmas tree.

For player exchanges, as is always mentioned, using a chest or container is best.

 

[madmole]

My point is: a pure INT can do absolutely nothing. Bad for close combat because of the time placing turrets and you can be easily overrunned. Bad for masses if you don't bottleneck them. Bad for hordes because you can be overrunned and the batton isn't enough. Bad overall for a lot of POIs because of the reasons above. Non flexible static firepower without even being the best dps build. Int needs to be doable as a standalone build, like most rpgs. Right now it is not. Sure, every pure build has its weaknesses, but also its strenghts. Int has only weaknesses and no edge against the other attributes.
Turrets are a liability. Turrets are at the same level as the explosives, but int does not have a firearm. #intsuxazz

How is having a junk firing machinegun in your hand doing absolutely nothing? You do realize you can shoot it as a first person weapon?

 

[pregnable]

How long until I can max out charisma, get the animal friend perk and herd a bunch of bears and zombie bears into my base and strap auto-turrets to their faces?

;-)

 

[Adam the Waster]

My arch nemesis are my own spikes. I swear I have died more times walking in to them than any other method of dieing in this game lol. =P

Yes and Cables

 

[Trankitas]

No offense but I hope this is never a thing in 7D2D. IMO the glow around weapons or anything else would change the feeling of this game and not for the better.

Maybe make it an option? Just for the sake of finding stuff easily when dropped.

 

[Kattla]

Yes In one Of the Videos about Batter Up!

Very good.

IMO they could need an expert, like me, to approve it before release. :smash:

Even though it might got bad sound effects.

 

[Adam the Waster]

How long until I can max out charisma, get the animal friend perk and herd a bunch of bears and zombie bears into my base and strap auto-turrets to their faces?
;-)

If i could i would find a bear Lure Him in a Cage wait till horde night as a Defence. lol

 

[Ti2xGr]

How long until I can max out charisma, get the animal friend perk and herd a bunch of bears and zombie bears into my base and strap auto-turrets to their faces?
;-)

Legit. I'm going to do the same thing with pistols on my chickens and bunny herds.

 

[Roland]

Edit: Pure build argument. You are talking mixed build argument. Le'ts wait and see.

No. You are incorrect. Meganoth described a pure build argument. This RPG is not like others that grey out out-of-class weapons and prevent you from using them. Just because I am putting perk points into intelligence doesn't mean I can't use that sledgehammer I found. And Meganoth's description is spot on. When you have junk turrets set up they don't do friendly fire so you can be in the midst of zombies meleeing them while the junk turret is firing at them too. It's almost like having a partner with you in battle.

The intelligence build is asymmetrical from the other builds. It is not equivalent. That doesn't make it unbalanced or simply a "helper build" to the other builds. You can play and be successful with intelligence only if the play experience matches your personal preferences AND (and this is important) if you don't mind playing at basic proficiency for things like Pack Mule, Miner69, Sexual T-Rex, Lucky Looter, etc. If some of those other perks are MUST HAVES for you because you can't stand basic proficiency mining, stamina, encumbrance, etc... Then you will never be happy going intelligence only.

There will be some whose favorite must have perks are split across a few attributes and they will feel that the whole perk system isn't viable. But we can't please everyone and right now with the five attributes we have, there are five different feeling playthroughs available for people who are willing to play with both weaknesses and strengths and enjoy the challenges that emerge because of them.