PC Alpha 18 Dev Diary!!

[betam4x]

I apologize in advance if I don't articulate my thoughts very well, hopefully you guys will get the jist of it. I did not get much sleep last night.

First, I believe the item's base stats should be fixed. a level 1 pickaxe should have the same base stats. The bonus stats should boost, but the boost should be clearly shown (for example, a green number in parenthesis next to the base stat) so that you can more easily tell if an item has a bonus. It may also be helpful to list a line item below all the stats saying what the bonus is. This would allow you to actually have bonuses for specific things. For example, +10% block damage to iron ore.

For crafting better quality stuff, why not just add a perk that adds a percentage of a chance to add an extra randomized stat? For example, put 2 points into the perk and you have a 5% chance of creating an item with a randomized stat, such as 15% more block damage. The stats themselves could be randomized as well. You could also go even crazier and have a second perk to allow for up to 4 random stats or something. The system could be set up so that even if you max those perks out, there is still a chance you'll craft a regular old crappy pickaxe, or you could craft a gem of a pickaxe with awesome stats. This adds a whole new meta.

Mods should have randomized stats as well, and a few should be changed. For example, the water filter helmet mod should only lower the chance of not getting sick instead of eliminating it, and that % chance should be random. The same approach could be taken for other mods.

Just my thoughts.

By the way, for anyone that hasn't played random-gen, the new random-gen code is out of this world. Roads just need a bit more work.

 

[meganoth]

Well, that was sort of my point.... if crafted purples had static stats that were average or less than average then you wouldn't be crafting the best gear in the game, you'd still have to loot them.

Get yourself a dye if you really need the color. :cocksure:

Seriously: The range of stats of a weapon you find or craft is much bigger than the difference of blue to purple average stats. So you are actually able to craft a much better blue weapon with random stats than a purple weapon with average stats would have.

 

[JCrook1028]

But I suck because I don't use cheese ramps and exploits.

Good, cheese ramps are awful. I hate em with a passion.

 

[sillls]

Only real men should be playing experimental.

Real men would not have updated experimental with such an obvious error.

 

[meganoth]

it holds up very well. they last so much longer than wood or iron spikes only downside is they don't really do damage they just slow down the zombies for a decent amount of time for you to get off a lot of head shots and save a crazy amount of ammo.
I'd say to anyone to test it out to see just how big a difference they make as far as saving materials from having to constantly make spikes and from not having to spray and pray during horde nights.

What level do you have to place them? I.e. spike traps need to be planted level with the ground to have the best effect on zombie pathing. Is this true for twisted wire traps as well?

 

[Kalen]

Get yourself a dye if you really need the color. :cocksure:
Seriously: The range of stats of a weapon you find or craft is much bigger than the difference of blue to purple average stats. So you are actually able to craft a much better blue weapon with random stats than a purple weapon with average stats would have.

Heh, nice.

Thats why I don't want crafted items to have randomized stats. So you cant spam craft your way to a superior item. You want an exceptional item, go out and loot it. But if you don't find that exceptional purple tier item you're looking for, you can at least (eventually) craft a non exceptional version.

 

[Kage848]

Hey, I got you man. Now gimme that rep. (That was some next level Sherlock sh*t)

Work harder. I had stacks of duct tape by day 50 and I repair everything before selling to the trader. Get the harvest perks to double the amount of bones you gather (which I don't bother with and always have stacks of duct tape and meat)

That perk says specificly meat and hide. Just saying.

 

[cork]

First, I believe the item's base stats should be fixed. a level 1 pickaxe should have the same base stats. The bonus stats should boost, but the boost should be clearly shown (for example, a green number in parenthesis next to the base stat) so that you can more easily tell if an item has a bonus. It may also be helpful to list a line item below all the stats saying what the bonus is. This would allow you to actually have bonuses for specific things. For example, +10% block damage to iron ore.

For crafting better quality stuff, why not just add a perk that adds a percentage of a chance to add an extra randomized stat? For example, put 2 points into the perk and you have a 5% chance of creating an item with a randomized stat, such as 15% more block damage. The stats themselves could be randomized as well. You could also go even crazier and have a second perk to allow for up to 4 random stats or something. The system could be set up so that even if you max those perks out, there is still a chance you'll craft a regular old crappy pickaxe, or you could craft a gem of a pickaxe with awesome stats. This adds a whole new meta.

I get what you mean with the fixed base stats. Whenever I'm at a trader and spot an item that might be better than what I have, I might have to drive back to my base to grab that item or write down the stats just so I can compare. It would be much easier to remember what the bonus stat is rather than the entire stat.

I also like the idea of perks giving a chance to boost a stat but never going below the baseline for that tier.

 

[betam4x]

The terrain shader is too expensive to calculate all the AF, we're working on it.

Turning off AF on my machine only boosted FPS around 5-10 fps for me, though I can see how it would hurt performance for lower end cards. There is a bottleneck somewhere, because I get little to no CPU load nor do I get GPU load. Have you guys tested on Ryzen CPUs or Threadrippers? What about with top of the line GPUs? The absolute most top notch performance I get is under Linux and Vulkan, but the game causes a hard freeze after a bit. I usually play via proton and DirectX 11 or under Windows (though I get better performance on Linux, so I usually play there).

To anyone else, is anyone with a Zen 1 or Zen+ CPU getting 60+ FPS with everything maxed out (on either Windows or Linux, I have the same issue with both)? It's weird that my system is barely breaking a sweat, but I get low FPS. Alpha 17 actually performed better for me. I'm running a Threadripper 1950X, 32 GB RAM, GTX 1080ti, Samsung 970 EVO 2 TB for Linux and Samsung 960 EVO 1 TB for Windows.

 

[madmole]

I really hope you're being sarcastic here. Don't listen to those scaredy cats! (Just saying.)
But no one expects you do to a LP. I'm sure you have many more, more important things to do. Lol

I'm just poking fun at the haters.

 

[MechanicalLens]

I'm just poking fun at the haters.

Good job.

 

[madmole]

Real men would not have updated experimental with such an obvious error.

I guess real men don't read the instructions to start a new game either

 

[faatal]

MM Faataltest this on horde night

surround your horde base with posts about 6 meters away from the base. put a torch on each one just before horde starts. watch the ai. have some aoe's handy

Picture? Show me the fun!

 

[madmole]

That perk says specificly meat and hide. Just saying.

Double check the game you are playing bro. It says "You are on the path of the huntsman. Harvest 20% more resources from animals using any bladed tool or weapon."

Not to mention the book that gives you more too: "Harvesting: Learn to harvest 100% of your kills. Harvest more bones meat and leather from animals."

 

[Slingblade2040]

What level do you have to place them? I.e. spike traps need to be planted level with the ground to have the best effect on zombie pathing. Is this true for twisted wire traps as well?

I just throw them down on the ground. I do end up replacing the dirt floor with flagstone later on but I've never had pathing issues but then again where I fight the horde is just a simple 7x7 box with poles.

 

[ZombieSurvivor]

Through the process of elimination I have a strong feeling (I'll bet 10 bucks) the drop in FPS in the snow biome is related to whatever you call the effect that gives snow that shiny and reflective surface regardless of graphic settings. no way to turn this off and it doesnt show up in forest biome.

 

[Aldranon]

He said DUKE tape silly. He has to put glue on his dukes to hold his guns together

Hey, the Duke stole my gear, the tape is for him as are pliers and a blowtorch... Maybe some fire ants for good measure.

 

[Wulf]

Through the process of elimination I have a strong feeling (I'll bet 10 bucks) the drop in FPS in the snow biome is related to whatever you call the effect that gives snow that shiny and reflective surface regardless of graphic settings. no way to turn this off and it doesnt show up in forest biome.

Didn't A17 have this as well though? I thought it did, though i can be mistaken obviously.

Also, there's a noticeable drop in fps in the desert biome as well, though not as severe as the snow biome.

 

[madmole]

Through the process of elimination I have a strong feeling (I'll bet 10 bucks) the drop in FPS in the snow biome is related to whatever you call the effect that gives snow that shiny and reflective surface regardless of graphic settings. no way to turn this off and it doesnt show up in forest biome.

I've already said what it is at least twice today. Too many AF samples in the terrain shader by default and grazing angles are slow.

 

[Gazz]

Real men wouldn't have to do that is somebody didn't mess up the update and break all there weapons and tools.

It was an improvement so... you're welcome! =P