PC Alpha 19 Dev Diary

[Khalagar]

Just noticed a typo on the loading screen

Someone's finger slipped while typing and they accidentally told new players one of the objectively best melee weapons in the game is not good for killing zombies. Might want to get a hotfix out for that one

 

[Jugginator]

"Not the weapon of choice" != "Not good for killing zombies" and... not really the best melee weapon

 

[Matt 1977]

@faatal 

You "fixed" wedge tips , which i personal disagree with, just saying.

But what happened to fixing bases that are built above doors , that when the door is open the ai doesn't target the doors and just wonders around? 

On the plus side, what a update. Everything is better. Brightness change from gamma and stone age loot is my favourite. Thanks Fun Pimps

 

[archergod]

Anyone not playing A19 until stable like me?  I ran it a little bit to see the graphics and look at a few RWG maps.  I like to wait, I dont rush it, I go in slowly.. Make sure I feel every inch, once I cant take it anymore just go right in all the way, hold it, take a break, continue.  I guess in summary the build up to stable is more fun than playing experimental for me. 
 

Well, I start navegame and I can say it is still everybit of fun I am getting from game, couple of small bugs verse stable won't break much fun. The core graphics, AI, pathing remain same more or less. No big change come in experimental or stable version. The difference is of loot and economy balance, which really is XML edit and different server have different experience anyways. So It seems waiting for stable is not really worth it. consider it take at least 4-8 weeks. 

 

[Marinxar]

After my first horde night, I gotten some nice levels and and points, and was thinking, now I can finally get those sexy saurus extra levels, to make iron pickaxe more useful than stone one. Then I thought, while I do that, I should probably give some thoughts on the matter.

At the moment, the Stoneaxe is actually the better o the two. Yes, Iron Pickaxe does more damage, but even with 1 perk in sexy saurus, I spend 114 Stamina on 1 block. Then I have to wait for the entire stamina bar to recharge. Now in that same time I could clear 2 blocks with a Stoneaxe. 

Should the Iron Pickaxe not be slightly better than the Stoneaxe, with no points spent or boosters/coffees consumed ? I think the Iron Pickaxe could get a little love with less stamina usage.

 

[Jugginator]

Cancel this post, got the link from a friend at 3 am and I didn't investigate it first

 

[MechanicalLens]

After my first horde night, I gotten some nice levels and and points, and was thinking, now I can finally get those sexy saurus extra levels, to make iron pickaxe more useful than stone one. Then I thought, while I do that, I should probably give some thoughts on the matter.

At the moment, the Stoneaxe is actually the better o the two. Yes, Iron Pickaxe does more damage, but even with 1 perk in sexy saurus, I spend 114 Stamina on 1 block. Then I have to wait for the entire stamina bar to recharge. Now in that same time I could clear 2 blocks with a Stoneaxe. 

Should the Iron Pickaxe not be slightly better than the Stoneaxe, with no points spent or boosters/coffees consumed ? I think the Iron Pickaxe could get a little love with less stamina usage.

You really shouldn't be having iron tools that early on then. I recommend 4/4 Sex Rex and blackstrap coffee, combined with a food that gives you a massive max stamina bonus; the ergonomic grip mod is good to have on your pickaxe as well. It works alright for me. Until you can get to that point, it's your choice really: continue using the stone axe for harvesting resources, or deal with the draining stamina.

 

[Marinxar]

You really shouldn't be having iron tools that early on then. I recommend 4/4 Sex Rex and blackstrap coffee, combined with a food that gives you a massive max stamina bonus; the ergonomic grip mod is good to have on your pickaxe as well. It works alright for me. Until you can get to that point, it's your choice really: continue using the stone axe for harvesting resources, or deal with the draining stamina.

Sooo.. you saying, it should not change because it requires max sexy saurus, coffee and super stamina to make it useful. Kinda exactly what I said.... You are a great debate candidate. 

 

[MechanicalLens]

Sooo.. you saying, it should not change because it requires max sexy saurus, coffee and super stamina to make it useful. Kinda exactly what I said.... You are a great debate candidate. 

We're not debating here. This is simply my observation.

Maybe it is unbalanced. But think back, back to Alpha 16 when you could not use iron/steel tools early on (grain alcohol and coffee aside) to prevent people from getting ahead too fast. Perhaps TFP are striking for something similar here?

Perhaps 3/4 Sex Rex alone would be fine for iron tools, and 4/4 for steel tools (plus an ergonomic grip and the use of blackstrap coffee). It's not like you're going to be using said tools that much outside of mining anyway.

Edit: A better clarification on the system I propose.

IRON TOOLS

2/4 Sex Rex w/ ergonomic grip attachment and/or regular coffee  |  3/4 Sex Rex

STEEL TOOLS

4/4 Sex Rex w/ ergonomic grip attachment and blackstrap coffee

 

[MechanicalLens]

Here's one idea I propose. One of us (I'm offering but it's your choice whether or not to follow in my footsteps here) could go into a creative test world, spawn in some blackstrap coffee, a super filling food, some ergonomic grips, attach them to all the 6 iron/steel tool varients (pickaxe, axe, and shovel), giveXP to perk into 4/4 Sex Rex, and find out what happens. Do we still lose stamina by that point, even with everything maxed out, or can we use both without any issues if we meet all the requirements.

It all depends on TFP's vision here. Either they want us to go deep into the Strength tree to overcome stamina drainage, or if they want it to be a permanent issue no matter how many perks you have. I will perform the test above because, what is as important as the advocacy of balance, is the delivery, and if we are not in the know of what end-game is like, then that delivery loses weight.

 

[MechanicalLens]

TEST RESULTS:

A. 4/4 Sex Rex w/ Ergonomic Grip mod allows infinite swinging with quality level 6 iron tools. Removal of Ergonomic Grip creates very gradual drain of stamina. Update: Coffee can replace Ergonomic Grip mod. Second update: Ergomomic Grip mod w/ coffee or blackstrap is enough for infinite swinging w/ iron tools.

B. 4/4 Sex Rex w/ Ergonomic Grip mod allows infinite swinging with quality level 6 steel tools. The inclusion of blackstrap or regular coffee removals all stamina penalties. Update: Ergonomic Grip mod not required.

My opinion? I think it's fair. Sure it's a bit RNG based with Ergonomic grip, but with this system, it encourages/forces players to use coffee and to go deep into Sex Rex, which people didn't use before, similar to how bottled water by default gives a chance of dysentery but teas do not. Is it a little too punishing to people who do not go all-in though? Possibly.

 

[Laz Man]

Yeah, that was the plan.  Just ran out of time.  Was even going to create a staging area with lockers and munitions crates. 

I have a quest POI in the works too which i bet will knock your socks off.  More to come in a week or so.

@madmole

As promised, here is that quest POI (Tier 2).  Made 100% using the in-game prefab editor.  Really highlights how good the new lighting and updated dynamic music is in A19...

Rick, Brad and Eric seemed open to a POI submission contest in the future during one of the dev streams.  I am ready to win or go down fighting ...

 

[Matt 1977]

@Laz ManNo Ben picture in Church? 

Shame lol

 

[Khalagar]

I FINALLY got a Junk Sledge. The results are . . .kind of what I expected. Fun, but not in a good spot. I use it in handheld 99.99% of the time as placement mode is essentially useless.

In handheld mode it can sometimes ragdoll zombies, but it isn't reliable enough to actually do it consistently, and half the time you ragdoll them and then have to chase them around trying to catch them while you keep pushing them back without killing them. It takes so many hits to kill that it's kind of silly, and that's with 3/5 Robotic perk and a level 3 or 4 Junk Sledge with mods

1 vs 1 against a non running basic zombie is . . .scary. It almost always ends with me getting hit 1 or 2 times if I don't get the lucky dismember chance  headshot, and against anything bigger than a basic zombie there's a HIGH risk of getting the every loving crap beat out of you. Even with me in heavy armor with all my points in Robotics, 1 vs 1 with a fat momma zombies ended up with me having to panic pull out my shotgun with 30 health and kill her because the junk sledge didn't trigger the ragdoll or RNG dismember one shot

Potential is there, but it needs some solid number tweaks for sure. My wrench and tools literally do more damage lol

not really the best melee weapon

I actually think it is, assuming you have Miner 69. With Miner 69 investment, the fireaxe does enough damage to consistently one shot, dismembers when it doesn't one shot, and staggers almost every time you hit. It's stamina is drastically lower than the Sledge, and it's speed is quite good too.

IMO it's A tier in all stats, and S in a couple too. Power, Speed, Range, Stamina, Stagger are all A~ish tier where the axe isn't the *absolute* best like the Sledge doing more flat damage and the knife being faster, but it's really solid in them. Block Damage and Dismember chance seem highest (S tier) on the Axe

It's actually my go to melee weapon because it covers every role and is a jack of all trades master of most

TEST RESULTS:

The issue is needing to invest that many points into something that scales like hot garbage. I don't put a single point in Sex Rex because it's useless past early game. Even as someone who uses the axe as my primary weapon 90% of the time, I still don't waste points on Sex Rex because past early game you whip out guns and explosives for dangerous situations and just use melee for situations where the stamina drain is okay.

Tool wise Sex Rex is also useless late game because of the Auger and Chainsaw, so any points invested in it would just be points that you have to respec out of later. It's like Cardio and the food perks etc. Kind of nice the first week, meh the second week on, and just points that could be put in much better places late game.

But optimal min maxing aside, you shouldn't need 4 points in Sex Rex (and like 14 in Strength) to make the iron pick better. It should just be better by default like literally every other weapon and item. Coffee and stamina items should be "useful back ups" so you can go longer, but shouldn't be mandatory for the item to even be usable or better than a tier 0 stone axe

 

[Laz Man]

@Laz ManNo Ben picture in Church? 

Shame lol

Maybe in version 1.1....lol

 

[MechanicalLens]

The issue is needing to invest that many points into something that scales like hot garbage. I don't put a single point in Sex Rex because it's useless past early game. Even as someone who uses the axe as my primary weapon 90% of the time I still don't waste points on Sex Rex because past early game you whip out guns and explosives for dangerous situations and just use melee for situations where the stamina drain is okay

Tool wise Sex Rex is also useless late game because of the Auger and Chainsaw, so any points invested in it would just be points that you have to respec out of later

But optimal min maxing aside, you shouldn't need 4 points in Sex Rex (and like 14 in Strength) to make the iron pick better. It should just be better by default like literally every other weapon and item. Coffee and stamina items should be "useful back ups" so you can go longer, but shouldn't be mandatory for the item to even be usable or better than a tier 0 stone axe

Again, comparing this to the inclusion of a chance of dysentery with bottled water. That addition encouraged players to use teas and to use the Water Purifier mod. This new stamina system reminds people that coffee exists. The difference here though is one system encourages, the other forces, but given the nature of these two, it's hard to encourage players to use stamina without making it entirely optional, and then useless to most out of lack of convenience. Up until recently in A18 (now 19) I never used coffee because it wasn't needed, I didn't need the bonus. Do I agree with this change? Yes and no.

I do agree with you though that it is a bit excessive. Perhaps 2/4 Sex Rex w/ coffee, or 3/4 Sex Rex with no coffee could be good for iron tools, and 3/4 Sex Rex with coffee or 4/4 Sex Rex with no coffee for steel tools would be a better system. It would give the player a choice: dump another point into Sex Rex, or use coffee, which would prevent the latter from gathering dust like it did for most people through the entirety of A17 and A18. To help with the motor tool upgrade later on, the forgettin' elixir (don't make me spell it out legitimately, I know I butchered it) exists as an option from the traders.

 

[Blake_]

16 minutes ago, Laz Man said:

@madmole

As promised, here is that quest POI (Tier 2).  Made 100% using the in-game prefab editor.  Really highlights how good the new lighting and updated dynamic music is in A19...

Rick, Brad and Eric seemed open to a POI submission contest in the future during one of the dev streams.  I am ready to win or go down fighting ...

That's a 7/10.

1. Good overall aesthetics outside, maybe a bit more wear.

2. Very little game inside, clutter is good, but needs more makeshift walls made with fridges, boxes, ... etc. More labyrinth. Less wasted space.

3. The lenght is good enough as it is, though if you add more "clutter labyrinths" or even a small underground cemetery  it would make a good T3.

4. The "feeling" is ok. The light is generally well thought.

5. Your name needs work. Who the heck calls himself Lazman and works overtime ?

 

[Matt 1977]

I personally think the stamina change is for the better. Im aware of it now , not since A14 i think 

 

[Khalagar]

use coffee, which would prevent the latter from gathering dust like it did for most people through the entirety of A17 and A18.

I actually have swore by coffee in A18 and A19, it's statistically VERY hard to beat now that it gives water as well which I think was changed in A16? Coffee is my go to drink that I actually carry with me, just because it gives something that's more useful than the other drinks which are just "Sit in a box until I get what ever disease they cure". Red Tea and a few others being useful in general, just not as useful as Coffee, so I'll drink them when I see them in a vending machine but they aren't worth carrying over coffee IMO

But even Coffee and Black Strap Coffee can't help, mining is basically just late game now IMO. It's a better use of time and points to just focus on leveling up the trader and get to late game and get an auger rather  than to screw around spending an entire night,  400 cans of food, 50 gallons of drinks, 1 rock buster, and a metric ton of perks. I do still like miner 69 just for breaking into PoI, but when I roll another character I probably won't invest in it until later tbh

The food and drink use is even worse than the stamina cost. Canned food gives literally nothing, it's so bad, you will eat the entire vending machine and buy all his food too just to recover from 10 minutes of mining. I get that they want cooking to be more useful . . .but holy crap. I haven't even found what the "meta food" is for A19, bacon and eggs is less terribad than Grilled Meat and canned food, but it's still 7 Days To Die so animals are extinct by day 2 and fresh meat is the rarest item in the entire game

I can't remember the last time I saw a living animal  outside of PoI. I think between two of us we've killed maybe 2 boars total and a single wolf, and that's with us living in the forest . . .

I personally think the stamina change is for the better. Im aware of it now , not since A14 i think 

The only reason you are is because early game lasts longer. It's still a non factor after early game, which I'm totally fine with because stamina in all games is not a fun mechanic to interact with.  You aren't like "Yaaay! I ran out of stamina, whooo!" , stamina as a stat is just the "Limit on how often you can actually play the game" so super punishing stamina is more tedious than fun. Food and stuff you can RP being in a survival situation, and encumbrance is annoying but encourages you to min max on what items you pick up, but with stamina you RP as being your fat self IRL where you can't run 20 feet without getting winded and crumpling over and dying every time you swing a pick twice in a row

 

[MechanicalLens]

I actually have swore by coffee in A18 and A19, it's statistically VERY hard to beat now that it gives water as well. Coffee is my go to drink that I actually carry with me, just because it gives something that's more useful than the other drinks which are just "Sit in a box until I get what ever disease they cure". Red Tea and a few others being useful in general, just not as useful as Coffee

But even Coffee and Black Strap Coffee can't help, mining is basically just late game now IMO. It's a better use of time and points to just focus on leveling up the trader and get to late game and get an auger rather  than to screw around spending an entire night,  400 cans of food, 50 gallons of drinks, 1 rock buster, and a metric ton of perks. I do still like miner 69 just for breaking into PoI, but when I roll another character I probably won't invest in it until later tbh

The food and drink use is even worse than the stamina cost. Canned food gives literally nothing, it's so bad, you will eat the entire vending machine and buy all his food too just to recover from 10 minutes of mining. I get that they want cooking to be more useful . . .but holy crap. I haven't even found what the "meta food" is for A19, bacon and eggs is less terribad than Grilled Meat and canned food, but it's still 7 Days To Die so animals are extinct by day 2.

I can't remember the last time I saw a living animal  outside of PoI. I think between two of us we've killed maybe 2 boars total and a single wolf, and that's with us living in the forest . . .

That's the great thing though: options. You might see it as unwise to put multiple points into Sex Rex and to bring along coffee to mine pre-auger, and maybe it is, but for people who enjoy going down that route, the option exists. You don't need a base at all - you can just sacrifice POI's to the BM hordes and, with little prep, you'd be perfectly fine. Again though, options.

The "meta food" for A19 is whatever you can find until you get a farm going, then just mass produce foods like vegetable/meat stews, steak and potato meals, etc. I was living off of charred meat for over a week until I got my farm going, and I am still limited because I don't have any potato seeds nor do I know how to make them.

I agree, that is a problem. I haven't seen another animal, not even a rabbit, since DAY 1, and I'm now on day 10, and I've done a lot of traveling, looting... I think something is up with animal spawns. (Edit: I say this and I just spotted a boar and a deer about a KM away from my base. Perhaps try traveling more? *Shrugs*)

It's great that you used coffee, and so did I eventually. It's very convenient. It can also be argued that it is inconvenient, since you have to remember that coffee exists, you have to bring it along with you and keep it topped up while mining, maybe you have to make some or buy some from vending machines, maybe you forgot it and you have to travel all the way back to your base. It starts with cons that end in pros, so I firmly believe that we're in the minority here. (ie less then 30% at the most.)

I honestly believe that if the Sex Rex requirements were moved up (or down, whatever) by 1 and it was a choice between coffee and another point into Sex Rex, it would be the best system that could exist, or at least, it would be making the best out of a subjectively bad situation. Refinement is key, like in all things. Why do you think I edit a lot of my comments?