Biome and Badge Progression.

[Aneu]

After spending a fair amount of time with 2.0, I’ve really come to appreciate the ambition behind biome progression. It adds a meaningful layer of structure and challenge to the open world, which is fantastic. That said, I think there’s an opportunity to fine-tune the balance between exploration freedom and progression pacing, particularly around the smoothie mechanic and badge unlocks.


Here’s the core idea:

Smoothies currently feel underwhelming. With their short and inconsistent durations, chugging them just to survive a brief stint in a new biome doesn’t add much to the gameplay, especially when some don’t even grant the full 5-minute buff.

A proposed tweak. What if smoothies instead lasted for a solid 60 minutes, but were rebalanced so that unlocking the biome badge took more time and effort? This way, players still need to engage with biome-specific challenges, but they’re not penalized with repeated micro-crafting and consumption just to explore a bit further.

Why this change could help:

It lowers the friction for testing the waters in new biomes, especially early on when you’re not fully committed but want to scout or scavenge.

It raises the meaningful investment in earning biome mastery through badges. Longer smoothie duration supports natural gameplay, while a tougher badge requirement maintains the core idea of progression.

It helps to not impinge upon the open world feeling of the game where you are essentially walled off unless you participate in a mechanic that is frustrating given how inconsequential it is (low duration).

I think this approach could help bridge the gap between player curiosity and long-term commitment, while still respecting the survival ethos of 7DTD. Curious to hear what others think.

 

[Riamus]

Seems like just a way to avoid getting the badges at all. If you can get an hour from a single smoothie, then there is little reason to worry about the badges. You don't have to drink many in order to cover your entire game session in the biome without ever getting the badge.

 

[Aneu]

Seems like just a way to avoid getting the badges at all. If you can get an hour from a single smoothie, then there is little reason to worry about the badges. You don't have to drink many in order to cover your entire game session in the biome without ever getting the badge.

Not so much a way to avoid, but a way to not force people to need them if they just want to continue making smoothies - and the longer you make them the more likely you will just do the badge content.

With progression currently turned on, its not an optional anymore, its quite a subversive implementation vs open world content. You have to do it, and the amount you need to do it is quite substantial. If it gets to the point where people are fine not doing the badge and just continue to make smoothies, that is a good thing - no?

 

[jdm311]

It's an interesting idea, but I would rather have it as it is now. The smoothies are there there to extend your time in an unforgiving environment. Heck, you may not even be able to rely on them. I had less then 8 minutes left to finish my time in the desert. So I made the oasis smoothie and waited for my 3 minutes to queue up in the burned biome. Trader Bob was nearby, I was just going to raid his compound and get the badge right after time task completed. I entered the desert and drank the smoothie. 2 minutes in, the desert storm goes off. I had to leave and wait out the storm, eating minutes off my smoothie effect.

Also, I don't want to extend the time to get my badge. It's already eating time out of my day i use for questing and looting.

 

[Grandpa Minion]

After spending a fair amount of time with 2.0, I’ve really come to appreciate the ambition behind biome progression. It adds a meaningful layer of structure and challenge to the open world, which is fantastic. That said, I think there’s an opportunity to fine-tune the balance between exploration freedom and progression pacing, particularly around the smoothie mechanic and badge unlocks.


Here’s the core idea:

Smoothies currently feel underwhelming. With their short and inconsistent durations, chugging them just to survive a brief stint in a new biome doesn’t add much to the gameplay, especially when some don’t even grant the full 5-minute buff.

A proposed tweak. What if smoothies instead lasted for a solid 60 minutes, but were rebalanced so that unlocking the biome badge took more time and effort? This way, players still need to engage with biome-specific challenges, but they’re not penalized with repeated micro-crafting and consumption just to explore a bit further.

Why this change could help:

It lowers the friction for testing the waters in new biomes, especially early on when you’re not fully committed but want to scout or scavenge.

It raises the meaningful investment in earning biome mastery through badges. Longer smoothie duration supports natural gameplay, while a tougher badge requirement maintains the core idea of progression.

It helps to not impinge upon the open world feeling of the game where you are essentially walled off unless you participate in a mechanic that is frustrating given how inconsequential it is (low duration).

I think this approach could help bridge the gap between player curiosity and long-term commitment, while still respecting the survival ethos of 7DTD. Curious to hear what others think.

turn it off.. easy fix
the biom progresson badge in my opinion is good for single player but any multiplayer up 8 will want to turn it off imo
mainly because of these reasons:
a) sticking players in a compounded area for extended time drains loot
1) loot already destroys containers as it is when players loot them example: bird nest
2) prefabs get farmed quicker due to everyone stuck in same biom untill their able to leave

 

[Riamus]

Not so much a way to avoid, but a way to not force people to need them if they just want to continue making smoothies - and the longer you make them the more likely you will just do the badge content.

With progression currently turned on, its not an optional anymore, its quite a subversive implementation vs open world content. You have to do it, and the amount you need to do it is quite substantial. If it gets to the point where people are fine not doing the badge and just continue to make smoothies, that is a good thing - no?

Yet biome hazards are supposed to be at least a little challenge. If you don't want that work, just disable them. There isn't any reason to have them if you can just drink a few smoothies to last your entire session without needing a badge.

I am not a fan of the biome hazards and challenges. I'm going to give them a fair chance, but as if right now, I am most likely going to disable them for my next game. But if you are going to leave them enabled, I see no reason to make them basically pointless by making smoothies give an hour protection.

 

[Javabean867]

Yet biome hazards are supposed to be at least a little challenge. If you don't want that work, just disable them. There isn't any reason to have them if you can just drink a few smoothies to last your entire session without needing a badge.

I am not a fan of the biome hazards and challenges. I'm going to give them a fair chance, but as if right now, I am most likely going to disable them for my next game. But if you are going to leave them enabled, I see no reason to make them basically pointless by making smoothies give an hour protection.

I'm on my first playthrough, and i only just got into the burnt biome. I don't have the badge yet, but it doesn't seem all that difficult to get the stuff done that you need. heck it took me about 6 minutes to get the zombie kills, shrooms and nitrate farmed. So it seems like it is only supposed to be a little difficult, as opposed to a massive time sink. I don't know how i feel about that honestly.

 

[Riamus]

I'm on my first playthrough, and i only just got into the burnt biome. I don't have the badge yet, but it doesn't seem all that difficult to get the stuff done that you need. heck it took me about 6 minutes to get the zombie kills, shrooms and nitrate farmed. So it seems like it is only supposed to be a little difficult, as opposed to a massive time sink. I don't know how i feel about that honestly.

Yeah, I agree that the process is not great. Supposedly it gets more difficult as biomes increase, but it still doesn't seem worth doing to me.

 

[Javabean867]

Right, now i don't care if its a badge, or what-ever. like that part is unimportant to me. i get why other people want that.

But i don't know how to make it better.