RStarphoenix
Refugee
Before I get into my suggestions I do want to say I do like the concept behind the biome progression.
The current implementation is just badly done though.... 2-3 of running all the biomes and it is flat out boring.
Pine Forest NOT having any hazards is just boring too, it should have been included.
Ideas for better biome progression
Storms in general. REMOVE the timer from the HUD when a storm is coming. Just make it so "A storm is brewing, seek shelter." is all we see. Randomize how quick it starts in a range from 45-90 seconds.
Biome Badges. Remove them and replace with survival appropriate gear items (we can't remove them, but 5 seperate items for each biome).
Storm duration on the first storm should be no more than 3 minutes. Afterwards the storm duration increases by 1 minute each instance until it maxxes out at 10 minutes per biome.
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Pine Forest - give us a buffer until Day 2, 4am. We complete the initial special job for the buried supplies then we are able to work on Pine Forest Biome Challenge. The pine forest does give us storms. The storm is a hard wind/rain event that will damage. 20 seconds after it starts it hits for 3 damage. Every 8 seconds after it hits for another 3 damage. The Pine Forest Biome Challenge we collect items to turn into Trader Rekt and he gives us a Raincoat that protects us from the storms. Collect polymer, paper, cotton, convert cotton into cloth, plant fibers.
On top of it, the Pine Forest has a new zombie that's a diseased zombie that when it hits you, you have a chance to get dysentery that starts at 12.5% and can stack.
Burnt Forest - instead of being able to craft the Burnt Smoothie right away, we have to collect the ingredients to turn into a trader and they teach you the recipe. Then you can proceed with the rest of the biome challenges. Instead of the silly biome badge, we get an Air Filter Mask. Then we get a second "Survive in Burnt Biome" timer that represents a calibration period where the air mask gives us better protection until we complete the timer and then we get a message "Air Mask now fully protects you." In the meantime, we can still use Burnt Smoothies to help us out.
Change the mushroom in the Burnt Forest to a "charred mushroom" that is biome specific for the smoothie. Eating it will give you the grayscale visual effect for about 60 seconds.
Desert - same idea with what I mentioned for the Burnt Forest, but applies to the Oasis Smoothe. The challenge reward is a Cooling Mesh that needs to be calibrated same as the Air Mask.
Change the aloe requiment and make "mutated aloe plants" that give "mutated aloe" for the oasis smoothie. The mutated aloe cannot be used for bandages but can heal 1 HP if consumed.
Snow - same idea but with an Insulated Mesh that needs to be calibrated
Change the blueberry requirement and reintroduce the snowberry as the ingredient for the frostbite smoothie. The snowberry can be eaten but it has a 100% chance to cause dysentery.
Wasteland - same idea, but you get a Radiation Suit that needs to be calibrated.
No other changes since there's already a green mushroom that is biome specific and has a special effect.
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Right now the storms cause your vehicle to move differently. But add a vehicle damage while driving as well - Burnt forest is 2% per tick, Desert is 4% per tick, Snow is 6% per tick and Wasteland is 8% per tick. This is unavoidable while driving and cannot be mitigated but the vehicle takes no damage if it is stationary.
The current implementation is just badly done though.... 2-3 of running all the biomes and it is flat out boring.
Pine Forest NOT having any hazards is just boring too, it should have been included.
Ideas for better biome progression
Storms in general. REMOVE the timer from the HUD when a storm is coming. Just make it so "A storm is brewing, seek shelter." is all we see. Randomize how quick it starts in a range from 45-90 seconds.
Biome Badges. Remove them and replace with survival appropriate gear items (we can't remove them, but 5 seperate items for each biome).
Storm duration on the first storm should be no more than 3 minutes. Afterwards the storm duration increases by 1 minute each instance until it maxxes out at 10 minutes per biome.
----------
Pine Forest - give us a buffer until Day 2, 4am. We complete the initial special job for the buried supplies then we are able to work on Pine Forest Biome Challenge. The pine forest does give us storms. The storm is a hard wind/rain event that will damage. 20 seconds after it starts it hits for 3 damage. Every 8 seconds after it hits for another 3 damage. The Pine Forest Biome Challenge we collect items to turn into Trader Rekt and he gives us a Raincoat that protects us from the storms. Collect polymer, paper, cotton, convert cotton into cloth, plant fibers.
On top of it, the Pine Forest has a new zombie that's a diseased zombie that when it hits you, you have a chance to get dysentery that starts at 12.5% and can stack.
Burnt Forest - instead of being able to craft the Burnt Smoothie right away, we have to collect the ingredients to turn into a trader and they teach you the recipe. Then you can proceed with the rest of the biome challenges. Instead of the silly biome badge, we get an Air Filter Mask. Then we get a second "Survive in Burnt Biome" timer that represents a calibration period where the air mask gives us better protection until we complete the timer and then we get a message "Air Mask now fully protects you." In the meantime, we can still use Burnt Smoothies to help us out.
Change the mushroom in the Burnt Forest to a "charred mushroom" that is biome specific for the smoothie. Eating it will give you the grayscale visual effect for about 60 seconds.
Desert - same idea with what I mentioned for the Burnt Forest, but applies to the Oasis Smoothe. The challenge reward is a Cooling Mesh that needs to be calibrated same as the Air Mask.
Change the aloe requiment and make "mutated aloe plants" that give "mutated aloe" for the oasis smoothie. The mutated aloe cannot be used for bandages but can heal 1 HP if consumed.
Snow - same idea but with an Insulated Mesh that needs to be calibrated
Change the blueberry requirement and reintroduce the snowberry as the ingredient for the frostbite smoothie. The snowberry can be eaten but it has a 100% chance to cause dysentery.
Wasteland - same idea, but you get a Radiation Suit that needs to be calibrated.
No other changes since there's already a green mushroom that is biome specific and has a special effect.
----------
Right now the storms cause your vehicle to move differently. But add a vehicle damage while driving as well - Burnt forest is 2% per tick, Desert is 4% per tick, Snow is 6% per tick and Wasteland is 8% per tick. This is unavoidable while driving and cannot be mitigated but the vehicle takes no damage if it is stationary.