PC Developer Discussions: Alpha 17

[Xandyr78]

I suspend my sense of reality in many ways for this game. That is a good thing! It is part of Fantasy scenarios and making them fun and engaging.
Combining is something that I can not suspend my belief for. Turning 2 shovels into 1 better one is not something I can not wrap my head around.

My personal answer to this is not using that mechanic in any way at any time.

Just my opinion on this. Not saying it is better than anyone elses.

I think my brain compensates for this by imagining that I am taking two items that have different pieces that are superior (say Shovel 1 has the better shovel head, while Shovel 2 has a better handle, shaft, etc) and combining the superior elements to create Shovel 3, which is technically better than either of the original 2.

Just my two cents, and it's not a perfect explanation. YMMV.

 

[Jackelmyer]

Then if the combining mechanic is limited to books I could get behind that.
It sounds like there is a skill that handles the quality of guns made though and I like the gun mold idea much more than the books being used in the recipe.

Yeah. Books could just go away all together. Why buy a skill to craft something if you need a book? Is that item really so important?

 

[meganoth]

Speaking of traders, I'm all for removing them entirely. Getting all geared up by day two because you sell all your crap is just a cheap cheat.

One thing they already have announced (I think) is that traders will all specialize. But that is not enough, they need a big nerf.

Limit their use to consumables and low level stuff. No mods or armor, guns up to quality 2 only. Calipers and other scarce stuff only after you leveled up secret stash.

As they are now they provide everything. In our coop game we don't need most crafting skills anymore because dozens of traders give us anything we need.

 

[KhaineGB]

That is why I don't like them and usually ignore them. It is like I'm in the apocalypse, but wait there is a Walmart.
I'd prefer they were gated somehow, like on day one they don't trust you and rip you off. Over time they get to know you and give you more reasonable deals.

I remember when the idea was first pitched (A15-ish), this is how it was supposed to be.

You started off getting absolutely boned and the trader would hurl insults at you. The more you dealt with them (increased faction was the original intent, I believe), the better your prices were and the trader went to neutral, and then liked.

It would be awesome if we could get that back.

 

[wordwaster]

That is why I don't like them and usually ignore them. It is like I'm in the apocalypse, but wait there is a Walmart.
I'd prefer they were gated somehow, like on day one they don't trust you and rip you off. Over time they get to know you and give you more reasonable deals.

i'd agree...except bullets. i need bullets. me like bang bang. don't take my pew pew away.

 

[meganoth]

Yeah. Books could just go away all together. Why buy a skill to craft something if you need a book? Is that item really so important?

There are a lot of pois where you specifically can find books aka knowledge, they would be useless. What else should be found in the book tower?

Also, at least until A16 they provided a different and more random way to improve/personalize your character. As consumables/moulds they are not improving your character anymore but still work as a randomized gate to building. Which is something I like, as it adds variability to each new playthrough.

I'm not sure why you would want a bunch of guns unless you need complete guns for turrets now. Maybe there is a Tier 1 Pistol book, a Tier 2 pistol book, ect...

Could be, but I assume that the weapon crafting skill is still there and that will be used to determine the quality.

It still means you would need about 6 books instead of 1 over the course of the game, because everytime you improve the skill you want to build the better tier pistol.

IMHO building a tier 3 pistol should need 3 pistol books, or 8 (each further tier doubles the number of books needed). That is even more artifical but it would be better balanced with your character getting better at finding stuff. Because you find more books in later stages of the game.

 

[NeferPitou]

trolling much

the forums looks like a troll for me

 

[Cazmyr]

the forums looks like a troll for me

I would not glorify what you do by calling it trolling.

Yours seems more like nagging.

 

[The Gronk]

That is why I don't like them and usually ignore them. It is like I'm in the apocalypse, but wait there is a Walmart.
I'd prefer they were gated somehow, like on day one they don't trust you and rip you off. Over time they get to know you and give you more reasonable deals.

Wasn't their talk of NPC factions, possibly introduced with bandits? Is that still a possibility?

 

[sillls]

That is why I don't like them and usually ignore them. It is like I'm in the apocalypse, but wait there is a Walmart.
I'd prefer they were gated somehow, like on day one they don't trust you and rip you off. Over time they get to know you and give you more reasonable deals.

This guy died and woke up in a Walmart and the devil was there to greet him wearing a Walmart shirt and vest.

The guy looks around and says, "I thought I died?"

"You did" Answered the devil.

"But" The guy stammered sounding confused. "I'm in a Walmart"

The devil looks at him and laughs then says "Walmart IS hell."

 

[Grs]

@faatal What is a sleeper volume exactly? A POI wide area where zombies are allowed to spawn, is it? What happens if I place a landclaim block on a first floor if a skyskrapper? Will that prevent zombies on the a top floor from reappearing, given it's far beyond landclaim block reach?

 

[Roland]

Agreed. In the real world your senses tell you all kinds of stuff a 3d view and speakers do not.

Maybe....but the invisible HUD mod is so cinematic and fun to play that just going off of the hunger pain and thirsty audio cues is worth the risk that you might miss those things or that they might come too late. Honestly, I just always eat in the morning when I get up and at night when I get safe and that works just fine to keep me fed and hydrated. I like having no compass or day number or time displayed a well. You easily lose track of time and get into dangerous situations.

And the payoff is seeing nothing in front of me but the wide world I'm playing in. Hoping for the option someday. Just make it so that the interact button will work when you press f7 and it'll be golden.

 

[sillls]

But really you don't think that there will be some people left alive that would like try and set up shop, even in a world post apoplectic world like this? It's not about money but power.

Why work and scrape for everything that you need when you can set up a shop and have other scavengers bring you all the stuff you need to survive and do it well?

Well as long as you don't get killed, you would be living high on the hog, you know what I mean?

 

[Xtrakicking]

That is why I don't like them and usually ignore them. It is like I'm in the apocalypse, but wait there is a Walmart.
I'd prefer they were gated somehow, like on day one they don't trust you and rip you off. Over time they get to know you and give you more reasonable deals.

That sounds like a great opportunity to add a reputation system. Gain the traders's trust by helping them out with quests or become their enemy by trying to raid their bases.

 

[Cazmyr]

I have a question for Roland based on the screen shot.

I notice that the clothing still has a 1 -6 quality. Are those still place holders? I am assuming they are and we will just have the color coded quality identifier?

 

[konrax]

Agreed. In the real world your senses tell you all kinds of stuff a 3d view and speakers do not.

This is honestly refreshing to hear because it shows you use your brain when making decisions, and I really appreciate that in game design (or life in general).

Keep up the good work!

Just on a slightly unrelated note, I was thinking about how underground bases work and hordes etc, and I would love to see hordes that hang around at the entrances of these types of bases. It would make for a very interesting game mechanic, taking a peak outside your base, seeing many many many zombies, and having to "wait it out" in the base.

 

[Tin]

That is why I don't like them and usually ignore them. It is like I'm in the apocalypse, but wait there is a Walmart.
I'd prefer they were gated somehow, like on day one they don't trust you and rip you off. Over time they get to know you and give you more reasonable deals.

Make traders have specialties.

One is food and drinks.

One is medical.

One is basic weapons.

One is basic armor.

One is advanced weapons.

etc,.

Each trader has slim pickings of goods to buy at the beginning.

Each trader offers quests based on their specialties.

Example: The food/drink trader needs resources to expand/improve their stock. They offer you a quest: Collect 20pcs of meat/10pcs of fat. You go out hunting for the animals and return to the trader and give them the items. Bingo! Trader now has an assortment of cooked meats available and gives you 'x' amount for collecting the goods but you need to pay for the rest.

Example2: The food/drink trader wants you to collect Potato's Corn and blueberries.. yadda yadda he now has a supply of meat stews and blueberry pies and berry juice. gives you a small portion of the completed goods as a reward.

Example3: He's running low on glass bottles now he needs you to collect 'x' amount.. rinse repeat.. he gives you a package of 5 items from his wares..

etc,.

Each quest you complete for him and the cost go down but if you the player want to keep him fully stocked you need to help keep his supplies up by completing the repeatable quest. If you don't day after day his wares start to run down again.

You complete enough quest and he'll give you an option to learn a new recipe eventually or offer you a partnership and after if you check in with him he gives you a portion of the proceeds when you visit.

 

[konrax]

Maybe....but the invisible HUD mod is so cinematic and fun to play that just going off of the hunger pain and thirsty audio cues is worth the risk that you might miss those things or that they might come too late. Honestly, I just always eat in the morning when I get up and at night when I get safe and that works just fine to keep me fed and hydrated. I like having no compass or day number or time displayed a well. You easily lose track of time and get into dangerous situations.
And the payoff is seeing nothing in front of me but the wide world I'm playing in. Hoping for the option someday. Just make it so that the interact button will work when you press f7 and it'll be golden.

I actually really like this idea, no compass unless you find one, no day timer unless you find a watch, need to get a calendar to try and track which day it is... that type of stuff makes sense, and actually adds a lot of immersion I think without it being a huge pain.

 

[Snoops]

A new emote again, This could mean either the bugs have been dealt with and Tommy lee is looking to make sure they are all gone.

OR... There's one hiding that has to be found and he is searching for it.... ????

Release the Kracken!!

 

[The Gronk]

For A17? A snowball's chance in Walmart...

Later? Who knows?

Fair point

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I like the idea of specialist traders, it'll increase the need to explore far and wide as well.

I'm not seeing a downside.