Realized that stone ammo only works with the primitive weapons, which makes some sense - my bad. Opening ammo to obtain components is pretty awesome. It is too bad you didn't do that across the board, to include opening gun ammo to obtain components - bullets, gunpowder and cartridge/casing. May also want to check the localization.txt for the Hunting Rifle description, since you updated it to use .44 magnum instead of 7.62.
Is there some sort of newbie buff/debuff effect that causes player to consume food+water MUCH faster when at a trader outpost? Kept repeatedly starving to death at Trader Hugh's, even when chain-gorging MREs. On the thought of outposts, if you are going to make trader outposts destructible and build heatmap so quickly, may want to redo the trader POIs and add active defenses, such as traps/turrets/guards. Replace all those wood walls and spikes with (at minimum) T2 cobble/scrap, but preferably concrete or steel.
Love the mob randomization, bigger hordes, customized zombie loot by type, and variety of reskins. However, zombie detection range/FOV (hello stealth), heatmap and respawn rate felt like they were overtuned. These could be dialed down and still maintain increased challenge from vanilla. Clearing an area of zeds SHOULD mean it stays clear for at least
a day or two.
Anyways, you are doing a fantastic job and I look forward to revisiting your work after A19 hits. Currently playing around with
True Survival by SpiderJZMOD. The above is just my personal two cents, take it or leave it. Have a good one!