Bittersweet Roadmap Anyone?

[Salty Crackers]

This is probably way off topic, but personally, I'm against adding NPCs to Sandbox. A crucial part of the experience for me is being alone, reflecting on your thoughts. I feelthat adding NPCs would just ruin Sandbox for me. Of course, you'll need them in Story mode, but please at least give me the option to disable them.

[Dirmagnos]

11 hours ago, SteveP said:

That is speculation and rather dangerous at that. Changes are not the same across the planet; some areas are affected more than others.

Thank you for proving my point by providing numerous events that may or may not have common roots. Thats exactly what climate change proponents are doing - they pile up together bunch of random events, filter out those that do not support their idea and present it as "proof".

Also it would be worth noting that Earths climate is not static, it goes thru ~800(i may be wrong on the number, it was a while since i researched that subject) year cycles, during which global conditions change, rather drastically at that. Or would you wannt me to belive that Little Ice Age of Middle Ages was also result of human activity ? And that is just one of many anomalies in global climate. We simply dont understand how it all works.

There is no denying that humanity pumps an enormous amount of poisons into both atmosphere and oceans. But what effect they would have, long term, is pure guessing. Most likely mythical Global Warming would be the least of our problems in 200 years, if not sooner.

[boshmi]

9 hours ago, Salty Crackers said:

This is probably way off topic, but personally, I'm against adding NPCs to Sandbox. A crucial part of the experience for me is being alone, reflecting on your thoughts. I feelthat adding NPCs would just ruin Sandbox for me. Of course, you'll need them in Story mode, but please at least give me the option to disable them.

This.

[Vhalkyrie]

On 4/10/2016 at 7:38 PM, Patrick Carlson said:

I will also say though, especially in terms of the Roadmap, there are many influences that are powerful for The Long Dark. Check those out as well. STALKER. The Dog Stars. Fallout 3. And more. 

I checked out S.TA.L.K.E.R and it looked a bit too run-n-gun for me, but reading the description, I can appreciate some of the inspirations present in TLD.  Dog Stars sounds like a book I'll pick up to read on the plane flight back home.  Thanks for the insights!

[Doc Gonzo]

On ‎4‎/‎5‎/‎2016 at 1:03 AM, boshmi said:

 

Simple Shelter Building - ... a pen*s.

Crafting for safehouse customization - ... pen*ses. ... build giant pen*ses... to build pen*ses. ... build a giant pen*s.I don't want to see this happen to one of my favorite games.

Crafting for clothing customization - ... people will just draw pen*ses on all their clothes.

I'm honestly trying not to come across as rude with the following question but, why do you care what people create in their solo-play game?  If TLD was multiplayer I'd see your point but it's not.

If 50 players craft fifty penis shaped homes and the 51 player crafts something truly spectacular I think I have enough faith in myself to ignore the 50 and to focus on the 51st. 

I guess my point is that I find it silly to limit the player bases' creative options because a few players will use those options to craft obscene, pointless or humorous content.  By doing such you're going to deny all of us access to some truly inspired content. The cream always rises to the top. 

It's even more shortsighted to do so in a game that doesn't support multiplayer.  The creation of a "marijuana-themed jacket" is of no consequence to anyone that doesn't utilize that the particular mod.

 

[FINDarkside]

Yeah you can already make penises by dropping stuff if you want. I doubt that the "simple shelter building" would allow you to make penis shaped shelters anyway.

[Doc Gonzo]

Hey FIN!  I was going to drop you a note about these mod topics on Reddit but I see you're already up to speed.

[Ohbal]

On 10/4/2016 at 11:12 PM, Dirmagnos said:

Thank you for proving my point by providing numerous events that may or may not have common roots. Thats exactly what climate change proponents are doing - they pile up together bunch of random events, filter out those that do not support their idea and present it as "proof".

Also it would be worth noting that Earths climate is not static, it goes thru ~800(i may be wrong on the number, it was a while since i researched that subject) year cycles, during which global conditions change, rather drastically at that. Or would you wannt me to belive that Little Ice Age of Middle Ages was also result of human activity ? And that is just one of many anomalies in global climate. We simply dont understand how it all works.

There is no denying that humanity pumps an enormous amount of poisons into both atmosphere and oceans. But what effect they would have, long term, is pure guessing. Most likely mythical Global Warming would be the least of our problems in 200 years, if not sooner.

I think you are being dangerously optimistic here. The effects of the Human lifestyle are way more noticeable that you try to see or say... but this has nothing to do with the thread and I wouldn't want to furtherly contribute to this debate. However, I'm not an idiot, and I really hope you and all the climate-change nay-sayers to be right. Heading to a global warming scenario in which the water level increases every year is not a nice though to be living with. 

 

[FINDarkside]

19 minutes ago, Doc Gonzo said:

Hey FIN!  I was going to drop you a note about these mod topics on Reddit but I see you're already up to speed.

Yeah I read TLD reddit pretty often. Mod support sounds good, I hope that we would have C# scripting support. We wouldn't really need a separate scripting API if we could just access all public (and private via reflection) methods and propertied already in the game.

[Doc Gonzo]

9 minutes ago, FINDarkside said:

Yeah I read TLD reddit pretty often. Mod support sounds good, I hope that we would have C# scripting support. We wouldn't really need a separate scripting API if we could just access all public (and private via reflection) methods and propertied already in the game.

Raphael van Lierop had some interesting things to say in this thread about modding that I thought you might enjoy.  For an added bonus there's virtually no talk of evolution or global warming there ;-)

[Dirmagnos]

3 hours ago, Ohbal said:

I think you are being dangerously optimistic here. The effects of the Human lifestyle are way more noticeable that you try to see or say... but this has nothing to do with the thread and I wouldn't want to furtherly contribute to this debate. However, I'm not an idiot, and I really hope you and all the climate-change nay-sayers to be right. Heading to a global warming scenario in which the water level increases every year is not a nice though to be living with. 

 

Im not being optimistic, far from it. I just prefer to deal with facts, not boy-who-cried-wold type of attitude.

So far there has been a lot of unconfirmed speculations, that have been served as "facts", while majority of actual scientists remain rather cautious regarding statements on that issue.

And no1 really does anything about situation. That should say something. Its like "War on Terror" bubble, a lot of talk, with next to none facts and mainly used to make money and gain political influence. Most "effective" way to reduce human footprint on planet is supposedly quotas on production of various harmful substances, breaking which is a completely normal, company just pays a fine, that usually well covered by profits, and nothing really changes. Dropping toxic/nuclear waste into the ocean is another "amazing" solution.

And why to talk about real problems like plastic patches that are present in every ocean, when anything that has word "global" in it attracts far bigger crowd... and money. People like Al Gore make shitton of green off "saving planet" speeches. Solving already exiting problems of pollution would require a lot of actual money and actual hard work, while talking about some generic "global warming" costs absolutely nothing. Thats why biggest pollutants are jumping on a "global warming" bandwagon, anything to distract people from real issues.

Reality is, nobody really cares. And by  the time that shit will hit the fence it will probably be 2 late.

[cekivi]

Regarding Global Warming everyone does have good points but do try and stay on topic

As an aside, the term "Global Warming" is a bit of a misnomer. Hence all the "proof" that it isn't happening. Climate and Habitat Change on the other hand are harder to argue against and are more accurate terms with regards to what human activity is doing to the planet. Regardless, the cure is to talk less and be more efficient (less pollution, fewer resources, etc.) but like @Dirmagnos said, talk is cheap, results aren't

 

[JErosion]

The only thing about seasons that bother me is the fact that those Fishing huts are gonna sink come Spring or Summer, so get your stuff out of them, lol.

I think additional Firearms would be welcome for me. And as much as I'd like to see the Revolver become a thing, I  would also like to see a Shotgun, double barrel. Although shoguns then add the dilemma of what kind of shells? Slugs, Buckshot, Birdshot? If they add any game birds into the mix it would become relevant

[Raphael van Lierop]

On April 5, 2016 at 4:03 PM, boshmi said:

With this new roadmap the devs have given us, (http://hinterlandgames.com/the-long-dark/roadmap/) I think I may be alone in saying that things are somewhat bittersweet when I read this.
The roadmap adds a great many things that I was really looking forward to, but also adds a few things that have ruined survival games for me in the past. I felt like maybe I could go over a few of these things to see if anyone agrees with me, or if everyone thinks I'm crazy.

Things I'm Worried About -

Wellbeing system - Yeah, I know I've talked about this before in my wishlist about how I would like to see a "Content" affliction, but I just wanted this as something that improves sleep, similarly to the way tea does. The way it's put here implies some "bar" similar to the way that hunger or cold works. The lack of this was something I loved about the game, because I forced me to think about it myself. By which I mean, in a really long hibernation game, I, the player, would actually stop and think; what is the point of all this? More than a few times I drove me to commit suicide, and left a far deeper emotional experience than games like "Don't Starve" have given me through a meter telling me how sane my character is.

Steam Trading cards - I'm actually alright with this one, as long as it dosen't turn into a bloodthirsty cuthroat and downright stupid market anywhere resembling Cancer Strike Global Orgy. (Excuse the French, I really hate that game) I just don't want people pay 250$ for a golden rifle or something stupid like that. A market similar to that of the "Total War" series, where you can trade cards, but nothing else, would be much more favorable.

Research items - Little bit iffy about this one. If it turns into something like Rust does, with research benches, then no, don't even go there. If it adds a button that says "read book" in the book action bar, and then gives you +10 firemaking skill or whatever, then, yes do it.

Revolver - I'm not worried about the revolver so much as the implications of it. I've seen it happen with "Unturned" before, though Unturned was already pretty far gone. The game was still pretty tactical and involving, but Nelson adds a rocket launcher, and suddenly everyone's demanding Helicopters and Tanks and Stingers and god-knows-what, and Nelson was forced to add it in, so now Unturned is just a game of "Who has the biggest gun?" and "Who gets a helicopter first?" I don't want the revolver to be added, and then people begin demanding an Ak-47 to gun down wolves with.

Simple Shelter Building - Took me a while to decide if I liked this or not. I'd say yes but limit it A LOT. Nothing even remotely large, stick to snow-holes and lean-tos. Anything larger than that will become a pen*s.

Knowledge system - Isn't this in the game already...?

Crafting for safehouse customization - If this means you can draw on the walls of your home - no, people are going to draw pen*ses. If this means you can build your own fort - no, people are going to build giant pen*ses. If this means you can build your own items to put in your safehouse - no, people are going to build pen*ses. Crafting structures are the ruin of all survival games. Rust? Can't walk 20m on a server without finding a giant pen*s. DayZ? Less common, but still camps with pen*ses. Don't Starve? Eventually everyone is compelled to build a giant pen*s. If these are the things you are thinking of doing, please, Please, PLEASE just DON'T. I don't want to see this happen to one of my favorite games.

Crafting for clothing customization - Similarly, people will just draw pen*ses on all their clothes. Either that or something ridiculous like cannabis leaves, or pornographic images, so just don't.

Gunsmithing and ammunition crafting - I cannot stress how much this must be done right. Don't let us build our own guns. That WILL BE the ruin of this game, I 100% GUARANTEE it. It would kill all the feeling of survival stone dead. Don't let us draw on our guns, for the same reason as Clothing and Safehouse customization. You must make it VERY HARD to find gunpowder and shell casings, DON'T let us smelt them, DO let us pick up ejected shell casings. This is probably the one I am most worried about. No one except for highly trained individuals can build a gun from scratch, LEAST OF ALL in a survival situation with very limited resources. Please, I'm begging you, don't.

Horse - The canoe I'm okay with. The horse could just be a buggy mess that's really hard to use, annihilates the immersion with a survivalist world, and pretty far fetched as well. The canoe can work if done well. IF DONE WELL. In fact, I'm exited for a DONE WELL version of the canoe. Paddling downstream before the river freezes over.

All those negative things out of the way, that is not to say I'm unexcited for the things that this roadmap promises. Things like Moose, Cougars, The Axe, Canoe, Long traveling, and most of all, SEASONS, are things that have me absoloutley jumping up and down on the spot because of the features and mechanics they bring. Migrating south for the winter, paddling along with the salmon run in spring, watching herds of moose thunder across the plains, and trekking across the frigid wilderness just make me so exited I can't wait. Not to mention the pretty awesome map of bear island the devs have handed out. There are so many things I'm exited for that I would like to discuss, but there just isn't enough time.
Thank you for reading my very long post.

Thanks for sharing all these thoughts. It's great to hear your concerns -- however, please give us the benefit of the doubt that we know what is appropriate and fitting for our game. If we don't think something should be added, we won't add it, and if we add it, it'll be added in such a way that it suits the game.

Relax, and let us take on the burden of making a great experience. And feel free to critique things when we implement them and they can be playtested, not based on mistakes other games may (or may not) have made.

[Raphael van Lierop]

20 hours ago, FINDarkside said:

Yeah you can already make penises by dropping stuff if you want. I doubt that the "simple shelter building" would allow you to make penis shaped shelters anyway.

Sure...and you can look at them...by yourself...as you freeze to death...alone...by yourself...where nobody can see you and your penis shaped things don't really bother anyone.

[SteveP]

And Godwin's law has nearly reached probability 1

[Doc Gonzo]

46 minutes ago, Raphael van Lierop said:

Sure...and you can look at them...by yourself...as you freeze to death...alone...by yourself...where nobody can see you and your penis shaped things don't really bother anyone.

To be fair, I think Fin was simply being critical of the (frankly irrational) concerns that Boshmi expressed when opening this discussion.

[Doc Gonzo]

4 hours ago, JErosion said:

The only thing about seasons that bother me is the fact that those Fishing huts are gonna sink come Spring or Summer, so get your stuff out of them, lol.

 

I've wondered that too.  Ice fishing during winter next year will be a whole lot more challenging ...

[Dirmagnos]

9 hours ago, JErosion said:

The only thing about seasons that bother me is the fact that those Fishing huts are gonna sink come Spring or Summer, so get your stuff out of them, lol.

I think additional Firearms would be welcome for me. And as much as I'd like to see the Revolver become a thing, I  would also like to see a Shotgun, double barrel. Although shoguns then add the dilemma of what kind of shells? Slugs, Buckshot, Birdshot? If they add any game birds into the mix it would become relevant

It would be interesting if we had sleds, so that player could transport bigger/heavier stuff, like stoves of cupboards, allowing to "evacuate" useful furniture from those huts(or any building). And then, with some tinkering, install same stove into buildings that lack one.

I somehow dislike double barrels, but i would like to see a hunting shotgun Remington 870 - sturdy, durable, easy to use and generally looks nice. With standard 12 gauge shells or maybe slugs for big game. Birdshot i dont consider to be viable, ammo is scarce and youd get rabbit equivalent amount of meat.

[Raphael van Lierop]

10 hours ago, Doc Gonzo said:

To be fair, I think Fin was simply being critical of the (frankly irrational) concerns that Boshmi expressed when opening this discussion.

Oh, I know. I was just teasing...

[Doc Gonzo]

1 hour ago, Raphael van Lierop said:

Oh, I know. I was just teasing...

That's it! I'm gathering some sticks and some coal and drawing out some penis drawings in pleasant valley AND mystery lake that only I can see.

You'll be sorry when I'm done Raphael!  ;-)

Jokes aside, Raphael thanks for interacting with us like this.  It's greatly appreciated.

v/r

Dick Gonzo

P.s. Penis.

 

 

 

[FINDarkside]

On 5.4.2016 at 2:03 AM, boshmi said:

Steam Trading cards - I'm actually alright with this one, as long as it dosen't turn into a bloodthirsty cuthroat and downright stupid market anywhere resembling Cancer Strike Global Orgy. (Excuse the French, I really hate that game) I just don't want people pay 250$ for a golden rifle or something stupid like that. A market similar to that of the "Total War" series, where you can trade cards, but nothing else, would be much more favorable.

Steam trading cards is not the same thing as steam community items(cs go skins are not trading cards), so no need to worry about that. Trading cards are the cards that you get fixed amount by playing and they can be used to craft badges.

[Raphael van Lierop]

37 minutes ago, Doc Gonzo said:

That's it! I'm gathering some sticks and some coal and drawing out some penis drawings in pleasant valley AND mystery lake that only I can see.

You'll be sorry when I'm done Raphael!  ;-)

Jokes aside, Raphael thanks for interacting with us like this.  It's greatly appreciated.

v/r

Dick Gonzo

P.s. Penis.

 

 

 

You do whatever you feel you have to do to survive. No judgment.

[vancopower]

13 hours ago, Raphael van Lierop said:

Sure...and you can look at them...by yourself...as you freeze to death...alone...by yourself...where nobody can see you and your penis shaped things don't really bother anyone.

OMG LOLZ this is the best joke I've heard in a while. Maybe if there is a mental state in further updates this could be one of the side quests gather sticks and wood and start drawing obscene shapes to make your char laugh and relieve some of the mental stress thus increasing your mental wellness what do you think about this idea ?   

[cekivi]

7 hours ago, Dirmagnos said:

It would be interesting if we had sleds, so that player could transport bigger/heavier stuff, like stoves of cupboards, allowing to "evacuate" useful furniture from those huts(or any building). And then, with some tinkering, install same stove into buildings that lack one.

I somehow dislike double barrels, but i would like to see a hunting shotgun Remington 870 - sturdy, durable, easy to use and generally looks nice. With standard 12 gauge shells or maybe slugs for big game. Birdshot i dont consider to be viable, ammo is scarce and youd get rabbit equivalent amount of meat.

Exactly. The huts themselves are probably too large to recover on your own (they were likely moved there with a snowmachine) but there's no reason you can't save what you can. That would actually be an interesting interaction you could have with an NPC: saving an ice fishing hut for next winter. With two or three people it may be doable assuming the wolves don't come to have a bite first

As I've said before, I would prefer any alternative firearm to be a deterrent for wolves, useless for large game and intended (both in the game and real life) for small game. So a .410 or a .22LR for rabbit or grouse hunting.