Wayfarer

I only got to playing a little of the story when it came out, and I liked what I played. I haven't gone back just yet (among other places, I went visiting Hinterland's part of Canada instead ) I didn't really follow the details of the release, so wasn't particularly aware of the problems. What I'd perceived was good... There was the announcement about August release, then it was August, I had the download in Steam, then I played it some. I did stay away from the forums etc because I didn't want to see any spoilies Whether the devs will see these posts directly or not, not sure, but either way: Negative reviews and criticisms aren't great to receive, but can be valuable, as you've clearly recognised and utilised. Much respect to you all at Hinterland though, I reckon you've produced something very special. My old-person-sounding generalisation is that "gamers these days", with Steam and such like, there's so much demanding negativity, seemingly for the sake it. TLD is an example of early access that's worked. Seems it's a risky business; a lot don't see 1.0, or if they do, don't deliver what was promised or intended, for whatever reasons. As to the difference between Sandbox and Story, and the "constraints": How else could it be really be done!? Sandbox is that, a sandbox...and story is a story. If Episode 1 starts with Will in Milton, what literary sense does it make for him to trot off to say, Desolation Point when his story has him doing stuff in Milton? What would he (therefore the player) see and do there? Even considering different paths/routes through the story, it still has to follow a something...isn't that what makes it a story..... So why shouldn't it be constrained to such an area, or certain activities suggested or likewise constrained. It is a balance though, I get that. If it's fully open, like Skyrim, they've done it so I suppose it can be done, but how many problems, extra work and resource does that introduce and require? Maybe sections of logical, progressive narrative could be circumvented. Maybe if you wandered out of the "current" area, you'd just end up going through a region where there's nothing happening. Or anything else that just doesn't make sense, which could ruin the experience as much as people claim invisible barriers and potentially-obvious debris/blockages do. Anyways, all the best for what's next. Have fun with it

One thing you can do is to make pictures/art/designs etc with objects. Sticks work well This survivor wrote out her "name". But you could do a lot of things with..a lot of things, not just sticks!

Since Sandbox has no end goal or victory condition other than "Don't Die", by reaching that point where you have supplies enough and waiting around, you've won. Kinda. That's not to say you want to start over or do something else, though... But that aside, if you're waiting for the horrendous weather to improve so you can go out to get something else you need, or any other idle situation, yeah, it would be nice for something to "do" in game other than Bedroll -> Pass time. Those books we find, maybe we could read them! +1 for carving/carpentry etc. Things you make could be usable, containers and such. Furniture, too. +1 for painting or something like that haha. Ties into the furniture line of thought too.