Stalker v.233-236 is outstanding!

[LucidFugue]

If it's only one change I'm tempted to say reduced carry capacity. I like longer blizzards with a detectable build up, and I like the idea of guaranteeing only 2-3 types of tools spawned in a single area. Make travel more risky but force it, is where I'm thinking. Like others have pointed out, once you have the gear and a shelter it's much easier,the best fun is scrambling for that. Carry capacity could be a heavy hit if you couldn't lug all your gear around at once and you had to carry gear to different zones before you could be established.

[Incariuz]

What weather did you have? I was forced to stay in Alan's cave big part of a day and a whole night yesterday, due to two big blizzards, and I survived only because I had two fires going during night. My clothing temperature bonus was +5°C. Windchill is in Alan's cave constantly -1°C. As Scyzara wrote, this isn't viable option in houses without stove or fireplace or some portable heat source. You could be frozen meat, if you'll be catched by a blizzard in a lake cabin. And I died in one run in a fishing hut during night. Just froze to the death.

I had a some colder temperatures then I could handle a few times, had to take full advantage of heating up teas and soup then using my sleeping bag to reduce how quickly I was freezing. But I still made it. Not gonna argue, a change like this would make the start of the game nightmarish, but it is survivable, which means at some point people will get through it, the game will get easier with better clothing, and then you'll have some extra mid game survival requirements during extreme cold. Needing to forage wood to have fires going while you sleep. Helps kill a few hours of each day, instead of just sleeping because you have nothing valuable to do with your time.

Either way though, I actually ended up enjoying the outdoor survival gameplay, aside from not having a knife, so I may just start playing in that style more just to see how far I can go. In fact, that would be an interesting leaderboard, most nights spent outdoors.

Here is my last log in case anyone is interested.

[spoil]Day 1:

Morning: Discovered Logging Camp.

Morning: Discovered Clearcut.

Afternoon: Discovered Forestry Lookout.

Afternoon: Discovered Frozen Creek.

Afternoon: Freezing

Afternoon: Not Freezing

Afternoon: Discovered Camp Office.

Afternoon: Freezing

Afternoon: Not Freezing

Afternoon: Flare ruined.

Afternoon: Discovered Mystery Lake.

Afternoon: Freezing

Afternoon: Started fire.

Afternoon: Smashed Pork and Beans.

Afternoon: Ate Pork and Beans.

Afternoon: Not Freezing

Afternoon: Drank 0.53 L potable water.

Afternoon: Freezing

Evening: Not Freezing

Evening: Ate Granola Bar.

Evening: Ate Energy Bar.

Night: Drank 0.39 L potable water.

Night: Went to sleep.

Twilight: Woke up after sleeping 4 hours

Twilight: Drank Reishi Tea.

Morning: Ate Granola Bar.

Morning: Drank Orange Soda.

Morning: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 2 hours

Morning: Ate Granola Bar.

Morning: Ate Candy Bar.

Morning: Drank Summit Soda.

Distance travelled during day: 4.01 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.00 km

Day 2:

Made it to day 2

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Drank 0.50 L potable water.

Afternoon: Starving

Afternoon: Smashed Pork and Beans.

Afternoon: Ate Pork and Beans.

Afternoon: Not Starving

Afternoon: Drank Orange Soda.

Afternoon: Drank Summit Soda.

Evening: Failed attempt to start fire.

Evening: Started fire.

Night: Encumbered

Night: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Night: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Night: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Night: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Night: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Night: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Night: Drank 0.33 L potable water.

Night: Not Encumbered

Night: Drank 0.26 L potable water.

Night: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 8 hours

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Drank 0.46 L potable water.

Morning: Discovered Lone Lake Cabin.

Morning: Discovered Lake Cabins.

Morning: Freezing

Morning: Not Freezing

Morning: Freezing

Morning: Discovered Lake Cabins.

Distance travelled during day: 2.12 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.00 km

Day 3:

Made it to day 3

Morning: Discovered Mystery Lake (Western Access).

Morning: Started fire.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Not Freezing

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Candy Bar.

Afternoon: Drank 0.47 L potable water.

Afternoon: Smashed Tomato Soup.

Afternoon: Ate Tomato Soup.

Afternoon: Ate Peanut Butter.

Afternoon: Drank 0.23 L potable water.

Evening: Encumbered

Evening: Smashed Condensed Milk.

Evening: Ate Condensed Milk.

Evening: Not Encumbered

Evening: Smashed Dog Food.

Evening: Ate Dog Food.

Evening: Drank 0.32 L potable water.

Night: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 8 hours 1 minute

Morning: Drank 0.54 L potable water.

Morning: Ate Granola Bar.

Morning: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 1 hour

Morning: Freezing

Morning: Flare ruined.

Morning: Starving

Morning: Failed attempt to start fire.

Morning: Started fire.

Distance travelled during day: 1.86 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.01 km

Day 4:

Made it to day 4

Morning: Drank Rose Hip Tea.

Morning: Not Starving

Morning: Not Freezing

Morning: Ate Venison (Cooked).

Morning: Ate Venison (Cooked).

Morning: Drank 0.39 L potable water.

Morning: Went to sleep.

Afternoon: Woke up after sleeping 2 hours

Afternoon: Smashed Tomato Soup.

Afternoon: Ate Tomato Soup.

Afternoon: Flare ruined.

Evening: Smashed Tomato Soup.

Evening: Dehydrated

Evening: Ate Tomato Soup.

Evening: Drank Stacy's Grape Soda.

Evening: Not Dehydrated

Evening: Drank 0.44 L potable water.

Night: Drank 0.20 L potable water.

Night: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 8 hours 1 minute

Morning: Went to sleep.

Morning: Starving

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 2 hours

Morning: Drank 0.58 L potable water.

Morning: Discovered Tunnel Collapse.

Morning: Discovered Max's Last Stand.

Morning: Freezing

Morning: Discovered Trapper's Homestead.

Morning: Not Freezing

Morning: Failed attempt to start fire.

Morning: Started fire.

Distance travelled during day: 2.75 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.00 km

Day 5:

Made it to day 5

Morning: Drank 0.19 L potable water.

Morning: Ate Candy Bar.

Morning: Not Starving

Morning: Flare ruined.

Morning: Killed a Wolf

Morning: Starving

Afternoon: Encumbered

Afternoon: Drank Stacy's Grape Soda.

Afternoon: Not Starving

Afternoon: Freezing

Afternoon: Not Freezing

Afternoon: Starving

Afternoon: Not Encumbered

Afternoon: Encumbered

Afternoon: Ate Military-Grade MRE.

Afternoon: Not Starving

Afternoon: Drank 0.13 L potable water.

Evening: Not Encumbered

Evening: Encumbered

Evening: Started fire.

Evening: Killed a Wolf

Evening: Drank 0.34 L potable water.

Evening: Killed a Wolf

Night: Exhausted

Night: Went to sleep.

Night: Not Exhausted

Twilight: Woke up after sleeping 2 hours

Twilight: Starving

Twilight: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Twilight: Not Starving

Twilight: Dehydrated

Twilight: Drank 0.67 L potable water.

Twilight: Not Dehydrated

Twilight: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 3 hours

Morning: Not Encumbered

Morning: Encumbered

Morning: Not Encumbered

Morning: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Morning: Drank 0.41 L potable water.

Morning: Encumbered

Distance travelled during day: 3.83 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.02 km

Day 6:

Made it to day 6

Morning: Ate Beef Jerky.

Morning: Drank 0.33 L potable water.

Morning: Went to sleep.

Afternoon: Interrupted by wolf during sleep! Had been sleeping for 1 hour

Afternoon: Started fire.

Afternoon: Starving

Afternoon: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Afternoon: Not Starving

Afternoon: Drank 0.36 L potable water.

Evening: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Evening: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Evening: Exhausted

Evening: Drank 0.44 L potable water.

Evening: Went to sleep.

Evening: Not Exhausted

Twilight: Woke up after sleeping 7 hours

Twilight: Not Encumbered

Twilight: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Twilight: Dehydrated

Twilight: Drank 0.67 L potable water.

Twilight: Not Dehydrated

Twilight: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Morning: Drank Cup of Herbal Tea.

Morning: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 2 hours

Morning: Went to sleep.

Morning: Freezing

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 2 hours

Morning: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Morning: Not Freezing

Morning: Drank 0.09 L potable water.

Distance travelled during day: 0.00 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.00 km

Day 7:

Made it to day 7

Afternoon: Dehydrated

Afternoon: Starving

Afternoon: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Afternoon: Not Starving

Afternoon: Drank 0.50 L potable water.

Afternoon: Not Dehydrated

Evening: Encumbered

Evening: Drank 0.43 L potable water.

Evening: Not Encumbered

Evening: Starving

Evening: Killed a Wolf

Night: Encumbered

Twilight: Started fire.

Twilight: Not Encumbered

Twilight: Encumbered

Twilight: Freezing

Twilight: Not Encumbered

Twilight: Not Freezing

Twilight: Encumbered

Twilight: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Twilight: Not Starving

Twilight: Not Encumbered

Twilight: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Twilight: Drank Cup of Herbal Tea.

Twilight: Drank 0.36 L potable water.

Twilight: Encumbered

Twilight: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 6 hours

Morning: Not Encumbered

Morning: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Morning: Drank 0.47 L potable water.

Morning: Encumbered

Morning: Not Encumbered

Morning: Encumbered

Distance travelled during day: 2.27 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.01 km

Day 8:

Made it to day 8

Morning: Killed a Stag

Morning: Freezing

Afternoon: Discovered River (Southern Access).

Afternoon: Not Encumbered

Afternoon: Encumbered

Afternoon: Not Freezing

Afternoon: Drank Stacy's Grape Soda.

Afternoon: Not Encumbered

Afternoon: Encumbered

Afternoon: Started fire.

Afternoon: Ate Military-Grade MRE.

Afternoon: Drank 0.26 L potable water.

Afternoon: Not Encumbered

Evening: Encumbered

Night: Exhausted

Night: Dehydrated

Night: Drank 0.67 L potable water.

Night: Not Dehydrated

Night: Ate Pinnacle Peaches.

Night: Ate Beef Jerky.

Night: Ate Energy Bar.

Night: Drank 0.07 L potable water.

Night: Went to sleep.

Night: Not Exhausted

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 8 hours

Morning: Not Encumbered

Morning: Drank Rose Hip Tea.

Morning: Drank 0.24 L potable water.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Distance travelled during day: 1.45 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.00 km

Day 9:

Made it to day 9

Afternoon: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Afternoon: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Afternoon: Drank 0.63 L potable water.

Evening: Drank 0.38 L potable water.

Evening: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Evening: Drank 0.29 L potable water.

Evening: Drank Rose Hip Tea.

Evening: Went to sleep.

Twilight: Woke up after sleeping 4 hours

Twilight: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 4 hours

Morning: Drank 0.46 L potable water.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Ate Cat Tail Stalk.

Morning: Drank 0.34 L potable water.

Distance travelled during day: 0.00 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.00 km

Day 10:

Made it to day 10

Afternoon: Wolf attack!

Afternoon: Experiencing significant blood loss.

Afternoon: At risk for infected wound.

Afternoon: Ate Candy Bar.

Afternoon: Ate Beef Jerky.

Afternoon: Drank 0.37 L potable water.

Afternoon: Ate Pinnacle Peaches.

Afternoon: Went to sleep.

Evening: Woke up after sleeping 4 hours

Evening: Drank Summit Soda.

Evening: Went to sleep.

Night: Woke up after sleeping 4 hours

Night: Drank Orange Soda.

Night: Drank Summit Soda.

Night: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 6 hours

Morning: Drank 0.34 L potable water.

Morning: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 1 hour

Morning: Starving

Distance travelled during day: 0.29 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.00 km

Day 11:

Made it to day 11

Afternoon: Drank 0.51 L potable water.

Afternoon: Killed a Wolf

Afternoon: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Afternoon: Not Starving

Afternoon: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Afternoon: Drank 0.43 L potable water.

Evening: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Night: Ate Pork and Beans.

Night: Drank 0.63 L potable water.

Night: Went to sleep.

Morning: Woke up after sleeping 8 hours

Morning: Ate Pork and Beans.

Morning: Drank 0.37 L potable water.

Morning: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Morning: Drank 0.27 L potable water.

Distance travelled during day: 0.33 km

Distance travelled during night: 0.00 km

Day 12:

Made it to day 12

Afternoon: Ate Wolf Meat (Cooked).

Afternoon: Drank 0.50 L potable water.

Afternoon: Went to sleep.

Afternoon: Woke up after sleeping 1 hour[/spoil]

[AmericanSteel]

I agree the rifle spawn should be tweeked.

1. Any rifle you find outside is between 40% and 60% condition.

2. Any rifle you find inside is between 85% and 95% condition.

3. Any rifle round you find outside has a 50% chance of being corroded

4. Any rifle round you find inside has a 10% of being corroded.

5. Boxes of ammo contain between 2 and 5 rounds, not just 5 rounds.

All shots have a chance to misfire, giving a pop and no kick. The chance is the 100% - Condition of the weapon - 25% for a corroded round. So a weapon in perfect working order with a great round does not have a chance to misfire. A weapon at 90% with a perfect round has a 10% chance. A weapon at 90% with a corroded round has 35% chance to misfire.

Now shooting becomes an exercise in risk taking. A pop and no kick drops the weapon condition by +5% AND the weapon cannot be fired until repaired!

[Fluffy]

I agree that Stalker is too easy at the moment. I'm surviving 200+ days, without much to do to give meaning to these days. If I could only pick one thing to change, this would be it:

Food - less abundant fauna, more varieties of flora.

Decrease both the number and spawn rates for animals in the game. Your animals are beautiful, and behave well, but they're way too common to appreciate and too easy to take for granted. 'Calorie bomb' says it all. I can't even feel much loss when I hunt one, because there are three maps full and they re-spawn way too fast anyway (especially bears).

With fewer animals to rely on, introduce more exotic flora. If you want to decrease the coding work involved, just use the current rosehip-style blobs on either bushes, reeds or grasses with different colours, and only bring up a full illustration at the harvest screen when you inspect the plant. This can introduce danger and uncertainty if you add lots of different types, some edible, some poisonous. If you make them fairly rare, so that you don't encounter 20 species during the same map/game then you are also adding re-playability because players will be faced with the unknown over several games, and will need to balance risks until they've built up their in-game knowledge. The types of plants don't have to be 100% true to life, but for ideas here are links to lists of edible and poisonous plants found in Canada:

http://northernbushcraft.com/guide.php? ... &region=on

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/e ... us-plants/

Using these for inspiration would make the game truly set and immersed in Canada, and I'd feel like I'd learnt something from playing (yeah, I could totally survive in post-apocalyptic Canada now!).

Also easy to code using current game mechanics would be to have some plants requiring cooking before being non-poisonous, others perhaps requiring roasting (cooking without adding water) then grinding (at a workbench), followed by cooking with water added. Others could deteriorate very rapidly if they weren't air dried (cured) first. The calorie contents could be varied, but should always be fairly low. Some could taste vile (e.g. the character makes a noise of disgust), but enable survival. Some could increase fatigue or cause illnesses like repeated bouts of dehydration but provide all-essential calories. You wouldn't have descriptions letting the player know what processing steps gave the best results. A player without prior knowledge would have to balance risk with need. Would you risk death in order to survive? How far will you go to survive?

Plant processing would give the player something meaningful to do with their time when a hunting trip was unsuccessful. More time would be spent out hunting and looting, because hunting itself would be harder. First you'd have to find your prey. More tracking, waiting, listening and observing. There would be lean periods to prevent food build-up and 'hibernation', and the feeling of excitement and achievement when you finally brought down your prey...followed by the realisation that you'd have to harvest and process every last bit you can because you don't know how long until your next kill. The frustration when the storm hits and you have to leave it for the day. Once tinned food runs out, there would be the real risk of starvation between kills, with a respectable chance at survival. You would have to travel further along the map, even to the currently remote areas without buildings or corpse spawn points. This would increase the risk of death from all causes. Basically, in one sweep you'd fix the mid-game monotony that creeps in once you get used to the wolves and are familiar with the maps.

Some people could even try to live the whole game as vegetarians for the challenge. It would be harsh, but with the right knowledge would it be possible?

I'm really loving the game and the immersion, but this is what I think the sandbox needs right now to make the mid-to-long game both interesting and challenging for veteran players. I think the weather, clothes, temperature, illness, woodcutting and fire mechanics all work fine now - we just need the incentive to keep risking death by going out and being exposed to them. Would love to hear what you all think.