BETA 54B BETA 54B: UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHH... SUCH TERRIFYING POWER

I made a video for 54B, here! Mainly thinking out loud about how Offices need inputs now.

 

Al, Loadouts are now based on the spot you choose for your colony start.

 

You know what would be an amazing decor item?
Pile of Upkeep Chests What devious plan might these be used for?

 

Airships seem to be a lot safer in this version.

 

Longtime lurker/first time poster etc. etc.

Inspired to post primarily just to say that this build is really good. Haven't been playing a whole lot - not supposed to be playing at all as I'd hoped to hold off 'til final release but never mind! - but there's something about this build that really feels like it's pulled the game together. So, good work!

Possibly more useful comments:

1) Bandits are now really dangerous - in a good way - and I'd seriously consider making a deal with them rather than just defaulting to fighting them. I've two graveyards full of corpses (admittedly some of them bandits) and have been forced to build a second barracks to repel attacks. As an aside, I've found the necessity of drafting labourers to replace casualties during a skirmish rather haunting, which is precisely the feeling I want to be getting from doing that.

2) The maintenance changes are fantastic. Much more intuitive and sensible.

3) Similarly, I like the new workbench changes. That's partly because of the streamlined build menus but also because the diversity of modules now required makes workshop construction a little more involved. E.g. whereas previously you could get away with just having two workbenches in a carpenters, now you need at least three to make all necessary items and if you want to increase speed of production of certain items (e.g. planks) you then also need to double-up. Hence, I can see myself building more or larger workshops in the future, whereas previously it was easy to get away with a single fairly small one.

4) I like the fact that some of the decor items now don't require bric-a-brac but I'm wondering whether this can be extended further. I can understand the argument for making these items resource-independent but there seems to be sufficient diversity in the modules available that there should more or less always be something you can build. And that way, you don't end up with - what is for me anyway - the very silly situation of having all your decor items made out of glass (I'm not convinced that glass rugs should make anyone happier).

5) Partially in response to posts above about this - I feel the barracks building could maybe do with some love, especially in the early game. I see the argument, from a gameplay perspective, for not having cots in the barracks. However, the consequence is that the barracks is nothing but an empty shell in the early game (when you don't have access to better weapons) and even later doesn't need to be much bigger than basically a cupboard to house your arms-locker(s) of choice. Gameplay wise, I guess this doesn't matter. But it makes the building feel a bit superfluous - like it's basically just a button for accessing the barracks UI window rather than a meaningful part of the colony in its own right. (All this said, I'm not sure what else it *could* have to make up for this. Maybe change the modules which give quality bonuses? IIRC, there's only clothes lines at the moment but since these hug walls it still leaves the floor-space empty. But I don't know.)

6) Haven't really had to engage with it much yet but in principle I think I like the changes to the overworld. Didn't really play around with different starting loadouts, however, so the lack of flexibility compared to the old system won't matter as much to me as others.

Also, a few issues:

1) First colony I started had a colonist who spawned on the side of a cliff face going into the ocean. The colonist couldn't move from this starting position and so was stuck.

2) Publicans either do not stock a pub with alcohol of their own initiative, or do so very badly. Despite having plenty of alcohol and a pub right next to the stockpile, it was constantly empty. I didn't test this rigorously, but it felt like when I clicked on the "serve alcohol" button (or whatever it is - the one which allows you to toggle serving alcohol and spirits) the publican would *then* go to the stockpile to fill the booze vats. Might do a proper test of this later if I have the chance.

3) Sometimes, when placing gambions, the game will decide to place a whole row of them when clicking on a UI button (e.g. the cancel button, or one of the main building buttons in the bottom left).

4) Relatedly, there currently does not seem to be a way to cancel gambion construction - you have to wait until it is constructed then dismantle it.

5) Not a bug per se, but there's currently no feedback after selecting a location for a Naturalist to undertake geological surveys, so it's not clear if the game has registered the order.

 

Changes to workshops seem a good move forward - nice one. But can't seem to select multiple items for trading anymore ... bug?

Lack of ability to control the soldiers is a pain, plus bandits seems very strong early in the game. Substantial killing sprees

 

Wanted to chime in that this build is incredible and has been the most stable so far for me. No crashes at all over 3 long last colonies so far!

The recurring bug that I'm noticing is that when overseers die, my workplace quota at the top of the screen defaults to 0/6 (or whatever my cap is), and stays at 0 even though the drop down menu has the correct amount listed. This stays that way until immigrants arrive, then resets to correct value until next die off.

Also got this weird message about bandits, didn't seem to affect anything, see screenshot.

Second screenshot is of a persistent UI problem, seems once my stockpile/amount of stuff owned gets long enough to need scrolling it shrinks a little horizontally? Don't think I can resize it.

My only desire now is for hotkeys, preferably for calling up the main windows/overlays at top left. It would be great to be able to clicking on modules, etc, and pull up work lists or what have you with a simple letter command. Unless it's already in and I've forgotten it.

Keep up the good work, this is the best I've seen the game yet!

 

Perhaps the Barracks should be renamed to the Armory? It would be more aligned with its function of supplying weapons and ammunition instead of living quarters for the military members.

 

Nice.

 

Hmm .. can't seem to get any of the lazy beggars to work when assigned to the Lab. It has supplies and a base set of chalkboards but no one goes to work and no research gets done.

 

Is anyone else getting very few events? I'm on day 40 with a pretty advanced colony and I've had one airship crash - that's about it. No artists, no rogues, no sunshine for my farms, no whispering tree disturbances, or hauntings. Oh yeah, and no mysterious ores.

 

Ah, just sent it before I saw your edit. Maybe I did forget one or two events from earlier. I really enjoyed the pacing they had before, but I understand if you wouldn't want like 10 airship crashes in a row. I like the idea of having to deal with simultaneous events... still really hoping to see a cult inspector show up when I have a cult.

 

I liked airship crashes as a great source of iron. Should scrap iron have the same ratio to ingots as ore? I mean it's already been refined before...

 

The armory lets you research weapons and armor upgrades.

Though honestly having a specfic armory workshop that does unified work in terms of making the ammo types, weapons lockers and doing upgrades (how would this work, I suppose it would use the science skill throughout? Perhaps military skill...)

 

Got it, makes sense, and thanks for the explanation. Yeah, it would be nice if you could throw a few more fun curveballs at those of us managing to keep despair at bay. I mean, I could starve everyone and take away their nice things, but self-sabotage for the purpose of seeing more creepy stuff isn't my preferred method.