The Wait Is Over Pt. IV - Concerns

[Raphael_Maxmatch]

FYI the Mechanic combat feature is rather opaque, but it's supposed to either repair outfit durability or reduce the durability damage taken during the fight, continuing the trend of mechanics not needing to expend as many resources to craft and repair. Also does get increased critical wedges and reduced miss wedges...but only a little, nothing like what the scholar gets.

[Raphael_Maxmatch]

Different topic: A concern that I might just have to suck up and live with.

Concern about Resetting Crafting Progress
Platform(s) Affected: Windows (but should be unrelated to platform)
Current Status: Reported on 15 Jan 2022
Occurrence/Specification: OG character, L25 and crafted nearly everything, chose a profession (Medic) and worked back up to L6. I don’t think this counts as a glitch, so including under concerns. Not sure if the programming will allow for an easy fix.
Reporter: @Raphael_Maxmatch
Details: Upon reaching L6, the game awarded me with the L6 crafting plans. Outfits were as expected…Medic specific new stuff. It also gave Flamethrower plans, which should have done nothing since I already had those plans. Instead it reset my crafting progress. Which means I have to do the initial crafting again. And if I am trying to “master” crafting everything, I have to expend another 100+ cogs. And I expect to have to do this again for EVERY weapon whose plans are awarded when leveling up.
Side Effects/Similar Issues: Not a show stopper, but one more annoyance for OG characters, especially for any other completionists out there.
Screenshots/Video Evidence:

[Jones_Elderview]

Ah, thanks for reminding me! So yea, kind of rounds it out a bit from just crafting.

[Beth_Applemine]

Has anyone run an outfit down to 0% durability to find out what happens? I can go test that if needed, but so far I've been too meticulous to let anything get below 70% if I can help it.

When a suit gets to 0% durability it simply loses it's perks.

I have worn my Wind Breaker down to under 20%... I could wear it down to zero if you guys would like to see how this actually works. It would save your suit, Raphael.

Or Soldiers could have a high dodge chance to offset the taunt stat.

My level 22 soldier does have a very high dodge chance.

[Sierepica_Fuzzywalker]

First off, I would like to clarify that I was not calling the developers "underhanded" or "insane" with the previous post, and I apologize if it came across as unnecessarily harsh. The adjective "insane" I was applying to the idea of tripling the items in a game with an inventory system that needs help, and "underhanded" to the idea of making people pay to beta test a game, which in case we haven't noticed already, is a lot of hard work.

@Sigmund_Coppermuddle and @Mech_Lightspark, do you have anything to say about any of this?

I also meant this question to apply to the entire discussion we're having, not just my post. Does that help?

Yea, but what about all the people off-forums who don't even get a say?

I agree. "Come back and play your new characters, the Professions are Coming!" is a better marketing message to them than "Come back to the Aetherlight...um...glitch party." The latter axes confidence in the development team and makes people less likely to subscribe to the game.

When I think of a Soldier I think it'd deal a lot of damage,

Eh, I was thinking that it would be a hardier class that would take a lot of damage to destroy. Like a tank.

Idk about you but one seems quite more OP than the others. I think you're just wanting new areas and make rare items less rare, but you're going about it all wrong because it'd offset the balance of the classes, as much as than balance is broken right now, we need to be evening it all out, and not just putting everything we want for the game in general in one class and forgetting the others.

I agree, though I did say that I wanted the Mechanics to have more powerful outfits and weapons. It's a good point that I did make the Scholar class a bit OP there. I just thought the Scholar would find rare items to craft better weapons.

I think the Soldiers should have better weapons if anyone, they should be the ones in fights after all.

Right, but Mechanics would be more likely to make them. Or the Mechanics could have Aether-powered automations to follow them around. Idk if that could be a thing, that would probably take an huge amount of programming to implement.

It just seems strange that "Mechanic" is functionally a "fashion designer". That's not how I think of Mechanics.

A: Less damage taken, quicker passive and active regen

Medic also takes less Aether to heal yourself and others.

B: Less items needed for crafting, (Idk what the Mechanic Combat feature is)

The Mechanic combat feature, the Sonic Spanner, makes it so your outfits take no durability damage from whatever fight you are using them in. The idea behind the class appears to be that you use your outfits (hat, mask, clothing) to improve your accuracy or preserve your health, etc, and then you use the spanner to stop the enemies from taking those abilities away in the middle of a fight. It kind of makes sense if you're wearing powered armor or something like that.

Unfortunately, durability decreases so slowly that it's not very practical, unless you're trying to save your Windbreaker because you can't repair it right now. That's another glitch I reported.

[Spector_Otterquill]

My level 22 soldier does have a very high dodge chance.

Yes they do, but if the re-implement the triple hp system in fights then you will be taking triple the dmg so you'd need >50% dodge chance just to be able to participate in fights.

[Jones_Elderview]

I have worn my Wind Breaker down to under 20%... I could wear it down to zero if you guys would like to see how this actually works. It would save your suit, Raphael.

I feel we should sacrifice a suit that doesn't do much. Just so you aren't missing out on the best suit in the game so far.

Eh, I was thinking that it would be a hardier class that would take a lot of damage to destroy. Like a tank.

Okay...We're still at an agreement that their ability doesn't suit them though. Also tanks are usually classified as slow moving, high damage, high armour rating. But they took armour out of the game, and I don't think a slower moving character would be fun for anyone.

I just thought the Scholar would find rare items to craft better weapons.

Okay, but why should the Scholar craft better weapons? Maybe instead you could get more plans from the Scholar in-game (Lucas) Instead of you having to be a Scholar to get them. That way it isn't class-specific and no one would have to have the downside of not getting the class they want just to get the weapons they want.

Also with this one Lucas could give you the Tesla Rifle he uses against the Excavator Scout in the first scene of the game. I've always wanted that, and also the sword on his back. But I couldn't get that with your idea because I'm a Medic and I'd have to be a Scholar.

That's another glitch I reported.

Perhaps it's not a glitch. As said before it's the best suit in the game, so maybe we aren't supposed to have it forever and instead should use it wisely. It only blocks fire damage so maybe we should halt using it until we're certain we're going into a literal firefight. Such as going to Bootleg Pass, Smugglers Cove, The Isle, and maybe the Snowmoors, where I would recommend taking a Windbreaker anyways.

[Beth_Applemine]

I feel we should sacrifice a suit that doesn't do much.

Heh, yeah, and then I can repair the suit once it’s worn out. Good idea Jones.

[Raphael_Maxmatch]

I agree with @Jones_Elderview, no need to actually sacrifice the Windbreaker. Or I can sacrifice it on a test account and not on one you plan to move forward with. Plus, someone else already replied that at 0% the bonuses go away. But I am curious as to whether at 20% durability you still get a full 50% reduction in fire damage, or whether the benefit is reduced at all.

[Sierepica_Fuzzywalker]

I'm actually fine with the goat being so easy right now. It's a good go-to for OG characters that picked up their profession and have a hard time leveling up, and for beginners to get a few items like horns that are rare early on.

I really don't have too much occasion to disagree, except I think that it should be about on par with small autos in other areas.

Right now, we have Auto Fight Difficulty 1 for Episode 1 fights, 1 Boss, 2, 2 Boss, 3, 3 Boss. Then we break down our friendly neighborhood "protectors" into categories that make sense.

1: All autos in NML, Bootleg Pass, and the Junkyard Patrollers.

1 Boss: Goat, Crusher, and the Baron. (Possibly also the "Boss Man")

2: All autos on the Flying L, the Business District, and the Isle.

2 Boss: The Mega Drills, biggest Goat at the bottom of the Below Decks, and the Billy Goats Gruff.

3: Cogras, Scorpistons, and Crocs, and the Grease Pit automations.

3 Boss: The Yeti, and also the Fognauts and other autos in the Abandoned Labs.

So if I have a 3 auto, it should be slightly less difficult than a Level 2 Boss, because I got thrown into the fight without asking, and it should be easier than a level 3 Boss. I was able to beat the Yeti at level 17 after the update, and I still haven't found a way to win against Cogras. Automation tuning needed yo.

Meanwhile, the Stragglers (2 auto) are harder than a Level 1 Boss (the Baron) by a huge margin.

Also with this one Lucas could give you the Tesla Rifle he uses against the Excavator Scout in the first scene of the game. I've always wanted that, and also the sword on his back. But I couldn't get that with your idea because I'm a Medic and I'd have to be a Scholar.

I agree that both of those weapons would be cool to have. More electric weapons please. I didn't notice that Lukas had a sword on his back though. That's a good eye.

Okay, but why should the Scholar craft better weapons?

Fair point, I suppose. Perhaps that should be left to the Solidier and Mechanic classes, especially since the Scholar has the Automationdex.

Okay...We're still at an agreement that their ability doesn't suit them though. Also tanks are usually classified as slow moving, high damage, high armour rating. But they took armour out of the game, and I don't think a slower moving character would be fun for anyone.

I mean, if I have a horn that causes the automations to hit me instead of my friends, and I have the bigger health bar, yeah, it makes sense for a Tank class character to have that. For me, it's functionally useless and doesn't fit my natural play style, which is to totally lone wolf everything. That doesn't make it wrong, but it does make it so that I like the other classes much better. Still, it could stand to be improved.

[Jones_Elderview]

Episode 1 fights, 1 Boss

Technically the first Mega Drill at the bottom of the Isle is one, that took place in Episode one. Then there's also Baron Sizzlepot which is also a Boss, the Crusher is technically a Boss too, and I'm pretty sure you can access it in Episode 1.

the Business District

These are the same Automatons seen in NML, and are just as easy.

But I do agree, Automatons need some re-balancing.

That's a good eye.

Thanks! Yea, it's hard to notice when he's standing around in his workshop, but it's pretty easy to see while in a fight with him or when he's running around Engine Bay.

my natural play style, which is to totally lone wolf everything.

I recommend Medic, they seem to be the only ones that can hold themselves in most fights alone.

[Beth_Applemine]

I didn't notice that Lukas had a sword on his back though.

Lukas would not be the same Lukas without his sword.

You’ve been missing out, Miss_S.

[Sierepica_Fuzzywalker]

Technically the first Mega Drill at the bottom of the Isle is one, that took place in Episode one.

Actually you don't fight the Mega Drill at the end of the Episode 1 story sequence on the Isle, just an Excavator. We could spend a lot of time debating whether the Isle is 1 or 2 area. It's cleared by the level 2 Great Engine and is related to the Flying L, which is a level 2 area. Also the Restful Tower suit, a level 2 suit, is found on the Isle.

Storywise, though, the Isle is an Episode 1 area covering the Sodom and Gomorrah story, which makes the whole area blurry as to which episode it belongs. But I think the Mega Drill is a Level 2 Boss, and that's kinda firmly established. There's one in the Greenshade Caverns too, where the Restful Tower suit is, like the Baron guarding the Shepard's Watch.

You’ve been missing out, Miss_S.

I have. Like most people, I love swords. There is just something quite satisfying about having a blade in your hands that has the power to chop other people's limbs off. Plus also it makes you look powerful, which is even more appealing.

Keep all real swords out of reach of children.

[Jones_Elderview]

Lol I wouldn't say his sword makes him look powerful. For one he couldn't be able to get it off his back with the position it's in and the scabbard design. Two it looks rounded at the top, doesn't make it less sharp, but in my opinion it either has to be pointy or flat, can't be rounded or it looks bad.

[Raphael_Maxmatch]

You know, I vaguely recall that pre-update there were two junkyard goats. One that you had to beat as part of Lukas's quest, as a quest fight (by yourself) that wasn't too hard, and then a much harder one that remained in place permanently. Maybe 200 hp instead of just 80. I wonder if we'll ever get back to that.

Similar to the excavator at the bottom of the mine as the first quest fight that has to be done alone, and then the mega drill that stays there permanently afterwards.

[Raphael_Maxmatch]

On a different topic, has anyone figured out what the following abilities actually do, and why we might want them?
Initiative
Attraction

And with the mechanic & scholar Crafting bonus, it says "increased chance of an upgraded item when crafting", but has anyone actually gotten such a thing?

[Jones_Elderview]

Similar to the excavator at the bottom of the mine as the first quest fight that has to be done alone, and then the mega drill that stays there permanently afterwards.

Yea, that's what I was thinking of.

Initiative

Nothing so far, no.

Attraction

I think Automatons will spot you from farther away, or that they follow you for longer. Do not mix this with Crocodials.

And with the mechanic & scholar Crafting bonus, it says "increased chance of an upgraded item when crafting", but has anyone actually gotten such a thing?

Never heard that, interesting!

[Raphael_Maxmatch]

Sounds like we're both only guessing along the same lines of thought.

However, I just created a soldier to test something else, and noted that Alexander says "This Battle Horn will Rally the troops and give a boost to ones Initiative. This will attract the Automatons to focus on whoever has the most Initiative."

Previously I just thought that Rally provided minor healing each turn. And we've all seen "Taunt" as calling the Automatons to attack that character...usually the character with the higher level, and therefore more HP and higher dodge chances, etc.

Has anyone done testing to see if blowing the horn can shift who the Automatons focus on?

[Spector_Otterquill]

I recommend Medic, they seem to be the only ones that can hold themselves in most fights alone.

If soldiers get a higher dodge chance then they will be able to easily.
Wink wink devs, please do I'd love that and would be lowkey OP.

[Raphael_Maxmatch]

Addition to the "Resetting Crafting Progress" concern: Also applies to the dye plans. Or at least to the 4 I've gotten so far. Again, not a show stopped, but annoying for a completionist trying to master all the crafting plans.