For the discussion of our Sunless Skies, released January 2019.
Design Choice: Thrusters and Full Steam
dustwhit
Posts: 4
11/29/2019
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Hi designers,
I've really enjoyed your game even though open-sandbox, pick-up and deliver, heavy-narrative game play is not really my thing. I think its the superb sound, music, and rich, unique world you've created. Its also fun to set off on a route with a plan, and then see things inevitably need to change and adjust on the journey. One thing I strongly disagree with...
I don't agree with the design choice to have side thrusters cost extra fuel and for full steam mode to cause an initial loss of fuel. My reason - it ruins the fun of using these abilities. Basically, its fun to thrust around the world (not to mention to become familiar with and learn the important combat mechanic) and its fun to initiate the full steam mode. Since you punish the player to use these, I find myself almost completely disregarding them until necessary.
In the case of Full Steam, it feels bad to initiate the mode, and then pass several nodes that I could have harvested otherwise. I don't mind the extra collision damage or difficult navigation controls.
I don't think this balancing of the abilities was necessary, certainly not at the cost of the loss in fun using them.
Have a great week,
dustwhit
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Siankan
Posts: 1048
11/29/2019
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I don't quite follow how this is "[punishing]". To me at least it makes sense that your engine guzzles extra fuel when you are making it do something extra, especially the extra acceleration. It's what my car does. Also, if thrusting sideways didn't cost fuel, you'd have the strange anomaly where a stationary engine could do the trick without apparently using its engine at all. In any case, the amount of fuel used is so minuscule that it is unlikely to ever matter unless you 1) have severely mismanaged the engine, 2) have had particularly bad luck, or 3) regularly skate by on a minimum of fuel.
For my part, I usually leave port with 5 barrels of fuel on board (10 when I'm exploring), and I top off when I'm able to. That is enough fuel to cross the Reach in a gas guzzler and still have a bit to spare, even with liberal use of thrusters. I never limit their use, except on rare occasions where misfortune has run me out of fuel and I'm trying (as much as possible) to coast my way to port. They have yet to make any real impact on my ability to keep the engine running, and (on a personal level) have never made any negative impact on my enjoyment of the game.
As for not interacting with discoveries, I'm afraid that's a necessary price of speed. You can hardly stop on a dime when roaring past something, and you certainly can't spend a few hours drilling into a rock or excavating a ruin when your engine is setting new speed records. You have to get off the highway if you're going to see the local attractions; part of using full steam mode is deciding what sort of things you are willing to disengage it for.
edited by Siankan on 11/29/2019
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Prof. Sian Kan, at your service.
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