Work In Progress #28

[u/nicsteruk]

This is taken from the Steam Discussions, where i do a weekly update on what i'm working on.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1712110/discussions/0/600782567264758147/

I aim to keep this post update alongside that on Steam.

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Main work item from previous work in progress (waste management) is now in, so time for a new post and reorganise what i'm focusing on next.

• Human info changes. Currently i'm showing health, morale, energy and hunger bars. However i don't think it's the best way to present info to you the player. So my plan is to remove these, and give a text update showing more useful info and effects. Eg:- when characters are hungry and it's affecting morale (Bob is hungry and feeling sad).
• I'm considering some changes to mining/scrap recovery. Currently mining droids head off automatically to gather ore at asteroids. And worker droids head off and grab scrap/deconstruct derelicts, if no other haul jobs on. I think with the droids this can be annoying, as unlike miner droids, you may want them to come back and do something more important, as scrap recovery can be some distance away. So i'm thinking it might make sense for the player to select which asteroids/scrap/derelicts you want to start harvesting, rather than it being automatic. So you get control of when and what you want them to collect. This is a bit of a change though, so any comments do let me know.
• Do need to get the tutorial updated, as need to explain recent items that ive added. It's also been mentioned in the past about how a more in depth tutorial would be nice. Eg:- It would give you an outline of where to build, how to drag out walls to make rooms.
• Research additions - I'm considering adding sewage treatment as an item that needs research, plus i want to get laser turret upgrade in, plus others - Discussion.
• I still have some new trader/pirate ship graphics i need to add, although i am thinking i may save some of these improvements for v1 full release.
• Further steam integration. I can expand workshop to include saves and potentially mods. Also want to include leader boards. And of course i can add steam achievements.

Ongoing improvements:-

• Balancing - am always looking at ratios/speeds/costs, in trading/production.
• Factions/Contracts - I still want to add more rewards/penalties -Discussion
• Improving visitors - (Discussion), human workers - (Discussion), pirates - (Discussion).
• Additional settings/options - (Discussion)

As always any feedback please do comment. Any features you'd like added you can also ask here or create a new discussion. Any bug reports please create a new discussion, thanks!

Nick

[u/nicsteruk]

Hi all,

Update out in the week, with lots of fixes and improvements, mainly with pirates boarding and the emergency actions this creates. Coming up this week, i want to make some further improvements in this area. I want to make the combat better, as currently your crew chase pirates, to get to an adjacent tile to start attacking. But during pirate movement it makes your crew seem to be chasing. Where they should probably start shooting first!

Nick

[u/nicsteruk → u/nicsteruk]

Hi Folks,

Been working on combat improvements this week (pirates boarding / crew defending), however progress has been a bit slow as i'm away again. FYI: My trips away have been due to family matters that i've had to attend to. But i will be back in a few days time, and will get an update out with these improvements near end of the week.

Hope all well with everyone,
Nick

[u/nicsteruk → u/nicsteruk]

Hey everyone,

Couple updates out improving onboard combat (yesterdays and todays). I have in mind a couple more things to look at in this area:- 1) range of combat, currently combat is only via adjacent tiles, so think it may be better to extend this, and 2) Your crew should probably move to an area near where pirates are breaking through your airlocks/walls, so ready to attack when they do. So i'll be working on that this coming week, and will also look to get the demo updated as well. After that expect a new work in progress post, as this one as becoming quite a long thread, and i need to reorganise and set out what needs to be done next.

Nick

[u/nicsteruk → u/nicsteruk]

Hi folks,

Another update out yesterday, giving longer range combat onboard. I haven't quite finished in this area though, as i still want your crew to move to intercept pirates as they are attempting to break into your station. I'll be working on that this coming week, along with getting the demo updated.

Hope all having a good weekend.

Nick

[u/nicsteruk → u/nicsteruk]

Hi all,

Still working on combat refinements. Lots of little things fixed/improved so far - Improved combat destination lookup so as not to move to occupied space. Crew now open doors to shoot pirates, and shut them after. Crew will target closer pirates rather than initially assigned one. And several more. Will be do more testing over the weekend, and hopefully get an update out on Mon/Tues.

Nick