Should Wickerbottom's Eventual Rework Retain the Maxwell Synergy?

[Dr. Safety]

The biggest consistency with Wickerbottom rework ideas is that she needs more books of differing uses. A common idea is that Wickerbottom should get combat oriented books with the same casting system as the Forge, where she can equip it like a weapon and then cast the effect in an area. Whether or not you agree with that specifically, I can say that the biggest desire from her rework is more books with more utility.

With more powerful books, it's worth asking if the synergy between Maxwell and Wickerbottom should remain. Obviously how it is right now is that Maxwell can read her books with the exact same outcome, making it more worth it for Maxwell to read them since they costs sanity. Do you think that synergy should remain?

[Cheggf]

Yes, I think it should remain. It serves as a nice little bit of lore that allows Maxwell to work well with Wickerbottom. The only 'issue' is that Wickerbottom can mass craft books then enter the cocoon of the postern and metamorphasize into Maxwell, but that's more of an issue with the postern than anything else and not even necessarily an issue to begin with since Maxwell's halved health stat is a much more notable downside than anything Wickerbottom currently has.

[Yuuko]

I think it would be cool if Maxwell's rework involved him having a synergy with every member of the cast similar to what he has with Wicker.  We see him using his shadow magic to enhance Wolfgang's strength in his short.  I say take that idea and run with it!

Although it should maybe be reworked how exactly he interacts with Wicker.  Just reading her books for the same effect is eh...  Maybe he injects some shadow magic that powers up her books for her, but lets him read it for base effect still.

Like base effect of Horticulture, Abridged is to grow 10 plants.  Maybe shadow enhanced gives us a 4 tile radius, or includes caring for the plants.  Meanwhile Maxwell gets the same 10 plants base effect.

[Mike23Ua]

There should be certain ones Maxwell won’t find interesting enough to him to read, but Wickerbottoms books being readable by others not just Maxwell.. is something I’ve wanted ever since Wurt could read her books.

in my head I picture something like “How to build & Rule a Kingdom” being a book & that somehow helping Wurt & if she comes to the game- Wilba when read- Or even a future Bunnymen or Rock Lobster playable character. A book like THIS Maxwell would have a Snarky comment about like “I built & ruled most everything you see in the Constant but eventually someone dethrones you.”

I also picture her getting a book like “Knowledge & Science is Power!” Which would boost Wilson & WX78 with special perks but.. Maxwell being the snarky egotistic dude that he is-

“I’m Scientific proof that too much power still won’t give us the Knowledge to escape this place.”

Basically: Giving Wickerbottom a Synergy with not just Maxwell but several other characters.. And not allowing Maxwell to just read EVERYTHING.

I’d also make some characters unable to read the large words in the book

”THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE HUMAN BOOK READING IS FOR HUMANS” or

“ERROR 404.. READING MODULE NOT FOUND”

This prevents Wickerbottom from becoming a glorified portal swap character… she actually has to be present to read some of the books to others.

*Wurt trying to read her Kingdom book without a Wicker on the Server..*

“Glorp.. where Book Lady? Help read large funny looking word to Me.”

Your asking should MAXWELL Retain his ability to read Wickerbottoms full book collection at the max power and the answer to that is NO..

What you should instead be asking is: 

How can Klei make a Librarian Interesting to Herself & to a TEAM without her gameplay being utterly boring or capable of just crafting the books and swapping to another character.

[Echsrick]

2 hours ago, Shosuko said:

I think it would be cool if Maxwell's rework involved him having a synergy with every member of the cast similar to what he has with Wicker.  We see him using his shadow magic to enhance Wolfgang's strength in his short.  I say take that idea and run with it!

Although it should maybe be reworked how exactly he interacts with Wicker.  Just reading her books for the same effect is eh...  Maybe he injects some shadow magic that powers up her books for her, but lets him read it for base effect still.

Like base effect of Horticulture, Abridged is to grow 10 plants.  Maybe shadow enhanced gives us a 4 tile radius, or includes caring for the plants.  Meanwhile Maxwell gets the same 10 plants base effect.

yes i agree, this thread gave me too an idea for a future maxwell rework, that he can kind of use every other characters power and or enchant the other characters current powers for a day long

[Astraia]

Yes