I think the Wilson skill tree should have more perks for beginners

[Masked Koopa]

I think the core idea of the skill tree is not bad, but I also think that there's way too much tiering going on with the torch and the beard for what are essentially the same effects. IMO it'd be much more productive to merge the torch skill tree into one or two skills, and introduce more item-specific boosts.

For example (Example stats, idk what exact balance would be best):

• Log suit and/or football helmet now lasts 50% longer
• Spear now deals 1.5x damage.
• Wilson now gains 10 bonus hunger from all crock pot dishes except wet goop.
• Flint tools now last twice as long.
• Reduces (or removes) HP penalty for using and/or being revived with the telltale heart.

As for the beard tree, I think it would be best to combine the insulation and beard growth skills into one skill each, with beard growth coming first, with four new powers being added to the beard for the other four slots. These are what I came up with, but I'm sure ya'll have better suggestions.

• Beard now provides 10%, 20% and then 30% wetness protection (enough for a rain hat to function as an eyebrella, 70% + 30%)
• Beard now reduces incoming damage by 5%, 10% and then 15%
• Beard now provides a passive sanity gain of 1.1/min, 2.2/min, 3.3/min
• Beard now reduces the penalties for drowning with a 50%, 75% and 100% reduction in the number of items and max HP lost

The three tiers indicate the growth stage of the beard, I'm not suggesting they add 16 skills.

[Well-met]

torch, beard and easier recipes is literally perks for beginners.

[Masked Koopa]

3 minutes ago, Well-met said:

torch, beard and easier recipes is literally perks for beginners.

Hence why I said more.

[Mysterious box]

Personally I feel like the torch tree should be condensed into a single skill because it's more of a beginner's trap than a skill to help beginners take a second and think about how long someone needs to play to invest a decent amount into the tree vs how useful the tree actually is.

Edit: thinking more about it this should just be part of his base kit.

[Masked Koopa]

40 minutes ago, Mysterious box said:

Personally I feel like the torch tree should be condensed into a single skill because it's more of a beginner's trap than a skill to help beginners take a second and think about how long someone needs to play to invest a decent amount into the tree vs how useful the tree actually is.

Edit: thinking more about it this should just be part of his base kit.

To me it just felt like perhaps the toss could remain seperate to the duration/radius boosts.

[Mysterious box]

6 minutes ago, Masked Koopa said:

To me it just felt like perhaps the toss could remain seperate to the duration/radius boosts.

That's fair.

[tottertrain]

Having played around with the torch tab, I don't feel like it's entirely a beginner's trap. With maxed out duration and a bit of range, it can be used as a super cheap star caller's staff for things like Klaus. It's also nice to use in caves alongside a lantern. When I'm mining or fighting clockworks, sometimes I just want a bit more light without picking up my lantern over and over. I also find it interesting how flingomatics target thrown torches, feels like there could be a use case for that somewhere.

That being said, I do agree that the torch tree needs to be either condensed or buffed (especially rangewise) to make it more worthwhile. 

2 hours ago, Masked Koopa said:

To me it just felt like perhaps the toss could remain seperate to the duration/radius boosts.

I'd love for this to happen.

[Masked Koopa]

2 hours ago, tottertrain said:

Having played around with the torch tab, I don't feel like it's entirely a beginner's trap.

Well it's not so much whether it's worthwhile IMO and moreso the fact that there's sort of a lack of options for new players on the tree to begin with. RN the only real basic survival options are the torch and the beard insulation, and those take way too many skills for them to be any use to a new player. If Klei want to give new players a boost with skill trees, then Wilson's tree should better reflect that and make some basic survival stuff like damage, armour, wetness resistance and sanity management more managable as him, while still being weaker than the characters who's perks specialise in those departments.

[Antynomity]

No. Make them interesting, crafts that work based on your beard, stuff that makes the torch tree good, we don't need more skills that just give you free stats because why not.

I've already suggested some of these beard stats as crafts that are unlocked with skills, it'd be more interesting than just 'oh wow now your beard is stronger for free'.