Ice Crystellizer does not need it’s freeze downside

[JazzyGames]

I love the concept of a late-game item that can create an area of protection against a seasonal threat such as wildfires. It is a perfect reward for completing the entirety of the lunar rift progression and defeating all the mutant bosses.

The problem with the Ice Crystellizer’s design is that it replaces one environmental threat for another. In exchange for wildfire protection, players need to stay warm while within range of the crystellizer. What makes this management more challenging is the inability to use thermal stones. Wurt with a Sunfish can manage this fine and Wicker/Maxwell can read temperature books, but for most other characters the only feasible options are heating up via food or fire then locking up with insulating clothing.

This seems like a rather punishing downside and a ton of extra character management for a late-game item that is intended to mitigate the inconveniences of a seasonal danger. I would advocate strongly for a complete removal of this effect in the majority of the area protected by the crystellizer, maybe reserving the effect for the central area where glaciers can spawn. Considering the other spark ark items that give a huge late-game benefit with few downsides, I’m not sure why the crystallizer needs a downside that is so powerful it almost negates the benefits of the item itself.

I think the idea behind the crystallizer is amazing but unless it becomes less inconvenient to use I will likely stick to Oasis or caves for Summers. That is, unless I’m playing Wurt exclusively (which never happens, I know).

[Dingle]

Even if thermal stones worked, I have no idea why anyone would make this as it stands. It has to compete with the Bearger Bin and Howlitzer right now, and as they add more spark ark items, it will have to compete with those, too.

[JazzyGames]

10 minutes ago, Dingle said:

Even if thermal stones worked, I have no idea why anyone would make this as it stands. It has to compete with the Bearger Bin and Howlitzer right now, and as they add more spark ark items, it will have to compete with those, too.

Here’s hoping we can eventually get a thermal stone that can hold a charge for at least one full day, doesn’t lose durability, and isn’t affected by crystellizer.

[Hornete]

32 minutes ago, JazzyGames said:

isn’t affected by crystellizer.

The issue with thermal stones and the crystaleyezer is a bug where it does not properly take into account the local temperature. It is a very frustrating bug and a surprising one to have stayed this long within the game.

I've dropped another report, we'll see how it goes.

[Well-met]

I disagree with removing the threat since the eye is limitless and will never spoil or deplete.

the game needs less "deploy once to win" structures and klei seems to share that line of thoughts.

[Dingle]

1 hour ago, Well-met said:

I disagree with removing the threat since the eye is limitless and will never spoil or deplete.

the game needs less "deploy once to win" structures and klei seems to share that line of thoughts.

I'd only possibly agree with this if it wasn't a spark ark item. Given a choice of a reward that has no downsides and a "reward" has massive downsides, if both have the same requirement to get, I'd probably want to get the one that doesn't suck. I'm trying to think of when I'd get the "reward" that is bad, when it has to compete with two other, much better items. Maybe to make once, as a joke, after 7 or so mutated lunar boss kills?

That's a possible alternate idea. Make the Crystaleyezer not take a spark ark? Have the Lunar Deerclops item then be something new.

[ryukamiya]

I'm currently using Crystal Geysers on a map I'm playing with a friend.

She likes Wilson, who uses his beard for insulation.

I leave it up to her to place Crystal Geysers so that Wilson can be comfortable in the summer.

Right now, I'm able to prevent some of my freezing damage by placing a few Scaled Furnaces. I don't tell her, but it's still cold.

I wish it were a bit easier to use...

If it had at least the same effect as having a chilled thermal stone on hand at all times, we could place more Crystal Geysers.