Main issue with the DLCs

[pether]

OK so let me start with: I'm having great time with ONI, and I played 3 colonies after Ceres release, with 4th run being played at this moment. I love introduction of new threat (melting base at "normal" temperatures), alternative source of plastic feels really nice and the source of new tree seeds is really creative. New oxylite plant is really nice alternative for oxygen production and I still need to tap to it's full potential unlocked by Pip Power. Overall, the new DLC is great. And even more was the previous one, I refuse to play without SO!

Yet, at the same time, both of them have the same issues and I fear future DLCs might have them too...

The DLCs work well on their own, but they have little connection to the rest of the game:

• Ceres has only 4 critters, not enough to enable Critter Gene Mixer POI. Even after some random care package print with 5th critter, none of new critters have morphs, so the POI is useless
• New food items are not good enough to unlock Jorge, so the POI is useless
• Nectar is only used for plastic production. If player uses petroleum for that, the element is useless
• Enriched Uranium is only used in one building. If player don't build it, the element is useless
• Radbolts are only really required for the end-game. In smaller colonies, the system is useless
• Juicer require specific combination of plants. On maps without them (like Ceres), the building is useless

ONI is a game with many-to-many relations. There are multiple ways to solve each problem, and each element can solve miltiple problems. Or at least that what would feel right. When DLCs are added, I have an impression they are designed as standalones, with little connection to existing parts of the game.

Not to be pesimistic, here are some ideas how the above examples could be fixed and improved:

• Introduce 5th critter on ceres (can be existing one) and introduce at least 1 morph for each of new critters. Perhaps additional morphs for existing critters (eg. ice-themed Pips, Voles, Pacus?)
• Ensure DLC asteroids have access to high-morale food; improve morale boost of introduced deep-fried items
• Introduce new recreation building using Nectar to make ice cream. Introduce Nectar to other creatures (eg. Nectar Pokeshell morph)
• Introduce plants/morphs using Enriched Uranium for some crazy yeilds
• Introduce recreation building or decoration item using radbolts inside the base (eg. microwave, shooting range, some radioactive show/display)
• Introduce recipes for Juicer to make it work on Ceres, SO! Swamp or other starts 

First update after game release added cool new recreation buildings. First update after SO! added new morphs. I feel like Ceres DLC needs something similar, or perhaps both. You can make multiple recipes of Ice Cream Maker so it worked both with Nectar and without it, so vanila players could use it too. Have shooting range require a separate gun station building, so players could have radbolt and water gun options, providing different morale boost and unlocking the building for different DLCs.

I don't want DLCs owners like myself hijack future free game updates, but I would hate to be forgotten as well - the DLCs could be much more better with few little tweaks and additions and I dread the idea we might never get those

[goboking]

12 hours ago, pether said:

• New food items are not good enough to unlock Jorge, so the POI is useless

That's a good catch.  There are also no new recipes for the gas range, meaning no new dehydrated foods.  Sure, there's pemmican, but that's a +4 morale vs a +12 or +16 morale, which can be a big difference when it comes to space travel.

[Primalflower]

On 9/9/2024 at 5:17 AM, pether said:

New food items are not good enough to unlock Jorge, so the POI is useless

While i agree with your overall post, i am a little confused about this in particular. Deep fryer has 2 recipes (fried fish and fried pokeshell) that contribute to jorge. Is it that a third one is required?

[pether]

36 minutes ago, Primalflower said:

While i agree with your overall post, i am a little confused about this in particular. Deep fryer has 2 recipes (fried fish and fried pokeshell) that contribute to jorge. Is it that a third one is required?

oh, maybe I missed something. in my game I couldn't give Jorge anything and I believed I have new deep fried foods, but maybe there was some issue there on my side