[Feedback] The Shadow Affinity Doesn't Fit WX-78's Core Concept

[David808]

3 minutes ago, doritosdamafia said:

i think they mean, duplicanting the green amulet and staff to do that practically for free

Well, that's useful.

3 minutes ago, doritosdamafia said:

you can share your maul to a shadow wx so he an get one for free

But i think this is kinda annoying because you have to drop it every 10-12 minutes. So not really useful imo

[doritosdamafia]

1 minute ago, David808 said:

Well, that's useful.

But i think this is kinda annoying because you have to drop it every 10-12 minutes. So not really useful imo

from my tests if you are holding it or a copied item is inside a possessed atrium chasis, the mimic will continue to be the item

[David808]

18 minutes ago, doritosdamafia said:

from my tests if you are holding it or a copied item is inside a possessed atrium chasis, the mimic will continue to be the item

So after wx picks the item It's unlimited.

[doritosdamafia]

14 minutes ago, David808 said:

So after wx picks the item It's unlimited.

if he have the possessed atrium, yes

[Reddddd]

11 hours ago, Jakepeng99 said:

Winona's shadow side is similar in how it doesnt relate to her tech at all, but the main difference is that its a whole other side of Winona.

She does have lore to support it, but its cool that Winona's affinity expands on the Charlie thing and makes her a Warlock which is fun. I dont have much to ssy that you havent, the skill perks to me feel like post riff item perks crafted at an alter.

If we look at the lore, Winona has the strongest narrative connection to the Shadows and Charlie. In contrast, everything we know about WX-78 is centered on their hatred for "fleshlings" and a cold, calculated rejection of empathy.

There is zero precedent to suggest that a Shadow Atrium would suddenly turn them into a magic-leaning character. Both conceptually and lore-wise, Shadow Affinity feels forced. It doesn’t lean into WX-78’s identity as a self-upgrading automaton; it feels like the character is being used as a vessel for mechanics that belong elsewhere. Devs messed up big time with shadow affinity, i would rather 100% if he was a lunar affinity exclusive character and his shadow skills were just regular skills that later on would be replaced by the endgame gear you get with actual technology.

Rather than whatever we have today, its a very cool concept and all, give them to maxwell or as you said - make them an exclusive endgame tool.

3 hours ago, Baark0 said:

you dupe green staves and then deconstruct napsacks/scaled flooring with those staves.

oh right i forgot about that, so its even less useful.

I think, and just a hunch, if you get to rifts you might have killed klaus and dragonfly sometimes by now, and its not like its all that useful 😕 specially for wx

6 hours ago, Malfario said:

I dont know, infinite dupes of any gear in the game including deconstruction stuff seems really innovative and it opens a lot fo new playstyle. I agree the shadow affinity seems a bit off thematically with the rest of the tree but i dont think thats a bad thing on its own, its a gift of the shadow queen , integrating your chasis with dark powers for various effects. Its an outcast for sure but i dont think its disruptive.

Honestly, i get the affinity is not what you wanted but all that you are describing is personal taste (nothing wrong with your complaints but they arent objective failures on the desing), you say the mechaninc of pluging shadow materials fits maxwell more than wx, does transmuting shadow materials feel also disconected to wilson ? are shadow flames disruptive to willow ? does it relate to anything on wurts gameplay to have a staff that can cojure shadow turf ? All the characters have an aspect of their gameplay translated to be shadow or lunnar themed and its usually a stand alone ability, Wx main mechanic, plugging circuits, is translated to the shadow asthetic as pluging shadow materials, each mat being an improved version like the circuits are. 

Again, you have all the right in the world to complaint about whatever you want, but i think its important we separate objective failures within the character from persoanl criticism on what we would have prefered or what and how we think it could have been done better. 

This situation is baffling. How can feedback for a game you’ve purchased and played not be based on personal opinion? To be an effective developer, you have to parse diverse opinions and understand player sentiment regarding updates. If you take things personally or dismiss feedback because it isn’t "impersonal," there’s really no point in asking for it in the first place.

The post in question follows all the rules, and the opinions shared are common complaints within the community. As a Wickerbottom main, I’m seeing many of my own observations mirrored by WX-78 mains. While much of the focus is on how clunky Lunar Affinity feels, we shouldn't ignore the issues with Shadow Affinity. Many feel it just provides "free buffs" and random gimmicks that feel completely out of character.

To be direct: the Scientist has science skills, the Arsonist has arson skills, and the Princess has lore-related magic. Why, then, does the Robot have a skill that isn't related to being a robot, has no lore implications, and arguably doesn't even function as a "skill"?

From a design perspective, this is a failure. This isn't an attack on the devs; it’s an observation that the skill lacks synergy with the character. It feels "borrowed" rather than native to WX-78. Furthermore, framing item duping as "new gameplay" is a stretch. Since no items are permanently lost, duping is just a convenience that takes several days to execute, hardly a skill.

Lastly, locking this behind the endgame feels misplaced. If you’re playing WX-78 and have a Possessed Shaded Atrium but are still struggling to reset the Ruins consistently, there is something fundamentally wrong with that progression loop.

 

There is no real deep, meaningful usage on the item duping. Compare that to wilson being able to comfortly craft end game items, this is where we start to see the endgame difference and what their skills are deeply knoted together to lore+gameplay+concept.

An scientist, default gameplay feeling, makes so making mistakes arent so punishing if you mess a craft.

[Baark0]

6 minutes ago, Reddddd said:

I think, and just a hunch, if you get to rifts you might have killed klaus and dragonfly sometimes by now, and its not like its all that useful 😕 specially for wx

thats cause its really not unless youre a megabaser, and even then its not that useful since megabase worlds tend to have excessive amounts of green gems lying around.

[Soul7k]

39 minutes ago, Reddddd said:

If we look at the lore, Winona has the strongest narrative connection to the Shadows and Charlie. In contrast, everything we know about WX-78 is centered on their hatred for "fleshlings" and a cold, calculated rejection of empathy.

There is zero precedent to suggest that a Shadow Atrium would suddenly turn them into a magic-leaning character. Both conceptually and lore-wise, Shadow Affinity feels forced. It doesn’t lean into WX-78’s identity as a self-upgrading automaton; it feels like the character is being used as a vessel for mechanics that belong elsewhere. Devs messed up big time with shadow affinity, i would rather 100% if he was a lunar affinity exclusive character and his shadow skills were just regular skills that later on would be replaced by the endgame gear you get with actual technology.

hatred towards fleshlings? WX spends every other if not every short with a group of people. That is not exactly swearing off humanity. As for shadow powers that is more of something that the constant decides as it is the source of everyone's unique abilities including Wolfgang's strength. The constant kind of does whatever it wants. There is nothing constant about the Constant and that is what is constant.

Edited Wednesday at 05:32 AM by Soul7k

[Kvetevk]

1 hour ago, Reddddd said:

To be direct: the Scientist has science skills, the Arsonist has arson skills, and the Princess has lore-related magic. Why, then, does the Robot have a skill that isn't related to being a robot, has no lore implications, and arguably doesn't even function as a "skill"?

Have you seen the cinematic? Where Wx78 removes his robotic heart?

I think it makes a lot of sense:

1. Plugging shadow heart gives you at least a bit of empathy, giving you abilities that not only help you, but also your team.

2. Lunar side doesn't give you any ability to help your team (you soulless automaton), but instead it gives you the ability to make your own team (servants/clones).

[Reddddd]

5 hours ago, Soul7k said:

hatred towards fleshlings? WX spends every other if not every short with a group of people. That is not exactly swearing off humanity. As for shadow powers that is more of something that the constant decides as it is the source of everyone's unique abilities including Wolfgang's strength. The constant kind of does whatever it wants. There is nothing constant about the Constant and that is what is constant.

The shadow affinity is literally a "Charlie gift" for not bonding with lunar affinity. She literally chooses what to "give" but all affinities have something to do with their core concept except wx78 so far. And have you ever played wx78 like anytime? All his quotes are about fleshling inferiority or hating fleshlings. Even in the cinematics it shows that MAXWELL decided what powers to give them when they entered the constant. Except wanda or characters born in the constant/corrupted by the constant.

 

4 hours ago, Kvetevk said:

Have you seen the cinematic? Where Wx78 removes his robotic heart?

I think it makes a lot of sense:

1. Plugging shadow heart gives you at least a bit of empathy, giving you abilities that not only help you, but also your team.

2. Lunar side doesn't give you any ability to help your team (you soulless automaton), but instead it gives you the ability to make your own team (servants/clones).

The cinematic where he REMOVES his empathy module? 💀 and how does lazy forager helps your team in anyway? Or duping item in several days extremely lategame helps your team? 

All of this is a big stretch to say wx-78 shadow affinity makes any sense and im not buying it in the slightest, sorry

[Kvetevk]

5 minutes ago, Reddddd said:

The cinematic where he REMOVES his empathy module? 💀 and how does lazy forager helps your team in anyway? Or duping item in several days extremely lategame helps your team? 

All of this is a big stretch to say wx-78 shadow affinity makes any sense and im not buying it in the slightest, sorry

Alright. So the damage vex only works with other wx players and the ability to collect resources automatically is helpful to the team, like Lureplant farms and duping endgame gear makes you invest less into said gear, using less resources that could be used for others.

[Reddddd]

1 minute ago, Kvetevk said:

Alright. So the damage vex only works with other wx players and the ability to collect resources automatically is helpful to the team, like Lureplant farms and duping endgame gear makes you invest less into said gear, using less resources that could be used for others.

This is still an giant stretch to reach into "kind of empathy" statement you've said. You're saying that wx feels empathy for other robots, but thats situational and you'd need to lock others from activating the atrium just to buff fellow wx-78. Very situational. And then you're saying the item duping is useful into using less resources but the item you're duping will take several days to be duped by your chassis, and it requires rifts to be activated and only one wx-78 at a time can have this "team" help. All while being locked behind this endgame content that just makes all content harder. I dont like the idea of a affinity being so oriented to teamwork anyway, specially for the selfish robot that dont care about other fleshlings.

[Kvetevk]

9 minutes ago, Reddddd said:

This is still an giant stretch to reach into "kind of empathy" statement you've said. You're saying that wx feels empathy for other robots, but thats situational and you'd need to lock others from activating the atrium just to buff fellow wx-78. Very situational. And then you're saying the item duping is useful into using less resources but the item you're duping will take several days to be duped by your chassis, and it requires rifts to be activated and only one wx-78 at a time can have this "team" help. All while being locked behind this endgame content that just makes all content harder. I dont like the idea of a affinity being so oriented to teamwork anyway, specially for the selfish robot that dont care about other fleshlings.

Stop speculating and play the game 

[Reddddd]

1 minute ago, Kvetevk said:

Stop speculating and play the game 

I did, love. If you're not in for feedback but rather sassy replies then you shouldnt be discussing in a feedback post at all. So many people are already saying the item duping is not useful at all ijbol.

[Kvetevk]

1 hour ago, Reddddd said:

I did, love. If you're not in for feedback but rather sassy replies then you shouldnt be discussing in a feedback post at all. So many people are already saying the item duping is not useful at all ijbol.

Feedback is always welcome.
But saying that the shadow side doesnt fit the lore, just because you dont like what it does, doesnt mean it should be changed. I think Klei nailed the shadow side and its mechanics, not a lot of people like the mimics, that is understandable, but it uses things that are already in the game without the negative effects.
Do I think that shadow side needs more to it? YES.
I think we all agree that if wx should choose which side to be on, wx would choose the lunar side.
If you are gonna disagree with someone, you could at least say what would you change. 
 

1 hour ago, Reddddd said:

I did, love.

Love… Yes, I’ve heard of it. Supposedly beneficial, though the side effects seem… considerable. 

[doritosdamafia]

it is funny that the shadow affinity don't give nothing planar related but the lunar does

[Reddddd]

2 hours ago, Kvetevk said:

Feedback is always welcome.
But saying that the shadow side doesnt fit the lore, just because you dont like what it does, doesnt mean it should be changed. I think Klei nailed the shadow side and its mechanics, not a lot of people like the mimics, that is understandable, but it uses things that are already in the game without the negative effects.
Do I think that shadow side needs more to it? YES.
I think we all agree that if wx should choose which side to be on, wx would choose the lunar side.
If you are gonna disagree with someone, you could at least say what would you change. 
 

Love… Yes, I’ve heard of it. Supposedly beneficial, though the side effects seem… considerable. 

I say it doesnt fit the lore, character concept or synergize with the rest of his skill tree, how is that "i dont like what it does" or any less valid feedback. I could suggest something, but the post inst mine. Im just agreeing with the post, if i were to make suggestions instead of feedback, i'd make a dedicated post so devs could see it (possibly) but cheers i guess

 

[Kvetevk]

52 minutes ago, Reddddd said:

I say it doesnt fit the lore, character concept or synergize with the rest of his skill tree, how is that "i dont like what it does" or any less valid feedback.

 

Wx78 replacing his robotic heart with shadow heart, I think Wx78 is capable of doing that if he were to join the shadow side, also it synergize with passive beta skill on chassis, being able to make a fridge that also collects resouces around and spawn another resources from the ground + emits light. I agree that the mimics are kinda a weird addition and Wx78 would benefit from something different.
 

57 minutes ago, Reddddd said:

I could suggest something, but the post inst mine. Im just agreeing with the post, if i were to make suggestions instead of feedback, i'd make a dedicated post so devs could see it (possibly) but cheers i guess

 

Depends if you want to write a whole essay or just a few ideas, if your ideas gain likes by many people, then you should make a new post.

[Quikin]

i agree, it fits more maxwell play stile than wx78s.

[Dr.Webber]

7 hours ago, Kvetevk said:

Wx78 replacing his robotic heart with shadow heart, I think Wx78 is capable of doing that if he were to join the shadow side, also it synergize with passive beta skill on chassis, being able to make a fridge that also collects resouces around and spawn another resources from the ground + emits light. I agree that the mimics are kinda a weird addition and Wx78 would benefit from something different.

Personally, I think if they’re going to do a heart thing  for WX-78 they should make it function as a twisted reflection of the empathy module maybe gaining cognitive empathy, so they can better manipulate and exploit those around them also when inhabiting a chassis, the function where it picks stuff for you only picks and drops they don’t collect unless I’m missing something I actually like the idea of them using the mimic because it’s basically what they do with all the circuits has mimic aspects of organics that they find favorable although I think if any one character should have the ability to use mimic items as if they were the normal version of that item. It should definitely be Maxwell all that being said I think they could do a better job at making a shadow affinity for WX and to some extent and lunar affinity like giving the possessed chassises the ability to use for repair kits poor being able to craft Gyroscopic Transduction Cores maybe show us some love too Jimmy