Moondial: Find out the moon's phases and when they'll happen!

[Silentdarkness1]

This was mentioned in the mods and tools forums, but I think i'm actually having an idea on how it could be brought around.

 

A science structure that would count down the number of days to the next full moon! It would basically be a sundial-like device, with an indicator that would slowly rotate around the circle as each day passes. It'll be a full moon when the indicator is at the top of the sundial. And once the two full moon days pass, it simply continues it's cycle.

 

Initial idea for a construction recipe is 4 gold nuggets, 3 cut stone, and 1 papyrus.

 

Obviously, this would have a use if you need meat, but don't have that much monster meat to force feed pigs.

[TeoSS69]

Just use math...start on day 9 and keep adding 16 days from that point. Full moon lasts two days.

I wouldn't want the devs to spend time coding something that you can do with basic math.
 

[simplex]

Just use math...

The answer to everything.

[Silentdarkness1]

Not all Don't Starve players will automatically know what you're talking about, or be able to remember it when the time comes.

 

Same thing with the rainometer. Sure, you might be able to know using math when the next rainstorm will be, but will you remember that in-game, when the time comes?

 

Good chance you won't. 

[TeoSS69]

Good chance you won't. 

What do you take me for?

Also why would you take that element of surprise and sheer horror out of the game?!

[Silentdarkness1]

What do you take me for?

Also why would you take that element of surprise and sheer horror out of the game?!

...Not Much XD

 

But srsly. After it's happened a few times, it kind of loses it's edge. Especially on the more experienced players. And, to novice players, this really isn't going to affect their gameplay too much(They likely won't be able to decipher the point of the Moondial until they get suhprised by werepigs. Unless you're playing as Woodie.)

[TeoSS69]

 

But srsly. After it's happened a few times, it kind of loses it's edge. Especially on the more experienced players. And, to novice players, this really isn't going to affect their gameplay too much(They likely won't be able to decipher the point of the Moondial until they get suhprised by werepigs. Unless you're playing as Woodie.)

At least the way it is, experienced players can still forget to do the math. I'm really against adding features for the sole purpose of making the game easier.

[Silentdarkness1]

 

 

At least the way it is, experienced players can still forget to do the math. I'm really against adding features for the sole purpose of making the game easier.

 

Then I guess you were against the rainometer and winterometer when they were created. There's no surefire way to make out when the next moon phase is without getting out some paper and pen, and remembering to keep it with you 100% of the time. To me, seems like a hole missing in the science tab.

[TeoSS69]

Then I guess you were against the rainometer and winterometer when they were created. There's no surefire way to make out when the next moon phase is without getting out some paper and pen, and remembering to keep it with you 100% of the time. To me, seems like a hole missing in the science tab.

You really need pen and paper to do a sum?! I'm done replying.

[Silentdarkness1]

No, but other people might.

[simplex]

There's no surefire way to make out when the next moon phase is without getting out some paper and pen, and remembering to keep it with you 100% of the time.

Try opening the console and typing

print( (8 - GetClock():GetNumCycles())%16 )

This will print the number of days until the next (first day of a) full moon.

In the command it's 8 instead of 9 because the game internally counts days from 0, not one.

[ARamblingSpider]

The answer to everything.

[Silentdarkness1]

Try opening the console and typing

print( (8 - GetClock():GetNumCycles())%16 )

This will print the number of days until the next (first day of a) full moon.

In the command it's 8 instead of 9 because the game internally counts days from 0, not one.

 

This is one option, but  it's kind of cloogy. Especially when you recall that the console has zero copy-paste capability.

[vimrich]

I like this idea. It would look neat, and is a safe change that wouldn't unbalance anything.

 

I often find myself ready to get pig help and have to waste a night checking to see where the moon is. That doesn't happen with rain.

 

[Silentdarkness1]

Gah! Goodness me, I had almost forgotten about this thread. Glad someone approves of the idea, at least. I wonder if I could scrounge up a rough concept arty sketch thing.

[ARamblingSpider]

There's no reason for this, the Day counter tells you what the moon phase would be.

 

I can already see this as a decent idea but people would only build for an extra sanity bonus for the first time and forget about it like the rainometer.

[Silentdarkness1]

At the risk of running around in circles, Xjurwi, I explained why I think it's valuable in the earlier posts. The day counter only shows you the moon phase after the fact. Which makes planning appropriately FOR SCIENCE difficult.

 

I have a new joke reason for this: For Science.

[ARamblingSpider]

At the risk of running around in circles, Xjurwi, I explained why I think it's valuable in the earlier posts. The day counter only shows you the moon phase after the fact. Which makes planning appropriately FOR SCIENCE difficult.

 

I have a new joke reason for this: For Science.

Honestly I would support the idea more if there was more good reasons for it, the only different thing with the moon cycle is just pigs transform and that's not that hard to avoid.

 

If the devs add more content involving the moon, I'll support the idea more.

[DeadpanQuinkan]

When you consider structures like the winterometer and the rainometer already existing, something to track the moon signs seems like a good fit.  A structure being put into the "world information made even more clear" category.  Not that important I would probably enjoy something like this implemented.

 

 

If the devs add more content involving the moon, I'll support the idea more.

... Like making a shadow Chester?

[ARamblingSpider]

When you consider structures like the winterometer and the rainometer already existing, something to track the moon signs seems like a good fit.  A structure being put into the "world information made even more clear" category.  Not that important I would probably enjoy something like this implemented.

 

... Like making a shadow Chester?

Adding an extra chester I won't be using won't persuade me enough to support this idea.

[23rd]

Honestly I would support the idea more if there was more good reasons for it, the only different thing with the moon cycle is just pigs transform and that's not that hard to avoid.

 

If the devs add more content involving the moon, I'll support the idea more.

Spring tides. Every two weeks coastal tides are at their most powerful, which is called a spring tide. Every new moon and full moon tides would hit the cliffs of the map with more force throughout the night, but only the night. If you stand near the cliffs when a tide hits one of three things can happen.

1. You can fall into the ocean, which takes off a sizable chunk of Sanity (let's say 33 for the shock of such a harrowing experience, equal to being struck by lightning as WX-78) and takes off 50 health if playing as WX-78, followed by losing a third of your Hunger to account for the energy needed to climb back up the cliffs. 
2. Food washes up on shore, lots of it. Fish, Eel, Frog Legs, maybe some other unique meats like crab or lobster. Could throw in a mixture of mushrooms too, they probably grow on the dark and wet undercarriage of the cliffs and get knocked into the water all the time by things like Deerclops and the Clockwork Rook stomping about everywhere.
3. A new type of monster washes up on shore to kick your ass. Something that could function as well on land as in the sea, like a Sharkodile or something similar.

[JadedMeiji]

I love the idea, I never knew there was a set schedule for rain or exactly how many days the moon cycle was... but even knowing now (good info to have certainly) I know I will forget and do what I always do... waste a day to see the moon or hire the pigs and make them kill each other before nightfall wasting 3 days of potential labor/protection.

Also on the point of it being pointless we have a compass? I built it once never paid attention to it and dropped it in lieu of some loot or other supply. I am sure some find it useful but others find it unneeded...

[23rd]

I love the idea, I never knew there was a set schedule for rain or exactly how many days the moon cycle was... but even knowing now (good info to have certainly) I know I will forget and do what I always do... waste a day to see the moon or hire the pigs and make them kill each other before nightfall wasting 3 days of potential labor/protection.

Also on the point of it being pointless we have a compass? I built it once never paid attention to it and dropped it in lieu of some loot or other supply. I am sure some find it useful but others find it unneeded...

Alright people, this is a legitimate necro. Jaded is actually bringing some discussion.

 

The compass is actually seen as the most useless item, alongside the Rainometer. It's only ever used to place farms properly.

[Battal]

I love the idea, I never knew there was a set schedule for rain or exactly how many days the moon cycle was... but even knowing now (good info to have certainly) I know I will forget and do what I always do...

 

NEHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-

 

Alright people, this is a legitimate necro. Jaded is actually bringing some discussion.

 

Oh, never mind.

[JadedMeiji]

If you know it's an old topic just don't read it again. ..