Feedback from a newbie

[laplace]

Yesterday I bought Don't Starve on Steam after playing the demo in Chrome. Here are some initial reactions from a total newbie:

The art style and sound is really charming and polished. Very Tim Burtonesque.

I like that everything I've researched carries over to new games. It would have been painful if I had to re-research everything.

The experience system/character unlocking is cool and will be enhanced with achievements. I'd also like to see some detailed stats after I've finished a game, maybe with a high score system showing how far I traveled, percent of world explored, number of rabbits murdered, etc.

My biggest complaint is with the wolves that come out around day 7 (and apparently through the rest of the game). The wolves are a beginner's trap because you don't know they're coming and there is no way that a new player is going to know how to fend them off.

I'd estimate most players will die to them on their first run through which is frustrating since getting to day 7 constitutes 30+ minutes of gameplay. I died to them on my first run through and thought that I had happened upon them by chance. I played again and got even more frustrated when I got killed again at day 7 (I'd even built a spear by then in case I ran into them again but it wasn't enough).

I had to read a guide to figure out that there are warning barks and that there is a very specific way of dealing with the wolves (dropping meat or leading them to pigs or something). I wanted to avoid guides and figure the game out myself but I had to resort to one which sucked (at first I thought the wolves were intended to kill you because it's beta and the devs don't want you getting past a certain point).

I would suggest toning the initial wolf wave down for new players. Maybe have one wolf and have more of a heads up that the player will have to defend themselves Soon (like have Wilson think "Something dangerous is coming..").

The final piece of feedback I have is for the crafting UI. It would be convenient if I could click on a required component to build it, so if I go to build a log suit and I need some rope I can click the rope in the log suit's ingredient list to build it rather than find the rope in the menu, build it and then go back to the log suit's recipe.

The game is a lot of fun! I'm enjoying it.

Edited December 24, 2012 by laplace

[ManagerOfWar]

The wolves are a beginner's trap because you don't know they're coming and there is no way that a new player is going to know how to fend them off.

fending them off isn't that hard because they get "stunned" when hit and another one comes right after the first dies, so you don't need to fight more than 1 often.

like have Wilson think "Something dangerous is coming.."

that's a good idea, mabe also have like "What's that sound?" or "I hear growling."

[Moonphos]

My biggest complaint is with the wolves that come out around day 7 (and apparently through the rest of the game). The wolves are a beginner's trap because you don't know they're coming and there is no way that a new player is going to know how to fend them off.

I'd estimate most players will die to them on their first run through which is frustrating since getting to day 7 constitutes 30+ minutes of gameplay. I died to them on my first run through and thought that I had happened upon them by chance. I played again and got even more frustrated when I got killed again at day 7 (I'd even built a spear by then in case I ran into them again but it wasn't enough).

I would suggest toning the initial wolf wave down for new players. Maybe have one wolf and have more of a heads up that the player will have to defend themselves Soon (like have Wilson think "Something dangerous is coming..").

I agree with this point - It's far too early, especially if important tools are not even RESEARCHED. This needs to be slightly tweaked - One Hound (that's their call-name, by the way) for the first assault, or delay the assault to day 10+ (when the game transits to early-midgame).

BUT, this may delay or change, depending on the new research system been set up (see - http://forums.kleientertainment.com/showthread.php?2832-Don-t-Starve-Roadmap). It may make it easier to fend off the Hounds, even on day 7, but we wouldn't really know until the system rolls out.

The final piece of feedback I have is for the crafting UI. It would be convenient if I could click on a required component to build it, so if I go to build a log suit and I need some rope I can click the rope in the log suit's ingredient list to build it rather than find the rope in the menu, build it and then go back to the log suit's recipe.

Definitely agree.

The game is a lot of fun! I'm enjoying it.

Hope you'll continue to enjoy! Remember - This game is still in beta, and the current game is, at best, early-midgame contents only. Not really a lot to offer, but contents are still coming out per update. So stay tune and enjoy!

[Xuhybrid]

The game is based around the idea of you dying and learning from your experience.

After dying to the hounds on my first play, i was prepared the next time. Quite simple really.

Why wud u put their spawning down to chance when they bark loudly for like 2 minutes...

[Ran]

The final piece of feedback I have is for the crafting UI. It would be convenient if I could click on a required component to build it, so if I go to build a log suit and I need some rope I can click the rope in the log suit's ingredient list to build it rather than find the rope in the menu, build it and then go back to the log suit's recipe.

I strongly agree with this. It's a tiny little detail but it'd be so convenient.

Why wud u put their spawning down to chance when they bark loudly for like 2 minutes...

The problem is you have no idea what those grunting and snoring sounds mean, and sometimes you don't even hear em right away if you're focused on something else.

fending them off isn't that hard because they get "stunned" when hit and another one comes right after the first dies, so you don't need to fight more than 1 often.

That's another thing you don't know when you just start. I spent the longest time running away from even single spiders cause I didn't know fighting was like that.

I think they could make it so that you're warned something's gonna happen a few days after you start the game, some little hint or something. The only tip you get from Maxwell is that you need food. And you can petty well survive for days and days and never build weapons on armor, just keep wandering around stacking food and whatnot. Specially with the new world generator, there's so much stuff where you start.

My first time I got really lucky cause I had already found a village and when the hounds came they dealt with em for me while I ran around in circles, lol, but not everyone has that luck. Besides, even if you do, you still don't learn how to deal with em.

[Lagoe]

Interesting, but I think the hounds ideas are unessesary. Perhaps just a tutorial. But the item crafting idea, bingo, love it.