Let the Feast, begin!

[Zillvr]

I had this idea a few months back which I suggested under a brainstorming thread (here) and it didn't occur to me at that time to post it as a separate thread to flesh out and polish the idea a bit more and give it a place for people to give their thoughts. So here goes.
 
One of the main things I feel that needs to be part of DST is to have more ways/items that will allow players to interact with other players positively. Things that would actively promote Togetherness.

 

What is the main idea? 
Along the lines of "Togetherness" I thought of a Dinner Table that will let players have a Feast together!

 

How should it work?
Players can place food(that still spoils normally) at max four(variable) food items on each side of the Dinner Table and at max four(variable) players can gather around it, choose which meal they want to eat and then eat together. Players would only be able to eat their meal once every meal on the Dinner Table has a Feast Participant. Once every seat* with a meal is occupied, the Feast ensues!

 

Every character says something unique right before the Feast begins. Like Wigfrid may say "Finally a feast!" or maybe something simpler like every character examines their meal first and say their quote for that specific meal before eating it. Maybe even add a uniquely longer animation of each character stuffing their mouths with their hands alternately for a a few seconds instead of just one big gulp.

 

Another idea of things that could happen on the Dinner Table would be depending on who you are eating with, the characters will say something unique to each other. If Wigfrid and Wolfgang are eating on the same table, they'll brag to each other about being the fastest eater. Anything along those lines.

 

What are the pros/cons?
Anyhow for the positives of using the Dinner Table: For every other player participating in the Feast, everyone gets +5 Sanity flat each. As a stopgap for exploiting the sanity boost you get from a Feast, each player can only participate in a Feast once every 16 clock segments. The list below would possibly dictate how much individual sanity boost a Feast Participant gets:

• 1 Player on the Dinner Table: Feast results to 0 Sanity
• 2 Players on the Dinner Table: Feast results to +10 Flat Sanity for each player
• 3 Players on the Dinner Table: Feast results to +15 Flat Sanity for each player
• 4 Players on the Dinner Table: Feast results to +20 Flat Sanity for each player
• etc.

The numbers probably aren't too balanced yet, and of course the quality of the food a player chooses to eat on the Dinner Table shouldn't affect how much sanity they gain from the Feast. Players can decide to just Feast together with only Berries and they'll still gain the flat sanity boost by simply eating those berries together. 
 
"It's not the meal that matters but the company you dine with."
 
Hopefully it's not too overpowered, but it would definitely be a nice touch for DST to promote togetherness in some little way. Lastly, if I happen to be breaking any unwritten/unspoken rules regarding reposting ideas that didn't get much exposure, I'm sorry.

 

Cheers.

[kongor]

I love this idea!
I'm probably missing out by not playing with the same people on a private server, but I do agree with your feeling that there could be more ways to interact in DST...

 

Anyways, great idea to do stuff together that would be beneficial to all at that moment, not just leaving a chest full of food behind for the next guy to find.

[ChromeSpear]

This sounds like a great idea! I would love this in the game, but I would also like there to be a easier way to start your own dedicated server! If you know how to help me, please help! I believe there should be factions included into the game. Just the same as how Ark has tribes, and other games have groups or factions. They should add more instruments into the game along with songs to play as well, if you happen to stumble upon an enemy group with your army of friends, you should strike fear into their hearts by playing an invigorating song that will boost the morale of you troops, as well as the sanity, hunger, health, speed, and strength!

Let me know if this idea seems like a good one, thanks!

[ToastyMcGee]

Yeah, we need to put the "Together" in Don't Starve Together, don't we?

[Mikeadatrix]

This is amazing! I really feel that this would bring together a server. Hell even a PvP one if it's warranted!

[Doctor Donna]

I remember your idea and it's still a good one

[Ricey]

Just the thought after defeating a giant, then celebrating with a feast sounds pretty cool! (Also to make up for the sanity you lost fighting that big un' >.>)

[ImDaMisterL]

This.

This idea. I really like it!

[Mikeadatrix]

If Klei doesn't implement something like this someone has gotta mod this!

[thisbird]

This is a fantastic idea!

[keylocke]

i like this idea as well. it gives more incentive to cooperate with people.

my questions though are :

-would there be a minimum requirement food to participate in the feast? ie : can i bring a single berry, while others bring their meatballs or whatever and still get the shared benefit?

-how much of starvation will the feast satisfy on such food variations? do you only get enough nutrition based on the food you contribute, or do you total the amount of nutrition and then divide it by four?

-what about food with stat buffs? do participants also share those buffs?

 

[K5dV]

Yes please. This would be awesome. 

[Zillvr]

@keylocke I do believe my post covers the questions you asked, but I'll reiterate if I was confusing.

Would there be a minimum requirement food to participate in the feast?

Spoiler

No, there is no minimum requirement to participate but everyone has to be eating on the table to get the boost. As mentioned, you can even decide to just eat berries and still get the sanity boost from eating in a Feast with other players regardless of what food everyone else is eating.

It'll be pretty sad though if you could just sit on any of the seats while everyone is eating, except you. So yeah, everyone has to be eating at least something. Eats seeds if you have to, to get the sanity boost from eating with a friend.

How much of starvation will the feast satisfy on such food variations?

Spoiler

The amount of hunger you fill up is independent of what others eat. Which ever food you bring to the table or sit* in front of will only add stats (health, hunger, sanity) to you, since you are the one eating it. Do note, that this Feast idea ONLY gives +sanity boost to each individual feast participant when the feast is over. 

What about food with stat buffs? do participants also share those buffs?

Spoiler

No. As mentioned in the previous question, the stat buffs (which I believe you mean the +health you get for eating for example bacon and eggs) would only apply to whoever is eating the said food item. The +health, +hunger and +sanity of a specific food would only affect whoever is eating them.

Otherwise, the Feast system will be exploitable by using the best food items for health. sanity and hunger in all the table slots.

Thanks for the questions, I hope I was clear enough this time. Cheers.

[keylocke]

@Zillvr thanks for the clarifications.

[Nickboom]

I'ma just... +1 dis...I really like this idea, not to mention it helps with rp stuff too which me and my friends like to do a lot on our servers So if maxwell eats everyone just glares at him right?

[dahl]

Feast in Time of Plague. Noice!