Go with the flow like a Beefalo

[Bunions]

Hi I am new(er) to the game but am running near nightly DST with a friend. I am US EST based and play usually in the evenings - 10pm-ish start time EST sometimes quite late we go - into the wee hours.

Hosting a madness mode with caves - tied to my playtime for now (will get 3rd party dedicated box later if /when this testing goes well - need / want to test first) with a "big boy pants" feel.

I am looking for players who will help me test the experience/balance of mod comp and settings and raise interest for the eventual dedicated server.

Measures to discourage random trolling (no burning / looting / theft for 3 days & lockable containers) but pvp & madness mode so if you're an actual denizen of the world - do what you need to, to survive.

Game is fairly heavily modded while trying to maintain balance as well. Here is a summary of the mods:

AFK Detection (1 min - 5 min boot, may increase time if needed) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=398858801

Beefalo Milk and Cheese - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=436654027

Break the Ice - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=488018406

Can't live together Forever  - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=507638475  [On Hold for now. May implement later.]

Craftable Hollow Stump (Hard to Build Setting) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=447911453 

DJ Paul's Sort Inventory [Watch-listed] (L key, no Gobbler noise) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=444438334

[DST] Day Time Slowly (x1 Day/Nights twice as long in base game) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=599538834

[DST] Permanent Catcoon Follower (sue me, I like cats) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=636803555

[DST] Storeroom (Hard build 40 slot) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=623749604

DST Path Lights (Hard build no fuel) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=385006082

DST Resurrection Shelter (Hard build x5 uses) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=352499675

DST Sign Plus -  http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=553665029

DST Throwable Rocks (10 dmg 70% miss small creatures) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=394401196

DST Storm Cellar (Default) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=385006082

Fix Multiplayer ( Starting resources - Off, 4 Chesters,  Empty inventory if Kicked, No Stealing / Destroying / Burning 3 days, Fire Spread Normal, Resource Renewal - Very Slow may change, Dragonfly balance - Off, Max # players Off. Telltale Heart penalty - On, Haunting - On Sanity Drain - On, Road reveal - Off, Drying Rack / Farms / Beeboxes - Normal, Faster Krampus - Normal, Resize Fire pit - Off) Ghost griefing will be dealt with by admin(s) 

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=463718554 

Modify Ownership [Watch-listed] ( Adding Owners - Yes, Add Online Only - No, Remove Owners - Yes, Remove Last Owner / Make Public - Yes, Max Owners - 10, Number Owner Warning - 8, Moderators - No, Default Modify Mode - No, Server Hotkey - O

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=599501490

Ownership [Watch-listed] - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=404161345

Pickle it - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=404983266

RPG Items DST - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=583894565  [On Hold for now. May implement later.]

Tools are Fuels - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=599498678

Throwable Spears (Miss small Creatures 75%, # Uses on Large - 50, # Uses on Small - 5,  Check Range - Off

 http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=354415247

Useless Junk (Eel -15% Gear 2% Junk 20%) - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=382363357

Walter the Botanist - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=422744946

Whandler the Digital Artist - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=392369197

Wynn the Environmentalist - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=479169756

Thanks for reading!

[Bunions]

Should  mention I have a Discord server which we can use for voice - It's primarily for the Squad clan / server I run, but I can easily add a DST channel. 

 

 *Edit - I made a custom Discord Server for the experiment - https://discord.gg/0zMgOaLrc8fh0mHB

[Yamame]

I am willing to help raise some interest to this server and spread it among my peers! I don't really enjoy using voice chats much, so I'll pass on discord. All I need is the name of the server and maybe some more information on how I can access it? Is it only running when you are playing? I am sorry if I skipped over some details that you might have left in the message that answers my question.

[Bunions]

Hi Yamame!

Yes the server is only running when I play for now. When the experiment is proven to be working steadily I will rent a server so it is always online. I want to wait till mods are all tested / agreed upon, and have a group of regulars first. I also will need to find reliable admins to ensure it runs well. There will be pvp and a tougher mindset to the place but mindless griefing, trolling, and abusive behavior (hate speech etc...) wont be tolerated. 

No point in spending money until I know it will be used. I anticipate renting a server by month's end. I run server(s) in other games as well so it's not a hard thing to set up / run well once I know we have an interested group. 

The name of the game & eventual server is in the title of the thread - Go with the flow like a Beefalo.

My steam is http://steamcommunity.com/id/Bunions/ if voice is not comfortable for you.  Discord also has chat and shows who is online playing what games -  no need to use voice if not comfortable. I set that up as a convenience for ppl to meet get to know one another and form a community is all.

Would a steam group be more interesting to you and others - do you think?

 

 

[Arlesienne]

First of all, I don't assume to have the right to be called experienced. I did get your very kind message requesting my opinion, so here you go.

Mods first.

Sort Inventory is known to bug a lot and pretty much with every update. I would not bother.

DST Sign Plus sounds good. I have never used it (I just use signs and the chat). Still, there are crash reports you will want to go through beforehand.

RPG Items - no idea, never used it. I saw your discussion though, I suggest talking with the author. And bearing in mind that multiple mods editing the same thing can interfere.

Day Time Slowly - looks good, but may mess things up. I would disable hound waves when using it. Why not set the settings in the game though? It is all here (long day etc.).

Can't Live Together Forever - my advice is: avoid. It touches too many things. First, the size from the description. This means enlarged graphics, ergo - potential lag. Then, the ridiculous strength of mobs. In DST, they have already been buffed several times. Compare the ancient guardian from 2500 to 10000. Lastly, it digs in the code to a great extent.

Storeroom - I use it with good results, but set to 80 slots. It is just to avoid a gazillion chests lying about.

Permanent Catcoon Follower - great for roleplaying as well as farming feathers and morsels (for the latter, you need to be quick). One word of warning though - this is a death sentence for Glommer. Unless you use a mod that makes catcoons neutral to it, you will not want the two together. Glommer will no run away. It is just slughter.

Throwable Spears - essential for me. I would not go wild with miss chances and uses though.

AFK Detection - essential. I use it set at 30 seconds as my group has members from various countries and timezones mean they may be called away.

Beefalo Milk and Cheese - I have it, have not actually tested it yet. Lore-friendly by all means.

Break the Ice - as above. I added it yesterday and got errors in entityscript.lua when winter came. It lkkely is not related though.

Pickle It - I like it a lot. Not just because of more recipes. It adds a potato prefab that encourages using shovels. Also, cute, lore-friendly graphics.

DST Path Lights - I use DST Torch instead (it encourages getting along with beefalos and pigs as it requires manure), but it seems okay.

Fix Multiplayer - I find it essential, but since the last update, I had to disable it as it has been crashing. Also, I use it on public servers only, set to five days of protection, no Krampus changes and starting items (because public servers of my group are designed to let newbies gain experience and it is easier than forcing me to run to each new transient every time to distribute the gear manually; chests were always raided, so I was forced to take drastic measures).

Ownership and Modify Ownership - I do not use it. My servers on the strongest machine use 16 slots by default. Adding ownership on top of Fix Multiplayer would be a disaster. Also, they never run on PvP, so traps are moot PvP. It is your decision though as all the rest. And check the crash reports. I remember checking the mods out earlier and there was a lot.

Useless Junk sounds alright. You want to use it to farm gold, right?

Walter the Botanist - a mod I keep promising myself to try out one day ;). Sounds good, see yourself.

Whandler the Digital Artist - as above.

Wynn the Environmentalist - I have it running on most servers. She is picked often and can give a nice chunk of new content to the game. No crashes.

Craftable Hollow Stump - heck, why not? You still have to work on it. I do not use it though.

DST Resurrection Shelter - I use a sister mod of this one on public servers with newbies. Worth recommending.

Throwable Rocks - I use it on most servers, though with different options. Worth testing.

Tools Are Fuels - I do not use it, but sounds alright.

Now the general concept. You do know DST has an increased difficulty level overall, don't you? Look at your options. PvP, madness, survival. No idea about the number of people you want and can host. If there are many and you do cooperate, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If not... It will turn into a collection of obituaries and soon desert the server. Sad but true. On top of that, you set the world regrowth rate to very slow. This is a death sentence for the server. Especially if you intend to go dedicated. You want all settings on default except for gobblers (lots) and some tinkering with aggressive mobs depending on your players (you want to take a look at Krampus, giants, clockworks, hound waves and their cave counterparts).

And you still want to add difficulty-increasing mods. Well, if you ask me, you are going over-the-top. Have you tried servers with less drastic settings? You will see you do not really need much tinkering with the difficulty ratio as it has. been finetuned to the demands of the multiplayer.

Also, mods I would add.

Drop Stuff on Kick - pretty self-explanatory.

DST Tweak Tool, Sleepy Time, Sanity Tuner, similar things for hunger and revival. They all add more tools to your finetuning arsenal.

Extra Equip Slots plus 7+ Equip Slots Fix, as it makes no sense to choose an amulet or clothes. Is the first really that heavy? Is the PC a rapper (then the first question is moot)?

Tungsten - late game high-end gear. I love it. One issue is that when used in conjunction with Pickle It, the potato prefab both end up using gets glitchy graphics-wise (before digging or picking it up, it uses graphics from Pickle It, in your inventory or the crockpot, it goes with Tungsten).

Personal Chesters - everyone gets their own unrelated to the vanilla chester.

Minimap HUD and Combined Status, maybe Tell Me and/or Advanced Tooltips - pretty self-explanatory. More information. I would recommend Smarter Crockpot too, but at the time being, it is broken.

Taronci and Rixa if you want food- and temperature-related challenge. I may be biased though as they are my friends' OCs and we use them for roleplaying.

Wanda the Druidess - one of my regulars likes her. Balanced and consistent with the graphics too.

Clementine for DST - I had her run by one of the players a few times, most notably when roleplaying. Worth recommending.

Fast Travel - wormholes you can create. They still drain hunger and sanity, only chesters, Hutch and Glommer can go with you, and they require the recipe. Useful for the admin, mostly.

Pig Queen - an equivalent of the Pig King that trades stuff for gems.

Santa Mod - for fun.

Some other stuff that is more meant for roleplaying and learning grounds too. Generally characters I liked the concept of, but never really bothered much with adding, some new structures, that sort of thing.

And generally, the console is your friend. Sometimes my players beg for giants if none spawn and I have to oblige them. Also, getting more spider dens and merm huts in the swamp for more challenge. You can even make your own trap setpieces this way. If you have problems remembering the commands, Console Pro is the way to go.

I would help out testing after the fifth, but your gaming schedule appears incompatible with mine. Currently, I am in CE(S)T and cannot do anything about it. Add to this work, taking care of my dog and two aquariums, unexpected real life occurrences and you get the picture. If you were willing to attune yourself to my timezone some day, maybe on the weekend, I am all for helping you more.

 

[Bunions]

Thanks for the lengthy response Arlesienne, I appreciate it.

I am thinking much on what you have offered.  Some mods I may drop some I may add I will likely have to edit my OP to reflect as I test.

I will take your advice on the mods in question and give it some thought and probable adjustments.

Regarding concept...

I do know DST is more difficult. I think I will hold off on Cant live together forever for the moment as a result, but I don't think I want to abandon the options as a whole.

In terms of feel, especially when I go to a hosted server, I plan to keep PvP, at least. I am a big believer in players being able to settle their own conflicts. PvP doesn't have to = grief. Especially with a good Mod / Admin team. 

I am sort of aiming for a tribal / lord of the flies type setting I think. Where alliances can be formed and pvp will sometimes make sense but carry consequences of its own. Savagery should be an option I feel but it should carry a cost. I just think its a nice option, politics and alliances may form, and will add much to a persistent world feel I hope. Bosses will be a mitigating factor too - do you drop tribal hatred and help others with the Dragonfly? Or do you leave them to their own devices and hope you're not next?

Additionally pvp / raiding can carry a cost in lives if a good fallback / respawn option is not present. Ghosts haunting the server looking to resurrect will effect everyone - violence can be an answer at times, but it should be a tool of last resort I should think. people wo want to come in and mix it up have to wait a few days, so that means initial interaction or at least a sort of peace timer. By then they can choose to participate or leave I would think. Lockable chests to my way of thinking aids in this as well. Have to see on the Ownership mods however RE: crashes.

Have to test and see -  might have to enable Endless if it is too wild - we shall see.

World regrowth rate being very slow is preferred but we will see there too - I am open to tuning it to slow. I do want a harsh existence to be the norm. I remain open to regrowth settings however. As for size? I am thinking 14 -20 people I would ideally like a few more character mods that are well done and balanced. I will look at your friend's OC.

I would LOVE a mod that prevents dupe characters. ( I am boring - i like to play Wilson)

I am thinking of adding difficulty increasing mods simply because I am adding things to make life a little easier too - so I am trying to retain a rugged / balanced experience.

I will take it all under serious advisement however.

As for the mods you suggest - I am all for having a look. Some look like they are aimed at being too newbie friendly and make things a little easier than I would like perhaps, but I will be considering each on their own merit according to the overall vision. Some I will almost def add.

Do you think a larger world size to HUGE makes sense? With the hoped for amount of players PvP and increased time of days I am leaning towards it.

I would love to test with you once or twice week if you like, or on weekends. Add me on Steam if you wish.

[Bunions]

Why cant I edit older posts?

Edit - Fixed it seems?!?!  Updating OP to reflect changes in Mod Comp.

Double Edit - Seems someone has had a similar idea in the past going to cherry pick some of the good aspects of the posting here - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=357984467 

 

[Arlesienne]

If you glue together a group for your server, there ought to be no griefers. After all, for a group, you can cherry-pick people. As a rule of thumb, I use my public servers to recruit new players. This way, you have more control. The Klei forums generally help you find the right people too.

PvP does attract griefers, because being a nuisance is easier and often, you can excuse yourself with "It's PvP". Still, it IS possible to cause another to die (and drop their items). You can turn PvP on, but I'd advise to pick Endless then. This way, at least your regulars will have a handy (partial) solution to get back in the game without forcing you to reroll (OR get yourself a bunch of revival items beforehand). Also, remember you CANNOT change the server's mode after it started working without special shenanigans.

With the mods and other settings you want, world regrowth won't "overhelp" you. It will just mean your players will have more incentive to venture out of the main base. The size of the world is linked to this. You CAN set it to LARGE or HUGE, but having tried all four options, I find SMALL the best. Why? Because it forces the players to move around and generally makes things more interesting. It is still a big world, remember. For instance I love swamps, so SMALL is ideal for me as I get at least one HUGE marsh.

You can disable characters from being picked with Star's mod Disable Characters: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=522365312 (from the Steam Workshop). You will have to set it up for every session though. So first, you allow all, then every time you get a player, after they have picked their PC, you will have to restrict this PC and set an exception for this person who plays them. And this requires their Klei IDs... You can get them from your logs, but I prefer to ask for permission beforehand. Just a matter of manners. You can do this with modded characters too. It's still very time-consuming, so if you have good accord with your players, just write in the chat (when a new person joins) who has already been taken and ask to avoid those PCs. MAYBE they will listen. MAYBE they won't. In this case, you can reroll them.

My mods will always differ from yours, because the servers' goals are different (a learning-friendly environment versus The World Is Out to Get You). I put up the most challenging servers for the group only, because the group's reputation of being a good area for newbies to start out is not gained overnight and I want to keep it this way. If you want, seeing that you added me on Steam and even are online, we can go through the Steam Workshop together and pick ones for you. Luckily I may stay up late a bit more tonight, so if you want to, let me know quickly so that I can plan ahead.

If you want to roleplay Golding's book, you may even want one of the mods like "Friend's Remains". There is a lot of such stuff around, but seeing that Klei forums have some children, I won't direct you to them through here. Ask me on Steam if you're interested.

Personal Chesters can be set to owner-only so that only you can open your chester. Thought you may want to know this.

As always, I'm glad if anything of this was useful. See you :).