Exp! - Proof of Concept

[Mobbstar]

I present you: EXP in Don't Starve - A proof of concept (that means it's not a done mod, and I likely won't finish it on my own, if at all)

Introduction: "Exp" is a common acronym for "Experience" or "Experience Point". The idea is that the player gains Exp by doing things and eventually "levels up", becoming better at doing those things. Newer games also have a "skill" system, where the player can choose how they want to become better at those things. A "skill tree" is a set of skills, where some skills are required to access others.

This mod is inspired, but not based on, the earlier versions of the "RPG mod" for DS.

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The mod runs in the background and distributes the Exp in secret (to the player and their current equipment). Here you can see the debug log:

Spoiler

The first "gain exp" is caused by loading the game. Wilson already had an astounding 165 exp! After chopping a tree, Wilson gains another exp, and so do his axe and clothes.

When Wilson gains enough exp, the player hears a "Ding!" and gets presented with a new UI element:

Spoiler

Clicking this new (fully animated) button opens up the Skill Tree. At the moment it is filled with placeholder skills, but you can see how it is structured:

Spoiler

These skills are added dynamically. For example, the "regeneration" skill is only visible because Wilson already has the "health" and "hunger" skills. Since other characters don't have a beard, the beard skill won't show up for them, but other skills may.

The Player can inspect the skills and click on one to select it, then confirm using the "Apply" button.

Spoiler

After applying, the screen closes, the lvlup button goes away and the skill takes effect.

Equipment does not level up the same way. Instead, equipment skills have an unique "exp cost", meaning some skills are faster to learn than others. There is currently no workstation programmed, so equipment cannot be leveled up. Ideally, this workstation would also allow the player to repair tools using exp. I figure destroying another tool of the same kind and using that other tool's exp is very balanced, since it still forces the player to use more than one tool of that kind.

As said, the skills are currently placeholders and not well programmed if at all. I didn't want to spend too much time perfecting them without feedback on if they even make sense.

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Here I tag people who probably have valuable input: @Arlesienne @AnonymousKoala @MeingroessterFan

Please leave a comment with your thoughts. Be it about skill ideas or questions about the core mechanics, feel free to discuss it here!

If you like this concept and want to work with it, feel free to do so. You do not need to ask me for permission, but it will avoid many issues if you mention it on this thread.

 

exp-mod.zip

[AnonymousKoala]

This is pretty interesting, I like it. No real criticism, except for how I'd like to get some examples of Tool EXP as well. 

[Asparagus]

<3

So... basically, we can still keep the current concept of each character's competencies, such as Wilson being the balanced one, Wendy and Wes having less attack, Woodie probably has more default skill points added to tree chopping or has a special skill related to chopping trees...

I like it... though my mind is already skipping to the possibility of this concept spawning "quests" in the future... we'll see...

[Mobbstar]

1 hour ago, Asparagus said:

quests

uh..

Spoiler

 

1 hour ago, AnonymousKoala said:

I'd like to get some examples of Tool EXP as well.

As said, there's not really a workstation to show it. If you meant skills, here's the list of skills I came up with (but I am not happy with most):

Spoiler

HUNGER = "Stomach",
HEALTH = "Vitality",
SANITY = "Intelligence",
SPEED = "Swiftness",
STRONG = "Strength",
REGEN = "Convalescence",
-----------------------
DAMAGE = "Deadliness",
WARM = "Warmth",
COLD = "Coldth",
FIRE = "Ignition",
ICE = "Frost",
DODGE = "Evasion",
CANE = "Acceleration",
WORK = "Effectiveness",
-----------------------
WILSON = "Beardobob",
WILLOW = "Blaze of Glory",
WOLFGANG = "Featherlight Tummy",
WENDY = "",
WX78 = "Shorter Circuit",
WICKERBOTTOM = "Knowledge is Power",
WOODIE = "Back-Log",
WES = "Boring Baloons",
WAXWELL = "",
WIGFRID = "Inner Valkyre",
WEBBER = "",

---

HUNGER = "One's body learns to store energy better.",
HEALTH = "Better health means one can take a larger beating.",
SANITY = "Unrelated to education, one can make more sense of things (and vice versa).",
SPEED = "All this running from hounds is good exercise.",
STRONG = "After some practise, one simply knows how to hit best.",
REGEN = "Being more injury-concious lets one recover faster.",
-----------------------
DAMAGE = "Spikes and edges should do the trick.",
WARM = "Somehow one has to use this frequently to make it be warmer.",
COLD = "This definitely counteracts the \"Warmth\" skill, by the way.",
FIRE = "A chance to ignite foes, might be one's last innovation.",
ICE = "Freezing one's target ever-so-slightly.",
DODGE = "One might be able to dodge a blow with this.",
CANE = "Non-obstructive equipment lets one be even faster than usual.",
WORK = "From much use, tools may harden or otherwise improve.",
-----------------------
WILSON = "With the right hygiene, one's hair grows faster.",
WILLOW = "Isn't it fun to watch things burn?",
WOLFGANG = "An empty stomach is easier to carry. Don't skip leg day, though!",
WENDY = "",
WX78 = "These additional sparks are not harmful, just light.",
WICKERBOTTOM = "As if those books weren't notorious already.",
WOODIE = "After a while, one can control the curse better.",
WES = "Even popping them is lame, they make everyone sleepy.",
WAXWELL = "Perhaps one can retrieve nightmare fuel from fallen self-images.",
WIGFRID = "Freya may just return one to the battlefield.",
WEBBER = "",

 

Edited December 11, 2016 by Mobbstar
added another response

[debugman18]

Really cool implementation! Maybe some modders will do something with it.

[Asparagus]

20 minutes ago, Mobbstar said:

uh..

I meant like *poof* a hooded figure (We know it's you Mr. Skits) appears in front of you and he asks you to slay the Dragonfly and feed the gems to a moleworm that you set loose on the Dragonfly Arena and he'll give you 5 deadly feasts O__O

[debugman18]

8 minutes ago, Asparagus said:

I meant like *poof* a hooded figure (We know it's you Mr. Skits) appears in front of you and he asks you to slay the Dragonfly and feed the gems to a moleworm that you set loose on the Dragonfly Arena and he'll give you 5 deadly feasts O__O

That is awfully specific and... unusual.

[Asparagus]

1 minute ago, debugman18 said:

That is awfully specific and... unusual.

Hi, I'm Asparagus, nice to meet you O__O

[An Artifact]

I'll install and playtest the mod a little bit before I throw in my input. Needless to say, this is right up my alley (since I totally didn't give you the idea) So I'll be chopping some trees for a bit.

Update:

So, I spent a good 10 ingame days doing a lot of resource gathering, but the game just would not give me a single level up. I tried disabling all of my mods, but still, I seem to be unable to either access the menu, or gain any levels. 

Edited December 11, 2016 by MeingroessterFan

[Mobbstar]

5 hours ago, MeingroessterFan said:

So, I spent a good 10 ingame days doing a lot of resource gathering, but the game just would not give me a single level up. I tried disabling all of my mods, but still, I seem to be unable to either access the menu, or gain any levels. 

Use CTRL + L to see the log, it mentions your Exp gain. I think I haven't actually added birchnut trees to the list...

[An Artifact]

32 minutes ago, Mobbstar said:

Use CTRL + L to see the log, it mentions your Exp gain. I think I haven't actually added birchnut trees to the list...

Well, I did check, and I seemed to be getting EXP... but after a few days straight of chopping evergreens and mining stones, I would've thought I'd get at least ONE level.

[Arlesienne]

The graphical side is sure professional, just like the coding - I wouldn't expect less of you. I'd think of making the slurper less... blue? And a darker arm, maybe. Cosmetic changes.

I like the idea and would love to learn what sort of skills you've already come up with. This could potentially give an advantage to some of the less loved characters. The spoiler looks promising (just what is "coldth" :P?). Like, is the Wes perk akin to the panflute? Ah... So many possibilities. I'm itching here.

And I want Blaze of Glory no matter what.
 

9 hours ago, Asparagus said:

I meant like *poof* a hooded figure (We know it's you Mr. Skits) appears in front of you and he asks you to slay the Dragonfly and feed the gems to a moleworm that you set loose on the Dragonfly Arena and he'll give you 5 deadly feasts O__O

GIMME! I need deadly feasts to feed the eat-only griefers .

8 hours ago, Asparagus said:

Hi, I'm Asparagus, nice to meet you O__O

That's my man!

Actually, this sounds weird as I re-read it... Should stay then.