[TCotD2] Game design feedback dump as of the latest round of testing from Nash and Boondorl

[nashmuhandes]

Nash

• Coop is crashing at library key
• melee monsters are all useless/non-threatening. too easy to just pitchfork-spam them (zombie, ghoul)
• redo rapid-fire revolver code to be ultra responsive
• don't let scripted nightmare count towards pendant usage
• add objective to go to church after discovering the solution at the train station
• i plan to add a scoring system that ranks you based on how fast you finish the mod, and less usage of the shelter gives you a better score; gives incentive to stay outside
• add scripted autosaves
• church boss too easy (OR - replace it completely??? that Heretic wizard is quite lame, TBH)
• flying spirits has the lost soul momentum bug
• make key pickups fullbright and glowing to attract attention
• duplicate door in the hospital, first vent room (actually - check all duplicate doors - I'm sure there's a few of these)
• add objective to discover the hospital inner sanctum?
• add monsters that can crawl through vents from during nightmares (prevents cheap vent camping) [Nightmares can enter vents, according to Tormentor --Blue Shadow]
• reduce sound propogation in the inner sanctum (let them hear shots from the hallway outside0
• add bespoke sounds to breakable props
• add area name texts on the automap?
• invisible blocking line inside otherworld tent
• ammo waaaay too little in hard difficulty
• missing texture in otherworld door trim near the hourglass
• lady dimitrescu enemy (unkillable stalker)?? to in place of the scripted werewolf spawn
• if implementing the above; move the werewolf enemy into the reading room's center (after picking up translation book)

Boondorl

Navigation

• Could be difficult to tell what doors were available
• Perhaps fade out the key marker after a door has been opened? That way unopened ones are obvious
• Potential generic marker in area to signify point of interest (tie these to the current active quests)
• Missing a few key objectives? Unclear what certain items are for until the very end of the game
• Perhaps that translated note should take place much earlier to give the player a clear goal
• Better use of dyanmic lights or something that sticks out to mark areas where the player should go

Coop

• Extra health for bosses
• More enemeies?
• Maybe different ammo distribution if playing in coop?

Gameplay

• Enemies
  • Zombie & Ghoul
    • Blood zombies and Amnesia monsters incredibly weak. Can be trivially backpedaled and stunlocked by the pitchfork
    • Have them move faster but tone down damage for enemies with huge hits
    • Reduce pain chance
    • Tweak animation timings to make sure they don't deal instant damage at close range. Just in case they end up being too damage heavy
    • Amnesia monster should have health toned down
  • Mini spiders
    • Spiders should be much faster [Won't change --Blue Shadow]
    • Increase size to make them easier to hit to compensate? [Won't change --Blue Shadow]
  • Nightmare
    • Stealth enemies are bad [Monster no longer goes completely invisible --Blue Shadow]
    • Should always be some kind of visible tell [Monster reveals itself when attacking --Blue Shadow]
    • Make sure damage isn't absurdly high
    • Look into adding more sound effects? [Won't change --Blue Shadow]
  • Butcher
    • Have very odd vertical aiming on their projectile attack
    • Could use a minor move speed buff
  • Cultists
    • They are a tad too slow. Increase their move speed a little
    • Slightly reduce wind up time of shots
    • Reduce damage to compensate? Pending playtesting
  • Soul Harvester
    • Could use to have their health reduced a bit
  • Wraith
    • Have the momentum issue where damaging them mid-charge causes them to get stuck floating
  • Hade Sphere
    • That exploding enemy is a bit bullshit [Reworked to be less annoying --Blue Shadow]
    • Should have a better tell before exploding [It already does an animation before exploding --Blue Shadow]
    • Could honestly just be removed [Won't change --Blue Shadow]
  • Vulgar
    • They are under utilized because they're too weak [Reworked to be a little stronger --Blue Shadow]
    • Some type of shot leading when target is in close range could help [Projectile travels faster --Blue Shadow]
    • Increase movement speed a little
    • Perhaps swap them and Blood zombies as the starter enemy? Melee vs melee at the start seems more sensible -- [TCOTD2] Replace vulgars with zombies at the beginning of the map #239
  • Death Incarnate
    • They are very difficult to dodge because of their shotgun attack [Reworked --Blue Shadow]
    • Some kind of light rework to tone down intensity? Something to better match player move speed [Reworked --Blue Shadow]
  • Bosss/Unique
    • Beast
      • Might wanna look into fixing the werewolf man up [What's the problem with it? --Blue Shadow]
      • Maybe a blood moon only enemy?
    • Hell Hound
      • They seeemed fine
    • Apprentice
      • Invisibility was a bit much [Won't change, unless it's replaced or gets a behavior overhaul --Blue Shadow]
    • Large spider [Will be replaced by a different boss --Blue Shadow]
      • Spiders are too simple
      • Some kind of leap attack to force player to strafe?
      • Reduce number but make more challenging
    • Thamuz
      • Blood final boss is easily circle strafed
      • Issue: You die quickly if you don't circle strafe
      • Needs something to make it more engaging [Won't change --Blue Shadow]
      • Invuln frames? Needs to be more telegraphed on boss if so [Invulnerability's been replaced with resistance --Blue Shadow]
      • Note: This wasn't really verified so I could be wrong about that
• Player
  • Feels a bit slippery when running over small ledges. This may or may not be possible to fix easily; very minor issue and can be ignored
• Weapons
  • General
    • Very unbalanced pacing. Get 4 weapons within the first 15 mins and then nothing until the very end of the game
    • Pistol could be saved until city? [Won't change --Blue Shadow]
    • Would be nice if it were more evenly stretched out through campaign
    • Would be cool to get to use the napalm launcher on simpler enemies [Nothing to do here, as it's already possible --Blue Shadow]
      • Perhaps lower final boss health to compensate for less rockets? [Won't change --Blue Shadow]
    • Ammo could be a little too tight. Even when conserved for ranged enemies it feels like you have just barely enough
  • Pitchfork
    • Range slightly too long; makes dealing with melee enemies a non-issue
    • Perhaps slow down attack speed and increase damage to make it more timing focused
    • Better stun chance to make it more rewarding? Mainly for ranged enemies [Weapon can be thrown like a projectile to inflict damage --Blue Shadow]
  • Revolver
    • Have to hold fire button to properly cancel reload with attack [Doesn't apply anymore --Blue Shadow]
    • Should allow tapping it at any point during it [Doesn't apply anymore --Blue Shadow]
    • A bit too weak for how little ammo it has [Has a random chance to inflict 3x the normal amount of damage --Blue Shadow]
    • Reduce fire rate and increase damage to give a better focus on aiming? [Fire rate won't change --Blue Shadow]
    • Could reduce accuracy further to discourage sniping [Won't change --Blue Shadow]
  • Shotgun
    • Can't reload if only one shot was used
  • Tommy gun
    • Primary fire rate slightly too slow
    • Perhaps add bloom to encourage tap firing? [Hm? --Blue Shadow]
    • Doesn't need a secondary if primary is buffed
    • Make sure to also buff cultist if this is buffed to match
  • Lantern
    • It feels largely pointless outside of its setpiece moment [The lantern is more of a "key item" than it's a utility --Blue Shadow]
    • Maybe remove lantern oil? That way it feels like a general upgrade [Won't change --Blue Shadow]
    • A few more dark areas? Could help direct player better
• Blood moon (siren)
  • Very underwhelming
  • All stealth enemies; needs much better variety
  • Include dark revenants and homing projectile imps
  • Especially pairs better with the dark area in the carnival thematically
  • Maybe some toxic imps?
  • Perhaps entirely unique enemies?
  • Needs to be survivable if you don't want the player to always hide
  • Perhaps give a unique reward not found elsewhere?
  • Make pendant active use to check time instead of randomly breaking
  • Makes it not entirely clear what it does

[Tormentor667]

Added checkboxes to the list, I wonder what is a "must have to be done" and what is just "nice to have" or even "unnecessary".

[Blue-Shadow]

if implementing the above; move the werewolf enemy into the reading room's center (after picking up translation book)

Could that monster be moved there regardless? I feel it'd be better than just a bunch of zombies.

[Tormentor667]

I'd at least also keep it in the woods appearing as soon as you wander back from your church quest.

[nashmuhandes]

if implementing the above; move the werewolf enemy into the reading room's center (after picking up translation book)

Could that monster be moved there regardless? I feel it'd be better than just a bunch of zombies.

I replaced the butcher with the werewolf in 4af9fa3 but I haven't actually playtested it yet. Let me know if fighting that thing in that cramped room is viable or not :)

[nashmuhandes]

I'm removing the milestone tag as not 100% of this list can be addressed for the release (which is happening in 4 days BTW). This thread shall remain more of as a to-do for future patches