Colony Ship Early Access Release Thread [GAME RELEASED, GO TO NEW THREAD]

[lukaszek]

id like to bring some attention to balance and current state of penetration. It feels quite underwhelming. DT is flat value while penetration is percentage.
In current state of the game, best (penetrating) dagger is johny reb giving 20% penetration.
Lets say that enemy got very high DT of 10. Its possible to get it a bit higher against specific attack types, not easy though.
That 20% penetration is mere 2 DT.
Lets have a look at sword chopper: same price tag as dagger in question, same AP cost, no penetration, deals 2 dmg more. Obviously its superior in all situations but heavilyy armored enemies, where its same(ish).

Aimed attacks are interesting. Torso is the only one with penetration(whooping 30), is it really good attack against armored targets though? Torso is where most armor sits. Against melee I was able to reach as high value as 12 on my character. Meanwhile head is weak, I think 4-5DT is best you can get there. Whats more hp from CON reduce on chest attack works after hit so in general chest hits feel... lackluster.

I might be missing something though. Better working penetration on dagger would also mean them dealing ANY damage on reaction fast attacks

 

[underground nymph]

This game veeeery much lacks a proper sound design e.g. ambiance, people talking, industrial noise, etc.
Music becomes annoying very quickly.

 

[blessed king of longing]

This game veeeery much lacks a proper sound design e.g. ambiance, people talking, industrial noise, etc.
Music becomes annoying very quickly.

someone mentioned this is being worked on. what bothers me the most right now is (as other people have said) how it feels like everything is disconnected and you can just walk around doing anything without the world really changing.

 

[Zer0wing]

mUsT....nOT......PlaY.......MUst...noT.....PLaY...eA

Then don't. I won't for sure, even though I'm a secret AoD simp. After finishing the first EA builds, you'll be left hungry for more. And the only satisfaction to that hunger is what? Underrail? Space Wrek, Death Trash, what other still-in-EA title? Bleh. Or be devastaded by bugs and shortcomings while screaming VINCE I THOUGHT U WER CHOZEN!!1 AoD had a long winded road to actual completion even after its launch, wasn't that lesson learned already?

 

[Savecummer]

havent seen it said yet
but the sharpface fade-to-black-eryone-dead resolution needs at least the sounds of whatever kills them, like mg fire and screams and shit

 

[Thal]

I have now built characters with all weapon types, with full party and no party, and I can say that the game is pretty well balanced. INT is overpowered, but all weapon types are viable, but with some you need to plan ahead more than with others. Against all odds, the strongest character I had was SMG guy with 10 PER, 5 CON and all Graze feats. Basically I aimed to maximise the amount of grazes and, surprisingly, it worked. With two short bursts per round, The guy mowed through enemies to the point where I had to stop, in order to let Evans get some exp too.

I also had shotgun dude with quick pockets, double trouble, and crit feats. The guy could do two double shots per round, with a good crit chance. Pretty powerful, although crits require good rolls nonetheless. However, rusty Doomsayer is too easy to get. You can just walk over there in the beginning of the game.

 

[Generic-Giant-Spider]

I need to know the lore behind Pope Amole vs. Vincent.

Did someone's girl get fucked?

 

[Twiglard]

I need to know the lore behind Pope Amole vs. Vincent.

What makes you think that it's personal?

Against all odds, the strongest character I had was SMG guy with 10 PER, 5 CON and all Graze feats. Basically I aimed to maximise the amount of grazes and, surprisingly, it worked. With two short bursts per round, The guy mowed through enemies to the point where I had to stop, in order to let Evans get some exp too.

Overall SMGs seem to be OP compared to assault rifles. Tagging them with Evans is way better than pistol or rifle. AR bursts are underwhelming for the AP cost. It could use an increased hit chance (that is, above graze).

 

[jackofshadows]

SMGs are 'OP' only vs light-armored enemies. And tagging them by companion seem like a bad idea to me because there's no way to get heroic per feat which greatly benefit SMG usage.

 

[Luckmann]

Is there a reason why the portraits of AoD/DR aren't used? They seem to be in an identical style, and most of them should fit right in, since not everyone is a cyber-horror.

I could be wrong, of course, I was just wondering.

 

[Marat]

Is there a reason why the portraits of AoD/DR aren't used? They seem to be in an identical style, and most of them should fit right in, since not everyone is a cyber-horror.

I could be wrong, of course, I was just wondering.

 

[Savecummer]

 

[Savecummer]

vs

there is no vs lore
only popa lore

 

[Generic-Giant-Spider]

What makes you think that it's personal?

A nearly three hour video shitting on an RPG that is made for a specific/niche audience seems like the dead giveaway.

 

[Whisper]

What makes you think that it's personal?

A nearly three hour video shitting on an RPG that is made for a specific/niche audience seems like the dead giveaway.

He also did 6 or 7 videos for Colony ship.

 

[thesecret1]

It feels as though the main conflict in the pit (Braxton vs Jonas) is kinda under represented. You don't really know anything about the factions prior to making decisions of what to do and who to help – basically "Hey, do you help this gang leader who wants to let people do whatever while taxing them, or do you want to help the Regulators, who will make things a bit more lawful (without expanding on just what "more lawful" is even supposed to mean)?" That's really too little to go on to make any sort of informed decision. Indeed, it's a bit little to even make one care about the conflict, as what one sees is basically two bands of thugs that he knows nothing about, battling it out. Could there be a way to, for example, chat with each leader between the quests or something to get them to tell you just what sort of agenda they actually have?

 

[Marat]

It feels as though the main conflict in the pit (Braxton vs Jonas) is kinda under represented. You don't really know anything about the factions prior to making decisions of what to do and who to help – basically "Hey, do you help this gang leader who wants to let people do whatever while taxing them, or do you want to help the Regulators, who will make things a bit more lawful (without expanding on just what "more lawful" is even supposed to mean)?" That's really too little to go on to make any sort of informed decision. Indeed, it's a bit little to even make one care about the conflict, as what one sees is basically two bands of thugs that he knows nothing about, battling it out. Could there be a way to, for example, chat with each leader between the quests or something to get them to tell you just what sort of agenda they actually have?

I had similar thoughts. I thought maybe we'd get encounters showing the downsides to lawless freedom or some good/bad aspects of the Regulators and their way of doing things or maybe some quest that would flesh out this conflict before we get to take part in it. In Teron we got to see various factions plotting for power and the general desperate state of the town and it kinda allowed player to make up his mind about whether the upcoming confrontation. In CS we go directly from going to hire a gun hand for a scavenging run to "help me take over". We know little to nothing about what the sides in the conflict represent, what are their plans for the town or their general thoughts on things and nothing is really happening in the town that puts these events in motion (unlike the shitshow Gracius unleashed by visiting Teron) - it's just one guy with a bunch of gunmen at his back saying "I should be in charge, not the other guy".

 

[Jrpgfan]

Is there a reason why the portraits of AoD/DR aren't used? They seem to be in an identical style, and most of them should fit right in, since not everyone is a cyber-horror.

I could be wrong, of course, I was just wondering.

I'd use that as a profile pic.

 

[Marat]

I'd use that as a profile pic.

If you would just follow me into my warehouse, I'm sure I can accomodate you...

 

[Sranchammer]

Good game. The first in quite some time.

I tip my hat to the developer.

 

[Vault Dweller]

It feels as though the main conflict in the pit (Braxton vs Jonas) is kinda under represented. You don't really know anything about the factions prior to making decisions of what to do and who to help – basically "Hey, do you help this gang leader who wants to let people do whatever while taxing them, or do you want to help the Regulators, who will make things a bit more lawful (without expanding on just what "more lawful" is even supposed to mean)?" That's really too little to go on to make any sort of informed decision. Indeed, it's a bit little to even make one care about the conflict, as what one sees is basically two bands of thugs that he knows nothing about, battling it out. Could there be a way to, for example, chat with each leader between the quests or something to get them to tell you just what sort of agenda they actually have?

How do you picture this? "Hi, I'm from The Daily News, here to ask you a few questions about your plans for the town?" From another thread:

Yes, you're pressured into making a decision but no matter what you tell Braxton you can change your opinion. The town is presented as lawless and even though you aren't attacked on sight, it's clear that it's not a place ruled by law. Thus unless you run straight to Jonas, you can play for a bit and form an opinion about the town, not the parties. If you decide that the town's fine the way it is, then you side with Jonas against the interloper. If you decide that change is overdue, you side with Braxton.
...
There's no easy way to provide this info. Quests? If we start the game with you working for Jonas, your perspective will be biased by default. If we start you as neutral and let you talk to some people first... Well, even if we add out-of-the-blue questions like "what do you think about Jonas and Braxton?", the answers will differ greatly. ... look at the town and ask yourself if it's going in the right direction. It's not about Jonas or Braxton, it's about the town.

 

[Marat]

look at the town and ask yourself if it's going in the right direction.

That's exactly what I'm on about. It doesn't seem like the town is really going in any direction in particular. In Teron you got a taste of scheming nobles squabbling over prewar ruins, kidnapping bandits, criminals on the streets, contract assassinations and shenanigans of a certain "merchant". It imparted on you just how decrepit it all has become and allowed you to place factions in the context of that. There is very little visible strife in the Pit on the other hand. Maybe if merchants complained that Jonas' (or " Jonas' ") tax collectors were bleeding them dry and they can't go on like that, or if you discover Braxton's deception he'll make his pitch saying "Brotherhood will try to take over any day now and Jonas does nothing". And some random encounters: thugs depriving a scavenger of his hard-won loot or maybe the guy at the very beginning, the one that wants to go back to the Habitat, could tell you he's tired of looking over his shoulder all the time - to show the player freedom isn't necessarily glamourous. And another one where Regulators ruthlessly gun someone down - is indiscriminate violence an answer to Pit's problems? Some event or a conversation to show that Brotherhood is on the move and why it taking over would be a bad thing would go a long way - it would show that the situation in the Pit needs to be resolved rather expeditiously. Since people of the Pit (including the player) don't like being ordered around, does it really make a difference to them if Braxton or Brotherhood take over?

"Hi, I'm from The Daily News, here to ask you a few questions about your plans for the town?"

Similarly to AoD, Pit should be confronted with some problem or an immediate threat that affects people and player would choose a side based on how those sides want to tackle this problem. As is, the threat of a BoL takeover feels somewhat vague and it makes it difficult to relate to it in any way. I'm thinking: isn't scavenging the lifeblood of Pit's economy? The very reason it exists as a settlement in the first place? Why not have some characters give their perspectives on how various factions would impact this business? "If the Brotherhood rolls in, there will be to many new scavs and the well will soon run dry" or maybe: "Brotherhood wants to take over, but we should keep our slice of heaven to ourselves" and then Braxton goes "I'm the only one who can stop BoL from taking over" and Jonas: "Braxton will be just as bad as the Brotherhood. We should try our luck on our own. Maybe with Mo on our side we'll be able to keep our independence." Immediately, player gets some idea what's going on and how people he's supposed to side with want to approach it. Right now it's a little like B:"I should be in charge" J:"Nu-uh". Neither of those two relates much in their conversations to the town and it's fate. They're about defeating the other and nothing else. None of them says so much as "the other guy will ruin this town". It doesn't quite feel like the fate of the town is at stake and if it isn't, why would player get involved?

 

[Thal]

look at the town and ask yourself if it's going in the right direction.

That's exactly what I'm on about. It doesn't seem like the town is really going in any direction in particular. In Teron you got a taste of scheming nobles squabbling over prewar ruins, kidnapping bandits, criminals on the streets, contract assassinations and shenanigans of a certain "merchant"

I'd also like to add that it's easier to form an opinion of Teron, because we know what crumbling walls look like vs real walls and the game is called the Age of Decadence. Whereas what we see in the Pit is more or less what we expect from a generation ship after a mutiny. Or rather, we have no real alternative to compare to. Is the town this way due Jonas, or is it just that way?

The presentation of Jonas is better because he rules the town (so he stands for its current state), but Regulators should be fleshed out more. Not with Daily News, but a quests (or at least one more quest) where you run into them, and see the different perspectives.

 

[Pink Eye]

Just want to add. It would be great if companions bantered more about the Pit. It doesn't have to be a dialogue interaction thing. It could be a little text thing that pops up. You already have a couple for when you're engaged against the enemy. Such as, main character will say "Fuck" when they're taking damage. Why not outfit a couple of bants in there too? Have Faythe say "Man, this place has gone to shit thanks to Jonas" - when you're exploring camptown. Or have her say some bants when in the regulator's HQ. Here's an example of what I mean:

Spoiler

It'd add a bit more life to the companions. Unlike Age of Decadence, companions are a big part of the experience. Leaning into that aspect will add more to the game, in my opinion.

 

[Thal]

My game bugged in Hydroponics.

1) I chose Faythe sneak past the first frog encounter, but noticed that she was wearing armor that prevented her from doing so without triggering a red tile
2) reloaded, took off the armor and sneaked to the ladder
3) Her character model disappeared, and not even loading the game returned it.
4) Starting the game again and reloading the game returned the model. Tried to reproduce it, but couldn't.