Relationship Decay - Ted Selly & Non-moved in NPCs

[100% Recycled Awesome]

It seems that relationship decay is fast. I lost 2.5 hearts with Ted Selly over half of winter and half of spring and I did a few tasks for him to try to stem that loss.

It seems rather unfair to have his relationship decay when he's largely a random spawn. I literally cannot chat or do things with him because he's not on the map. It would be nice to have him have a much slower decay, or no decay at all.

I can maintain my relationship with every other NPC by a quick chat, no quest needed, but they're living in my town.

Also, I don't know about visiting NPCs, as I have all of them who can move in, but what's the decay like for them? If they lose the same rate as Ted, it seems rough on players who cannot save a relationship with an NPC because they haven't visited for a while.

IMO relationship decay doesn't add anything of value to the game and is just an annoyance. Only negative thing I found in the new update.

[Azyh]

This has been my experience also for my main account. Been playing a new island, so still haven't been able to test it there.

The decay is a real issue for end game, as it means we go back to game directed play and that to me isn't what end game should be about. I feel restricted from self directed play as a builder.

[JU1173]

I also am not a fan of the relationship decay. I don't like feeling pressure that I HAVE to talk or do a job for people so often or they drop. Seems there is less freedom to be able to do what I want.

With more being added to the game, this was a odd choice to be implemented. Like going to the lower mines, you need to spend time in the regular mines first, which means you are spending more time in there. Who wants to spend 25,000 on a daily mine pass and only spend half a day there? What a waste.

On the topic of NPC's that have not moved in, I didn't actually check, but I don't think there is decay there. I got everyone in my new town, no problem. There were times when I wouldn't see someone for over a week, with it cycling through people at the beginning. It didn't seem to have any effect at all.

[SteelTrapMind]

I wish the relationship decay only occurred when there was a possibility of a new recipe. It would serve as a great indicator and motivator. Outside of that, I don't like decay for decay's sake. After I do my morning milking, egg collecting, fertilizer bin refilling, and crop harvesting I don't have time to do jobs for all the villagers, AND enjoy my day/explore. It's starting to really stress me out, talking to a villager and seeing how much the hearts have decayed.

[LyaranTirel]

Originally posted by SteelTrapMind:

I wish the relationship decay only occurred when there was a possibility of a new recipe. It would serve as a great indicator and motivator.

THAT is a amazing suggestion. Not only to get people to actually 5 hearty everyone but to make people KEEP everyone 5-hearted so they know if they have everything.

[Taslar]

My main island had most everyone at 5 stars , with five heart relationships they decay very slowly IRL unlike a one to 3 heart. I don't personally care for the decay its just busy work after doing the work to get there and talking to people once a week still is a pain as it does not pull up the losses if your character has been deep mining all week , out exploring getting resources or hounding large plantation , animals , people who run large instillation down go to town that often even in the real life.

[Moon]

The decay of the main people does not bother me, but the hard to find people it is annoying.