What's the Point of Leveling Skills if You'll Die and Lose it All

[Dwight Hut Pizza]

As the game tells you at the start, your pretty much going to die at some point in this game even if you have lots of experience. So, I don't understand why I should read books and level up skills if it will all be for nothing anyways.

I started making some progress on one survivor and got him up two weeks. When using the fence tactic, I was tripped by a zombie that grabbed me on the floor which caused me to then get stun locked and die, losing all my two weeks of skill building and reading. I wasn't reading all the time and made sure to balance my skill leveling and looting. Though, it still sucks being set back especially when you know how much of a time investment it is.

There's probably just something I'm not getting out of this and if so please someone enlighten me.

[Korhal]

Postpone death basically.

[Eddie]

Just don't die

[Puppers]

There is skilljournal mod, you can change how much xp you get when reading the book. The hardcore nature of this game is what kept me playing for the last 84 years, its unlike many other games I have played that lets you save, edit options, etc. Just makes it different.

[ProtecTron]

Well, I think your progress in this game is not measured by "your character skill level" like most RPG games. In PZ you live, fight, build, learn and eventually die (as shown in the game-trailer). Your other "you" will benefit from your previous effort by having a safe and stocked place to head to and then continue their own journey... Disable zombie respawn to get a sense of progress when cleaning places from the dead.

The time you invested building is going to last as much as you play that world, that "save". Try to not get too attached to a particular game mechanic but to explore the world, keep the looting commin and the dead dying xD

There are certain things you could make to re-level carpentry faster with each new character or "survivor".. if you have some shotgun shells, you can re-level you aiming fast. Survivalist-based skills are IMO overrated when you can go and loot for canned food (it requires to make canned food from rare to "normal" xD)

- Configure your exp multiplier.
- Give yourself some extra skill points at start.
- Gather lvl 1 and 2 of most skill books.
- Get VHS tapes for free levels in those skills!
- Equip safehouses or your "base" with 3 or 4 tvs and play those tapes at the same time, enjoy.
- Clean out schools, deposits or court houses to go and level up carpentry disassembling stuff.

I name my characters "Survivor X" and then increase the X by the number of survivors necessary to make Knox County a better place...

[SEATEK The_LEFTY]

Damn. 84 Years? Savage.

[=JpS=Red5]

Well, didn't you read? It is the story of how you die...

[Dogtor]

What's the point of doing anything in life? You're gonna die anyway

[Undefined]

Originally posted by Puppers:

The hardcore nature of this game is what kept me playing for the last 84 years, its unlike many other games I have played that lets you save, edit options, etc. Just makes it different.

The biggest thing for me is that grinding in this game is so horrible.

Things like Foraging, Carpentry, Trapping, etc are fine because it happens within the flow of the game.

But things like Metalwork, Electrical, Mechanics, Tailoring, etc require you to do things that aren't fun, enjoyable, or within the flow of the game. In the case of metalwork, it's usually outclassed by Carpentry (or materials are too rare to compete with Carpentry).

It's really unfortunate that the devs don't have any plans (AFAIK) to make the other skills fun to level up.

[=JpS=Red5]

Originally posted by HomecomingQueen:

What's the point of doing anything in life? You're gonna die anyway

Well, die for realsies and you still are going to loose those skill points...so, yeah...parallel...I would suggest against this, though.

[=JpS=Red5]

Originally posted by Undefined:

The biggest thing for me is that grinding in this game is so horrible.

Things like Foraging, Carpentry, Trapping, etc are fine because it happens within the flow of the game.

But things like Metalwork, Electrical, Mechanics, Tailoring, etc require you to do things that aren't fun, enjoyable, or within the flow of the game.

I was just thinking about this. I certainly would not mind if traits and professions gave one or two more skill points to allow access to more significant stuff and then toning down advancement with the books/VHS tape a bit. Also, relax some of the skill-gating of recipes and instead give a percentage chance of failure (and resource loss) when attempting a task you are under-leveled for.

[Dwight Hut Pizza]

Originally posted by ProtecTron:

Well, I think your progress in this game is not measured by "your character skill level" like most RPG games. In PZ you live, fight, build, learn and eventually die (as shown in the game-trailer). Your other "you" will benefit from your previous effort by having a safe and stocked place to head to and then continue their own journey... Disable zombie respawn to get a sense of progress when cleaning places from the dead.

The time you invested building is going to last as much as you play that world, that "save". Try to not get too attached to a particular game mechanic but to explore the world, keep the looting commin and the dead dying xD

There are certain things you could make to re-level carpentry faster with each new character or "survivor".. if you have some shotgun shells, you can re-level you aiming fast. Survivalist-based skills are IMO overrated when you can go and loot for canned food (it requires to make canned food from rare to "normal" xD)

- Configure your exp multiplier.
- Give yourself some extra skill points at start.
- Gather lvl 1 and 2 of most skill books.
- Get VHS tapes for free levels in those skills!
- Equip safehouses or your "base" with 3 or 4 tvs and play those tapes at the same time, enjoy.
- Clean out schools, deposits or court houses to go and level up carpentry disassembling stuff.

I name my characters "Survivor X" and then increase the X by the number of survivors necessary to make Knox County a better place...

When you put it that way, I think it makes a lot more sense. I think the game is actually pretty forgiving in that it lets you make a new character on the same world instead of completely starting over. Maybe what I need to is not have my skills as much of a priority since you don't really need them to survive.

[Undefined]

Originally posted by =JpS=Red5:

Originally posted by Undefined:

The biggest thing for me is that grinding in this game is so horrible.

Things like Foraging, Carpentry, Trapping, etc are fine because it happens within the flow of the game.

But things like Metalwork, Electrical, Mechanics, Tailoring, etc require you to do things that aren't fun, enjoyable, or within the flow of the game.

1. I was just thinking about this. I certainly would not mind if traits and professions gave one or two more skill points to allow access to more significant stuff and then toning down advancement with the books/VHS tape a bit.

2. Also, relax some of the skill-gating of recipes and instead give a percentage chance of failure (and resource loss) when attempting a task you are under-leveled for.

1. One thing that can probably be done is to significantly increase the XP, but limit it in some form, kinda like what's done with Mechanics where you can only gain XP per vehicle per day. I'd also like to see mini-games incorporated so it feels like I'm actually engaged in the process rather than "right click > uninstall / right click > install." An example of a mini-game would be like the "Better Lockpicking" mod

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2368058459

2. I like that concept, it's worth exploring. In fact, a mod can probably be made that does just that.

[Puppers]

Originally posted by Undefined:

Originally posted by Puppers:

The hardcore nature of this game is what kept me playing for the last 84 years, its unlike many other games I have played that lets you save, edit options, etc. Just makes it different.

It's really unfortunate that the devs don't have any plans (AFAIK) to make the other skills fun to level up.

Theyre reworking crafting/professions so I wouldnt worry to much about it. There is preview of the wip crafting tree in one of the blog posts. Sure it will be a while but there are mods and sandbox options until then.

[Kaldrak]

Tell us you don't play any roguelikes without telling us you don't play any roguelikes.

[Undefined]

Originally posted by Puppers:

Originally posted by Undefined:

It's really unfortunate that the devs don't have any plans (AFAIK) to make the other skills fun to level up.

Theyre reworking crafting/professions so I wouldnt worry to much about it. There is preview of the wip crafting tree in one of the blog posts. Sure it will be a while but there are mods and sandbox options until then. :frightenedDog:

I don't think that blog post addresses anything that I talked about. It just talks about crafting and the new professions. Leaving the link below for convenience.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/108600/view/3356889493202393493