Windmills Are Crap

[Press14English]

Windmills are crap. Is there a tutorial or something? Pipes don't join well. There is no feeling of "connection" when pipes are laid. I have to severely overlap pipes to get them to "connect". What is the point of the green circles??? Does this mean pipes will connect to each other? Because they don't appear to. "Snapping" pipes would be good so you get a definite feel that the pipes you're connecting are actually connected (TBH, a snapping dynamic is needed throughout the game for construction elements). Even when I can see the direction of water flow, nothing comes out. This game element needs some serious work. Sorry, I know it's early release, but you should consider not including elements that are this poorly designed until they are more functional. I don't mind a lack of polish, but seriously, windmills just don't work well enough (or at all) to be included in the game at this point.

[[Muse] Bubbles]

Hi Press,
The pipes do have some auto connect, so you don't have to place them flush against each other, but I do agree that they could be better. The green circle are meant to show connection but yeah the indication could be off at times. With the pipes, they are 5 to a windmill. If the connecting pipes have the water flow hud, the water should be flowing properly. If that's not working for you, please definitely let me know. I agree that we should improve on the windmill, and let me note this feedback down.
Thank you so much for this!! Howard

[Acierocolotl]

I mean this in a positive spirit. But it did feel like the windmills were a solution in search of a problem.

By the time we unlocked them, we'd long since had the ability to completely raze hills if we felt the need for it. If there was a strange situation like a spring at the base of a butte we might like to use, I could see the use for it.

Though it does also feel like a bit of an anachronism. It's the only machine in a world that's otherwise purely magical. If there were other green-powered machines (a mill for grinding grains, a waterwheel-powered trip hammer or sawmill, off the top of my head) I might feel there was a stronger case for it.

I think a sigil stone or an enchanted vine would work about as well in the same context and might fit the theme a little better.

[Press14English]

Originally posted by Muse Bubbles:

Hi Press,
The pipes do have some auto connect, so you don't have to place them flush against each other, but I do agree that they could be better. The green circle are meant to show connection but yeah the indication could be off at times. With the pipes, they are 5 to a windmill. If the connecting pipes have the water flow hud, the water should be flowing properly. If that's not working for you, please definitely let me know. I agree that we should improve on the windmill, and let me note this feedback down.
Thank you so much for this!! Howard

To be clear, I love the game. I'm totally addicted, but the windmills apparently had me very frustrated. I do understand it's a work in progress, so thank you for all of the work you and the team put into it. It was well worth the price. I look forward to improvements in the windmill dynamic.

[Press14English]

Originally posted by Acierocolotl:

I mean this in a positive spirit. But it did feel like the windmills were a solution in search of a problem.

By the time we unlocked them, we'd long since had the ability to completely raze hills if we felt the need for it. If there was a strange situation like a spring at the base of a butte we might like to use, I could see the use for it.

Though it does also feel like a bit of an anachronism. It's the only machine in a world that's otherwise purely magical. If there were other green-powered machines (a mill for grinding grains, a waterwheel-powered trip hammer or sawmill, off the top of my head) I might feel there was a stronger case for it.

I think a sigil stone or an enchanted vine would work about as well in the same context and might fit the theme a little better.

I hadn't thought about that until now, but they are the only machines in the game! I don't think they're necessary either, though. I think the chisel is a little ham-handed and could use an element of finesse to truly achieve its intended purpose, however, I could mostly accomplish what I want if the terrain deformation were able to be controlled better. I have springs that flow uphill despite me digging out around the opposite side to form a pool, and other things like that. Water flow is good enough from a fully upgraded spring to reach every where I need, but it doesn't always behave the way I'd like. I was hoping the ability to run a pipe and dump water right where I wanted would be a solution.

[[Muse] Bubbles]

Originally posted by Press14English:

Originally posted by Muse Bubbles:

Hi Press,
The pipes do have some auto connect, so you don't have to place them flush against each other, but I do agree that they could be better. The green circle are meant to show connection but yeah the indication could be off at times. With the pipes, they are 5 to a windmill. If the connecting pipes have the water flow hud, the water should be flowing properly. If that's not working for you, please definitely let me know. I agree that we should improve on the windmill, and let me note this feedback down.
Thank you so much for this!! Howard

To be clear, I love the game. I'm totally addicted, but the windmills apparently had me very frustrated. I do understand it's a work in progress, so thank you for all of the work you and the team put into it. It was well worth the price. I look forward to improvements in the windmill dynamic.

Hi Press,
Oh no worries! This is totally valid feedback! I just wanted to touch on the windmill and pipe mechanics just in case something was amiss. But the feedback is totally good! There is definitely room for improvement here.
Thanks so much again!

[VecnaWard]

A suggestion of an alternative construction approach; Much like the Earthwright's Chisel has the more flexible A-B markers for using fissure, perhaps we could have a pipe-tool that creates a larger chain of pipes and/or windmills from one marker to another as a sort of wireframe template structure we can then choose to build or deconstruct as a single connected structure. These could then be free of terrain requirement positioning allowing for more creative uses in crossing gaps or moving between various heights (The caverns in particular present a lot of difficult areas even wellstones can't easily facilitate). This could in theory work for other construables like paths, walls, bridges or even planters too.

Perhaps a way to interact with the various small springs could be useful too, like a windmill pump to build over it which is then fed along pipes to whatever location(s) we desire.

[[Muse] Bubbles]

Hi Vecna, thanks so much for the idea! I'll note this down!
Howard

[Torivon]

I have found that for keeping plants watered, I just make root sigils everywhere. If I want a visible pool, I find I have enough wellstones for what I want, so far. I have yet to find a situation where the windmill is the tool I want.

[Old Lady]

Bubbles:
I've been trying to use windmills to bring the temple plants back to life? I've been trying to move the water from the canals to the outer edges but the water seems to be flowing backwards. Am I doing this incorrectly?