Fishing Rework

[Rose Brigade]

I like many aspects of the game, but I think Fishing can use a rework. I have a couple of rough ideas of how it can be done, maybe it can be looked at.

Idea #1: Bait
This one's easy or a pain depending on how you look at it. As it is now we don't need bait to fish, but we never really get what we want from it. I propose introducing bait items like insects that can be used as bait items.
Where to get bait?
We could get the bait from already existing crops. Certain plants would attract certain insects, and each of those insects would attract certain fish. For example the Blood Rose could give a couple of Beetles as an extra drop (with a higher chance of yield from Worker Blood or using correct tools). These Beetles could attract Fat Gobies for example. We have many farm-friendly plants, so I see this being the easiest option.
How would we use it?
I think just having it in your inventory would be enough, but maybe we could have a slot for it dedicated if it's a pain to code a seeking algorithm for the fishing rod to search for bait in your inventory. If the slot path is chosen it would give us more free reign of what we fish up, and if the inventory path is chosen it would just need to search for bait items in slots by order in your inventory.
What if I still want the random items?
We could still keep the default fishing as "No Bait" option and get RNG items like books, gems, and random fish. I think it's fine as is, but we need an option to be able to choose what we get, which is why this thread is suggested!

Idea #2: New Rods
This idea allows us to upgrade the fishing rod to be less RNG. Better rods will remove "Junk items" such as gems, books, and materials, and only give us fish. The better the rod, the less chance of "Junk items". Eventually we could unlock a rod that gives 100% chance of getting Fish only, the RNG would just be which fish you get.
But this is still RNG! I thought the idea was to remove RNG?
Yes this is true, but this idea focuses on something Stunlock implemented into the game a while back, catch rarity. All fish have a rarity tier, and this rarity determines how much fish oil they give when refined in a Blood Press. This would keep the RNG rarity, but ensure we only get fish, as that is currently the primary issue with Fishing, is too little fish and too many "Junk items".
Will there be a way to get specific non-fish items?
I don't see a reason to add a non-fish specific setup, since 1. we already have other methods of getting those items easier (Gems from rocks and loot, Books from Traders and loot, Materials from their respective creatures, not to mention everything can be looted from boxes and enemies easier than fishing already) and 2. our main issue with Fishing always has been that we can't get fish as we need them for our Prisoners. The RNG fishing is still present, and "Junk items" still exist, but will be on a lesser ratio scale on better rods. If you still want the RNG just switch back to the lowest rod.

Those were my ideas, lemme know what you think! Hopefully the devs will take a peek and take some inspiration~

[DeMasked]

I'd rather not deal with another item drop that you have to farm for. The game already has a ton of fetch x, y, z, resource to create 1, 2, 3 item product that may again be used to create something else. V Rising doesn't need more resource bloat imo.

Instead I would like to see higher tier fishing rods which can be faster to get a response + the fishing hole can stay around for another go depending on the quality of rode.

Normal - 1 use per fishing area with longish rng response time
Second - 2 uses per fishing area with a bit faster rng response time
Third - 3 uses per fishing area with a fast rng response time

[Rose Brigade]

Originally posted by DeMasked:

I'd rather not deal with another item drop that you have to farm for. The game already has a ton of fetch x, y, z, resource to create 1, 2, 3 item product that may again be used to create something else. V Rising doesn't need more resource bloat imo.

Instead I would like to see higher tier fishing rods which can be faster to get a response + the fishing hole can stay around for another go depending on the quality of rode.

Normal - 1 use per fishing area with longish rng response time
Second - 2 uses per fishing area with a bit faster rng response time
Third - 3 uses per fishing area with a fast rng response time

Well I mean it's not like you don't farm Plants already for potions and fabrics. So I figure bait would be something you start getting as soon as you start getting plants. It doesn't have to be just from your garden, but even wild ones. You won't be putting down new plants, just getting something new from the same ones you already were farmin~

But I like the idea of rods that extend the fishing hole time as well.

[ExplorerNMS]

I like the OP's idea.

Maybe adjust the drop rate of "Copper Coins" (which can be used to purchase FISH) so that they drop plentiful early game but as the player progresses in the game their drop rate decreases and the drop rate of FISHING BAIT increases.

[Darkest King]

Originally posted by DeMasked:

I'd rather not deal with another item drop that you have to farm for. The game already has a ton of fetch x, y, z, resource to create 1, 2, 3 item product that may again be used to create something else. V Rising doesn't need more resource bloat imo.

Instead I would like to see higher tier fishing rods which can be faster to get a response + the fishing hole can stay around for another go depending on the quality of rode.

Normal - 1 use per fishing area with longish rng response time
Second - 2 uses per fishing area with a bit faster rng response time
Third - 3 uses per fishing area with a fast rng response time

And there should be two types of rods at each level. A "Junk" rod for fishing up junk and a normal rod that prioritizes fish.

[Rose Brigade]

Originally posted by ExplorerNMS:

I like the OP's idea.

Maybe adjust the drop rate of "Copper Coins" (which can be used to purchase FISH) so that they drop plentiful early game but as the player progresses in the game their drop rate decreases and the drop rate of FISHING BAIT increases.

Oh yea that would be a good change to go with the bait as well.

Originally posted by Schwarzschilde:

And there should be two types of rods at each level. A "Junk" rod for fishing up junk and a normal rod that prioritizes fish.

I don't think a junk rod is necessary outside the starting rod that already gives us junk, since all the stuff that is considered junk is obtainable elsewhere easier than fishing. The fish are the only thing that I think make sense to focus on since that's.. well.. Fishing.

[porcine entourage]

great ideas, especially for an upgraded rod for better fish RNG. i do like fishing up junk items though - i've gotten some silly hats that way :D my biggest complaint with fishing, personally, is just not finding enough fishing spots. when i go out "fishing", i spend most of my time looking for a spot that i can actually fish at... i would be happy to see all water be fishable, but perhaps with higher rates of junk drops outside of fishing holes.... which you could then use higher quality rods to increase fish drops in :)

[Adamerus522]

I'm not a fan of the excessive junk catches,
I do like the idea of better rods
Not so sure about bait though

[Zentun]

Fishing is really bad, i hope they rework it

[Bomoo]

Fishing is extremely basic and borderline placeholder at the moment. Also hoping for a design pass in the future.

[Jochum]

ya all need to head over to the official suggestions place and upvote good ideas.
like, really, i hope you all go and upvote https://feedback.playvrising.com/suggestions/306634/better-fishingfish-hatchery
because its the 6th most upvoted suggestion and could certainly need a rework.
Go there, upvote like crazy everything you think would be a nice addition to the game, the devs won't read steam forums...