Shield overcharge is confusing and bad

[Seizan]

I really don't like the overcharge.
First it took me like 4 waves to realize how to use it after buying the upgrade. Since there is no info except it telling you, you can "manually" overcharge... tell me how!

Then it's also annoying to do. To go over there and press a button. Like, why can I not have it as a special ability during combat?

Oh yeah. And I cannot overcharge when combat already started. So when I get back and they already attack me, like when I need that extra shield the most, I cannot use it... thanks.

I also don't find it very transparent. It adds bonus HP on top of the shield HP, right? I can see the blue light. I often overcharge right after a wave ended. And I am not sure if the blue light is still there when i get back to fight the next wave. Is there any other indicator for it except the blue shield? Is it really working? Am using it correctly? Is it helping me?

I really don't like the implementation. The concept by itself seems neat tho.

[easytarget]

Originally posted by Seizan:

I really don't like the overcharge.
Since there is no info except it telling you, you can "manually" overcharge... tell me how!

You could reasonably make the case this experience is true of every single feature in the game.

[sleepy toad]

While i agree it's somewhat confusing to understand how to activate the shield overdrive, some slight changes to the ability's description in the skill tree would be more than enough imo.

Originally posted by Seizan:

Oh yeah. And I cannot overcharge when combat already started. So when I get back and they already attack me, like when I need that extra shield the most, I cannot use it... thanks.

It's good that you can't activate the overdrive mid-wave. instead the game forces you to decide if some extra shield is worth sacrificing your ressources.

[René - Bippinbits]

The shield will get some additional indicators in the UI soon, both for overcharge amount and for ability duration.
The overcharge in general need a tutorial box like many other things already have - but first a simplification for orchard and repellent.
I also can see that it is annoying that you can't use it, when you are 1s late to the battle. So this should be possible too.
On it :)

[ChristmasCretin]

Originally posted by René - Bippinbits:

The shield will get some additional indicators in the UI soon, both for overcharge amount and for ability duration.
The overcharge in general need a tutorial box like many other things already have - but first a simplification for orchard and repellent.
I also can see that it is annoying that you can't use it, when you are 1s late to the battle. So this should be possible too.
On it :)

Only being able to overcharge before battle is fine, makes the player think more carefully whether they actually need the overcharge or not. A tutorial box etc. might be nice though yeah, didnt realise how to "manually overcharge" until my second run buying the upgrade lol.

[ChristmasCretin]

Originally posted by sleepy toad:

While i agree it's somewhat confusing to understand how to activate the shield overdrive, some slight changes to the ability's description in the skill tree would be more than enough imo.

Originally posted by Seizan:

Oh yeah. And I cannot overcharge when combat already started. So when I get back and they already attack me, like when I need that extra shield the most, I cannot use it... thanks.

It's good that you can't activate the overdrive mid-wave. instead the game forces you to decide if some extra shield is worth sacrificing your ressources.

+

[ChristmasCretin]

On another note though, being able to overcharge multiple times might be cool. So if you get unlucky and hit mostly water notes on a run, you can overcharge a couple times to make back for a lost defense upgrade you would have otherwise gotten, etc.

[Seizan]

Originally posted by easytarget:

Originally posted by Seizan:

I really don't like the overcharge.
Since there is no info except it telling you, you can "manually" overcharge... tell me how!

You could reasonably make the case this experience is true of every single feature in the game.

If you get a new item or unlock any abilities the first time, you get a little info pop up. So, no.
This is unlocking an ability without the game telling you how to use it.

Originally posted by René - Bippinbits:

The shield will get some additional indicators in the UI soon, both for overcharge amount and for ability duration.
The overcharge in general need a tutorial box like many other things already have - but first a simplification for orchard and repellent.
I also can see that it is annoying that you can't use it, when you are 1s late to the battle. So this should be possible too.
On it :)

Sounds great! :)

Originally posted by QuandaleDingle:

On another note though, being able to overcharge multiple times might be cool. So if you get unlucky and hit mostly water notes on a run, you can overcharge a couple times to make back for a lost defense upgrade you would have otherwise gotten, etc.

Yeah. I also had games where I was very low on HP and didn't find any triangle things to repair. Sacrificing more water for additional safety would be neat. If you end up not needing them, well you wasted more water.

[Kurtino]

Originally posted by QuandaleDingle:

Only being able to overcharge before battle is fine, makes the player think more carefully whether they actually need the overcharge or not. A tutorial box etc. might be nice though yeah, didnt realise how to "manually overcharge" until my second run buying the upgrade lol.

I disagree, having to be in your dome prior to the battle starting simply makes the ability less useful and punishes the player for even the slightest timing delays on resource recovery. It's also slightly counter intuitive, as there are perks like the automated turret control that reinforce the player not needing to be back prior to the battle starting.

There's no thinking process to be had here, it's simply pre-allocating the water as you exit the chair from the previous battle.