Could you describe the gameplay loop for me?

[Ghostlight]

Myself and a few of my friends are thinking about giving this game a go, as a co-op group. I have a few questions to ask to help us decide if this is the game for us. Basically I am trying to find out how the game's main progression loop works. From the few videoes I have watched it made me think it was very similar to Dead Island. That is, a more or less open world that you are free to explore, but which is littered with NPC quest givers / quest hubs to drive the player in a direction if he/she wants to be driven. Is this accurate? Also:

1) Can the game actually be played co-op in a meaningful way. Do we all progress together? i.e If I undertake a quest and my friend is with me while I do it, do we both get credit for completion.

2) Is the world littered with loot, and is that loot RNG and used for crafting equipment? I assume there is crafting, and perhaps crafting stations to find in the world.

3. Can you craft things other than weapons, such as armour pieces and other quality of life equipment?

4. Is there any concept of base-building in the game? I should mention our favourite game are co-op survivals like The Forest, 7 Days to Die and Don't Starve. In those gsames we particularly enjoy developing our shared base.

Many thanks

[DEVOLVE MINHA CACHAÇA!]

Alright, replying to each of your points.

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

From the few videoes I have watched it made me think it was very similar to Dead Island. That is, a more or less open world that you are free to explore, but which is littered with NPC quest givers / quest hubs to drive the player in a direction if he/she wants to be driven. Is this accurate?

Quite accurate I might say, and very similar to Dead Island quest system, yes. You are free to roam about your business the same way, getting and turning in quests or simply exploring freely.

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

1) Can the game actually be played co-op in a meaningful way. Do we all progress together? i.e If I undertake a quest and my friend is with me while I do it, do we both get credit for completion.

XP for every action is shared between all players in the session, but loot, cash and others are individual as they are treated as client-side. Story and side quests progress is partially shared as well.

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

2) Is the world littered with loot, and is that loot RNG and used for crafting equipment? I assume there is crafting, and perhaps crafting stations to find in the world.

The loot is basically composed of raw materials, which you'll use for crafting (such as modifying weapons, fabricate resources such as medkits, flares, etc), valuables that you can sell for money, and weapons, that can be found in different tiers and appearances.

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

3. Can you craft things other than weapons, such as armour pieces and other quality of life equipment?

Aside from weapons, you essentially craft consumables, that replenish or temporarily boost specific stats. The closest thing to armor you have in the game is a shield you can craft to defend yourself from physical and ranged attacks.

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

4. Is there any concept of base-building in the game? I should mention our favourite game are co-op survivals like The Forest, 7 Days to Die and Don't Starve. In those gsames we particularly enjoy developing our shared base.

There is no base building in the game, but you can unlock safezones which sort of work as resting places for your character.

[Ghostlight]

You are a star, thank you.

[Tymon]

The tutorial and final missions of the game however, must be completed in single player only, just thought I'd mention that.

[DEVOLVE MINHA CACHAÇA!]

Originally posted by Tymon:

The tutorial and final missions of the game however, must be completed in single player only, just thought I'd mention that.

This.

The prologue of the game must be played solo before co-op is enabled, and the final fight against the main antagonist can not be played together as well.

[blake]

Not to mention BTZ. A PvP based mode where you can fight another player as a zombie with up to 4 human coops. You can see tons of videos on youtube about it

[jasnxl]

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

That is, a more or less open world that you are free to explore, but which is littered with NPC quest givers / quest hubs to drive the player in a direction if he/she wants to be driven. Is this accurate?

The DL game world is an open world where you are free to explore with no time restrictions, but which also features two game storylines. The main storyline is a series of related quests which end when you face your main opponent, (one in the Campaign, and another in The Following). At some point, you're going to want to complete the main storyline.

The second storyline consists of various different sidequests, which aren't required to complete the main storyline, but do provide the opportunity to increase character skill levels, and earn rewards, such as unique weapons and weapon blueprints.

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

1) Can the game actually be played co-op in a meaningful way. Do we all progress together? i.e If I undertake a quest and my friend is with me while I do it, do we both get credit for completion.

All of the quests can be played coop with the exception of the Prologue, and the Finale quests for both the Campaign, and the Following. In terms of quest completions during coop play, if you join someone's game whose progress is further in the main storyline than yours, while you'll be able to complete quests in their game, in order for you to see them as completed in your game, you'll have to complete them in your own game too. If you join someone's game whose main storyline progression is the same or earlier than yours, then both of you will get recognition for completing quests in both of your games.

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

2) Is the world littered with loot, and is that loot RNG and used for crafting equipment?

There's crafting items located all over the DL world in a variety of locations. Once you have them in your inventory, you're able to craft items anywhere. You can collect, and keep in inventory, the various craft items in infinite amounts, but you're limited in how many weapons, and how much ammunition, potions and medkits you can carry in a single inventory slot.

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

3. Can you craft things other than weapons, such as armour pieces and other quality of life equipment?

You're able to craft a few specific weapons from scratch, several kinds of throwing weapons, and some types of ammunition. Other ammunition and weapons you'll need to scavenge, find, or buy from vendors. You're also able to increase weapon stats, and add elemental effects to almost every weapon, as well as craft skins for some weapons. You can also craft shields, and shields with elemental effects, as well as medkits for healing, and potions which increase existing, or add new skills. There are also special developer weapon blueprints which craft weapons that can be used only when playing on Normal, or Hard, difficulty modes. Finally, in the Following you can craft parts for your buggy.

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

4. Is there any concept of base-building in the game?

No. There isn't a equivalent base-building activity in DL.

Good Luck..

[Ghostlight]

OK we are taking the plunge tonight, thanks all!

p.s. How will I know the prolog is over and we can join up for co-op?

[blake]

Originally posted by Ghostlight:

OK we are taking the plunge tonight, thanks all!

p.s. How will I know the prolog is over and we can join up for co-op?

After you kill the goon and get back to the safe zone it gives you a pop up.

[Thermal Lance]

If you had fun with the Dead Island games. You will find Dying Light even more awesome.

On the other hand, if you hated those games. There's a good chance you might not enjoy Dying Light as much as we do. It's a very similar game in gameplay. But it foes add parkour to the mix and hell yeah does it fit.