The Progression system makes no sense!

[niaerniopawrjnko]

So I have been playing A21 and gotten to day 19 and the progression has felt too grindy and also too fast at the same time. In terms of weapons, it feels like I basically already have the best weapons and I have infinite ammo at this point. On the other hand I havent even unlocked electricity yet and I am still using the minibike.

It also feels like the looting system has taken a huge hit, the only valueable loot I ever find is ammo, meanwhile the rewards from the trader are usually ridiculously good.

It just doesnt really feel satisfying and I cant help but wonder how a system that has been the main focus these past updates is still so flawed?

[Darren]

Yep. It has even more Problems with deciding how to progress. It feels random and - it seems that if you just want the bonus maybe living of the land you'll get more Mchine Gun magazines aswell. This ist for me the worst change ever. ich hate these magazines. Cannot get my motorbike, but plenty of stuff i have no interest in.

[subwaybananas]

your progression with the magazins depens on your amount of loot and your skill point settings. If you don´t set any point in mechanic you find only rare the mechanic magazins, same with the electrics without engineering.
That´s on of my criticts at this system, i don´t feel the mechanic skills very useful, but i been forced to skill it if i want the vehicles fast (but its the same like before, fast garantueed vehicles? skill mechanic, now its just hidden combined with the magazin).

If you play high tier quests, choose the infestation if its possible (even the T4). You get an extra loot stash at the end. In it is everytime a theme box, like food or traps. I have 8 gun towers (mixed shotgun/smg) only from the infestation quests. And about 30 blade traps.

[SiEgE]

Originally posted by niaerniopawrjnko:

...
It also feels like the looting system has taken a huge hit, the only valueable loot I ever find is ammo, meanwhile the rewards from the trader are usually ridiculously good.

I'm yet to try A21's balance at its fullest(I'm just 3 days in, yet), but the points you've mentioned were actually a problem back in A20, and I despised them too.
Trader+vending machines were literally an answer to any problem. It no longer felt like a survival, when traders had everything, and were never shy of showering you with money.

How I see a proper survival/looting/trading balance:
- There should be rare resources that should only appear at specific POIs/specific traders.
For example: If I want to craft some rare weapon mod. Then I would need to raid a level 5 Shotgun Messiah. I shouldn't be able to find that resource, or the mod I'm trying to craft at trader's, or in a random loot at some unrelated POI.
- Traders should only restock around 15%-30% of their wares. Some wares should stay unrestockable, only changing their quantity up and down eventually.
- Traders should have a list of wares that they hate and would never buy/only sell. Obviously, only in small quanitities.
- Traders should have a list of wares that they will always have in overabundance, and will never buy any off the player.
- Traders should have a list of wares that they will never restock(even if you were the one who sold it to them).
- Traders should not restock some slots, even when you bought them out completely.
- Selling your stuff to a trader should ALWAYS be the last decision you do. Traders should always buy stuff off you for basically 5-15% of its base cost. You should only sell stuff you cannot use anywhere else.
- As in the previous point, the same logic should be applied to quest rewards. You should only get small quantities of the most basic stuff, like 5 cans of food, or 10 rifle ammo, or 2 bandages as a level 1 reward. The current system where you are showered with money and experience is just sucking out the possible fun in actually grinding your way up.

I understand that some people might find my suggestions "too grindy, or not fun/fast enough". But I see it as the opposite in the range with what we currently have.
I would gladly settle up at a midpoint, because what we have right now is just a waste of a potential for a good survival gameplay. I feel like I cheat everytime I trade stuff with traders I even deincentivise myself to either trade or do quests.

[aY227]

Originally posted by niaerniopawrjnko:

In terms of weapons, it feels like I basically already have the best weapons and I have infinite ammo at this point. On the other hand I havent even unlocked electricity yet and I am still using the minibike.

Basically this.
Didn't craft a single weapon.

Speced in perc and rushed spears/rifles

Day9 got q6 sniper (sic!) from trader, while I was able to craft like a q1 tier 2.
Day8 got q5 steel spear from a trader while I was able to craft like q5 iron.

At the same time traders suddenly hate vehicles

That's it about progression - completely blocked 2 magazine trees.
Both are 5/5 so that's twice +1000% to drop COMPLETELY USELESS magazines until it will be maxed out and disappear. Every other is basically blocked till than.

And of course Im dropping tons of parts - at least I can sell those.
Recently I saw on reddit really clever solution to this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/7daystodie/comments/14boka5/a_proposed_solution_to_spoiling_crafting_trees_a21/

TL;DR - make q6 craftable only BUT parts for q6 (called smth like "pristine part") will be drop only - neat.
(not gonna happen I know)

At least we should get some bonus after maxing skill ;/
it really feels like a totally wasted time.

PS This is a feedback - so spare me "buT tHiZ iS ExPerImEnTal'

[subwaybananas]

I crafted all my weapons earlier i´m able to loot them with my current lootstage.

[Fork]

Yes found the same, crafting basically obsolete as can't rush due to magazines. Get what you need from trader well before you can make it. Had steel tools before i could make iron even though i skilled heavy in it. Spent most of my cash on concrete cos no mixer - base finished and still no where near crafting a mixer.

[Greymantle]

One stop shopping TFP seems to competing with Amazon on who is the best place to shop. They don't care about the rest of the game the balance has been going out the window with every Trader patch we get about 1 year apart.

[Cliffy]

You have a higher chance of finding skillbooks from the skillyou want when you set some points into the correct skill.
with Miner69 you have a higher chance to find harvest tool skill books and the harvest tools it self.
The system works very well for me.

[MiSFiT77]

Agree with a lot of the above. I don't feel like I'm progressing in any particular direction that favours any particular game style, based on my choice. I'm just running around finding books and ultimately following the path I'm being handed.

Edit: wasn't aware that putting points in to skills effects the books that I find tho. I'll adapt a little now.

[Cosmoros]

The book progression is worst they could have implemented ever.

[aY227]

Originally posted by Auto Chaos RU:

The book progression is worst they could have implemented ever.

Would not go so far, but it need some tweaks.
Cool idea generally.

Originally posted by Cliffy:

You have a higher chance of finding skillbooks from the skill you want when you set some points into the correct skill.

Cliffy please :)
We know, and that's part of the problem. What if you already have best tool/weapon and still +70 skillbooks to collect?

[Cliffy]

Cliffy please :)
We know, and that's part of the problem. What if you already have best tool/weapon and still +70 skillbooks to collect?

well thats a other problem ^^ Maybe they need something like a new workbench for skillbooks. Where you can take not needed skillbooks and transform them into others. Maybe 3x Harvest tools books to 1x club skill book. Better than scrapping.

[olliebaysinger]

I'm playing in a Party shared xp loot stage, all my gear is there rubbish due to luck, even there rubbish is way better than i can craft.

[beeda2004]

Originally posted by Cliffy:

Cliffy please :)
We know, and that's part of the problem. What if you already have best tool/weapon and still +70 skillbooks to collect?

well thats a other problem ^^ Maybe they need something like a new workbench for skillbooks. Where you can take not needed skillbooks and transform them into others. Maybe 3x Harvest tools books to 1x club skill book. Better than scrapping.

well this is not might and magic or world of warcraft to make from books about spears book about motorcycles :-)

[aY227]

Originally posted by Cliffy:

Where you can take not needed skillbooks and transform them into others. Maybe 3x Harvest tools books to 1x club skill book. Better than scrapping.

Ummm - no.
They will stop spawn for you after you hit max.

Originally posted by olliebaysinger:

I'm playing in a Party shared xp loot stage, all my gear is there rubbish due to luck, even there rubbish is way better than i can craft.

I dont even want to think how it looks in 3+ groups.