Shark balancing

[Teeb]

I noticed the shark AI changed in the new update, making them extremely agressive, and fast. Yes, this does make the game harder and provide a greater threat, but I can't cross an island without being knocked of my boat. Sharks in real life aren't like this at all, and would only attack a human thinking it's either in danger, or confusing it for prey. The sharks before the update were very realistic, and now theyre just overpowered. Some ideas I have to balance the sharks so there's still a threat, by adding new ones.

For a very fast, dangerous shark, try the shortfin mako. This shark travels up to 22 mph, and has been seen at an extreme 43, and can be a very scary predator, and would be great to add to the game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortfin_mako_shark

If you want a large, agressive shark, the bull shark is a great option. This shark is responsible for most shark attacks, and are generally known as the shark that is the greatest threat for humans. This could be very cool for a shark making the waters greatly dangerous, and if you see one avoid them., and maybe for balancing they should be a little slower than other sharks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_shark

The great white shark already in the game is scary to just look at, but I personally think they should be much larger, and have a much more dangerous bite, so they're a large threat, and make bouys something to greatly avoid. Great whites grow from 13-21 ft, and have been reported at 26ft. That is huge! The sharks in game are much smaller than that currently and to have a realistic sized great white would be very cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_white_shark

And lastly, the tiger shark. Again, a shark already in the game, and abundant, with the new update became extremely fast, and super agressive. This was my main problem, being massively unrealistic, and making it so I can't travel without getting knocked off my raft a lot every trip. Tiger sharks in real life are slower than in the game, and wouldn't attack without reason. I think the tiger sharks before the update was perfect, and the update made them a lot worse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_shark

These are just reccomendations, and I understand this would take a lot of work, but this is just me throwing my ideas and advice out. I love the new update, and this is one of my favorite games right now! Keep up the good work (:

[ZEKE]

I think tiger sharks are ok now, but I will like to see a decrease in quantity, and also i think they shouldn't be that near the coast as they are now. Other than that they are fine to me. I agree with you on the bull sharks, it would be awesome. BTW I would like to see hammerheads :)

[Drake]

Bull sharks wouldn't be in this game. Look at their range on Wikipedia. The plane went down somewhere between the mid-Pacific and southern Japan. Far outside of their range. They usually stay out of the deep ocean, preferring to stay in shallow brackish waters, usually where rivers meet the ocean. Though they will go upstream or further out into mid-depth oceans.

But yeah, I would like to see the shark AI follow some of their real life counterparts.
Such as tiger sharks being primarily nocturnal predators. And great whites being hit-and-run predators. Tending to deliver a quick strike, before backing off and allowing the prey to weaken, before moving in for the kill.

[Teeb]

Originally posted by Drake:

Bull sharks wouldn't be in this game. Look at their range on Wikipedia. The plane went down somewhere between the mid-Pacific and southern Japan. Far outside of their range. They usually stay out of the deep ocean, preferring to stay in shallow brackish waters, usually where rivers meet the ocean. Though they will go upstream or further out into mid-depth oceans.

But yeah, I would like to see the shark AI follow some of their real life counterparts.
Such as tiger sharks being primarily nocturnal predators. And great whites being hit-and-run predators. Tending to deliver a quick strike, before backing off and allowing the prey to weaken, before moving in for the kill.

After futher research, you're right, bull sharks wouldn't be there. A good alternative could be a great hammerhead, and would be really cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_hammerhead

[Giggles]

Yeah I am being attacked at every turn no matter where I am, I see at least 3 sharks. I have been in the ocean plenty, there aren't sharks waiting at every turn.

[CatPerson]

Gameplay vs. reality. Gameplay always wins.

...first people complain it's too easy (too much food, sharks not aggressive enough etc), so they change it, now it's not enough food, sharks are too aggressive. Dev's can never win. 8)

I want the sharks to feel at least somewhat dangerous even if it's not "realistic". To a level where trying to grab all the loot off wrecks is a challenge, not an easy picking flowers stroll. If I just wanted a paddle, swim, eat/drink sim game I'd play ... The Sims.

[Fwip]

I'd prefer to have the option to pet tiger sharks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E8HfGqfQlU

[Teeb]

Originally posted by CatPerson:

Gameplay vs. reality. Gameplay always wins.

...first people complain it's too easy (too much food, sharks not aggressive enough etc), so they change it, now it's not enough food, sharks are too aggressive. Dev's can never win. 8)

I want the sharks to feel at least somewhat dangerous even if it's not "realistic". To a level where trying to grab all the loot off wrecks is a challenge, not an easy picking flowers stroll. If I just wanted a paddle, swim, eat/drink sim game I'd play ... The Sims.

by balancing the sharks, I didn't mean to stop making them agressive at all, I meant to make it so you can go somewhere without having to swim back to your raft every thirty seconds, and to not have overly hostile tiger sharks everywhere. The devs obviously want this to be a realistic game, and to have overpowered sharks, ruins this. I provided many ideas to make it so you still need to be cautious, and sharks could still kill you, but maybe so they arent so hostile.

[Teeb]

Originally posted by Fwip:

I'd prefer to have the option to pet tiger sharks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E8HfGqfQlU

devs, get on this!

[Lenimph]

I agree that the sharks are rediculously aggresive now. It's to the point where if you're on a small lsland you can have like 2 or 3 of them just waiting for you...

[Drake]

Originally posted by Tom:

After futher research, you're right, bull sharks wouldn't be there. A good alternative could be a great hammerhead, and would be really cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_hammerhead

They wouldn't add much of a threat. Of all the large sharks, hammerheads have the fewest attacks on humans (only 21 reported unprovoked attacks in a 30 year period, only 2 of which were fatal). And for good reason, their mouths are located on the bottoms of their heads, and a grown human is bigger than their usual prey item; which mostly consist of small bottom dwelling fish, arthropods, and molluscs. They only go after larger marine life, if said creatures are in state where they can't fight back. Though while they are classified as a non-aggressive species, it is still advised by shark experts to use caution around them, as with all large shark species.

But ultimately the great hammerhead kind of has the same locational issue as the bull shark. While having a range that extend farther north than the bull shark, it stays generally in coastal waters, and is not a deep sea shark. So unless the airplane somehow crash only a few miles from Japan, I don't think they would be in the game.

I mentioned my idea before. But I think sharks should for the most part just be curious, with the rare aggressive shark occurring every now and again (to represent sharks with abnormal behavior). Though a player might get "test bitten" by the non-aggressive sharks if they stick around too long, without making themselves look intimidating(such as waving weapons and generally keeping their eyes on the shark). The test bites shouldn't be as damaging as full on strikes. The aggressive sharks, despite being rare, will ensure that players question whether the shark approaching them will be an immediate threat. And the more curious ones can still be a small threat if not given the proper respect and precaution.

[LadstonFelisGaming]

Originally posted by Tom:

For a very fast, dangerous shark, try the shortfin mako. This shark travels up to 22 mph, and has been seen at an extreme 43, and can be a very scary predator, and would be great to add to the game.

Fast? Yes. Scary-looking? Yes. Dangerous? Debatable, but probably not. Seeing as how there are no recorded Mako attacks, we must assume that they aren't dangerous to humans.

Originally posted by Tom:

If you want a large, agressive shark, the bull shark is a great option. This shark is responsible for most shark attacks, and are generally known as the shark that is the greatest threat for humans. This could be very cool for a shark making the waters greatly dangerous, and if you see one avoid them., and maybe for balancing they should be a little slower than other sharks.

While Bulls would be a nice addition, if you pay attention to where the plane was when it crashed (you can see it in the tutorial on a screen in the passenger cabin), you'll see that it crashed in the middle of the ocean. Bull sharks are a coastal species. You can confirm this for yourself, since the linked article shows the range of the Bull shark, which isn't anywhere near where the plane crashed.

Originally posted by Tom:

And lastly, the tiger shark. Again, a shark already in the game, and abundant, with the new update became extremely fast, and super agressive. This was my main problem, being massively unrealistic, and making it so I can't travel without getting knocked off my raft a lot every trip. Tiger sharks in real life are slower than in the game, and wouldn't attack without reason. I think the tiger sharks before the update was perfect, and the update made them a lot worse.

I do agree with the aggression in regards to getting knocked off the raft, but a good way to balance that out would be to reduce the number that spawn. I see no less than three while going in-between islands.

[CatPerson]

Originally posted by Drake:

I mentioned my idea before. But I think sharks should for the most part just be curious, with the rare aggressive shark occurring every now and again (to represent sharks with abnormal behavior). Though a player might get "test bitten" by the non-aggressive sharks if they stick around too long, without making themselves look intimidating(such as waving weapons and generally keeping their eyes on the shark). The test bites shouldn't be as damaging as full on strikes. The aggressive sharks, despite being rare, will ensure that players question whether the shark approaching them will be an immediate threat. And the more curious ones can still be a small threat if not given the proper respect and precaution.

If the danger is only occasional/very rarely encountered in a game however, what's the challenge? Starving to death because I couldn't get any potatoes? That's not very compelling by itself.

[Drake]

Originally posted by LaddytheOutcast:

Originally posted by Tom:

For a very fast, dangerous shark, try the shortfin mako. This shark travels up to 22 mph, and has been seen at an extreme 43, and can be a very scary predator, and would be great to add to the game.

Fast? Yes. Scary-looking? Yes. Dangerous? Debatable, but probably not. Seeing as how there are no recorded Mako attacks, we must assume that they aren't dangerous to humans.

Actually the shortfin mako has a number of attacks on humans, 42 in the last 30 years. Only 3 were fatal, though.

Originally posted by CatPerson:

Originally posted by Drake:

I mentioned my idea before. But I think sharks should for the most part just be curious, with the rare aggressive shark occurring every now and again (to represent sharks with abnormal behavior). Though a player might get "test bitten" by the non-aggressive sharks if they stick around too long, without making themselves look intimidating(such as waving weapons and generally keeping their eyes on the shark). The test bites shouldn't be as damaging as full on strikes. The aggressive sharks, despite being rare, will ensure that players question whether the shark approaching them will be an immediate threat. And the more curious ones can still be a small threat if not given the proper respect and precaution.

If the danger is only occasional/very rarely encountered in a game however, what's the challenge? Starving to death because I couldn't get any potatoes? That's not very compelling by itself.

Well how do you react, if you don't know whether a shark is aggressive or not? You risk waiting until it lunges at you, or attack the shark (potentially making a non-aggressive shark attack you out of self-defense). This incorporates the idea of doubt. Just like in real life you will not be able to guarantee that a shark won't attack you, nor can you guarantee that it will attack you. As such, it is a risk that you have to way. And those who lower their guard would eventually pay the price.

To top things off, they could make wounds more dangerous. Right now, so long as you keep your stats up, you can wait until you can find bandages. However, if they added features like the risk of a wound getting infected. That could make a wound a much greater threat.

[LadstonFelisGaming]

Originally posted by Drake:

Actually the shortfin mako has a number of attacks on humans, 42 in the last 30 years. Only 3 were fatal, though.

Really? Would you provide me a link, please? I'm not trying to be one of those "proof or it didn't happen" scrubs, I am honestly curious. I know that makos are ugly buggers, but I've never seen anything recording attacks on humans by them.

[Giggles]

According to Stranded Deep, there is a shark attack every 30 seconds, and at least 3 deaths per day! :P Just playing on the overaggressive shark design. I love this game! It is some of the most interesting exploration of any survival game! Beautiful too! But yeah the sharks are a bit too numerous.