Some (gamebreaking) issues

[Sir Rantalot]

So I started a new game today and followed the initial quest to find fuel for the mothership. I found 5 Systems in Sector 21 and 1 Planet with suitable atmosphere/temperature to start with your suit. I found 4 caves with different ores but not a single fuel crystal. But I got enough money from selling the ore, that I could buy the star chart upgrade and enough fuel for a one way trip back to sector 21. The upgrade of the star chart did nothing, but a 6th star circled in red. Was that my upgrade for over 500 bucks? I traveled there and found another cave filled to the brim with fuel crystals! Eagerly, I started to collect them and followed an uphill corridor, where some rock hang from the ceiling. I could walk past it uphill, but not back, so soon I suffocated.
By loading my game, I was back on my ship, inventory empty (of course) but the cave now was empty too, even the crystals, I had not collected. But the dreadful rock still was there and the one-way-error reproduceable.

[MKSchmidt]

I am sorry for this experience. But thank you for providing this feedback!

For the missing fuel crystal after re-visiting the cave, I believe I understand what the problem may be. I will have a look at that soon, because I did write a script that should save the crystals and other items in a cave, but it's possible that it may have gotten messed up in a later version, or that there are circumstances under which it might not work correctly.

Can you let me know what you did after you died in the cave? Did you shut down the game, and try later? Or did you go to the main menu and reload the same game right away? This will help me test the problem.

For the uphill passage in which you were able to go up, but not come down, I would love to see that cave. If you have a minute, would you be willing to share the file with me?

If so, go to "C://users/-your username-/AppData/Local/Star Explorers/" and right click the folder with your game's name, then "send to compressed file." Email me the .zip file to [e-mail], and let me know the planet and where the cave is.

I can adjust the way rocks are generated so this will hopefully not happen to other players.

[Sir Rantalot]

Thanks for the fast reply. Zip-file is on its way.

edit: Almost forgot to mention, that I went to main menu and loaded the game directly.

[MKSchmidt]

Okay, I will hopefully be able to check this out tonight. Thanks!

[MKSchmidt]

I have not seen the email yet. I will still be checking out the missing fuel crystals issue, but it would help to see the passageway issue first hand.

[MKSchmidt]

Thinking about this, a screenshot of the offending cave would work too.

[MKSchmidt]

Okay, it looks like items that spawn in caves should now respawn, even if you die or the game is shut down before you exit the cave. I did in fact have a script that fixes this problem, but I forgot to implement it for crystals and mineral, only treasure chests. Here's the announcement: https://steamcommunity.com/games/502720/announcements/detail/1711861579652175722

[Sir Rantalot]

Wow, that was fast. Steam already updated the game.
Btw, did you receive my email or should I make a screenshot?

[Sir Rantalot]

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/784120380644937183/55BE974E478ED9C570808D4C4B3468DFB48ED083/
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/784120380644936946/4A14389421A2DBFA080C1C42084A8C26392CFEB2/

[Sir Rantalot]

The forum lacks a function to properly implement screenshots, like the chat.

The easiest way of adressing this issue with elements hanging from the ceiling/above might be, to make them unblocking.

[MKSchmidt]

The screenshot works fine, I understand the problem now. I had reduced the size of these at one point, but I guess it was not quite enough. I could approach it is a few ways:

1. Make them smaller
2. Make them "Passable" as you recommended
3. Make them move away from the middle of a passage
4. Make them destructible (they actually are already, but you need a special weapon/tool)
5. Give the player the ability to duck/crawl

I think making them more easily destructible would be the easiest. You could still technically get stuck if you were out of ammo, but then at least I could blame the player for being unprepared :)

Originally posted by Sir Rantalot:

Wow, that was fast. Steam already updated the game.

Yes, as soon as I update the game and hit 'Publish' it will be updated throughout all of Steam-land. Their system is fully automated, so developers have pretty much direct control over their games.