Do you feel there was a MISTake? (Poll inside)

[Sardonic]

That Darn Mist!

So I've had a chance to peruse quite a few different criticisms about the Mistlands update, but one in particular that seems to always be present is the visibility issue that the mist creates. I figured instead of having to extrapolate data across multiple threads we can have one talking about this singular topic to hopefully consolidate all the thoughts on the issue and even present some potential solutions.

The Situation
Right, so below let's list out some of the most common criticisms that seem to be made about the mist in mistlands. As you comment in here i'll update the list with any new points that aren't already there, but here are the most common so far:

• The mist is too thick. I can't see more than 2 feet in front of me.
  
• The wisplight doesn't help enough and my visibility is still bad.
  
• The mist is always present are never subsides.
  
• The wisp torches also aren't effective and also make easy targets for enemies
  
• It's too much of a chore to farm wisps to make torches

This list is in no particular order and is not intended to represent all players views and opinions, but rather those that wish to provide feedback.

The Solution(s)
We've laid out the issues above and now it's time to talk solutions. With that in mind we should adjust our thought process to consider solutions that can provide a challenging yet enjoyable experience for the majority of players. So, let's get to brainstorming!

• Creating a dynamic mist that perhaps thickens at night and mostly dissipates during the day like on the coast of California.
  
• The wisplight could be commanded to travel to your crosshair. This of course means you'll need to drop a wisptorch next to yourself so you don't get blinded as it leaves your side.
  
• As others have stated having an additional buildable piece that dispels more mist and is less likely to be attacked but costs more resources to build could help. (per post #1 the buildable could cost fuel resources and alignment to maintain and optimize effect)
  
• Dropping the elevation of the mist to just above the players head. This would make the climb up to the top of a spire feel worth it as you could actually see more terrain around you.
  
• The wisp altar can have a built in collection and storage to hold maybe a stack of wisps that you can pull out as you need them.
  
• Make the wisplight upgradable. upgrades can enhance range and even add animations the wisplight makes to point you in the direction of objects, locations and npcs of interest.
  
• Adding Mist potions that can increase vision range for a short period of time. (credit FissionsChips)
  This list will update if anyone has anything else interesting they would like to add to the solution list. If you're a modder then maybe this list will give you some inspiration to work off of.
  
  That's about it. Personally I find mist to be perfectly fine, but I think it's important to keep an open line of discussion for potential changes that could make the mist feel more immersive, approachable and surmountable for all players.
  
  

  Poll time!

  
  Situation poll
  Poll to vote on which aspect(s) you think deserve a closer look can be found HERE[take.quiz-maker.com]
  
  I havent made a solution poll yet, as there have been a few good additions added and i'd rather wait to have a comprehensive list before launching it.

[<#80f>N <#00f>o <#f00>v <#000>a]

Wisplight houses that requite manual turning and fuel but allows you to see better in the area its pointed, dims at longer ranges, just something i thought of yesterday
(edit) you would have to find a better way to get enemies to attack it due to flying enemies going for things like steakwalls and doing low dmg to them

[RotGoblin]

"The mist is too thick. I can't see more than 2 feet in front of me."

It might be bad weather, or night time, the mist is much thicker during these times. Sleep or wait out the poor weather, like every other biome.

"The wisplight doesn't help enough and my visibility is still bad."

As above, or learn a small amount of patience.

"The mist is always present are never subsides."

See the first answer. It actually does subside quite a lot during the day.

"The wisp torches also aren't effective and also make easy targets for enemies"

No comment, I found no need for them so haven't used them. This may be a fair point.

"It's too much of a chore to farm wisps to make torches"

Spending 10 minutes pushing a single button is a chore?

[Rhapsody]

Nice pun, I feel like I've read this same thing and the same counterpoints many times over already though. But those are pretty decent summations nonetheless. If only one of the "problems" was given only one of those solutions, I don't think it'd make the biome more boring than it has been since the first Mistlands balance patch.

Would be interesting to have a vote or poll on those 5 key "problems".

[FissionChips]

Originally posted by Highwayman:

"The mist is too thick. I can't see more than 2 feet in front of me."

It might be bad weather, or night time, the mist is much thicker during these times. Sleep or wait out the poor weather, like every other biome.

"The wisplight doesn't help enough and my visibility is still bad."

As above, or learn a small amount of patience.

"The mist is always present are never subsides."

See the first answer. It actually does subside quite a lot during the day.

Simply not true. The wisplight clears just enough to see your own head and feet in clear weather during the daytime. I'm not sure how you people getting actual clearance are getting a completely different experience.

[FissionChips]

The situation:

• being just one metre off the ground makes the ground invisible, making it nearly impossible to get back down safely off of the rock spires, or even a moderate incline.

Solutions:

• Wisplight needs to clear a much larger radius, say 10 to 15 floor square from the player (so 20 to 30 total). It's enough that access to the mistlands is gated behind yagluth, and you would still be oblivious to anything in the distance.
  
• Mist vision potions, like the lingering stam pot. Start small, similar to the wisplight, and go large with a few mistlands ingredients added - up to large clearance and longer lasting.
  
• (this could apply to several solutions) the initial uselessness of the wisplight could be tolerable if upgrades are possible, blind forever however is unforgivable.
  
• The mistwalker could be better at clearing mist too.
  
• The torches should be much better, though perhaps cost more.

[HeySup]

games are meant to be fun , when the mist is thicc its simply not fun . its not dynamic it doesnt pose a challenge its simply not fun , on several occasions i just threw in the towel i couldnt see ♥♥♥♥ and my stamina bar is stuck empty taking way too long to fill. i have to spam run/jump up a huge ass cliff or mountain but i cant cus i cant see and dont have stam.

[Sardonic]

Originally posted by FissionChips:

Originally posted by Highwayman:

"The mist is too thick. I can't see more than 2 feet in front of me."

It might be bad weather, or night time, the mist is much thicker during these times. Sleep or wait out the poor weather, like every other biome.

"The wisplight doesn't help enough and my visibility is still bad."

As above, or learn a small amount of patience.

"The mist is always present are never subsides."

See the first answer. It actually does subside quite a lot during the day.

Simply not true. The wisplight clears just enough to see your own head and feet in clear weather during the daytime. I'm not sure how you people getting actual clearance are getting a completely different experience.

Yeah, in my own experience I can say i'm somehwere between you and highwayman in most times of day and situations. I do like rhapsodys idea of a poll. Maybe i'll put something together and throw it at the bottom of the post. I'm going to add your potion idea to the list. That's a good one.

[autumndragonfalling]

Not really. The zone is a pretty big departure from those in the past in terms of navigation and movement so the learning curve is pretty steep but not impossible even if some dont want to take the time it takes. The mist is a pain but not really new. Fogs come up on the plains that make seeing more than 3-4 meters ahead impossible. The key there is still the key in the mistlands, use your ears and you can easily avoid most trouble.

I would say there is every good chance the mist will be cleared by player agency through the story mode. The devs didn't spend a year putting the zone together only to never show it to us.

[ScottE]

I put wisp torches around my base (converted tower) and they frequently got destroyed. So I put down a marble floor block, put the mist torch inside, then surrounded it by the metal grating wall pieces. Seems to protect them since I don't think enemies can see through them to detect/attack them. So far so good, will keep monitoring their condition.

[jonnin]

Yes, I think you DID make a mistake.
The new area appears beautiful, but you can't SEE it 99.9% of the time, once in a while you catch a break in the fog (usually from another zone peering in) and can see the bright colors and attractiveness. On top of this, the mist gives me a headache after a while. I only go back for farming now, after clearing enough for the basics. I gave up and duplicated enough marble to do a real home after farming enough to do a small one. I can't play in the area for very long at a time because of the strain it is putting on my eyes.

I suggest you simply provide a way to clear the fog back farther. 150% of the current radius would do tons. I love the idea of upgrading the light.

A buildable piece would be great as well, but I highly recommend it consume eitr or something like a torch so that spamming them to clear the map is not appealing. It should be a big and constant chore to keep a large area totally clear.

The sword should NOT be 'all but required' to play here. People should be able to use a variety of weapons without one being require to overcome a gimmick.

[DonJuanDoja]

The mistake is they are too small.

They simply can’t handle the workload required to make the game what it needs to be so we get a bunch of BS attempts at making the game difficult.

IT’s amateur hour like a MF up in here.

No want wants to admit it but they know, they all know.

[Sardonic]

Added a poll for the situation portion. Will add another for the solution after it seems like we have a comprehensive list.

[FissionChips]

Solutions:

• Clear mist on Yugluth death. Perhaps keep it around infested mines and some ruins. Wisps still have utility for wisp torches and dvergr lanterns, both of which provide light without needing refueling - and wisplight might still be needed to see enough to enter an infected mine.
  
• Natural wisp fountains in the mistlands. Yugluth was a giant and wisps are attracted to his torn spirit, right, so it make sense other giants attract wisps - or else what even is the connection. Would need to be away from biome boundries to prevent early access. The odd wisp could fly off to another fountain now and then, creating a short window into a direction. This could possibly be exploitable in base building, adding wisp fountains to your perimeter could see wisps effectively patrolling for you to clear mist.

[RotGoblin]

Originally posted by FissionChips:

Originally posted by Highwayman:

"The mist is too thick. I can't see more than 2 feet in front of me."

It might be bad weather, or night time, the mist is much thicker during these times. Sleep or wait out the poor weather, like every other biome.

"The wisplight doesn't help enough and my visibility is still bad."

As above, or learn a small amount of patience.

"The mist is always present are never subsides."

See the first answer. It actually does subside quite a lot during the day.

Simply not true. The wisplight clears just enough to see your own head and feet in clear weather during the daytime. I'm not sure how you people getting actual clearance are getting a completely different experience.

By any chance are you zoomed too far out, so that you've cleared the mist free zone?

Because my mistlight clears like 20-25 foot infront of me.

[<#80f>N <#00f>o <#f00>v <#000>a]

Originally posted by Highwayman:

Originally posted by FissionChips:

Simply not true. The wisplight clears just enough to see your own head and feet in clear weather during the daytime. I'm not sure how you people getting actual clearance are getting a completely different experience.

By any chance are you zoomed too far out, so that you've cleared the mist free zone?

Because my mistlight clears like 20-25 foot infront of me.

graphics levels change how far you can see in whiteouts and fog in meadows, so im gonna assume it prob affects how far you can see in the mist too