Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little...
Warning - longish...
When I first played through Valheim it immediately became the only game I would pay attention to - probably one of my all-time favorites. For awhile.
Pretty quickly, after a certain point, I became a little (lot) disillusioned with the game - and here is why. And, truth is, I'd love to hear opposing viewpoints not as criticism of my feelings, but to show me how I can love Valheim again.
The big problem I ran into was that, after a certain point, it seemed to become clear that exploring the vast map of many islands was kind of a boondoggle. There was really no reason to explore all the islands other than to establish bases on them - which might be fun from a PVE standpoint, but seemingly did nothing to advance the gameplay. It was kind of like playing for the sake of playing after I passed a certain point of skill and accomplishment.
If the game had capacity for large-scale multiplayer gameplay the giant map would make sense, and might turn Valheim into something really amazing again. When I was playing, that was not the case - and I don't see anything to indicate that has changed. Maybe I'm missing something.
I keep the game installed as a nostalgic hope that I might find some joy in it again, but it hasn't happened. Mistlands sounds moderately interesting, but I'm afraid it will just be another boondoggle.
Help me feel excited about Valheim again. I feel like it's going down for the count for me, and I'm bummed.
When I first played through Valheim it immediately became the only game I would pay attention to - probably one of my all-time favorites. For awhile.
Pretty quickly, after a certain point, I became a little (lot) disillusioned with the game - and here is why. And, truth is, I'd love to hear opposing viewpoints not as criticism of my feelings, but to show me how I can love Valheim again.
The big problem I ran into was that, after a certain point, it seemed to become clear that exploring the vast map of many islands was kind of a boondoggle. There was really no reason to explore all the islands other than to establish bases on them - which might be fun from a PVE standpoint, but seemingly did nothing to advance the gameplay. It was kind of like playing for the sake of playing after I passed a certain point of skill and accomplishment.
If the game had capacity for large-scale multiplayer gameplay the giant map would make sense, and might turn Valheim into something really amazing again. When I was playing, that was not the case - and I don't see anything to indicate that has changed. Maybe I'm missing something.
I keep the game installed as a nostalgic hope that I might find some joy in it again, but it hasn't happened. Mistlands sounds moderately interesting, but I'm afraid it will just be another boondoggle.
Help me feel excited about Valheim again. I feel like it's going down for the count for me, and I'm bummed.
6:13 pm, December 21, 2022
Hrymr replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 24, 2022 @ 12:34:17 pm PST
There is actually one reason to explore - the trader.
But just one for the whole game. Once you find the trader there is no point in exploration (other than finding the biome's boss).
But just one for the whole game. Once you find the trader there is no point in exploration (other than finding the biome's boss).
12:13 am, December 25, 2022
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76561198014977458 replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 9:51:13 am PST
I'm just taking in the sights. Lately I've found a plains valley inside mountain ring, and even a something like deep lake (not sure if it's ocean) at the bottom of another valley bordering mistlands. I've had the same world since pretty much the beginning so exploring still means something to me, because I don't go anywhere else (except for multiplayer).
3:13 pm, December 24, 2022
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Trakehner replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 24, 2022 @ 6:30:05 am PST
They are all crazy. It’s a matter of how much crazy you are willing to deal with.Just watch out for the women. Some of them are crazy.some are? how generous.
3:13 pm, December 24, 2022
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pipo.p replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 24, 2022 @ 6:52:31 am PST
The big problem I ran into was that, after a certain point, it seemed to become clear that exploring the vast map of many islands was kind of a boondoggle. There was really no reason to explore all the islands other than to establish bases on them - which might be fun from a PVE standpoint, but seemingly did nothing to advance the gameplay. It was kind of like playing for the sake of playing after I passed a certain point of skill and accomplishment.To me, you understand the game well. There is no excuse to give and no consolation to expect for that.
I believe that this game is a pleasant and economic time-spender, blended with a correct challenging environment, at least during the biomes conquest phase. Don't have high expectations beyond this.
Yeah, there is no reason to explore all islands, except for finding new configurations of resource nodes, sometimes new scenery, and new places to build. As many have said about this game, the travel is fun too, and perhaps the travel is all that matters. Is it what you call "playing for the sake of playing"? In Valheim, you level up while having fun exploring, or just managing your estates or spending time, but you don't necessarily have fun while levelling up for the sake of levelling up, or achieving something "remarkable".
Plus, as others said, there is no problem in alterning between two or more games. As compared to other potential predominantly time spenders like MMOs, there is no daily achievement to miss.
I am not scheduling to remove Valheim from my hard disk any time soon.
3:13 pm, December 24, 2022
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Zathabar replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 24, 2022 @ 3:29:31 am PST
+1 OP you sum up my feelings pretty well too.
What infuriates me was that there are obvious ways to tweak and improve the exploration mechanic: simply adding more things like the (originally) elusive Maypoles was a start. But having say 12 special locations or treasures that could be found even if they gave the most trivial "advantage" or cosmetic effect would have kept us exploring what is after all a very pretty environment...
...Or how about a "Navigation" Skill caused by sailing and granting a mild speed buff to boat speed ..?
...Literally endless possibility's all so far passed over :(
What infuriates me was that there are obvious ways to tweak and improve the exploration mechanic: simply adding more things like the (originally) elusive Maypoles was a start. But having say 12 special locations or treasures that could be found even if they gave the most trivial "advantage" or cosmetic effect would have kept us exploring what is after all a very pretty environment...
...Or how about a "Navigation" Skill caused by sailing and granting a mild speed buff to boat speed ..?
...Literally endless possibility's all so far passed over :(
12:13 pm, December 24, 2022
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ShiZniTe replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 24, 2022 @ 3:31:22 am PST
Just watch out for the women. Some of them are crazy.some are? how generous.
12:13 pm, December 24, 2022
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jonnin replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 10:27:22 am PST
there is still little reason to explore far out. Partly because the 2 far biomes are place holders, and partly because repeating meadow/forest/swamp/plains for 1000KM in every direction.
That means little to me .. its nice the maps are big enough to let every person claim a whole major island (continent?) if they like for a large group of friends.
You do find cool places, where biomes meet, or just unusual land features. But the only reason to scout them out is for a base, which you either want/need or don't.
Still, there are loads of new things each update. Loving the black marble, the spiral stair, the lantern, and other building goodies. ML itself is a little aggravating still (maybe I have grown soft in the downtime before it came out), sort of dipping in to grab stuff and running away, though I did clear one mine and get my forge.
That means little to me .. its nice the maps are big enough to let every person claim a whole major island (continent?) if they like for a large group of friends.
You do find cool places, where biomes meet, or just unusual land features. But the only reason to scout them out is for a base, which you either want/need or don't.
Still, there are loads of new things each update. Loving the black marble, the spiral stair, the lantern, and other building goodies. ML itself is a little aggravating still (maybe I have grown soft in the downtime before it came out), sort of dipping in to grab stuff and running away, though I did clear one mine and get my forge.
9:13 pm, December 21, 2022
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FissionChips replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 10:41:39 am PST
I start over whenever I feel like it. I enjoy the early game, where you have to get established and just taking on some boar could get you killed if you're not paying attention. I started over again for mistlands, I figure that way by the time I get to mistlands the balance and bugs should be settled. I'm about ready to start mining frost caves before I go kill moder and move on the plains.
I've yet to have a world where I'm so happy with my progress and camps that I take on the harder unnecessary challenges: tame 2 star wolves, harpoon serpents and drag them home to legitimately get trophies & scales without floating items mod, etc.
Mind you I'm an introvert hermit, having my own little world to run around is all I ever wanted in life. That I can just generate a new one whenever.. awesome.
I've yet to have a world where I'm so happy with my progress and camps that I take on the harder unnecessary challenges: tame 2 star wolves, harpoon serpents and drag them home to legitimately get trophies & scales without floating items mod, etc.
Mind you I'm an introvert hermit, having my own little world to run around is all I ever wanted in life. That I can just generate a new one whenever.. awesome.
9:13 pm, December 21, 2022
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Zep Tepi replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 11:25:56 am PST
All games get to that point eventually.
I tend to alternate between Valheim and No Man's Sky, especially when NMS puts out a new update or runs an expedition which they do regularly. (They're doing the holiday expedition reruns now and it's probably on sale for half off considering the season.) (Nope not on sale, but it does it regularly.) NMS doesn't really have an end goal though. I just start new saves when I get in the mood and mess around a bit. Of course if unnecessary exploration bothers you, you won't like NMS either. It's a zillion times bigger than Valheim. But it is another game where it's easy to lose a few hundred hours.
I tend to alternate between Valheim and No Man's Sky, especially when NMS puts out a new update or runs an expedition which they do regularly. (They're doing the holiday expedition reruns now and it's probably on sale for half off considering the season.) (Nope not on sale, but it does it regularly.) NMS doesn't really have an end goal though. I just start new saves when I get in the mood and mess around a bit. Of course if unnecessary exploration bothers you, you won't like NMS either. It's a zillion times bigger than Valheim. But it is another game where it's easy to lose a few hundred hours.
9:13 pm, December 21, 2022
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Eightball replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 11:54:59 am PST
I hope they will one day add a mechanism in which, during world generation, a number of 'set piece POIs' are drawn from an even larger pool and then placed around the world.
So you would, in effect, have potentially different POIs in every world you created and based on the size of this POI pool (which could constantly be added to by the developers or modders) you might seldom get repeats in any two worlds.
In addition these POIs, not being randomly generated, but rather randomly picked, could be built with far more customization in appearance, loot and lore.
And these POIs, random and potentially different on every world, would be exactly what I think would not only encourage exploration, but could reward it (find some nice loot!).
So you would, in effect, have potentially different POIs in every world you created and based on the size of this POI pool (which could constantly be added to by the developers or modders) you might seldom get repeats in any two worlds.
In addition these POIs, not being randomly generated, but rather randomly picked, could be built with far more customization in appearance, loot and lore.
And these POIs, random and potentially different on every world, would be exactly what I think would not only encourage exploration, but could reward it (find some nice loot!).
9:13 pm, December 21, 2022
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Xeno42 replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 9:00:35 am PST
just let it simmer on the background until its 1.0 release. there are some great game that i love but i only come back to them after a year or so to play through them again. for instance i put down tangle deep for a year and a half after completing the story and i now started up a new save and its been great
6:13 pm, December 21, 2022
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loppantorkel replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 9:05:53 am PST
I'd try find someone to play the game with. I love the game, but I also lack the motivation to play the game solo. Shared experience does a lot for the game imo.
6:13 pm, December 21, 2022
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The Wayfarer replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 9:39:46 am PST
find a server to play on, like Comfy server. It's the biggest one. It gives the game a much longer life and makes the Valheim world a much smaller place. You can trade, join a guild, explore other builds (really massive beautiful builds btw), play in events or just play solo while in a world full of other players.
Just watch out for the women. Some of them are crazy.
Just watch out for the women. Some of them are crazy.
6:13 pm, December 21, 2022
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Rhapsody replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 9:51:13 am PST
I'm just taking in the sights. Lately I've found a plains valley inside mountain ring, and even a something like deep lake (not sure if it's ocean) at the bottom of another valley bordering mistlands. I've had the same world since pretty much the beginning so exploring still means something to me, because I don't go anywhere else (except for multiplayer).
6:13 pm, December 21, 2022
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warrenchmobile replied to Not a Complaint... but Kinda a Little... December 21, 2022 @ 10:12:09 am PST
I bought Valheim a month after its release in Early Access. I have played it nearly every day since and have only experienced short bouts of burn-out.
I suspect I have avoided the exploration boondoggle by exploring only when necessary for progression. If I have beaten all the current bosses, I will start over with a new viking on a new world. I will also start over if I haven't beaten all the bosses but have managed to screw a play-through royally. An added advantage is since I don't go sightseeing just to be sightseeing, I keep the discovery and spoiling of undeveloped, placeholder biomes to a minimum.
This may not work for anyone else but it works for me.
I suspect I have avoided the exploration boondoggle by exploring only when necessary for progression. If I have beaten all the current bosses, I will start over with a new viking on a new world. I will also start over if I haven't beaten all the bosses but have managed to screw a play-through royally. An added advantage is since I don't go sightseeing just to be sightseeing, I keep the discovery and spoiling of undeveloped, placeholder biomes to a minimum.
This may not work for anyone else but it works for me.
6:13 pm, December 21, 2022
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