Lost, Hungry, & Alone - Suggestions for Immersion

[13thGeneral]

So, first, a scenario to illustrate my point:

I started a new Sandbox game, and it spawned me in the middle of the woods. No big deal, right? So I walked in large concentric circles, expanding out as I went. After an hour (real-time) of finding nothing, not even a berry bush or a single zombie, it begins to rain. Fifteen minutes later, at this point I'm wet, hungry, and tired - I realize my strategy isn't working. I decide to pick a direction and just walk. I head Southeast. Another 1/2 hr later (with my actual fingers beginning to fatigue) I'm now starving, soaked, and exhausted. I'm about to just give up. Suddenly, I come to a clearing, thank goodness. It goes in two directions; West & East. I head East. Another few minutes of this, and it curves northeast. another 10 min and it comes to a road; Northwest & Southeast. Hallelujah! There must be a town or structure around here somewhere. I go back to my strategy of heading Southeast. Half a freaking hour later, barely moving and unable to run, I am nearing total exhaustion (and my fingers are aching), and I'm desperate for food and water. Where is everything? I decide to try and find some berries, and head into the woods again. Some more time passes, fruitlessly. It's not looking good, I'm just wandering aimlessly in the forest. I'm completly out of options.
I die - alone, starved, and perplexed.
Is this a Zombie apocalypse? I wouldn't know... I never saw one in nearly 2.5hr of playing.
As far as I know, I just woke up in the woods, like an amnesiac dropped from the sky.

 

That just felt like a total waste of time, unexciting, and not engaging - but it doesn't have to be.

I love that you can get lost in the woods, and think being miles from civilization (as far as you know) really adds to the immersion. However, it's not very realistic that you can literally die of thirst while it's absolutely pouring rain outside, and reach exhaustion when you have plenty of trees to sit under (or simply stand still to catch a breath).

 

Suggestions from Observations:
1) Water Sources; There needs to be more access to water. While out in the woods, or even in rural areas, some streams or small ponds, or at least SOME kind of water source every now and then would be helpful. Realistic, even. If you've spent any time in the wilderness, or live in a small country town, you'll know water sources are much more plentiful than this game portends. Especially after a rainstorm. They may not always be GOOD sources of water, but at least they're an option. Heck, even being able to wring-out the water from the soaked clothing would be a nice option; it's a totally viable solution when you're desperate and dehydrated.

 

2) Resting; There definitely need to be more options for resting, especially when lost in the woods. I'm really looking forward to the new animations hopefully introducing some more methods for resting without beds or furniture. It's ridiculous that we can't lay down, or even sit down , and sleep for a while in the woods, to rest and regain stamina. It provides just enough cover to at least be moderately safe, to a degree, for a period of time, and rest up. Instead we just stand there, breathing heavy, with no relief, gradually dying of exhaustion. In the middle of nowhere.

 

3) Long Roads; The roads are just TOO barren. Walking for, what seems like miles, with no idea if you're heading in the right direction is not very fun - especially after an hour or more without seeing ANYTHING. That's not a game, and I'm not even sure it qualified as a walking simulator; at least those give you something to do. I'm not totally certain of how to solve this, though breaking up the monotony and adding some minor interaction aspects would be a start. Maybe placing some street signs that, at the least, let you know there's civilization somewhere; a speed limit sign, a mile marker, a billboard ad, a rest area sign, an 'X-Miles to Next City' sign, something. Also, maybe the occasional random item, pile of junk, wrecked/abandoned car, etc. Some way to possibly get some supplies, even if they may not be too helpful. Something is better than miles and miles of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Even seeing a few Zomboids would be a start.

 

Anyhow, that's my long-winded two cents.

Edited September 12, 2016 by 13thGeneral

[Unghin]

Agree with 1st and 2nd points. So about 3rd - with big trees, forest will cange from unvisible wall to realistic - so after that we can makes opinions about pathways, I think.

[Blasted_Taco]

I want resting anywhere too.

 

I hate having to bring a chair everywhere i go or when i know i will take a big trip, i just imagine my character carrying a chair in one hand and a big hiking bag on the other hand.

[Unghin]

12 minutes ago, Blasted_Taco said:

I hate having to bring a chair everywhere i go or when i know i will take a big trip, i just imagine my character carrying a chair in one hand and a big hiking bag on the other hand.

 It's remind me one character from sovient\post soviet cartoon:

[Unghin]

2 hours ago, Blasted_Taco said:

I hate having to bring a chair everywhere i go or when i know i will take a big trip,

I tried to imagine how it can looks IRL if you carrying big bag with small plastic chair:

Spoiler

He like having to bring a chair everywhere

 

Edited September 12, 2016 by Unghin

[GOGOblin]

Actually you can find a couple of logs and make a chair - I tried this(here), well, it takes time and looks ugly. But works well. But needs nails.

The proper way to rest is to make a heap of branches and leaves and to couch on it. I do not think that "resting" should need a furniture at all, but resting on a bed or a big armchair should be more effective.

 

[makkenhoff]

I'm with you on points 1 + 2.

 

I've been lost like that before, and trust me, the zombies wouldn't have made your situation any more cheerful. They only break up the fact that your lost, not make you feel like your getting anywhere, and then your moving even slower from injuries and fatigue.

 

#3 is a little more complex. You see, eventually vehicles will come along, and this road issue will be different than it is currently. Additionally, the map is not in a finished state, and won't be anytime soon, which makes "roads to nowhere" happen. These issues combined, would make it pretty difficult to "fix" any issues with the roads that you've stated. I'm not disagreeing with your assessment, but I'm also trying to explain why they haven't fleshed it out - eventually we might get to the point where developers need to assess how far is acceptable without mile markers or road signs - we just aren't quite to that point yet.

[arkahys]

1 and 2 agreed too ...
I never spawn in forest, but could be interresting, with sit down and water source.

I think source as a mean not object, may add find water by foraging....

for 3 : when spawning in forest, may display few second direction of the closest house, like this :
 

[GOGOblin]

Cmon, you have a map(online) and a compass(ingame), what else do you need?

Foraging for water is a good idea, there are often small brooks, swamps, or plants with water in their leaves or berries.. 
I don't know why there is no option to rest/sleep on the ground.  Making a wickiup is also not a problem for those Park Rangers without Outdorsman.