Grounded - Compiled list of suggestions for future updates

[Pigeon_Chest]

This is a list of suggestions that I made over the course of my playthrough of Grounded.

I looked through the community to gather and refine as many suggestions as possible.

While most of these are my own experiences, I have seen that I share these experiences and joys with nearly every player I've communicated with or read feedback from.

 

 

Now that I have nearly 100% completed the game, I've seen everything first hand without spoilers; and all I have is the Gold Cards to collect.
I have spent a total of 187.3 hours on this game with purely just the storyline and enjoying the relaxed building- like I would do in Minecraft. (Working on a big spiral staircase on the Acorn Tree at the moment- going to build a big bungalow on a non-custom server)

Here is everything that I have noticed- both in game and on steam/discord discussions. 

[[Large changes - That would allow for more connectivity and consistent players]]

 

1. Dedicated Servers and/or Public Private Servers:

-I played for 2 hours and then decided to check out other peoples worlds- like in Don't Starve Together. It was a bit disappointing to find no one- I instantly thought- oh I'll host one- but quickly saw it's bound to your friend list.

-I do not have a single real friend.
-I want to play with others on this game.
-I play with others all the time on Don't Starve Together despite my social discrepancies

-Having the ability to open a server with a description to set rules would be highly appreciated. (or, you know- having a Math question in the description with the password being the answer to ensure you get adults joining your server.)
-These are things that "Don't Starve Together" does that allows for endless hours of fun and meeting new cool people. 

-Keep in mind- the developers "Klei" realized that making their solo game "Don't Starve" a multiplayer experience would be near impossible- and opted in for making a new game altogether to support this new concept. 
Which was a gamble that heavily paid off... and continues to pay bills in spades. 

-This game is already has multiplayer capabilities

-With higher connectivity- people can play longer, and create content based around the game; which will draw in new players.
-With higher connectivity- you can now add in more features for customization and other convenience options to allow people to be creative. It helps those who build with others for fun, or those whom want to setup a story/casual server with randoms.

Important
***
-As of writing this sentence on Jan 16th at 0:16AM - you have 2,970 players actively playing 
-HOLY HECK- some 'server dependant' games WISH they had those gorgeous numbers- at NIGHT no less, more than 3 YEARS after release no less!
You have had an average of over 4,000 people for the last 4 Months- with the average constant player count ranging from 3,000 - 6,000 over the last year
That's not even taking into the account of an average of 10,000+ PEAK players per month. (Which has stayed that way for over a year)
GOOD ON YOU! -but- it feels so squandered at this point without real connectivity options.
Can you imagine the consistent players and content made of this game if you got more connectivity? I can!
***

*Hard stats for dweebs like me*
Last 6 months Peak Players Average
59,621 / 6 = 9,936.83

Last 12 months Peak Players Average
134,664 / 12 - 11,222

Highest Peak Player Months
Launch                       August 2020: 16,851 
Update on                       July 2021: 31,923 (Kept 29,000 roughly for 1 month- then went to 2,000)
Update on              February 2022: 16,102 (Kept a consistent 3,000-4,000 after)
September 2022 -> January 2023: 17,000+ for the entire duration- with a peak of 27,404 in October
Update on            November 2023: 16,042 (Currently at 10,000 for this month)

I cannot even begin to describe how awesome those numbers are- and without public servers- just WOW..... that's really impressive you know that right?

 

2. Higher player count per server:

-More people = More fun
Not a problem if this is neglected- but Public/Dedicated servers- I really, really want Public Servers- and I'm not even close to being alone on that desire.

This would allow for-
-More basketball- actual teams instead of a 2v2
-More DnD- a party of more than 4
-Funny meme role play server like GTA5
-More building + Faster objective completion like hauling stems from weeds across the yard. 
-Player vs Player competitions (Need to add "Teams" for convenience/option to have pvp with no friendly fire if you do this) [So- Unassigned, Red, Blue - Done]

-This would be fine with just the 4 available characters you have- all you need is more customization options for the base look of each player.
(Please Read "Customization Options" below for more details)
(Please Read "Silent Protagonist Mode" - which solves voice issues - and avoids the voices becoming a severe issue)

 

3. Interactive Crow/Raven:
-I spent a good chunk of time getting to the crow, but it doesn't do anything. 
-I would love it if we could offer the crow grubs or other food items- like grass seeds- and get trinkets or other high quality items in return. You know, like how Crows/Ravens act in real life when given something, they love equality and giving back to people. 
-I hit the bird and nothing happened, I should definitely get an instant death scene with the bird pecking a huge hole in my chest- or trying to eat me or something. 

 

4. Couch Co-Op:
-I would love to play this game with my wife

-Many old games just split the screen- while assigning player 1 controller1/keyboard and mouse, and player 2 the other controller
You could however split the display into 2 windows that can be placed on 2 separate windows for each computer monitor (With console only getting split screen)
I'm well aware this is a pipe dream- but I can certainly dream. 

 

5. Weather:
Mainly Rain- since we are in Summer/Autumn- it would be great if rain was present.

-I would say 1/100 or 1/50 raindrops should appear large- exploding on impact, and stun you similar to a gnat bump
-All droplets on grass would fall off after a large drop hits it
-All water droplets absorb into the ground during rain due to water tension. 
-Run slower in mud

-Rivers/Streams appear and wipe out bases- washing them away and requiring players to build around these consistent River spawn locations.
Rivers can be drank from directly since it's clean water- unless running from a dirty source. Such as a pool of dirty water overflowing

Unlocks after game completion????
This is also a huge ask that adds only a little- so definitely save this for last if you even want to do this.

 

*****
[[Medium changes - That would allow for more creativity]]

 

1. Customization Options:
- Shirts: 5 - 10 options per player recommended
- Hair: 5 - 10 options per player recommended
- Pants: 3 - 5 options per player recommended
-This would allow people to customize their player to how they actually like- allowing for more personalization and self expression. Everyone knows feeling personalized is why we humans wear different clothing to begin with.

 

2. Large Bug Saddles/Mounts:
(Mid-Late game item- mainly to be used for obtaining molars, or getting a high up view of the world)

-Okay- just think about this with me
You build a fake flower with a snare trap- you then capture and feed a bee 5-10 Nectar/Honeydew to calm it down. You place a saddle on the bee- (You can pet the bee) and can tether the bee to the original flower trap- feeding it 1 Nectar/Honeydew every 3-5 days to keep it happy. If it becomes unhappy it bites its tether off, shakes off the saddle and flies away
-Provides a green (Smile) emote above it when approaching if happy- disappearing after a second- showing up again if you leave and come back. It then shows itself again when changing from Green to Yellow- or Yellow to Red.
-Provides a yellow (Half Smile) above it when pproaching if only satisfied- ^same mechanics as above
-Provides a Red (Frown) when it's getting testy and will bite soon- ^same mechanics as above
(NO inventory provided)
(You can stockpile Nectar and Honeydew in the bee's flower for no worries- or feed it directly to the bee via hand)
(Bee has stamina and will glide down to the ground for a rest if you fly for too long- vertical flying costs more stamina than horizontal flying) [Prevents unfair amounts of flying]

-Then you could make a Rhino Beetle version
(Late game item)
(NO inventory provided)
(Just a friend you don't ride that helps fight battles- runs and cowers at low health- staying in proximity of you and watching you- immediately dropping all aggro so it won't die in battle every single time- only sometimes)

 

3. More magic variety + balancing:
-Salt Staff (Covers the ground)
-Stink Staff (Squirts liquid, to avoid self poisoning - or not if you make it *super* strong- then make em wear a mask) 
-Magic Robes and Magic shoes that allow the player to save stamina, up power, and generally make magic not useless.
-Merging a staff with another to make a double staff even- maybe

-Because.... magic feels completely useless- it's only good in early game and you need to get it from the woodpile- which is a mid-late game area. 
It was so disappointing to see how sad magic is in this game. 

I wanted to make a map with a few dead mages- and other mage towers- with magic rooms and other things around the classic yard so people could start entire 'normal' runs with magic as their main go to- but it's not possible due to how awful magic is. 
You get to enjoy magic for a *small* bit if you somehow get it at the start of the game- but it's SO short lived due to how much stamina it costs. (Who ever heard of a winded Mage? What mage gets winded after holding a stick in front of them?)

 

4. More weapons in general + Regular and Boss weapon re-balance
-All boss weapons are sad- they do not feel like Boss weapons- and they can't even come CLOSE to comparing to the Sour BattleAxe
I thought these weapons would stomp- but I found myself throwing them into the pond at max upgrades due to how disappointed I was with their performance. Not joking about that.... they live in the pond now....

-Most weapons feel the same since they dont have special functions, choosing weapons was over the moment I got the Sour Battleaxe- The only weapon with a real special fundtion (Which also allows me to leave my crappy axe at home, saving inventory)
I genuinely though spears would allow for extra distance in stabbing- to allow me to stay away from enemies hits- nope...

***
-I really only want magic and boss weapons to not suck... like they 'suck' suck... (I've read lots of Boss Battle loadout suggestions... Sour Battleaxe with Chopper Mutation is nearly a 100% choice for loadout 1- then people give consolation loadouts after that point since the same answer every time is lame)[Loadout 2 is almost always ranged since all other melee weapons are disappointing]
***

 

5. Disguise Armour as other Armour- by merging them in a sewing machine:
Many other games have this lovely mechanic and everyone would definitely appreciate it in this game. 

*****
[[Small Changes - That would allow for easier gameflow and balance]]

 

[[[URGENT]]] (I will avoid putting this elsewhere- I don't want this to sound like any of these are demands- but **if you graciously add only one thing from my list- PLEASE let it be this.** Since it's also an easy ask...)
1. Silent Protagonist mode:
-Please let us make our character just be quiet- this function does not affect Tulley- or any recorded memo's from Tulley's descent into madness.

-It only makes your character shut up

1.5. Silent Tulley mode- just an idea- in case you also hate Tulley's active voice
Tulley: "I could devour a BillyHog right now"
Me:     "If you don't be quiet Tulley I will devour your face!!!"
(I don't hate his voice too badly- plus I can just leave him somewhere [Inside a TicTac container] if he annoys me too much)
[[[End of Urgent]]]

 

 

2. Re-enforcement kit:
To make normal structures able to handle a raid better. 
Like fences, light posts, basketball hoops, and other un-upgradable weak structures that are used for outdoor decoration. 

 

3.Liquids like Juice, Pop, Nectar, and Honeydew need more usage:
-We should have the ability to use the liquids available to us to make better smoothies
-I would love for the water container to have a more proper use- since the dream-catcher web can hold water for you- it never runs out as it collects water- it doesn't need refilling because it makes water out of thin air- AND it's easier to build.... So.... You see my point... I hope...

-I'd like to fill my jugs with juice or pop instead and use juice from my canteen in my inventory (first) or the jugs (second) to make new and better smoothies- it can just give super buffs like gum or muscle sprouts- but better- it does not need to be hard on you or fancy- just useful

 

4. Resource splitting - Organics/Dynamic and Inorganics/Inert:
-I would like to make the game a bit more realistic for my custom hardcore run I started- I would like to turn on organic resource respawning- and turn off Inorganic resource respawning 
(Just a personal want for my hardcore run, very low on any priority if selected to be added- totally fine if completely ignored)

-Inorganic
Gum Wads
Juice Drop spawns (Clearly not growing, and should run out after _x_ amount of drops- I'd say 3 or 4 myself)
Pop Drop spawns (Shouldn't respawn after you collect the drop- so it goes here)
Rocks and Mineral Deposits for Upgrade Materials
Rust
Wooden Splinters
Clay
All Candy

-Organic
Acorns + Pinecones (Pinecones don't come from anywhere- but they get a pass since they could come from over the fence)
Grass
Weeds
Lint (Dust Mites collect it- or maybe they don't in this game- I don't really care too much about lint- if you consider it Inorganic that's fine)
Flowers
Muscle Sprouts
Kelp
Moss/Algae

 

[[[URGENT]]] (I'm so sorry- I really am- but this is a stress point on many people's review of this game.) 
5. Fix Gold Cards:
-I would suggest at minimum; Increase the value from 1% to 2.5%, 5%, and then 10% after killing 15, 50, and 100 of a single Bug.
-I would suggest at maximum; Just give the Gold Card to anyone who kills 100 of a creature
This mechanic is not bad- but is simply implemented in a grindy and unfun fashion.

-"All" other games that feature chance based drops do not ask you to get the dropped item to gain 100% completion in the game's story. 
-This whole idea of Gold Cards isn't a deal breaker for completion driven people- it's just not in a fun/fair state at this current moment. 
[[[End of Urgent]]]

 

6. Pictures from picture mode belong in the Picture frames:
-I can't tell you how surprised I was to see I couldn't put my Shoe-Print Basketball Court into a frame and hang it on my wall. 
-Pretty Please
-The picture I got against the Mantis definitely deserves to be on my wall too.

 

7. Different Icons for different types of food you make.
-It's so hard to look through a fridge and see the same odd cardboard takeout box for every type of food.
-At minimum it would be highly appreciated if you gave a visual indicator for Tiers of food- so I know which is my Black Ox Burger and which is my cheap Funguspacho- at the very least. 

 

8. Ability to completely disable snapping for floors and walls + "Tilt" to further skew and slant ground by 0*-45* (Tilt concept would be similar in function to the bounce pad arrow)
- so people can make 'actual' destroyed and mismatched houses in the shoe prints. Because if it all looks so snapped together and perfect- it doesn't look destroyed. 
- or they just want to make micro adjustments to things that don't look 'quite' right in their huge castle. 
(Requested to be added by someone who was making a creative map and wanted destroyed houses everywhere- but they never look destroyed enough- I would have never thought of this to be quite frank)

 

9. Map Interactivity:
This button should be allowed to be pressed by standing on it and jumping.

https://steamcommunity.com/id/PIGN/screenshot/2294085643049239025/
All other buttons should click if you jump on them too.

This Light should be allowed to be turned off and on with a heavy weapon hit-
https://steamcommunity.com/id/PIGN/screenshot/2294085643049243040/

No good use for this- just a cute detail I thought would be funny (Now that I think about it- it could be used in Custom Maps for huge spotlights- it already can- but turning them on and off would be fun)

 

10. Grass seeds Usage - Ammo:
-I just feel like they should be allowed to be used for ammo in Acorn cannons - something that fires and flies fast with medium damage. 

 

 

[[[The following suggestions are based off of a Streamer I like who completely quit the game over mismanaging his inventory]]]

[He has rage issues- but I definitely agree with his gripes]
11. Two Handed Weapon Buffer:
Toggling this on in the menu- allows the inventory to minus 1 inventory slot- only for item collection- to ensure you cannot overfill and mismanage your inventory, preventing 2 Handed Weapons from being held.

12. Assign Armour and Weapons a slot in inventory:
This is a hard version of the 2 handed Weapon buffer- and if introduced- bypasses the need for the buffer suggested on #11. 
-You could assign the Armour, Weapons, and medkits to a certain slot in your inventory, giving a red Square- showing a greyed out weapon/Armour when used/worn.
This would help A LOT with keeping my inventory organized- so I don't have to rearrange things so often. 

-Additionally you could have a fancy version of this that allows 2 Armour of the same type to be assigned to 1 slot- with a Armour1/Armour2 display in the box.
A 3rd armour conflicting with this would just move your Paired armour to unregistered slots and show a small red square Icon showing that it desires to be where it belongs - but the other armour is in there. 
(Generally not an easy change- so the buffer would definitely be a great middle ground if this is not a good idea for the team.)

 

 

 

 

Oh, and lastly- remember that any Company/Body/or Person whom reaches out to you to add DRM-Anticheat services to this co-op game is (hopefully not on purpose) trying to kill your game, and will guarantee Piracy.
As after this is added to any game- issues with performance and lag are guaranteed- and will NOT be present on any Pirated copies. 
It provides a better and more illustrious product for said Piraters- which is why a lot of people who never pirated before have turned to Pirating games that include DRM-Anticheat. 
Despite what DRM-Anticheat was supposed to accomplish- it never does as advertised unless added to highly competitive PvP games. All provided stats by those companies are simply bloated and/or blatantly false.

 

 

For real- lastly- Have a wonderful day!

 

Best regards,

Pigeon

[Pigeon_Chest]

Oops- I forgot to add these 2

 

[[Small Changes]]

Addition to #5 

5.5. Gold Cards show on peeper mode

It's just really annoying to be smacked a million times while just trying to look if I have the card yet- that's all

 

 

 

13. Swap the hotbar controls setting:

Mouse Scroll Wheel swaps weapons- while the numbers 1-3 change the tab

 

[Pigeon_Chest]

A suggestion I missed from Jan 4th is 

 

 

[[[Medium Change]]]

6. Place water in playground:

- to allow for more creativity and world building