Decided to check this out after seeing BigGaming64 play it and have been at it all afternoon. Would love to talk about everything I've thought about my experience so far but I think it's more important that new players get to have a go without too much info! So if this is you, stop reading and get playing!
Just spent a couple of hours filling out a spreadsheet to cover a few variables: 1. The most ideal item for each event, 2. The outcome variables with the item, and 3. Which items are priority during the sinking panic stage. The longest I've been held hostage by the RNG is 60 days. Absolutely love the replay-ability, and how each run can go from chill to brutal in only a day or two. This game has incredible opportunity to expand, whether that be adding more events/combinations to the existing pathing, or completely new systems with new lore/narratives!
Would love to talk about everything I've thought about my experience so far but I think it's more important that new players get to have a go without too much info! Hoping that there will be further development on this project, but if not, will be having a go through your existing submissions and keeping a look out for future projects as well!
Viewing post in Don't Sleep With The Fishes comments
Thank you so much for telling your experience (or about as much as you were comfortable sharing without spoilers)!
I'd be more than happy to add new events. Creating them wouldn't be the hardest part, it's making sure they are balanced against all the already existing ones. We will see!
I'm interested to see what the final "best items to use/get" spreadsheet will look like from the players' perspective.
<3
It'll take a couple of runs to try and get as much 'exposure/experience testing' done as possible. Especially with so many potential outcomes on a run. My current hypothesis is that there is always a possibility of failure, certain factors/variables can tip the scale to improve the odds, and this also applies in the opposite direction. I've noticed that I may have highly reliable positive outcome for an early-game event/decision combination with next to no repercussions, but there seems to always be a lingering 'that worked...for now'. So the experience becomes a game of chicken of 1. Have I tipped the scales in my favour, or have I done something to worsen my odds? and 2. Am I just going to get whacked because this game is secretly a social experience to test me sanity? Having played another round or 2 since my og comment, whether this is intentional or not, I like that the risk of repetition makes the hostile entities feel more sentient and alive. The fact they're not outwardly aggressive the moment they see you, are they playing a game with me, are they just curious, and how significant or insignificant are my decisions that game over is inevitable.
Since this is further down in a comment thread, I will say this. The Bucket and Sing Song combination is so funny and one of the reason the Bucket is currently my No# 1 priority item amongst other genuine uses.
I haven't successfully been able to overcome this because I'm not sure if there is a trigger for a 'countdown' for the fella to spawn before I have everything. Because of this I haven't confirmed what I expect to be the solution. I've had an early spawn of a suspected specific item with no intentional action/choice prompts, and then absolutely nothing while spamming all activities that may trigger rng spawns. I might be barking up the wrong tree and it's part of a different ending, but it's one of the possible artworks we receive in a bottle with roman numerals. Fred and Row also have dialogue that drop hints on the possible solution. The smallest part I have received from a crewmate just having it. Pushing through their dialogue options persistently as the days go by (1-2 chats/day) sometimes seems to help. I've also fished it up. Chests may also contain a part. The only guarantee part is during red time. Have a bucket for medium, and net for large.
I got very close to rescue once, but the most unfortunate of happenings meant I lost any mayday items during the rescue operation. I also am not sure if D's hat triggers something, or increases the likelihood of something. The narrative in my head is that the hat leads to mistaken identity, which may aggravate. I'd love to hear any of your own theories/experiences as well. I want to crack the code organically, as the mystery of the systems and the story itself is all part of the fun!
SPOILER ALERT!!!
to answer artyom81's question: to pay off your debt, bring row, and interact with his dialogue options until he eventually gives you the first piece of the heart, the second piece of the heart can be acquired by using the bucket during the read sea event, and to get the third piece, I believe you can either get it by spamming fishing options (whether it's with bait or without) or, you can get it from inside a chest, I got mine from a chest floating in the ocean. Once you get the three pieces of the heart, just wait for the kraken to spawn, and you will be able to pay off your debt, hope this helps!