Block placing feels a bit TOO fluid to me........

I love using the MM to build homes, its fast, easy and practical. It feels like using a paint program. Thats nice and all, but it has the negative side effect of being way too useful when adventuring. From blocking in creatures within seconds to super jumping, to making a dirt shield in an instant. i find the MM is a little TOO good at times. The blocks dont feel like they have weight and feel more like a paintbrush magic power than actual building.

This is also in comparison to Terraria and Minecraft, where the building isnt as fluid, but the blocks have a feeling of weight and tangibility when placing them. Its not as easy to get around the environment with blocks in those games. It takes a bit more forethought when using material while adventuring, enough that it doesnt feel like a cheat.


I really dont know how they could change things without making home building more cumbersome. Like i said, i love the MM when it comes to building homes, but it feels broken while adventuring.

 

How about blocks being "unstable" when first placed? When you place a block, it's a bit transparent. During 5 seconds, stepping on it or touching it (yourself or an enemy) will destroy it and revert it to pickup form.

It could be possible to "focus" the MM by holding at the same spot to accelerate the stabilization and prevent it from breaking, so it's still possible to use blocks in combat, but not so easily.

This should suffice to avoid quickly walling against enemies and improvising platforms too easily. This would change nothing when it comes to building your house (you can paint exactly as fast as you do now, as long as nothing is disturbing the process)

 

Yea, sometimes it does just feel like your 'Painting' blocks as opposed to building I think this is related to Starbounds ability to placey (and destroy) more than one block at a time

The only thing I can see that might correct this is forcing singular block placement only... and/or limiting the block placing distance by default then adding building gear, like a helmet or something which then gives back this ability to the player. This way they are either in a building 'mode' or an adventuring mode, not both at the same time.

This would also add more variety and purpose to gear.

 

here would be an easy fix to the mob-blocking: disable block-building while "in-combat" scenarios. Or as sadeyx said, a "building mode" would be awesome.

The unstable thing is just stupid and annoying imo.

 

How about disabling block placement whilst an enemy is aggro'd..? It would prevent cheating vs. mobs etc but retain the fluid building mechanics.

edit: just read whole thread.. apologies zairs.

 

Is this really a complaint about building structures being too easy? Artists want fluid programs, Modelers want powerful tools, but having a strong smooth simple tool to build your creations quickly the way you want them to look, is complaint worthy?

Come on folks... This is redic.

 

I don't agree block-building in combat should be completely removed. That's a unique feature that games like this have in comparison with other metroidvania-ish games. I like the notion of improvising barricades and structures to aid my fight tactics. However, it must be done right.

Possibilites are: Making monsters able to break blocks you've recently placed (to avoid abuse).

I could find a compromise with what you suggest: Don't disable block-building in combat, but instead make it cost energy. If there is combat music, it means placing a block will drain some energy, so you can't "paintbrush" freely without draining yourself. How about that?

 

I kind of like that unstable block idea, but at the same time it's a sandbox game. I have no issues with people blocking off enemies using their quick mouse skills because if they want to advance to other worlds they still have to boss fight.

 

Read the topic again, then post.
Mob-Blocking be problematic kiddo~ kids these days just want the "Easy gain everything 1-shot hit win" way these days. And those complaining they have "no time" to "waste" - lul. You have your entire life, you got time boy.

 

I don't think people are unhappy with the building mechanics, its more how they are used so easily and quickly against mobs. I think what OP was trying to say is that it needs to feel more 'physical' in a sense.
Maybe a fraction of a seconds delay in block placement? Maybe after placing a block it takes a few seconds to materialise, in the same way it takes a few seconds to break with a pickaxe. You would see the block 'grow' from a few pixels wide to a full block in a matter of seconds. Not too long, but long enough to be useless for caging enemies in.

 

If, like me, you don't like 'cheesing' the game by using the MM to block off mobs or easily get over difficult terrain, then just don't do it. Problem solved.

 

Yeah i was thinking the same thing. Like you put them down and they glow white and gradually 'cool off' until they are stable. If anything touches them they break.

 

This seems like it would be tedious and kinda annoying when monsters walk in to your camp while building.

This mechanic would also slow down game play and building immensely especially when building roofs or walkways.

On the subject of walling yourself in, in order to protect against monsters. Did any of you try to simply NOT DO THAT?
I never do myself and either run away or kite if I have to.

IMO the building mechanic is fine and does not need to be changed.

 

Not saying Starbound is in any way meant to reflect a 'real-world' setting, but if you were actually building trying to survive, building shelter for yourself in the wilderness.. You wouldn't be granted any reprieve from the local wildlife just because you're preoccupied.

 

So? How does that influence your enjoyment of the game how others do it? If you feel it's too easy, don't use the mechanic. Just because YOU don't like it, others might. Wow, I think I have been typing this very same thing quite a few times today. I like it that you can build easily, together with others. And interestingly I never arrived at the idea of using that to block jumping enemies. So by your idea you'd limit the workings of the MM for me for something I never did and never even thought about. Ohkay.

Edit: And the next thing you lot is going to suggest is to disable tools inside dungeons to prevent filthy people from digging around traps and building over the chasms, right?

 

No, just no. I really hated the delay in placing blocks, both in Minecraft and Terraria. Having to go over the same spot because the block placement can't keep up is ANNOYING, and a waste of time.

The smooth block placement in Starbound is PERFECT.

If you don't like the fact that block placement can be used as a way of blocking monsters, just don't use it for that purpose.

 

it's just like perpetual leg sweeps in Tekken, if it feels cheap to you - then don't do it. Governing your own play-style will be alot easier than trying to govern the entire Starbound community AND will make you alot fewer enemies more friends in the process :]

ALSO: it's a fricken' Matter Manipulator!!! Not a hand or a shovel (or whatever they use in terraria) Who's to say that's not how a Matter Manipulator SHOULD behave? as far as I'm concerned it works EXACTY how I imagine a Matter Manipulator would - It's science.... FROM THE FUTURE!!! (after all)

 

While I agree for building purposes the placement system right now is great but it is abusable and every time I see potential abuse there is always someone saying well I don't do it so it shouldn't be changed... or alternatively like you put don't use it...
there is solutions that don't even affect just normal building FYI this includes no building while in combat the phase in of blocks doesn't sound so bad either, it would slow down my platforming over poison water tho

Nerfing and balance changes are rarely popular but always needed and unlike most some players not just devs realise this.

 

Yes, it's that easy. You don't do it if it makes you feel bad, and you don't care what others do, because this game is not competitive in any shape or form. Why does it diminish your experience if someone in Burkina Faso blocks a creature with a dirt wall? You never meet the guy, you probably will never even hear of the guy. So why is this a problem?

 

easy fix just pretend at that moment your a naruto charecter and shout Doton: Doryūheki!!!! and make the dirt wall

*cough* reference for non anime peeps http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Earth_Release:_Earth-Style_Wall