I'm walking away...

until checkpoints are implemented.

I've been a backer and huge fan of Starbound from almost, if not the very beginning. Back in those days, I played extensively, loving every moment, but rapidly grew tired of having to start over from scratch every time a new update was released. Since the optional stable/unstable updates came about, I have been patiently waiting for a long, long time for this new, extensive stable update so that I could once again dive in and enjoy this fantastic game.

But, alas, once again I find myself beating my head against that same wall. It may be a different colour, and made from a different material, but it is the same wall.

The Erchius Mine Moon Base mission is well designed, and I enjoyed picking my way through it... the first two times. But after the third time, I'm done. I give up. I can live with the massive leap in mob difficulty, because the design of the dungeon is such that it allows one to progress with patience and smarts. If you're a melee fighter, you aren't swarmed by thirty mobs and can retreat to the safety of a platform to recover if need be. If you're a ranged fighter, you can either take out one or two mobs or sit on a platform and take potshots at five or six with minimal risk to yourself. The boss fight itself is challenging enough that it is difficult at first, but not so hard that it is unnecessarily brutal and punishing. But what really has me feeling like I'm back at the beginning, back when an update came out every second or third day and forced me to start over again, and again, and again... is the fact that I have to go through the ENTIRE dungeon every single time I die, be it bad luck or just simple negligence. I WILL NOT play another minute of this game until this issue has been resolved.

Dying at the core of a planet after thirty minutes of mining is fine, because the path has been carved and is swift to travel with enemies that can be brushed aside with little difficulty. But the level of difficulty of the enemies in the Erchius Mine mission coupled with the lack of any kind of checkpoint puts this game on my unplayable list.

 

I completely understand your frustration. If it helps at all; I finally was able to beat the mission, because I rushed the switches each and every time I got to the boss, using cooked meat to aid my regeneration. For the actual base -- toward my last few runs, I just started skipping all of the monsters, running past each of them.

 

If you have been here as long as you say then you should know full well that stage 1 progenitor is supposed to be the phase that contains the most world and save wipes. As for the dungeon, it is moderately hard but far from impossible, if you're quitting because you can't get past the first boss (Which might I add I had to do over two times as well) then you should consider a change in technique, or maybe asking someone for help instead of complaining not but a few days after the new update was released for a game that is currently (Although not entirely reasonably) still in alpha.

If you need help fighting the boss i'm more than happy to help, luckily it is possible to do a CO-OP mission. If anyone else needs help just lemme know because i'm bored as hell right now.

 

it takes 60 seconds to get to the first boss once you know where it is. even for much longer dungeons, no checkpoints is a good thing. it means you better go in prepared or you'll regret it. dying has to carry with it SOME kind of risk, or the threat of death is meaningless, which makes the whole experience boring as hell. losing pixels doesnt count, they are so easy to accumulate.

i mean, why not just ask for a quicksave function? then you can quicksave before every risky action and feel 100% safe at all times- is that really fun? not for me, personally. i would guess that most other people that grew up playing NES and SNES share that sentiment

 

I think most of the people that die repeatedly are the type that just rush in a second time, because after all it was just luck that you didn't get it the first time right?

Let me tell you, I definitely got it the second time after a bit of shield practice and some better gear.

 

I ran the dungeon 10 times, I did 5 at first walked away and came back a day later. Finally did it. The boss was easy after learning the technique. It was running the whole dungeon again and again that got to me.

---I should have just realized I could run passed all the mobs and not care about the miners and just B-Line for the Boss fight.

---I also failed to use the 7-P Rule (positive pre planning prevents piss pore performance) I did not make enough food buffs or bandages.

--- I had no idea one could block with shields or a 2h sword (this would have saved at least 5 runs)


But yes. They need CHECKPOINTS the majority rules in this IMO. I don't care what your playstyle is. I personally am not a masochist and if I was I would play Dark Souls or a PermaDeath like FTL, not a sandbox platform rpg.

Perhaps an option for it? So hardcore players can choose as they wish.

 

Everybody happily agreed when signing up for the beta that their progress would be repeatedly destroyed.

After the honeymoon period ended, everybody then forgot they agreed to having their progress destroyed, and began complaining about it.

 

I have changed my game play. Accepting that the game is still being worked on, etc. I have decided to... cheat. As was suggested as I lamented about this quest on a previous thread. I used the /admin to get around the boss fights. I do try them a couple times first before giving up. I am not a die hard gamer though and certainly lack the quickness as most of you (I am almost 60). I am enjoying the games other aspects now, exploring, building... found a clarinet too.

 

You need at LEAST 50 bandages and you need to spam those things. I mean constantly bandage. More bandages than 50? Probably a good idea. I said at LEAST 50.

You've probably picked up some red stim packs. Those give a health over time. Use them too. Cooked meat helps because it has the same effect. Use both.
Equip all these things to your hotbar and use them.

Make sure you are wearing STEEL armor. That's all there is to it.

 

I personally didn't find the mission very difficult or frustrating but then again, I'm accustomed to games like Super Meat Boy or They Bleed Pixels, both of which can be ridiculously challenging at times. However, I do completely agree that adding checkpoints to the missions would probably be a great idea. I'm one of the folks that would like to see more difficulty and more challenge in Starbound but that viewpoint probably isn't shared by the majority of the Starbound community.