Entertainment / Morale Boosters

[Vexare]

While alcohol is certainly 'entertaining' - it also has it's drawbacks and is not for everyone's tastes in play or even the colonists overall preferences.

I'd like to see some other forms of entertainment to help boost colonist morale. Another thread mentioned games, but I'd like to see music, exercise or even book reading as ways for colonists to relax and pass some time in between the monotony of hauling rocks and picking corn. I'm one of those would like to see colony longevity (and endless play) options be more of a reality than just quickly defeating a bunch of raiders and mechs, building a ship and blasting off, game over. And with a colony's overall success comes one of human beings basic necessities ... entertainment. I don't think an 'idle' colonist needs to be a bad thing - everyone needs some idle time to rest and relax and the colonists should seek that when not working.

All work and no play makes for dull colonies indeed.

[Andy_Dandy]

Longer days now (and only 10 day months) might perhaps open up for some spare time activities.

I'd like to see colonists having a favorite spare time hobby, at least 3 categories. For instance either a cultural activity (reading books, playing the piano), sports or playing cards/chess (or something). They get a buff from every activity, but more from their special interest.

How to balance this into the game I'm not certain about. Might be something they do when they get stressed, or something else like making spare time a work priority. We'd also have to make it abit easier for moods to break, so investments in entertainment rooms, and investment in using valuable working time on hobbies is worth while of course.

Would also be fun if intellectually minded colonists got sad if they had no lamp in their bedroom, unabling them to read a book before sleeping.

[Vexare]

Hobbies could pertain to their traits or interests the way chemical fascination does now for brewing - definitely see a pattern here I'm sure Tynan's considered as part of the process for developing even more complex colonists.

Granted, some traits could be both entertainment *and* profession (like artists and sculpting) ... ie, an old veteran soldier might have a passion for gun-making and gun collecting, thus making him the perfect person to tinker with repairing and manufacturing weapons because it both satisfies his entertainment needs as well as the colony's crafting needs.

Teachers could 'tutor' other colonists in their off-time to increase skills for those poor oafs, and really good chefs could produce desserts and other entertainment value foods (snacks?) that boost morale. There's a ton of good direction entertainment and hobbies could go with this game!

[sensiman]

seconded! we already have minstrels in the game.instead of making "art",meaning another type of crafting,let me sing and socialise with others,providing a significant boost to mood when others are in earshot/eyesight. singing poetry,dancing or even plain clowning. a bard/minstrel/entertainer could provide spectacular buffs to mood just by  "being there".it may also be conbined with the "gathering" spots for even greater effect.

[MyNameIsSpyder]

Holidays, anyone?

[Pink Photon]

For roleplaying purposes, I put several stools in the same room as my comms console so that people can watch TV.

[Vexare]

For roleplaying purposes, I put several stools in the same room as my comms console so that people can watch TV.

Haha this is great. "Hey guys ... what are you all staring at? ..."

I also agree minstrels need more purpose and could be the entertainers they're supposed to be but aren't as sensiman said. They seem to be one of the least desirable pawns in the game. Lets give some purpose and love for the bards!

[Johnny Masters]

For roleplaying purposes, I put several stools in the same room as my comms console so that people can watch TV.

I feel you. It's such a shame that pawns always stare at the same direction when idle, that trumps a lot of roleplay i might've had. (suggestion: pawns face the direction they last went to).

[b0rsuk]

An idea from the brilliant game King of Dragon Pass

Throw a feast !

Initiated by a bill on a Table. All colonists drop whatever they're doing and gather around a table until all stools are occupied. The food comes in and everyone is having a good time. Much more food is consumed than usual, and 5+ different kinds of food ingredients are required. This can depend on the size of a feast, with larger feasts requiring more ingredients. Colonists resting in medical beds are brought meals as well.

Code Select Expand


[ ] Invite neighbors

When checked, the feast doesn't start until the specified faction arrives and joins you. Consumes even more food and takes more time to schedule, but improves your relations with them. This option would only be possible if they're on your way to visit your colony.

[Vexare]

An idea from the brilliant game King of Dragon Pass

Throw a feast !

Initiated by a bill on a Table. All colonists drop whatever they're doing and gather around a table until all stools are occupied. The food comes in and everyone is having a good time. Much more food is consumed than usual, and 5+ different kinds of food ingredients are required. This can depend on the size of a feast, with larger feasts requiring more ingredients. Colonists resting in medical beds are brought meals as well.

Code Select Expand


[ ] Invite neighbors

When checked, the feast doesn't start until the specified faction arrives and joins you. Consumes even more food and takes more time to schedule, but improves your relations with them. This option would only be possible if they're on your way to visit your colony.

Great idea! Feasting could be something your colonists do after a particularly hard-won battle against raiders to raise morale back up after all that bloodshed and lost lives which produces sadness. We now have alcohol so 'party' should be the next step!

[Argon]

An idea from the brilliant game King of Dragon Pass

Throw a feast !

Initiated by a bill on a Table. All colonists drop whatever they're doing and gather around a table until all stools are occupied. The food comes in and everyone is having a good time. Much more food is consumed than usual, and 5+ different kinds of food ingredients are required. This can depend on the size of a feast, with larger feasts requiring more ingredients. Colonists resting in medical beds are brought meals as well.

Code Select Expand


[ ] Invite neighbors

When checked, the feast doesn't start until the specified faction arrives and joins you. Consumes even more food and takes more time to schedule, but improves your relations with them. This option would only be possible if they're on your way to visit your colony.

Yes!  Groups from friendly factions could also be invited to feasts to improve relations w/ said faction.

-Argon

[kingtyris]

This. If we had entertainment, say TV sets or exercise equipment, then instead of bland 'Wandering around in a daze' soft breaks, colonists could have 'Taking the day off' breaks where they still feed themselves and rest, but do no work and only fiddle with entertainment media.

Love the feast idea, but I'd also like to see different food options made more necessary in the game period. Eating nothing but potato meals should get old, but a varied diet with lots of different meats and veggies should give a mood boost to balance out the 'High expectations' debuff.

[Vexare]

This. If we had entertainment, say TV sets or exercise equipment, then instead of bland 'Wandering around in a daze' soft breaks, colonists could have 'Taking the day off' breaks where they still feed themselves and rest, but do no work and only fiddle with entertainment media.

Love the feast idea, but I'd also like to see different food options made more necessary in the game period. Eating nothing but potato meals should get old, but a varied diet with lots of different meats and veggies should give a mood boost to balance out the 'High expectations' debuff.

The "Lavish Meals" do give a pretty high buff at twice the food cost and can be made with multiple meats, veg. and fruit so that's what you're describing. The feast idea is a special occasion meal prepared ahead and distributed only when a feast is triggered or a bill for a feast is completed. I'd like the option to keep a feast or two in stock so that when things go south we can throw a "drink before the war" party and the high buff from that will help boost their morale through the fighting.

Your "Day off" idea is good and fits in with the morale booster and entertainment ideas. If you could order them to take a day off to alleviate stress, or even schedule them, it could add an interesting aspect to colonist management.

[b0rsuk]

The problem with lavish meals is they don't really require more ingredients. You can make both fine and lavish meals with potato and squirrel meat. Over, over and over.

Initially I misread the descriptions of fine and lavish meals and I thought they DO require more ingredients. But it turns out one kind of meat and one kind of vegetable is completely enough.

Can you even make vegetarian fine meal or super meat boy fine meal ?

[Johnny Masters]

An idea from the brilliant game King of Dragon Pass

Throw a feast !

Initiated by a bill on a Table. All colonists drop whatever they're doing and gather around a table until all stools are occupied. The food comes in and everyone is having a good time. Much more food is consumed than usual, and 5+ different kinds of food ingredients are required. This can depend on the size of a feast, with larger feasts requiring more ingredients. Colonists resting in medical beds are brought meals as well.

Code Select Expand


[ ] Invite neighbors

When checked, the feast doesn't start until the specified faction arrives and joins you. Consumes even more food and takes more time to schedule, but improves your relations with them. This option would only be possible if they're on your way to visit your colony.

Wow, thanks for putting KoDP in, i was not aware of its existence. I tried it out and its an awesome gem!