I agree with these points. I do like how the custom challenge mode setup is built and I see it as a great addition, especially now that park progression feels good on maps that were too easy like the Biosyn and Malta maps.
After about two months with this new custom challenge mode, I want to share some areas that could be considered in a later update, as the mode could do with a few more tweaks and updates, as it has the potential to be improved on.
1. LET US SAVE A FEW SHARE CODES:
It is great that we could utilize the code system to share our codes with friends to test out challenge mode, but I want the convenience of having a handful of codes saved in the game so that we can reuse them as many times as we want. This convenience would be greatly appreciated if you want to play the same code you are comfortable with but with a different map.
2. LOAD THE TERRAIN SETUP FROM EXISTING SAVES:
I think it would be cool to have the ability to play not just on any map, but maps that have been modified with unique terrain. If possible, it would be fun to have the game scan the terrain of an existing save and load it as the new challenge mode map. This is especially useful with the large square maps, where players could play with the terrain and build a map that they like, save it as a template, and have new sandbox or custom challenge maps load that terrain. So hours spent making a cool mountain map in Nublar 1993 Square map via sandbox mode could be used again in challenge mode if the player wants to try building a challenging park with that map.
3. LOAD RESEARCH TREES APPROPRIATE TO THE BUILDING SET:
One of the hurdles in utilizing challenge mode with any building set is how the research tree works best for JP, JW, and DFW building sets. Malta and Biosyn have different building options when compared to the default building sets, so the ability to acquire power stations and hotels is difficult or impossible with the current research tree.
It will also help that the research tree matches the selected building set with proper images showcasing the set's assets for immersion, and eliminating dead research such as the Monorail in building sets not Jurassic World where researching it yields nothing.
4. DFW, MALTA, AND BIOSYN NEEDS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT:
These three building sets could be given extra love in custom challenge mode by having challenge settings and tweaks to make the most of what the building sets have to offer.
DFW could use some extra settings to remove dinosaur research and dig sites from the expedition map to only acquire dinosaurs via capturing wild animals. The poacher mechanic from the DFW chaos theory mode could also make a return as a custom challenge mode setting with the security items given function again.
Malta is missing the black market trade completely in challenge mode, returning the ability to purchase and sell dinosaurs in the black market would bring back the Malta experience we had in the DLC campaign. The Authorities and Underground trust system could also work, where research and dinosaur availability would require satisfying the correct organization. The research tree needs to be updated to make power stations and hotels easier to access.
Biosyn needs to have the research tree updated to make power stations easier to access. Guest needs and management need to be added as additional custom challenge mode settings, as Biosyn lacks the facilities to cater to those guests. The research compound could be made into an integral gameplay in custom challenge mode, where players could place in the compound building and slowly build it up, granting access to special research and dinosaurs similar to how it is in the campaign game, with the expedition map and research page being like that in the main campaign with digging amber in the mine, and having floors of research respectively.
5. HAVE PALEOBOTANY RESEARCH AS A CUSTOM CHALLENGE MODE SETTING
In one of the new challenge games brought in update 5, paleobotany is something that needs to be researched first. I really like this approach as it would have players decide which herbivores to include based on the paleobotany the player has access to. This would make the herbivores available early on in the game a potential threat if the required plants are not available, and one that could lead to uncomfortable herbivores that would break out in stressful times if not all their environmental needs satisfy a perfect comfort threshold.
6. HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA CONDITION BE A CUSTOM CHALLENGE MODE SETTING
Psychological trauma could be so much fun as a condition in challenge mode. Players already have the chance to hire staff that has the psychologist's specialty to treat them, so the ability to have dinosaurs suffer from trauma would be an interesting park setup.
Dinosaurs would need to acquire the psychological trauma condition in new ways, such as being in an uncomfortable environment for way too long, being in need of medical attention for way too long, being stuck in the Medical center for too long, or being outside of their enclosures and attacking guests way too long. The condition could be a result of negligence that would require the dinosaur to be accompanied by special staff in their enclosures with zero visibility from guests or staff. Making players choose to lose park appeal for a long period of time to help the dinosaur recover from trauma, or risk losing the dinosaur or imminent breakout.
7. CHOOSE WHAT WEATHER AND DISEASES ARE TO APPEAR
Not all maps of the same biome would result in similar weather. Nublar 1993 would never get Tornado attacks, while Nublar 2015 never get calm heavy rain. Biosyn sanctuary would also never get any negative or notable weather outside of fog and is practically disease-free.
Let the player set which diseases and weather are possible in custom challenge mode. The availability of the weather has to be limited by the Biome selected, so no snow in the Arizona desert map for example, but could lead to new experiences such as rain and light storms in San Diego, or Sandstorms in Malta. The weather could hinder park progression, so it would be great to factor in what weather the player could experience outside of the Map's default setting.
8. ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE CONDITIONS
I could see more challenge conditions to be added, such as significantly shortened lifespan for dinosaurs with negative traits, and the disability to sell off dinosaurs. I hope more could be included in the future to make challenge mode more engaging.
9. ALL BIOME VEGETATION AND ALL DECORATION SETTINGS
This one has less to do with difficulty and more to invoke more creativity in parks done in Custom Challenge mode.
I miss the ability to place individual vegetation from all biomes, as the ability to do so made for some stunning parks and enclosures. I also think decorations should be given a similar treatment, where you could select decorations from any building set. While you could play in all buildings to get a similar experience, that set mainly is Jurassic World focus with JW-themed ACU teams, transportation, and contracts being available that would hinder other building sets. Let players simply access to all decorations as a setting to enjoy the decorative items while still maintaining the building set's limitations.
10. ERA SPECIFIC CAST OF CHARACTERS
Not something that affects direct gameplay, but let us have the option to have the cast of character be either selectable or adapt to the chosen building set. This is to better set the players in the environment that better suits the building set, be it Jurassic World, Park, DFW, Biosyn, or Malta.
