Randomised Dinosaur Unlock Order/JPOG Mode

[Ilokelesia]

Now that dig sites and research is enabled for sandbox it feels only right that this is added next update. That or an alternative game mode like classic challenge mode/JPOG mode. But I see the former being more likely. In JWE 1 I played challenge mode like a tycoon mode, essentially how I played JPOG. Having that mode with randomized dinosaurs in the original made the game endlessly replayable for me but it's not so in this game, despite it being infinitely better in every other aspect. Since challenge mode in this game works completely differently it's not a substitute.

New update is phenomenal by the way.

 

[Ilokelesia]

Please

 

[Ceratosaurus]

despite it being infinitely better in every other aspect.

Jurassic Park era was better in Evolution 1 imo P:

 

[Ilokelesia]

Does a man need to get on his hands and knees and beg?

New custom challenge mode settings are great, but I didn't see randomised dinosaur unlock order in the screenshot. It was in the first game, it made it a million times more replayable. I worry that support for this game will end before it is added.

 

[VSSEMike]

The randomized dig sites would do for the sandbox gameplay.

 

[Ilokelesia]

The randomized dig sites would do for the sandbox gameplay.

Yeah, the settings they revealed for custom challenges appear to mostly be the same as the ones for Sandbox so if its added it'll likely be for both. I am grateful that classic challenge mode is returning in some form (even if it was achievable in sandbox anyway) but it just isn't a true Jurassic sim without the randomisation. I think it's just a bit TOO video-gamey that you unlock the more harmless species first and progress to larger and more problematic species parallel to research every playthrough, I know it SOUNDS logical that it'd work like that in any other game but considering some of the themes of this franchise are chaos and hubris, actually having the ability and (sometimes no choice) to create something you can't control and having the game be a step ahead of you is part of what made this mechanic so game-changing in the past 2 titles. I like the idea that you could start with anything at any star-rating and be insentivised to work with those species even if they're a threat to you. As the progression system is by default, the game often prepares you for problems before they arrive too easily.

 

[Ilokelesia]

I should clarify on how I think this could work:

The reason I say a "randomised dinosaur unlock order" setting rather than digsites is because more species are more tied behind research in this game than the last, so even if the order of the digsite unlocks is randomised, it wouldn't make a difference if the prerequisites and order are the same in research.

Which is why I think if there's any confusion about how this would work, I think it should work like this:

When randomised dinosaurs is enabled in sandbox/challenge settings: the dinosaurs that aren't hybrids are removed from the research menu and are unlocked individually on the digsite map automatically at the random star-rating they are assigned. This doesn't mean all dinosaurs within a specific digsite should become available when the digsite does. So, for example at x stars you may have Tyrannosaurus in Hell Creek but not Triceratops yet.

It would be nice to open up the digsite map at the beginning of a new game not knowing what you're working with. Rather than the same old reliable Nasutoceratops and Ceratosaurus, you see that your options for starting digs are Dryosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus.

It would be refreshing to be put in a scenario where you use species that you don't normally play with at times that you wouldn't usually have access to them. This feature is so important to replayablility that I can't believe it didn't make it over from the first game.

 

[VSSEMike]

I should clarify on how I think this could work:

The reason I say a "randomised dinosaur unlock order" setting rather than digsites is because more species are more tied behind research in this game than the last, so even if the order of the digsite unlocks is randomised, it wouldn't make a difference if the prerequisites and order are the same in research.

Which is why I think if there's any confusion about how this would work, I think it should work like this:

When randomised dinosaurs is enabled in sandbox/challenge settings: the dinosaurs that aren't hybrids are removed from the research menu and are unlocked individually on the digsite map automatically at the random star-rating they are assigned. This doesn't mean all dinosaurs within a specific digsite should become available when the digsite does. So, for example at x stars you may have Tyrannosaurus in Hell Creek but not Triceratops yet.

It would be nice to open up the digsite map at the beginning of a new game not knowing what you're working with. Rather than the same old reliable Nasutoceratops and Ceratosaurus, you see that your options for starting digs are Dryosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus.

It would be refreshing to be put in a scenario where you use species that you don't normally play with at times that you wouldn't usually have access to them. This feature is so important to replayablility that I can't believe it didn't make it over from the first game.

Honestly, I prefer Compsognathus to be a starting carnivore in all eras. In the Jurassic World era, Moros Intrepidus can be the additional starting carnivore besides Compsognathus.

 

[Ilokelesia]

Honestly, I prefer Compsognathus to be a starting carnivore in all eras. In the Jurassic World era, Moros Intrepidus can be the additional starting carnivore besides Compsognathus.

My point is that in a randomisation mode your starters could be anything. Your unlocks at 1 star, 2 star etc. Could be anything, in any order.

The game would never be repetitive for me again if this was an option like in JWE 1.

 

[Ilokelesia]

Having played the great update, it's abundantly clear that the foundation for this feature to be added has been perfectly set with custom challenge so I can only hope Frontier knows this and adds it next update.

 

[Rafaelkarat]

I really think your idea is very good, even today I think it should have a campaign like JPE1, feel that need to progress to unlock something new, it's very good