Based off your feedback and after further play-testing, I have implemented further updates and fixes to the Demo build, taking it to v0.27e.
You can find the version listed at the bottom of the Main Menu when you launch the game.
Overall, the focus has been on quality of life (QoL) improvements this time around such as how interaction with certain components work. I have also slowed the speed of the sun to allow for more 'reasonable' length daylight. And I have made some tweaks to the fatigue accrual, meaning that overall, you should be getting slightly more time on each level before you need to rest-up.
I have also tweaked the Reputation model so it's not so harsh when/if you fail Township Demands and made a tweak to one of the Township Demands themselves (reward and unit power required amounts).
Here is the full change log:
- Slowed the speed of the sun by almost 15%. This should give more 'daylight' during the day shift and avoid having the sun speed through the sky like it used to
- Reduced the movement fatigue by around 30% when moving normally
- Halved the additional movement fatigue incrementing amount when carrying an oil can
- Reduced delay for operating Generator RPM Governor lever so it's much more responsive when the river goes a bit crazy; you can now 'spam' the Q/E keys and get the lever moving quickly when you need to make those fast RPM changes
- Reduced the Reputation loss amount when a Township Demand fails. Previously, when you failed a Township Demand, you could lose up to 15 Reputation points! This has been greatly reduced now
- Reduced the Reputation loss when a noise complaint is received (note this is still a variable range, but it still has been reduced both min and max)
- Increased the time interval between river speed changes slightly so it's not changing so fast. This is a variable time range so it wont always change at the same time. Note that whenever the river speed changes it should be accompanied by 'waves crashing' sound effect(s) to help you know that the river speed change is happening - now that the RPM lever responds faster, you should get way less 'RPM trips' from the Generator as you can respond faster
- In light of recent balance changes in v0.27d and now this update (per details above re: day length and fatigue accrual reduction), I have had to do a slight tweak to the Mayor Press Conference Township Demand at least in the Demo to keep things 'on balance' and not too easy! So I have increased power demand units required from 30 units to 40. I also reduced max payment possible from $500 to $300. Note this is still the highest paying Township Demand in the Demo!
The following are purely 'cosmetic' changes:
- Added an actual DC Rheostat coil, wiper and mounts 3d meshes onto the side of the DC Rheostat and setup animated 'wiper' part based on the charge rate selection
- Animated the filing cabinet drawer when saving the game and gave it a better texture and remapped the UV texture mapping
Hydro is an ongoing 'passion project' for me, and I really hope the game is further 'balanced' now, but not overly 'easy' as well. I still want to retain that challenge. Running a vintage power station should not be easy 😅 - but I want to allow some room for error and avoid making players too-stressed! I always welcome feedback on the Discussion boards regardless.
I hope you enjoy these latest updates. Note that I still have more updates on my to-do list (even for this Demo build), but they are a bit more involved, so have kept them out of this mini-update for now (no spoilers, all will be revealed in time!).
During this upcoming weekend I hope to get stuck-into these and hope to have another update released before next week begins.
Have fun and keep that machinery running!