LP: Don't Starve - because they've changed everything and I'm too lazy to search for the old thread

So. The latest update changed the game in some rather significant areas, so rather than having all both my fans look through the old thread, to find where everything is completely different, I've decided to start a new LP.

And let me tell you, this will be an awesome tale of near starvation, good looking landscaping and stupid stupid deaths...

DAY 1: Where we discover that everything old is new again.


We start out with the ability to make an axe and a pickaxe. But what's this...?! To make a shovel I need to first build the Science Machine and use that for making my prototype. And to build that, I need gold.
Bugger.



At least the world is big and without those long annoying bridges between biomes (there's also a new way of generating landscapes that will become the default way, but I hate it).
The world is also dangerous.

(While looking at the screenshot, I also just realized, that I don't know what use the graves are now. I shall have to dig one up...)

DAY 2: Where we pay tribute to the King of the Pigmen


And full of creatures. I still haven't found a place to set up camp, but now I know a way to get gold - The Pig King will give me gold for meat... and the pigs will give me a fleeting sense of comradeship and belonging.
I also found Chester.
He's a walking chest, like The Luggage in Discworld without the murderous rampages (he's rather fragile).

DAY 3: Where we discover a nice little spot and decides to settle down


But we're lucky. On the third day we discover a herd of Beefallo and nearby rabbits. We've found some rocks and gold, so we build that all important Science Machine, so we can prototype our first spear - once the prototype is done, you can build the item anywhere, if you have the raw materials. But the prototype needs to be done in the machine - which is immovable.



This is how much we explored before finding our spot.

DAY 4 & 5: Where we go all the way back and dig up those berry bushes, plant them closer to home and collect some poop...

DAY 6: Where we discover mysterious icky things man was not meant to know...



It does look rather dangerous, but there's and option to jump into it. And it says wormhole. I am conflicted between knowing what a wormhole usually means and knowing not to jump into anything with that many teeth...



I wish I could post the sound effect. Eww!



And look at me. Now I'm here. Not terribly far, but perhaps there's more...


DAY 7: Where we discover how to build a little palisade


It's a wall. No more silly forests sorrounding our camp in the hope of confusing the pathfinding.

DAY 10: Where the dogs attack and we find that pathfinding can't deal with walls, but dogs can bite their way through. But the wall buys us time.

Time was bought and two dogs dispatched with ease.
Thanks Obama Klei.

DAY 12: Where we discover that all those damn walls come with a price...


The Tree Guardian want us to stop cutting down trees. We want palisade all the way around our home, so a compromise is hard to find.



So I kite him to the Pigmen and let them deal with him.
...
That is, he kills them with ease.



I run back home and shave. That gives me 3 facial hairs.
I need 4.

DAy 15: Where we show of our fortress.


I planted lots of trees, then I cut down lots of trees, then I fooled the Tree Guardian, then I discovered that repairing unbroken palisade makes it taller... we have a regular fortress going here. Nothing can harm me now!

DAY 16: Where we discover cute little beefallo babies.

The beefallo protects their young. That tentacle will be dead shortly.
I'm also constantly hungry and on day 15 on berries and rabbit steak...

DAY17: Where we pick up a new weapon and thank the beefallo for doing the hard work by torching them...


That is, we torch some spiders and the beefallo don't care. We did get the pointy end of the tentacle, though. Much better than a spear.

DAY 18: Where we learn (once again) not to have our weapon equipped while collecting poop. So easy to accidentally attack.


Run awaaaay!



Well, after a few are seperated from the rest of the herd, we stop and fight. We now have meat. And hide.
And look, now the nice beefallo are fighting spiders - there's a reason we like to camp next to them.
Now we have silk too.

DAY 21; Where we find a friend slave, fight dogs and life is good.


So, we bring back a single pig. Plan is to use all the pigskin left over from their fight with the Tree Guardian (who we once again kited to the respawned pigmen and then finished ourselves). We gave a lot of meat to the Pig King and protyped the rapid growing fields (there are three types, but we only like this... but with the new update I can see situations, where you'll have to make do with the slower types).
We also have an ice box,Alchemy Machine (prototypes even more fancy stuff) and a crock pot.

Dogs attack, but can't find a way through the wall. Our pig soldier hits it.

You can't quite see it, but there's another one to the north. This guy is red.

By the way. Notice the beautiful landscaping.

In this update they also made travel along the roads faster, so changing the type of turf underneath you and building roads has a purpose now - you also need a special tool for the job instead of just using your shovel.

DAY 22. Where we discover why some dogs are red. Also that wooden walls have certain drawbacks.

So far dogs have been easy. We have the superior spiked club and our pigman helper, so we pop around the fence and kills the dog.

He explodes.



And my palisade goes up in flames.
Also the trees.



And me.



And everything I planted.
And wittle Chester.



Ah, bugger!

Well. at least I still have my friendly pig, and plenty of time until the next dog attack.



Why is he turning into a werepig?! It's not a full moon. It's fucking daytime... whaaat's going on?!?

Well, at least I have a very pointy stick, and my armor... at 4%. Argh!



Run away!



Run away!

I know, we'll kite him to where he can attack something else...



Great! Now a pissed off Tallbird is trying to kill me too. Run away!

DAY 22 Cont.: Where. I. Hate. This. Game.



Bugger.



At least I managed to build the Meat Effigy... but I have no camp, no berries, no traps, just 4 fields, no tools... and somewhere a werepig is on the loose.
I'm taking a break.

I think the game hates you back, honestly...

Your LP is teaching me that I really should have played more when this game was easier.

About the werepig, I discovered the hard way that if a normal pig eats monster meat for 3 times, it becomes a werepig even during the day >_> That's why you have to be careful and take away the meat when bringing them with you to kill monsters

Bugger me with a pitchfork - I did not know this.
This game is not a nice game.

I was thinking about starting anew when the next update comes tomorrow.
But that looks downright evil.

I'm actually hesitant to put time into this again, time I could spend having fun.

Played a little more last night... before the new update may finally drive me from the game. We'll see.



So. I spend a few days collecting stuff and getting ready and decides to risk looking for my dropped stuff. Hope is that if mr. werepig is still around, I can turn around before he sees me.
But nobody's there.

DAY 29: Where we take up sports and have learned our lesson not to be like the two first little piggies


So this time we build our house from stone. There's plenty down south and we just need to cut it into squares and then into wall sections. That's waht the nights are for... it's not like we can go anywhere. I also use some pigskin to build a football helmet - unfortunately I haven't invented the football yet. Also I'm all alone, if you don't count the pigmen... don't know how they'd feel about throwing a pigskin around.
Dogs are dispatched with ease.

DAY 34: Sleepytimes


I now have walls, nor flammable material too close. Although by bushes could go up in flames and set off the twigs... if I find mure berries I shall make a secondary garden. Straw is further away, so no fires can jump the distance.
I even try building a strawmat and sleep throughht the night. It's a one use item, so I don't think I'll do that much. At least not when there's plenty to do.

DAY 36: Where we utilize beefallo and do some housecleaning


While I've been busy dying and rebuilding, the nearby spiders colonies have been allowed to grow. Usually I'd deal with them at the early stage, where I at most need to deal with a handful of spiders - this one is big enough to contain several waves, some jumping spiders and soon to spawn a Queen.
That's not good.

I decide to burn it away, but encounter a Tentacle.



Good thing the last Beefallo I killed dropped a Beefallo horn.



Summoned Beefallo deal with Tentacle and I get another spiked club.

DAY 41: Where we lay down traps


I have 5 Hound's Tooth. These can be made into nasty traps with some wood and string. I decide to build a killeng place, where I can go wait, when I hear the dogs, so they don't risk destroying my stuff or killing Chester - the traps will help me.
This might be too small, though. And lacks means of escape - idea is that I need a firepit too, so I can spend the night there, when I hear the dogs (there's always a warning).

I really should have built my camp with one edge to the water... but I haven't really found a lot of water yet. And I like having the Beefallo around me.

DAY 42: Where we burn down a spider's nest

We burn down a spider's nest.

Note on webbing: This was added in the last upgrade. It grows from spider's nests and make you move slowly while not impeding spiders - makes escaping hard, if you attack a nest. It also keeps growing making travelling harder, if not stopped. Once you destroy the nest, you can dig up the stuff. I haven't found a use yet - except for fuel for the fire.

DAY 44: Where we almost don't realize that a Spider Queen is close


Hey, look! That other nest close by has spawned a Queen.
In the middle of a herd of Beefalo in heat!
I just need to stand back and wait.



Look at me. I have a fancy hat (this let me control spiders... I just need to keep an eye on the hat, because it will only last for so long, and you don't want to be leading an army of spiders when it does...)

I also have some spider's eggs. This means I can grow my own silk farm. I think.
Sounds dangerous, so I think I'll wait.

Well, I don't want this game so much anymore, so that's good. :D

Legitimately having trouble breathing from laughing and heart being overfull. Oh my gosh Hanzii you were too cute! *immediately bricks self in the face for vocalizing that sentiment* I am sorry. BUT THE LIL "RUNAWAY!"s and the throwing pigskin joke and honestly really just keeping updates despite THIS GAME being so frustrating. I just...falling to pieces. ;w;

Day 48: Where we're reminded that we should read our own damn LP...


So, I spend a couple of days chopping wood. I want to plant me some forest and deal with my spider problem. With all my stupid dying and whatnot, I've let the spiders get out of hand.
I just have time to think "Oh, nice. The nests are only level one", when one of them transforms into a Queen.

And it turns out that when not in heat and not under attack, the Beefalo couldn't care less. And the spiders are too clever too attack Beefalo, so she heads straight for me.



While spawning spiders.
Run away!


Oooops. Nightfall.
And I can still hear the Queen.

I don't know if I've made this clear. If you're in the dark, you die. You get attacked by Grendel or whatever it is that goes bump in the night and you can't fight back. I have no wood, but manages a torch.



But I make it back.
If you enlarge the picture you'll notice that so does the spiders. Thank God for bad pathfindning and dense walls.

DAY 49: Where we're under siege, things go from bad to worse and we're being incredibly stupid.


So there I am with my new spidery friends.
By this time you're probably thinking "But Hanzii, couldn't you just...?" And the answer is "yes". But I forgot.



But why stick to fighting hordes of respawning killer spiders, when you can fight hounds too? One of them is even a Hellhound.



Run awaaay!



Bugger.
Did I mention that darkness is death?

I cannot go back and I don't have the materials to make a fire. I could probably survive on just torches, but end up burning down a forest instead, so I can put away the torch for long enough to get some firewood (and charcoal, but you need wood to start the fire)

DAY 51: Where we wonder where day 50 went. And finally go "Eureka!" followed by a massive facepalm



Finally arriving back at what's left of the camp, we notice that the Queen is gone. But there's a bunch of sleeping spiders (they sleep outside during daytime if the nest is full or gone) and a new nest.
I don't know if Queenie is still around or if this is what's left of her.
The only reason I'm still alive is because of the Meat Effigy and because the hounds turned on the spiders or vice versa.



And finally a little voice inside my head asks "But didn't we have a Spider Hat? Don't you think that will help??"
Turns out it makes all the little spiders think I'm their queen (probably wouldn't work right next to the real deal).
I have an army of spiders, and whenever I attack one of them, he is immediately marked as "the enemy" and attacked by the rest.

So I slowly dispatch all the spiders and the nest. One by one.


My camp look like hell... but I have spider's silk enough for long time now.

GENIUS. Absolutely brilliant~! Ahhh this is lovely.
This is perfectly encapsulating my "flail around helplessly" and "SURVIVAL!" needs and wishes.

Day 51: Where we play after the update.

So started playing again, but it's 3 am here, so no long post.


Strange. The update removed all the spiderwebs. Well guess I don't have to clean up. I do recall reading complaints that the spiderweb spread was too much, so perhaps they've dialed it down, and everything was reset in the process.

Also notice the third gauge. I now also have my sanity to keep track of.

Day 53: Where we tease with some new exiting stuff and then go to bed...



What is this? My sanity is dropping, and I begin to see shadowy monsters. It appears that unlike the Grue in the darkness I can fight these. But I dare not try before I have my effigy.
I also found out that sanity drops at night and goes up in daytime, but it drops further than it raises, so I need to get it up. But just like some foods are better for health, some are better for sanity - I need to learn some recipes now.
But monster meat sates hunger real good, but now damages sanity...

Bedtime - will try to update tomorrow night.

Day 55: Where we uncover a mystery and hunt the most dangerous game



Something is leaving small piles of dirt on the ground, and when we examine them, it appears to be tracks...

But I promised you danger...



So, I've cheated a little and read about the game. And apparently sugary goods are good for getting your sanity back. So I decide to go get some honey.
Now, the reason I haven't bothered with honey before even though I've had the option to build a beekeeping thingie (paging Nellie for proper nomenclature), is that I'm afraid of bees. There's two kinds in the game. Yellow bees that make honey and read killer bees that makes angry noises. Both will attack you and the only time I ever tried, the red bastards killed my ass.
Of course back then I didn't have a helmet and armour, so here goes...

As you can see, my fears were exaggerated.


They did kill my helmet, though.

Day 56 where:
I'm puttin' on my top hat,
Tyin' up my white tie,
Brushin' off my tails.


Well. No tie and tails.
So, my run in with the Spider Queen left me with so much Spider's Silk I'm willing to experiment with the stuff and make some clothing with no apparent use. The top hat is really expensice (15 silk or something, which means killing even more spiders than that). But look at that little black arrow on the brain icon. Not only does it look suave, it restores sanity!



I also find out, that if I sacrifice a berry bush, I can make this nifty hat. I wonder if it has a purpose...



Hey, look what it does whenever I stand still!


Unfortunately after testing it on a Tallbird (look at the egg I stole), I find out that it doesn't fool anybody (or perhaps it's only if they see me change)... but I guess it's cool to spend the night disguised as a bush

Looks like a Skep beehive to me.

Day 58: Where I show Nellie the beehive I forgot to include in my previous post

Well those fancy beehives are what the bees themselves have in the wild, the square one above is what I can build.
I also fight some hounds.

Day 60: Where I have a cunning plan and go camping in the wilderness



Look at me, I'm catching fireflies with my butterfly net (which is also great for bees... still haven't found a use for butterflies)

Day 62: Where we unintentionally make charcoal and learn something new


Damn dogs are back. But my traps are helping and even though one is a hell hound, I don't mind getting new supplies of coal.



And look. This one is getting attacked by my bees. I can see from the Monster Meat and stingers on the ground that the tally so far is Hounds 2 - Bees 1. I help my yellow friends and dispatch the last dog.

Day 66: Where I learn not to collect honey after nightfall


Run away!

And the cunning plan?



Pumpkin + Fireflies = Jack-O-Lantern!

But apparently this has a percentage rating and can be deplete, whereas the fireflies I just put down at strategic places provides a bit of light around my camp.

The running away from bees... daww.
This game looks interesting. Hehe.

This is pretty great. I know a lot of people - me included - ran out of things to do in Minecraft after a while, because Survival = closing a door. This though, this looks like it does survival + discovery the right way. Now I just need to find the time to play it along with everything else I'm playing now ... with 3 gauges I expect a lot of dying(i.e. FUN (tm)) to happen.

Hanzii
I'm getting more intrigued by the game itself but I'm not going to be drawn on the subject of bees (I've just canned the idea of doing a Let's Play on Farming Simulator because I don't trust myself not to rant on for two pages about a Simulator. About Farming. That gets so much wrong about bees!).

The first hive, the one they make themselves looks like a Skep <insert long, dull, essay about skeps>. The one you can make, however, I'm going to go with a "stylised interpretation of a modern beehive that fits the aesthetic of the game.". :)

Did I mention stuff about bees and dogs...

One day I'm going to ask krayzkrok about crocodiles in the context of Frogger :D

Speaking of Minecraft, is it ever possible to dig down/build up, or is everything always on one Z-level?

I assume you're asking about this game and not Minecraft?

The answer is nope. You can remove the ground and burn as fuel or for landscaping purposes, but there is no down or up.

Day 68: Where we do a bit of exploration


Hmm. We need to deal with that soon. It's getting big.

Day 69: Where we demolish a town for fun and profit


It's not like you need your house.


Using my hammer on a structure gives me about half it's building materials. So demolishing two Pig Houses should allow me to...


...build a nice pig house back home.

And look. A new Meat Effigy - I am immortal again.

Day 71: Where my newfound roommate shows his worth.



Look at him beating that dog. With bees and pigs, Hounds are really no worry. I just need to make sure the burning kind don't burn my plants.

Day 72: Where we run into trouble


Nasty.
At least the Tallbirds are giving her a what for.
I'll better go north again. I don't feel ready.

Day 73: Where we learn why we don't want a pig as our roomie


It's not because he doesn't do his share of the dishes. But full moon is a problem (enlarge thepicture, that's a werepig trying to get to me).
I think I shall demolish his house and then rebuild further away and between me and that Spider Queen.

Day 74: Where we're reminded about something we needed to deal with.


Uh oh...
Run away!



Where's the camp.
I can hear a lot of spiders.
Run away.



That'll show them.
Uh oh.
My two more properly placed defensive pigs have turned and are busy killing my bees.
That's not according to my plan.

Day 75: At least my traps are working.

Let's finish her of.


Bugger.

Day 76: And on the first day Maxwell rose and said "so what's up dudes?"


We collect some stuff and lead the Queen south.


Where we let the Tallbirds fight the Queen while we kill at least 15 spiders.
Then we kill the Queen...



And the birds. The birds! Kill us.
Argh!

Damn birds... And after so long, too!

Woah congratulation for surviving so long, 15 days it's my best so far...

Well, as you could see, that was all too damn easy. So good thing this hits tomorrow...

GODDAMN IT DEVS!

It's basically impossible to survive for more than 2 or 3 days now unless you're experienced. I am displeased.
On the other hand...IGLOO.

Winter is coming

but before that, I try again...

Day 1: Where we try a completely new strategy.


Meet Wolfgang. He's big, has a larger stomach and hits harder.
But I don't think he can build an Effigy.

So, before I fire this up again and get killed by the cold, I just wanted to show you some things. This time around, I've decided to only post a screenshot if something new or interesting happens all the usual planting bushes yada yada yada will be the same as in every game, so no need to bother.
So we jump directly to...

Day 7: Where I spring into action


So last game I was overwhelmed by spiders. This time I decide to deal with them early and with my new strongman character, I'm a bit more daring - and if I hit them in stage 1 there won't be any warrior spiders (the yellow ones).
Goal is to clean away all nests within a large radius, preferably the entire island.

This nest had four and I get some web.

Day 10: where we're not afraid of a few spiders


Strategy is simple: Attack nest, run away (my specialty) and turn around and take out pursuers one by one.
The benefit of not using fire is getting more webs.

Day 11: Where things go bump in the... day?!


So Wolfgang can go longer without eating, but his sanity is dropping more each night than he gains during daytime. This is a problem. Strange shadowy shapes start appearing.

But they can be killed!
I now have Shadow Fuel. That sounds nifty, but I don't know what it does,

DAy 12: Where I find out that spoiled food sates hunger and makes you crazy...


This is what losing your mind (well, Wolfgang's mind) looks like. It's even more annoying when animated.

Then after dark I hear the distinct sound of a slightly out of tune musicbox. I don't know what that means, but I've seen horror movies.
Can't be good...




Look at that motherfucking shadow hand! He's putting out my fire... with only one piece of wood on me, that almost was the end.
Bastards!

Day 13: Where I show off the unique defense features of my base


It's right on the edge of an island. The one Spider's Nest on the island is gone. So is the three nearest nests on neighbouring islands.

Also bad pathfinding means I get to meet the Hounds on my terms.

DAY 15: Where I dress dapper and kill spiders while sanity is on the up again...


Tophats are nice.
And this nest I burn!

Day 16: Where I notice stuff


New update is out and I notice an immediate change. The time of dusk has increased while the night is very short - yay for productive daylight hours... however I fear, that this will change with the season(s). So there's probably long cold winter nights in store...

I also notice that spiders now seems scared of my fire making night camping a bit safer. And they nerfec berry bushes even further, so they now need a lot of manure.

Day 23: We don't need no water, let the motherfucker burn.


So, this time I've been agressive towards the spiders. Even though this is two islands over and I've blocked the passage from my island to the next with a forest, I still decide to get rid of these three spider's nest.

The small level 2 one on the right I attack, kiting the spiders to the pig, who helsp me kille them. I'm stocked on silk again. The two level 3 nests to the left, I simply burn. Doing so in the daytime means the spiders get out and fall asleep... that's a bad idea. Not so much silk, because it burns, but charcoal and Monster Meat (which I go crazy from eating...)

Day 26: Where I show you my digs


I have 20 or so berry bushes, 4 Turbo Farms and now also 4 Beehives. I was just attacked by dogs, but using the walls and water means I can usually make sure only to fight one or two. They also fight the bees. Next part of the plan is to start a pig village, but so far I've only met two pigs, so that's going to be a while.



This is what I've discovered so far. One Wormhole and some bits and pieces. Notice how there's no spiders at all - so far I've destroyed 6 nests... but I suspect the swampy island to the south probably have a few level 3 nests by now. I will have to go deal. And plant a forest to the south, that hopefully can block a Queen... or that I can torch while she's navigating through it.

I died. Before it even got cold. Here, let me show you what I managed to learn.



So Wolfgang's moustache is not a beard. No Meat Effigy for me (well, I have heard of a way, but it's risky... and I'm a terrible player).



killer bees gang up and they've really nerfed the Log Suit (armor).
Run away!



When frogs hit you with their sticky tongue, they take stuff. So far just flint and they're easy to kill... unless a tentacle surprise you, while you fight. With nerfed armor and you perhaps slowed by Spider's webbing, these guys are deadly.



But I was doing okay. Catching birds, a thermometer warning me of the impending winter and a quite good camp.



The lack of colour is winter approaching.
I should probably have culled that heard earlier. Or worn my Log Suit. Or tried to lure just one away.

...
...



So this has officially become to hard for me. My next game will be using a mod, if those work. I'm usually a hateable savebaby (sangry grognards will know the term).

Here's a small winter spoiler:



And here's a big secret found by player's examining clues in the trailers.