# Dev Blog: Into the Maelstrom **URL:** \ **Category:** Announcements\ **Tags:** devpost\ **Created:** [August 3, 2023, 3:11pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164 "2023-08-03T15:11:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CommanderJ](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/commanderj/32/13959_2.png) [@CommanderJ](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/CommanderJ)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/21 "2023-08-03T15:46:34Z")
I expected nothing at all from you when it came to crafting, and yet you manage to dissappoint. This is incredibly and embarrasingly bad, FatShark. ---
**Author:** ![DingX233](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c67d28/32.png) [@DingX233](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/DingX233)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/22 "2023-08-03T15:46:57Z")
For players below level 30, can these players play difficult mutation missions to gain experience? If not, what’s the point of having high experience rewards? For players who have reached level 30, can experience be further upgraded? Or can experience be converted into gold coins? Or can experience be translated into forging materials? If not, what’s the point of having high experience rewards? ---
**Author:** ![Ayarraz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ayarraz](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Ayarraz)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:50pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/23 "2023-08-03T15:50:08Z")
Not happy about locks, happy about missoin board and wallets. Okay FS, 8/10 plans. Thank you @FatsharkCatfish for the good news! ---
**Author:** ![Noble\_Rot](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/noble_rot/32/56052_2.png) [@Noble\_Rot](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Noble_Rot)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:50pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/24 "2023-08-03T15:50:15Z")
This is bollocks on top of being too little too late. Thanks for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![TheyMikeBeGiants](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/theymikebegiants/32/75314_2.png) [@TheyMikeBeGiants](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/TheyMikeBeGiants)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/25 "2023-08-03T15:51:20Z")
> [@FatsharkCatfish](#): > > We are aware that the changes mentioned above do not give unrestricted freedom to all aspects of an item. To do so would have a big impact on item acquisition in Darktide, and we want to explore different paths further down the line. To be fair, Catfish, a big impact on item acquisition is exactly what all of us have been specifically requesting for the past seven months. We were _hoping_ for a big impact on item acquisition, because that’s specifically the biggest pain point this game has. All of these other changes are great. Adding a whole second mission board for hardcore players is a brilliant idea. Shared currencies was, and has been, a no-brainer. It’s good that you guys eliminated rerolls on perks because, as has been displayed over and over again, that’s been an utterly ridiculous embarassment on Fatshark’s end. But the locks stay? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Ralendil](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/ralendil/32/108313_2.png) [@Ralendil](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Ralendil)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/26 "2023-08-03T15:51:51Z")
> [@Ragnarok101](#): > > I would bet money the current RNG system is the product of some idiot manager who insists upon it remaining in the game and only after months and months of arguing and dropping player count is he bending even slightly, cultivating some adversarial relationship with the player base and viewing them as entitled. > > Maybe Ralendil’s the guy’s alt account lol As I said numerous times… [I don’t like the current system](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/community-comm-link-27th-july-2023/82057/143)… however I adapt to it, mainly cause I participated to a game conception, as a beta tester, and from this experience I have learnt to love to test and also finding ways to adapt to a system… But, removing locks would remove any interest in the resources, the shops, the blessing tiers etc. So a simple screen where you customize freely your equipment would be sufficient. I guess that, throwing in dustbin all this work is something that can be difficult for developers… especially if it is a large part of the universe of your game. Again… I like the changes… however, on crafting I believe it won’t solve the player base problem. (see my post above) ---
**Author:** ![Flawless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Flawless](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Flawless)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:52pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/27 "2023-08-03T15:52:56Z")
Good changes overall. New maelstrom missions look interesting. Auric missions sound good. Account wide currency has been asked for since release and should have been implemented within weeks. Removal of rng regarding perk changes should have been done within a week of release (or in the same update that brought the rebless function). The change to crafting locks is just a bad joke. (Although it makes curios very accessible, it effectively changes nothing for weapons.) The game has been out for around 9 months now. This change (and the reasoning for not removing locks entirely) would have been fine as a temporary solution for maybe a month after we got the ability to rebless. At this point, this changes nothing for anyone who already has decent items (and changes little for those who do not). You have more than 6 months of basically unanimous feedback regarding locks. Numerous great solutions have been suggested by members of the community. You have lost almost the entire playerbase by now. The time for making baby steps regarding the crafting system has been over for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![UndeadSloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c5a1d2/32.png) [@UndeadSloth](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/UndeadSloth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/28 "2023-08-03T15:57:12Z")
This all sounds great to me. Biggest question: Auric level maps give bonus XP. But Auric level maps are restricted to lvl30. So… is xp ever going to matter beyond 30? I’m baffled there is no variation of a “prestige” level system. ---
**Author:** ![Mezmorki](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/mezmorki/32/20666_2.png) [@Mezmorki](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Mezmorki)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/29 "2023-08-03T15:59:09Z")
**Crafting & Item Lock Changes** There are some big questions about this. Basically what I’m hearing is that you’ll always have two things locked (two perks OR two blessings OR one of each). Does this mean that all of our existing locks simply remain as they are with no ability to change them still? If so, this patch does VERY little in practice. Sure, it gives me flexibility for _newly acquired_ weapons moving forward, but won’t change anything I currently have. **I really don’t understand what’s so hard about adding an option to spend 500-1000 diamantine to remove a lock. And then when you change something a new lock gets applied. Would that really be so hard? Why can’t something like this be implemented already?!** Ultimately, the crafting situation is not fundamentally changed. It’s still RNG casino, just slightly less layered “moving forward” on new items. Ugh. **Mission Board** The Auric mission board seems like a nice option to directly give players more higher intensity options. That’s nice, but I still would’ve preferred some more direct ability to pick the mission and modifiers. Oh well. The other changes to the mission selection screen seem somewhat bad. Reducing the “high intensity” options at a given lower difficulty seems like you’re reducing the potential smoothness of difficulty progression. I guess it depends on whether (for example) High Intensity Difficulty 2 or easier or harder than Low Intensity Difficulty 3. **Shared Currencies** ---
**Author:** ![Fotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fotok](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Fotok)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/30 "2023-08-03T15:59:13Z")
1: Almost all this patch is very good in my opinion, good job 🙂 > [@FatsharkCatfish](#): > > Ability to select the exact Perk when refining an item it was the only “fix” crafting needed in my opinion and you did it in the best way i could thing off since it the same way you craft blessing, you just choose it like a pokemon Now for the “less good thing”: > [@FatsharkCatfish](#): > > Two Modifications for items I thing it could have been worse, but why not. I prefer the previous lock system. And for the “dude” who thing lock should disappear, try to ask yourself (if you did play vermintide 1&2) if you look at the loot you get and why. having no lock for a item would make them less interesting, why ? because you wouldn’t’ look at loot you drop since you could craft a grey weapon you buy at the chop and craft it to orange. what make me say that ? it was like that in vermintide 2, you open your loot box and recycle everything and just craft a new weapon and upgrade it to orange/red. And just in case, we’re playing a “looter shooter” “hack&slash” game (steam tag btw), loot need to be interesting or there be no purpose itself for having loot. ---
**Author:** ![telopots](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/telopots/32/55853_2.png) [@telopots](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/telopots)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/31 "2023-08-03T15:59:58Z")
These are fantastic changes, the game really needed them. Wish locks get completely removed after you’ve explored enough alternative options that won’t satisfy the playerbase as much. The changes showcased here barely change how bad the RNG gauntlet is to actually get something you want, #BreakTheLocks Here’s hoping Auric missions can’t roll dogs, vent purge, or power supply interruption. Disappointing you didn’t touch on how badly broken dogs and mutants are, especially after that one update you did that tremendously improved them (other than the fact we could dodge through mutants), and about the game’s horrible hitreg and serverside tyranny in general. That aside, this is the first bit of good news we’ve gotten in a long while. ---
**Author:** ![IgnacM991](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/ignacm991/32/63710_2.png) [@IgnacM991](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/IgnacM991)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/32 "2023-08-03T16:01:34Z")
My thoughts exactly. I do not even know where to start here. My only guess is, that there is somebody, or a group of people hellbent on the premise that casino style progress is hooking the players into the game. I firmly believe, that this individual has barely touched any good games including Darktide itself. You create _addicting_ games by creating immersion, strong, varied core gameplay and rewarding progression. In Vermintide 2 you could spend dozens of hours in the game just honing your skills while playing difficult game modes and experimenting with different loadouts. Cherry on top? I cannot wait until the next balance patch shifts the meta and bricks half of my already rerolled weapons. ---
**Author:** ![Lt.DavinFelth](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/lt.davinfelth/32/63279_2.png) [@Lt.DavinFelth](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Lt.DavinFelth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/33 "2023-08-03T16:02:15Z")
Maps, new modifiers, shared wallet? Kark yeah! First time in a long while I’m glad my carefully prepared meme is going to waste. This is a one, small step for crafting but great leap for Rejectkind. I’m talking about curios. Offering 2 changes on either Blessings or Perks is barely an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![MarxistDictator](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/marxistdictator/32/106716_2.png) [@MarxistDictator](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/MarxistDictator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/34 "2023-08-03T16:02:21Z")
Curio crafting is fixed, but weapon crafting is still horrible. Good to know I was correct in holding onto dozens of high rolled curios. Can we actually have a brunt’s option for those? As usual like 60% eh. ---
**Author:** ![CommanderJ](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/commanderj/32/13959_2.png) [@CommanderJ](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/CommanderJ)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/35 "2023-08-03T16:03:19Z")
@FatsharkCatfish You have done literally nothing about crafting locks. There are still four things one would want to change, and two of them are still locked. What the actual hell? This doesn’t even account for the five statbars one might want to change. You have done nothing about the RNG. Nothing at all. Seriously. Eight months after release, after endless feedback, after countless posts on forums, on reddit, on youtube, articles on gaming sites, after losing nearly ALL YOUR PLAYERS… The results of your internal discussions was to do NOTHING? ---
**Author:** ![Flawless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Flawless](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Flawless)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/37 "2023-08-03T16:05:13Z")
> [@IgnacM991](#): > > My only guess is, that there is somebody, or a group of people hellbent on the premise that casino style progress is hooking the players into the game. > > I firmly believe, that this individual has barely touched any good games including Darktide itself. You create _addicting_ games by creating immersion, strong, varied core gameplay and rewarding progression. I am about 100% certain that the decision makers regarding the crafting/progression system are singlehandedly to blame for the concurrent playerbase being less than 10k. A good crafting/progression system could make the game great. Instead we have a garbage system that has not significantly changed since release (despite unanimous dislike and clear feedback from the community) and drives away even the most degenerate gamers like myself. ---
**Author:** ![anon61080228](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@anon61080228](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/anon61080228)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/38 "2023-08-03T16:08:34Z")
> [@Mezmorki](#): > > really don’t understand what’s so hard about adding an option to spend 500-1000 diamantine to remove a lock. Or Melk’s coins, like you either choose to buy some weapon from his shop or remove locks. Cause at some point there will be nothing to spend on your coins. ---
**Author:** ![Mezmorki](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/mezmorki/32/20666_2.png) [@Mezmorki](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Mezmorki)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/39 "2023-08-03T16:08:36Z")
> [@CommanderJ](#): > > You have done literally nothing about crafting locks. There are still four things one would want to change, and two of them are still locked. What the actual hell? You said very succinctly what I tried to say earlier. Basically, very little has changed. Still 2 out of 4 things are locked, you just have a little more flexibility in what gets locked. Pretty disappointing really ☹ I have mountains of item I’m sitting on hoping for a way to remove the locks. Effectively nothing has changed for those items. Still no way to remove the locks on the hundreds of items I already have. Removing the locks with a diamantine cost is the no-brainer solution in my mind. You’ll still have to be judicious with items and managing resources, and you’ll still be on the hunt for duplicates for items so you don’t have to spend resources to respec the items, but at least you’d be able to “build” an item to desired specs (with perks & blessings at least) and thus share/exchange/test/discuss different builds. E **ven with the proposed changes, build sharing is still impossible** and Fatshark is thus under-realizing a huge opportunity for player engagement. ---
**Author:** ![Whizzard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Whizzard](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Whizzard)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/40 "2023-08-03T16:10:21Z")
Whole lot of Meh. Been away from the game for so long that the harder difficulties are out of reach for at least a few weeks to get back to form. Crafting changes are underwhelming _at best_. Connections to other regions servers would have been great… When there was still the playing population to support it. As an APAC player, I’m still playing with 3k other people when half the world is asleep. Account based wallet should have been patched in early 2023. It’s ridiculous that they’ve waited this long for it to be a priority and people that have hung in there have more than enough resources outside plasteel. All and all, unless the next patch notes are several _unpadded_ pages long with fixes and changes to classes, weapons, and other things, there’s still nothing worth coming back to until they start their season content. _If they even manage to do season content._ The game is still half baked and this is just so much flailing for relevancy with a playerbase that has largely moved on, either permanently or temporarily, and with good reason. Why bother spending time ramming your head against that wall while convincing yourself it’s a good time in sunken cost fallacies? ---
**Author:** ![Gnodab](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/gnodab/32/56579_2.png) [@Gnodab](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Gnodab)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164/41 "2023-08-03T16:10:22Z")
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Too little, too late. Unified currency is a good change, but it should have been a thing from the start. Not when the vast majority of people have moved on. Same goes for the bandaid of crafting changes. Darktide is doomed to remain a wasted opportunity and it makes a grown pal weep. [Previous page](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/dev-blog-into-the-maelstrom/82164.md?page=3)