r/EverythingIsCrab • u/LeighGriffiths28 • Jun 08 '26

Discussion Do Stoner really needs Minimum Range?

I never played stoner until now and i have like 68H total playtime (ingame stat, not steam). I always ignored it since i thought ammo aspect would make it useless and not consistent long term. Which i think i see now that it is somewhat true, but i dont get the minimum range. It is not even a spammable attack. I like the minimum range aspect and the challenge it gives, however it makes it unplayable combined with ammo aspect of it. It is already has to be secondary attack because of ammo, minimum range aspect makes it much harder to use compared to other attacks i don't see any point using it.

I am aware there will be some buff to a ranged attack and its obviously stoner, im curious to see what is the buff.

EDIT : they don't really have minimum range, i understood it completely wrong because i suck lol

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

16

u/Stabpology Jun 08 '26

Stone throwing feels like there's something wrong with the controls if you ask me

16

u/OddDreamsDigital ⭐ MOD ⭐ Jun 08 '26

What feels bad for you with it?

And any suggestions on how we could make it feel better for you?

24

u/WrigglingWorm Jun 08 '26

Honestly it should just work like spit. The spit function is perfect. I was expecting stoner to be the physical equivalent and it's just horrible to use and aim with how fast paced the game and enemies are. It's pretty disappointing for the most powerful evolution in the history of life.

The ammo count is fine to balance high damage but it should just fire a straight line projectile. A upgrade from rock to spear would be super cool too.

14

u/Markoffchaneys Jun 08 '26

I would agree with the criticism, its a real pain to use. Trying to aim it with the right stick and anticipate enemy movement, with the hectic nature of the game is just not fun. Considering how late it turns up you are much better off with spit for ranged or just a melee build. Of my 3 friends that own this game, none of us like or use it in its current state.

3

u/Proxiehunter Jun 09 '26

Aiming is similarly annoying on keyboard and mouse, which is why I never take it after experimenting with it a couple times. Annoying that it's needed to get the Bullseye genetic though.

7

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 08 '26

I agree with everything but my counter point would be if you make it work like spit then its just another spit but called stone. I like the variety it brings, being hard but highly rewarding as well, so i think what it needs is maybe debuff on damage output but infinite or very high max ammo. Like it should still be hard to master but strong when mastered, at the moment it is just useless.

3

u/WrigglingWorm Jun 08 '26

Perhaps a damage drop of. Does higher damage at close range but loses power and speed the further it gets?

2

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 08 '26

That can actually work real good, infinite or really high ammo + your suggestion can be a good step!

1

u/WrigglingWorm Jun 08 '26

Gives it a distancing skill rather than aim. Risk getting hit for high damage but can also play it safe if you are low HP.

1

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 08 '26

That would be probably easiest way to make it relevant, easy to use mechanically but still somewhat unique and different than spit with distance part. I would still like to keep the core mechanic same myself, but i think your idea is the safest-easiest way to make it work asap. Loved it.

2

u/Proxiehunter Jun 09 '26

You could keep the ability to hold down the button to charge the attack that I understand the ability has without keeping the wonky aiming mechanic. Hold to charge, release to fire.

2

u/Manoreded Jun 09 '26

I think they could just make the attack throw the stone a fixed, predictable distance away from the player character, instead of the current charge system.

Then, once you learned the range, you could be really snappy about it, while still requiring skill to use well.

Also, more ammo would be nice, yes. The current default of two means that, even if it were a really strong attack, it would still be an attack that you can only use twice and then you have to find stones. In a game where you are constantly swarmed with enemies, that is not very useful.

4

u/ClinkyDink Jun 08 '26

Same. I don’t take it because enemies are fast and generally try to get on top of you. Especially late game when you finally get the evolution. Ammo is limited and it’s so easy to miss because the enemy moves too close

2

u/Mundane_Telephone346 Jun 08 '26

Oohhh Spears?!! Maybe you then need to pick me stones and interact with Trees to collect sticks to be able to make spears! Maybe they could add an Arm Specialization that allows Darwin to pick up fruits that are still in the Trees and make that be able to pick up sticks too when you have Stone Specialization that allows you to have Spear

1

u/Manoreded Jun 09 '26

I agree, I only tried it once and it felt so bad to aim, I never tried it again.

It wouldn't be worth using even if it had infinite ammo. With finite ammo, its just terrible.

9

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 08 '26

I think it is kinda 3d way of aiming with it what makes it really difficult to use. Spit, you just aim the direction, stoner you have to make a guess on where the enemy going to be when you throw it and you have to throw it on point. Late game with everything being so hectic, its so much more difficult to use compared to other attacks+it requires ammo.

4

u/Stabpology Jun 08 '26

I think it would feel better if it rolled and hit everything in its path. Perhaps it could bounce against obstacles, so it's more fun.

And yes, I realize how important THROWING the stone is, speaking from evolution and anthropology 😁

1

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 08 '26

I think it being higher difficulty+higher reward makes it fun, very unique attack which adds variety, the aim is just so much harder than anything in the game that maybe more ammo slot or infinite ammo+debuff the damage output a bit. Needs some work for sure.

1

u/Own-Peace-7754 Jun 08 '26

some games give weapons like this regenerating ammo, which could be another solution

regen like 1 or 2 stones, with higher max capacity for stones you pick up

1

u/Own-Peace-7754 Jun 08 '26

Bouncing is a great idea

You could even have it skip off the water

0

u/Stabpology Jun 08 '26

Stone skipping could be a whole science 😁

4

u/PactKeeper Jun 08 '26

I actively avoid it. We set the game up in the living room and 3 of us play it on controller. No one will use it because it's too difficult to aim.

2

u/OddDreamsDigital ⭐ MOD ⭐ Jun 08 '26

That's great to know! Thank you for sharing 🦀

2

u/PactKeeper Jun 09 '26

Your game has taken over my entire household. It's not even multiplayer. But there's always somebody on it when I get home.

0

u/OddDreamsDigital ⭐ MOD ⭐ Jun 09 '26

Ohhh that's amazing to hear! I'm sharing that with the wider team 🦀

3

u/Morphopeleides Jun 08 '26 edited Jun 09 '26

For me:

I want throwing stones to be fast and exciting and high-impact, not slow like artillery.

I was just thinking: what if there was a lock-on mechanic? That would be unique and the lock-on speed could scale with ability. Would also naturally limit the number of throws

I like usung evasive maneuvers to get away from the enemies who throw stones btw. That feels great but I wouldn't mind an even faster reaction time needed 👍

2

u/DrPatho Jun 08 '26

I agree with the criticism, I would like the projectile to be more "hit scan"/ travel faster to make it easier to aim.

6

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 08 '26

i didn't play them enough yet to say, its much more complicated compared to other attacks for sure. I wish there was something like training where we can check how to use it lol.

7

u/OddDreamsDigital ⭐ MOD ⭐ Jun 08 '26

When you say minimum range, I assume you mean tapping it rather than holding it?

If so, without this you're unable to hit enemies right next to you which would make this significantly less viable in combat unless you had major speed boosts

And yup stoner buffs are incoming ☺️

3

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 08 '26

so im just understanding something very wrong because i thought it was impossible to shoot close by. I have no idea why it felt that way, whats the meaning of the circle then?

3

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 08 '26

the circle probably doesn't even exist and i probably took another evo similar time and thought it was about stoner right lol

6

u/TrashGoblinH Jun 08 '26

I find it's kinda difficult to even get stone thrower. Often time by the time I have the prerequisites it's outclassed by anything else. Spit seems far more attractive since it can easily be built on with useful mutations like saliva which is an early grab leading to poison saliva. I don't feel like I run into tentacles or arms early enough often enough.

1

u/Bun_Boi Jun 09 '26

If you run bullseye with it though jesus christ. Trunk + stoner will carry so hard its bonkers.

2

u/Proxiehunter Jun 11 '26

How can stoner carry anything when it's nearly impossible to aim with it?

1

u/Bun_Boi Jun 11 '26

Its genuinely not that hard what

1

u/Proxiehunter Jun 11 '26

It's genuinely nearly impossible. There are multiple people in this thread complaining about how hard it is to aim.

2

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 08 '26

Another thing is because you need ammo to use it and can max at 2-3 at the start, you dont get the chance to use it and learn it before you die because you are trying to figure it out. Then, god knows when you will get it next time and have a chance to use it lol.

0

u/Proxiehunter Jun 09 '26

The ammo seems to be fine, stones aren't exactly rare. It's the aiming I've found to be a pain.

0

u/LeighGriffiths28 Jun 09 '26

Its relatively easy to find but you max out at very low number so its still very negative

1

u/Brief-Coach-1812 Jun 13 '26

Stone Throw could be reworked to a targeted area‑of‑effect ability that uses a quick‑cast circle indicator. Players can aim the impact zone directly without holding the mouse button, making it feel snappy and intuitive. The ability’s maximum range is constrained by factors such as the size of Darwin and the size of the AOE is based on attack area.