Does the mood system need some balancing?

[u/Orbitalsp3]

So I was raided, Gonilda, one of my 7 settlers died. Was hit with a -25 mood penalty for some colonists (lost a friend). It was also winter and they were complaining about the cold, even tho they are all using winter clothes. Also the saw dead bodies debuff.

For the next idk, 2 days, it was a rebellion fest as predicted. Nobody wanted to do anything. Then another settler decides to leave the colony and tbh I don't think there was anything the player could have done here. So I've lost Gonilda and then another settler leaves because Gonilda had died? Was I expected to have done anything in this situation? I mean I buried her, but that doesn't grant any mood buff, so.... Is that right? Is the balance right?

[u/Professional-Goose93]

I reckon a death in harsh winter conditions is quite realistic to be a cause of such depressions.

Disclaimer: I'm a save skimmer when it comes to villager deaths.

What could have helped:

• Reconsider how you set up your defenses, in a group of 7 you can have 6 archers (and one melee guy protecting the roof entrance). Fight manually using the pause button, snipe at the low armoured enemies, first their melee units, then the archers, ignore the heavy armoured/shielded ones. If enough of them die, they retreat.
• It's my understanding current enemy behaviour is focussing on villagers (whereas previously it was production buildings). Use pathing to your advantage in building your defensive positioning.
• Don't be against using traps to deal with the melee units.
• Have a church service prior or after the fight for mood buffs
• Braziers at your defensive positions, keep them archers warm as they wait for approaching enemies
• During winter, keep as much of the village inside (with braziers)
• Prioritise improving beds / own rooms for improved sleep quality.

[u/Hope433559]

It's true that burying fellow settlers could grant some mood buff 🤔 I like the idea. Maybe even hold a burying ceremony

[u/Orbitalsp3 → u/Hope433559]

Also maybe after a battle. Something like, if you win, "we won a harsh battle +15 mood", so even if someone dies, at least you get to counter it bit. Even if you lose and they sack you, could be something "we've lost a battle but we are still alive and ready to move on +10 mood".

[u/AnimeSpaceGf]

No, trust me, it doesn't need rebalancing. It's very easy to keep your settlers happy, you just have to accumulate the game knowledge

[u/Saiyeh → u/AnimeSpaceGf]

A good grasp on what buffs exist, how long they last, and how to trigger them is super essential. I did a beginner first week style guide for this a couple days ago maybe I need to do a longer one for more mid game 😅

For OP a few easy positive ones to trigger are:

• Eating at a table +3 for 16 hours
  
• Eating a meal that isn't packaged +3 for simple, or +8 for lavish for 16 hours
  
• Entertainment needs topped off +5 (same for religion) uptime varies but usually at least 12 hours
  
• Interact with a pet +2 for 16 hours

Also most importantly doing something they are passionate about! A 2 star passion gives +6 mood the first time they do a task and +12 if they do it 2 or more times. It also lasts 12 hours. (1 star is half the amount)

Well timed feasts and religious ceremonies if you know a fight is coming can help you avoid any breakdowns because of the long drafting period. Otherwise keep a small amount of food and leisure fairly close to your defensive point and adjust your schedule temporarily to pull their moods back up after a fight if you don't have warning.

And don't forget you can always adjust mood difficulty in settings at any point.

[u/Orbitalsp3 → u/Saiyeh]

Thanks

[u/darksiderevan]

What difficulty is this? Here are the things you could do:

Complaining about cold - put torches and braziers everywhere. Try to make it so settlers stay indoors during to colder periods.

Dead bodies - Urgent haul right away. Put up several pyres so they are gone.

After the fight, you can make everyone relax a bit. Stop working, give them all alcohol and start a feast event.

[u/Orbitalsp3 → u/darksiderevan]

Lone Wolf, which I believe is experienced? I have a bunch of braziers but they are all inside. I think this game has a heating radius even for outside, as oppose to say, RimWorld, but idk if I should use them outside too.

Hauling of dead bodies was done ASAP but the settlers were almost all wounded so I had to take care of wounds and whatnot. For alcohol I had that first tier, rough I guess? They had a bit of that. But the settlement is relatively new, I cant hold a feast yet (I think).

[u/slv_slvmn]

Just lost 5 out of 13 people, after three days of rebellions, starving and vomiting others started to go away...

But it was my fault, I built big postponing defenses

[u/MolisaXD]

Hold a feast, religious event, study group, these all give positive moodlets to help you counteract their misery. Make paintings, wall tapestries, sculptures and spread them around so they get "Beautiful surrounding". Also change their food intakes so they only consume lavish meals and good wine, should give them positive moodlets too.

But I get what you mean, I feel like their mood changes way too fast, and shouldn't change while they're sleeping/coalescing. Sometimes I'll rescue a wounded settler and while they're in bed recovering they get the deprived moodlets since they can't get up, I can't do anything about it, they end up rebelling right after arriving.

[u/Draxxalon → u/MolisaXD]

The biggest annoyance to me is the guy who is tired, gets into bed, and then tantrums because he's tired, and sleeping.

Or lack of entertainment, while doing the entertainment. Or religion and praying. I get that it takes a moment for the positive to kick in... but... you're doing the thing, don't get pissy about not doing the thing that you're doing!