Night Diving

Coranth · May 2016

Sometimes I wish the 'nights' in Subnautica were longer, so we could go diving at night in the dark depths and - if implemented - there was a purpose for diving at night; such as, you could only find certain creatures and plants at night, or certain items would only be gainable at night. Other than that - if you didn't want to risk night diving, then a bed to sleep through the night would be nice, too--and yes I know beds are 'in' but they aren't scanable or craftable. Certain parts of the game that could only be 'done' during a night dive could add so much creepiness / tension / terror...

Sidchicken · May 2016

Salt and quartz used to stand out better at night... I think they may have changed that though.

Shiruxriu · May 2016

I agree, the textures of Salt and Quartz are less shiny and reflective. But at the same time, I would say that Night Diving is plenty terrifying if you're not in the shallows, and this is because most of the creatures in the game are dark in their textures and so they blend into the murkiness of the ocean. The only areas lit up adequately for night diving to not be terrifying are the Kelp Forest, Mushroom Biome, and even the Grand Reef. You could also argue the Floating Island, but I think it's the fauna of the world that makes the idea of Night Diving scarier than the world itself. The world itself has a beautiful form of terrifying that makes it wonderful to look at, but the prettier something is, usually the deadlier it is. As I am sure many of us have found out.

Sidchicken · May 2016

Night diving in the kelp forest is pretty terrifying - stalkers are more aggressive at night, and there's something erie about that yellow glow.

Shiruxriu · May 2016

Sidchicken wrote: »

Night diving in the kelp forest is pretty terrifying - stalkers are more aggressive at night, and there's something erie about that yellow glow.

While I agree with you, there is the issue that I find something equally calming about being able to see at night, but I am also one of those who refuses to dive in there during the night for anything other than Creep Seed Clusters or Creep Vine Samples. Yet that does not demand I dive into the depths of the Kelp Forest where Stalkers frequent.

Osydius · May 2016

I would actually rather have shorter night tbh (relative to day time). Because the way the game is now, you really don't see anything at all at night, so when you play on hardcore, you take huge risks by diving at that time, and flashlight or flares do not provide enough light to feel safe (and potentially attract predators).

So if you really want to play the game safe, you end up not going out at all at night, or staying in the shallows or near the surface, which makes night more of a waiting game (which is ironic when you think about it because night would be the best time to stay in your base and do stuff... but that's also the time you won't replenish your solar energy so you can't do much).

Now, I feel darkness is an important part of the game, of course, but in somewhat more controlled environment where you know a big predator is not going to come at you from behind (caves, wrecks, etc.) or in places where predators are bioluminescent so you see them from afar (kelp zone for instance). But going anywhere else at night is crazy right now.

So paradoxically, I would be in favor of more "controlled" darkness but shorter nights.

Avimimus · May 2016

I personally find the nights a bit too short (or at least I briefly had the impression that they were shorter than the days). I rather like the difference between moonlit and non-moonlit parts of the night.

FYI - Peepers are easier to catch at night (as are many types of fish). Most predators don't change in behaviour. So, it is sometimes easier and safer to work at night. The biggest danger is being unable to find your way back to the Seamoth in time. I tend to park it near where I'm working, but very close to the ground, so that the lights are illuminating a patch of ground around it. I also use shorter EVAs to ensure I don't run out of oxygen while searching for it!

ech0gh0st · May 2016

Coranth wrote: »

Sometimes I wish the 'nights' in Subnautica were longer, so we could go diving at night in the dark depths and - if implemented - there was a purpose for diving at night; such as, you could only find certain creatures and plants at night, or certain items would only be gainable at night. Other than that - if you didn't want to risk night diving, then a bed to sleep through the night would be nice, too--and yes I know beds are 'in' but they aren't scanable or craftable. Certain parts of the game that could only be 'done' during a night dive could add so much creepiness / tension / terror...

The devs should make nights longer AND they should add certain plant that will come out of rocks so you can obtain them but they only come out at night

Sidchicken · May 2016

That would be neat.

Avimimus wrote: »

Most predators don't change in behaviour.

I'm not so sure about that one. I feel like most become more aggressive by night, especially the bone sharks.

badgerfroth · May 2016

Sidchicken wrote: »

... especially the bone sharks.

I swear those guys hate me, and it doesn't matter what time I visit!

Dinkelsen · May 2016

ech0gh0st wrote: »

The devs should make nights longer AND they should add certain plant that will come out of rocks so you can obtain them but they only come out at night

That would be cool, a longer night would be ok it there was the possibility to skip it if you wanted. Like by sleeping. But I fear, since the devs somewhere said that turning the game speed to more than 10x normal speed was dangerous, this won't be possible.

Night Diving

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