Follower Needs System

[chesko256]

Design and develop the follower Needs system. This system should be a greatly simplified version of the player needs system and should be administrated by the player as painlessly as possible. Look for ways to simplify wherever possible to remove tedium.

The core gameplay feeling here is one of being a quartermaster or RTS-like experience, ensuring that those under your command have the necessary supplies to do the job, and if they don't, people start deserting you / mutany / etc. Focus on a central resource that represents the provisions of the entire group, minus the player.

[chesko256]

Central provisions resource (like a Warcraft / Starcraft resource); need a way to convert food -> provisions. Who carries provisions? How to determine weight?

[chesko256]

Provisions Pack, a central bag that followers eat out of.

Need to take steps to prevent one follower being the "food mule".

[chesko256]

Give followers money? Auto-replenish pack?

[chesko256]

None of this feels fun, but it's been requested a lot of times, so, whatever.

[chesko256]

After a tremendous amount of whiteboarding, the provisions pack idea seems to be the most promising and offers the fewest drawbacks, and actually feels interesting.

[chesko256]

Provisions is a Food category item added to the player's inventory when Last Seed is enabled. When used, opens a separate container for storing food and drinks.

Food and drink items can be added to your Provisions. These items are shared amongst you and all of your current followers. If Follower Needs is enabled, they will eat and drink periodically from your Provisions. If there is nothing in your Provisions, they will eat from their own inventories instead. The player does the same if Player Auto-Eating is enabled (first from Provisions, then from their inventory).

The weight of your Provisions is shared equally among you and all of your current followers; they will each be given a "Share of Provisions" item of the same weight. When no food is in your Provisions, it weighs nothing and its name is changed to Provisions (Empty). If a follower is dismissed or added, the weight of your provisions is automatically recalculated.

Provisions is a quest item, and cannot be dropped or sold. If you want to store your food currently in Provisions somewhere else, remove it from your Provisions and then place it where you like.

Share of Provisions cannot be taken from followers and is removed when they are dismissed.

Provisions allows you to manage your entire party's food supply from one place, without having to engage your followers in dialogue or trade with them individually.

If Companion Animal Needs is enabled, your tracked pet will also periodically eat from your Provisions. Weight of Provisions is not shared among companion animals (dogs, etc).

Food stored in Provisions spoils at a normal rate.

[chesko256]

Followers and animal companions share a collective hunger, thirst, and fatigue value. The scale is simplified compared to the player. They have no Vitality system. Their current state is communicated through text notifications.

After reaching maximum hunger, thirst, or fatigue in 48 hours (default) they will all simply leave your service.

Companion animals share the same messages and behavior, but require much less food and water.

Followers will "share" their food and water by contributing their individual inventories to the required total upkeep if there is not enough food or drink in Provisions.

"Having eaten, [Follower Name] / the group is in higher spirits." (only when transitioning from a negative hunger state back to normal) "[Follower Name]'s / The group's thirst has been quenched." (only when transitioning from a negative thirst state back to normal) "[Follower Name] awakens / the group awakens bright and refreshed." (only when transitioning from a negative fatigue state back to normal)

"[Follower Name] seems / The group seems on edge from hunger." "The lack of water appears to be worrying [Follower Name] / the group." "[Follower Name] / the group begins to look tired."

"Tempers flare as [Follower Name] / the group suffers from hunger." "Tensions rise as [Follower Name] / the group continues to thirst." "[Follower Name] grows / The group grows increasingly weary and irritable."

"[Follower Name] / The group looks like he/she/they might snap if he/she/they don't/doesn't find something to eat soon." "Severe thirst has pushed [Follower Name] / the group to his/her/their breaking point." "[Follower Name]'s / The group's eyes are sunken, worn to the brink of exhaustion."

"Hunger-stricken, [Follower Name] / the group abandons you." "Thirst-stricken, [Follower Name] / the group abandons you." "Sleep-deprived, [Follower Name] / the group abandons you."

[chesko256]

Need to handle vampire followers (Serana, etc). Need to allow selecting animal companion gender in settings.

[chesko256]

Need to allow feeding animal directly through dialogue.

[chesko256]

Due to data ambiguity and possible incompatibility, plans to have horse / mount feeding is shelved.