Explorer Backpack & Satchel: No Slowdown Bug?

Hey guys! Let's dive into a quirky issue reported in Monkestation and Monkestation 2.0 that some players have noticed. It's all about the explorer backpack and explorer satchel and how they interact (or rather, don't interact) when it comes to slowdown effects.

Round ID:

13112

The Curious Case of the Missing Slowdown

So, here's the deal: the game should slow you down when you're lugging around too much stuff. I mean, that makes sense, right? You can't sprint at full speed with a ton of gear. But, according to a recent report, wearing both an explorer backpack and an explorer satchel isn't causing the slowdown effect that you'd normally expect. It's like you've discovered some magical loophole in the space station's physics engine!

What's Supposed to Happen?

Normally, when your inventory gets overloaded, your character's movement speed decreases. This is a pretty standard mechanic in games like this. It's designed to encourage you to manage your inventory and not hoard everything you find. The explorer backpack and satchel, both designed to increase your carrying capacity, should contribute to this slowdown when you fill them up.

What's Actually Happening?

Apparently, the game isn't applying the slowdown effect when players equip both the explorer backpack and satchel. This means you can run around with a ludicrous amount of gear without any penalty to your movement speed. Imagine the possibilities! You could become a walking armory, a mobile medic station, or the ultimate salvage collector. The implications for gameplay are pretty significant.

Why Is This a Problem?

Well, for starters, it messes with the game's balance. The slowdown mechanic is there for a reason – to make inventory management a strategic consideration. If you can bypass this mechanic, you gain an unfair advantage over other players who are playing by the rules. Plus, it just feels a bit off, doesn't it? Like something isn't working as intended. This affects the player experience and the expected game behavior. It can also impact roles that depend on the encumbrance mechanic.

Testmerges:

Here are some test merges that were active during the round this issue was reported:

• temporary fix for lag related to mobs
• Oshan Blast
• [PORT] Smooth Movement 5.2: God's Dumbest Code Edition (PLATNIUM) (BESTSELLING)
• TONIGHT, A STAR OF THE CITY SHALL FALL (adds A* pathfinding)
• Flashes now apply a heavy screen blur instead
• adds oceanic CBT (stomper boots)
• [BALANCE] [REWORK] Vampire rework part 2: THE BIG ONE (Sol removed, changes to leveling system, many buffs, some nerfs, fixes, and more)
• Change the navigation button sprite so its way more obvious
• [S] Moves proc call as well as lua and SDQL to their own permission flag
• New escape menu
• eats some of your bugs nyaa~

It's worth noting these merges in case one of them is the culprit behind this weirdness. Tracking down the source of the bug can be a process of elimination.

Reproduction Steps:

Want to try replicating this yourself? Here's how:

1. Equip an explorer backpack.
2. Equip an explorer satchel.
3. Fill both the backpack and satchel with as much stuff as you can.
4. Observe your movement speed. Is it slower than normal? If not, you've successfully reproduced the bug!

Additional Information:

• Reporting client info:
  • BYOND:516.1667
  • Key:shawtylikeamelody

Potential Causes and Fixes

So, what could be causing this issue, and how can it be fixed? Here are a few possibilities:

• Code Bug: There might be a flaw in the code that calculates movement speed when multiple inventory-enhancing items are equipped. Maybe the game is only checking for one of the items, or maybe there's a mathematical error in the calculation.
• Item Interaction: The way the explorer backpack and satchel interact with each other might be causing the problem. Perhaps there's a conflict in their code that prevents the slowdown effect from being applied correctly. The combination is not correctly accounted for.
• Test Merge Interference: It's possible that one of the test merges listed above introduced this bug. Maybe a change to the movement system or inventory management inadvertently created this issue.

Possible fixes include:

• Code Review: A thorough review of the code related to movement speed and inventory management is needed to identify any errors or conflicts.
• Item Balancing: Adjusting the stats of the explorer backpack and satchel might help to restore balance to the game.
• Test Merge Rollback: If a test merge is suspected, rolling back that merge might resolve the issue.

Conclusion:

The case of the missing slowdown is a curious one. It highlights the importance of thorough testing and attention to detail in game development. While it might seem like a minor issue, it can have a significant impact on gameplay and balance. Hopefully, the developers will be able to track down the source of this bug and fix it soon. In the meantime, enjoy your newfound ability to carry a mountain of gear without slowing down – but don't get too used to it!

Stay tuned for updates, and happy exploring!