WarMongerian

About the game: I am focusing on new players and (Potential new players), and as such I am going to play a series of games that run from spawn till Hoard Night, just to get folks used to what they also can do in the first week of their character's life. So, if you came here seeking a video made by a master player, keep looking, as this thread/video is not for you! By playing the Vanilla game, with the easiest settings (NOT default), It is my hope to help folks learn a bit about playing the game. My own playstyle is that of the guy that digs in, and builds a bigger and better base. I know, even with my limited experience, that the best defense for my home/castle, is not to be in it when the Zombies come a calling come Hoard night. My loves of this game are Building, Crafting, Exploring, Mapping and learning how to better do a weeks gaming, and then going back, on the exact same map, and doing it all again, but better each time through. As I learn about the game, I'm also going to learn how to write threads, and make videos

First attempt at a 7DTD video, crosses fingers. Setup video, test. Hope this works. All I'm trying to do is provide a video too cover the setting up of my current game, that will be played from May the 12th until May the 18th, and then I'll move on to the next playthrough. Let me know all the ways my video start needs improving on.

Ok, so health is still an issue, and a big one, but will be starting this week's game today, so I can start posting part of it hear tonight. As always, he concept of these weekly games is to play a character from birth to Hoard Night death(s), and then start all over again the next week and try to improve week after week. I'm currently making videos for inclusion, and hope to get the sound setting set so anyone watching can hear the game sounds while watching.

Yep, I have never used off-computer storage for video files, at least not for 7DTD. So Image Shack and YT are part of "The Cloud" then? I have a dim memory of reading the I could post stuff (screenshot's) to the cloud, but all that that really meant was just uploading things to some hosting site? I'm starting to realise I don't have a grasp of modern times computer jargon wise, lol. I honestly don't have a clue if your meaning 'rumble' or that is a misspelled joke for a site that could be used to host videos from in game play. I already tried to make a brief video with audio commentary, but the content was about as bad as you would expect from someone doing this for the first time, the voice over was not something I can make better, as sometimes (Like when tired), I tend to slur my speech, not to having to much to drink, but as a permanent condition. The first time I had this difficulty was after the first stroke, but it went away after a little while, but the more recent one has left me in a halfway state, where I can talk right most of the time when not tired, but slurring my speech when I have done to much since my last nap. Anyway, I'll start looking into an off-site storage place for my videos, and just to clarify, when I do get the things uploaded, I'll be using the "Other Media" button to post the links here to this forum? Really looking forward to getting this started well before Retail comes along and I have to learn things from scratch again.

Great! That is what I needed. So I can just link the videos locations in my weekly threads? I know that there is something called "The Cloud", and I guess this is where I need to upload my videos?

I have a video, it isn't any big deal, but it gives me a basis for moving forward (I really want version 1.0 to start after I have time to learn how post video files), and Like SpaceX, I need to get feedback on my initial vids. How do I post a video? Does it work just like a screenshot? Or does it need more effort to include? I'm, thinking to make a 60 second video of some very limited topics, like where I spend my skill points, and why. Or several shorts of base layout/dimensions, and why. So, do I post a video like a still image, or what?

This is the second weekly games thread. Health and new ideas are a concern, but I need to know how (and where) to post my videos going forward. I'll also be asking for input for things to cover with (short) videos within the thread. I'm still learning about this stuff, and how ro include (and NOT to include) sounds external to the game.

Health and new software have made themselves felt, and it is becoming obvious that I'm not yet in the groove getting away from playing to come here and posting, text, screen shots, and video. I have purchased FRAPS, thinking screenshots and video would be great, but while FRAPS can make still images, it's videos are not working with 7DTD. I then got OBS installed, but (eventually) was able to make an actual 7DTD video of some game play, but issues exist. I am hoping to be able to post actual honest to goodness Hoard night Videos soon, but I'm not there yet. For instance, being new to video making, and OBS, I keep getting audio that I don't want in my video. Still playing this first game, and will innish up hoard night #2 today. Hoping to get at the least a video of where this first game got to for day 14.

Happy News, FRAPS failed, but OBS works, now all I need to do is learn the audio recording stuff, plus learning how and where to post the videos, but oh how good it feels knowing that this is now a given and doable thing.

Got helped on steam, OBS is up and running.

Need help, FRAPS doesn't make videos with 7DTD, what software does work?

I don't think I actually made it to Hoard night that game, because of a late start and two days of health problem, and then it was Saturday Night, and having to get ready for the Sunday - Saturday game... I've since restarted, playings since Sunday, through 1st hoard night...But here I have to report a problem. I purchased FRAPS to make videos for the second Hoard night, but the videos don't work with 7DTD, what recording software does work with 7DTD? Actual Game thread is here:

I can provide all 4 game setup tabs if asked, but for now I'll just be concentrating on the ingame stuff from day 1. First setting foot in the game. Getting My Armored Gear. I like a full set, rather than just the pants. This is what my guy looks like to others now. Initial Quest is complete. Choices now need to be made. Where to put these initial 4 points? Many an hour of hair pulling over these choices are swept away, by just saying "Screw it", and just picking one path and going for it. On this particular run through, I spent the 4 as shown (for better or worse), and this led to less stamina being used to gather my initial resources of timber & stone. Zooming out on the map, the adventure begins! Arriving at the trader (and helping myself), I waddle across the road with my haul, drop a pair of storage boxes, along with my bedroll, to form an ad hoc, temp camp. I would like to take the time to point out the set value of "9" in my backpack, I really love this feature, and cannot say just how much I like it, Just wish we could build storage boxes with this. One of the first missions I set myself, is getting the cooking pot early on. Prowlin Petes is one of three places I know I can pick one up, but the only one I remembered for this game. Just after dark, while building my RON base, I hit level 9. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to show what I spent my points on. I'll try to keep that lesson in mind for next week's game. A bit latter, just before day 1 ended, I got to level 10.

Yep, I look at this as a needed experience to learn HOW to do such threads. I won't get very good at that in such a short time, but I'll be better able to deal with the new stuff if I start learning now. If my health holds, I plan to start learning how to stream and post recorded videos. Just played 1st hoard night for my currant little guy, and like spaceX, best to call ir a "Learning Experience". Some of my ideas worked quite well, others not to much, but I had a good time and got a lot better return from kills. I love the game, and really want to be able to showcase the way I play and give folks an entertaining time watching the videos I'll be posting in the future, and reading up on these threads. Hopefully, if I persist, we may just get some other folks to start doing something like this, and get lots of new players.

I Decided not to play my test game to hoard night, so that I could concentrate on the first actual game. The first actual weekly game fell through, as I made many a game screwing up error, and died for the first time, the first day. Even then, I considered using that game for this thread, until I discovered an even bigger error, and that was caused by my playing tired. When I went into my picture folder, there we so few images that I realized I needed to restart, and offer a better playthrough with more pictures from in game. So, the first attempt got started on Sunday, but didn't get documented, and illness and health left me unable/uninterested in posting anything latter that day. Last night, I started up the game to see where the latest guy had made it to, and here is the latest... About the Poll, the game will end not later than the 4th of May, so a two week grace period after the game stops being played seems like enough. About the above image, That was the last Image I took, and the first days images are reformatted and ready for uploading

I got this weeks game played to end of day 6, have bicycle! Experiments will Commence.

I fell short of a hoard night in the test game, in order to be able to start the weekly Sunday game, but fell ill and will have to wait to post details of that characters 1st day.

Ok, last update for the current test game, the tomorrow the Sunday Weekly game will start, and each one will be for their particular game. A thought occurs to me, would it be better just to make one thread, but clearly mark beginning and end of each successive weekly game within one big thread, or just a pack of little threads, each but around the own separate games? Here is where I am starting off in the last playing session of this starter game. Playing will be concluded by midnight tonight, but posting it will happen later.

I'm thinking that the new games should all have their own threads, and that each such thead will be in another place, so the "Images and Videos" will be the likely spot for each games threads. Keep in mind, this project is only about running through a Hoard night or two, so will not be getting to day 21 most likely. Just trying to work out my favorite way of doing things, sharing the pics, and finishing up in time for the next game to start on Sunday. Making a new thread for each game will also help folks to be able to keep track of ongoing developments, both with respect to gameplay improvements and thread writing. Trying to rush this, but better I just cover this as best I can, day 4... I got to level 26 doing home improvements whilr waiting for the trader to reopen, so I could turn in a quest. He closed right as I was returning at dusk, so had to do something while waiting. Had some dead body knocking at my door! Day 5... Got to level 31, and had a small group come by for a visit. Reading the replies, I think you have the right of it. Tomorrow, I plan to post the opening shots of the first weekly game, and this game will be played out in a full week of gaming, not the late start and 2 day illness break that this game suffered.

I have to admit, I'm lost with respect to just where/what I was trying to do in the game, 2 days ago. I know that I can fight Hoard night outside my base, and hope to do that this morning, so I can come back and post the results, so that tomorrows official first weekly game (Solo I think) can have something to compare to, and so folks can offer concerns and suggestions for what they would like to see. For instance: 1) Base at first night 2200-2400 hours each day. 2) Skill tree advancement day by day. 3) other things of interest. Some folks might not want to see base layouts/progress, while others may want a detailed walkthrough, so I'll try to post a little bit better of what the base looks like day-by-day for the actual Sunday games, but unless there is some way to removes the foggy/blurry visibility conditions, expect some of the images not to be very good. Please keep in mind I have no experience documenting my 7DTD gameplay and posting the games and their progression here, so the first few weeks are probably going to best chalked up to learning experiences, as I try to figure out what is what, and also find out if my computer is able to run video-capturing software alongside the game

Date: April 27th, 2024. 0449 hours. I'm not sure about a lot of things. I had a 2nd stroke on good Friday, so recovering from that is taking a toll, mostly I can talk without slurring my speech. For one thing, I only recently learned that the supposed limit of level 1,000 might only apply to the folks characters on the cheater servers (which is where I spent the first day or three of my 7dtd career, for lack of knowing any better) and this might mean my 22x level guy is much closer to being capped then I thought, if what I am now being told is true about level progression stopping at 300. Anyway, my plan is for a new game each sunday. I recently played with one of my friends in a game he setup, and he had left the settings at a 60 minute day, and by the time I tried to join him, attempting the Intellect/Charisma build, we were past game day 80, and I only survived the next days Blood Moon by running away as fast and as far as my little digital dude could manage. It didn't work out well, so I can surely agree that having folks join me in game a week or two in will not be a good thing if that shared game is any indicator. So, for as long as this project lasts, I'll be making a brand new game every sunday, and playing just up to and through a Hoard night or two, and then the next Sunday doing it all again. So, after I got to this stage, in my first test run of this concept game, a few thing happened. Zombies came a calling, and I foolishly opened the door, thinking it was just a single zombie (My sound for the game is glitched, and every thing is super quiet---no matter what settings I try to set), and Once the pack of Zombies were in the downstairs level of my starter base, I lead them around away from the door, so I could take the fight outside, and not trash what little I had done. After disposing of the pack, I came back in and played some more, and then Got hit up for a game by a friend, and stopped playing this game for what I thought was going to be a couple hours. Fate had a different plan for my playing time, as I ended up too sick to play for some time, and only this very early morning am I feeling up to doing some forum postings and some game playing. Here are some images of where this game got to, before my friend and my health stopped me cold... After dealing with thirst and Hunger, I went upstairs and took a look around. I have to apologise for the poor lighting in these last two Images, but I don't know of any way to fix this. Anyway, looking out at the roof, my land claim boundaries, and my planted hedge, I think I can claim some small progress. Looking north, we cannot really see anything due to the lighting effects.

I was playing when I was unexpectedly hit up for a game, so my friend and I olayed for a bit. I only made it this far in my solo game test run as a result.

Test post. For this Sunday's game, I'll post the settings I'll be using, and then a few screenshots from within the game. Note, all these shots and games will be using the EDT modified map for single spawn points, until further notice. A word about these settings, I want the almost easiest settings I can get, playing legit. Harder setting are more challenging, but for new players are at risk of being more frustrating rather thin rewarding, which is not the goal here.

Date: April 25th, 2024. 0030 hours... I'm back to play and share some 7dtd experiences! Some disclaimers and clarifications. Right now, I play the basic game with just a single modification, and that is editing the game file to allow/enforce that all players start by spawning in the exact same point. Having several games (of brand new players) being spawned in various and scattered locations left ma and those I played/learned with feeling that not enough focus had been spent of making team/party play a thing from the very start. We also shifted from public servers/24-7 games to private games, where we the players controlled when the game would be running and when it would not, so our characters would be present and playing whenever the game time was running. Playing on all but one setting setup to allow the easiest starter experience for new players (which was and still is my main focus), I quickly discovered that not everyone likes the same things from their playing of 7dtd, experienced players would find the settings to easy, and some folks just wanted to kill zombies, with nothing else mattering. My own personal goals are to provide new players with an easy intro into the game, and to this end I am looking for suggestions on how best to provide a friendly and mutually supportive playing experience for the new players to learn what is what, and how things are done. All that being said, my current plans are to create a new character every sunday, and then solo or team play that character up to and through a hoard night or two. I plan to document the highlights and failures of this process, and provide pictures and eventually videos for others to enjoy, even if only to point out what a clueless jerk I am for spending quality playing time on doing this, rather than just killing zombies. To this end I am going to at first just share my screen in a discord voice channel, and folks can watch what I am doing and make suggestions. Please keep in mind that all this work will be focused on making it a fun and enjoyable experience for new players to start to enjoy the game, not for folks to watch endless and perfectly efficient zombie massacres. Once players have played enough to know how to order their little digital dudes and ladies about within the game, I"ll be looking for some fellow adventures to share the journey. Eventually, I hope to create a number of videos that cover such minute points as how to build a campfire, place a cooking pot and grill within it, and how to use these to make the basics of murky water cleaning, grilled meat, charred meat, cooked corn and such things. Such a video will best be created and stored as part of a series, So I'll have to learn how to make these things. I also want to learn how to teach others how to teach simple things, to the improvement of the player base. To keep the task manageable for a one man show like me, links to sites that do much of this would be a big help. I'm not looking to cover the whole game, just the first few days of a characters life in the post apocalypse world of 7dtd. I also want to try team builds/play out, where a somewhat more experienced group can plan their shared play out, once folks have learned how things work, and what they like to do, and how to make the most of each others capabilities. One thing I already tried was the Intellect/charisma build, but the experiment failed do to the advanced stage of the game and bad coordination. Anyway, I'll be looking to start this project this upcoming Sunday, April the 28th, @1200 hours EDT. The first few sessions will not be publicly joinable as I get things sorted out, but I will be posting things here, and asking advice. Keep in mind the focus on new players, private games, either solo or team oriented. Have fun, and I hope to create a new game/forum thread each Sunday.

My time to play is greatly reduced, but still taking place. Just trying to level up one guy right now, past level 220 the other day, getting ready for a hoard night on day 140.