I got this a few days after release.
It a fantasy, Viking, survival, RPG type game.
A very tiny install, as all the graphics are procedurally generated.
Runs pretty well, is a bit buggy/laggy occasionally.
Hasn't crashed for me yet, but did for my son who plays it a lot.
OK with that anyway atm, as it's still early access.
Quite fun and has a really nice fantasy sort of surreal ambience to it.
I built a 24/7 Valheim server on a spare mini PC with a server manager over it to to restart with crashes, scheduled restarts and other features too. So it's pretty low maintenance.
Anyone playing it?
Quote from: danskmacabre on February 28, 2021, 05:49:33 PM
I got this a few days after release.
It a fantasy, Viking, survival, RPG type game.
A very tiny install, as all the graphics are procedurally generated.
Runs pretty well, is a bit buggy/laggy occasionally.
Hasn't crashed for me yet, but did for my son who plays it a lot.
OK with that anyway atm, as it's still early access.
Quite fun and has a really nice fantasy sort of surreal ambience to it.
I built a 24/7 Valheim server on a spare mini PC with a server manager over it to to restart with crashes, scheduled restarts and other features too. So it's pretty low maintenance.
Anyone playing it?
I'll take a look at it. I've heard good opinions from a couple other folks, and I do enjoy some survival RPG stuff.
I've been playing this for several days now and still like it.
It's pretty unforgiving, but still lots of fun to play.
I feel like this game is really going to take off in a big way if they keep updating it.
The server has been updated to include the Valheim Plus mod, which adds more features, changes etc. It's pretty nice.
So I started messing with it for an hour or so last night. First impressions: despite the backstepped graphics, it's VERY pretty.
Also, for a game that is unforgiving, the crafting is surprisingly kind. Breaking down structures gives back the resources used. Repairing the initial tools and gear are free.
Still, I haven't gotten very far yet. We'll see.
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 02, 2021, 08:21:51 AM
Also, for a game that is unforgiving, the crafting is surprisingly kind. Breaking down structures gives back the resources used. Repairing the initial tools and gear are free.
Yep, crafting is pretty generous.
Certain rarer materials can be challenging, but overall the game plays fair.
However, it's easy to die via drowning and combat. You exhaust fast too.
When you go out to dangerous areas, make a plan, be aware of your surroundings and when you're gathering resources, keep an eye out on your surroundings. Circumstances change fast.
For a starting character, early places like the Black forest can be deadly.
I play it. I played a good deal of Ark, and Conan Exiles as well as 7 days to die. Some of the other survival games on the market. It is hands down the best of the 4 games. It is beyond obvious the developers have played those other games and created their game to give more purpose, fun things to do and to take some of the pain out of crafting and building.
I enjoy it quite a bit, killed a sea serpent the other night and now just need to brew up that delicious stew. My brother and I have hit the iron age, and the game keeps getting better rather than falling into tedium.
As for taking off in a big way, it is a runaway gangbusters success now, I do think it can get bigger, a lot bigger if they keep polishing and word keeps getting around. They have the benefit of all the survival fans who have long running youtube channels with big followings singing very high (and deserved) praise for it.
Quote from: danskmacabre on March 02, 2021, 07:08:51 PM
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 02, 2021, 08:21:51 AM
Also, for a game that is unforgiving, the crafting is surprisingly kind. Breaking down structures gives back the resources used. Repairing the initial tools and gear are free.
Yep, crafting is pretty generous.
Certain rarer materials can be challenging, but overall the game plays fair.
However, it's easy to die via drowning and combat. You exhaust fast too.
When you go out to dangerous areas, make a plan, be aware of your surroundings and when you're gathering resources, keep an eye out on your surroundings. Circumstances change fast.
For a starting character, early places like the Black forest can be deadly.
I've been taking it slow. Reconstructing my house, for example. The game has some simple physics regarding construction, so don't try to build goofy-ass Minecraft houses; they won't survive.
I'm having a bitch of a time figuring out how to 'level' out an area so I can put down wood floors that look better than dirt. Still, one thing at a time. I might opt for an elevated structure so I don't have to worry about it.
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 03, 2021, 10:41:58 AM
I'm having a bitch of a time figuring out how to 'level' out an area so I can put down wood floors that look better than dirt. Still, one thing at a time. I might opt for an elevated structure so I don't have to worry about it.
I've found the trick to leveling out correctly is to note that the position where your hoe hits the ground uses to level out, uses your CHARACTER'S CURRENT POSITION as a reference point to where it levels out to.
Once you work with that, leveling out is much easier.
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 03, 2021, 10:41:58 AM
I've been taking it slow. Reconstructing my house, for example. The game has some simple physics regarding construction, so don't try to build goofy-ass Minecraft houses; they won't survive.
My initial house is a bit of a functional bodge job.
It works ok and I have some functional defenses, such as 2 levels of pallisades and watch towers to shoot from.
Walls of Stakes out the front.
It even keeps Trolls away, as I can kill them with a bow before they knock down a level of Pallisades.
Still, I'm already planning to move to another island with better resources etc and I've recently picked up stone working tech, so my next building will be stone based, rather than Wood and better designed.
Quote from: oggsmash on March 03, 2021, 07:15:04 AM
As for taking off in a big way, it is a runaway gangbusters success now, I do think it can get bigger, a lot bigger if they keep polishing and word keeps getting around. They have the benefit of all the survival fans who have long running youtube channels with big followings singing very high (and deserved) praise for it.
It has hit 5 million sales now, which is pretty impressive for a 5 person team.
I think they are themselves pretty shocked how successful it's become.
I do wonder if they keep it up will it become successful and "Evergreen" like Minecraft?
It has the advantage that it's graphics are not its selling point.
Providing a separate Stand alone dedicated was a great idea.
Its data footprint in terms of storage is pretty damned small for what you're getting. I don't know what its process footprint is (need to look at that in task manager).
I'm going to have to establish some fixed defenses at my main base. I got swarmed by greydwarfs after coming home and mobbed. Absolutely infuriating as I'd just come off second best fighting a troll in a cave (hint: don't try that unless you're tougher than me, lol).
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 05, 2021, 08:25:30 AM
Its data footprint in terms of storage is pretty damned small for what you're getting. I don't know what its process footprint is (need to look at that in task manager).
I'm going to have to establish some fixed defenses at my main base. I got swarmed by greydwarfs after coming home and mobbed. Absolutely infuriating as I'd just come off second best fighting a troll in a cave (hint: don't try that unless you're tougher than me, lol).
LOL, yeah the words "Troll Cave" translate to "Leave Now". Though I recently did manage to kill a two star troll in his cave solo, but I had an iron sword, fine bow and all bronze armor on when I did it, and I still had to do it over the course of two lives.
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 03, 2021, 10:41:58 AM
Quote from: danskmacabre on March 02, 2021, 07:08:51 PM
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 02, 2021, 08:21:51 AM
Also, for a game that is unforgiving, the crafting is surprisingly kind. Breaking down structures gives back the resources used. Repairing the initial tools and gear are free.
Yep, crafting is pretty generous.
Certain rarer materials can be challenging, but overall the game plays fair.
However, it's easy to die via drowning and combat. You exhaust fast too.
When you go out to dangerous areas, make a plan, be aware of your surroundings and when you're gathering resources, keep an eye out on your surroundings. Circumstances change fast.
For a starting character, early places like the Black forest can be deadly.
I've been taking it slow. Reconstructing my house, for example. The game has some simple physics regarding construction, so don't try to build goofy-ass Minecraft houses; they won't survive.
I'm having a bitch of a time figuring out how to 'level' out an area so I can put down wood floors that look better than dirt. Still, one thing at a time. I might opt for an elevated structure so I don't have to worry about it.
I find the stone floors much easier to make look good on what is a mostly level floor than the wood ones were. I honestly went with the dirt floor until I was able to make stone structures.
In open areas, trolls can be managed if you have a bow. Just pick them apart at range and keep moving.
The real problem comes if they show up with graydwarf assistance -- and that happens sometimes. Then it gets hairy fast. All the graylings/graydwarfs have to do is impede you enough for the troll to catch up, and then he pastes you.
In close quarters, though? Yeah, I have no desire to play with trolls in close quarters. No thanks.
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 07, 2021, 06:49:36 PM
In open areas, trolls can be managed if you have a bow. Just pick them apart at range and keep moving.
The real problem comes if they show up with graydwarf assistance -- and that happens sometimes. Then it gets hairy fast. All the graylings/graydwarfs have to do is impede you enough for the troll to catch up, and then he pastes you.
In close quarters, though? Yeah, I have no desire to play with trolls in close quarters. No thanks.
yeah its all dodge roll and hope and a prayer.
Quote from: oggsmash on March 07, 2021, 07:11:42 PM
yeah its all dodge roll and hope and a prayer.
I walked into a Troll cave all confident that I could solo a Troll in his cave with my fancy armor and sword..
The Troll's tree trunk in his hand expressed otherwise..
Yeesh, I got one shotted.. lol
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 07, 2021, 06:49:36 PM
In open areas, trolls can be managed if you have a bow. Just pick them apart at range and keep moving.
It's pretty easy if you stay on the move and pick them off. After a while they retreat and you can bring them back after a new shot at them.
But yeah, make sure you have a clear retreat if you do this.
Quote from: danskmacabre on March 08, 2021, 06:29:23 AM
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 07, 2021, 06:49:36 PM
In open areas, trolls can be managed if you have a bow. Just pick them apart at range and keep moving.
It's pretty easy if you stay on the move and pick them off. After a while they retreat and you can bring them back after a new shot at them.
But yeah, make sure you have a clear retreat if you do this.
Fire arrows also deal damage over time which can be helpful when dealing with the big blue bastards.
That being said, whacking trolls is DEFINITELY worth the work, as you'll not only find gold coins (useful if you can locate the merchant), but troll hide, which can be crafted into some very nice armor. There's also the side benefit of trolls smashing down trees and logs, which allow you to harvest the wood left behind by its rampage.
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 08, 2021, 08:38:12 AM
Fire arrows also deal damage over time which can be helpful when dealing with the big blue bastards.
That being said, whacking trolls is DEFINITELY worth the work, as you'll not only find gold coins (useful if you can locate the merchant), but troll hide, which can be crafted into some very nice armor. There's also the side benefit of trolls smashing down trees and logs, which allow you to harvest the wood left behind by its rampage.
I have a nice stack of Fire arrows in reserve for Trolls, heh .
Mmm yeah, we've found our Merchant, I wanna buy a fishing pole.
Yeah Troll armor is quite nice, just a short step down from Bronze, which I have now.
I keep spare sets of Troll armor at my base for new players.
Funny thing about trolls, fire arrows do not do "bonus" damage (yellow) damage to them, but the wood and flint arrows do. The fire is nice for the DOT, but I have noticed flint arrows do substantially more damage to them and kill faster. Regular wood arrows do surprising effective damage as well. More noticeable with Fine bow or better though.
The weird reddish glow when you hit the Trolls with fire arrows look cool at least.
Yeah I have taken out Trolls with just wood arrows earlier, but it's harder work.
I have a fine bow now too, which as you say helps.
Exploring Crypts is lots of fun, it's like and oldskool dungeonbash. Skeletons are pretty easy though. But it's fun and the loot is pretty good.
Quote from: danskmacabre on March 08, 2021, 07:16:35 PM
The weird reddish glow when you hit the Trolls with fire arrows look cool at least.
Yeah I have taken out Trolls with just wood arrows earlier, but it's harder work.
I have a fine bow now too, which as you say helps.
Exploring Crypts is lots of fun, it's like and oldskool dungeonbash. Skeletons are pretty easy though. But it's fun and the loot is pretty good.
Yeah, if you're loaded up on food with decent gear, burial chambers aren't that bad. You can tank your way through most skeletons without a shield. Rancid remains can throw poison status effect (DOT) on you, but they don't show up much.
While I don't think burial chambers 'refresh' loot and monsters, the yellow mushrooms found there do seem to regrow. Those make a decent foodstuff in early game.
Have you guys gotten to the crypts in the swamps yet? They are a great source of iron, but the swamps are damned dangerous, and the crypts are too.
Quote from: oggsmash on March 09, 2021, 12:21:06 PM
Have you guys gotten to the crypts in the swamps yet? They are a great source of iron, but the swamps are damned dangerous, and the crypts are too.
Not yet. I just built my first boat (a karve) and took it for a sail to recon the area where the Elder can be summoned.
Sailing is... actually pretty fun. You have to pay attention to wind direction and whatnot, and I'm trying to figure out how to store my boat to keep it from being damaged. But the mechanics are fairly easy to master.
We had a 3 player team last night, myself, a friend and my daughter playing.
My son was playing with 2 of his friends last night too. But they've progressed much further than us.
Anyway, we have a decent sized base by the sea, next to a Dark forest, where we get raided from a fair bit, although our defenses are generally enough to keep them out.
Of late, the meadows etc have had a lot of skeletons at night, which is handy, as the bones are useful for kit making.
We spent a fair bit of time upgrading our base, making a dock for our Karve boat and raiding the dark forest for Copper, Tin, taking out greyling generators and raiding some crypts,. which was lots of fun.
We re-visited some crypts, which respawn skeletons, the yellow mushrooms, gold and those surtling core things.
We're pretty much right in the middle of the Bronze tech tree part of the game really, doing mining for copper to upgrade our weapons and armor.
We've not got to the swamp yet, as I want to make Mead potions for poison resistance etc. We got some queen bees to make hives, which we'll do tonight probably.
So yeah aiming for potions, taking out the Elder tree boss next too for the crypt key , so we can get iron.
I think that's the draw in this game, lots of fun goals and quests to get on with and lots options for gameplay style.
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 10, 2021, 10:30:26 AM
Sailing is... actually pretty fun. You have to pay attention to wind direction and whatnot, and I'm trying to figure out how to store my boat to keep it from being damaged. But the mechanics are fairly easy to master.
We built a Karve a couple of days ago and initially just built wooden pallisades on either side and into the water, which generally keeps mobs at bay.
Sailing is great fun, once you figure out the wind direction thing and how steering works.
Looking forward to getting a longship, but we need iron for that and we don't have Iron as of yet.
Quote from: oggsmash on March 09, 2021, 12:21:06 PM
Have you guys gotten to the crypts in the swamps yet? They are a great source of iron, but the swamps are damned dangerous, and the crypts are too.
Looking forward to Sunken crypts, but we have to take out Bonemass first to get the swamp key.
That and make a steady supply of potions to help.
Just started on potions.
So how are people here playing?
Soloing on a Client PC that you're playing the game on?
Running a server on a separate PC?
Renting a server?
As we have fast reliable Internet connectivity and a static IP address, I use an older gaming PC
(a GPD Win 2 https://www.gpd.hk/gdpwin2 )
as a server and leave that up 24/7
I have server manager software running too that reboots the server every 12 hours (if noone is on the server) and reboots on a server crash.
I have a mod called Valheim plus
https://www.nexusmods.com/valheim/mods/4?tab=files
Which adds lots of QOL mods and other things, it's very nice to have.
Quote from: danskmacabre on March 10, 2021, 06:13:33 PM
Quote from: Ghostmaker on March 10, 2021, 10:30:26 AM
Sailing is... actually pretty fun. You have to pay attention to wind direction and whatnot, and I'm trying to figure out how to store my boat to keep it from being damaged. But the mechanics are fairly easy to master.
We built a Karve a couple of days ago and initially just built wooden pallisades on either side and into the water, which generally keeps mobs at bay.
Sailing is great fun, once you figure out the wind direction thing and how steering works.
Looking forward to getting a longship, but we need iron for that and we don't have Iron as of yet.
I used a pick to carve a 'slip' into the shoreline and slotted the boat into that. I'm going to put up some walls next and a roof for a boathouse.
Quote from: oggsmash on March 09, 2021, 12:21:06 PM
Have you guys gotten to the crypts in the swamps yet? They are a great source of iron, but the swamps are damned dangerous, and the crypts are too.
Can confirm swamps will force you to pay attention to your surroundings. Leaping oozes, giant leeches, draugr and skeletons coming to chop you into giblets... it can get a bit intense when you make landfall. Try to bring a lot of wood and build a small base up quick. Poison resistance potions are really useful here, as well as the draugr circlet.
If you don't have time to wade in to deal with a leech, hit them with an arrow and they'll swim off for a while.
The sunken crypts aren't too bad -- the same tactics you use for skeletons work well against draugr. But mining the muddy scrap piles for scrap iron is annoyingly low in terms of return on investment.
On the upshot, sausages are a wonderful food addition, as it gives a better buff and the crafting recipe is more resource efficient (1 raw meat, 2 entrails, four thistle).
It occurs to me I didn't specify why sausages were a good investment.
For 1 raw meat, two entrails, and four thistles, you'll get 4 sausages. The roadblock is usually foraging thistle. The good news is that it grows in swamp and black forest biomes pretty regularly and it's amazingly obvious (it actually glows a soft blue-green color; must be radioactive).
If you've made your way into the swamps, keep an eye out for turnip flowers. Turnips can be made into turnip stew (1 raw meat, 3 turnips for one bowl), another solid foodstuff. Carrot soup isn't bad but you have to keep foraging the red mushrooms (which can be a bit of a chore).
Anyways, I've been climbing mountains. Drakes and wolves aren't too bad, but man, stone golems are brutal. Amusingly, they WILL attack other enemies (much the same way skeletons and greydwarfs get into fights). Good times.
The latest Valheim update really screwed up the Valheim Plus mod.
The Valheim plus team has since put out an update to fix that, but a lot of messing about last night to fix the server.
Thinking of doing a server wipe soon anyway and looking for an interesting world seed to start again.