Topic

Better Wording in Upgrade Card Descriptions

Some of the upgrade card descriptions are confusing or downright misleading. The explanations should be clearer, or even just accurate. Since there seem to be quite a few of these confusing cards, I figured it made sense to start a thread where we could collect them all.

For example, if you have the Tincturing skill, you automatically receive imagination from using your Tincturing Kit, even without purchasing any upgrades. But the Tincture Time upgrade says: Upgrade your Tincturing Kit so you can earn imagination while using it.

What it really should say is something like: This upgrade gives you a chance to get occasional bonus imagination while using your Tincturing Kit.

Similarly, the Beaker Geek upgrade card says: Tune up your Beaker skills, for an 8% chance of Imagination earned while making powders. If you can use a Beaker, however, you already automatically get imagination when you use it. The upgrade gives you an 8% chance of earning extra or bonus imagination.

Please feel free to add your own observations and suggestions about other cards here.

Posted 7 months ago by Sirentist Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • Saucy Pan upgrade says: Become a sauce expert, so you can earn Imagination by using the Sauce Pan.

    Should say: Become a sauce expert and occasionally earn extra Imagination by using the Sauce Pan.
    Posted 7 months ago by Sirentist Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Better Pot upgrade says: Truly experience the Awesome Pot so you can get imagination for making food with it.

    (Why is imagination sometimes capitalized and sometimes not?)
    (Oops sorry, pedantic moment!)

    Should say: Truly experience the Awesome Pot so you can sometimes get extra imagination for making food with it.
    Posted 7 months ago by Sirentist Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1
    Posted 7 months ago by Rook Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Also, the Quoin Multiplyer cards say increase by 20%, 50% or 100%; but that only applies to the base amount, not your current amount.  The listing for them in your Upgrades page is much clearer: increase by 0.2, 0.5, or 1.0.  The cards' wording should reflect this.
    Posted 7 months ago by Scarlett Bearsdale Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Agreed! The Quoin Multiplier cards are confusing if you don't really understand that the percentage is of the original multiplier. Maybe in this case it would make sense to give an example. "If you currently get 10 from a quoin, this card will upgrade you so you get 10.2. But since the numbers are rounded, you'll actually still get only 10. Don't worry, this is how it's supposed to work."

    Also, 

    Creative Seasoner says: Increase your chance of earning imagination when you season beans.

    Should say: Increase your chance of earning extra imagination when you season beans.
    Posted 7 months ago by Sirentist Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1-ing the thread. 
    Posted 7 months ago by Lord Bacon-o Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Summary: if you're going to use quantities, make them clear and accurate. If you're going to use generalities (some, more, bonus, additional), make them consistent.
    Posted 7 months ago by Pascale Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yes yes.
    Posted 7 months ago by Fnibbit Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree with all the above. If the wording is unclear/misleading to experienced players like us, think how it will confuse new players! 

    For the Quoin Multiplier, I suggest it read "This card will add 1 point to your Quoin multiplier total" or .2 or .5,  or whatever. Clear, simple---as in KISS.
    Posted 7 months ago by Blithe Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1! I actually posted about the coin multiplier cards in Bugs
    Posted 7 months ago by Aurora Dellaterra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Scarlett  -  I just got stung for 12,000 iMG thinking I was upgrading _my_ multiplier by 50% as opposed to getting a fixed amount.  The card even says "_your_ multiplier".  

    +1 Sirentist  -  I was at 11.6 multiplier adding on the 0.5 gave 12.1, so effectively I spent 12,000 iMG for no increase in multiplier.  Feeling a bit ripped off.
    Posted 7 months ago by dmnddgs Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Paid 26k for 100% multiplier expecting to see 100% increase in quoin returns.. what a bargain!!! NO, it wasn't
    Posted 7 months ago by snygyst Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The deceptive wording of the multiplier cards makes it seem as though TS is trying to trick us into spending imagination, which I don't understand.  It's not like they make money when we spend iMG :/
    Posted 7 months ago by Aurora Dellaterra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Clearer wording on the cards would be great, as described above.

    I really don't think any of the wording was developed deliberately to deceive; I think it's a case of the descriptions being written by someone(s) who didn't realise that their description of the mechanics was too high-level or wouldn't be read and understood in the same way by a player as it is by the devs.

    Someone who understands, say, nuclear physics and writes an explanation of the concepts for the general public might unintentionally make it too complex. They have all of their background to draw on and might not realise the limits of their audience's knowledge. They run their explanation past a few physicist friends who all say, "looks good!"...and then they give their info to the public, and the overwhelming response is, "This is confusing! I don't get what you're saying!" It isn't until the info is read by the intended audience that the physicist can get the feedback they need to tailor it properly for that audience. That's likely all that's happened here. No deliberate deception; just a lack of input as to how they could best word things to help us.

    And now, this is where we, the beta testers, come in. Gaining our feedback on the cards is the way they're going to make the descriptions clearer for players in future.
    Posted 7 months ago by Voluptua Sneezelips Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Double Max Relax card: Increase your chances of a bonus when you Max Relax!

    A new player won't know what that means -- I have only achieved "max relax" a few times myself, and had all but forgotten it -- and I don't know what sort of bonus this will give me.  Imagination?  More mood or energy?  Both?  If I'm going to spend 4,000i, I'd like to be clear on it.
    Posted 7 months ago by glum pudding Subscriber! | Permalink