TLDR:
+ better, non-potato looking survivors
+ new custom world generation options

~ lack of significant changes from A21

- $45 price tag is a bit absurd
- removed clothing and armor variety
- progression heavily tied to magazines

I've played this far back enough in the earlier alphas, that I remember progression was based more on practice and repetition rather than random skill books. I get that some skills and recipes in the game would require various rarities of magazines, books, and manuals to unlock, but it gets ridiculous when I cant even cook a damned steak on a fire without having to find and read about it in multiple magazines first.

Tying back into progression, a large part of it is going to require doing various jobs for traders, and holy smokes that gets tiring and boring fast. It's the same handful of quest types over and over again, for the same a-hole trader(s) over and over again. I'd honestly rather just shoot the guy and go find the nice medical trader lady in another town.

Another huge chunk of your time is going to be spent raiding and looting various abandoned and ruined buildings. What I don't get is how the looting system is still so bad. I get it's just a game, but why do I have to raid a whole neighborhood to find a singular cooking pot and grill? All I'm saying is the loot drop rates for certain locations and their various containers (ovens, cabinets, vehicles, any object you loot in general) is a bit nonsensical.

In relation to the game world, more control over biomes, landmarks, and more would be awesome. For example, perhaps I want to do a Mad Max themed run, and set the world to nearly 100% desert with maybe one fairly large city, and with a dozen or so smaller outposts around the region. Having more control over map generation would make for a more fitting custom experience.

For some reason, TFP has removed the vast multitude of clothing and armors that existed up until the most recent alpha, and has replaced them with a handful of very specific armor sets. Supposedly they plan on addressing at least the clothing in the future roadmap, but I hope to see more additions and positive changes

$45 is kinda absurd for this, especially in its current state. Get a cheaper key somewhere else or wait for a sale or price reduction.

TLDR: + better, non-potato looking survivors + new custom world generation options ~ lack of significant changes from A21 - $45 price tag is a bit absurd - removed clothing and armor variety - progression heavily tied to magazines I've played this far back enough in the earlier alphas, that I remember progression was based more on practice and repetition rather than random skill books. I get that some skills and recipes in the game would require various rarities of magazines, books, and manuals to unlock, but it gets ridiculous when I cant even cook a damned steak on a fire without having to find and read about it in multiple magazines first. Tying back into progression, a large part of it is going to require doing various jobs for traders, and holy smokes that gets tiring and boring fast. It's the same handful of quest types over and over again, for the same a-hole trader(s) over and over again. I'd honestly rather just shoot the guy and go find the nice medical trader lady in another town. Another huge chunk of your time is going to be spent raiding and looting various abandoned and ruined buildings. What I don't get is how the looting system is still so bad. I get it's just a game, but why do I have to raid a whole neighborhood to find a singular cooking pot and grill? All I'm saying is the loot drop rates for certain locations and their various containers (ovens, cabinets, vehicles, any object you loot in general) is a bit nonsensical. In relation to the game world, more control over biomes, landmarks, and more would be awesome. For example, perhaps I want to do a Mad Max themed run, and set the world to nearly 100% desert with maybe one fairly large city, and with a dozen or so smaller outposts around the region. Having more control over map generation would make for a more fitting custom experience. For some reason, TFP has removed the vast multitude of clothing and armors that existed up until the most recent alpha, and has replaced them with a handful of very specific armor sets. Supposedly they plan on addressing at least the clothing in the future roadmap, but I hope to see more additions and positive changes $45 is kinda absurd for this, especially in its current state. Get a cheaper key somewhere else or wait for a sale or price reduction.