@Sieraen
What rating will the game hold when it comes out?
Butchering for meat is not the same gore as violence, and while I dont expect it to exactly as gory as reality, I would be sad if it was just lacking due to rating. I also do not think this game will be marketed to young people and children, as its more of a mature niche type of game. Not saying we wont see any but Ithink the community will be made up of a vast majority of adults. Which countries ban hunting and video game depictions of hunting and cleaning an animal carcass? I would see it as more educational than gory but that may be just me. Im hoping for at least some realism pertaining to blood and butchering. There is a post about that I havent read though, so not sure whats will be going on with blood and gore.
Anyways, On to the main topic, I like the idea of the cutting of the meat and cleaning of the animal (or person as someone suggested heh) having options and variations. In my opinion the more "skill checks" we have during each step of gathering/preperation for creating something whether it be a loaf of bread or a blade not only increases the uniqueness of each item, but allows for the truly great or dedicated to shine, which I am certain this game tailors to in many fashions already.
I normally try to compare crafting in games to SWG to an extent. Every resource had a value which had a wide range. Then each harvester you used to obtain said resources would effect the resource after harvesting, but mind you the harvesters are made up of certain quality resources too. So im going to go by percentages here. Say you have 10% harvester (10% being its quality which would be equal to say quality 1200 out of 12000). And the resource cache has a quality of 35%. guesstimations here you would have a 22.5% resource. You could then use that 22.5% resource with other resources, for example we will say some left over 10% resorces to create a 16.25% harvester that would the harvest 25.625% resources (Without the crafter of the harvesters skill being equated into it). Making everything have a potential exponential quality the more time and work you invest into your tools/skills/equipment.
Now that was just for acquisition of materials, again your crafting machines would have a quality dependent on skill and materials used, so the skill of the character, the quality of the resources, and the quality of the machine effect the outcome as well as in SWG you could change temperatures and pressures and stuff to make items further unique. In CoE we will also have the added Skill check of the player skill in crafting. So that will further make items and crafting unique in their trade.
The thing To me about the complexity of the situation scaring off people from doing it, I don't know if I necessarily see that happening. First if theirs still good use for lower grade items, like an economy that supports production of cheaper goods for lower income citizens, then this would work. In games where only the "meta" is the thing to do, it wouldn't. No one would ever buy low quality materials or items if they could buy high quality ones. But with the added need of survival, as well as an economy and game engine that tailors to class and hierarchy, I think that people who don't want to invest a lot of time into a skill and only want basics would be find their basic low quality items sufficient for say at least filling ur stomach or giving you at least a shoddy tool to get some firewood with, nothing perfect needed. I also believe there will be a heavy focus on characters SPECIFICALLY for crafting or gathering or other functions not of the combat persuasion, so I think it would help keep them entertained and enjoyable, rather than making them bothersome. And someone not commuted to the trade wouldn't be able to produce the high quality items of someone committed to the trade, which again rewards effort and skill, allowing for basic crafters to still craft useful items for convince, but high quality stuff would be strictly created by skilled and dedicated players, as would be in real life.
Eh just my 2 cents, or like 83 cents......... this lasted longer than I expected lol Anyways I feel I've begun rambling. Ta ta for now! ^_^