Dear Unknown Worlds I really want you to listen to my proposition about being able to deal damage to creatures, adding regeneration to them and keeping our vulnerability.
First. Subnautica 2 is a survival game in a world where the rule is to kill or be killed and even in it’s sci-fi setting I should expect the game to feel real on basic things. Currently only the player is being targeted by the hostile creatures. This should not always be the case, I want to observe them engaging with other fish, to see them hunt in packs like nibblers do and if targeted being able to feed them so I can keep them calm instead of tossing flares. I want this world to feel real and engaging with creatures (like in sub1 stalkers, where by interacting with them I can gain important resources and avoid getting bitten). I just don’t want the creatures to feel like obstacles that we need to avoid. I want to observe and engage with them and watch their ecosystem in action, while also being a part of it.
Damage implementations: The retractable sharp switch-axe or tadpole sub should feel realistic and do damage to small and medium creatures. Since they pose none to little harm, they can respawn. The problem starts with big and leviathan class creatures, here I recommend ability for them to regenerate health overtime and for us a different types of serious injuries that we can receive (broken bone, breached dive suit, bleeding or infection). This will make the combat with big fish highly challenging to do alone, but at least two players should have a fair chance to take down a marrowbreach. However with leviathans you can damage and stun them, but (even up to 4 players) killing one would be pretty much impossible. This will prevent the leviathans from being killed off. If a big predator like marrowbreach gets damaged enough it will go away for health regeneration. Players can choose to either follow the creature (somewhere dangerous?) and finish it off, or to take care of serious injuries and leave (risk and reward situation).
Distraction implementations: It’s clear there should be no guns in this game. I suggest adding more tools and methods to distract creatures, rather than just using flares. I doubt every predator would be interested in them, they take up space and some predators might not even have eyes. We could use something like a propulsion cannon for direct contact, feed them or attract predators with killed fish by our multitool and in last resort use it in combat, with possible bad consequences for us stated earlier.
I cannot wait for new content in Subnautica 2 and please don’t limit players to do realistic things, instead expand the consequences and engagements. I hope you consider my feedback useful. (^_^)