Wolvden, challenging or not?

I was a beta tester, so my own "trial and error" period was during our beta testing. So my mistakes had no real consequences because it was just the testing period. Everything would get wiped and we were here to test the balance of the game. I'm sure I'm not the only beta tester who felt like WD was just... really hard, as none of us really first knew what to do and we had no guides to look at either. 

But things were adjusted, and we learnt and for me, WD just got a lot easier. At least easy for my playstyle which is just very active. And when EA rolled out, I knew what to do and what not to do - so I knew what mistakes to avoid and so far only one of my pups have died. And it was just one I let to die too. I've never had to buy food to feed my wolves, nor toys or herbs. 

But for many, WD is a new experience and some never even played LD or came from another petsim that just gives out a lot of free handouts and really have no consequences.

Do you feel like WD is "too hard"? Or is too easy? Middle ground?

Share your thoughts! I'm curious to hear them. 

And fellow beta testers... Remember the original herbalist before all the adjustments? 

I didn't start playing until public access and I really don't think it's hard. I've seen a lot of people say it's difficult and time consuming, but I haven't had any trouble? No pups have died, I have food and toys coming out my ears, the biggest thing I've had difficulty with is having enough herbs to make medicines when I need them, and even that's not too tough thanks to the 3 for 1 exchange Herbert does. And I've never even played a game like this before. Of course, I might be a little biased - if games are 'too easy' I'll generally get so bored that it becomes a hard game, because I'm too bored to even do the bare minimum. I like a little bit of a challenge. 

I think its fairly easy!! Maybe i'm just getting lucky- but I got all the cures n food I need (and tons left to sell! made 2ksc in the first week n I'm rlly proud of that :D); for me it's just lioden w/extra steps! N that's not to say it's a bad thing, I actually really like it!

I was also a beta tester, but second wave. Post Herbalist buff, so I never got to experience just how bad illnesses were back then.

Even during beta, I didn’t really struggle to keep my pack alive or anything - I just struggled to make enough SC to expand my territory. Since the wave I joined we specifically got 2 pack slots and had to pay for the rest.

I know what I’m doing now, and I’m not in newbie excitement mode, so I’m thriving with a small pack right now. Although I did just do the breeding tutorial yesterday, so pup deaths may be on the horizon. I don’t mind, though - I play Lioden with self-imposed RNG for cub deaths that’s way higher mortality than Wolvden’s system. I’m in a habit of not getting too attached until they’re adolescents.

Although I am finding that my hunters keep dropping down to 0HP, even without Open Wounds. I have enough Healing Salves to deal with that, though.

Overall, it’s a manageable difficulty. I’ve found Wolvden requires more mindfulness of my goals in order to make meaningful progress due to SC scarcity, but I have no trouble keeping my pack that I have fed and healthy.

I'm really enjoying it!

I can see how it would be difficult if your pack was too large to support and you didn't keep a stash of food and herbs on hand, but I think once you get the hang of things it's pretty straightforward.

It's just a matter of keeping your pack at whatever size your activity level can support. 

I think it's harder than a lot of other sims I've played, but that's why I'm enjoying it so much. It keeps me more engaged, I think I'd have lost interest by now if it was "easier" than it is currently :D

I like the challenge aspect to it, and I think as long as you're not overwhelming yourself with a million pups then it isn't hard at all? I haven't bred yet and don't plan on mass breeding, and even with some illnesses and failed hunts I'm not panicking xD

I can imagine having a large pack is super difficult tho, it was costly as heck getting my territory up to only 10 slots I think? Now I don't have to pay for expansions and I'm saving up and doing okay. 

I don't find it challenging at all! I appreciate how fast my Queen's energy replenishes, however, the only thing I wish would be different is having Newly Befriended Wolves to be in heat once you befriend them (if they're female, of course) rather than having to wait. But everything else is great!

I am a public access player who came from LD, and I find WD demanding, but definitely not too hard. You have to be careful, think about what your wolves are capable of and what the pack can sustain, but by playing cautiously I've had no real problems. The only real complaint I have is that some herbs you need to cure illnesses you can get early on are locked behind zones much further in, but even that is bearable because of the trading-herbs mechanic. In general, though, the gameplay of WD is so much more involved and satisfying compared to their previous game that I barely feel the need to check back in with LD. Consequences, challenge, and meaningful progression for not just your leader, but every member of the pack... that's gold.

I like the survival aspects that make the breeding part more interesting. I don't think its necessarily hard, at least not to do the bare-minimum stay alive. But there are some mechanics that are definitely grind-y and tedious.

- Excessive illness in the packs.
- Having to pay sc to diagnose wolves even if YOU know what it is.
- Losing scouting progress when your lead dies (haven't encountered this yet but its going to SUCK.)
- Only one breeding male for a huge amount of time. This was a very strange design choice to me as it makes non-breeding males objectively worse than just getting only females aside from 1 singular breeding male, to max out breeding profitability. I imagine this comes from Lioden where it thematically makes more sense - lion prides do indeed consist of mostly females. But for a wolf game its super weird.
- Having to pay just to scry puppies.

Not really hard mechanics just annoyingly inconvenient. But so far I do like the game overall.