B
Blue
A problem with food is that while it tiers up, it quickly gets more expensive, yet the gain is only xp and sometimes the same amount (or even less) of xp as what a lower tier offers. By the time high tier food becomes available for a reasonable price, there is not enough interest in xp, because players largely have the stars they want, so aren't really motivated to buy better food. There are mods that already do a nice job improving the benefits of the mechanic (XP Benefits mod) but my idea is to add more benefits/buffs to food than just xp.
Specific (groups of) foods could give specific advantages, such as:
  • Increased running speed for X time
  • Increased inventory carry capacity for X time
  • Increased hand carry capacity for X time
  • Increased tool usage speed for X time
  • Increased tool damage for X time
  • Decreased tool durability loss for X time
  • Increased harvest yield for X time
  • Darkvision for X time
  • Increased swimming speed for X time
  • Animals are not offended by your existence for X time
  • Highlighted ores, aminals, etc
  • Devs can literally go crazy with this
This should make people want to keep eating food items from the group they want the effect of to keep the effect active.
Higher tier food could give stronger/better/other effects.
Effects could stack (tier 1 5% and tier 2 10% results in 15%), maybe certain combo's can even affect each other. Making it a challenge to mix and match for the best effects.
Did i say devs can literally go crazy with this?