This is really annoying and ridiculous.

[trungdle]

It has begun, JC's worst fear.

[Nezahuacoyotl]

I am miles away from the crime location.

As you see in the attachment, I can't take the britches off because I'm at 0/0/5 blood. I can't regain blood because I'm at "Crime!" debuff. (Will I even be able to regain the second layer blood then?)

If Criminal Acts should only be used in higher levels, why does it permits me to use it now? I'm optimistic playing games, I was having fun discovering stuff and exploring. But that Crime buff parameter is completely out of proportion. My character gained 1 level of madness now due to repeated itching, but I myself gained around 10 levels of it

Also, if this game was supposed to offer a new experience in freedom of interaction, it kinda fails at it, because the world is all rigged to properties and levels required to do anything inside them.

There are so many things wrong here I simply do not know where to begin but I will try since it seems like you are sincerely thinking you are providing legitimate feedback and may want an explanation to your failures and why what is happening to you, is happening to you.

#1. You are not miles away from the location you committed the crime. In fact, you are very close (less than 2500 tiles). I can tell this because the bar at the bottom is low.

#2. You did not accidentally commit one crime, you committed THREE crimes as evidence by the number in the buff.

#3. You are permitted to commit criminal acts because this is a sandbox and we allow players to experiment in things they are not ready for so they may go through exactly what you are going through. If would be no fun if we safeguarded you from your failures and that is not what we are aiming to do. We want to let you do stupid stuff like turning on "Crimes" just hours into a new game you know little about and finding out first hand how unfriendly the game can be if you do not do property research, ask questions, and educate yourself first.

#4. You did not gain a single madness level. By the masks next to your humour bars it seems like you actually gained 5+ madness levels. I for the life of me cannot imagine how you did that as it would have meant you have been playing over 20 hours while not studying, whittling, or doing any soothing actions inside the game. Perhaps you left your computer on overnight?

Hopefully this helps, and please realize you are in a niche game that is not meant for everybody. We designed this game for players who pick themselves up and learn from their failures. We firmly believe that only then can you learn to appreciate the struggle that was learning the world of Salem.

1: I thought I was because I wandered ahead quite a while... but yes, I still don't know the distance parameter for that. Until here, alright.
2: I did press the criminal acts button a couple of times more because I was afraid I was with criminal acts on and that was why it was lasting so long, but each time I pressed seemed to have added a stack of Crime indeed. Does that mean I'll have to wait 3x the time? That makes it worth deleting this character instead.
3: Yes, I agree on that. But firstly, there could be an explanation about the consequences of criminal acts in the beginner island, that would avoid people getting stuck at the situation I'm stuck. Second, I believe there's a contradiction there, because the game does safeguard many actions from the player with level parameters and a bit too harsh consequences, and that pushes it farther conceptually from an actual free sandbox and closer to a game where there many privileges needed until you are able to interact well with the environment/other players. And the fact it is possible to avoid doing something doesn't make it not faulty of the game give it complete absurd consequences.
4: Yes, it is the 2nd time I get stuck in this situation. The first time I got unconscious in a property, so I closed the game and logged on today. Wasn't still aware of the duration of the criminal acts debuff.

The thing is, the consequence for only entering a property can become unsustainable for an early game character. It is an unquestionable fact, that this is a flaw in the game. How is getting stuck and having to create a new character being "learn something and becoming better player"?! I would see it this way in case I was killed by a poison, or by a bear. Something that had an actual thrill involved, or had some relation to reality. Not getting stuck by a gameplay regulator buff.

I do think the game is fun, I like the fact that exploring, learning new skills and building stuff is sufficient fun in terms of gameplay, differently from most MMOs. I just think that Crime thing seems to be totally out of measure.

[trungdle]

For now, and for your perspective, yes it is, and I think they intended it that way, so newbs can take their time doing something else.
The consequences, later when you have too much to lose, you will feel they are a bit too soft. People can still take everything from you even with those debuff.

[JohnCarver]

1: I thought I was because I wandered ahead quite a while... but yes, I still don't know the distance parameter for that. Until here, alright.
2: I did press the criminal acts button a couple of times more because I was afraid I was with criminal acts on and that was why it was lasting so long, but each time I pressed seemed to have added a stack of Crime indeed. Does that mean I'll have to wait 3x the time? That makes it worth deleting this character instead.
3: Yes, I agree on that. But firstly, there could be an explanation about the consequences of criminal acts in the beginner island, that would avoid people getting stuck at the situation I'm stuck. Second, I believe there's a contradiction there, because the game does safeguard many actions from the player with level parameters and a bit too harsh consequences, and that pushes it farther conceptually from an actual free sandbox and closer to a game where there many privileges needed until you are able to interact well with the environment/other players. And the fact it is possible to avoid doing something doesn't make it not faulty of the game give it complete absurd consequences.
4: Yes, it is the 2nd time I get stuck in this situation. The first time I got unconscious in a property, so I closed the game and logged on today. Wasn't still aware of the duration of the criminal acts debuff.

The thing is, the consequence for only entering a property can become unsustainable for an early game character. It is an unquestionable fact, that this is a flaw in the game. How is getting stuck and having to create a new character being "learn something and becoming better player"?! I would see it this way in case I was killed by a poison, or by a bear. Something that had an actual thrill involved, or had some relation to reality. Not getting stuck by a gameplay regulator buff.

I do think the game is fun, I like the fact that exploring, learning new skills and building stuff is sufficient fun in terms of gameplay, differently from most MMOs. I just think that Crime thing seems to be totally out of measure.

1. You'll realize soon that what seems 'really far' in another game is actually quite close in this one.
2. The stack doesn't matter for the duration it lasts so long as you are not on the enemy claim. the 'stack' or the 'number' of crimes only determines how long it lasts if you KO on the enemy claim you were committing crimes on which it sounds like didn't happen to you.
3. hmmmm.... we may agree to disagree on the main point here but yes we 'could' trigger some help box that pops up when players press criminal acts that explains ti to them. I'll make you the same deal I make everybody who wants more help popup boxes. You write it, if it doesn't suck, i'll put it in the game.
4. not sure what you mean here?

[jophbot]

It is an unquestionable fact, that this is a flaw in the game.

Umm, you are unquestionably wrong. There are consequences to crime - accept them or don't commit crime, it's really really easy. Also be prepared - if you wish to lead a life filled with crime in Salem, this nub starter character will definitely not be the first one you lose, and you will really want to start getting comfortable with that. THAT is an unquestionable fact.

[Icon]

It is an unquestionable fact, that this is a flaw in the game.

Umm, you are unquestionably wrong. There are consequences to crime - accept them or don't commit crime, it's really really easy. Also be prepared - if you wish to lead a life filled with crime in Salem, this nub starter character will definitely not be the first one you lose, and you will really want to start getting comfortable with that. THAT is an unquestionable fact.

All that. This ain't gears of war. The mechanics here are serious, and that's what makes salem awesome. There's no "whoops lol I died" there are tears, fat juicy salty tears of pain

[Nezahuacoyotl]

It is an unquestionable fact, that this is a flaw in the game.

Umm, you are unquestionably wrong. There are consequences to crime - accept them or don't commit crime, it's really really easy. Also be prepared - if you wish to lead a life filled with crime in Salem, this nub starter character will definitely not be the first one you lose, and you will really want to start getting comfortable with that. THAT is an unquestionable fact.

It is unquestionable that you didn't understand what I said that's a flaw. The flaw here is "getting stuck" at a gameplay regulator factor - an early game player accidentally entering a property. It is very likely he/she will get stuck as soon as one of their humours are done. Maybe mid/late players might as well get stuck. Dying, starving, being killed adds fun to the game. Getting stuck doesn't. (Edit: and Icon, the same applies for you, unquestionably lazy person that doesn't read so well)

I'm not saying "the game sucks because I suck at it". I was just personally mad at this situation, that looked more like a bug, to me, than a gameplay peculiarity. I think the first time a player clicks "Criminal Acts", a pop-up window should come, saying "Be warned! If you commit any crime, as merely entering a property, you won't be able to eat anything and will be unable to replenish your humours for (?) hours. That may cause you to get stuck in unconscious state. We highly recommend unexperienced players to avoid committing crimes."

And sorry for the drama llama. It's nice there's room for being constructive and giving actual suggestions. I came out of the unconscious state and I'm back playing, exploring stuff and having fun. :p

[Rubberduckbandit]

And sorry for the drama llama. It's nice there's room for being constructive and giving actual suggestions. I came out of the unconscious state and I'm back playing, exploring stuff and having fun. :p

That's hawt, when i started in Plymouth, before server hopping, back before wipe, i wanted to quit first time i was attacked, but here i still am several accounts, and several years later.

[jophbot]

No it's you who misunderstands, I'm afraid.

You = "waaaaaa, I'm new and I want to commit crimes without understanding the consequences. BUG!!! Yes, I pushed the button to turn criminal acts on myself, without knowing what it does or researching, so what? BUG!!!"

Just saying, you want to dive in head first like that without checking the depth of the water, expect a broken neck.

[Procne]

It is an unquestionable fact, that this is a flaw in the game.

Umm, you are unquestionably wrong. There are consequences to crime - accept them or don't commit crime, it's really really easy. Also be prepared - if you wish to lead a life filled with crime in Salem, this nub starter character will definitely not be the first one you lose, and you will really want to start getting comfortable with that. THAT is an unquestionable fact.

It is unquestionable that you didn't understand what I said that's a flaw. The flaw here is "getting stuck" at a gameplay regulator factor - an early game player accidentally entering a property. It is very likely he/she will get stuck as soon as one of their humours are done. Maybe mid/late players might as well get stuck. Dying, starving, being killed adds fun to the game. Getting stuck doesn't. (Edit: and Icon, the same applies for you, unquestionably lazy person that doesn't read so well)

I'm not saying "the game sucks because I suck at it". I was just personally mad at this situation, that looked more like a bug, to me, than a gameplay peculiarity. I think the first time a player clicks "Criminal Acts", a pop-up window should come, saying "Be warned! If you commit any crime, as merely entering a property, you won't be able to eat anything and will be unable to replenish your humours for (?) hours. That may cause you to get stuck in unconscious state. We highly recommend unexperienced players to avoid committing crimes."

And sorry for the drama llama. It's nice there's room for being constructive and giving actual suggestions. I came out of the unconscious state and I'm back playing, exploring stuff and having fun. :p

Mate, you can't enter someone's property without turning criminal acts first. And even then the first time you try to step on someone's property your character is stopped with a warning. I'd say person who turns criminal acts on AND attempts twice to enter someone's property has some nasty thoughts.

The real problem here is that you had no knowlesge of the mechanic and got burnt by your ignorance. The question now is whether game should inform better potential criminals about the mechanics or should they instead do the reasearch on their own.