psa A PSA for New and Old Forum Users Alike

[Teh Pizza Lady]

Hey everyone,

It is with great concern that I make this post. I have carefully written everything here with kindness and love in my heart for my fellow humans. Too often it's easy to forget that a human exists behind the words on the screen. In today's digital age, with anonymity behind the screen, it can be very easy to say things without thinking or to react in ways that we normally wouldn't when communicating face-to-face with others.

With the recent influx of new players (many of whom are arriving following the cancellation of Hytale) I think it's a good time to say a few things about the tone and culture of the Vintage Story forums. This is a passionate and thoughtful community, but the atmosphere has taken a hit lately, and I’m concerned that new players might get the wrong impression especially with so many locked threads this week. I'd like to address a few recurring issues to help us keep the forum a welcoming, constructive space so we don't see another locked thread this week. Ideally, ever again.

1. Low-effort & Negative Posting

Vintage Story is a deeply considered, lore-rich survival experience. If you have a suggestion or critique, please take time to research what systems already exist, how they interact, and how your idea fits into the game’s ethos. Posts that amount to “this sucks, change it” without context, effort, or clarity do not contribute meaningfully to the conversation and often only serve to frustrate others. If you're going to critique, do so constructively.

Also: cursing at others or being overly pedantic in your responses does nothing to help your case. If your tone is hostile or condescending, even good points will be ignored. If you understand what a person is saying and you choose to call them out for using the wrong word/spelling/verb tense instead of responding to what they actually meant to say, then you are adding to the problem. Let’s aim for clarity and kindness instead. If something is confusing, ask for clarification. Furthermore, if you post about a problem with a specific aspect of gameplay and others point out a gross mistake you have made while setting up or playing the game, it is not a personal attack, but an effort to help you play the game better and should be treated as such. Too many posts here are aggravating reactions instead of calm, level-headed responses that better reflect the intent of discussion, which is to help foster good ideas and help rework ones that need work.

2. Respecting Lore and Design Philosophy

On the tin, Vintage Story describes itself as an "uncompromising wilderness survival game." That’s in relative terms, especially compared to other voxel-based crafting survival games. A common issue we’ve seen lately is the influx of suggestions that would dramatically shift the tone or lore of the game. While fresh ideas are welcome, it’s worth remembering that this isn’t other block games. Vintage Story has a distinct identity which is grim, grounded, and methodical. Please consider how your ideas complement the game's setting, pacing, and vision.

If your idea drastically changes the feel of the game, that’s not inherently bad. But be prepared for others to point out how it might conflict with the core design. That’s part of an honest, thoughtful conversation, not a personal attack. If your idea compounds the complicated systems we have in the game already for no other purpose than to complicate the systems even further, try out your idea first to see if it's even fun to play. Remember, this is a game and games are supposed to be fun. Vintage Story being an uncompromising wilderness survival game doesn't mean that you, by extension, have to be uncompromising in your mentality, with your attitude a wilderness, and responding to you a survival game.

3. Feedback Is Not Your Enemy

If someone gives you respectful, fact-based feedback that pushes back on your idea, that’s not an attack. That’s discussion. Responding with hostility, passive-aggression, or doubling down without reflection doesn’t help anyone. If your suggestion conflicts with the game’s mechanics or current design goals, that doesn’t mean you’re being “shut down”. It means people are engaging with you honestly. 

All feedback, even negative feedback, is valuable. If someone says, “this would be better as a mod,” without explanation, that’s a chance to ask why, not to get defensive. It's okay to disagree, but how you respond matters. Not everyone who pushes back on your suggestion is trying to shut you down.

A healthy forum thrives on respectful disagreement. Assume good faith, ask questions, and be willing to consider that maybe your idea needs refinement, or just isn’t the right fit for the base game.

4. Use Reactions Responsibly & Know When to Step Back

(insert drinking responsibly joke here)

Lately, there’s been a noticeable trend of using post reactions as if they were upvotes/downvotes. Forum reactions are not Reddit upvotes/downvotes. Don’t use them to passively disapprove of someone’s post without actually engaging. If you have something to say, say it. Don't just click a button and walk away.

Also, if you’ve said your piece and the thread has moved on without adopting your position, maybe it’s time to move on too. Not every disagreement needs to be pursued to the bitter end. That's how threads get locked. Sometimes it’s more productive to let the conversation evolve without you and join back in when you have something else to add.

5. Toxicity and Burnout

Finally, to the newer folks: many long-time players here genuinely want to help. They’ve been through years of development changes, tested unstable branches, and written guides, mods, or wiki pages. Dismissing them out of hand because they don’t affirm your every idea only breeds resentment. Let’s not alienate the people who’ve kept the lights on for years. Likewise, veterans, keep in mind that new players often don’t have your context. Let’s be firm but fair and informative, not cynical or condescending (which you are doing a great job so far, btw, but I would be remiss not to address you guys as well! Sometimes I need my own reminders  )

6. Final Note

I'm intentionally not calling out specific people or posts. I don’t believe shaming others for their recent behavior will lead to good relationships or meaningful change. But if you feel called out or targeted by this post, I would ask that you use that feeling to reflect. Ask yourself why it resonates. Try not to repeat harmful patterns, rather than outing yourself or doubling down, especially in this thread.

These are just my opinions, based on what I believe makes a forum healthy and sustainable. But speaking as someone with over a decade of experience moderating forums and online discussions, I like to think I have at least some idea of what I’m talking about? Maybe? Either way I hope you got something out of it. I know that in writing it, I had a lot to think about in terms of my own forum conduct.

If you made it this far, then thanks for reading. Let’s keep Vintage Story’s community something we can be proud of.

[Enjen]

14 minutes ago, traugdor said:

Let’s keep Vintage Story’s community something we can be proud of.

Amen!

[Rudometkin]

Great post! I hope everyone reads it!

10 hours ago, traugdor said:

being overly pedantic in your responses does nothing to help your case.

I think one complex issue that is difficult to solve, but easy to mistake people as doing, is whether someone is being pedantic or in some other manner of insincerity.

I for one have personal experience occasionally being called insincere when I address issues and comments with great detail. I think if someone gives a comment justice by addressing every angle of it thoroughly, it wouldn't necessarily be fair to call them insincere for it. But it does happen, and it has happened to me many times throughout my years despite me being honest and sincere. Being thorough on an internet forum is not something to be ashamed of.

So I would add: Let's all be more careful in how we make judgements on people, whether they are new members or veteran members. It would be great if maybe we all asked questions more, and maybe assumed honesty in each other more.