TheUltiM8Guy

Yeah, I know zebras are not the best mounts irl, I just thought they fitted the warm climate, and since we have an elk as a mount, zebra would not be too much "out of place". Though my guess is that we got an elk as a mount first because elks were already in game and had animations, sounds etc. The animals you listed sound cool, but do you have any idea how to balance them? Maybe those could be "exotic mounts", that is mounts that cannot be bought, must be caught and tamed, and in return they provide huge buffs. For example, taming an elephant would allow huge storage space and up to three passengers, or as you said, water buffalos would be slower on land but faster in water. Ostriches, while goofy, could have zero storage space but be relatively fast...though for me ostriches as mounts would be too goofy. And not sure if by "zebras not having much utility" you meant irl or what I presented in my post, but I thought that since warm climate is the easiest in my experience, zebras would be "the least efficient" from other mounts in the post. The main idea is, the harsher the climate, the better the mount.

I recently saw Tyrone post a sneak peek of what looks like upcoming mounts in Vintage Story (picture attached to the post). I've had similar ideas for a while, so I wanted to share my thoughts. Picture posted by Tyrone on official Vintage Story Discord server. My guess is that Treasure Hunter traders in different climates will sell different mounts. Based on the screenshot, I'd imagine something like: Warm – Zebra (I know there are no Zebras in the screenshot, that's my idea that is developed further in the post), Temperate – Horse, Cool – Elk, Icy – Moose, Hot – Camel. The screenshot only shows four mounts, so the zebra is just my suggestion to fill the warm climate niche. I also remember Tyrone mentioning in an interview that he'd like to encourage players to explore different parts of their worlds. Having climate-specific mounts with unique advantages could be another incentive to travel without making it mandatory. Tier 1 - Zebra (Warm climate) In my experience, warm climates are among the easiest to survive in. Many crops can grow year-round, berries are always available, fishing is convenient because the ground never freezes, and flax can be grown throughout the year. Description A wild animal that has only recently begun to be domesticated. While not as dependable as other mounts, it's still much faster than traveling on foot. Traits Cannot carry two players. Limited to small saddlebags. The idea is that the easiest climate provides the most basic mount. Tier 2 - Horse (Temperate climate) Temperate climates feel like the "standard" Vintage Story experience. Winters interrupt farming but also help preserve food, making them relatively forgiving overall. Description Horses have served as the most common form of transport for generations. Their long history alongside people has made them reliable companions for both travel and trade. Traits Can carry two players with a cushion. Can equip either: Small saddlebags and allow carrying a passenger, or Medium saddlebags without allowing to carry a passenger. The horse would be a versatile, middle-of-the-road option. Tier 3 - Elk (Cool climate) Cool climates have shorter growing seasons, poorer farmland, and, in my experience, make it harder to establish agriculture early on. Description Sámi relied on elk to transport goods across taigas' landscapes where horses struggled. Traits Carries two players. Can use medium saddlebags even with a passenger. Ignores movement penalties from snow (if mounts are ever affected by them). Tier 3 - Camel (Hot climate) Hot climates present different challenges. High temperatures make farming more difficult, but wildlife is plentiful enough, so food is usually less of an issue. Description Bred for life in the desert, camels can travel long distances while carrying heavy loads with relatively little maintenance. Traits Carries two players. Can use medium saddlebags even with a passenger. Ignores movement penalties on sand (if such a mechanic were ever added). Tier 4 - Moose (Icy climate) In my experience, icy regions are the most difficult places to survive. Farming is extremely limited, useful plants are scarce, and the environment itself is dangerous. Description Some Sámi ventured even further north, where they depended on powerful moose to transport supplies across frozen wilderness where few other animals could thrive. Traits Carries two players. Can equip large saddlebags. Ignores snow movement penalties. Small, medium and large animals will flee when Tamed Moose is nearby. (Since brown and polar bears yield huge hides, I consider them to be huge animals, not scared of a player on a Tamed Moose). I know some of these mechanics don't currently exist (different saddlebag sizes, sand movement penalties, etc.), and I haven't spent equal time living in every climate. This is mostly a concept for how mounts could encourage exploration without making it mandatory. Same for descriptions, I do realize there is nowhere in game mentioned about "Sámi venturing further north", it's just a concept from my head. I also thought about Moose being able to carry large lantern, but I'm slightly worried it could make Moose stand out as way better than other mounts. If you start in a warm climate, a zebra would be perfectly adequate. But players who enjoy building mobile bases or transporting large amounts of cargo would have another reason to travel across the world in search of better mounts. Also, I have an idea for different types of saddlebags: Small saddlebags - made from flax, could use two linen bags on the sides of a mount as a texture, Medium saddlebags - made from leather, same texture as leather saddlebags, Large saddlebags, made from sturdy leather, same texture as sturdy leather saddlebags.