sturdy tapir
With the proper debt scaling in place for Nightmare mode, Nightmare is finally a more difficult version of the game than Endless mode as intended. That said, I still want to propose two suggestions that can really make the game mode a "nightmare" rather than a difference in loot required to keep the run going
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Negative modifiers only and always
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Default loot values rather than 1.125x (?)
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If there were any place for people to play negative modifiers, I think a "Nightmare" would be the most appropriate place for it. Currently there's almost no incentive to playing somewhere with a negative modifier, and making it a requirement on Nightmare mode would be a cool way for people to actually experience those modifiers. I think this would make Nightmare mode significantly more distinct than the other modes too
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With how intense the debt scaling is in Nightmare mode now, I'm not sure there's really a reason for there to be boosted loot values. I also think the boosted loot values were the main reason why Nightmare has been the easiest game mode to begin with, so instead of trying to find a balance of what those loot values could be, it might just be easier for loot values to be the same across all game modes. My initial solution prior to seeing the Nightmare scaling in v1520 was to have reduced loot values in Nightmare mode and put the boosted loot values in Exploration, but with where Exploration and Nightmare mode are at now I think consistent loot values would be fine
Mostly posting this to see what the community thinks of this suggestion and the reasoning behind it, especially since Nightmare mode is supposed to be getting reworked. In that regard though, I want people to keep in mind that Nightmare mode is intended to be difficult.
tranquil verge
nova cedar
rustic briar
frozen pebble
pale shore