Introduction
I can hear the angry replies already. Before I actually go into this topic, I’d like to stress that this is only a concept of how nutrition could play a value in Unturned II. Please give constructive criticism on why you dislike said topic, and keep on open mind when reading. Thank you.
That being said, I’ve attempted to simplify the six categories of nutrients and all of the various other aspects into three major categories (this was not easy at all, I spent over an hour pouring over nutritional data and the effects various deficiencies have on the human body), and I’ve arrived at what I believe to be a favorable conclusion.
Calories
The most important element of the consumeable, caloric value is how much energy is in the item (note that for the purposes of this post, all energy values are going to be in kilocalories because differentiating between large and gram calories is absolutely retarded and nobody should ever have to do that).
Another thing I’d like to suggest is different rates of absorbtion, as in the calories in food actually take varying amounts of time for the player to process before actually taking effect. Yeah, yeah, I already hear some people shouting “realism for the sake of realism” in my ear, but personally I feel that this is necessary to make sure some foods are prioritized over others.
Carbohydrates
A marathon runner’s wet dream…
The most common and simplest of caloric sources, carbs are a form of saccharides, better known as sugars. Most, if not all of these can be converted easily into useable energy, and should be the primary source of food for players. Carbohydrate-rich foods usually contain roughly about 4 kilocalories per gram. A shortage of carbohydrates negatively affects stamina regeneration.
Ethanol
It would seem that my Beaufort wine has spoiled. What a pity.
A surprising mention, alcohol actually contains the second largest amount of calories, second to fats, at nearly 7 kilocalories per gram. The negatives effects of drinking alcohol, however, may prove to discourage this as a primary source of energy.
Fats
“Brains are quite rich in cholesterol.”
The most energy dense of the three main macronutrients, fats take the longest to absorb, but provide the most amount of energy, at about 9 kilocalories per gram. Fat is also essential towards insulation and temperature regulation, making it essential in cold climates. A shortage of fats results in a hit towards max stamina.
Protein
As a fuel source, protein provides the same amount of energy as carbohydrates, at roughly 4 calories a gram. However, their main function is not an energy source, but rather as the building blocks of body tissue. A shortage of proteins will decrease health regeneration.
Metabolism
One possible option in the character creation menu could be the addition of a metabolism slider. While a faster metabolism slightly accelerates the rate at which wounds heal and increases cardiovascular efficiency, it also increases the rate at which the body burns calories. A slower metabolism, on the other hand, performs better in cold climates and is much better at gaining muscle mass (which could possibly affect how fast physical skills are leveled).
Polling
- I would like to see everything in this post implemented
- I would like to see carbohydrates
- I would like to see fats
- I would like to see proteins
- I would like to see metabolism implemented
- Everything here is too realistic, and I want none of it
- Null Option
0 voters
- I feel like the penalties on malnutrition are fair and balanced
- I feel like different things should be affected instead of stamina and health regen
- I don’t like these penalties at all
- Null Option
0 voters
- I’m supportive of the ideas outlined in this post
- I like the general concept, but I feel like one or more things can be tweaked
- I don’t like this post at all, this much realism is bad for the game
- Null Option
0 voters
Conclusion and Closing Remarks
This one took a little over a week to make, I’d admit, as I spent time on and off deciding whether or not I actually wanted to make it at all. But, well, you know what decision I made, since we’re still here after all.
As always, thank you very much for reading this post through and leaving a vote on the polls. I’m sure this type of post really helps Nelson get some idea of what the community wants and exactly how detailed certain mechanics should be. Until next time, then.