dpeg wrote:That food vault is only relevant for food-handicapped characters. These would be Spriggans or Gozag followers, and the former have slow metabolism, and the latter can get food through payment. So any feedback about the food vaults should be restricted to these -- it is natural and expected that other characters rarely need the guaranteed food. And for what it's worth, my Gozag characters are very happy about them. (It'd be possible to win without them, of course.)
If part of the drawback of Spriggans as well as Gozag devotees is that they may actually run into food problems, at least in the early-ish portions of the game, then it seems weird to retain a guaranteed food vault for their benefit, when that directly contradicts what is supposed to be a cause of difficulty for them. It would be a bit like guaranteeing a ring of protection from fire and/or amulet of clarity vault, for the benefit of mummies. Also, the food vault can spawn fairly late (possibly after you have already done Lair and Orc), at which point it is likely moot, and some of the vaults only contain food that spriggans cannot eat (the jerky vault, for instance).
I don't think it makes sense to retain the guaranteed food vaults just because of Gozag and Spriggans. If it is felt that those particular characters might have *too* harsh of a food game, there are other things that can be done which would more directly address that issue and would not inundate other characters in food they do not need. For instance, Gozag charges an initial price for initiating worship; why not have Gozag give you a few bread rations upon joining up, in exchange? You can flavor this so it doesn't feel too awkward. "According to custom, if we are to engage in commerce, we must break bread together." Spriggans can simply start with a bit of extra food that they "foraged" or something.