To be honest I did get a safe car (a horse does the trick too, I hear) but otherwise I have quite literally never ended with trouble with the mists. No combat needed.
Yes, you do have to track where you’re going and if it’s misty if going to an outer borough. You can’t drive then go get a drink and come back expecting to be fine anymore either.
But so long as you keep reasonable precautions (don’t go out unaware of where you can be safe, don’t go to outer boroughs without checking the weather, look around when driving your car and be there on arrival) it is pretty easy to avoid the mists entirely.
I do think better telegraphing, big red warnings when you’re about to be in danger and such would be very good. I also think some sort of warning if you’re going to an outer borough or on a dangerous path would be good.
But that’s mostly a concern for newbies and such for me. And even if you do get caught – it’s not very punishing right now, people will save you and bam, you’ve a hook to RP with your savior. I know of at least one newbie who got an RP partner that way, I think.
I definitely think the mist could be made less sudden and more scary. I’d love something like silent hill where there’s like a mist horn and it’s a sudden rush of people trying to get inside within 5 or so minutes and everyone is terrified.
But I think the presence of an actual risk roaming the grid, the fact the city is inherently unsafe, really adds to the theme and atmosphere in a wonderful way.
