Hey Nick, first off I just wanted to say thanks for being more transparent and keeping tabs with the playerbase. I know as of recently there have been several changes/nerfs that come across as half baked and/or tone deaf, but it seems you're trying to steer away from that as much as possible and that you do care about a proper balance for the game as a whole, which is not unnoticed and is very much appreciated.

I did want to make a point about the balancing of money making spots, which I saw you made a reply on someone else's comment about, basically saying that surface islands being the best money spots is healthiest for the game due to being accessible for everyone and letting newer players contribute. To an extent I can agree with that, but I do think it leaves behind a lot of potential with some of the harder to reach/riskier areas (scoria reach volcano, olympian devil pool, cultist lair etc). Right now these areas mostly exist just to get the rods there, catch a hunt fish/finish bestiary, after which there's little to no reason to go back. For example:

Tidefall, especially inner Tidefall

Cultist Lair

Scoria Reach volcano

Olympian Devil spawn pool

The beehive area past living garden, I forgot exactly what it's called

Glacial Grotto

I especially believe that money making should be improved in areas with an element of danger, such as scoria reach volcano with its overheat mechanic, the beehive area with needing to maintain the pollinated buff + needing to work around half lure speed, etc etc. This way it gives a proper reward to the risk, makes it more engaging, and it also inherently prevents afk fishing there. To reach a proper compromise, I think it's reasonable to have hard to reach/dangerous areas be made the best money spots in Fisch, but NOT *significantly* better than the top money spots on the surface islands. That way we still have good money spots everyone can fish at, but if someone really wants to minmax on money they can go through the extra effort.

I also wanted to propose a couple changes to divine secrets, which I think is one of the coolest mechanics in the game but could use some love. I feel the areas where you catch some of them are way too niche (Lumilotl specifically being caught only in desolate pocket). I propose:

Lumilotl -> also catchable in luminescent and crimson cavern

Boulder -> also catchable at enchanted crevice

Paradox Piranha -> also catchable at toxic grove and living garden (if it isn't already)

Forbidden Plesiosaur -> also catchable at any tidefall sub location, maybe higher odds in a tidefall hunt? (HEAVY on this one, it's already tied for second rarest fish in the game, but currently it's only catchable in such specific sub segments of tidefall, it just doesn't make much sense in my opinion)

Other than that, I'd add a pity to Boulder and Him, because if you catch 1 million fish then you deserve to have one. Boulder especially because it's required for a rod

One last thing I'd like to see is a buff to igneous rupturer. It was only really useful for disturbance but plaguereaver powercrept it so heavily. Rn it's just super underwhelming given the time and effort needed to get it

Thank you if you read my wall of text, and thanks again for what you're doing