Misery Mode

[MarrowStone]

Anybody find it interesting that the afflictions in Misery mode act like you have some kind of sickness? You also start where the plane crashed in Pleasant Valley, kinda like that one survivor who needs insulin to survive.

Do you think this survivor's situation was inspired by that? Or maybe the sickness is something else, maybe something from Perseverance Mills? This survivor could have whatever Astrid is trying to cure!

It's all probably a stretch, but it is fun to think about.

Also, not sure I like the zero health regeneration thing at the end, I like the reduced regeneration, but the mode was definitely not made for me so it's whatever.

[Veskaida]

Regarding Misery Mode gameplay:

Spoiler

I agree. I very much like Misery Mode: the afflictions are a unique, interesting and well executed. I think Misery works as an "Interloper+" experience. Though I also do agree, and wish Misery was more survivable in the long-term (even if still very challenging); so I hope that this Affliction you're mentioning is changed or removed in the future to allow this.

I made a post earlier in this thread with some tips/feedback suggestions, many of which were specifically about Broken Body and speculative changes to make it more engaging and fun long-term. If you're curious, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

As for your theory:

Interesting! Consider it stolen for my head-canon: a survivor from the PV plane crash. I'm not sure if this PV location is what inspired Misery Mode, and I don't see anything definitive other than proximity but I like it and think it fits. Haven't seen much speculation about the "lore" of a Survival mode in a long time; until the TALES expansion Survival Sandbox was non-canon (far as I'm aware):

"The non-narrative exploration-survival experience where day-to-day survival is the only objective, and death is the only ending. Play your own story."

Regarding Misery Afflictions (without spoilers): No.

• Misery afflictions seem almost supernatural, a far cry from the (fairly realistic) rest of Sandbox/Story Mode and most Challenges.
• Symptoms in the Perseverance Mills outbreak are explained (at least partially) in-game, and are very different from Misery afflictions.

If you are interested in spoiler-y information, I've made a thread to gather connections between Story Mode and TALES in Survival Sandbox. In it I describe what you are discussing about; if you've finished WINTERMUTE and TALES or are alright being spoilered I'd love to hear your thoughts! (even if you disagree!)

Regarding canonicity:

Sandbox Mode is in a weird spot with TALES in Sandbox being canon, but our playable characters is obviously Astrid/Will. This has been discussed before (explain the theory below) "how/why Will/Astrid are wandering around in Storymode before/after WINTERMUTE"? However I believe TALES is completable in Misery, though I've not seen anyone yet finish it (or even survive long/far enough to start). Though if it was possible I suppose that gives some credibility for it's status as canon.

TALES and WINTERMUTE are canon. Personally, I think 'all' sandbox modes are canon given they can all can do TALES.

Same Timeline Theory

Spoiler

This "Same Timeline Theory" mainly to tries to explain the differences between Sandbox modes:

• Decreasing loot quantity/quality/availability
• Decreasing global temperature
• Decreasing non-predatory wildlife, increasing hostile wildlife
• High "NEEDS" drain rates (e.g. more 'stress' on the survivors still alive)
• Increased number of "destroyed" houses (aka "burnt down") in harder modes

So chronologically, according to the theory:

• WINTERMUTE/story mode episodes 1-5 take place
• Pilgrim mode in Sandbox after WINTERMUTE
• Then Voyageur some time after Pilgrim. Then Stalker, Interloper and Misery. etc.

This is a cute theory, and I can see some hints that 'maybe' it has a spark of truth, namely that immediately after the apocalypse wildlife are afraid of humans (Pilgrim) but as time continues resources become increasingly scarce and wildlife more bold (and more herbivores eaten as e.g. wolf population grows).

I've also seen users debating about the canonicity of some challenges, namely:

• Hunted Part 1 and 2
• Hopeless Rescue
• Nomad
• Archivist
• As The Dead Sleep

However I think this is harder to justify. Challenges are framed both in-game as a sort of 'throw-away' temporary mode, and the stories/events in several of them don't seem possibly congruent with other Challenges/Survival/WINTERMUTE.

 

Edited July 5 by Veskaida

[MarrowStone]

@Veskaida, Thank you.

Although, I've been avoiding Tales until the final part comes out! I probably could've crafted a better theory if I wasn't so in the dark!

Could you tell me where I can find info on the symptoms of the PM outbreak? Is it in Tales?

[Veskaida]

Hehehe, fair enough! Just don't stay too Long in The Dark. 🐺

Just for clarification:

The story of TALES: the 3-part narrative of "Signal Void", "Buried Echoes" and "Final Horizon" is currently complete (as of last week, with Part 5) and there will be no more narrative elements in the Tales From The Far Territory expansion. I don't believe "Part 6" of TFTFT (scheduled for 2024) will include any further narrative elements to TALES or WINTERMUTE, only new gameplay systems/features/content/etc.

Regarding symptoms: yes. They can be found in:

Spoiler

TALES and WINTERMUTE Episodes 1 (mentioned) and 3 (environmental details).

 

Edited July 5 by Veskaida