Anyone else share this mindset?

[Smellyfries]

I've had this mindset since the removal of the Cougar, that the New Region, and general content introduced with the Update, wouldn't be truly experienced without the Cougar. I mean, it's front and center in the Update's art, and the new region sounds like it would perfectly fit it for the Cougar, so I've just been waiting until the Cougar is re-introduced to actually try and explore what's been released in this Update.

I'm wondering if anyone else shares this mindset, and are waiting for the Cougar to be re-introduced before continuing in the DLC?

I mean, there's even a feat dedicated to hunting down multiple Cougars, so I feel as though it's best to wait until it's introduced again, and experience it along side everything else in this update (that was almost 3 full months ago, gosh time flies.)

[Pencil]

I'm the same way. I did explore the new region and complete the tale while the cougar was still active, but haven't had much reason to play since the cougar was removed. I've been holding off on playing Misery since the cougar is supposed to be mandatory, and I don't want to set a high score on a non-cougar playthrough. 

I saved the 2.29 version and tried playing my old saves in it, but unfortunately the cougar is removed from them if you use a save that was played on the current version. So I've basically been waiting for the cougar to come back before playing any of my survival runs, really. 

[Sito]

I don't mind the Cougar removal. It did not stop me from freezing in SP while I explored. Loved the cold and being on the edge of death all the time. I play with agro off so I don't want to be jumped by the cat anyway. After my recent demise in FA (too cold, too far to get out, too much condition loss and then the death stagger) I started over with a AC backpack run and a TWM summit and now just setting up some bases while waiting for the final DLC to see how base customization and the trader will work. I'm really cold which is how I like my survival challenge to be. But I did make one mistake on my new run. I chose complaining Will instead of Astrid  I wish we could change some of the settings mid game.

[Cr41g]

4 hours ago, Talavaj said:

I'm in the camp that thinks the cougar was a bad design and should be reworked, so I definitely don't miss it.
It's just cabin fever on steroids, which is already the lamest thing in the game (which is why I'm thankful for the feat that removed it, which is the best thing in the game!).

I'll take cabin fever anytime over the ridiculous sprain system...now THAT is broken... if they reduced the incidences 500% it would still be too much

[AdamvR]

On 9/4/2024 at 6:19 PM, Smellyfries said:

I'm wondering if anyone else shares this mindset, and are waiting for the Cougar to be re-introduced before continuing in the DLC?

I've recently started up a new [stalker] run, so that I can experience scurvy and do the whole tales in one go.
It means, I have "missed" the pre-redux cougar experience.
Entered Sundered Pass, and it seems Raph was not joking when describing it as the most challenging map we've encountered.
Just like I find UNpleasant Valley more fitting, Savage Pass is how it is burning into my memory as we speak.
If you are afraid, it is not challenging enough without the cougar, fear no more  .
[just my opinion]

Edited September 5, 2024 by AdamvR

[Leeanda]

It's definitely made no difference to me.. my play style means I'd be lucky to ever see it unless I stumble into  its den... Regardless of that though,I'd still head off to new maps as soon as I'm prepared...and even on pilgrim you really need to be ready for sundered pass...

@AdamvR....nice nickname for  it....   Can't agree on pv though,I love the place and for me at least the weather's not as bad as some places ....

Also on names,why HUSHED river valley, that place is deafening with waterfalls .

 

[Lexilogo]

I'd actually say no, to my knowledge the Cougar had no specific relationship with Sundered Pass and the region really doesn't need it to be threatening. Unless you were playing on a very high difficulty so the Cougar's time was 10 days or something, you wouldn't run into it while doing the Tale. SP is still cold as hell and was a solid challenge to navigate.

[Smellyfries]

Since the cold season is on its way, and constantly waiting has been forcing me to avoid the Forums due to spoilers, I can't honestly wait and not play TLD for any longer. Even if my heart tells me to wait for the Cougar to be re-introduced, my soul DEMANDS to play TLD some more. 

I also can't wait to explore the new Region just so I can explore the Forum Spoiler free again, as I am a very picky person when it comes to "Spoilers." People simply saying that the new region is "Cold" is enough to annoy me lol, which is honestly just my problem.

Either way, once the Cougar is re-added, I can always explore the region again to see how much of a challenge it adds (watch it get added within the next 2 weeks or something), but as of now, I can't wait any longer. 

Time to grab a hot mug of Coffee and sharpen some knives! 

[ThePancakeLady]

2 hours ago, Smellyfries said:

Since the cold season is on its way, and constantly waiting has been forcing me to avoid the Forums due to spoilers, I can't honestly wait and not play TLD for any longer. Even if my heart tells me to wait for the Cougar to be re-introduced, my soul DEMANDS to play TLD some more. 

I also can't wait to explore the new Region just so I can explore the Forum Spoiler free again, as I am a very picky person when it comes to "Spoilers." People simply saying that the new region is "Cold" is enough to annoy me lol, which is honestly just my problem.

Either way, once the Cougar is re-added, I can always explore the region again to see how much of a challenge it adds (watch it get added within the next 2 weeks or something), but as of now, I can't wait any longer. 

Time to grab a hot mug of Coffee and sharpen some knives! 

I haven't stopped playing since the Cougar was removed. I've been playing, pretty much disposable runs so I can get to know maps that I am not as familiar with, like Ash Canyon and the TFTFT regions. I'll feel better when the Cougar comes back if I know the maps better, so I am not taken by surprise by a Cougar and them have no clue where to find a shelter to heal up in or drop inventory into. Also for Cheating Death- the maps I am familiar with I can easily set up stashes so I can get water, cans, clothing, medical supplies and food before going to find the recovery backpack. I can't do that on maps I don't know well enough to know where shelters and caves are that I can build small stockpiles of bare necessitates in and actually be able to find my way to them. I feel like the better I know where things are, where predators tend to be and where other hazards are, the better I will be able to deal with the Cougar when it comes back.

Lol, the Cougar is still going to kick my butt, but I will feel more confident and prepared while it is doing so. I'll still be dead, but I'll be confidently dead. 😂

[The Feng Hunter]

On 9/4/2024 at 12:19 PM, Smellyfries said:

(that was almost 3 full months ago, gosh time flies.)

Considering The Team worked on The Cougar for 18 months before releasing it to a hail of online harassment bullets, 3 months for a complete redesign is nothing.

And, to be clear, this is not a criticism of The Team in the least, but a realistic comment toward the time needed to build a working system model from the ground up.

You might be waiting for a very long time.

Edited September 29, 2024 by The Feng Hunter
Clarity

[The Feng Hunter]

On 9/5/2024 at 1:20 PM, Leeanda said:

Also on names,why HUSHED river valley, that place is deafening with waterfalls .

 

It’s the Hushed River…

[Leeanda]

18 minutes ago, The Feng Hunter said:

It’s the Hushed River…

And while quieter than it would be with flowing rivers it's still very noisy....   

[ThePancakeLady]

45 minutes ago, The Feng Hunter said:

On 9/5/2024 at 1:20 PM, Leeanda said:

Also on names,why HUSHED river valley, that place is deafening with waterfalls .

 

It’s the Hushed River…

[Pleasant Valley enters the chat]

[Leeanda]

11 hours ago, ThePancakeLady said:

[Pleasant Valley enters the chat]

Sorry not quite sure what you mean? Am I mentioning it too much? Apologies if I am...

I do think unpleasant is a bit unfair though, sure it has it's lovely blizzard patterns but I think most maps have something that puts a real crimp on your travels....     Mystery lake has it's fog, bleak has it's winds ,and cold etc etc... my least favorite place (Milton) seems to have the best weather...

The far territories do seem to be the coolest ,and windiest places ....  I've only seen the cougar on a few ytube videos so I don't know if blizzards even stop it spawning .. somehow i doubt it 

[ThePancakeLady]

1 hour ago, Leeanda said:

Sorry not quite sure what you mean? Am I mentioning it too much? Apologies if I am...

No, no! You aren't mentioning it too much. I was referring to Hushed River Valley having deafening waterfalls in the same way that Pleasant Valley can be decidedly unpleasant with back to back blizzards and so many snowbanks for hungry wolves to hide behind and jump out and ambush you from while you are trudging long distances to get to the next place. A lot of people call PV "Unpleasant Valley", lol. On Stalker or Interloper it can be downright brutal at times.

[Leeanda]

2 minutes ago, ThePancakeLady said:

No, no! You aren't mentioning it too much. I was referring to Hushed River Valley having deafening waterfalls in the same way that Pleasant Valley can be decidedly unpleasant with back to back blizzards and so many snowbanks for hungry wolves to hide behind and jump out and ambush you from while you are trudging long distances to get to the next place. A lot of people call PV "Unpleasant Valley", lol. On Stalker or Interloper it can be downright brutal at times.

Oh I see..    I know a few call it that, but I guess I just play pilgrim so much I forget it's not quite such a friendly place for everyone else...

I certainly understand the blizzards lol.. but I'm kind of surprised about so many ambush spots,at least compared to some places.. 

[xanna]

15 hours ago, ThePancakeLady said:

[Pleasant Valley enters the chat]

Ha! The names do make me laugh (bitterly)

[ThePancakeLady]

Heh. I am sure Pleasant Valley once was pleasant... before the wolves, and the snow, and the wolves, and the blizzards, and the wolves, and the BEAR COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW OF MY PORCH!!!! 😨

[xanna]

Not to mention

the bodies in the basement

[AdamvR]

On 9/30/2024 at 12:24 PM, Leeanda said:

Sorry not quite sure what you mean? Am I mentioning it too much? Apologies if I am...

I do think unpleasant is a bit unfair though, sure it has it's lovely blizzard patterns but I think most maps have something that puts a real crimp on your travels....     Mystery lake has it's fog, bleak has it's winds ,and cold etc etc... my least favorite place (Milton) seems to have the best weather...

The far territories do seem to be the coolest ,and windiest places ....  I've only seen the cougar on a few ytube videos so I don't know if blizzards even stop it spawning .. somehow i doubt it 

Indeed my UNpleasant experience refers to the horrid weather and the thousand wolves and bears in every nook and cranny.

the map itself i like a lot:)

the different overall experience (and nickname) might indeed come from pilgrim/stalker settings.

[Leeanda]

8 minutes ago, AdamvR said:

Indeed my UNpleasant experience refers to the horrid weather and the thousand wolves and bears in every nook and cranny.

the map itself i like a lot:)

the different overall experience (and nickname) might indeed come from pilgrim/stalker settings.

It's definitely bear central lol...   

I really do get how tough it is though,  just maybe seems a bit unfair given that more places are considered way harder in most respects..like bleak and the twolves....

But one person's struggle with the game isn't always someone elses..

[Smellyfries]

Pleasant Valley is one of my favorite regions. Yes there are a lot of wolves and bears, but that also means there's plenty of food sources, as well as a fishing spot. I personally like the bear that shows up at the farmhouse, as it's basically a delivery of meat every 2 weeks.

Pleasant Valley also has one of the best sunrises, with it perfectly rising between the peaks.

Pleasant Valley is definitely a very Pleasant Place in my eyes.

[Leeanda]

Nice to have a ready meal deliver himself lol...😁

[The Feng Hunter]

On 9/30/2024 at 10:42 AM, xanna said:

Ha! The names do make me laugh (bitterly)

This tierlist needs to be updated … yall are stuck in 2019. 💀

[xanna]

12 hours ago, The Feng Hunter said:

This tierlist needs to be updated … yall are stuck in 2019. 💀

Yeah, I made it a long time ago, as you can tell from the polaroid region art.