Ash Canyon has too many really good unique items & at least one should be moved to another region

[jmoney123]

I love Ash Canyon, but I think the unique items are crazy good.  Crampons, tech backpack, wood working tools AND the best unique rifle variant spawn?  At least one of these needs to be moved to another region.  I know its a difficult region, both hard to get to and difficult once you get there, and there should be unique rewards, but I feel like its just too much.  Hushed River Valley could use better unique items to incentivize you to travel there.  It has a unique bow variant there, and not really much else.  And you can't even repair the unique bow without a mod.  HRV is the least traveled to region in all of my play throughs because of how out of the way it is, so I think putting the technical backpack there would really make it must stop destination.  What do you guys think?

[Leeanda]

Hrv...no thanks lol... It's the hardest,and worse place on great bear.. after 5-+ years I still don't know it that well and I know others find it extremely difficult in there... Plus there's a moose hide satchel there already, except for loper level....

But I suppose there are a few things in ash ...maybe remove the crampons,they're craftable and can  be found at the summit anyway?? 

[AFSStudio]

Get to HRV if your desperate to find a hacksaw. Its a 100 percent guarantee. 

That what I heard from zak.

[hozz1235]

Welcome to the forums, @jmoney123!  

I actually like HRV much better than AC.  As I've said before, I forced myself to stay there until I really knew the layout well.  It's worth it, IMO.  Beautiful zone.

[Stranzua]

HRV has the moosehide satchel up by the mysterious signal so putting the technical backpack there would put 10kg of extra carrying capacity in one region. Probably not a good idea.

Plus, is it me or do the improvised crampons better than the manufactured crampons? I swear that the manufactured crampons are worse. This makes them much less valuable for me. 

HRV also has the Stalker Pie which is one of the best unique recipes in the game. Ash Canyon has the Ranger Stew which could be really good, but it does need potatoes and carrots. WAY better than the Thomson's stew in PV. That stew needs a buff/rework. I think it requires 1 can of corn, 4 carrots, and 2 potatoes for only 1200 calories. YIKES!

 

[KingFuzz]

12 hours ago, hozz1235 said:

Welcome to the forums, @jmoney123!  

I actually like HRV much better than AC.  As I've said before, I forced myself to stay there until I really knew the layout well.  It's worth it, IMO.  Beautiful zone.

I just did this myself. I definitely appreciate it more now. 

[Serenity]

Crampons are also on the TWM summit now. And the woodworking tools there are the easiest to get, but there are several others too.

I don't need specific rewards to make a region interesting. AC is great because of the unique terrain and has great lighting (compared to the earliest regions).

[turtle777]

On 1/7/2025 at 5:03 AM, AFSStudio said:

Get to HRV if your desperate to find a hacksaw. Its a 100 percent guarantee. 

That what I heard from zak.

And 100% guaranteed bedroll on Interloper.

-t

[PilgrimReaper]

On 1/7/2025 at 2:43 PM, hozz1235 said:

Welcome to the forums, @jmoney123!  

I actually like HRV much better than AC.  As I've said before, I forced myself to stay there until I really knew the layout well.  It's worth it, IMO.  Beautiful zone.

Same!

[Veskaida]

On 1/6/2025 at 10:15 PM, jmoney123 said:

I love Ash Canyon, but I think the unique items are crazy good.  Crampons, tech backpack, wood working tools AND the best unique rifle variant spawn?  At least one of these needs to be moved to another region.  I know its a difficult region, both hard to get to and difficult once you get there, and there should be unique rewards, but I feel like its just too much.  Hushed River Valley could use better unique items to incentivize you to travel there.  It has a unique bow variant there, and not really much else.  And you can't even repair the unique bow without a mod.  HRV is the least traveled to region in all of my play throughs because of how out of the way it is, so I think putting the technical backpack there would really make it must stop destination.  What do you guys think?

Ash Canyon also has the 'best' Fishing Hole in the game (shortest time for it's Bite Rates), at the region's only Ice Fishing Shack. Though I'd argue while this is technically true, it isn't practically given how remote the Ice Fishing Shack is from shelter (requiring a vertical Rope Climb, or Goating to reach Homesteader's)

I disagree with splitting up Ash Canyon's loot items. Yes, Ash Canyon is a relatively remote region, but it's only (guaranteed) unique item is the Technical Backpack. 'Technically' Crampons in AC are guaranteed, but they can also spawn at TWM's Summit, and the similar Improvised Crampons can be crafted at any workbench. Similarly there are several other locations for Woodworking Tools, though I would agree: generally speaking AC's Woodworking Tools are probably the most accessible.

Looking at nearby similar regions:

• Blackrock has Noisemakers (and their blueprint) and the Ballistic Vest (and a guaranteed Bedroll spawn)
• Timberwolf Mountain has 'most' of the Spelunker's Lantern spawn points, as well as it's Cargo Containers (as more generic, but rich POI).

I don't think HRV needs additional loot items, and if it were: I'd argue strongly that they should be naturalistic and not man-made loot. Personally I am not a fan of HRV getting two bunkers added to it post-TFTFT, since previously it was the only major region int the game with no artificial structures, so I think the addition of those (and more artificial loot like you're suggesting) pollutes that original design.

[NickBeast17]

I just dragged my stalker save over to HRV for the first time, and it's hands down the most beautiful region to me.  The twin waterfalls are gorgeous. I snagged a satchel and there is even a dead moose that I got an additional hide from. It seems fairly balanced to me.

Edited Saturday at 11:26 PM by NickBeast17
grammar :)