Morrick

The very same thing happened to me. As I wrote in another thread, it happened all so suddenly that it had to be a bug. I was walking there just too carefully for having dropped in the water by mistake. The fact that it happened to you too is partly comforting because it means it's reproducible, even on different platforms (I'm playing on a Mac), and not just a local glitch. Unfortunately, unlike you, I was not able to recover the savegame. I lost my longest-running MacKenzie (511 days), my best run so far, and by far the most well-equipped, best-fed survivor. I'm still quite annoyed and frustrated.

I explored the new region in Survival Mode using one of my longest-running, better-equipped pilgrim MacKenzies, only to lose him due to what I believe is some kind of bug. I was exploring near the Power Plant, in the lower area where there's that strong current flowing into the plant. I'm pretty sure I was standing on a rock nearby when suddenly the screen went black and the game said I died by drowning. This happened so suddenly and without any 'splashing sound' (like for example when you fall in a lake or river by stepping on thin ice) and, again, I don't think it was my mistake, as I was walking very carefully exactly to avoid falling into the river. I'm on a Mac using the Steam version of The Long Dark.

Another triptych: 1. A disagreement at sunset. 2. Orca. 3. Weathervane.

I generally agree with this. To be fair, there's a recent transition where you don't pass through a cave, and that is the 'upper entry' to Bleak Inlet from the Ravine. But your point stands. I like those three transition zones because they're cool mini-regions that sometimes feel like an opportunity to pause and rest. More than once finding refuge in the basement of the abandoned Harris home in Crumbling Highway has meant saving my survivor from certain hypothermia.

Three moments from a long, cross-region trip. 1. Some late night talk radio in the Orca Gas Station. 2. Making the Old Spence Family Homestead a bit cosier. 3. Minimalist view from a cave in Bleak Inlet, the morning after I survived a blizzard.

I actually think that there aren't enough coastal regions if we consider that the game world is supposed to be an island. In a recent sandbox, I started in Hushed River Valley, then went to Mountain Town, then to Forlorn Muskeg, then to Broken Railroad, then back to Muskeg, then to Mystery Lake, and am now in Pleasant Valley. I swear I haven't avoided the coastal regions on purpose, but it felt strange to cover all that land without even seeing the ocean… As for the rest, I too would like to see a more urban setting (as I wrote in my post). I agree, the wildlife aspect could be an issue, but maybe this could be an area with more wolf encounters, or where the weather has become more challenging, or with more hazardous spots during auroras (given the urban setting).

I would love to explore a coastal region with a proper harbour and adjacent town. I mean, we have regions like Hushed River Valley, Timberwolf Mountain, and Ash Canyon, where there are little to no man-made structures, and I think it's time for a change. I don't know if Great Bear Island is supposed to be scarcely populated, but if you count how many regular houses you encounter in the game (therefore excluding industrial buildings, churches, stores, garages, etc.), you would probably think that fewer than 50 families used to live there. It's not that I want a new area with a lot of houses just because I want an 'easy' region with lots of loot opportunities. The developers could make half of them inaccessible and that would be fine. It's that I think that such an area would make sense in the general geography of the island. And it would be a welcome change after several almost-uninhabited regions.

For me it's the Old Spence Family Homestead in Forlorn Muskeg. Reasons: No one has mentioned it yet, and I like to be original. It's a very airy and ventilated structure. Returning home in inclement weather is always an exciting experience. Forlorn Muskeg is now a cool region because it's one of the most connected. We have Mountain Town to the North, Broken Railroad to the West, Mystery Lake to the East, and Bleak Inlet to the South. Plenty of communication opportunities (lots of shortwave towers in Forlorn Muskeg!) All kinds of wildlife around you can shoot without even exiting the building. Powerful heating system. A safe to store all your valuables (money to use as tinder, meat). A workbench (currently used as a Recycled Cans display table). Located in a region rich in coal and mushrooms, essential for survival (if you know what I mean). Forlorn Muskeg doesn't have possible spawns of Prepper's Caches, but hey, we have possible spawns of Abadoned Camps — better than nothing. View of Forlorn Muskeg from Marsh Ridge. "The weakest ice in all Great Bear Island." (TripAdvisor review) "I didn't realise my lodgings would literally be a train carriage!" (AirBnB review) "Google Street View is outdated, I found a cave where a rock wall was supposed to be." (R. Von Lindt, local guide, Google Maps review)

An airport and a freight harbour? I'm definitely… on board with it.

That moment when, after hours of zero visibility, sunlight manages to pierce through the fog.

Hailing from Spain. Happy Festivities, everyone!

I was walking in this twisting path between two mountains, and this unexpected light effect made me genuinely utter "Ooh!" out loud.

After dying like an idiot in Ash Canyon thanks to one of these bridges… [puts sunglasses on, looks up] I'm back, bitches.

In Ash Canyon, good weather has been such a rare sighting for me, that when it happened I had to capture it! Also, waterfalls are amazing!

Raphael van Lierop said on Twitter that no, you currently can't repair the crampons. See short thread here.

After a long hiatus from both the game and the forums due to a serious increase of work, I had to get back to play in the new region. I had one of my survivors located in Timberwolf Mountain — a very well-fed, well-equipped Pilgrim, so I figured he was the best candidate to go on a mission. I found the entrance (or one of the entrances) to Ash Canyon pretty soon. At first the new region gave me a bit of a Hushed River Valley vibe, and I'm sorry but I really dislike Hushed River Valley, and after one in-game day in Ash Canyon I was already weary of exploring fairly empty areas in constant blizzard and almost-blizzard weather. Good thing I had the presence of mind of bringing a bedroll with me, by the way. The labyrinthine nature of the landscape was starting to put me off — with just a few charcoal pieces I was trying to map my progress as I marched forward, but I couldn't do it consistently. But after the first couple of nights, something clicked in a way that didn't click with Hushed River Valley. Sure, they're both areas that develop in an intricate way and on different levels, but somehow I'm finding Ash Canyon less opaque than Hushed River Valley. I don't know, maybe I've just been lucky or I have good instincts, but the path that led me to the Gold Mine (where I am at the moment), though convoluted, has felt linear so far. During all my visits to Hushed River Valley, I found the place to be sort of designed against the player and, in a sense, more deceitful than Ash Canyon. Hushed River Valley has always felt like a puzzle rather than an organic map. At least to me. All in all, I find Ash Canyon to be a clever and well-executed map. You definitely want to explore it with a good stash of food and tools (the bedroll is essential), and my aim so far has been to worry more about being constantly rested rather than well-fed, as climbing seems to be a frequent and unavoidable activity. When I discovered Miner's Folly and the Mine, I was glad the map featured some man-made structures, another welcome difference from Hushed River Valley. I've been surprised by the general scarcity of active wildlife, but it's also interesting because it gives Ash Canyon a decidedly sinister mood. The weather, on the other hand, is award-winning annoying. I feel it's even worse than Bleak Inlet. I've been in Ash Canyon for about an in-game week, and I only saw a clear blue sky once, and it didn't last long: Some vistas are breathtaking, though:

Imagine returning to The Long Dark after months being terribly busy with work, and discovering there's a summer event called Winter's Embrace (heh). And that such event ends in basically three days. Not having enough time to take this challenge seriously, I opted for a random spawn. Broken Railroad! Just the perfect place for cold weather, wolves, poor loot, etc. I never seem to remember they changed the map a bit in the Landslide area at the beginning, so I always waste time getting back on (railway) track. And of course as I spawn and start walking, a blizzard is already mounting. I'll cut the boring story short: I had a terrible first day. The only consolation is that, thanks to the coal in the Maintenance Shed, at least I was able to stay warm. When I left the place the day after, the area was surrounded by wolves. It took me a long time to sneak past them, so I was already freezing by the time I reached the lake… what's it called? the lake with the Hunter's Blind. I took a small detour to check that Hunter's Blind and it was empty. The detour cost me the first fight with a wolf. Thankfully I survived (thanks, prybar). I had enough stuff to patch me up and reach the Hunter's Lodge. Wolves everywhere. The hypothermia risk was too high to try a stealthy approach, so I just ran for the main door. I heard barking from all directions, so close to me. But a moment before hitting the 'Open door' trigger, a wolf caught me. I didn't think they could get so close to the building. Another fight, another 'victory' — quotes are mandatory here: I didn't die, but I was left in poor health and with my already poor clothes in an even worse state. The Hunting Lodge, which usually isn't that great of a place for loot, was somewhat even more disappointing than usual. Lots of empty containers and useless crap (3 spray paint cans, really?). Seriously, I've had Interloper runs more fruitful than this. I was able to patch myself up again and survive the night. Day three now. I've reached the truck parked outside. Weather's getting worse again. I'm out of here. (Turns the ignition key) Oh wait.

Damn, I've been repairing low-condition storm lanterns all this time for nothing. I always assumed condition and performance were related.

I've managed to make a car disappear! Well, almost!

I have different survival games running at the moment: 4 on Pilgrim, 2 on Voyageur, 2 on Interloper, 3 on Custom. My longest run is one of those survivors on Pilgrim: 251 days, still alive.

(By the way, these posts are hilarious taken out of context. When I was replying earlier, my wife came into my studio, cursorily glanced at the screen and said, What in the world are you talking about? When did you get food poisoning!? – It's okay, dear, it's just a game.) Oh man...

No, I was clearly joking about the sardines in the Cannery being special. Food poisoning in this game has truly been the most random thing I've encountered. I was poisoned by Dog Food at 67%, but not by Condensed Milk at 11% (no kidding). But never by beverages, no matter the condition. Statistically, however, sardines have been the worst and the most frequent case of food poisoning for me.

I consider the sardines in The Long Dark an enemy, not food. They're sneaky and vicious. Absolutely unpredictable. What was the first thing ever that gave me food poisoning? You guessed right. What was the condition of that tin of sardines? 78%. I still remember as if it were yesterday. What food poisons you at 78%? I was so mad when that happened. Totally caught me unprepared. And yet… I'm in Bleak Inlet now, and very low on food. Out of desperation, I collected the tins of sardines in better condition (ranging from 34% to 47%), and when I reluctantly ate them… nothing. I've been eating at least 6 or 7 tins in those conditions, but every time all went well. I even pushed my luck with a tin that was at 25% condition. All okay. Either I've been impossibly lucky, or the sardines in the cannery are 'special'.

I'd like less randomised complaints and remarks from my survivor as well. It's funny when you're staying in a place the game considers 'outdoors' (lookouts, caves, the Mountaineer's Hut, certain areas in the Cannery Workshop facilities, etc.), and the survivor says something along the lines of "Night is coming, time to look for shelter..."

First things first: if this topic has already been discussed, point me to the relevant thread, and I'll delete this. I have a few game runs in Survival Mode, and while sometimes it can be difficult to remember each survivor's inventory, I'm pretty sure I'm not hallucinating here. Back when I was waiting for an aurora so I could unlock the door to the Cannery Workshop in Bleak Inlet, I spent a few days sleeping in the anteroom near the fire barrel. Since I needed to come and go without unnecessary weight, I left the bedroll flat on the floor for a few in-game days. Once I got access to the Workshop and explored it, my focus shifted on continuing my exploration of Bleak Inlet, so I kind of forgot about that bedroll. Fast forward to yesterday, I was outdoors in Bleak Inlet, near one of the Hunter's Blinds in the Frozen Delta. It was getting dark and the fog didn't seem to lift. My survivor was tired, so I figured I could start a campfire near the blind, put down the bedroll and sleep a few hours. The bedroll wasn't in my inventory. So I thought — Damn, I must have left it outside the Workshop. I started a campfire, gulped down a few cups of coffee, patiently waited for better weather and visibility, headed back to the Cannery, did the usual now-getting-annoying merry-go-round to reach the Workshop… but the bedroll wasn't there either. Huh. While I wasn't sure whether I had rolled it up and taken with me or not, I am 100% sure I haven't dropped it anywhere else. Since entering the region, the Workshop buildings are the only place where I have slept in that bedroll. I spent two in-game days checking all the buildings in Bleak Inlet, just in case, but the bedroll is nowhere to be found. I know that bedrolls decay more rapidly if left unrolled, but can they actually despawn? And in a relatively short while, like 4-5 days? I'm quite puzzled.