ManicManiac

...moments before the Full Moon rises...

I miss the old "Home Screen"...

@SuperStriker16 I've always preferred Stalker over Interloper... not because it's too much of a struggle, but rather because it's "feature complete." From there I can choose what I will or won't allow myself to use or take advantage of (depending on how hard I want to go). Some examples: I once decided I would not eat any "found food" (by that I mean the processed/packaged "man-made" stuff) forcing me to only eat what I could hunt or harvest. I once decide to immediately shred any clothing that gives +2 "warmth bonus" or greater - which of course makes the temperature outside much more of a problem (and of course removes the "best" clothing and even second tier clothing from the run). I once forced myself to only use stones for defense (bows, rifle, or revolver were still allowed... but only for hunting - I could not use it for defense). I once decided that I would end consider the run over if I got into a wildlife struggle of any kind. It honed my evade and avoid techniques. I once decided I would not harvest any vegetation... lichen, rosehips, reishi mushrooms, saplings, etc... where off the table. I once decided to mute the sound forcing myself to have to rely solely on visual cues to evade predators (it was tricky but doable ). There's a ton of personal rules, challenges, goals we can set for ourselves no matter what "mode" we choose. Another option is get a custom game... maybe start with the Stalker template and then tune the various values to something you find interesting (without canceling the firearms or loot you'd like to preserve). And again, if you find there's too much loot... you can always opt not to take it. We can always challenge ourselves to see how little we can live off of without a new "difficulty mode" being invented. In the end, I'd say it's not so much the difficulty that's important... it's what you choose to do with it.

Also in the meantime, if we really want "less stuff"... we could also simply not go beachcombing.

Tales From the Far Territory: Signal Void - Coming soon to Interloper.

No reason... just really like the vibe of the song. 🤭 Poe - Hello

No reason... just really like the vibe of the song. 🤭 Poe - Hey Pretty

I could agree, I think (from the sounds of it) that it might take some tuning to get it feeling right. I haven't had a chance to see it for myself yet... but like any gear/supplies found in the game, if I feel like I'm finding too much stuff... I just won't use it. 🤭 I mean just because it's there doesn't mean we have to take/use it.

After wandering with no food, starved for nearly two days... and I find a candy bar in a glove box... BabyMetal - Gimme Chocolate [Found one that wasn't full of Flashing Strobes - thought that might be better for everyone - the official video is easy enough to find for anyone interested]

@TonyInPleasantValley / @Bloodskye Indeed, well done. Any personal achievements are something to be proud of, especially since Great Bear Island makes us earn every step we take.

@conanjaguar Not a problem.

There's no need to try and get personal insulting. 🤭 At no time I say (or even imply) that the way you choose to play was doing was "silly," so I feel like your response is a bit unwarranted and a tad hostile. As for your feelings of being left out... you weren't really saying much about that (you seemed more intent on talking about how there was "too much loot in Interloper now..." so I offered ways a player might be able to remedy that on their own simply by exercising a little bit of player choice. On the topic of the "lopers feeling left out," I've already discussed this in previous threads: Then later... the Admins made the following announcement: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Adding Interloper to TALES [removing text for brevity] ...we understood that you didn’t really mind if the experience would be a massive struggle with little reward. You just wanted that option. So, after careful consideration, we have decided to introduce the “Signal Void” Tale to Interloper, with some modifications designed to preserve game balance for that specific Experience Mode: Bunkers will be adjusted to provide less loot on Interloper. The final Bunker will still contain a couple of rare items, but adjusted for Interloper. [removing text for brevity] ...We plan to release these changes in the next week, so you should have access to the Tale very soon. Keep an eye out for the official release notes! " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So... there's nothing more to worry about on that topic. But again, that's not what your post seemed to be about. Your thread was focused on "too much loot" and "interloper feels dumbed down/nerfted." You weren't really talking about feeling left out as an interloper player... so I'm not sure why that was a point you we were trying to pivot to when all I did was to offer a way for players to adjust their gameplay experience without needing to change the game for everyone else. As I've also said before: I was not personally attacking you, I was just discussing the question you posed... so I think it's a bit unwarranted for you to be trying to get personally insulting towards me.

Seems to me that no matter what... there will always be complaints and people upset that something changed. I'd posit that it wouldn't matter what it is, or how slight, or how much of a net positive it is; there will still be those who will get disproportionately upset and grouse on about it. I've seen folks say... "look at other communities, it happens all the time." But to that I say, just because it's common doesn't mean it's right or that we can't strive to be better than that. I will mention, just because something is there... doesn't mean we have to use it. Player choice has a much bigger impact on our survival experience than folks realize. We can completely change the way the game plays (without having to change the game for everyone else) simply by changing the way we play it. I mean I don't like spray cans or pain killers... but I don't jump on the forums to complain about it or ask Hinterland to change their game to suit my tastes, I just don't ever use them.

I think Hinterland has done a wonderful job with the game. I think that by now, most folks should not be surprised by bugs and delays... every game/update is likely going to have them. So, I don't mark that against any developer so soon after an update. I think the state of the game is great... for me (and apparently others as well) I think it's the "loper-leet" attitude that has gotten tiresome over the years. I'm very concerned that a thread encouraging people to "let it all out" (however well intentioned) may just end up being a lightning rod and become the new focal point of all the vitriol that has been festering. I like the idea of the thread... but I'm warry of what it's inviting.

I was more than content to let Raph's words stand on their own. However, with the continued conversation and hearing more from those who play other modes, I suppose I'll add my voice too (once I've finished gathering my all thoughts on the more recent posts). More to follow...

^ I know there are more... I even ran across a few more ^ ^ Update, it was not a bug... (context, the mine in Coastal Highway down the elevator shaft) just unlucky enough that the very edge of my hitbox faintly brushed a live-wire and I was fried in the span of seconds. ^ “Death comes for us all, Oroku Saki. But something much worse comes for you... for when you die, it will be without honor.” ~ Master Splinter (1990)