Jimmy

Dev must add salt to game for the food making. Then can have a salt and battery.

Perhaps don't sleep in places where you'll get eaten?

There's already a variety of consumables that add heat. Holding a lit torch, lantern, or flare in your hand adds +3°C to your temperature. Eating hot food and drinks such as tea immediately fills your temperature 20% and adds an extra +4°C for up to 2 hours while active. Hand warmers wouldn't do anything that renaming a flare wouldn't do, plus flares are more versatile, protecting you from wolves and letting you light fires in addition to warming you up.

Different activities incur different fatigue costs in game. Climbing a rope, for example, quickly drains your fatigue, but even such things as being overloaded when walking will change how fast you drain your stamina. It's almost inevitable that different players will have different fatigue levels. But that's not even the biggest problem. When you're next playing the game, count how often you enter time dilation. Crafting, cooking, carcass harvesting, sleeping, chopping branches, breaking down furniture, and a variety of other activities all advance time at an increased speed. The only option is to simply ignore the time of day advancing when one player enters time dilation, which creates more problems, such as when you are trying to wait out a blizzard or sleep through an aurora rather than risk wildlife encounters. The game is simply not a good fit for multiplayer.

Sounds like a faster but easier style Cinderella Challenge. In that one, you have to move every 30 days, but can take only one item with you. Everything else must be left behind, including your clothes.

Failing this, perhaps a 'sleep on ground' option? Half standard fatigue recovery compared to bed rest, zero bonus temp.

Player One is exhausted and wants to sleep for 12 hours. Player Two is fully rested and wants to go hunt a moose. Care to describe what happens? Does Player One stare at a black screen with a status circle for one hour real-time? Is Player Two forced to miss 12 hours as the game suddenly compresses that time? The time dilation used as a core mechanic of the current game means you simply can't experience The Long Dark properly outside of single player. A multiplayer game would need to be a completely new system, which is only going to happen if Hinterland releases a new game.

I can't see the problem this suggestion solves. On difficulties below Interloper, arrowheads are a common spawn on every map. They often can be found next to deer carcasses and harvested to craft new arrows with cured birch saplings. Having alternative means to craft these simply dilutes the loot table more, without meaningfully changing the gameplay. On Interloper, ranged weapon access is gated by your ability to forge. The difficulty is implicit by design, meaning any additional means of crafting arrowheads is fundamentally altering the difficulty curve of the game. Currently, you require a heavy hammer and forge to make arrowheads in Interloper (barring very rare spawns such as in HRV). Making arrowheads with glass or wood removes the need for a heavy hammer and a forge run, drastically altering how hard it is to reach the point where you can take down big game on Interloper. I can't say I'd support changing Interloper gameplay to 'easy mode' by removing forging as a prerequisite for arrowhead creation. And by extension, there isn't really any need for making arrows in other difficulty modes given how commonly they appear on the maps.

Hi, welcome to the forums! Decoration items are a common wishlist feature, and it sounds like a fun idea. However, this sort of material isn't probably a focus of the devs, who seem more interested in investing time and energy into adding new game features and locations. It would probably make a great player-created mod though, once modding support becomes available!

Welcome to the forums. Heaven forbid you need to work on your thesis! The best tip I can give, not being much of a mapper myself, is to pop out charcoal and map as soon as the location text appears. Beyond this, try to hit high elevation on the map before you use your charcoal, since it will reveal more of the map this way.

Done! Got everything finished by Day 21. The skills weren't too hard to level. With a fist full of saplings after Timberwolf Mountain, I could go on a rampage against predators for training. Many wolf carcasses littered the Pleasant Valley snow when I was finished. By far the slowest part of this run was waiting for the bear hide to finish curing. Got it in the end, though. On reflection, I believe there's a far more efficient way to finish this challenge. Instead of a bearskin coat, crafting a wolfskin coat would cut several days off the completion time. This would require more deer hides though. With a pair of deerskin boots, a wolfskin coat could be used in this outfit and still meet the same protection value. If I was to retry this challenge, I'd probably still start in Pleasant Valley, but hunt and skin four wolves and a pair of deer around the farmhouse before going up Timberwolf Mountain. That would let me have partially cured hides when I return with the various tools and supplies required. I'd estimate getting the challenge finished by Day 14 using this method. Thanks for a fun challenge @Vince 49!

I've reached day 12, and I've got Cooking 3 and Carcass Harvesting 3 ticked off my list. That's mostly thanks to the bear at Pleasant Valley Farmstead visiting when I returned from Timberwolf Mountain. He invited his wolf friends, so we all had a party! Thanks to that, I've got Archery 2 and am halfway to 3. Mostly just killing time now until the bear hides cure. I'll push out the last few kills for Archery 3 with rabbits or deer, since I've denuded the local predator population here. I've mostly just settled down at the Farmstead, ticking off jobs and working on skill ranks until the bear hides cure. Actually have a spare, since the bear below Signal Hill decided to come over while I was practicing archery on bunnies around the barn. I've got something like 60 kg of bear meat at the farm now. I've remade my broken arrows and still have over 20 arrow shafts carved and ready afterwards, so the ammo requirements are in the bag. My old bow is getting a bit worn out at 20%, but I've got two cured maple saplings and I'm ready to craft backup bows. Wish I'd found an archery skill book, but overall I can't complain too badly with this run.

So far I'm up to day 6, with Cooking at 3 and Fire Starting at 2. Hunted and killed one bear up on Timberwolf Mountain, then cooked him. With five birch saplings at 60%, I figure I'll hunt down my second bear in Pleasant Valley and finish up my Archery while the saplings cure. I've got two maple saplings, so more bows shouldn't be difficult to achieve. Honestly, I reckon I will probably just finish the challenge in Pleasant Valley using Archery. Once I've got a bearskin coat, the bonuses should hit the target and I'll retire the game.

Cheers @Vince 49! I got my first four arrows from the barn archery target (one in a broken state), then a couple at the hunter's blind going up to Prepper's Abandoned Cache. Two more along with a 54% condition survival bow from Misty Falls cave (thanks for the fix, hazard of writing from memory), and the final few from Mountaineer's Hut. So far I've broken one more arrow clearing the puppies from the Engine section, but that's still way more ammo than I usually carry. I'm used to carrying three arrows and three spare shafts, so having over double this amount is pure luxury. I actually lucked into the magnifying lens from the Pleasant Valley Farmstead. I was originally hoping for a hacksaw, since there's a 75% chance of one being either here or in the Barn on the Interloper loot tables, but the magnifying lens instead was a pleasant surprise. Mountaineer's Hut gave me my second hacksaw, second hatchet, and a ski jacket, but no magnifying lens. Still, with over a hundred matches as well as three 70% firestrikers from the summit, the magnifying lens is a bit redundant now. Still, the miserly scrooge that I am, I plan to use it whenever possible to save my resources. After all, who knows when I might need to start two hundred fires on short notice during a cloudy day? Anyhow, time to dump a bunch of my crap from the summit, and skin some grizz!

Not recently, though with the global situation I haven't had much time to relax so I've not been playing much. It seems the moose carcass spawns mostly around the Monolith Lake area, though I've also seen screenshots of it spawning in the little nook around the corner from the cave at Pensive Vista. To my best knowledge, the game randomly replaces a potential deer carcass spawn with the moose instead in this region. It's not guaranteed, so I treat it as a bonus if I do find it, though if I'm in the market for moose, Bleak Inlet is now my go-to location to find one on-the-hoof.

I almost always put Hushed River Valley on my list of essential locations for an Interloper game. The big draw is the guaranteed spawn locations for a mackinaw jacket (best non-crafted in slot), a pair of combat pants (best under-layer in slot), and wool ear-wraps. These are very rare otherwise, and subject to RNG. Therefore, I typically hit HRV after forging, while I'm waiting for hides to cure for crafting. Overall, the location is extremely generous with calories, since wildlife and cattails are plentiful. The ice caves offer shelter and safety, plus abundant coal. There's even a chance at finding a moose carcass for massive amounts of calories and a free hide! In short, a great region. I just hope it doesn't become infested with timberwolves in the future!

Got the Summit! I skipped the wing and made straight for Echo Ravine from the Mountaineer's Hut, playing fetch with a pair of puppies looking for belly-rubs down at the Engine. Both of them caught my arrows before they took a nap. The Interloper in me cringed at leaving so many calories, but I honestly had far more than I needed and it wasn't worth stopping to collect the meat or hides. I grabbed some coal in the cave near the Engine, then went up and had a nap at the three-way cave. Up to Deer Clearing, then a shimmy around to Secluded Shelf, and I finally burned my first match this run! I needed a torch to navigate the cave, since I didn't bother with the extra weight hauling a lantern up, and the weather wasn't sunny for once. Exiting the cave with a ton of coal, I made a meal of a deer carcass and a rabbit, then took a nap. Then, the big climb! I looted the summit for two expedition parkas, two fisherman's sweaters, a pair of snow pants and insulated boots, plus a single pair of wool longjohns. I also grabbed the flare gun and hammer here, so I'm just short a prybar for my tool collection. Plus, I've got a pack full of MREs, salty crackers, peanut butter, and ammo, as well as a few saplings I collected on the climb up. Once I sorted out what I was taking and what I was leaving, I took the fast way down from the summit. One sprained wrist and ankle, and a close call with a bear up north on the shelf above Crystal Lake, before I'm back at the Mountaineer's Hut by the start of Day 4. For now, I think my next strategy will be collecting bear hides for a coat. Those will take up a fair amount of time to cure. I've got my Well Fed buff now, but I'm pushing a full 35kg load. Might just dump the saplings to collect the hide from the bear who nearly invited me to dinner, and see if the second bear I saw is still down near the wing. Once I've got my two bear hides, I'll run down to Pleasant Valley again and stop at the farm to turn the curtains into clothing repairs. My trip up to the Summit netted me 26 rifle rounds, plus I have 20 more loaded in the two rifles I got beforehand. That's enough to hit Level 3 even if I miss almost half my shots. Carcass Harvesting and Cooking should follow quickly, well before the bear hides have cured. There's probably even enough time to run out to Hushed River Valley and grab the Signal Fire loot if I'm quick, especially since I don't need to stop for calories for awhile.

Interesting challenge, I'm gonna give this a go! Seems like the main trick is to hit Level 3 Archery or Rifle Firearm fast as you can. Am I interpreting your challenge rules correctly that you need to end the challenge with all the items in your inventory? Seems fairly simple to just stash your loot along the way if not. I mean, I've probably got ten times the challenge calorie target in various foods I've left behind to save weight. So far I'm at Day 2, and I've got a magnifying lens, two hacksaws, two hunting knives, two hatchets, two rifles, two full lanterns, a survival bow and ten arrows of various quality, plus far more matches, miscellaneous tools and first aid supplies than I'll ever use. Food and water are fine too, since I've stashed everything except a single can of dog food I opened to get a second recycled can. My strategy was to start in Pleasant Valley, and I ended up spawning near Contemplation Bridge. I looted the Barn, then the Farmhouse, then shot over to Draft Dodger's Cabin, grabbed the four rabbits there and a bunch of reishis, rested for six hours, cooked the rabbits and brewed tea. After that it was a short hike up to Burned Ridge Cave the grab the loot from the crash site, then I dumped the extra clothes in the cave and hauled the rest to Prepper's Abandoned Cache. I dumped everything but the essentials, did a quick trip down to Misty Falls Picnic Area for a rabbit dinner plus the cave loot, then rested ten hours at the cache and ascended the next morning. Right now I've reached the Mountaineer's Hut by Day 2, and plan on hitting the Summit by Day 3. I'll grab the coffee from the Engine cargo containers in Echo Ravine and that should give me enough supplies to make it without resting. Honestly, I'm really surprised how smoothly this is going. I usually do this trip on Interloper, and having so much loot along the way is shocking. Plus, it's sunny almost all the time! I barely fall to zero temp values before reaching the next stop, and my health bar is constantly full without even trying.

Quartering is objectively more efficient than harvesting, but only under certain circumstances. First, only bear and moose are worth quartering from an efficiency standpoint. With wolves and deer, you end up spending more time quartering than you save. Second, if you don't want the hide and guts, don't bother quartering. With quartering, you get the hide and guts ready to transport after finishing. For bear and moose, the time you spend quartering isn't affected by your tool type either, so when using an improvised knife or hatchet during an Interloper game, you end up taking less time to gain the guts and hide than if you'd spent the time harvesting the carcass. Third, you can pause quartering and return to it later. Pressing the escape key when quartering saves your progress, though this isn't immediately visible. This means you can spend time in smaller chunks when quartering a big kill.

Also, it's never really explained why non-electric motors, such as diesel, wouldn't function. They work purely via gas compression, no electricity required. Admittedly, the cold climate of Great Bear would definitely slow down a diesel motor starting, but a nearby fire would probably solve this after a few hours. Of course, it's gonna take a LOT of fish to get enough oil for that sucker.

You know he's a hardcore Interloper when he braves Bleak Inlet.

From the perspective of a health care worker, let me comment. As with many professionals, I took an oath when I completed my education. That oath, among other things, stated that I would place the needs of those I care for above the needs of myself. Perhaps this is an archaic form of responsibility, in this age when words are worth as much as the paper they're printed on. Certainly, there's an argument to be made about allowing nature to take its course, especially in those for whom no further efforts will serve. I've been there. I've seen them. There's kindness in allowing them to fade away. Still, there's hope. Sometimes, thanks to our efforts, a person's fate may be averted. A young, able-bodied, living person is before you. You have the knowledge, resources and skills to give them a chance to live one more day. You stand, in your mind, and ask that person what their choice would be. Do they want that day, or do they long for the long dark? It's a terrible, dark secret of any who hold that power in their hands. From neonatal care, wondering if the child's life you preserve will end up permanently brain damaged, to the palliative care ward, knowing that every effort you expend will be ultimately wasted. This recent time has forced me to consider my own oaths, fearing for my family and myself given the risks I face in the line of duty. After much soul searching, I came to the conclusion that I had a simple choice. Uphold my oath, or abandon it. Despite the risk, I choose to go to work each day, knowing I could be signing my death sentence. The choice Astrid makes, futile though it may be, isn't really a choice. It's an expression of her true nature, a willingness to follow her oaths and uphold the standard to which she and her peers serve. Perhaps the common man might choose differently. Perhaps the common man ought to be grateful they're served by those who don't.

Easter's over and I'm incredibly grateful for the chance to rest. Sadly, one of my team has taken ill over the break, but I'm hopeful they're just down with a common bug. They got priority testing just in case since they're working in a high risk environment, but with no fever or URT involvement, the profile's looking like a norovirus. So far all the numbers are trending downwards here in kangaroo land. I'm so proud of everyone that did their bit to sacrifice their freedom and comfort to make this happen. When it comes to healthcare, much of what we do is often unpleasant or painful. But the trade for that temporary pain is a long, healthy future. I'm optimistic for our future here. Like all big operations, there's going to be a long and uncomfortable period where we still won't be able to do what we used to do. But, barring complications or accidents, I think we're on the road to recovery. Now, just gotta keep greasing the gears of society to keep it chugging along until the boffins down at the lab finish fiddling with their squeakers and pop out a vaccine.

It's the parable of the blind men and the elephant. We are all of us stumbling in the dark, grasping this invisible threat to feel out its shape. Either we can mistrust and fight over the differences we observe, or combine our knowledge to better understand what we face, however imperfect our knowledge may be. I'm going back to work tomorrow. My son, who is seven years old, drew me some pictures to take with me. In his best handwriting, he carefully wrote 'Wash your hands when you go out!' along with a colorful coronavirus particle beneath. I can see how badly he wants to help me, though he has no idea how. I swore an oath to place the needs of those I serve above my own. It's time to make them more than words.

False negatives are common, especially in a novel outbreak or with less than perfect equipment. Technique is just as important as the equipment quality when taking a sample, so variation in results is bound to occur. Yes, I agree with you that the results from certain countries are likely unreliable. I would take reports of any country having no new cases to be deceptive. In order to conform with forum guidelines, I won't name any particular nation or state involved, but I would suggest that there is likely a surge in "unknown pneumonia" cause of deaths involved to shift official figures away from a politically sensitive issue. But please, don't try to cast doubt on the accepted data. We have good statistics from Italy, Spain, Iceland and New Zealand that give us some reliable, robust and rigorous evidence on how dangerous this virus can be, and how we can blunt its impact.