manolitode

On 10/29/2020 at 6:03 PM, odizzido said:

There is a mod for STALKER called misery in which you can buy a quick release for your backpack so you can drop it very easily. I often wonder why our character wouldn't want such a thing.

Dropping the backpack is another aspect of the game that is an interesting discussion for sure. I recall fumbling around during my first days playing TLD, just couldn't believe this function didn't exist. It seemed natural somehow to the TLD context. Have you tried the mod yourself, did the game become much easier? With a counterweight time punishment of a few seconds for dropping the pack I would be up to try it out for sure. 

I just fired 10 wobbly arrows at one evanescent deer. But this modification makes perfect sense and it probably didn't take long for the player to grasp why the character started to shake so I think it's a natural addition to the game. We'll have to plan a little more to keep warm when hunting, which means another much welcome layer of strategy. Though perhaps the shake could be just a little less intense ☺️

2 hours ago, oplli said:

All right but it is still the same problem. The wolf destroys your backpack and then you are overweighted as hell you still have to drop almost all your gear and we end up with the same problem. 

I understand if you don't appreciate the idea of durability on backpacks, personally I wouldn't rule it out as an option (could be a big time hassle, but hey it's TLD . However, that was not what the author of this topic suggested and not what I was responding to in the posts above. 

26 minutes ago, oplli said:

It would be a useless thing to do. you dont take a 20kg backpack to go fishing and a 50kg one to go hiking. if you have a 50kg pack you will use it for everything.

It doesent even makes sense. if we carry 50kg in our backpack as @Mroz4k said, we will still be slowed down by a 50kg backpack (as we already do in the game if we carry 50kg of items. So where is the point?

So one point is that you don't have to restructure your bag just because you change activity. You drop one bag and pick up another. Much much appreciated in endgame if you have one or several base locations. Probably less of a point to have plenty of bags in early game for that particular reason if you loot-migrate between regions. So, what's a point of a 20 kg backpack? Don't know, didn't mention different weights. I like this suggestion because it saves time and gives you opportunity to experiment with different gear setups for different activities. 

If I got to choose one thing from Wish list to be implemented in The Long Dark, this would be it. It would be really cool to be able to sort out different backpacks for eg. fishing excursion, hunting, short travel etc. The possibility of different backpacks would add complexity and would probably have me stay in a playthrough longer before getting bored. 

I'm glad you like the idea and you make a great point that would have to be taken into account if implemented. As for non-stackables, sure, there's an advantage to be able to drop something heavy with a click, like a moose hide or a rifle (do car batteries stack?) when you know you might need to make a run for it. But it's doable to just enter the menu for a one-time drop. 

19 hours ago, Mroz4k said:

My issue with these items and with the can marks is that you dont really see them from far away even if you set it to highest render. The game is just not built to render items from afar it seems, which is a bit of a shame. At least animals get rendered from a really far away.

Valid point, you'd have to drop your item of choice at short interval in order to backtrack. The shorter the interval, the higher need for an easy way to quick-drop, I suppose. Not only because it saves us time and hassle but you're also able to remain alert of your surroundings instead of being "blinded" in the item menu each time you want to drop a stick. 

19 hours ago, Mroz4k said:

I am basically in favour, though I am not sure how well it would actually apply to the game. Im worried that instead of it, being an improvement in simplicity, it would become a tedious task of assigning what items to drop.

I'm not sure I follow, care to elaborate? You simply select an item in the menu as your "quick-drop item" and use a button to quick-drop that item.

On 9/29/2020 at 5:41 AM, gotmilkanot said:

It's possible to sneak past timberwolves entirely with crouching/distracting with stones to get to the watchtower or radio station in upper BI. 

The stones strategy turned out incredibly effective. I'm using it to distract the timberwolves' attention away from me but more often to lure them to a spot below a chosen vantage point where I finish them off with the bow. Sometimes it seems a half-hearted stone throw at a wolfs direction makes it afraid of you forever. 

As I progress slowly (there's enough wolf meat for everyone) through Bleak Inlet there have been a couple of close calls where the timbers spotted me first. I brought enough emergency stims to be able to run without pause to shelter. Have to keep an eye open for safe spots all the time though, still haven't used the flare gun. What's left now is scouting the cannery and hunt them down from stealth one by one. I read somewhere that you can keep the last surviving timberwolf in a pack alive because 1) The rest of the pack won't respawn 2) The last member of the pack will avoid you at all cost. I'm unsure whether this is the case in long term but so far it's been a valid strategy.

I would like to see the option to assign any item in the menu to a quick-drop button. Like we already do with guts and meat but for an item that you choose for yourself.

If you want to drop an item on the ground apart from animal parts you have to enter your inventory and choose item and amount. If you want to use visual cues to mark what areas you have looted and mark what path you have been walking, the current mechanic is holding you back. Sure, you can throw stones or use a spray can. Personally I don't want to walk around in a hostile area exploring with a can in my hand. I either hold a burning torch or a weapon. 

Also, this would give every existing item a new use. In particular the cat tail head, which we don't have much use for after fire skill 3.

What do you think? Am I overlooking key side-effects from introducing this mechanic?

Neat initiative, it looks to me like you got it all covered. As mentioned above, PV to ML transition has no mandatory rope climb. I come to think of a couple of regions that demand (edit: for us regular non-goats 😉) within-region rope climbs in order to scavenge all the good loot. If you feel the need you may include them, being BR, BI, MT, TWM, HRV and Ravine. 

@Catlover Ah I didn't realize you were playing on a brand new playthrough. Sounds like a good idea to grab som resources before you head off, don't forget to loot the crashed planesite on your way to TWM. Do let us know how it goes :) 

3 hours ago, Catlover said:

Much thanks, @manolitode! 

One question, is there wildlife around the summit and on the mountain. I have never seen any, as I have only tried before on Voyager-Pilgrim difficulty. 

No problem! All animals but the moose are on the mountain. You might wanna be extra careful in the area around deer clearing. The summit is a safe haven. 

Sounds like a solid goal. I guess what you need to bring depends on how you choose to climb the mountain. Are you familiar with a way up? If you plan on exploring the path from scratch, you'll need to bring more resources like cloth, coal, dry food and hot drinks. Even better, a well-stocked mountaineer's hut to return to every once in a while. Some starting advice then: bring a bedroll on your first attempt. You want to bring coal if you're not well-oriented on the mountain, it will keep you warm. Coal is preferable instead of cedar/fir since you want to be lightweight. Bring something warm to drink and some food (more nutrition await you at the top). You will be climbing a lot of ropes so keep an eye out for caves and shelter where you can rest. Coffee is your best friend on that mountain. And since you're on loper-weather, keep an extra eye out for discrete (and not so discrete) changes in snowfall intensity. If you get lost up on the mountain in a snowstorm without access to shelter, that's pretty much it. Apart from that, don't forget to make sure your clothes and tools are in tiptop shape before you start ascending. Best of luck!

As often in TLD, it's a risk/reward consideration that's up to you to make. If you want access to the Maintenance yard with its forge, worktable, huge storage and an outdoor bed where you won't get jumped, this is the price. I'm not sure whether BR is actually worth visiting loot-wise but I like to go there at least once every playthrough just to be done with it. You're absolutely right that the wolf population gets worse in the higher difficulties and once you reach the shed you can shoot them from the windows in the open shed area and pile them up  

Did you know that if you look up at the stars at night you may find some familiar star constellations. 

Awesome! Very much looking forward to seeing the new survival update with its new region and items. The big question I suppose, will there be timberwolves...

I think you already figured out the essentials, I'd only like to add a few things. As your bow skill increases you'll notice how much easier it gets when you can oneshot a wolf or deer. From my experience, the deer in particular seem to have a weak point in its ass. So you should experience more oneshot kills if you continue your current strategy. As for moose, you want to be able to kill it when there are no cars or buildings nearby. A good start is to find a vantage point. Stay stealthed, meaning shoot one arrow, then back off a bit, repeat. Choose a ledge beforehand, to which you can escape should the moose charge up the hill. It can take a while so it's nice to keep a fire going for your condition. Keep the flare gun ready if the moose charges you and you can't afford a broken rib. Which you can't if you want to carry a lot of moose steak. 

5 hours ago, TiffTastic said:

You need storm dynamics that are very difficult to recreate at extreme north latitudes. You essentially need convection storms instead of storms formed by large scale forcing. To have that you need things usually like warm sectors and deep instability/moisture that just can’t happen often far, far north. Think like in barrow Alaska they’ve had two thunderstorms ever. sorry I’m a serious weather nerd, my hobby is amateur stormchasing Tiff🦋

Thanks for enlightening us  still, thunderstorms would be possible. On the other hand, it wouldn't make much sence expecting real world weather in the TLD world where there's an aurora every 4th night or so, daily blizzards (at least on loper) and seamless mist transitions. 

23 minutes ago, WillLong said:

There are typically 2 types of friction fire people use in North America. I think the game could really work with this mechanic. Perhaps only Level 5 fire skill could be able to do it.

#1 is the bow drill method, which requires special parts. You need a hearth & a spindle (usually from certain woods like cedar), a bow (just a hard stick with an angle in it), a bearing block (tricky to find, but bone will work and certain stones), cordage (often breaks), and plenty of stamina. This produces an ember, or as we like to say in bushcraft, a coal. You must have a tinder bundle to turn it into fire. You normally can't get friction fire from an even moderately damp hearth & spindle.

I thought about this just yesterday, when I lost a magnifying glass after a moose merged my poor survivor's ribs with his spine. It's a decent idea in my opinion, especially that you're applying alreayd existing ingame materials such as ceder and sticks for your suggestion. I wouldn't mind seeing this implemented if it was to be a very time- and calorie-consuming activity. And as you suggest, possible only at the higher fire skills. 

24 minutes ago, WillLong said:

F. Ignite Fires with Electricity Arcs from the Aurora. You can light fires with electricity. Happens all the time unfortunately.

A sidetrack, now that you mention it, makes me wonder why we haven't seen thunder in TLD so far. Considering the volatile weather, the environment should be a hotbed for thunderstorms. 

I agree that sleep is very important for your overall well-being, hence why getting enough sleep should be imporant in TLD too. However, the mechanic you are suggesting is already built in if you ask me, in a roundabout way. If you don't get enough sleep you can't carry as much weight and in the end you won't be able to run and finally pass out. In that sense, you could view the way your character functions when rested as a well-slept bonus. But I would very much like to see your suggestion about waking up in the night by various disturbances implemented. And nocturnal disruptions should come with an impact on the rested bar, a much welcome addition to the harder difficulties.

Reading the replies to this post has been a delight. The vast majority acknowledge that, while we all have our opinions, your gaming experience is your own and you do what you like with it. Thank you for  the great quality of this community. 

On 9/28/2020 at 6:28 AM, Zukazan said:

Your best bet to beat timberwolves is to get a flare (blue flare is best) and throw it at them. After you've thrown it go over and pick it up then throw it again, repeat until they all run away. Using a flare gun is a waste of ammo.

Unfortunately because of the damage increase on loper you'd be dead before you manage to scare them all off.

10 hours ago, gotmilkanot said:

It's possible to sneak past timberwolves entirely with crouching/distracting with stones 

Thanks, stones hadn't crossed my mind yet, will definitely try it

16 hours ago, acada said:

I dont know. I tried to fire a rifle at timberwolves while I was not spotted. It resulted in immediate attack. So if you want to make a run for the tower, I would not aggro them immediatelly. Maybe stealth aproach will be better and fire as last option. Plus the flare gun ammo is pretty precious to waste it on timberwolves.

Normally I don't need more than a few flare shells for exploring the other regions so I do have some to spare. Stealth is preferable for sure. There aren't too many videos of players flaring timberwolves out there, I think I'll give it a shot just to learn what happens.

A few years back when I started playing, bluescreens were more common. Sometimes a crash happened upon door entry and ruined the save. So I was forced to replay half an hour of travel or so. Sometimes the second turn would end bad so I'd turn off the console before I died. Seemed fair at the time but honestly it ruined my liking for that particular save, so I stopped doing it. You seem to have drawn the same conclusion. On the other hand, if cheating helps you reach a place you've never been, or craft something you've never crafted before, then you learned something from that experience and that's a good thing.

What do you define as risky play? If you keep making decisions that might get you killed, you eventually will  If you want to avoid dying, take less risky decisions. Decide beforehand what items should always be in your bag. During what conditions will you do long and short travel. How much health is enough to leave your current base, etc. Deciding on these conditions beforehand should improve your death rate. 

How you choose to play TLD is up to you, play it the way you enjoy it.

16 hours ago, TiffTastic said:

Usually they run. Unless one is charging at you. That one will try to do what they normally do, unless you hit it with the flare. If you do, it runs off, and goes and dies somewhere. Easier to find for a bit lol, since, you know, flarewolf. The rest scatter and panic for same time as other guns.

Tiff🦋

Thank you  Sounds like the best plan is to fire a flare at the pack before they've spotted me and make a run for the tower.

I'm saving flare shells on my current loper run, with Bleak Inlet in mind. I want to be able to get to the watchtower (and possibly the cannery) before I level up archery to 5. So, a question for those of you who used a flare gun on timberwolves. 

Do the pack usally scatter? If so, for about how long? Or will it just decrease their morale meter a bit?