Stoutlander

Collect 50 rocks. Hit the button as if you are mapping the area, instead of hitting the charcoal (at 12 o'clock), hit the little cache - 9 o'clock on the dial

This would also effect other things, such as giving yourself any kind of medical treatment after animal attacks. They would also have to address the difference between starting fires in a wood stove vs outdoors. Could be a large can of worms.

I have to agree with this. Besides, walking in snow with the blowing snow and wind, wearing double layers of clothing while carrying a loaded pack, guess what, realistically you will be walking face first with your head tilted down. Just like in the game already.

IMO, this would be a great idea only if they introduced a muzzleloader. Reloading centerfire cartridges at a campfire, that's not happening in ideal surroundings, let alone in a post event below freezing environment. The idea of your in-game character doing something to get into the reloading bench area a little easier would make total sense though.

Rosebud

Hinterlands failure was to not include "This game is not for whiners" on the label. This is the only game that I purchased after playing it on game pass. Usually you play a game on game pass and just move on to another. I didn't have to buy it to continue playing, but I felt obligated after realizing how good the game is. Hinterland games had earned it.

Good stuff. Also, the time duration of a pole reversal is unknown, meaning it could last weeks or many decades. Excellent point LoneWolf.

I believe that the recuring storm in the game is just fiction that adds fun gameplay. As far as the Carrington event of 1859 that you wrote about, a couple of things; there have been similar events, it's just that those CME's weren't earth facing when they left the sun. Another point, the earth's magnetic field is about 25% weaker than it was in 1859. You wouldn't need a Carrington event level CME to destroy the grid and electronics. "Enjoy electricity while you have it." - Ben Davidson

So the OP claims that ; ...but made a thread saying he wants it "nerfed" anyway???

The thing is, the story line has an economic fall prior to the geomagnetic disturbance. The island had no longer been receiving it's regular supplies from the mainland. I could be wrong, but had thought that most of the cars we see in the game had run out of gas long before the storm came. Maybe there is a refinery on the island? I guess it would be easy enough for them to work around the whole economic fall story line.

There isn't any gas.

Hinterland games; "...we strive for realism..."

Think about how you obtained your flint. What are the odds that you stumble across a piece of flint that is suitable for knapping (please be honest)? Just any piece of flint won't do, and you should know that. I imagine you also realize that there are different qualities of flint as well. The game takes place in coal country. I'm no geology expert, but I doubt that you would find flint there. It seems to be found near limestone. Easiest way to make an arrowhead or spear point; take your hacksaw, cut out a piece of flat steel in the approximate shape you want, cold hammer the edge, sharpen it on stone. No experience required and hard to screw up. You screw up while knapping, you ruin your material and must start over again. Also with knapping, it is very hard to learn without prior knowledge. A novice would look for an arrowhead shape of flint instead of thinking to strike off a suitable piece to start working. An oldtimer (I'm 57, he's long gone) told me how he used to find arrowheads when I was a kid. After a field was plowed and there was rain, he would go out early in the morning when the ground was still wet (upstate N.Y., near the Mohawk valley). The flint arrowheads would shine a little with moisture on them. They were easy to spot. I used the same method to find flint. Point being it would be very hard, if not impossible, to find flint with snow on the ground, assuming that there is even any in the area. Truth is, you aren't making a bow out of a maple sapling and animal gut anyway, at least not one that would propel an arrow fast enough to take game. You would, though, most likely find a manufactured bow (or crossbow) after searching enough homes in rural Canada. I get what you're saying, and I'm not exactly the age that game companies target, so you very well might be more in line than me. I enjoy the game simply because of how close it is to realism. Anyway, I think it's cool that you knap. Most folks don't even know that word exists, let alone have ever done it. Hats off to you.

Kind of tough finding flint under snow and in frozen ground, assuming it is even in a particular area to start with. I have blacksmithed, flint knapped, and hunted with bows. If you could even fashion an arrow (make shaft & attach feathers properly), a forged steel arrowhead would be the easiest and most practical to make, by far. Ground bones would be too light for propper arrow balance and probably too dull. If you have no prior experience making arrowheads, a forged (or just sharpened metal) arrowhead is definately the most realistic possibility.

Looking up at the stars in the night sky: "Damn Reapers." 😄

The realism vs gameplay. Realistically rabbit hides are very thin and would be near useless as gloves (not to mention the cure vs tanning aspect). Larger animals usually have thicker hides, and many types of deer have hollow hair that helps keep them warmer by trapping air that is warmed from their body. Gameplay aspect would make sense as they are in game with the other hides, you would/could use what you have on hand. Personally I enjoy this game because it does a very good job "borrowing" from realism instead of science fiction. I'm for keeping the borrowed realism as it is and not over complicating simple things. Besides, IRL you would be making coats from blankets and other fabric long before fabricating animal hides, but I do enjoy the gameplay of a wolf or bear coat and the other items. Still, I get what you're saying and at the least it would also be neat to make repairs with other hides. Something for me to think about. Thanks OP.

We called them "snowshoe" rabbits. The oldtimers hunted them with beagles to the point that they were rare were I grew up. I was told that they were larger than cottontails (like which are in the game). They were often a mixture of brown and white coloring, more white in the winter, more brown in the summer. (edit: they also had larger back feet, hence the name "snowshoe") Hawks thinned them out as well, because with some white coloring they were easier to see when there was no snow on the ground. Anyway, good idea. With the "hares" you should be able to get a little more meat from them as well.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did anyone else get a brown shirt when they got this game? 😄 Obviously Hinterland games recognizes their moral and ethical resposibility to their customers and financial supporters. This forum is evidence of that. Besides, the OP is talking about game mechanics, not the color of his hiking boots. It is evident that Hinterland games WANTS to hear about such things as well.

After long thought I have to agree with the OP solely on the basis of changing an important game mechanic, especially after 6 years as he stated. When you become so cold that you are shivering, you can usually regather yourself long enough for a shot. If not, you need to find shelter ASAP or you are done. There are other considerations which may have went into their line of thinking, such as trigger or draw hand is usually un-gloved/mittened making you colder faster (or numb) and more prone to missing, and your breathing is a huge part of shooting. Eratic breathing makes for eratic shots. With all due respect, I'm with Gun Tech. (OP) on this one.

Thank you.

It's raining outside, TLD is updating, so I've got the time to do this. I just recently discovered this game because it was on xbox game pass, so I'm late to the party. I'm an older guy, don't consider myself a "gamer", but have enjoyed playing Fallout, Skyrim, and a few others over the years. My wife and I bought our retirement home in Missouri, near Fort Leonard Wood Army base as I have base privileges (retired U.S.M.C., disabled vet). Missouri has a very low cost of living and the people are nice around here. Anyway, this is one heck of a game. As a teenager growing up in the 1970's, I have actually done a lot of the things in this game. Times were different back then. Hunting and trapping were viewed differently than today. I learned many things from my father and grandfather about the outdoors. Hats off to Hinterland games for a job well done, and thank you.

I view the crampons as a snowshoe fix. I realize that it is very hard to mimic real life in a video game. Too many details will make the game unplayable because of boredom. Of course crampons won't keep you from falling through thin ice, more weight distribution (like from snowshoes or cross country ski's) would help. Some snowshoes have cleat's on them to also help with walking on ice. That's how I equate the snowshoe and crampon. If you get bogged down in details and not the experience, then all games will become unplayable. There are many things in this game that I have done in real life. Hinterland games has done a remarkable job. I find it easy to ignore details because of the enjoyment I find from the overall experience of this game. I hope you do as well.

"The Long Dark is a survival experience, and we strive for realism in many areas, ... In the end, our goal is to provide an interesting set of choices for you to play safely." - Hinterland Games Binoculars are a very common item in rural areas. They are often used by outdoors people, hunters, hikers, mariners, wildlife photographers, bird watchers, nosey neighbors, etc. That covers the realism aspect. I personally have used optics many times in the field and have also chosen not to bring them just as often, but the real question is how would they translate to a positive or negative aspect to the game. Terrain and weather conditions can minimize and/or negate their effect, which would often apply to the game. I often carried a small pair of binoculars that could fit in my jacket pocket, and rarely carried larger field glasses around my neck. Larger and heavier field glasses could be introduced (pehaps in the lighthouse?) giving the player a choice of the added weight vs possible advantage from their use. I believe this to be a very realistic choice that could be a burden or occasionally worth the added weight. A true choice of the individual player and for many a fun addition to obtain and use. As far as rifle optics (scopes), good luck trying to hit a wolf that's charging at you. They could make deer hunting super easy, especially in large open areas such as pleasant valley, but scopes would be victims of fogging, icing, snow/water drops on the lens obscuring vision, as the games weather is often harsh. They would also be subject to rough handling where they would no longer be sighted in. Too many variables for this game to be worth the trouble, IMO. I know that when I hunted in Jackman, Maine and Canada, we preferred iron sights, as most of your shots were within 100 yards. Scopes weren't worth the trouble, especially when stalking deer. Realism and choice. Sounds like a good idea to me.

I agree. Probably very hard to find a Canadian country home without a pair. For much of the terrain they might not help much, but occasionally they would, making them a good weight vs reward dilema, which isn't a bad thing.