Semple Fi

A couple of things.... They will find you in episode 3. There are at least 4 spots that it is programmed for you to run into them. so tactics come next. When you find the victims, TAKE YOUR TIME. You know you will be attacked shortly after grabbing the victim. So for the first victim, be prepared to get to the draft Dodgers cannon and wait. For the remaining victims, bait the Timberwolves but stay within easy return to the survivor’s fire. The fire will hold them at bay if you stay behind the fire in relation to the wolves. From there, shoot them until you break morale. This will require running away from the fire and then back towards it to bait them back. second, use high ground. Avoid wide open spaces BECAUSE THEY WILL ATTACK. on high ground, you can slip down the side of a Boulder where they can’t reach you, and you can dump the survivor (not where the wolves can get them of course). in short: take your time, make good use of eternal fire, don’t waste ammo, keep near high ground or shelters.

I think this the story is written more for self reflection and the experience of it. The writers of this game are clearly not cold and faithless, nor are they simply neutral observers. Especially given that every purchase of the Long Dark contributes towards forest regrowth efforts... The choice doesn’t NEED to apply later in the story... I find myself struggling with it every run through Wintermute. I’ve played it three times, and I still can’t bring myself to not show mercy. I think hinterland has a moral lesson behind the story that they purposely want conveyed... Not for the purpose of a “choose your own adventure...” but for the experience. personally, I enjoy it.

When you play episode 3 as Astrid you learn that the phone system on Great Bear is an old party line that still works even though the power is out. When one of the main NPC’s makes phone calls to Astrid She explains that ALL the phones ring on the island anytime someone makes a call. During episode 2 where you are playing Mackenzie and retrieving the broken spear from the hunting lodge, the phone ringing is likely a foreshadowed feature of the phone call to Astrid. Since we know that both Astrid’s and Mackenzie’s storylines are running concurrently, the developers likely thought of this ahead of time. And included it to freak you out... lol. But no, you can’t answer the phone, it’s just part of the plot line.