MattD

I'm sure you probably know by now, but the stim in the cave by the basin and the distress pistol in the ravine have been removed as of the TFTFT pt. 3 release in June. (Possibly sooner? It may have been since pt. 1 or 2). Any updates on your reports? I've been thinking of playing ATDS, but if there's still issues with it I'd rather wait.

I've also had a few bugs with it so far. My sprint meter is always visible now. Also went to pick up 3 rabbits and once I clicked on them they disappeared. It hasn't even been released for 12 hours yet, so we should expect some bugs at this stage. HL will fix it.

I think the distress pistol will play a big part in cougar defense. I've been finding way more flare shells since the dlc launched. In my Voyager run, I've found nearly 50 already and on my stalker run over 30. I think HL is giving us a hint there. I personally have been hoarding them in preparation lol

I can't wait! The cooking and ptarmigan are 2 of the things I'm most excited for. Besides the other regions and the cougar. Everything else is a bonus for me. Glad to see fishing is getting some love finally!

Here's my last screenshot. Taken from the northern Mysterious Signal Fire in Hushed River Valley on day 247. That survivor's final sunset 🥺

Today is the day, survivors! Tales from the Far Territory launches today on Steam. In the spirit of honoring our old saves, share that last screenshot of your favorite run! I'm at work currently, so I can't share mine yet. I don't think the DLC launches for a couple more hours, so if you don't have a screenshot yet, it shouldn't be too late! I'm looking forward to seeing your responses.

Of all things included in this dlc, the trader seems to be the one thing players are most apprehensive about. I've decided to trust Hinterland on this one. They haven't disappointed us yet with the content they've added. I theorize that we don't actually see or interact with him face-to-face, but rather over the shortwave radio only. From there you negotiate what to trade for an item, where to leave payment, and where to collect your item. The trader may not want to be seen! We won't know until we do it would seem.

Thanks for sharing, Glacia, but I don't really see anything in that mod that involves actually crafting the weapons. The flare shell crafting is awesome though. For me, this is one game that I don't really feel the need to mod. Not knocking the mod community for this game! I just prefer it in its vanilla state.

Hello everyone! Haven't posted on this thread in a while, but with the release of the expansion pass roadmap, I'm pleased to say that Hinterland is adding fool hens (ptarmigan) and cougars to the game! I'm sure it isn't because I posted this here on the wishlist. But my wish did come true and now I'm even more excited than I already was for the release of TFTFT!

Yes, like you said, the pen gun is meant as an effective contingency in a wolf struggle. This makes it useful in all difficulties except pilgrim. The musket/shotgun would simply be a more powerful means for hunting and defense against larger predators. Particularly if it's loaded with shot, you would have a higher chance of a critical hit from a distance. Maybe even a higher chance of scaring off a bear. Ultimately, I feel the musket would be more of a player preference thing. It's an option that's there if you want it. The pen gun, at this stage of development of the game, would definitely be the most useful of the two. I feel if Hinterland ever decided to add more small game animals like squirrels or birds in the future, a shotgun-type weapon would have more of a place within the game than it does now.

I was thinking it should be crafted at the ammunition bench from car battery lead. Though, perhaps the shot could be made at a forge as well or with tools on a regular work bench. Exactly! I always felt like the milling machine wasn't really being used for anything. I feel making useful tools like these would be something that makes waiting for the Aurora worth it. Same could be said about the gunsmithing skill. This would be legitimate gunsmithing and not just ammo crafting.

As the title says. I propose 2 possible firearms that can be crafted on all difficulties: 1) A "zip gun" or "pen gun" for self defense purposes only. If you don't know what that is, it's basically a thick metal tube that fires a single revolver cartridge* with a spring-loaded hammer that sets it off. It looks like a pen and can be made easily with the correct tools. You would need 6 scrap metal, quality tools, and the milling machine to craft it. It can be used as a deterrent (like the revolver) against wildlife, but it isn't accurate or powerful enough to cause harm from a distance. However, up close or in a struggle it is very capable of killing a wolf quickly and affects timberwolf morale as well. Reloading is slow and must be done after each shot. Using it will also level the revolver firearm skill. * On interloper, there still isn't any revolver ammo, but you would be able to find casings that you can craft ammunition with. 2) Muzzle-loading shotgun or musket for medium-range hunting and mild defense against bears and moose. Can be crafted from 15 scrap metal, oak (coming soon I think?) firewood, quality tools, and the milling machine. Unlike the zip gun that uses revolver cartridges, this only needs gun powder, cloth, and a projectile such as a lead ball (musket) or lead shot (shotgun). The cloth would be used for making wads that hold the projectile in the barrel. 1 cloth makes 5 wads. Reloading time will vary by skill level, but would have a 1-2 in-game minute reload time at level 1 rifle skill. Shooting it will level up the rifle skill as well. All the particulars are up for debate, but you get the basic idea. I don't think it would upset the game balance on interloper since it takes time and effort to actually craft. The bow would likely still be the best weapon on loper, but these would have a decent role to play in a run.

Luckily, I'm fresh off my pilgrim exploration of AC! I actually feel somewhat confident navigating it. I didn't know that. It seems I misused the term. I thought it meant simply staying in one zone for an extended period. I would like to try this (on interloper) eventually. Need to expand my map knowledge a bit more first. I'll admit: I'm slightly nervous about the "wolf nest" by Angler's Den. Still excited though! I'm stuck in PV right now due to blizzards. Once I make it to TWM, I'm heading straight for the Echo Ravine entrance to AC and the fun will begin!

This one made me spit out my drink laughing. I'm going to use that one next time she says that. I leave the monologue on because I have the meters hidden while I normally play. The cues tell me when to check them.

Thanks for the input, everyone! I'm pleased to say Bleak Inlet didn't even cross my mind as a place I'd like to stay in. I've had 3 decent runs end there, so no thanks. Ah, yes. All good for ensuring a nice long stay Very good points! I've crafted the satchel already, so I don't need to go to HRV to find it. I also have all the firearms. If it was a fresh run, I'd certainly follow your advice on that! Broken Railroad is one I completely forgot about until you both suggested it. I may consider that for sure! I like the "stick a pin in it" mentality. Like I said, I want to be uncomfortable so I can improve my play style. I'd consider BI as "extra advanced" personally. HRV may be difficult to navigate, but for me it's way more forgiving than bleak. Same with AC and PV. Like @conanjaguar said: Bleak Inlet is the place to die horribly. Couldn't agree more, Conan! So based on all of your advice, TWM, AC, BR (not to be confused with BRM) seem to be good places to stay in. After a double coin flip, the results are in. Ash Canyon is the winner! From this point I'm planning on 50 days in Ash, followed by 50 days in TWM, and then finally 50 days in BR. That's assuming I survive that long lol. If I do, it'll be my longest single run yet! Thanks again to all of you for your advice! I'll report back once I make it to AC.

So, I've finally decided to up my game. I've been an avid stalker player for the past 2 years and I can say I've dealt with my fair share of wolves/timberwolves. That being said, they still scare me and I prefer not to tangle with them unless I have to. But I want to change that. The result of this aversion to risk has been this: I end up staying in Mystery Lake for a long time and don't explore other regions as much as I'd like to. My current run, I've spent the last 93 days here at camp office. There's plenty of deer and rabbits to hunt, lots of wood, there's a moose spawn over by Unnamed Pond, and a bear on the lake and by trappers cabin. So, I haven't been so motivated to venture elsewhere. I did make a successful forge run in FM where I made 50 arrow heads and tools since I've long since used up the whetstones I've found so far. I haven't had to use them yet since I've found 4 hunting knives and 2 hatchets. But, it's nice to have. Anyway, I've grown bored of Mystery Lake. I recently started a Pilgrim run to explore HRV and Ash Canyon and was blown away by both (but especially HRV which may have become my new favorite zone). So I've decided to take the plunge and want to move to a different zone! I haven't decided where to go yet, but HRV is my top contender. The only thing I'm concerned about HRV is the lack of shelters to escape from the wolves and bears. I usually will "walk the dog" if he's not blocking my way to conserve arrows and ammo. Once I enter a shelter, there's no more agro. This is harder in HRV since the only real escape is by pathing away via slopes or the ice caves. That's not always convenient, though, and I feel like I'll go through a lot more arrows and ammunition. The only plus would be plenty more delicious wolf meat to eat lol. I also considered PV, but I hate the constant blizzards there. Even though the map itself is spectacular. Last time I was there I had 3 long (6+ hour) blizzards in only 2 days! So once I looted the crash site, the farm, and signal hill, I got the hell out of there and haven't been back. Timberwolf Mountain might be a good option as well. The close proximity to Ash Canyon could also mean I can go grab the technical backpack and crampons too. Though, my only experience in AC was on pilgrim so I'm not very knowledgeable about the wolf and bear spawns. Sometimes I think I'm just too indecisive for this game haha. Wherever I end up I want to stay there for at least 50 days or so. To all of you more seasoned players, what's the best zone to snowball in? Perhaps a more interesting question: what's the worst? I'm eager to hear the community's thoughts on this! Help me decide where to take this run

I never knew this could happen. Is this just a console thing, or can it happen on pc also? At least I'll know what to do if it does. I'm glad it worked out for you, suoiduts!

Thank you Sgt Socks! I used to feel the same way about HRV, which is why I've resisted going there for years. Even after close to 2 in-game weeks of being there, I still don't know my way around that well. That being said, I've gained a new appreciation of the zone and feel slightly better about going there. Looking forward to visiting Ash Canyon after reading your thread!

Good to know. Exploration is my main goal for this pilgrim run. The only loot I really want from there is what's in the gold mine. But really just learning the zone for actual stalker/loper runs later on will make me happy!

Good read! Thanks for the link. This will help a lot when I make it to AC. Just made it to PV, and will be heading to TWM soon. Not used to so much loot, I'll probably not loot anything until I get to AC. I've been playing interloper a lot more often and pilgrim seems like a totally different game lol

Good point, I didn't think about that. Maybe it could only spawn on lower difficulties where birch tea is less useful. That's also a good option, as it would make harvesting more of a priority if you need the bark. I also use firewood a lot. Mostly for cooking. I'll typically carry one piece of cedar with me on longer treks "just in case" and the rest will be stacked at the bases.

Hello everyone! I wanted to make a post about this because it just opened my eyes to how amazing this region really is. First, some context: I'm usually a stalker player. For this run, though, I decided to play on pilgrim just so I could focus more on the region and not have to worry about predators. I opted to spawn in Milton so I could go into HRV with good clothing and a few other tools and supplies. Naturally, being on pilgrim, I found way too much loot and went into HRV just shy of being encumbered. Even after dumping a ton of it at Gray Mother's house. So, I just arrived in HRV. My only previous experience in this zone was getting out of it from spawns on interloper. Already knowing the route from the MT cave to the Hushed River spawn point, I chose to just go somewhere else in the zone I'd never been to before. So I headed west aimlessly. I made it to Stairsteps lake and was already in awe of the zone. The ambiance created from Cloudtop falls in the background and the sheer expanse of the zone ahead of me was both exhilarating and somewhat scary at the same time. I began heading north just as sunset approached. I wasn't too keen on exploring in the dark, so I started looking for a cave to spend the night in. I wanted to avoid using a map for this exploration, so I didn't know there was only one cave in the area. I didn't end up finding that cave. Fortunately, I did find a camp site with a snow shelter, and a bunch of firewood right by Hushed River. This is where I spent the first night in the zone. By morning, I had windy but clear weather. I saw the smoke from the mysterious signal fire and decided that would be a good goal for the day. I headed in that direction looking for a possible way up. When I found the rope, I had to drop more loot to make the climb. Once I made it up there, I found the ice cave. This would be my way down, I thought, since I'd be encumbered again and tired by the time I looted the signal fire. I made it over to the camp site and got the moose hide satchel along with more food. Even with the extra carrying capacity, I was still too heavy due to low energy. I found the cave by the camp site and decided to sleep there for a while and drop some of the clothing I found to bring my weight back down. I was just light enough to take the rope back down, so I did that instead of taking the ice cave. Before descending, I mapped the area from the ledge. This made me choose to take the long rope from Many Falls Vista down to the Twin Sister Falls area. I explored this area for a bit, went up to Moose Overlook (didn't find the bow) then found the rope to Pensive Vista. Headed up there, mapped some more, headed over to Monolith Lake, mapped that area and retired to the cave by Watchful Falls for the night. The next day (this was probably day 4 or 5 in the zone) I decided to head west to see what's on that side of the zone. By the time I made it to Mammoth Falls, I was blown away by the landscape. I kept saying aloud as I was playing "this region is amazing." Unfortunately for me, I had a really hard time navigating in this area. I got lost more over there than anywhere else in the zone so far. I actually resorted to the "stick compass" a few times to find my way around. I eventually found the Ice cave and decided to see where it takes me. It took me to an area north of the rope back down to Hushed River. I ended up heading down there and spent the night in the cave. The next day I followed the river down and took the log up to the Stairsteps Lake area. At this point, I decided to head back to mountain town since I had seen most of the zone by this point. That being said, there's still so much more to see and I'll be heading back soon. All said and done, I spent about 12 days there. My next destination is Ash Canyon, since I've never been there at all. Although, I don't think it'll top the experience I've had in HRV. This zone is the most impressive region I've explored yet. I still need a lot more time to be able to confidently navigate it. If anyone has any tips for getting around, I'm all ears! If you haven't been here, or you think it's too complicated or dangerous, I'm telling you: just go! It's amazing and totally worth it.

Hello everyone! So far, we have cedar, fir, reclaimed wood, and fire logs. Cedar is lightest weight (of the natural woods) and gives a high chance of success when using as a starter fuel. Fir is heavier, but burns much longer. Reclaimed wood has terrible initial chance, but is more abundant. Fire logs are very heavy, don't produce much heat, but burn a very long time. I think birch limbs make sense, since we have birch trees and bark. Birch wood should have the highest initial starting success chance, burn hottest out of the others, but has a shorter burn time (say 65 mins @ level 3 firestarting). The weight could be somewhere in between fir and cedar. Harvesting birch limbs would also give birch bark instead of tinder plugs. It would also only be found in the birch forests (obviously) and would be slightly rarer than fir wood. I feel this would give players more options for weight management and ease of fire starting.

That sounds like a good plan! I've still yet to make the trek to ash canyon, but it's something I've wanted to do. The summit I've only done once and it was on a pilgrim run for map learning purposes. The loot there would definitely be a game changer. I'm at quonset garage right now and was debating on going straight to the ravine to get the flare gun first and head to ML from there, but maybe I will go to PV instead since the clothing would be a big help. I still need the hacksaw too since it wasn't here. I'd like to have some saplings curing soon so when I do get to the forge, it'll just be a matter of putting it all together. Time will tell!

Okay, I understand now. I think that's a good idea. It would make finding a sewing kit or crafting fishing tackle more useful than it already is.