Third Try

Over a year ago, inspired by TLD, I went out camping, in snowy (although barely above freezing) weather. With only a blanket, matches, tools and food. And... An empty can. This was my first experience camping alone, btw. I started up the fire after harvesting wood for over an hour, then settled down by it, filling my can with the remaining snow drifts nearby and used two forked sticks to place it in the middle of the fire. I spilled all over, nearly putting it out. Eventually, the fire fed and warm, I tried again. Warming... Steaming... Boiling... Finally! I used my crude forked sticks to pull it out and... spilled it. This time it also nearly put it out, and I tried again. This time with added pine needles, waiting, carefully extracting (it worked, Third times the charm!), waiting for it to cool off... overall review: Meh. Tasted like pine, dirt, charcoal and generally like really bad weak tea made from dirty water over a campfire (hm, I wonder why...) At about three A.M. I called it quits because I had been shivering for actual hours and could not get warm no matter how big I made the fire. Thankfully I wasn't even a mile from home. Next time I brought a sleeping bag, flashlight and... Always a pot (with a lid).

Wow

Y'all are way too heavy! I always always have 20-40 matches (only one kind if possible, for speed of lighting torches). Clothes: The warmest I can find (except really heavy boots) unless you are traveling far (or multiple trips) with a heavy load -- then wear light stuff so you can carry more. Fuel: a piece of coal, a couple sticks and maybe a log. 3 tinder if low fire starting level. (if needed you can pick up sticks along the way). Tools: Sewing kit (I don't carry whetstone or gun cleaning kit -- leave those at base camp), a few fishing tackle (plus lures), a flare (Not marine), usually a few torches, maybe a lantern. usually a hatchet and knife, a prybar if exploring new areas, a hacksaw rarely, toolbox rarely. If I only carry one tool it's the hatchet. Medical: Always 2 bandadges, sometimes 3. A bottle of painkillers. 2 Antibiotics (or prepared reishi). 1-2 old man beard dressing (anitseptic is too heavy). One water dissinfectant pill thingy. Food: Always a box of crackers, maybe a pack of MRE. a little tea and coffee (unprepared), 1-2 liters of water and if I plan on being gone for a while (especially if I can't stop to kill, harvest and cook an animal) about two days of food. Weapons: I avoid the rifle unless I'm leaving specifically for hunting moose or I'm desperate (best for deer and moose, good for bear). The revolver I've gotten really good at and like (best for wolves, good for deer), but the bow is probably best all around (definetly my favorite for bear, great for wolves). I fill the clip of the rifle, carry 12 bullets for the revolver (maybe more) and 2-6 arrows for the bow (depends on how long I plan on being gone). I also carry about 2 stones for destracting animals or hunting rabbits. Other: Always at least one spare piece of cloth (for bandage or repair). I usually go lighter, about15-20kg then come back with 30-40 kg (over if I have a lot of meat or something to transport) I once made a character where it was voyager, but I added the challenge of only allowing myself to carry 15kg out doors (whatever if I'm just inside crafting etc). That was interesting! I only wore one layer on each part of my body and the lightest/most durable items I could. (running shoes, windbreaker, jeans, scarf, driving gloves...)

Woo! I finally have a forums account! When this game first came out in alpha, my dad bought it. I have vague memories about it, thought it was lame, too hard. A couple years ago I redownloaded it and am absolutely loving it. All my friends and siblings are like "Why do you play that game? It's so slow and difficult," And I'm like "Yeah, I know! Isn't it awesome!" I'm pretty sure that liking this game is a sign of maturity (although I too like a good ol' fps sometimes). I've always liked the winter. The cold, the snow, the change. I live in the northwest and have about 5 months of snow up here. Before that northern New England with even more snow. I have a few TLD drawings, but don't have a phone and can't figure how to copy them, so that'll happen later. After reading the forums for a while there seems to be three types of survivors: The one who almost exclusively plays on pilgrim because they like actually enjoying the game 😄 The ones who play on voyager or stalker, challenging themselves (Me) And the players who are like "Yeah, day 460 on Interloper..." (How?!) Don't know about you guys but my personal record is about 6 days on interloper, lol. On stalker it was day 30 something then died from bleeding out while sleeping (face slap). On voyager I got to 70-something then fell off a bridge (face slap again). Right now I have two guys getting close to that. Hm, well, favorite region is desolation point (and the rest of the south-east coast), favorite episode is probably No. 2 (can't wait for five!), favorite difficulty is Stalker, and my favorite game is The Long Dark. That's me, folks. Goodluck surviving!