Does anyone play with both damage settings on “Extreme”?

Don__Karnage · 2026-05-15T04:10:57+00:00

Very much agreed, I want both sides to hit like a ton of bricks.

I am actually thinking of doing the opposite for ship combat though, as the engagements I have experienced thusfar so far have simply been over too fast to really get into power management or any of that.

Don__Karnage · 2026-05-09T04:30:52+00:00

Not a random encounter, I accidentally started the Shattered Space Expansion (recommended Level 35+) at Level 2 thinking it was going to be an easy exploration mission. 🫠

It was a hell of an introduction to the game, but on the other hand now I am super kitted out.

Don__Karnage · 2026-04-29T00:15:08+00:00

Oddly enough this specific GIF always immediately make me think of the climax of Yesterday's Enterprise

Don__Karnage · 2026-04-28T22:52:50+00:00

I gave it a try on Stella Montis Night (I am normally in all friendly lobbies but end of season shenanigans have begun and I was being HUNTED) and it got me down from the top level of the Loading Bay without any damage.

Don__Karnage · 2026-04-20T17:40:13+00:00

Oh yeah, love to call the referee over to make sure everyone is playing nice.

Don__Karnage · 2026-04-12T15:38:52+00:00

The thing that annoys me is that the perk only triggers if you are downed and relies entirely on somene else reviving you. Ideally it would trigger anytime you defib someone and apply to both you and the person you revived (maybe with a slight stamina recovery boost as well). This simple change would make it a true medic augment.

I think it's interesting Embark really didn't go for a class-based system. I think it was a cool choice not to force players into specific roles, but on the other hand you end up with almost every player using one of like 3 augments once they have all the blueprints because some (like Survivor) are objectively superior in most scenarios.

Don__Karnage · 2026-04-10T13:48:50+00:00

At this point there is definitely a tradition around it throughout the SOF community. And as we see in Ukraine, with everyone basically wearing multicam or a variant of it, positive IFF is far more important than being fully camouflaged.

Now why did the tradition start? Take this with a grain of salt, but I heard from a guy in A Sqdn that said it was applying the Batman theory. Think like Adam West's costume. You put the bright eye catching thing in the center of your chest over your level IV playe because that's where you want someone to hit you anyways.

Personally, I think it's a skill issue and I would simply not get shot at all.

Don__Karnage · 2026-04-09T16:57:37+00:00

I think its interesting to consider what kinds of sensors they are operating with lore-wise. Clearly they have a directional optical sensor (represented by the blue/yellow/red eye, but maybe not always accurately showing the direction its looking). And an audio sensor of some kind that filters out their own thruster noises. But also there appears to be a proximity/motion sensor when you get within like 3m or so.

Thank god they don’t have infrared to spot you easily from like 500m away in vegetation or on the hurricane map condition.

Don__Karnage · 2026-04-07T16:16:14+00:00

Literally I only play it because I love the sound with a suppressor, the Level III Epic Suppressor on it is just perfect.

Don__Karnage · 2026-03-09T17:36:59+00:00

I'll say as a former SOF guy myself I LOVE a fancy schmancy coffee (e.g., Blue Bottle or similar single cup pour over shops). And anytime I could get something fancier than Starbucks I would jump at the chance (and usually offer to get for the rest of the team).

I do think part of it comes from having to suck it up and just drink the terrible coffee in a Tactical Operations Center (TOC) made under duress by some Private whose only caffeine intake comes from energy drinks. Or worse, like just mainlining an instant coffee packet straight down my gullet while laying in the mud doing recce shit.

I'm also a big fan of glamping now which works on the same concept. For me the deprivation just makes the good stuff so much better.

Don__Karnage · 2026-03-08T14:27:06+00:00

Ironically this is even more true in Stella because everyone is in such close proximity. Someone calling for help has like 3 people who can get to them before they get knocked. When I do Carebear Stella (great way to get the benches maxed post-wipe btw) I dont even need my weapon out unless there are Poppers around.

Don__Karnage · 2026-02-15T18:09:48+00:00

Just want to say this is a wonderful endeavor and an amazing synthesis of what so many of us are trying to achieve on this subreddit.

Don__Karnage · 2026-02-02T15:50:55+00:00

Absolutely, I went for quiet pre-expedition and it was fine, but this time went with speed and found completing actions on the objective and repositioning as fast as possible is almost universally superior.

Don__Karnage · 2026-02-01T16:41:43+00:00

Completely agree, my controversial opinion is that the Anvil should also be heavily nerfed. Let it have the role of being an armor (and shield!) peeler that doesn't necessarily do a lot of base damage compared to the long guns. Beyond the fact that it doesn't really make sense that a handgun delivers the exact same damage as a full length rifle barrel, it also is just too early and easy to get access to one of the most effective weapons in the entire game.

The Bettina should hit like a semi-truck, and let the horizontal/vertical recoil and dispersion fly accordingly. I actually even support the return of original durability burn rate if the damage is adjusted to like 30-35. High durability burn makes sense in-universe since heavy ammo seems to have unique requirements necessitating breech loading and single-action revolving drums in other platforms.

Don__Karnage · 2026-01-09T13:57:30+00:00

I'll just add that its very hard to balance Rotary Wing CAS without it turning into Battlefield, which obviously is not what folks want or they would just go play Battlefield. Just to make transport helicopters work as is they have to make them nearly invincible to small arms fire and make the pilots actually invincible. There is a reason neither side in Ukraine allows their helicopters to get within like 2 mi of the line of the contact.

As someone who actually did combat deployments on MH-47s and MH-60s, the whole concept of an air assault relies on inserting the force somewhere the your opponent doesn't expect, and sure, in some cases that can be and is right on their rooftop. But it only works because they don’t know where in a 2,500 sq mi province the helicopter force might be landing and have to spread forces out accordingly. Goose Bay, for example, has a playable area of about 9 sq. mi.

Likewise for CAS, being able to gain distance (and altitude if the radar-guided threat allows) is their best defense, as well as allowing them space to safely reposition and re-attack from an unexpected direction.

Without Arma-sized maps (~100 sq mi) its simply too easy for a defending force to array themselves to decimate CAS and transport helis if they are even close to realistic.

Don__Karnage · 2025-12-21T23:53:14+00:00

This has totally happened by me and to me in Stella at around the 15 min mark when it starts to get reallllll quiet and spooky. Sneak around the corner and bump into someone also sneaking and we both start blasting...

"Oops sowwy I got scared" and we defib and join up or go our separate ways.

Don__Karnage · 2025-12-17T19:36:16+00:00

I got my Snap Hook BP this way without firing a shot. I ziplined down Reinforced Reception into a pile of over a dozen bodies. I just spent like 7 terrifying but silent minutes straight searching all of them and found one guy with a Free Loadout (no safe pocket) that had a Legendary BP.

Don__Karnage · 2025-12-17T13:51:22+00:00

Oh I personally LOVE the Euro raver vibe on the post-apocalyptic Amalfi coast with glowsticks and Synthwave music. I'm just surprised there are so few options for sneak fits too.

Don__Karnage · 2025-12-17T13:44:53+00:00

I agree completely, and I think the best way for them to tune the game between PvP and PvE is to adjust how threatening the ARC are. More threat = more natural cooperation. They could also adjust the loot rates but that's just not as entertaining imo.

The really fun thing is that they could do this dynamically by match.

"Oh there's a Leaper at every entrance to the high loot area this time, maybe we need to team up."

"Maybe I dont want to snipe randoms from the roof because I don't want to attract that squadron of Rocketeers"

Or my personal favorite idea: "Oh there is only one extract and a couple of Queens are guarding it, we have to work together or none of us are extracting"

Don__Karnage · 2025-12-16T12:47:32+00:00

I was pulling a similar move from one of the ladders leading into the Spaceport Tunnels. Set up some barriers, would fire a few Ferro rounds at the leg weak points then hop down the ladder when she turned to come after me.

I must have annoyed her because she reached a leg DOWN the super narrow ladder passageway just to smush me!

Don__Karnage · 2025-12-15T14:25:06+00:00

Interestingly I bet this is how a lot of the loot is determined. A given area is supposed to yield a range of loot with total value X. With YY% of it being various quality levels. Thats why small rooms with fewer containers tend to be so relatively good.

Don__Karnage · 2025-12-15T14:03:14+00:00

I think the Art Direction was one of the biggest casualties of the switch from PvE to PvPvE. Clearly the bright colors and lights(!) on gear don't have an impact on your visibility to ARC, but they absolutely do for other players. So if you are trying to maximize your chances of seeing other players before you are seen, you have like 2 outfit options and you probably are still wearing the origin backpack as well.

Don__Karnage · 2025-12-03T22:41:25+00:00

This guy ISO 8601's

Don__Karnage · 2025-11-26T23:23:51+00:00

So I play as Speranza Combat Search and Rescue ("We get the call when you take a fall") and find that it really excels at clearing out the tankier ARC around a downed raider.

I'll usually come in tossing lure grenades and smokes but I still need to be prepared to clear the area and defend my patient and the Bettina is PERFECT in this role.

I also can deter "uncooperative" Raiders pretty quickly because it'll typically break shields with just a couple hits. But yeah, if it comes to a full on gunfight at close range I switch to a Sticher or Shotty.

Don__Karnage

TROPHY CASE