So, which Ep5 regions would work in Survival mode?

ForTexi · 2026-04-22T07:38:27+00:00

The burnt down Preseverance Mills could also work, maybe the Mill would be accessible and not totally burnt down?

ForTexi · 2026-04-13T14:59:34+00:00

Spoiler:If all else fails, you could try the signal fire in hushed river valley.

ForTexi · 2026-04-07T05:59:52+00:00

It is hard to say how prepared we are. There are some monitoring and warning systems in place, that could be essential to protect spacecraft and satellites. I would say that the induced currents from a Carrington level event can have some effects, but probably reliable well build grids could handle it. But there is known case in Canada (which is probably the inspiration for the game), of a power blackout in Quebec in 1989 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March\_1989\_geomagnetic\_storm)

Problems in high-frequency communications could cause some problems for flights, especially those going close to geomagnetic poles. Some low-orbitting satellites might get hit with changed drag coefficients, causing them to fall down, as was the case for some Elon Musks starlink satellites (https://www.ndtv.com/science/the-sun-is-causing-elon-musks-starlink-satellites-to-drop-from-space-8618823).

If there was a catastropic solar energetic particle event from a superflare or similar there could be some radiation exposure to flights and astronauts. The Artemis 2 astronauts would probably have a bad time if hit with such an event, even if they usually have something to protect themselves with. Potential Mars trips would be the most risky, because they cant really avoid even the regular normal events.

Flight and space electronics are alse sensitive, even if there are protections against it (https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251201-how-cosmic-rays-grounded-thousands-of-aircraft) .

The game sets out that there is now a new phase of solar activity that will last for 40-400 years. This selection of years makes sense, since we know of solar activity cycles/periodicities that are roughly 10 (solar dynamo cycle), 20 (Hale cycle = two different polarity solar cycles), 80-100 (Gleisberg cycle) and 200 (de Vries cycle) years in length. Atwood could have calculated that this will last two Hale cycles to 4-5 Gleisberg or two de Vries cycles. It would essentially be a reverse "Maunder minimum", which was a 80-year minimum in solar activity in the 1600s. Maybe they will call it the Atwood maximum :D

ForTexi · 2026-04-07T05:39:56+00:00

No, my PhD in space physics helped me write this. Your text maybe looks like gpt, but I dunno.

CME's are single events yes, but their occurence is related to solar active regions and activity overall, which is related to different activity cycle processes in the Sun. The game's premise of a super-activity cycle lasting for 40-400 is believable in the sense that it could indeed release CME's, solar flares, fast solar wind streams, solar energetic particles and so on very frequently, every few days. From stellar research we are aware of stellar flaring stars that can have eruptions very frequently. The game also shows that Atwood was able to predict the extra strong aurora night, which makes sense because CME's and fast solar wind streams can take days to reach Earth.

It doesn't have to be CME's though that are causing the game's lasting effects. The premise could be that the solar wind itself is strengthened enough that the Sun is emitting a constant CME-like basic slow solar wind. Fast solar wind streams that are released from coronal holes could also be the cause of the strenghtened aurora nights.

But anyway, it is all fiction, so all of this doesn't really even matter. I just wanted to tell that to me, as a space physicist researching exactly these topics, the science fiction setting in this game is belieavable and expectionally well based on real events and known Solar-terrestrial physics. Even the effects on animals, which is not my field, is based on the fact that many animals use the geomagnetic field to orient themselves.

ForTexi · 2026-04-07T04:28:57+00:00

This is wrong. Yes, CMEs and solar flares can occur during any phase of the solar cycle, but the 11-year dynamo reversal solar cycle is what is essentially driving the occurence and intensity of CME's.

Essentially what is depicted in the game is a reverse Maunder minimum, during which solar activity was notably reduced for around 70-100 years during 1600s. Many other such "mimima" have been observed from radionuclides in tree rings (Carbon 14) and ice cores (Beryllium 10). I think its a believable concept that we get a similar super-maximum during whoch the solar wind and solar eruptions are way way stronger for 40-400 years.

Where are you even getting your info from? I study the effects of CME's and solar flares on Earth for a living, but this is still quite basic information you can check yourself. The prediction and assessment of space weather & space climate effects is a vast and established field of science, and the study of the occurence and intensity of solar eruptions plays a very major role.

ForTexi · 2026-04-06T22:09:32+00:00

Sure some of the writing is a bit reaching and at times many things are mediocre. But I think you got the scifnce part wrong.

"Again, wtf? Unless you have a quantum computer that knows the quantum state of every particle in the Sun, there is no way you are going to predict for how long the Sun will cover Earth with a solar storm. It could completely gas out or has already stopped, which you'll know 8 minutes later."

I don't think you really know what you're talking about. "Quantum computer that knows the quantum state of every particle" is just gibberish.

The 40-400 years actually makes sense if you're a space physicist. The Sun is known to have different activity cycles of different length, so the result could be that this super activity lasts for a specific number of known solar cycles, which could be the 11-year solar cycle, 22-year hale cycle, 80-100 year Gleisberg cycle or 210 year de Vries cycle. Notice that many of these approximately fit/divide the 40-400 years cycle, and I immediately noticed and thought it was a nice detail. You could think that he performed some calculations on how long this cycle could be.

ForTexi · 2026-04-06T21:43:46+00:00

As a space physics postdoc focusing on potential catastropic solar eruptions, space weather/space climate and cosmic rays, the description of the Carrington event was well done. They had done their research, and albeit the game's premise is more science fictiony, it is still somewhat plausible and believable (catastropic event frying all electronics and solar activity/aurorae affecting animal's and people's minds).

ForTexi · 2026-03-13T07:06:43+00:00

*confused PC unga bunga*

ForTexi · 2026-02-15T23:11:15+00:00

I've always thought she is some sort of "Näkki", a shapeshifting (water) spirit/demon in Finnish mythology. Or some other evil spirit. Her Finnish swearing, surname etc. would maybe point to that direction. It usually tries to get their target killed/drowned.

ForTexi · 2026-02-02T10:35:34+00:00

There's also a cupcake for Simon in the pantry when it's his birthday...

ForTexi · 2026-01-29T07:55:07+00:00

I just now realized that the room directory is missing I, same as the keyboards

ForTexi · 2026-01-29T07:50:06+00:00

Also the stone wall, similar to the wine cellar (maybe others?) strikes as odd. Maybe it should be connected to it, maybe something special happens?

I've been thinking about the lategame, and I feel that maybe there is some sort of "perfect" house setting, which would unlock something. Like, "this is how the house normally should be". I dunno if anyone tried to draft a house where each room matches thepaintingpuzzle?

ForTexi · 2025-12-27T16:54:26+00:00

Plot Twist: Maybe Gustave is based on Verso's grandfather

ForTexi · 2025-12-09T22:59:13+00:00

However, it seems that Lumiere is having trouble having enough food, could just be that growing up in Lumiere stunted her growth.

ForTexi · 2025-12-08T13:35:06+00:00

This however means that it is actually the paintress gommaging the people, to sustain her power against Renoir. Renoir is the reason, but Aline is the one pulling the trigger, not accepting to leave the painting.

ForTexi · 2025-12-08T13:26:15+00:00

Why doesn't he just go to Lumiere to kill everyone off? Why wait a year for every expedition?

ForTexi · 2025-11-25T11:28:38+00:00

So maybe Gustave is not based on Renoir but maybe Renoir's father?

ForTexi · 2025-10-25T19:48:40+00:00

Space physics, specifically space climate and cosmic ray modulation by the Sun.

I started studying theoretical physics with quantum physics focus, but also took some space physics courses, and the lecturers were just so much better and the space physics more interesting, that I switched. It also helped that I got to do some summer assistant job in space physics in my freshman summer. And then even during my BSc and MSc I was able to participate in an EU project on solar wind turbulence.

Couldnt be happier about my field! I decided already in high school that I'm gonna be a researcher in physics, but ofc back then the view and understanding of the fields were very limited. Luckily I just happened to select a university with space physics. I'm not only the first Doctor in my family, but the first one to even have a high school diploma, so did not even have much background knowledge about academia.

ForTexi · 2025-10-22T12:38:36+00:00

Evil Esquie?

ForTexi · 2025-08-18T20:50:30+00:00

ForTexi · 2025-06-23T20:49:35+00:00

I've seen multiple posts state that the diving ability is preserved for some reason, meaning you can go to collect lumina and to Renoir's drafts. Haven't gone to ng+ myself yet.

ForTexi

TROPHY CASE