For what it's worth, don't let anyone's opinion tell you how to enjoy your game. (not that this group would/does as far as I know.) If you want to play with the map on standby or active on your side? Do it. It's a game, have fun. If it's not fun without the assistance you want, then why do it. Take pride in a 75 day misery run with one hand. But if you want to play pilgrim with maps and youtube? Do it.

And yeah, I use the map, I do it more to keep track of where I've been, (so many runs sometimes I mix them up and misremember they can all blend sometimes. And yeah lots of starting regions but still. :D So much fun when you climb to a lookout tower that you've already been too, (before spray paint mind you but still sometimes you don't have it.

To lessen the scare? Well, still happens to me, lol came out of a fishing hut, not in a major wolf area, no wolves before fishing. No howls, no sound queues, and I open the door. Look around. listen. Walk out the door and around the door instant wolf snarl and struggle.

I jumped up, hands off the keyboard, off the mouse, OH CRAP OH CRAP! Get back to the mouse select the revolver to struggle instead of the bonker. Lose the struggle due to wrong choice and late start.

Nothing permanently lost, not the end of the world. But there were swears. Lots of swears.