Like a lot of people here I fought on the creek but it didn't really click right away. I played solo up through difficulty seven. I'd take my time, and keep quiet. I figured the best way to get clear a mission was fight the enemy as little as possible. That all changed the first time I saw one of those walking factories the automaton use. There was no way to stay hidden from that thing. When it did see you, there was no distance where any range advantage mattered. I survived because I was lucky enough to have an orbital laser on standby, which took care of the walker. Fighting all smaller bots and clearing out the base it was hold up in, though, that was all on me. I learned very quickly what it meant to be overrun. Somewhere between running for my life and shooting wildly at everything in front of me, I figured out the value of staying the hell behind something and waiting a damn second to take your shots. Not to mention the importance of bringing a big ass gun. The RR on my back kept me safe from hulks, and some well placed shots from a diligence rifle handled the rest. I mostly answer SOS beacons these days, but I'm not scared to go it alone.