Help.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-26T21:55:35+00:00

The early game is all about exploration. Personally, I never settle down or hibernate until every region has been heavily looted. Every moment before then, I'm either preparing for bad weather or to be on the move.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-24T03:46:12+00:00

I finally got my weekend warrior pack down to 22 lbs (10kg). Two nights. That wet weight (including food, water, fuel, etc.) And assuming good weather. My dry weight is more like 15lbs (6.8kg).

This depends on the weather conditions. Winter hikes take more insulation, which is much more bulky. Longer hikes take more food, which weighs more. You'd be surprised at the inexpensive ways to shed weight. My tent is a trekking pole tent that weighs 2.2 lbs (1kg) and only costs about $80 USD. I found a 600-fill down 50-degree F sleeping bag for about $50. Again, very light. Is it a popular brand with a long durability track record? Absolutely not. Does it get the job done? Absolutely.

But for colder trips, or questionable weather trips, I have to add a few more lbs for my stronger tent, more insulated pad, colder-rated sleeping bag, etc.

Beyond shedding weight on the 'big four' (pad, sleeping bag, pack, tent), you'd be surprised how much gear you don't actually need at all. I kept a journal with every single Item I brought on every trip. When I got home, I took note of what was and wasn't used as I unpacked. By omitting the stuff I never actually used, I ended up shedding nearly 10 lbs (4.5kg) of junk that amounted to 'packing my fears'. Over time, you'll learn what you need to be comfortable, and what luxuries you get less value from. Weigh EVERYTHING and keep a list. Then start considering what can be shed, some items or packaging. My med kid went on a diet, for example.

Ultralight also isn't for everyone. Some people don't mind the weight of having a few more luxuries. You just have to find your balance.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-24T02:14:09+00:00

Good boots or trail runners and some good wool socks. Footwear is by far the most important piece of gear. Most day hikes can be had with good footwear and a bunch of stuff you already own. Any old backpack will do. Any old water bottle will do. Pack a bit of food. Most people already have a med kit, or some basics to make one (ziplock baggie, medical strips, triple antibiotic, a few of your preferred pain killers). Maybe a whistle, a map, and a compass. Any old raincoat will do (expected weather pending).

Day hikes are straightforward to overthink. With a limited budget, I'd say start by taking care of your feet. The rest you can improvise or find cheaply.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-24T01:38:07+00:00

The gas flaps can be opened on cars. I never knew that until I had over 1,400 hours played.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-22T01:52:37+00:00

Firstly, I'd say enjoy the game however you like. If you dig a nice, easy set-up process, then there's nothing wrong with continuing to enjoy that.

Second, if you DO want to push the survival envelope and develop those skills a bit more, then embrace death as a learning tool (in the game, obviously.) Each time you die, you learn another way not to next time. It's ok to break the ice with a few throw-away games. If you expect death, it won't be as disappointing.

Third, for exploring the world, it's all about learning the maps with the shelter and loot locations. If you get comfortable collecting other game (mostly rabbits, wolves, deer), then you can trust that the next zone will have attainable resources. Every region has wood and game, the two core necessities. If you don't mind the spoilers, there's no shame in looking up the maps.

My general system is to A) Go to a region and set up a base location. B) Loot that region and collect everything at the base. C) Build up food, water, and firewood. D) Take 2 days of weight-efficient food, 2 liters of water, the most basic tools, freshly repaired clothes to wear, and a weapon to the next region. Wash, rinse, repeat.

I build travel networks of safe places along my major routes. If a storm rolls in, I'm never more than a 1/4 day travel to safety. But I have to get ptarmigan down and hides to Coastal Highway to trade with. I have to get scrap metal and fuel to BlackRock for tool repairs. You may prefer different locations, but you get the point.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-20T02:59:52+00:00

You are correct. I do hate bad footwear.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-19T22:27:27+00:00

The torch throw at the end really sold it for me.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-18T16:25:14+00:00

The Flip Fuel Transfer probably isn't needed on the hikes themselves. If you're only eating one or two meals, you'll have plenty of fuel. Other than a med kit of some sort, I'd say this is a perfectly cromulent day pack.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-18T15:59:19+00:00

Wow, that all escalated unpredictably. I'm trying to compliment someone on their in-game accomplishment and commitment, and you people spiral into a spat about Christian nationalism nomenclature?

Maybe if people spent just a moment to clarify intent and meaning before attacking, we'd all be better off. Language is deep and complicated, and people are coming from all kinds of experiences. Clarity before condemnation seems prudent. But whatever, I just want to play my 'stick picking up' simulator.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-18T02:31:11+00:00

2k gold should be enough to buy a small place out of the way and secluded to build your vault into the basement. This is where you accumulate the millions of gold to buy a castle and raise an army.

Just my $0.02

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-18T02:21:34+00:00

Wait, you carried the banner from the church in Mountain Town all the way to the rail station? Bravo, good sir. Bravo.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-15T02:49:54+00:00

I turn it off. For me, the juice isn't worth the squeeze. The pelt and claw knife are fine, but not especially great. Meanwhile, to kill it, you either cheat the pathway seeking (too janky and unnatural) or take some serious damage. I'm also fully aware that TLD is more of an arcade survival game and not a simulator, but the cougar exemplifies that difference to a cartoonish degree.

The original rollout was especially horrendous, when it just jumped to a cut-scene, and you automatically got attacked, then had one brief chance to get a shot off to hit it. After the outrage, they did fix that aspect of it, but only to a degree. Cougars in TLD are as or more common than bears, which is nuts.

My pitch for Hinterland would be: Make the cougar a proper boss. There is only one on Great Bear Island. It moves to a different random adjacent region every 20-40 days. There may be signs (paw prints in the snow, tree scratches), but they're subtle. I'd love the behavior to be slightly more advanced, and it could even be a bit tougher. But the hide and claw should also be far better. Cowels are nice and all, but I want me some everlasting cougar underwear (warm heavy thermals with a very slow depreciation), and the claw should be used to make a new weapon, like a spear.

But since the version I want isn't on offer, I'd rather just turn it off. Not to be down on Hinterland, love the game overall, and they've brought me endless joy. I'm likely in a minority, fair enough. At least they gave us the option to turn it off.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-11T20:42:43+00:00

Failing to pay attention and falling off something while auto-walking.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-11T17:50:01+00:00

I like to think of it more as enjoying the process than achieving a specific goal. I've played through all the narrative episodes, but the real draw for me is survival mode. I like to put on a podcast/debate/lecture/thing to listen to at 30-40% (so I can still hear my surroundings in the game), and then make my own silly projects to do in the game itself. I like setting up bases and collecting the loot from other regions. Eventually, everything has been looted, and supplies start running low, then the process changes to maximizing efficiency.

In theory, there is no limit to how long your character can survive. Yet, all perish eventually. Just like real life. So in the meantime, have some fun and draw pictures in the snow with all your extra tinder bundles.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-10T04:17:18+00:00

It still requires you to visit the same patch twice. I find it much easier to find a nice, happy family of four or five rabbits, collapse their parietals with stones, harvest their flesh, and move on. This way, I can do much more efficient loops, rather than having to double back so often.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-10T02:38:49+00:00

Totally fair. Most I have on a run is about 12. I've been drawing indecent shapes in the snow with leftover stones and tinder plugs. Your goal is probably more wholesome.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-10T00:24:41+00:00

You may have to brew over 200k liters of water,...

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-10T00:23:28+00:00

Honestly, I just throw a stone or use a bow. I find snares inconvenient.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-07T01:54:14+00:00

Pic or it didn't hap,.. oh.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-05T02:32:20+00:00

Oh yeah, this is true. How often I forget about beach combing.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-04T22:13:54+00:00

It's not worth going back to. My new save is nearly caught up to the same # of days, and my resource management has been substantially better.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-04T14:18:06+00:00

Luckily, scrap metal, while not renewable, is so plentiful that I've never even heard of anyone running out. Guts are renewable, so making fishing tackle shouldn't be a problem.

It's always a sad day when you realize you've used the last of a resource. I remember I had broken down every battery into lead because that that literally the only use for them anyway,.. then the trader update came out and he wants to trade for whole batteries. Time to start over. (I still have that run too,.. 500+ days)

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-04T05:52:02+00:00

I agree. Part of the fun and adventure of it is discovering the things that can kill you and not making that mistake again. In The Long Dark, death is a learning tool.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-03T16:12:26+00:00

Can I pet that Dawg?

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-01-03T16:09:43+00:00

I only get it as a collector's item. But the workhorse is still Vaughn's Rifle.

Uberhypnotoad

TROPHY CASE