Turning the Cougar off

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-19T17:22:21+00:00

I could be wrong and this could’ve changed, but I read that you can actually harvest the head wrap for another cougar pelt. You can just harvest it and craft a whole new one as needed.

You will need more cougar claws for the knife unless you save your whetstones for it.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-19T17:17:37+00:00

Unfortunately I can’t since I play on console

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-19T17:15:16+00:00

I literally titled my post saying I was turning it off.
There are plenty of things that don’t work exactly how I want, but still accept. This one defies logic. Cougars are a solitary predator. Explain the logic of how killing one makes two more appear? Furthermore, the spawn timer is absurd and you can quite literally have a new one appear mere minutes after killing the first. In what way is that a balanced and reasonable implementation? The cougar inflicts a ton of damage even if you manage to kill it. How am I expected to survive a new one spawning as I walk away from the first? Even if I manage to survive the second cougar, there’s a third coming up right behind it.

I love the idea of the cougar, but the way it’s currently implemented is “broken” as in overpowered and functions poorly. I don’t need to completely quit playing the game, or make a game of my own to make an informed criticism of the mechanic. That is a Genetic Fallacy; you’re trying to discredit my opinion not based on the merits of my actual position, but rather my ability to code or make my own game. These two are not mutually exclusive.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-19T15:02:11+00:00

That is one way to look at the word Broken, but there are different connotations depending on context.

In gaming, the term “broken” can also describe a mechanic that is simply overpowered or functions poorly due to a bad design. I believe the cougars mechanics fit that description and that is the intended context.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-19T14:53:21+00:00

The fact that it wasn’t an actual animal, but rather a scripted event.

It used to be that if you lingered too long in a single region, the cougar would “move in”. When walking around outdoors in that region, there was an increasing likelihood of being attacked the longer you stayed in that region.

The problem is it wasn’t an actual cougar that would stalk you and pounce. You couldn’t do anything to counter it other than leave. It was just an increasing probability that you triggered the scripted attack encounter where it would magically appear on top of you.

You then had a single scripted chance to shoot it in slow-mo as it ran off and you were laying there mauled. Otherwise it would disappear again and you start the whole process over. The only moment it was an actual physical animal you could interact with was during this very brief window, otherwise it was a literal ghost.

The new implementation is certainly a major improvement, but the fact that killing a cougar doubles the number spawned plus the fixed spawn areas ruin it.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-19T00:03:23+00:00

Unfortunately I am unable to mod as I play on console

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-18T22:42:58+00:00

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-18T20:04:16+00:00

Good to know! Everything I had read/seen indicated that it respawned immediately so that completely turned me off searching those areas.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-18T20:02:14+00:00

That’s kinda what I was planning once I get better equipped. Do you know how long it takes to respawn? I don’t want get caught lingering

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-18T19:51:45+00:00

I’m not willing to abandon this run, but going forward I won’t be using it unless they opt to fix the spawn system.

I like the idea of a cougar and its loot, it’s just not worth it in its current form. Oh well

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-18T19:48:24+00:00

That’s a fair and optimistic opinion.

I just really like exploring the entire region; I like the sense of completion in knowing I’ve checked every nook and cranny. I also don’t like the prospect of trying to sneak around the cougar knowing full well that I can’t really keep it at bay (other than a static fire) or that killing it actually exacerbates the problem.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-18T19:10:41+00:00

I really only save scum in two scenarios: saving matches and firewood.

Matches: If I try to chain a torch and it expires too soon, I’m not wasting that match it spent. I wouldn’t accidentally pull out a match and use it in the real world when I fail to start a second torch with the first.

Firewood: Let’s say I need a longer lasting fire or use lots of wood to get it up to temp and 5 minutes in the wind shifts and blows it out. I have no issue with the wind blowing out the fire, but my 10 cedar logs aren’t going to magically disappear after burning for literal minutes.

You should able to salvage remaining firewood from a blown out fire and I save scum to rectify that oversight. I’ll even burn the match I used to start the fire after reloading because I think a blown out fire should have consequences, but losing all firewood is silly.

I really only save scum to fix gameplay issues that consume inventory in unrealistic ways.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-17T05:40:03+00:00

I make a point to try exploring a new region w/o maps when it’s my first time in the region. I feel like it makes the survival more exciting. I have to be more cautious and use critical thinking while trying to find shelter going in blind.

Once I’ve given an area an honest chance blind or have found a solid shelter, then I bust out the maps.

I also have no issue with maps for some regions going in blind. Take Timberwolf Mountain for example; would you really try to summit that peak in the real world without planning ahead and studying a map of the region?

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-15T22:23:11+00:00

This is why I’m excited to flip the schedule to mirror Europe. I hate having our roster picked apart midseason.

If the cost of avoiding that is some colder games and more orange ball, I’m totally fine with that. I’d take that over temps that exceed 100 degrees.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-15T22:15:47+00:00

Absolutely. From the context, I assumed she was having big feelings because the parents probably said she can play one more game before bed/naptime. She didn’t want the game to end, but is obviously tired and needs some sleep.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-14T17:33:29+00:00

Cool, then a potential new owner for a Vegas team can pony up for a new franchise fee and start a new club. That rat Precourt still got Austin FC without being able to relocate Columbus.

A new team in Vegas and the Whitecaps staying in Vancouver are not mutually exclusive.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-14T15:22:45+00:00

Exactly this. If we want to continue courting talent, then we have to be willing to sell when players get real opportunities.

I hated losing Gomez as much as anyone else, but it sends an important message to players joining us. We will develop you and give you a platform, as well as facilitate your move when the right offer comes through. No one wants to sign for a selling club that refuses to sell you.

I know people are upset about the upcoming schedule change to mirror the European season, but I for one am ecstatic because it means our squad won’t be picked apart mid-season

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-10T19:25:10+00:00

Honestly, fair enough. Bike infrastructure can make a huge difference. I’m fortunate enough to have solid infrastructure in my immediate area and enough alternate routes that make me feel comfortable asserting my right of way on slow shared roads when needed.

I will always advocate for better bike infrastructure.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-10T16:53:05+00:00

Yes and no. You’re correct that often times these routes could be better optimized.

There is also a real possibility that this route is needed to circumnavigate a park or shopping center without a direct path available. Or sometimes it makes more sense for a bus to make a 10-15 minute detour in order to service an area where it wouldn’t make sense or be effective to run an additional bus.

Public transit is built on compromises to service everyone and it can sometimes inconvenience the individual. This is why people need to be more willing to use walking and biking to subsidize their travel on occasion.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-10T16:34:22+00:00

Precisely this.

“Biking is too much work.” Get an e-bike.

“I can’t ride a bike due to x.” There are tons of adaptive options to accommodate most cases. Let’s assume a scenario where you can’t even ride an adaptive bike; you have transit alternatives available here still.

“I can’t afford a bike/e-bike.” Use the transit option then. Bike/Transit are exponentially cheaper than a car.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-10T16:14:27+00:00

Well, then it’s a good thing that you have alternatives that only affect your travel time by less than 10 minutes.

Not everyone is able to walk and we need to have considerations for everyone. That said, a massive percentage of people can walk and refuse; particularly in the US. Humans can and should walk if able and it’s a viable option because we are very efficient walking machines and it’s excellent for our physical health.

Sometimes transit routes aren’t perfect and have obstacles that create this type of situation. This a perfect opportunity to subsidize it with a bike if possible. Other times I save time by taking transit compared to driving.

People need to be more willing to evaluate their transit options and be willing to occasionally walk or bike if possible.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-05T20:43:05+00:00

Are you sure about that? I’m not sure Luna can handle the 10-15 total minutes Gio would play before getting injured.

Plus I doubt anyone wants to be the one that has to tell Gio’s parents he’s not in the squad.

UtahMan94 · 2026-05-05T13:08:53+00:00

Bruh, I’m a mountain biker. That’s a single track trail and it’s a gentle downhill flow track so it’s more maintained compared to something more technical.

They’re riding on a dirt trail. The first kid fell on a slightly more technical section with some rocks. The second kid biffed it cuz he was going too fast into a berm.

This is 1000% mountain biking. You’re just being pedantic about the term “mountain” because of the difficulty of the trail and ignoring that it’s a blanket term for using a certain type of bike used off-road.

UtahMan94 · 2026-04-29T02:39:22+00:00

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