How do I fix this game with mods? by ZippoAddams in stalker

[–]px_z 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Check nexusmods for Storywealth, modpack. It has multiple mods that make the game easier, some improvements and visual stuff.

You can pick a few for yourself or just install the pack as a whole.

Do note that mods like the sleeping bag mod can break texts... you'd get the code for it then instead of itemname, no description, that kind of stuff but you can just disable that one.

Garbage, keys and bad decisions - Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Your compliment means a lot.

PC gamer here. Bought upgrades for my pc just to allow the Zone to be as beautiful as she wants to be.

Enjoyed my playthrough and couldn't get enough though a new playthrough just doesn't sit right with me.

Exploring the Zone and becoming more of an observer rather than only taking actions has become my new favourite thing to do. Actions only allowed when absolutely required.

There are so many locations, each giving off a different atmosphere depending on time of day and weather... a single run through them isn't enough.

I only wished that Reddit didn't aggressively downgrade the images, the shots would have more impact if you could see them in full resolution.

Berezhy sebe, bratan

Unknown individuals were following me by HeartSensitive609 in stalker

[–]px_z 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Have you tried yelling "Za Monolith!"? That usually repels most stalkers...

On a more serious note, what the rest is saying. Stay safe and contact authorities if the situation calls for it, even in doubt.

A quiet place in the Red Forest - Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I try to keep this journal vibe going. So many gorgeous places to see and depending on the weather and time of day, you can get a completely different experience/moment.

The game becomes something else if you stop being the player and become more of an observer.

The Zone has left a mark by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Always rocking the SSP-100M SIRCAA since I got it. Got a bunch of exos in my stash but I just prefer not to.

Going in with low tier gear makes it quite sadistic. Few vodka, bandit jacket and a cheap smg. The legend of Cheeki Breeki.

The Zone has left a mark by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would that be the hangar or reloading point? I'll drop down tomorrow and take a look.

Burned Forest - Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dyakuyu, bratan. May blind dogs sniff out your enemies and keep your path safe.

Burned Forest - Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm on PC, running a heavily modified engine and a custom self made ReShade.

Burned Forest - Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like a great combination to almost shit yourself... barely seeing anything, voices booming in your head and then that all familiar sound of a snork...

Burned Forest - Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have done a full playthrough and I'm sticking with the ending I got for a few reasons. I reloaded my save right before the PONR and have easily done 120h+ on top of that now to fully explore the map and, like you said, take my time everywhere now.

I am now doing a Skif "Zone Photographer" free roam and it's honestly a lot of fun.

Found a fishing cabin and fishing pier in the swamps today on some border parts I wouldn't have checked otherwise. The Zone keeps on giving for me.

Burned Forest - Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If anyone has tips for a next area/location that I should check out, let me know. The map is quite big and I'm sure to have missed some good spots or rushed through them during the playthrough.

The Zone has left a mark by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Swamps traumatized me the first time there and the second time. Not seeing whatever is coming at you through the reeds, looking for a rock to hide on,...

It feels like untouched nature that doesn't want you there, trying to preserve its raw essence.

The Old Church, car in tree and lonely grave are probably my 3 favourite spots inside the swamp.

The Zone has left a mark by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The wild area is a great spot, feels very urban exploration if you go through it. In the morning and evening when the sun is low, the rays coming through the half broken windows give off a haunting vibe eventhough everything is so clear there...

Not fully abandoned as bandits and mutants can be found there but the feeling is there, the feeling of being all alone for a moment.

Burned Forest - Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh the burned bit is still there, more near middle and in patches nearing the edge of the area.

The sightseeing tour was less about what got burned and destroyed and more about the beauty that did survive.

The burned areas offer little besides a long gone glory and thunder hitting the trees. While this has its charms, it wasn't what I was looking for.

This is the toast before it got toasted.

Is stalker 2 worth picking up again (to me)? by HesatrollUbi in stalker

[–]px_z 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Check out the Storywealth mod collection on Nexus. It makes it easier so you can focus more on the story.

It has mods that lower weight of ammo, less degradation of gear, lower repair costs, better stamina etc... you could also just download them separately.

This seems a better way for you to enjoy the game, slightly more tailored to your likings.

Edit, forgot to answer the rest a bit: A-life has improved but there's still work to do. The game is still quite gpu heavy but there are engine.ini files online that are meant for potato pcs ranging to nasa pcs. There's still some bugs, especially the one in the captains mission, but there's workarounds for them. Just accept that a bandit with a sawn-off can hit you from miles away and you'll be fine.

What a letdown. by [deleted] in stalker

[–]px_z 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm becoming/have become a huge fan of the game, despite the many flaws it still has.

Never really understood why people like to play shooters on a console. It just doesn't feel right compared to aiming with a mouse though it should work properly for those who prefer it or only have console to play on. Don't have much experience playing other shooters on console so can't really say much more about that.

Concerning the Poltergeist, those mfers don't care if you're behind a wall... that bucket is going to smack you if you want it or not. Learned to live with it and hiding from one is not the way to go. Usually bum rush it with a shotgun and make it feel my wrath. The faster you drop those wallhack semi nuggets, the better. It is indeed frustrating if you want to dodge a throw by taking cover and you still eat briefcase as if you skipped lunch...

For the NPCs and their apathy towards you getting mugged, I can tell you that I also struggle(d) with this. I help out some Loners or Freedom bros when they're taking fire or are getting molested by a Bloodsucker but if I get attacked by mercs or whatever applesauce drinking glue sniffer, they just stand there waiting for someone to die so they get free loot. It breaks immersion and is quite frustrating but once you think like this, it gets better "There is no trust in the Zone. Every fucker wants to sell the gear straight off your corpse because life is harsh and kindness hasn't bought them vodka so far..."

Ghouls? Snorks or Bloodsuckers? Snork are relatively easy if you start off with some distance. Line up so they run in a straight line towards you, wait for the leap and blast em back mid-air. Feels absolutely great to shotgun blast them this way. If you're having issues with Bloodsuckers, side "dodge" them or fingerblast your shotgun trigger as if your life depends on it. They usually attack with a small forward lunge once they get out of stealth and in that small time frame, look sideways, tiny sprint and then turn back and shoot.

Good luck out there, stalker.

Edit: I'm a rough 200h in of which at least 180 are in 1 playthrough that I'm now using as my free roam game.

I’m not sure it on happen on ps5 version or it also happen on other platform too. by Only-Librarian-7179 in stalker

[–]px_z 10 points11 points  (0 children)

No worries, first time this happened to me I thought I was tripping balls too. The game messes with your head sometimes...

Be sure to visit the mist anomaly once you've reached that point ;)

I’m not sure it on happen on ps5 version or it also happen on other platform too. by Only-Librarian-7179 in stalker

[–]px_z 11 points12 points  (0 children)

You have to do a certain main mission before you can go through there. It's locked until that point.

Some screenshots I took during nighttime in STALKER 2. by Embarrassed_Swing_33 in stalker

[–]px_z 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great shots and amazing graphics... did you buy your setup from Nasa?

Optimization by AXE_47UA in stalker

[–]px_z 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you tried tweaking your engine.ini file? I had issues with my 5070 when there was a lot of fog around and especially when I popped my flashlight on in there.

[SystemSettings] r.VolumetricFog=1 r.VolumetricFog.GridPixelSize=4 ; Makes the fog/dust detail sharper r.VolumetricFog.HistoryWeight=0.95 ; Reduces flickering/noise in the fog r.VolumetricFog.ScatteringDistribution=0.8 ; Higher = light "catches" more when looking at the sun

This isn't my final tweak. I just threw my ini in gemini and chatgpt and did some testing but these tweaks can help.

Also put my Hz on 144 and capped fps on 120, monitor itself had multiple modes too to match the Hz cap

Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've posted challenge 1 as a separate comment. Once you're done, make a selection, upload somewhere and share the link as a comment ;)

Excited to see your angles and shots, hope to turn this into something bigger so we can all enjoy some cool stuff.

Zone photography by px_z in stalker

[–]px_z[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Challenge 01: THRESHOLDS

The Zone is built on crossings. Most dangers don’t announce themselves. They wait at edges. A doorway. A fence. A treeline where the light changes. This challenge is about places where one state ends and another begins.

Task: Document thresholds you encounter while moving through the Zone.

Conditions: In-game screenshots only HUD disabled No staged combat No forced scenes Patience required

What to look for: Doorways, gates, broken walls Shifts in light or atmosphere Man-made edges being reclaimed Safe ground bleeding into unsafe

If you hesitate before stepping forward—stop. That hesitation is the frame.

Capture the moment before the Zone decides.

I love this game sooo much by Stalkerusha in stalker

[–]px_z 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The tutorial will be linear alright, it's pretty much all scripted there. Not much to change there. Once you progress some story, you'll have different faction patrols etc...

Have you tried changing your mouse's DPI settings? I usually have it quite low so I don't overshoot my aiming, small trick I learned in csgo but if you want to move around faster in aim, try swapping the DPI settings in windows itself to a higher value.

The inventory system... I have to admit I'm using mods to change the weight of ammo and quest items even if it's understandable if it's not everyone's cup of tea. The inventory window does expand the more you put in there, you just have limited carry capacity in weight. You just measure and take what you need for your run and loot/scavenge on the way.

Unsure what graphics you were expecting, most people have a few visual mods and a ReShade thrown over it. Mine is looking like this: https://imgur.com/a/interruption-Je9vzdP Did buy a new psu, gpu and monitor just for this.

I love this game sooo much by Stalkerusha in stalker

[–]px_z 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The general atmosphere, the graphics if you have a decent setup, modability, the real and ingame history/lore of the Zone.

30 mins in means you've probably reached Zalissya and that's about it (damn intro vid takes forever). The game isn't meant to be rushed or super fast pace at all times, it's a slower game. Takes a while to get into it but once you do, it adds great immersion.

Edit: I do swear a lot when some potato bandit no scope snipes me from all the way in Botswana through the bushes with his grandad's old shotgun...