[Malankazooie]

Yep, I learned later in the game that the tripwires, if set in correct position, are very powerful. I guess it's because I didn't have that scavenger perk and so couldn't pick up the ones that weren't triggered. I got frustrated with that. But, yeah, they work great against the machines that exhibit pack behavior. The hunting challenges are key in this because they really "train" you in how to use each weapon to maximum effect. I never went for the blazing suns though, so I didn't get as much out of the hunting grounds as I should have.

[acesn8s]

The Tripcaster does seem to be the equalizer. Hell, I had 2 Sawtooths refuse to approach me last night because I set up a couple trip wires.

I turned the page last night. I took down those Sawtooths, a Longlegs (side mission right by Sigma Cauldron), a Stalker, a Shell-Walker, and the Fire Bellowback from the Cauldron. Bought myself some nice heavy armor as well.

What's everyone's opinion about the armor classes? Is it worthwhile to keep the medium or light armors you buy once you get heavy armor? There doesn't seem to be weight limitations/restrictions on the armor types.

[Malankazooie]

I didn't find any advantage in keeping the lighter/medium versions of the heavy amour you've attained. No encumbrance penalty or anything like that for using heavy version that I expirenced. And the heavy version gives you an additional mod slot.

[acesn8s]

Got to the first Carja fort. Sold my old armor (thanks!) and upgraded my Hunting Bow, Sharpshot Bow, and Tripcaster to Shadow. Need to use my new gear to get more shards so I can at least get my Warbow, Rattler, and Ropecaster to Carja.

Not gonna lie, overriding one Sawtooth to help fight the other was pretty cool. 20/20 hindsight, I shouldn't have helped so much. taking the overridden Sawtooth down was a bit of a fight.

This game has eaten up all my TV/Netflix and reading time.

Then, a co-worker loaned me Batman, Doom, MGS, and X-com 2!

[Malankazooie]

To clarify, selling your unused armor for shards is a great choice, but you have enough slots to carry them all. And there is not a penalty for carrying all of the armor and weapons. So if you like to switch it up for aesthetics sake, there is nothing wrong with keeping all the gear. But yeah, if you need the shards, then by all means, sell it.

BTW there are machines in your future that are going to make you brown your whites.

[Traveller]

It may not be an issue now, but irrc you can carry extra mods on tbe surplus weapons and armour that you're not using, freeing up space to collect those of a higher grade. Once you have the perk that lets you switch them around, that is.
So if you're no longer using an armour set that has two slots on it, keep the armour and store two mods on it. Then just sell all the low level/duplicates.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 26 July 2017 - 08:23 PM

[acesn8s]

 Traveller, on 26 July 2017 - 08:22 PM, said:

It may not be an issue now, but irrc you can carry extra mods on tbe surplus weapons and armour that you're not using, freeing up space to collect those of a higher grade. Once you have the perk that lets you switch them around, that is.
So if you're no longer using an armour set that has two slots on it, keep the armour and store two mods on it. Then just sell all the low level/duplicates.

That's a great idea. I have the Tinker skill, so I can do that. I guess I could buy multiples of something and spec them for different scenarios. Then I just have to change gear instead of swapping Mods.

Thanks for all the advice, this game is really coming together for me. Can't wait for the creatures that will make me put on the brown pants.

[acesn8s]

G'ah!

Spoiler

Snapmaw! And here I thought I was safe swimming to the island while tracking the Carja soldier...That was almost a brown pants moment.

The last thing that happened was beating my head against the not so intuitive Hunting Grounds instructions. I tied down a bunch of Glinthawks with my Ropecaster, but didn't satisfy whatever the objectives were. Need to figure out what I'm missing.

[Malankazooie]

I had problems with the Glinthawk hunting challenge too. I just bailed and forgot about it. The hunting grounds is one of the parts of the game I didn't get 100% completion, that and collecting all the little bits of data throughout the world.

But everything else I checked off on the complete list: Banuk figurines, ancient artifacts, scenic overlooks (those are a lot of fun to see the remnant from the past), climbed all tall necks to complete map, all the cauldrons, bandit camps, corrupted zones. et cetera.

[acesn8s]

OK, being able to shoot 3 arrows at once helps a lot. Bellowback packs don't need to be avoided anymore. I can definitely see myself picking up some Baruk heavy armor and loading it up with freeze weaves so the Snapmaws and Glinthawks are such a pain in the ass.

Saw my first 2 Thunderjaws over the weekend. Nope the fuck out on both of them, and snuck around the mountains to get to Meridian. I'm level 28 now. Working towards getting the spear damage upgrade skills now, then it will be more Concentration, and probably ammo and scavanging skills. Then I'll fill the rest of the tree based on convenience.

[Malankazooie]

Yep, first experience with a Thunderjaw is a "brown your whites" situation.

You were right to avoid, but you will have to overcome that fear at some point and have a go, eventually.

[acesn8s]

 Down South, on 31 July 2017 - 09:51 PM, said:

Rockbreakers to

I had that scripted Rockbreaker fight as part of a quest. It was a bit of a pain, but I was grateful for the wooden pallets they gave me to stand on and hide behind.

I have discovered the joy that is the Blast Sling. I screwed up stealthing into a Bandit camp and was about to get swarmed and I used the Blast Sling to destroy half the bandits in about 8 shots. I think I figured out how to complete that tutorial where you need to kill multiple enemies with a blast shot. Now I just need to remember to activate that quest before engaging.

I also completed the side quest where I had to investigate the peaceful valley of the Banuk (men and machines living together in harmony!?). Neat little mission that provided some clues about the world. I also managed to pick up a figuring and metal flower while out that way.

The night ended when I stumbled on a battle between wandering bandits and the machine with the cloaking tech. I ended up taking out the machines but the bandit heavies killed me.

I'm up to about level 28 and now have the 15% spear damage skill. I think I'm going to get the 30% damage next. Helps with the 1 shot critical strikes.

I also bought a Banuk heavy armor than put my best 2 anti-freeze weaves in it. A herd of Glinthawks just became an annoyance with a change in outfit. I think I still have between 1/3 and 1/2 the map still undiscovered. Loving this game.

[Malankazooie]

 acesn8s, on 01 August 2017 - 12:09 PM, said:

I also completed the side quest where I had to investigate the peaceful valley of the Banuk (men and machines living together in harmony!?). Neat little mission that provided some clues about the world.

That was a really cool side quest. When the story is pieced together during a later mission, you're gonna be all like.... whoa!

[acesn8s]

Now you have me wanting to proceed with the main quest and stop picking up Metal Flowers, Vessels, etc....

[Malankazooie]

I would stick with picking up all the stuff and doing side missions and work in the main story missions when your level allows. It all ties together.

One thing that HZD does right in a open world, sandbox setting, is it makes completing the side missions and picking up all the collectibles worth it and not just a rinse and repeat tedious, boring chore (I'm looking at you MGSV). So you get your level/gear/money up enough so you can face the end of the game.

[acesn8s]

Things are going smoothly. Finished the first 2 Hunting Lodge missions (trophies and Village attack), so I got the Tearblaster (haven't used it yet). I also rescued Olen's family. I'm in the low 30s level-wise. I've fully upgraded my spear strikes, so hopefully I can stealth kill and 1 hit crit some more of the machines. I think I'm going to go for the upgraded concentration next. After that, either the hanging and boss kills or the additional ammo and resources.

My anti-freeze armor works like a charm against Glint Hawks. I'm saving up for the Shadow Rattler (stupid boars won't drop skins anymore) to max out the purchasable weapons. After that it's ammo pouch upgrades and the other type of armors. I swear Aloy must look like the manager of the Jugger troupe from Blood of Heroes, walking around with a chest of drawers on his back.

[Malankazooie]

Getting the animals to drop skin and bone can be a pain. I had to do a lot of "farming" on rats, fish and raccoon to complete all my pouch upgrades. Genuinely a headache, but I got it done eventually. Raccoon are quite uncommon across most of the map, but there is a specific location where they pop up more regularly. Oh and geese too. I forgot about them. They are really rare. But there is a certain place.

Also, you'll need anti-electricity armor or buffs if you come across a certain... well, you'll know when it happens.

[acesn8s]

 Malankazooie, on 03 August 2017 - 03:23 PM, said:

Getting the animals to drop skin and bone can be a pain. I had to do a lot of "farming" on rats, fish and raccoon to complete all my pouch upgrades. Genuinely a headache, but I got it done eventually. Raccoon are quite uncommon across most of the map, but there is a specific location where they pop up more regularly. Oh and geese too. I forgot about them. They are really rare. But there is a certain place.

Also, you'll need anti-electricity armor or buffs if you come across a certain... well, you'll know when it happens.

Yeah, I figure I'll wanted a dedicated piece of armor for each of the types. This game certainly isn't a best piece of gear for 90% of the time. It's best piece of gear for each fight. Got my 2nd tall neck too. The one in the middle of the map where the bandits were trying to trap it. I ran around the corner all exited to start climbing and this corrupter popped out of the ground and bandits started shooting at me. I have to admit, I went to bed a little bit later than I planned.

[acesn8s]

1 armor away from the whole Shadow set (Nora Melee armor). I tried taking down my first Thunderjaw this weekend. Things were going well until a 2nd joined in. That fight did let me complete the Ropecaster and Tearblaster tutorial missions. I'll have to find a spot with just 1 Thunderjaw.

I did manage to kill my first Stormbird (need that Thunderjaw for the Hunting Lodge mission). I also ran into my first Behemoth, or should I say Behemoths. Yeah, that ended up just like the Thunderjaw fight. All I really wanted to do was shock a longlegs with the Rattler to finish that tutorial as well. Aloy paste was the result. Still, I can I got that tutorial mission done. I'm also about 2 fish skins and about 1,000 shards away from finishing the ammo carrier upgrades.

Traded in my first Banuk sculpture and Metal flower sets... I have to say the Metal flower sets pay off better. I have 1 complete vessel set and I'm about to finish my 2nd once I get to the upper left corner of the map where I'm trying to complete the Mysterious Woman (mom/clone) who looks like me quest.

Oh, and I have 9 of the Blazing Suns. I just have to find the last 2 Hunting Grounds. They are a lot easier with the right gear and skills.

[Malankazooie]

What level are you at now? Sounds like you are spiraling towards the end of the story.

I found that as I headed towards the end of everything, my shards started becoming an issue. Maxing out health potions and ammo before heading into mission battles started to really to hit me hard in the shards (no, not nards, shards ). So I found myself (at times) heading out and looking for machines to farm so I could get my shard level back up.