[WinterPhoenix]

Yeah distance on the sling is rubbish! Pretty much hate it, use the Shadow War Bow with handling mods for fast firing and ice arrows to cause freeze easier, if not faster. Love the ropecaster against Tramplers, as you are directed to use in the 3rd hunters trials, it really helps incapacitate them for the easy tear shots.

I basically played all night last night before grabbing a couple of hours kip - had/have things to do today. When I stopped playing I had reached Meridian and started a bunch of sidequests, grabbing lots of stuff on the way - two more Tallnecks, bandit camps, 3 more Blazing Suns, lots of metal flowers etc. Found a 4th Hunter's Trials, but I haven't started it yet, not looking forward to having to kill multiple Stalkers - fought 3 at the same time earlier was easily the most annoying fight I have done! Planning to head south doing sidequests and looking for the right beasts to kill for the lodge quest before moving the main story on. Using Heavy Protector with varied Melee/Stealth mods now for most of the time as melee damage is the biggest threat for me thus far - I have all the different elemental resistance suits as well though for flexibility against certain enemies. Plus Shadow Hunter's Bow with 2 41% damage coils and another at 37%, triple shot Hardpoint arrows do so much damage! I was level 34 before I stopped playing last night, 49% game completion, I love this game too much. The last 2 games I did anything like this for were Dark Souls 3 and The Witcher 3.

EDIT: Still haven't fought a Thunderjaw though lol

Alos, QuickTidal, what do you mean by the Condor enemies? I can't remember anything flying at the first hunter's trials. Whereabouts on the map are you?

This post has been edited by WinterPhoenix: 15 March 2017 - 01:53 PM

[QuickTidal]

WinterPhoenix, on 15 March 2017 - 01:50 PM, said:

Alos, QuickTidal, what do you mean by the Condor enemies? I can't remember anything flying at the first hunter's trials. Whereabouts on the map are you?

On the way to Meridian, but JUST past the gate of the end of the Embrace. It was off to the left. Perhaps It's above my current skill level?

[WinterPhoenix]

Oh yes I know the one you mean. Yeah at a low level when you do the trial where you have to down the Tramplers and then remove their processor unit, after you take down one it'll be hard to survive the Glinthawk gank squad that descends from the heavens. They can do alot of damage pretty quickly if you're too busy dealing with the Trampler to take the time to get rid of them - which you will be if you're trying to get the best time. Best way to deal with the Glinthawks is fire arrows - two hits set's them aflame and knocks them out the sky for a few precious seconds - but honestly I think the way to get the time for this one is to be a high enough level that missing a few dodges doesn't wreck your health. The other trial where you have to take down the Glinthawks themselves is even more annoying, hitting them with the ropecaster is just plain painful!

There are two previous hunters trials that you must have missed if this was your first though, depending on your level (?) few of those should give you that much trouble - though there is one with Bellowbacks that was annoying.

[Serenity]

WinterPhoenix, on 15 March 2017 - 01:50 PM, said:

I basically played all night last night before grabbing a couple of hours kip - had/have things to do today. When I stopped playing I had reached Meridian and started a bunch of sidequests, grabbing lots of stuff on the way - two more Tallnecks, bandit camps, 3 more Blazing Suns, lots of metal flowers etc. Found a 4th Hunter's Trials, but I haven't started it yet, not looking forward to having to kill multiple Stalkers - fought 3 at the same time earlier was easily the most annoying fight I have done! Planning to head south doing sidequests and looking for the right beasts to kill for the lodge quest before moving the main story on. Using Heavy Protector with varied Melee/Stealth mods now for most of the time as melee damage is the biggest threat for me thus far - I have all the different elemental resistance suits as well though for flexibility against certain enemies. Plus Shadow Hunter's Bow with 2 41% damage coils and another at 37%, triple shot Hardpoint arrows do so much damage! I was level 34 before I stopped playing last night, 49% game completion, I love this game too much. The last 2 games I did anything like this for were Dark Souls 3 and The Witcher 3.

You're pretty much where I am at the moment, by the sounds of it, but about three levels higher. I'm guessing a lot of that's down to you being good at the Hunter's Trials, where I think it's safe to say that I'm RUBBISH at them - apart from the very first one I've been avoiding them ever since, even though I know there's loads of XP to be had

I don't think I'll be getting to play again for a day or two. It's very annoying.

[WinterPhoenix]

Serenity, on 15 March 2017 - 02:47 PM, said:

WinterPhoenix, on 15 March 2017 - 01:50 PM, said:

I basically played all night last night before grabbing a couple of hours kip - had/have things to do today. When I stopped playing I had reached Meridian and started a bunch of sidequests, grabbing lots of stuff on the way - two more Tallnecks, bandit camps, 3 more Blazing Suns, lots of metal flowers etc. Found a 4th Hunter's Trials, but I haven't started it yet, not looking forward to having to kill multiple Stalkers - fought 3 at the same time earlier was easily the most annoying fight I have done! Planning to head south doing sidequests and looking for the right beasts to kill for the lodge quest before moving the main story on. Using Heavy Protector with varied Melee/Stealth mods now for most of the time as melee damage is the biggest threat for me thus far - I have all the different elemental resistance suits as well though for flexibility against certain enemies. Plus Shadow Hunter's Bow with 2 41% damage coils and another at 37%, triple shot Hardpoint arrows do so much damage! I was level 34 before I stopped playing last night, 49% game completion, I love this game too much. The last 2 games I did anything like this for were Dark Souls 3 and The Witcher 3.

You're pretty much where I am at the moment, by the sounds of it, but about three levels higher. I'm guessing a lot of that's down to you being good at the Hunter's Trials, where I think it's safe to say that I'm RUBBISH at them - apart from the very first one I've been avoiding them ever since, even though I know there's loads of XP to be had

I don't think I'll be getting to play again for a day or two. It's very annoying.

Oh yeah I think in total the 9 blazing suns plus finishing the 'quest' for each Hunter's Trial have probably got me over 100'000 xp, which accounts for about 3-4 levels at this point. Of the 9 individual trials thus far I've managed to get blazing suns on my first try for 7 of them, I genuinely don't even know how though tbh. The extent of my strategy has been tactically watching the enemies move about a little while so I can choose a good time to rope down. Then I just go in and run about using whatever weapon I've been told, ignoring the timer until I am done. There were two trials at Valleymeet with the Bellowbacks that took me a few tries, I just want that juicy, juicy xp

[Cause]

WinterPhoenix, on 15 March 2017 - 03:01 PM, said:

Serenity, on 15 March 2017 - 02:47 PM, said:

WinterPhoenix, on 15 March 2017 - 01:50 PM, said:

I basically played all night last night before grabbing a couple of hours kip - had/have things to do today. When I stopped playing I had reached Meridian and started a bunch of sidequests, grabbing lots of stuff on the way - two more Tallnecks, bandit camps, 3 more Blazing Suns, lots of metal flowers etc. Found a 4th Hunter's Trials, but I haven't started it yet, not looking forward to having to kill multiple Stalkers - fought 3 at the same time earlier was easily the most annoying fight I have done! Planning to head south doing sidequests and looking for the right beasts to kill for the lodge quest before moving the main story on. Using Heavy Protector with varied Melee/Stealth mods now for most of the time as melee damage is the biggest threat for me thus far - I have all the different elemental resistance suits as well though for flexibility against certain enemies. Plus Shadow Hunter's Bow with 2 41% damage coils and another at 37%, triple shot Hardpoint arrows do so much damage! I was level 34 before I stopped playing last night, 49% game completion, I love this game too much. The last 2 games I did anything like this for were Dark Souls 3 and The Witcher 3.

You're pretty much where I am at the moment, by the sounds of it, but about three levels higher. I'm guessing a lot of that's down to you being good at the Hunter's Trials, where I think it's safe to say that I'm RUBBISH at them - apart from the very first one I've been avoiding them ever since, even though I know there's loads of XP to be had

I don't think I'll be getting to play again for a day or two. It's very annoying.

Oh yeah I think in total the 9 blazing suns plus finishing the 'quest' for each Hunter's Trial have probably got me over 100'000 xp, which accounts for about 3-4 levels at this point. Of the 9 individual trials thus far I've managed to get blazing suns on my first try for 7 of them, I genuinely don't even know how though tbh. The extent of my strategy has been tactically watching the enemies move about a little while so I can choose a good time to rope down. Then I just go in and run about using whatever weapon I've been told, ignoring the timer until I am done. There were two trials at Valleymeet with the Bellowbacks that took me a few tries, I just want that juicy, juicy xp

How get a skill point if you complete a hunting ground. Not sure if you need all blazing sun's or not though. Plus the xp you get as a bonus.

Glinthawks were for me continuously the hardest and most annoying enemies. Quicker to kill a thunderjaw. Just so annoying. Best tricks I found were flame arrows as said, banuk ice hunter suit so you can practically ignore their attacks and aim properly. Rope caster is actually pretty decent way to disable them, 2 shots I think.

Also if you can get the freeze blast by hitting their chests I learnt it's a mistake to try and critical strike them. While frozen they take triple damage or worse. So just fire a few arrows at them. It's quicker then running for their crash site

[WinterPhoenix]

Yeah you need to get all 3 Blazing Suns at a Hunter's Trial to get the bonus skill point, another reason to really go for them

Glinthawks are soooooo annoying I agree, but yeah fire arrows plus ice resistance is the way to go. Ropecaster isn't a bad way to take them down - 2 shots like you say - but I just found it more annoying to hit them than with arrows. Stormbirds are worse though, seriously I hate them!

[WinterPhoenix]

Traveller, on 15 March 2017 - 09:42 AM, said:

Cause, on 15 March 2017 - 08:02 AM, said:

WinterPhoenix, on 14 March 2017 - 11:24 PM, said:

Ah thank you, that explains it then, whenever I've done it there was only one Sawtooth around lol

Still haven't seen a Thunderjaw just yet, appropriately terrified of this encounter when it first happens.

Oh btw, did you ever solve your issue about not being able to get back into All-Mother Temple? I'm having the same issue and unfortunately I missed the power cell inside the temple.

Enter mothers heart and go up to the locked gate, leave the village and go left. Walk along the mountain for a minute or so, than walk back. The gates should open. Its a wierd glitch.

Didn't work for me. I got on a machine, took it left of the gate (right while facing it) and rode it up the slope that you can't walk up. Rode it as far as I could along the ridge, then dropped down right by temple door which was open.

I'll have to try ice on the Thunderjaw, I haven't used the sling in ages. I was knocking off the plate on his side and double shotting his heart.

I think these are level 30 trials, I'm about 26.

It didn't work for me either just now so I rode a Strider up a slope to the right of the door, except I think I did it at the wrong bit, the Strider wouldn't go any higher. So I jumped the rest of the way over into the settlement then literally jumped all the way around the edges right up till I was exactly above the temple door, fell off and just rolled in. It was so weird, I was jumping up sheer rock faces because Aloy had nowhere to fall, if I tried to get into anything other than the very edge of the settlement I was stopped by invisible walls. It was like I had found my way onto the otherside of some invisible walls and was being stopped from getting back into the settlement by them. So strange, should've recorded it tbh.

[Traveller]

Sounds like the route I took - jumping and rolling up the rocks! Got the cell but gates were still closed on the way back so I had to fast travel out.

Played late last night, now back from 11 hour shift. Want to play... but need sleep..

This post has been edited by Traveller: 15 March 2017 - 09:22 PM

[WinterPhoenix]

Traveller, on 15 March 2017 - 09:15 PM, said:

Sounds like the route I took - jumping and rolling up the rocks! Got the cell but gates were still closed on the way back so I had to fast travel out.

Played late last night, now back from 11 hour shift. Want to play... but need sleep..

Yeah same, had to fast travel out as well.

Yea I've been operating on very, very little sleep atm, first a heavy weekend, then a very busy Monday, up all night (almost) playing the game last night, busy day today as well. Really want to play tonight, but I don't think I can justify a long night again, need to be awake tomorrow lol

EDIT: It is cool up there BK, went up there pretty much straight after the metal ring, I had the collectibles maps so I could see there was stuff up there. If you haven't fought any of the flying enemies so far, you're in for... well something

This post has been edited by WinterPhoenix: 15 March 2017 - 09:36 PM

[Traveller]

Sleep wins. I know that if I put it on I'll still be there at midnight.

[WinterPhoenix]

Briar King, on 15 March 2017 - 09:47 PM, said:

Omfg!!! I'm 🚶 on a frozen pond!!! I ❤️ ❄️ lands!!!

The mountainous areas are really rather stunning, this game continues to astound me with it's sights and sounds

There was something really cool - and kinda terrifying for me at the lowish level I was at the time - in that area. Glinthawks on the other hand are not cool, the flying enemies in general are the most annoying tbh, though Stalkers aren't exactly a picnic either.

[Traveller]

Briar King, on 16 March 2017 - 04:43 AM, said:

Wow I can't believe I didn't come up here when I was in area... I'm typing this while walking on Machine tentacles similar to Mothers Temple thing. The view....holy fucking fuck!

I found a Ruin up here but can't find a way in it

Probably a later quest.

[WinterPhoenix]

Decided to just have a long session tonight, nothing to do tomorrow and I need some Horizon therapy Bit miffed anyhow, since I managed to lose the book I was reading today (The Thousandfold Thought), this game helps lol

Just gonna finish up some sidequests and exploration south of Meridian I reckon

[WinterPhoenix]

Just fought and killed two Behemoths that were rampaging outside a Carjan settlement. Wicked fight, they hit like a truck if they get you! Easy enough to dodge, but still awesome, so massive!

Oh and I got 3 more Blazing Suns from the stealth hunter trial. Genuinely thought killing two Stalkers in 2 minutes would be difficutl, but I got that first try in 1:12. The other 2 trials which I thought would be easy both took me much longer than I expected though. Tough to plan the best routes through all the vegetation.

This post has been edited by WinterPhoenix: 17 March 2017 - 03:28 AM

[Traveller]

I'm going to return to the trials a bit later. Got several quests on the go now, finished the first hunting lodge trophy hunt but forgot about three others I'd started, and easily lost a couple of hours last night.

Found a vantage right up in among the lakes at dawn, then swam back to Meridian. When I stopped to admire the view a dragonfly was buzzing round - some very tranquil moments in this game.

[Serenity]

I found myself going back and doing a load of the weapons tutorials last night, as they'd piled up. Also finally did Cauldron RHO. Shan't have much time for it this weekend, but I'm up to 42 hours game time and 46% completed, apparently

[WinterPhoenix]

Serenity, on 17 March 2017 - 09:39 AM, said:

I found myself going back and doing a load of the weapons tutorials last night, as they'd piled up. Also finally did Cauldron RHO. Shan't have much time for it this weekend, but I'm up to 42 hours game time and 46% completed, apparently

Similar amount of playtime here, about 43 hours. At 65% completion apparently, I'm assuming my dilligent scouring for collectibles is the major reason for how high that number is. Only got 1 Tallneck and 1 set of Hunter's trials left as well (assuming this will be the Ravager/Thunderjaw extravaganza that Trav spoke of before) and 2 cauldrons I think. Finishing off a couple of collectibles then I'm moving the main story on

[WinterPhoenix]

Holy shit, rocbreakers are so freaking cool, new favourite machine

What's the highest damage, tear and handling coils people have found? Got 42 and 43 for tear and damage, 40 for handling. But I found a 47% shock coil, wondering if anyone has found the others that high?

This post has been edited by WinterPhoenix: 17 March 2017 - 08:22 PM

[Traveller]

47 is highest so far.

Have you found a way into cauldron zeta?