Making Progress | How To Survive The Long Dark

[@scottrushton6154]

I had died on a custom survival run at 53 days and felt devastated. Started a nomad challenge run and now I will be at 100 days the next time I boot up the game, so I'm feeling pretty confident so far, and since I've got to double back to Timberwolf Mountain via Pleasant Valley, I have a bear skin bedroll with me not only if I need to sleep in PV but it will help massively when I have to spend three days each at Mountaineers Hut and Stone Church. I may take the risk involved with getting to the hunters lodge and mountain town, but for MT I need to bring a regular bed roll with me so I can stow it at the cave before the rope climb.

[@henryashbee336]

Desolation point is my favourite stalker and interloper starting point because I mainly use the bow for hunting, and there is a ton of coal, scrap metal and a pretty much guaranteed hammer, so I get the arrowhead crafting done in the first 3 days. Because arrowheads can be pretty much infinitely reused, I then don't have to get back to a forge for the next 50 days or so, before I have to craft knive/hatches. I hardly ever go back to desolation point after that.

[@Pest789]

This is a great approach. Zero spoilers but very good general advice. Well done!

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Thanks! I want to help old and especially new players get over that initial, frustrating hump without getting annoyed or lost. But I also remember the charm of my first few runs in the long dark. I want to preserve that so I'm trying to make sure I don't spoil things in advance.

[@winterfoxey1333]

I know I am late. But I just discovered your channel, and, even though I have been playing the long dark almost since its release, I find your videos very useful! I love the way they're set up, and how they have so little spoilers for new players. Keep up the good work.

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Thanks! That was my biggest problem when I was new to the game and looking for guides... everyone said to stay away from spoilers and just enjoy, but I needed to know how to do certain things... And all the guides were very spoilery. As of the initiation of this series that was still the case, so hopefully I'm filling a very much needed gap with this series.

[@floydthedroid5935]

Spot on. The balance and the deliberation.

[@Epicteetus]

Just starting out in the game. Your videos are great! I love how you provide great info whilst not giving too much away because, as you say, the enjoyment comes from discovering these things for yourself. 1st run, I fell into a frozen river 4 times and died from hypothermia within 4 in-game hours. 3rd run, I found a shelter, I'm eating raw rabbit meat... Life is good, my friend. Life is good...

[@dennettshane1929]

Finding that balance between moving and staying that he's talking about is pretty difficult to me. I think I'm getting there though. Made enough game ending mistakes by staying in Mystery Lake too long. I think I'm doing fine then I realize oh rabbits don't respawn very quickly and my junk food is pretty low. Also ended enough games by getting stuck outside in a blizzard, getting finished off by wildlife or something.

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

It is a hard balance to find because it's not always the same every game and every run, especially across difficulty levels. The primary factors to keep in mind are your long-term goals and your short-term needs. For example, your short-term need is staying full, but your long-term goal is getting tools crafted. You shouldn't starve yourself to 50% health just to get those tools per se. Maybe in some edge cases. Every game is not the same. You need to think ahead about what the potential roadblocks will be, and how to plan ahead and around them to accomplish your goals while keeping your needs satisfied. Sometimes you get curveballs thrown your way that slow you down, etc. Because the regions are so diversified and the loot is spread amongst them all, moving is good to collect it, but also brings many dangers with it. You've got to keep yourself safe and alive to accomplish your goals, but you've also got to risk a little just to get there. Err on the side of caution, albeit barely, and you'll usually move along at a decent pace provided you keep your goals in mind. I'll have a video coming out later about setting goals based on what mode you're playing and why you should have long-term goals. Hope you find that balance and good luck on your runs!

[@billymeyers656]

Just starting my journey into the Long Dark and this is very helpful, keep up the good work!

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Glad you liked it! I'm still working on adding more and more videos to this list. If there's anything, in particular, you'd like me to cover, go ahead and let me know!

[@jensb3946]

Lonelywolf Making arrow heads and improvised tools with the furnace and crafting in general would be a cool video!

[@cougar2k720]

I think only exception is Pilgrim mode. It's so easy to get food that I might as well call it Costco mode, have almost 50 kg of different types of meat that staying in maintenance yard in BR is almost like doing a BnB at the country side.

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

You're not wrong... Pilgrim is too hard for me. Why? I CAN'T WADDLE AT 200 POUNDS OF GEAR GIMME SOME SPACE!!! Wait, you're telling me my house is bursting with goods? *sigh*

[@cougar2k720]

@@Lonelywolfofficial haha, yes, I should mentioned that 50kg (120 lbs) of meat is at home base in th locker, desk drawer, and trash can, not carrying around with me all the time. Because my character is full of food all the time. It got the well fed bonus that allows me to carry 10 lbs more stuff. Which I think stalker and Loper mode player will rarely see.

[@s.sradon9782]

i like to think that stalker dificulty is a reference to the game. long dark reminds me of anomaly & misery mod and such

[@phfish_7440]

lmao went to LTD from anomaly

[@HiroshimaXl]

I messed up a solid stalker start in ASB canyon . And then got double frost bite because I couldn't find gloves and didn't prep handwraps when given the chance 💀

[@averylawton5802]

It's a sad happy reality of having ADHD and playing The Long Dark I remember everywhere I've been and every time I'm there it's the first time.

[@rieleyslocum870]

I am a very seasoned player, been playing since r came out for early access for steam in like 2014, and you’ve really hit all of the tips. I normally play on stalker to interloper and at this point the game is pretty simple.

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Well glad to know I've got all the necessary points hit!

[@madmaestro7585]

Love the vids mate thanks I’m an experienced player but I like it when people give advice and you pick something up you may not be aware of. Playing this as there are no other decent games at the moment on Xbox ...... 😎love it

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Glad to help

[@THETalesFromTheAbyss]

I started out in the middle of the night in a freakin blizzard on my recent run. Surprised I made it 2 days so far.

[@123maxout]

at 5:25 how did you get so many maple sapling. I just start a new game for the first time in 1.0 and im at day 22. I can't find one !

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

A bit of knowing the maps, and specifically hunting them out, as well as crossing multiple regions. Depending on your difficulty there can be as few as 2 per region and as many as 10! per region, give or take a bit.

[@silentcricketgaming4116]

It depends on map knowledge, there is about a 20% or 30% chance for a sapling to spawn in each of the premade locations, kinda like guns. If you have enough knowledge your guaranteed saplings at some point of searching.

[@TumblinWeeds]

I just found out today that plants never regenerate in the long dark and am quite unsettled by the prospect. Has anyone ever been on a long run where you’ve gone through all the vegetation on the map and there’s just nothing left? I don’t like the idea that my survivor has a capped life expectancy that they’ll never live past, say 3 years. I like to think when I ditch one of my runs that they’ll be able to survive themselves indefinitely because they‘ve learned the skills and have a stockpile of supplies. Right now the only solution I know of is the beach where apparently random things wash up (I’ve never been there yet). Should I be setting up base around the beaches since that sounds like the only viable long term survival plan?

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

If you are worried about running out of plants, fear not. Yes, beachcombing can net you new plants but in all likelihood you'll never exhaust the natural supplies from two regions, let alone all of them.

[@TumblinWeeds]

Lonelywolf I’d been drinking tea as a primary food source thinking it’d grow back. I think I must have chomped through at least 50 cups. If I hadn’t found out it wouldn’t grow back I think I really would have scraped the land barren.

[@dylanivey9752]

Thank you for the good tips buddy keep up the good work

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Thanks mate! I'm glad it was helpful!

[@madmaestro7585]

Good advice. On a side note ... why don’t hinterland release an update where you can build your own structures introduce new weapons like catapults etc and new wildlife and items and then ..... it would be the best game created !

[@madmaestro7585]

New fish too ! Sick of catching whites and sea bass !

[@abirdwitharms]

1:21 I know it's been over two years but nice fashion souls

[@koolaideguyskillcount525]

I've survived 43 days so far on one run because I just went to trappers homestead and started collecting wood, hides, gut, oil, and other good things and so far I've gone to the hunting lodge in the area beyond forlern msukeg and the spence family homestead and basically I have about 150 pounds of cooked meat varying between two bears and a deer or two and I keep it outside on a spot wolves can't reach and In a area wolves don't go in and right now I'm at milton and am taking all the clothes first then bringing back what I need and then come back a second time to get all the food and then after that probably just tinder and fuel it's kinda fun to make plans and plan out different journeys and I usually just carry my revolver for safety I suggest trying it especially at the trappers cabin because trappers cabin has a decent inside and pretty good storage it's good for a hoarders house and near three regions or more but the camp office has more space so its a trade between infinite food and lamp oil or three regions quickly

[@dgordon11156]

I might have been a little aggressive on that question. Sorry, but I was wondering why you think DP is a bad loot area.

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

It's a bad loot area due to its size and the maximum available resources. A once-through for all the clothes and food and tools that are scattered about is good, but other regions offer far more, without the threat of a tight gauntlet to pass through to get in and out. Couple that with extremely limited hunting options and no fishing, with wolves in every spot of importance sans the Riken, it can be a downright mess navigating around. Don't get me wrong: I love DP and it's scenery and what it exists for. But it most certainly isn't a good spot for any form of long-term survival. There are only two spots for deer, a couple for rabbits, one moose, and one bear. Wolves and bear are out of the question for most of the early game usually, due to IP unless you're willing to contract it, and the deer are guarded well by the wolves. If you do get the deer before the wolves do, or before they get you, there's only a few of them and they take a long time to come back. The moose is in a bad spot to hunt him but it's possible, though that's only if he's hanging about on that run. All things considered, it's a beautiful region with scant in the way of survivability. It's far easier to survive in HRV or TWM than DP due to multiple hunting locations and availability of loot and shelter. Granted, these are just my opinions due to my playstyle. Things can be objectively bad but subjectively good, and vice-versa.

[@ninetoedlizard6650]

@@Lonelywolfofficial I spawned my first time in DP and I lasted a couple days, next trial I started out near Milton, lasted about 6 days, went to explore, got to close to a ledge, got stuck, had to result to suicide. I cant tell if I love this game or hate it.

[@kevgh3869]

The secret to surviving the Long Dark is know the map. Either that or you mostly run around lost and in this game and in real life this means death in the frozen forest. So play the Pilgrim mode until you know all the areas well.

[@Albino1701]

So they get bored by how easy it is on pilgrim and stop altogether. Nah, I say start on voyager and go from there. Beginners will still die but its much more forgiving. Then when this gets boring, go to stalker or custom game

[@PortmanRd]

help. found fishing hook on pilgrim mode but no line. pointers please.

[@baconatoromg6062]

Cured gut

[@dgordon11156]

2 questions though... do you know of any bedroll spawns in PV? 2. Are there more than 2 spawns for the flare gun

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Bedroll can spawn at the Mystic river picnic area or the cave near the rural store on Interloper. There are only the two spawns for the flare gun as it stands right now. Mayhaps they'll add another one in later but for now just the two.

[@dgordon11156]

Awesome thanks!

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Aye no problem!

[@jensb3946]

When your picking clothing items, should you prioritize warmth bonus, sprint reduction or shield/protection?

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Depends on your difficulty level and what you currently have. And your playstyle as well as whether or not you choose to min/max or have multiple outfits. A good guideline is to keep the highest wind protection gear in the outside slots and the highest warmth on the inner or both, if the case may be. Sprint is a relatively needless mechanic for evading wolves or bears so I rarely take that into consideration. The protection mechanic is huge so if you can get to at least 25% protection you'll survive a wolf attack in far better shape then without it.

[@jensb3946]

Lonelywolf Ok, thanks. These guides help a lot. Do you know the youtuber hadrian?

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Yup! I've seen him around now and again. What makes you ask?

[@jensb3946]

Lonelywolf You guys make similar the long dark content, for example, you have both made a lot of survival school episodes. There not a lot of youtubers who play the and you guys are definitely some of the best and most entertaining. Was just wondering if you had heard of him.

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

I've not really checked out much of his content TBH. I know he's kinda laid off TLD in recent months too. When I first started playing the game years ago he and LMG came up quite often, but IIRC neither had tutorials or guides at the time.

[@vale5509]

Is there a certain way to go about discovering the map or is it just explore and discover till you remember. I would like to note obviously I am new to the game so I don’t have tons of knowledge on this

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

That does depend on how you best learn the maps, but exploration and sometimes using the built in mapping function can help. If you're really struggling though, you can use maps that people have made online to help out.

[@vale5509]

@@Lonelywolfofficial thanks👑💯

[@emrekt22]

great content

[@reeformii1811]

Wait i did not know about katies secluded corner thanks

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

You're welcome!

[@Lonewolf.wildcamping]

free bow everytime :)

[@dgordon11156]

Ok... we will just have to agree to disagree that HRV is a better place to survive than DP. (That said, I could see the argument on TM... If you know were all the storage boxes are). Thanks man

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

The caves plus all the access to wild grown food and several predator-free hunting zones makes HRV a stellar place even in Loper, so I've heard. I've never been there in Loper myself but have visited it extensively otherwise. Size and access are the main differences, DP just doesn't have as much as HRV.

[@shade9592]

Yep, DP is probably the best starting region. The forge allows you to stock up on arrowheads and make sure that you have a knife and hatchet during early game. In interloper, it's better to start in another region and get to DP, with the hammer and some scrap as soon as you can. The abundance of wolves and unreachable spots allow you to improve your archery very quickly.

[@ghostlightx9005]

How do you find your way around? It all looks the same. That's what puts me off this game.

[@Lonelywolfofficial]

Every person plays games differently, even when I was new to the game and didn't know where exactly to go, I was able to mentally build a map of where I had been and see familiar areas and navigate back. It takes time to do so, and not everyone can do so or at the same rates of speed. If that's not something you can do well or figure out a way to do, this game will probably be a challenge for you. There is an in game mapping system but it requires patience to use and to build up the map over time.

[@Bugman541]

I will never understand how any human can play a videogame with that FOV. Its appalling. Cool vids tho