Question for repeat play throughs

[dsegel4]

I am on my 2nd play through. Since I already know what most of the plants are for and what most of the notes are. Is there any reason why I have to research every plant and pick up every note? Will that impede my progress in any way?

[pawzisme]

picking up the notes adds refs to the map and further plant detail, so useful. Researching new plants also gives detail, but if you already know what that plant can synth with, or be useful fo on its own then I guess you can safely skip that....

[DarkStarSword]

You don't have to and it won't stop you finishing the game, but it depends on what your goal is - have you set yourself any challange for this playthrough?

I recently challenged myself to play through the game without using the map and only navigating at night, sleeping whenever dawn came. For that run I didn't pick up a single note or research any of the plants and I was able to complete the game just fine. The objectives page looks a bit sparse if you never pick up the memo about the cure, but it doesn't stop you from synthesising it.

If you had set yourself the challenge to map the entire island you would want to at least pick up the first map of Draco so you have somewhere to start, whereas if you challenged yourself to navigate soley by your memory of the island you would probably want to avoid all the map notes. Obviously if you wanted to go for the light reading achievement or are just interested in piecing together all the clues & backstory you would need all the notes, but I'm guessing that's not your goal for this run or you wouldn't be asking ;-)

If you're just playing normally I'd suggest deciding based on how well you think you know the island - if you can recall where everything is you probably don't need the notes, but if you can't remember where to find something the notes can help a lot.

[dsegel4]

I am picking up notes as I come across them but wasn't that interested in trying to find them all if it doesn't impede my game. I mainly didn't want to go through having to research all the plants since I think I found all but two of them first time around and know what they do. I generally remember where all the major plants are so with the help of my compass I'm traveling pretty quickly and therefore am really unable to triangulate much because I get out of range of something that's already mapped. So I find I'm going with a very sketchy map. I do use the mental clarity drug if I happen to have some handy and am really not sure where I am. Thanks for your answers.

[pawzisme]

I am in much the same place, have two more plants to find, and am on the 17th day ( and I don't cram every daylight hour searching) First time around I think it took me about 90 days to complete. There are vast areas of grey on my maps,but since I recognise the vicinity of many of the campsites now, it isn't so important. My main concern is what I am going to DO with my leisure hours when I have completed M for the fourth time....

[dsegel4]

Ha, ha, so true. Really great game. Had a narrow escape today. Finally got the spike flower, the creature came around, I fell trying to sidle away (he was in one of those loops where he paces back and forth), had to take my last medicine, fell again into the water trying to get to a camp and lost the spike flower. Had quite a trek to get to a camp and thought I'd never make it--I was "greyed out" for quite a while. Finally made it, thank goodness it was a lab. So I figured I'd have to trek all the way back to find the spike flower again but thought, you know what, I'm going back to where I lost it and try to find it. Sure enough, there it was floating almost hidden behind a tree. Whew! So now I have my permanent endurance, muscle and brain shots. Still have four more for the cure and, of course, they are at opposite ends of the islands. Lots of fun! Can't imagine playing without Milo.

[pawzisme]

Indeed! :)