Private Reserve passes can be free

[dbond1]

Felt like I should make this post. Because I don't think there is anything in the game that tells you if you complete all missions for the landowner you'll get the pass for free. I can see newcomers saving up and dropping the 4500 on the pass, not knowing that if they just finish the assignments it will be given at no charge. We have new players all the time, so just a PSA.

There are ten passes I believe. That's 45,000 in-game currency that is now available for new rifles, taxidermy and other kit, if you just complete the missions instead. The missions aren't all that great, if I'm honest. But the payoff is good.

I have seven of them, and paid for none. I'm missing two in Transylvania and have yet to buy Matariki. I assume all passes are the same 4500 fee? That's a lot of scratch you can save and spend it on the good stuff instead.

[6Taylor4]

Yes, you can earn them, it says it somewhere, forget exact reference.

A lot of scratch? Compared to what, if I may?
"Money" in this game should be the least of your worries; you can easily make twenty grand in a day, if you hunt unethically; that's four properties right there. And who pays $39k for an ATV? You get $2 for a bunny but it costs $350 to display it.
The money system in the game is there to set values to things you "buy" with "money" and I think it's all fairly arbitrary, as income generation; if you follow the objectives and tasks, you'll get all the money you need, you'll open up the map, you'll find the 'secret' places, and have a great time hunting while doing all that.
I own all the DLCs, and I've paid for all the private reserves, not earned them, and I just dumped my entire trophy collection and restocked TV, and I've still got $20k left - I say that simply as an example of the low-priority money has in the game, you make money in-game all the time.
In the beginning it felt like I was never going to get enough cash to get by, but that went away quickly. I own everything but the Zebra ATV, and it was a joy, not a grind.

[scoazectiti29]

I've been playing for a short time and today I have over $312,000, and I have all the weapons, all the passes, in short, nothing left to buy, there won't be enough animals to stuff before lose those $.
I think it's something to rethink in the game, the amounts won with meat are too large, the proof is that I, certainly with others, in a short time, no longer know what to do of these $.

[eagle74]

I've earned them so far & do not plan to buy any as it's fun doing the jobs. But if you do buy them, do you still get to do the jobs or do they disappear?

[6Taylor4]

paying for the reserves doesn't take any missions away; they're still there, and can be completed. The TV tasks are silly/different, and take you around the map nicely.
_._
The map is simply gorgeous! I'm in New England, and I can almost recognize specific areas around here reproduced in the game; it looks just like N.E. woods, one difference being we have numerous glacially formed hills and valleys, etc, but nowhere near TV's elevations. You don't get many infinite horizon views, and usually you're lucky to have 25 feet clear view in woods; also there's way more ground cover and small bogs, marshes, and small streams (creeks), again, at a smaller scale. It's quite remarkable.

[eagle74]

Originally posted by 6Taylor4:

paying for the reserves doesn't take any missions away; they're still there, and can be completed. The TV tasks are silly/different, and take you around the map nicely.

Thanks, I was just curious.

[Mauserich]

I would agree. If it were up to me personally, everything would be free. We could do without all monetary elements in hunting games. Simply make them freely available immediately. All this leads to loss of time (also during development), joy and leads to frustration and to demotivation when you realize afterwards that the unlocked things do not meet expectations. This are neo liberal motiviated gaming elements that are diametrically opposed to the desire of people for relaxation and carefree leisure time.

I would therefore suggest combining as few game components as possible with it. They could leave the private areas freely accessible. Prices should be revised so that they are plausible. How can it be that a caller and a rifle cost 900. That is illogical. They should take away the importance of the whole thing if it sadly already exists.

"The fun stops with money." Even young children learn this. Whoever was the first to introduce this "glorious idea" in hunting games has ruined the genre, So he can pat themselves on the back with pride. ,-)

[6Taylor4]

Sometimes things are ruff.

[dbond1]

Interesting replies. I think it's fairly clear the thread was made not for players sitting on 300k, but for those with less, where the opportunity cost of buying passes instead of rifles is more significant. You may be flush with cash, but not every player is. And I don't think it is obvious, although maybe I'm missing it (loading screen tip?), that you can get the private passes without buying them. And this is where the trophies reside, and you can hunt them with your shiny new rifle since you saved that cash in the first place by doing the missions, if you can bring yourself to do them. Honestly I don't enjoy these, but I think it's worth it for the payoff.

[6Taylor4]

Since there is no penalty for not doing missions, other than not getting a few items that are practical duplicates of already available stuff, there's many ways to play with/without/around them. I've never had, in 500 hrs, more that 50k in the bank; taxidermy is an expensive hobby, and I keep changing my mind; but I do own everything in the game except the Zebra ATV, and I am following the missions and tasks; with so many places to hunt, so many maps, so many different animals, there's always something to spend your fortune on; redecorate!

The advice I'd give to starting players is not ever worry about money. Period. You're a hunter; hunt. The rest will follow.

[DC2Dixon]

Originally posted by dbond1:

Interesting replies. I think it's fairly clear the thread was made not for players sitting on 300k, but for those with less, where the opportunity cost of buying passes instead of rifles is more significant. You may be flush with cash, but not every player is. And I don't think it is obvious, although maybe I'm missing it (loading screen tip?), that you can get the private passes without buying them. And this is where the trophies reside, and you can hunt them with your shiny new rifle since you saved that cash in the first place by doing the missions, if you can bring yourself to do them. Honestly I don't enjoy these, but I think it's worth it for the payoff.

I was going to post the other day that this was clearly for new players and not those who have played from the start. Anyone new coming in after the next map would have 6 maps to explore and buy/unlock passes for. That can be very expensive if you don't know about doing missions.

Most new players will be lucky to kill half the animals they would if they had been playing for a while and were used to the game mechanics. I have over 500 hours and hunt full in game days, I probably still only average 5 kills per in game day. Sure I could get loads more with a easier difficulty or ignoring herd management but I don't.

As for cash in game, I just ignore it. I think I am close to 500,000 but what does it mean? I don't want a money sink for the sake of it like COTW has with tents costing 16,000 each.

I personally enjoy the hunting and exploring in this game, that is all that matters to me. With enough time in any game, you will run out of things to spend in game cash on.

[6Taylor4]

Excellent; just play the game.

[Mauserich]

Originally posted by dbond1:

Interesting replies. I think it's fairly clear the thread was made not for players sitting on 300k, but for those with less, where the opportunity cost of buying passes instead of rifles is more significant. You may be flush with cash, but not every player is. And I don't think it is obvious, although maybe I'm missing it (loading screen tip?), that you can get the private passes without buying them. And this is where the trophies reside, and you can hunt them with your shiny new rifle since you saved that cash in the first place by doing the missions, if you can bring yourself to do them. Honestly I don't enjoy these, but I think it's worth it for the payoff.

In fact, if you don't want to play the stories in Way of the Hunter, play on a high difficulty level and pay attention to game management, it becomes difficult and therefore annoying to spend money on things.

[6Taylor4]

Originally posted by Mauserich:

Originally posted by dbond1:

Interesting replies. I think it's fairly clear the thread was made not for players sitting on 300k, but for those with less, where the opportunity cost of buying passes instead of rifles is more significant. You may be flush with cash, but not every player is. And I don't think it is obvious, although maybe I'm missing it (loading screen tip?), that you can get the private passes without buying them. And this is where the trophies reside, and you can hunt them with your shiny new rifle since you saved that cash in the first place by doing the missions, if you can bring yourself to do them. Honestly I don't enjoy these, but I think it's worth it for the payoff.

In fact, if you don't want to play the stories in Way of the Hunter, play on a high difficulty level and pay attention to game management, it becomes difficult and therefore annoying to spend money on things.

I recall many RL hunters who play WOTH turn all the stuff off and simply hunt. Tough, tough way to play, but apparently very rewarding, from the way they described their preferences; ammo's free, you're given weapons, see what you can do. Admirable!

[eagle74]

I agree with dbond1 on this. It is a very good tip for those just starting out. While the info is buried in the encyclopedia, I did not read it for a long time.

[DC2Dixon]

Originally posted by eagle74:

I agree with dbond1 on this. It is a very good tip for those just starting out. While the info is buried in the encyclopedia, I did not read it for a long time.

I agree, for new players this is gold. As a new player you are likely to jump around maps more as there are more options. Could easily need well over 50,000 soon to unlock all private passes.

Us players that have played for a while stick to new maps (or the 2 base at release) if we enjoy them and we have plenty of cash. First thing I bought in NZ was the passes as didn't want to be out hunting and need a pass for a area.