Caspian level - probably spoilers so beware

[PoxComet]

Ok, this will be my thread on the Caspian level. In general I really like this level but I have issue (lots really but the others can wait) - how do you reliably climb on to the top of the van?
I have done it before but it seems random, now I just can't!

[Draxuss]

Why do you need to climb on top of the van? I've never had any reason to do so myself.

[cuss]

Escaping from mutants maybe (Hey D)
I don't think you're meant to OP, you probably just found a handhold somewhere.

[PoxComet]

I love exploring and the Van is like a ladder.
In the past I have been able to a mantle up on to it but can't remember how I did it.

Some of the hung corpses have loot on them. You can shoot the rope and they should fall to the ground but sometimes fly off onto cliffs or inaccessible structures. I really need all the crafting mats to make fire bullets, all the enemies have amusing 'I'm on fire' dances, so you can see the need for all the mats!

[cuss]

Maybe it's a jump key double-tap? Some kind of timed combo? I don't remember if I ever got up there but what you're doing makes sense, most corpses have some loot to offer and the Caspian has good vistas. I know the fire dance though, tikhar & fire ammo are fun.

[PoxComet]

Originally posted by cuss:

Maybe it's a jump key double-tap? Some kind of timed combo? I don't remember if I ever got up there but what you're doing makes sense, most corpses have some loot to offer and the Caspian has good vistas. I know the fire dance though, tikhar & fire ammo are fun.

I have to stop my self and use other guns sometimes :(

The whole move, run, jump and mantle are pretty jank. Sometimes you get launched back from rocks or debris by just walking over them, that jank can be used though to get to out of the way places.
I can't work out if mantle is a developer placed asset (like some Assassin's Creed's where things will have a white lip that you can mantle) or everything can be mantled but then jank happens. I know it sometimes takes me 5 tries to mantle up to a waist high barrel, rock, table, etc.

[cuss]

I had the same issue with weapons and used the tikhar as my primary most of the time.
I think mantle / climb is a placed asset. Artyom can scale low ledges, say 2 or 3 feet and if I recall correct he often used his hands but he normally can't climb things above a certain height, like shoulder height. But,, he can pull himself out of deep water which in a sense would be shoulder height, so maybe that's what you found, access to a usually inaccessible mechanic. Or maybe the van was parked on a slope? If you climb the high side it could be seen as just another slope? That might explain it. I don't know if you're meant to get up there but if you can, more power to you. If you manage it again maybe take note of how and where exactly on the van you did it, so you can reliably do it again.