Follow the Main Story or Explore?

[Grimno]

So I'm in Garbage, one of the early zones, but I'm wondering if I should follow the main story or just wander off? I don't know what is or isn't an "optional" location

Basically... Will following the Main Story take me to all the different areas is my main question.

[Grimno]

Bump.
I explored east of the the Lesser Zone, the Cordon cause I recognize the place.

[󠀡󠀡]

I to be honest I'm just finishing the main quest line, I don't want it getting spoiled online randomly, so I'm finishing the game myself and I will wait for updates later on to enjoy the game better.

Because if everything else is kinda glitched, I explored a bit etc. etc. it just doesn't feel "right".

If the AI spawns randomly, if it spawns behind you, making fights completely atrocious, it's not worth exploring for me tbh, don't get me wrong I love the game, the atmospherics are crazy good, but it just doesn't feel finished.

I literally walk from place to place sometimes, 2.5k or even 3k, for 10 or 15 minutes and I have 0 encounters, only if I go to set spawn points I already memorized, where I know it usually spawns monsters or stalkers I actually get some action...

I'm ok with the performances issues, frame drops, whatever, but it's just not worth to even do side quests when some of them have the chance to be glitched (I literally have 3 side quests glitched because I did something I wasn't supposed to do, I already reported it to the devs).

And yeah, in the end, I'm not ok either with the A-life 2.0 being missing / broken.

The game is fine if you don't take in consideration A-life, but A-life was a big thing of the previous STALKERS that made it feel alive and connected, in this game... it's totally absent.

Why have such a big explorable map if there is nothing happening in between? I'm sure there was some big problems before release or something, I hope they will fix this AI thing somewhere in the future.

It's only worth to play the story at this point for me, I will stop playing it until there is some good fix of spawn points at least. (I know the REAL A-life may take months to be complete at all, idk tho)

Sorry for my english, I'm not a native english speaker.

[LMPT]

Explore massively. I haven't left the Lesser Zone yet and I'm sitting on 160k credits, a decent rifle and a good armor. Rushing means that you go in less well prepared.

[Bad Distraction Carnifex]

Explore, you can get some really nice guns and equipment including unique variants. I'm still rocking one of mine I found pretty early on because it uses the el cheapo ammo that drops all the time and does more damage than/is more accurate than anything else I've found except sniper rifles.

[Grimno]

Originally posted by Bad Distraction Carnifex:

Explore, you can get some really nice guns and equipment including unique variants. I'm still rocking one of mine I found pretty early on because it uses the el cheapo ammo that drops all the time and does more damage than/is more accurate than anything else I've found except sniper rifles.

I fully explored the Lesser Zone and then poked around Cordon and went up to Garbage where I'm currently at with the Main Story.
But like... do I just go off in a random direction? Am I suppose to? Or do I risk accidentally triggering a main story bit and skipping a bunch?

[lockwoodx]

Why explore when the destination will be a random pop-in encounter instead of a crafted set piece?

[LMPT]

Originally posted by LockwoodX:

Why explore when the destination will be a random pop-in encounter instead of a crafted set piece?

You can get secondary missions in other zones at any point. For instance, Sidorovitch has quests even if you're not supposed to reach the Cordon until later in the main questline. Also, there's unique loot in every region that you can find.

[Cryptic]

I have pretty much done every side quest that I can find and I've done only a few of the main quests and otherwise I've just been exploring. I have pretty much one of every type of weapon fully upgraded, I have a good suit that's fully upgraded, I have about 100K, a ♥♥♥♥ ton of ammo and medical and food supplies stashed, and I have maybe explored 20% of the map. In 33 hours clocked on my save.

[BOT Cecil]

I decided to go exploring for a while after getting out of the lesser zone. I went east across Wild Island and I somehow ended up with a pretty nice sniper and a new shotgun just spawning in my inventory. I never picked them up. The game also decided I don't need weapon cycle anymore so now it just switches to the knife. Not to mention the dreaded spawn bubble spawning bandits right in front of me.

I want to love this game but it's becoming harder with every hour spent in it. I'll just focus on the main quest for now so I at least finish the plot.

[Dracon]

I say explore while casually going after the main story
No need to rush, exploring and enjoying the atmosphere of the game is a big part of it!

Also, PSA: If you didnt know, the stash you can keep your stuff seems to be infinite in storage space. Best way to get stuff in is to double click from your inventory then it just makes room expanding as it goes. Then you can move stuff around as you want.
So far it seems as Ive used it

[Mike]

Just explore and play how you want as the game is meant for multiple playthroughs with is different endings, slight changes in choices you make, varied side content...etc. I explored Cordon the first chance I got because it was so nostalgic and only a side quest has taken me there so far, now I'm in Zaton which also brings back memories from CoP.

I have about 44hrs in the game and still I have not even ventured into half of the maps, nor have I thoroughly explored most of the zones.