Weapons & armor degrade too quickly?

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

It feels like it I'm forking over 4-6k to repair my weapon(s) and armor every time I return to restock/drop off excess. I never finished any of the first 3 stalker games but even then it feels excessively costly to repair. Should I be rotating guns instead of repairing?

Side note: The English VO is absolutely awful. Though hearing a genuine Irish voice every so often has been oddly strange.

(I'm playing hard/veteran for my first playthrough because I'm a psychopath and thought it'd be like the other stalker games. less bullet spongey)

[Wally_c64]

Most of my cash is spent on repairing and the odd upgrade. So yeah, would be nice if the stuff didn't degrade so fast.

[Dr.Abscondus]

Perhaps don't play on Veteran in your first playthrough.

[ImHelping]

New Vegas flashbacks "upgrading the cheap option makes it cost more than the expensive option by default" always feels absurd, yeah.

Even if you try to slum it with the cheap options like say, the PSZ-7 body armor which is under 15k by default (which is less than the value of upgrading your early game AKM-74S).

Once you get to slag and are allowed to upgrade it? Even skipping the 3rd artifact pocket or enviro resists, the "cheaper than an ak47" body armor value bloats out to nearly 50k. (actually 'cheap' repairs with 7.0 weight? or paying a premium to make it effectively weightless? Pick your petty poison even with the budget option!)

Plus nobody wants to admit luck over skill being a big part of earnings. "oh boy, I have once again been attacked by people spawning with all broken guns except for their condition yellow pistol." vs "four yellow condition AR416 is worth more money than a dozen AK clones and a couple double barrels"

Honest stalker veterans admit it is nonsense even on normal. paying for a sunrise suit's repairs feels like trying to pay for exo-armor in older games, yeesh. Even ignoring petty ♥♥♥♥ like "realistically your equipped guns also take damage from anomalies and psychic illusions" "Wait what was that second part" "Realistically" "no the other part you mother ♥♥♥♥♥♥"

Being able to pay for it doesn't feel good. It just feels like you are having your time wasted by someone misplacing a number and being too proud to admit it. Like every time you mow down 6 blind dogs minimum. Even doing it in less than a single mag is just... okay why though? Did they double spawn sizes by accident?

[TriGGrPuLLa]

Originally posted by Dr.Abscondus:

Perhaps don't play on Veteran in your first playthrough.

This 👆

[Vivianite]

upgrade your gear with wear resistance AND war resistance from external sources, seriously it will save you a lot in the long run.

[AllanWake™]

Originally posted by Vivianite:

upgrade your gear with wear resistance AND war resistance from external sources, seriously it will save you a lot in the long run.

Might want to tell em that you cant have one and the other........ might want to skip on external sources, cause artifacts with elemental resistance protect gear vs elemental anomalies, while nothing stops shooting from eating guns %.

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Originally posted by Dr.Abscondus:

Perhaps don't play on Veteran in your first playthrough.

I thought it'd be like the original 3. Easier difficulty made enemies into bullet sponges and the hardest made them take realistic hits. Clearly I was wrong but I'm not starting over lol.

[Whargoul]

Sounds like you're not far into the game and just getting shot/taking damage all the time and maybe you should try hiding behind cover. 4-6k is not much money especially once you progress further in the game

[AllanWake™]

Originally posted by ImHelping:

New Vegas flashbacks "upgrading the cheap option makes it cost more than the expensive option by default" always feels absurd, yeah.

Even if you try to slum it with the cheap options like say, the PSZ-7 body armor which is under 15k by default (which is less than the value of upgrading your early game AKM-74S).

Once you get to slag and are allowed to upgrade it? Even skipping the 3rd artifact pocket or enviro resists, the "cheaper than an ak47" body armor value bloats out to nearly 50k. (actually 'cheap' repairs with 7.0 weight? or paying a premium to make it effectively weightless? Pick your petty poison even with the budget option!)

Plus nobody wants to admit luck over skill being a big part of earnings. "oh boy, I have once again been attacked by people spawning with all broken guns except for their condition yellow pistol." vs "four yellow condition AR416 is worth more money than a dozen AK clones and a couple double barrels"

Honest stalker veterans admit it is nonsense even on normal. paying for a sunrise suit's repairs feels like trying to pay for exo-armor in older games, yeesh. Even ignoring petty ♥♥♥♥ like "realistically your equipped guns also take damage from anomalies and psychic illusions" "Wait what was that second part" "Realistically" "no the other part you mother ♥♥♥♥♥♥"

Being able to pay for it doesn't feel good. It just feels like you are having your time wasted by someone misplacing a number and being too proud to admit it. Like every time you mow down 6 blind dogs minimum. Even doing it in less than a single mag is just... okay why though? Did they double spawn sizes by accident?

Im starting to wonder how many of you noticed that bandit marauder armor has unusually more durability upgrades then any other armor..... and its a common find, right next to bandit armored jacket.

Why not use marauder armor?

- Artifacts with elemental resistance protect ALL gear from elemental anomalies. (i stood in acid for 4min with artifact that has MAX chemical protection, 0 damage on anything but my health)

- Dont use external sources modification on weapons, not just because of what i just told you but you can unequip weapons when looking for arts.

- Use single fire, you spare ammo, weapon % and money for repairs.

There is no skill vs luck, you can sell red weapons as well, at a good price. No need to worry on red and yellow rng.

- 6 dogs ? 8 dogs? 1 mag? shells from a pump shoty will clear that up one shoot one kill.....

- Armor/weapon total worth = repair cost % (dont upgrade what is not needed, like elemental crap on armors, when you have artifacts...... you will pay extra on repairs because of those upgrades).

- Dont get hit by everything running towards you...

[Whargoul]

Originally posted by PuffTheMagicDragon:

Originally posted by Dr.Abscondus:

Perhaps don't play on Veteran in your first playthrough.

I thought it'd be like the original 3. Easier difficulty made enemies into bullet sponges and the hardest made them take realistic hits. Clearly I was wrong but I'm not starting over lol.

You can literally just change the difficulty in the options bro...

[Ricky Icky]

I don't mind the high cost of repairs, its where all my money goes. If i wasn't spending it on repairs....i don't know what else i'd need it for. So keeping my gear in shape is really what drives me to explore and search for artifacts.

[Kain]

Originally posted by ImHelping:

New Vegas flashbacks "upgrading the cheap option makes it cost more than the expensive option by default" always feels absurd, yeah.

Even if you try to slum it with the cheap options like say, the PSZ-7 body armor which is under 15k by default (which is less than the value of upgrading your early game AKM-74S).

Once you get to slag and are allowed to upgrade it? Even skipping the 3rd artifact pocket or enviro resists, the "cheaper than an ak47" body armor value bloats out to nearly 50k. (actually 'cheap' repairs with 7.0 weight? or paying a premium to make it effectively weightless? Pick your petty poison even with the budget option!)

Plus nobody wants to admit luck over skill being a big part of earnings. "oh boy, I have once again been attacked by people spawning with all broken guns except for their condition yellow pistol." vs "four yellow condition AR416 is worth more money than a dozen AK clones and a couple double barrels"

Honest stalker veterans admit it is nonsense even on normal. paying for a sunrise suit's repairs feels like trying to pay for exo-armor in older games, yeesh. Even ignoring petty ♥♥♥♥ like "realistically your equipped guns also take damage from anomalies and psychic illusions" "Wait what was that second part" "Realistically" "no the other part you mother ♥♥♥♥♥♥"

Being able to pay for it doesn't feel good. It just feels like you are having your time wasted by someone misplacing a number and being too proud to admit it. Like every time you mow down 6 blind dogs minimum. Even doing it in less than a single mag is just... okay why though? Did they double spawn sizes by accident?

No Jury Rigging Perk on this one unfortunately though.

[ImHelping]

Originally posted by AllanWake™:

Originally posted by ImHelping:

New Vegas flashbacks "upgrading the cheap option makes it cost more than the expensive option by default" always feels absurd, yeah.

Even if you try to slum it with the cheap options like say, the PSZ-7 body armor which is under 15k by default (which is less than the value of upgrading your early game AKM-74S).

Once you get to slag and are allowed to upgrade it? Even skipping the 3rd artifact pocket or enviro resists, the "cheaper than an ak47" body armor value bloats out to nearly 50k. (actually 'cheap' repairs with 7.0 weight? or paying a premium to make it effectively weightless? Pick your petty poison even with the budget option!)

Plus nobody wants to admit luck over skill being a big part of earnings. "oh boy, I have once again been attacked by people spawning with all broken guns except for their condition yellow pistol." vs "four yellow condition AR416 is worth more money than a dozen AK clones and a couple double barrels"

Honest stalker veterans admit it is nonsense even on normal. paying for a sunrise suit's repairs feels like trying to pay for exo-armor in older games, yeesh. Even ignoring petty ♥♥♥♥ like "realistically your equipped guns also take damage from anomalies and psychic illusions" "Wait what was that second part" "Realistically" "no the other part you mother ♥♥♥♥♥♥"

Being able to pay for it doesn't feel good. It just feels like you are having your time wasted by someone misplacing a number and being too proud to admit it. Like every time you mow down 6 blind dogs minimum. Even doing it in less than a single mag is just... okay why though? Did they double spawn sizes by accident?

Im starting to wonder how many of you noticed that bandit marauder armor has unusually more durability upgrades then any other armor..... and its a common find, right next to bandit armored jacket.

Why not use marauder armor?

Jesus, really? You poor bastard. Marauder has one thing going and you didn't even mention it. 1 lead pocket (after you have to pay to have 2 total pockets first).

Other than that? ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ no. You are either trolling people on purpose by listing generic sounding advice as a whole that doesn't quite work as well as you wish. Or honestly think THIS is a benefit?

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3382832558

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3382839732

Wowie zowie.

And that is the upgraded costs skipping out on extra element stuff.

By DEFAULT. PS7-7 is under 15k value, and Marauder is 24k. Making it cost more to repair out of the box.

By DEFAULT. The M suit only has 1 artifact slot. Meaning a big chunk of your Marauder repairs is paying extra to have more than one pocket (and you can't skip straight to the lead, so far as my mashing M1 on it tried),

Just to rub it in. By default M suit also has less armor. slightly under 2 bars, while PSZ-7 has slightly over 2. Both have the same rad protection defaults.

Even if you bought the 3rd artifact pocket for the PSZ-7, it would still be vastly cheaper to repair (and have a little fun endurance bonus camel pack on top).

So yes. The Marauder suit is indeed like the bandit jacket. Overpriced for what you get.
Also, while it says "1 artifact icon" the maurader up there does have two total (1 lead+1 normal). That is a QA team ♥♥♥♥ up on item stat pocket counts.

None of that is considering the fact many players will be handed a free PSZ-7 armor on their way to slag town, which was my reward for helping sparky boys instead of ward. (dunno if you get that with early love the police path or something else).

So on that note "At least you can buy it at the garbage, if you are desperate" IS a perk the Marauder suit has early on compared to the PSZ-7. No need to be lucky with corpse armor jackpots (which is why I have TWO now) or a get it as a quest reward.

Originally posted by AllanWake™:

- 6 dogs ? 8 dogs? 1 mag? shells from a pump shoty will clear that up one shoot one kill.....

But with "tips" like this, I wonder if you really are trying to trick people into losing value. "One mag of 9x19!?!?! Pfft, just use more than that worth of shotgun shells, idiot!"

Seriously 10 shotgun shells is more expensive than 30 9x19. one hundred 9x18 is worth the same value as 10 shotgun shells, if you are using a buket you managed to dust off early.

Save your shells for things bigger than dogs. like Boars and bloodsuckers. You don't find nearly as many free shells and they go from "wow I have 200+ spare" to "where did they go?" once you start needing them much more abruptly than your constant trickle feed of baby bullets.

[Vivianite]

Originally posted by AllanWake™:

Originally posted by Vivianite:

upgrade your gear with wear resistance AND war resistance from external sources, seriously it will save you a lot in the long run.

Might want to tell em that you cant have one and the other........ might want to skip on external sources, cause artifacts with elemental resistance protect gear vs elemental anomalies, while nothing stops shooting from eating guns %.

both upgrades apply when applicable, if they can read, that is.

[Set-115689]

Items you have slotted vs in your inventory get damaged by anomalies. So if you go into an anomaly field move stuff you don't want damaged to your inventory. Saves a lot on repairs.