Permadeath Runs

[SoduhMan]

So, somewhat inspired by Pestily's latest series on Zero Sievert, I decided I wanted to try my hand at a permadeath playthrough myself. I'm new to the game, but figured it wouldn't be too different from just learning the game conventionally anyways.

I've had some decent early game success, generally getting a solid loadout on forest without too much issue (Lazar and company are a pretty easy engagement most of the time). But I finally had my first death where I was actually wondering, is permadeath even something that should be undertaken?

I'm about an hour and change into my run, I've been to makeshift camp a couple of times, but this was the first time I had encountered the junk man in his makeshift lab. I discover I can buy junk from him (very useful) so I load up on some weapon and armor scraps so I can get an early workshop this playthrough. As I'm standing on top of him, I notice another contextual option "open". Based on my experience with Igor, I figured it was another example of a helpful trader and some free loot. If you are experienced, you would know that this is an electrified gate or something, and I instantly died when clicking open (with a notification that I do not have the proper key).

So my question to more experienced members of the community is basically this: Are there other insta-death traps like this out there? Do I really need to play a full playthrough conventionally first in order to discover all these weird little traps for the player? I'm slightly worried about being 10 hours in on a good run and having a similar circumstance occur.

Additionally, are other people also trying and finding success with their permadeath runs? Are there any tips out there for folks that have had pretty sizable success? Any common pitfalls?

[Dark Thoughts]

I would not run permadeath for a first game, unless you really like hardcore type game modes. I'd maybe also wait for some more balance passes and bugfixes. If you just want the achievement you can cheese it by tweaking the other modifiers to the point where pretty much only anomalies could realistically kill you - but again, I'd do that not for the first playthrough or any serious permadeath game.

And as a fair warning, there'll be enemies that are at least near instant death if you walk into them. And some areas where you enter / exit buildings are spawn camped by enemies or even whole infestations, which are also a near guaranteed death - especially if you're not aware of them.

[Nyu]

i would not recommend doing permadeath in this game, even if you love permadeath in general.
beating this game on permadeath has nothing todo with skill.

this is a game i would never feel proud of beating on permadeath, cause all it takes is luck and its zero balanced around skill or fair mechanics.

[Azrael]

nah.. permadeath is too tough for a first playthrough as you have no idea what to expect.

[Rak]

When entering buildings, enter then exit IMMEDIATELY!! Just mash the F button, one of my run enders there's like 6 watchers camping the mall entrance. Died instantly lol.

[Alluneed]

A tip: Do not walk close to walls, sometimes there's an enemy inside them c:

[Kostriktor]

big !

[SoduhMan]

Ah, just had my 7 hour run gutted by a big in a swamp. I now understand pain. Thanks for the input ya'll, I'll uh... avoid permadeath for now, doesn't seem to be very fleshed out.

[Captain Butthurt]

As a big fan of roguelikes/dungeon crawlers with permadeath and heavily RNG-oriented character/equipment progression, the only way for me to enjoy Zero Sievert is playing it like one. A couple of "house rules" completely transforms the experience:

1) Your primary weapon class is decided by whatever weapon with 65+ durability you find. This keeps you from falling back onto the arguably the most "easy" class to play - a sniper with a scoped bolt-action rifle - the local variant of the notorious "Skyrim stealth archer" problem.

2) You can't pick the same perks you chose in your last playthrough - this keeps you from choosing the same stale Mule-Stalker-Whatever (arguably the most optimal for all classes) loadout and gets you to experience perks you might have otherwise skipped.

You get the idea. I wish we would get a "proper" roguelike mode, with more randomized content (for example, with randomized main quest rewards - because right now, for example, first 3 quests that Barman gives you kinda shoehorn you into becoming a sniper - while giving you multiple choices, arguably the most efficient reward path is getting 7,62x54 mmR rounds, then a mosin rifle and, finally, a scope. What are the alternatives to mosin rifle? Pitiful sawed-off shotgun and a Ppsh SMG. Not really an equal choice, is it?).

[Alcion]

2 things that helped me get more consistently farther through the game on permadeath:

1) Grenades and mines. Both instagib humanoids. Grenades are amazing as the AI is pretty bad at dodging them. Heck they even kill themselves with their own grenade sometimes. Mines are terrible as its super easy to blow yourself up, plus the UI to use them is awkward. Always carry a couple grenades and use them on anything that you know the location of but cant approach without getting shot. Never use mines, and be careful about the quest where you help the Green army with the ghouls at night; theres a bunch of mines there that you will die instantly to if you get close.

2) Just don't bother looting in Makeshift camp unless Arman is already dead. He just too easily sneaks up on you when you're looting and you will die before you can even react to gunfire sounds. Exception being, of course, when you're inside buildings since he never goes into them. Sort of applies to the Mall and Kibba as well, but by then you have better armor and Kibba can't kill you as fast as Arman, so you have a -tiny- bit of time to react even if he sneaks up on you.

[sonic16]

It's dumb, the game is not polished enough for a consistent permadeath run. Or at least on survivor difficulty. You may waste lots of time for nothing. It's not about the skill but a random bullsh*tery that may happen.
I suggest to backup your saves or simple use SAM.
The line of sight is a mess since the beginning. Enemies might fade away behind a tree or something. Some piece of decor might completely hide an enemy like the entrance arches in the mall. How is it possible to make such on oversight ? Or how about an airdrop right on top of you with all the enemies spawning instantly around you ? Want to get instantly melted by allies that become aggro for no reason ?
Also, a random game crash might wreak your save file. Good luck now.

[D.Kay]

Originally posted by Dark Thoughts:

I would not run permadeath for a first game, unless you really like hardcore type game modes. I'd maybe also wait for some more balance passes and bugfixes. If you just want the achievement you can cheese it by tweaking the other modifiers to the point where pretty much only anomalies could realistically kill you - but again, I'd do that not for the first playthrough or any serious permadeath game.

And as a fair warning, there'll be enemies that are at least near instant death if you walk into them. And some areas where you enter / exit buildings are spawn camped by enemies or even whole infestations, which are also a near guaranteed death - especially if you're not aware of them.

Originally posted by Nyu:

i would not recommend doing permadeath in this game, even if you love permadeath in general.
beating this game on permadeath has nothing todo with skill.

this is a game i would never feel proud of beating on permadeath, cause all it takes is luck and its zero balanced around skill or fair mechanics.

Those two post should hint you about how you shouldn't play permadeath on a first playthrough cuz ,even if you did it before, playin' the game without prior experience will only lead you you to death.

That being said you have two other post that can help you understand how to play permadeath :

Originally posted by Captain Butthurt:

As a big fan of roguelikes/dungeon crawlers with permadeath and heavily RNG-oriented character/equipment progression, the only way for me to enjoy Zero Sievert is playing it like one. A couple of "house rules" completely transforms the experience:

1) Your primary weapon class is decided by whatever weapon with 65+ durability you find. This keeps you from falling back onto the arguably the most "easy" class to play - a sniper with a scoped bolt-action rifle - the local variant of the notorious "Skyrim stealth archer" problem.

2) You can't pick the same perks you chose in your last playthrough - this keeps you from choosing the same stale Mule-Stalker-Whatever (arguably the most optimal for all classes) loadout and gets you to experience perks you might have otherwise skipped.

You get the idea. I wish we would get a "proper" roguelike mode, with more randomized content (for example, with randomized main quest rewards - because right now, for example, first 3 quests that Barman gives you kinda shoehorn you into becoming a sniper - while giving you multiple choices, arguably the most efficient reward path is getting 7,62x54 mmR rounds, then a mosin rifle and, finally, a scope. What are the alternatives to mosin rifle? Pitiful sawed-off shotgun and a Ppsh SMG. Not really an equal choice, is it?).

Originally posted by Alcion:

2 things that helped me get more consistently farther through the game on permadeath:

1) Grenades and mines. Both instagib humanoids. Grenades are amazing as the AI is pretty bad at dodging them. Heck they even kill themselves with their own grenade sometimes. Mines are terrible as its super easy to blow yourself up, plus the UI to use them is awkward. Always carry a couple grenades and use them on anything that you know the location of but cant approach without getting shot. Never use mines, and be careful about the quest where you help the Green army with the ghouls at night; theres a bunch of mines there that you will die instantly to if you get close.

2) Just don't bother looting in Makeshift camp unless Arman is already dead. He just too easily sneaks up on you when you're looting and you will die before you can even react to gunfire sounds. Exception being, of course, when you're inside buildings since he never goes into them. Sort of applies to the Mall and Kibba as well, but by then you have better armor and Kibba can't kill you as fast as Arman, so you have a -tiny- bit of time to react even if he sneaks up on you.

Last thing I have to say is: "Get out of here, stalker"
Also, you will reset alot of time. trust me since I've been playin' the 1.0 only in permadeath mod. it's frustrating but it is what it is.