How do I do anything or get anywhere?

[Klampus]

I apologize; I know there have been a lot of topics like this, but I can't get anywhere.

I have been starting from the beginning EVERY SINGLE TIME, because there is nowhere to save, and also I'm paranoid because saving costs time (I.E. is bad) in this game, and I can't even clear out an area to use an unsafe save point because I can't win a single fight...I can't even find a second character to make a party. I also can't run away, because unlike the first game, I seem to just get stuck on random objects laying around and the baddies catch up to me even when I run.

Oh yeah, probably a good time to mention that I have beaten the first game, more than once in fact! Not that I did absolutely EVERYTHING there was to do in that game - far from it - but I feel like that should have at least helped prepare me a little bit for this game.

About the farthest i've gotten was to the mayor's house, but I left because all the doors were locked and I didn't find any keys anywhere. *shrug*

Also, it is super annoying how green herbs blend in with the ground in this game. It's like a **** magic eye puzzle and all I wanna do is cure the infection in my arm so I don't need to use that bonesaw I found in the basement...

So what should I actually be doing?

EDIT: For other new players reading this (admittedly helpful advice), some spoilers further in. You've been warned.

[NADIE]

There's alternative ways of saving without needing to past time, like with the skin bible of the god of fear and hunger or with books of enlightment.

Going full left of the woodsman house, the guy that screams "TERMINA IS UPON US", you can find 2 dogs, you can fight them hitting the torso twice for a kill, feed them rottem meat to distract them or avoid fight with them, going further left you can find a bunker. Once you interact with the bunker you can find your first and pretty good companion, Abella. With Abella you can kill pretty much everything in the that small town in 1 turn.

At the start your main objective its to get into the city, there 2 ways: The main gate which requires 2 keys or the sewers which requires the sewer keys or Abella to hack an electric panel.

A quick tip, if you want to get into the city via the main gate but you don't have boltcutters you need to save in a bed to past time until Day 1 dawn. Now you can visit the Mayor's house and you can find someone that will give you the keys.

Another tip, with Abella and her skill of "wrench toss" you can destroy A LOT of wooden doors, saving you from using small keys, the skill only unequips the wrench of Abella, it doesn't dissapear no worries.

[Double-D]

In the shortest here's what you're expected to do:
1) Get to the city. There are three ways for that - either get two keys for the gate (one in Bunker 7, another in Mayor's house) or get through the sewers (locked gate near the river). Henryk has the key to sewers and you can find him in Mayor's house if you didn't meet Abella before. Or if you are Abella yourself. Third option is to draw a Vinushka sigil on a circle in a ruined house on the right from the train. For drawing you'll need a chalk and knowledge of a specific sigil.
2) Get three items to get through church. One is in the Orphanage, another is in the church itself and the third one is in an apartment building in the city (so called White apartments).
3) Get to the tower.
After that you can either go after all the other passengers from the train, kill them all and get on top of the tower, or you can visit bunkers, turn on three telectroscopes (you'll know when you'll see them) and get into the White Bunker under the museum. That's it, the main scenario is not that long, really.

Saving can be done not only via sleeping. You can find a book of enlightment (rare) or you can draw sigil of Fear and Hunger and save on the idol that will appear. On normal it's one save per idol, on easy it's three saves per idol. All sigils you can learn by reading corresponding skin bible.

In general Termina is way less random than F&H 1. If you know what you're doing - you can get yourself out of almost any difficult situation, but that takes learning. Good luck!

[MadArtillery]

The train is actually a safe place to save on the bench near the circle which also can be used to save. Most basic villagers outside of pipe man can be two hit killed to the torso with a knife. If you rush straight to the mayor and go upstairs you can get sewer keys easily and get the free food man you can move up along with you as you progress. Sewers have a decent number of chests and get you into the city and all the enemies in the sewer are pretty easy to dodge. City has even more chests and you should have decent gear if you use your lucky coins on chests. If your really stuck you can pretty much get a full part straight away on day 2 at the train if you can get into the city for an event.

Edit: winning the dream fight at the start of the game is also a garenteed good early game weapon drop.

[Klampus]

Originally posted by MadArtillery:

The train is actually a safe place to save on the bench near the circle which also can be used to save. Most basic villagers outside of pipe man can be two hit killed to the torso with a knife. If you rush straight to the mayor and go upstairs you can get sewer keys easily and get the free food man you can move up along with you as you progress. Sewers have a decent number of chests and get you into the city and all the enemies in the sewer are pretty easy to dodge. City has even more chests and you should have decent gear if you use your lucky coins on chests. If your really stuck you can pretty much get a full part straight away on day 2 at the train if you can get into the city for an event.

Edit: winning the dream fight at the start of the game is also a garenteed good early game weapon drop.

You're supposed to win that fight? Not run away????

["That arachnophobic guy"]

Originally posted by Klampus:

Originally posted by MadArtillery:

The train is actually a safe place to save on the bench near the circle which also can be used to save. Most basic villagers outside of pipe man can be two hit killed to the torso with a knife. If you rush straight to the mayor and go upstairs you can get sewer keys easily and get the free food man you can move up along with you as you progress. Sewers have a decent number of chests and get you into the city and all the enemies in the sewer are pretty easy to dodge. City has even more chests and you should have decent gear if you use your lucky coins on chests. If your really stuck you can pretty much get a full part straight away on day 2 at the train if you can get into the city for an event.

Edit: winning the dream fight at the start of the game is also a garenteed good early game weapon drop.

You're supposed to win that fight? Not run away????

In the same way you're suposed to kill the Crow Mauler i guess.
It's neat but hard

[MadArtillery]

Originally posted by Klampus:

Originally posted by MadArtillery:

The train is actually a safe place to save on the bench near the circle which also can be used to save. Most basic villagers outside of pipe man can be two hit killed to the torso with a knife. If you rush straight to the mayor and go upstairs you can get sewer keys easily and get the free food man you can move up along with you as you progress. Sewers have a decent number of chests and get you into the city and all the enemies in the sewer are pretty easy to dodge. City has even more chests and you should have decent gear if you use your lucky coins on chests. If your really stuck you can pretty much get a full part straight away on day 2 at the train if you can get into the city for an event.

Edit: winning the dream fight at the start of the game is also a garenteed good early game weapon drop.

You're supposed to win that fight? Not run away????

Some characters simply can't win but the combat focused characters can mop the floor with him. Daan oneshots him and so does Ossa. Hell I took some extra time just to cut his ♥♥♥♥ off with Ossa because I could. Meditation is super busted in a 1v1.

[Double-D]

Originally posted by Klampus:

Originally posted by MadArtillery:

The train is actually a safe place to save on the bench near the circle which also can be used to save. Most basic villagers outside of pipe man can be two hit killed to the torso with a knife. If you rush straight to the mayor and go upstairs you can get sewer keys easily and get the free food man you can move up along with you as you progress. Sewers have a decent number of chests and get you into the city and all the enemies in the sewer are pretty easy to dodge. City has even more chests and you should have decent gear if you use your lucky coins on chests. If your really stuck you can pretty much get a full part straight away on day 2 at the train if you can get into the city for an event.

Edit: winning the dream fight at the start of the game is also a garenteed good early game weapon drop.

You're supposed to win that fight? Not run away????

Hard but doable. If you play as Abella and have wrench toss skill you can stunlock his working arm until you cut it off. Then it's a breeze.
Some other characters like Olivia or Karin are gonna have bad time.

[Klampus]

Thanks guys, but this seems hopeless. I am over 5 hours into the game with hardly any progress and no saves.

I recruited Abella with Daan, but then almost immediately met up with Needles and died.

I tried to defeat the priest in the mayors house with Levi ( to make a "safe" save point), but he still managed to tackle me to death after I shot off both his arms.

I avoided both Needles and the priest with Karin w/escape plan, but then I got caught in the sewers between an un-openable door, and a moonscorch ghoul. Can't defeat it, can't maneuver around it.

So i'm quitting. I really want to like this game, really...but it's impossible. I have no idea how the rest of you managed to get anywhere.

[MadArtillery]

Originally posted by Klampus:

Thanks guys, but this seems hopeless. I am over 5 hours into the game with hardly any progress and no saves.

I recruited Abella with Daan, but then almost immediately met up with Needles and died.

I tried to defeat the priest in the mayors house with Levi ( to make a "safe" save point), but he still managed to tackle me to death after I shot off both his arms.

I avoided both Needles and the priest with Karin w/escape plan, but then I got caught in the sewers between an un-openable door, and a moonscorch ghoul. Can't defeat it, can't maneuver around it.

So i'm quitting. I really want to like this game, really...but it's impossible. I have no idea how the rest of you managed to get anywhere.

Why not just save on the train? You are always given a garenteed save spot, just use it. Also you can just talk down the moonschorched ghoul. Especially with karin diplomacy is one of her skills that lets you do a talk for free without spending an action. Many enemies can be pacified for multiple turns, instantly killed, or fight brought to an end immediatly by talk especially with karen. Those ghouls in particular don't even need the persuade skill karen also has.

[Xafron Chi]

I had Marina, Abella and the goat in my party, and the goat hit Needles in the head and one shot him lol. It's totally possible. You can say you're not willing to try anymore, but you don't get to say it's impossible.

Looking into some of the fundamental aspects of the game like combat and saves would be a good start. Like why you may want to attack limbs before you go for the head or torso. Which scenarios you may want to attack legs.

There is also an "easy" start to the game, that there is a Steam guide for. You can pick Marina, and then recruit Abella almost right away. From there you can run back to the train and save the game if you want, to hold on to that bit of progress.

It's definitely not a game for everyone though, I get that. This is a game that will kill you a lot. It's punishing, frustrating, and uncomfortable. There are multiple things that are entirely luck based, with a literal coin flip. If you stick with it though, and learn things as you try again, you'll be rewarded.

There is also a wiki, and some guides and videos on Youtube for things. There's an official Discord where people seem to be chatting about the game 24/7 as well that you could ask questions in.

[Xafron Chi]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2957604466

[Klampus]

Originally posted by MadArtillery:

Also you can just talk down the moonschorched ghoul. Especially with karin diplomacy is one of her skills that lets you do a talk for free without spending an action. Many enemies can be pacified for multiple turns, instantly killed, or fight brought to an end immediatly by talk especially with karen.

Urghh are you serious? This is really good to know but I've had no luck talking to people so far. Also I read on these forums that her persuade skill was basically useless! Another reason why a well-written FAQ beats forum-digging any day! I'm tempted to actually make one, for the first game, that is...

[Klampus]

Originally posted by Xafron Chi 宁 静:

You can say you're not willing to try anymore, but you don't get to say it's impossible.

Of course I can, just as you get to be pedantic and assume I meant my response in the most literal way possible.

If you want to write condescending responses to anyone that has a difficult time that's your business, but at least read my original post first.

[MadArtillery]

Originally posted by Klampus:

Originally posted by MadArtillery:

Also you can just talk down the moonschorched ghoul. Especially with karin diplomacy is one of her skills that lets you do a talk for free without spending an action. Many enemies can be pacified for multiple turns, instantly killed, or fight brought to an end immediatly by talk especially with karen.

Urghh are you serious? This is really good to know but I've had no luck talking to people so far. Also I read on these forums that her persuade skill was basically useless! Another reason why a well-written FAQ beats forum-digging any day! I'm tempted to actually make one, for the first game, that is...

Sometimes the dialoge lines are a bit odd, in particular for the ghoul it's weird but stuff like the bobby you can use persuade which stops it's head shaking, giving free headshots and given how much damage bobbies can do as well as being super common being able to make them vulnerable to headshots for free before the fight proper starts is bonkers. Lotta stuff, including the other contestents have a lot of not so little things like this. Anyone who thinks karin's skills are bad is a true dumbass she is if anything busted as hell.

[Xafron Chi]

Originally posted by Klampus:

Originally posted by Xafron Chi 宁 静:

You can say you're not willing to try anymore, but you don't get to say it's impossible.

Of course I can, just as you get to be pedantic and assume I meant my response in the most literal way possible.

If you want to write condescending responses to anyone that has a difficult time that's your business, but at least read my original post first.

You're right lol.

Either way that guide I sent is probably a good place to start.