The Negan Challenge

[Crazy Demon]

I’ve been thinking of ways to make the game harder for awhile now. Here is the toughest scenario I could come up with.
Rules
-Custom scenario: 80 Days, Early Severe Winter, High Intensity Conflict
-Select all locations. For the locations you have a choice, pick the ones that would give you a negative moral penalty if you killed them. If there are multiple of those, pick the one that has the most armed civilians (so you would pick the Central Square over Sniper Junction).
-Kill everyone you meet. If you don’t want to kill them, don’t go to the location. Since most of the locations you picked have civilians in them, you’ll have to deal with depression.
-No stealth killing allowed. You attack from the front like a man. If you can’t kill the people there without stealth (like the military base), don’t go to that location until you can.
-Build nothing. You’re a soldier, not a farmer.
-Bring 1 character only. Do not accept any new characters. Good luck stopping people from raiding your house!


I’ve thought of this scenario before but didn’t want to try actually playing through all 80 days. With the “Escape” ending available with the new Anniversary update, I thought I’d give it a shot. After all, all I need to do is collect 8 jewelry and survive long enough for the smuggler to show up. Here’s how it went down.


Day 1
I pick Roman. He’s the best fighter and I can’t stealth kill. Plus, having 10 slots isn’t a big deal if you aren’t going to build anything. Unfortunately, he starts out “Sick”. Sadly, I only get 1 lockpick in my start so I can’t open all of my locked cabinets. The 1 cabinet I open has bandages instead of medicine. Welp, not a good start. Still, I can trade the bandages to Matey at the garage for a crowbar later, so it’s not the worst possible beginning.


My strategy, of course, is to get 8 jewelry to smuggle myself out. I know there are 4 pieces of jewelry in the Looted Gas Station and 2 in the Ruined Villa - both need a hacksaw to access it. I believe Matey is the only one who trades hacksaws, so I have to go to the garage (which unfortunately means I have to kill him). Afterwards, there’s 1 piece of jewelry in the Decrepit Squat and 1 in my house in one of the locked cabinets. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.


Night 1
The garage is not available on the first night so I go to the Abandoned Cottage. Even though I can’t open the locked bedroom on the second floor, there is fortunately some herbal medicine on the first floor. Shame, its not real meds, but hey, I take what I can get. I grab the food and some cigarettes too- I bet I’m going to need to those when I get depressed.


Day 2
Well, I’ve got some herbal meds so time to put them to good use. Roman is tired too, so I’m going to have him sleep...it...off.


Oh ♥♥♥♥.


Roman can’t sleep because he doesn’t have a bed. Which means if I can only have him sleep during the night, instead of the day. Which means he has a lowered chance from healing. Wow, this is going to be a LOT harder than I thought it would be.


Night 2
Well, nothing else to do but keep moving forward. I send Roman to the garage, stock full of herbal meds and food. I can trade them for tools from Matey...and I leave them in the house, someone will probably take them. After some haggling, I manage to trade for a hatchet, crowbar, & 2 hacksaws. The hatchet was no baseball bat...but it would do.


I had Roman pull out the hatchet Matey just gave him. Matey pulled out his pistol. Two strokes later, Matey was slouched over. “Please…” he started to say before Roman’s hatchet came down a third time on his head. The door burst open as Matey’s father came running out. He didn’t have time to say anything before Roman’s hatchet hit him in the chest. He collapsed instantly.


Matey’s garage was stock with a ton of stuff. I even got the meds I traded with him back! I ended up leaving behind a lot of his food and herbal meds. I have to be efficient with my slots since I have to carry everything I need around. He had 1 set of real meds which I of course take- if Roman can’t sleep during the day, I’m going to have him on drugs 24/7.


Day 3
To my surprise, nothing was stolen. Roman is “Sad” and “Very Tired”. He’s still “Sick” as well; the Herbal meds didn’t cut it, but luckily Matey donated me some real meds. Franko the trader showed up so I could trade all these useless building materials for 3 cans of food and another jar of real meds. I use the crowbar to open the remaining cabinets, and find another jar of real meds and *gasp* jewelry!!! I’m 1/8 closer towards escape!!!


Now if only I could take a second dosage of meds. Surely doubling the pills would double its effectiveness? Roman disagrees, saying he got his proper dosage for the day. Pity.


Night 3
Now that I have a crowbar and hacksaws, it’s time to hit up the Looted Gas Station! I go there and grab the 4 jewels in the basement. 5/8 of the way there! There’s more canned food and raw meat but I take the moonshine. If I recall correctly, alcohol can be used to fight against character depression, so I’ll probably need it.


Day 4
Roman is exhausted now. To be honest, I’ve never had a character go past “Very Tired”, so it was a surprise to me that Roman couldn’t run anymore The game warns me I’m pushing him too hard. He’s still sick too, despite being on meds 24/7. Luckily, I still haven’t gotten anything stolen yet


Bruno knocks on my door, asking to stay with me. I don’t let him in. I also find out exhausted people can’t scavenge, so I guess Roman is staying in tonight.


Day 5 Winter Starts
Of course when I have Roman stay home someone tries to steal from me. Roman was slightly wounded and I lost 3 cans of food and 1 raw meat. Luckily, Franko shows up and with Winter ongoing, I discover that wood is worth A TON. Like 6 pieces of wood gives you bandages when 20 pieces wouldn’t cut it normally. I get bandages and 4 cans of food.


Roman is still sad and sick. I put bandages and give him my last real meds. Then I realize I forgot to drink the bottle I got from the Gas Station, so I have him take it to ease the pain. He seems happy. I’ll have to make sure to find more medicine tonight.


Night 5
Crap...I didn’t know if you’re drunk you can’t go scavenging. I guess Roman is staying home tonight. I hope I don’t need more medicine tomorrow.


Day 6
Roman is severely ill. Turns out if you get to this point, you can’t use herbal medicine anymore, you need real meds....which I ran out yesterday. No one comes to the house either. Weren’t there supposed to be people who give you free stuff when you’re doing bad? I need it now.


Night 6
You can’t go scavenging if you’re severely ill either...I’m learning all sorts of new things this playthrough. Unfortunate. At this point, I’m worried Roman will die the next day. It’s currently -4 C in the house. I’ve never had a character in this bad shape, not even on my first playthrough.


Day 7
Someone broke in and stole my herbs and water. OKAY, I didn’t need that stuff anyone. Roman is still severely ill and sad, but he hasn’t gotten worse, so I’ll take that as a win. But luckily, someone came to the house asking me to hold onto medicine for Anna! Yes! Real meds! Roman immediately takes it. Sorry Anna. Hopefully after I sleep the night off, Roman will get better and be able to scavenge for more.


Day 8
Did I accidently hit guard? For some reason, Roman didn’t sleep at all. He is now depressed, terminally ill, and exhausted. At this point, I think I might actually lose. Franko shows up and I trade sugar and Anna’s useless herbal medicine for real medicine and 1 can of food. Roman may be on the edge of death but at least he’ll die having been well fed every day. I heard those cans have a lot of nutritional value!


Day 9
Someone broke in again. They stole 2 cans of food and 2 ammo. The pistol I got from Matey is kinda useless...but I guess I should have known that since it didn’t keep him safe from Roman. Thankfully I still 1 bottle of real meds left, but at this point I’m starting to think that no amount of medicine will work without bedrest. Maybe the medicine keeps it from getting worse? I still have Roman take it, just in case.


Katia comes knocking at the door. I have Roman tell her no. Immediately afterwards, Roman collapses to the ground. “Maybe you can think this through?” Katia asks.


…


“You’re leaving me to die out here!” Katia says as she walks away. Roman doesn’t respond as he lays in his open doorway. I end the day there.




Day 10
Roman is lying in front of the doorway, exactly where I left him. I guess if you don’t have a bed, your character doesn’t move over night. Amazingly no one has robbed me...but I don’t have anymore medicine. And Roman is still terminally ill. And depressed.


Thankfully Franko arrives at 10:00 sharp. I force Roman to get up and open the door...only to realize I don’t have anything left to trade with. Oh crap.


Then I realize I still have my hatchet! Wood is at a premium right now and I haven’t chopped up any of the furniture (no point since i can’t burn). I order Roman to go cut up the cabinet on the floor beneath him.


What followed was an agonizing crawl. Roman can barely walk and every 3 seconds, he stops and complains. Chopping the furniture is even worse. “What’s the point?” He ask, 1/8th of the way through. I answer by spam the mouse button on the axe symbol until he finishes the job. A few long minutes later, Roman is back at the front door, ready to trade his firewood with Franko.


Franko doesn’t have any real medicine to trade today. He doesn’t even have herbal meds.


It’s at this point I finally admit that I’m going to lose this game. Without medicine, Roman will surely die tomorrow. He seems to agree; after closing the trade window, Roman falls to one knee in front of Franko. “Please...call the doctor.”


Franko doesn’t answer. I have Roman trade the firewood for 4 cans food that I know will stolen tonight. If Roman is to die, at least he will die fat.


Day 11
To my astonishment, Roman is still alive! Even better, he’s no longer depressed- just sad!!! He’s still terminally ill, but hey, if he can magically become happier, maybe he’ll be able to recover! Or at least last long enough for winter to end.


Day 12
Roman dies. I did not survive the war.


This was the first This War of Mine game I’ve ever lost. And it was absolutely amazing. The bleak hopelessness, the confusion about what to do...it was like reliving my first playthrough of This War of Mine again. I’ve played this game at least 10 times but there were still mechanics in this game that I didn’t know about until now. I don’t know if it’s possible to beat this challenge but I know I made a TON of mistakes (like not timing my scavenging with Roman’s exhaustion or drinking). Definitely going to try it again.

[theworld]

-Custom scenario: 80 Days, Early Severe Winter, High Intensity Conflict

I've played exactly this, and let me tell you: Early Severe Winter is actually MUCH, MUCH EASIER.

Why? Yeah, fuel will constantly be going out fast and you need even more of it to make water, BUT:

1)Virtually no crime.
2)No "looting" and no "supply shortages". I could be wrong on this one, but in playthroughs before, when like 80% Components disappeared from the maps - that was the toughest thing, the worst thing that could happen to you before you have created and upgraded appliances in your house and the next thing you know winter happens and price of components goes through the roof.

[6 Helpless Kittens]

I say make allow people to make a bed and a basic heater, and it might be an interesting idea. Minus those two things, it's kind of welcome to you're-♥♥♥♥♥♥ ville after winter hits.

[Crazy Demon]

Originally posted by TheWorld:

-Custom scenario: 80 Days, Early Severe Winter, High Intensity Conflict

I've played exactly this, and let me tell you: Early Severe Winter is actually MUCH, MUCH EASIER.

Why? Yeah, fuel will constantly be going out fast and you need even more of it to make water, BUT:

1)Virtually no crime.

I would agree but in this challenge you can't build anything. So fuel won't be going out fast because you don't have a furnace to burn it in. Crime is not non existent either (I was raided multiple times) and with only 1 person who can't sleep during the day.

Originally posted by 6 Helpless Kittens:

I say make allow people to make a bed and a basic heater, and it might be an interesting idea. Minus those two things, it's kind of welcome to you're-♥♥♥♥♥♥ ville after winter hits.

I've tried that scenario already. It's not hard. Sleep during the day and never stay in your house. Carry all your food and fuel with you.

[6 Helpless Kittens]

Originally posted by Crazy Demon:

Originally posted by TheWorld:

-Custom scenario: 80 Days, Early Severe Winter, High Intensity Conflict

I've played exactly this, and let me tell you: Early Severe Winter is actually MUCH, MUCH EASIER.

Why? Yeah, fuel will constantly be going out fast and you need even more of it to make water, BUT:

1)Virtually no crime.

I would agree but in this challenge you can't build anything. So fuel won't be going out fast because you don't have a furnace to burn it in. Crime is not non existent either (I was raided multiple times) and with only 1 person who can't sleep during the day.

Originally posted by 6 Helpless Kittens:

I say make allow people to make a bed and a basic heater, and it might be an interesting idea. Minus those two things, it's kind of welcome to you're-♥♥♥♥♥♥ ville after winter hits.

I've tried that scenario already. It's not hard. Sleep during the day and never stay in your house. Carry all your food and fuel with you.

How are you supposed to sleep at all? Sleep w/o a bed, permanetly being slept poorly, and trust RNG that you won't get looted?

[theworld]

Originally posted by 6 Helpless Kittens:

trust RNG that you won't get looted?

You only take enough to build when you come back, i.e. you keep yourself empty at night so there's nothing to loot.

[Crazy Demon]

Originally posted by 6 Helpless Kittens:

Originally posted by Crazy Demon:

I would agree but in this challenge you can't build anything. So fuel won't be going out fast because you don't have a furnace to burn it in. Crime is not non existent either (I was raided multiple times) and with only 1 person who can't sleep during the day.





I've tried that scenario already. It's not hard. Sleep during the day and never stay in your house. Carry all your food and fuel with you.

How are you supposed to sleep at all? Sleep w/o a bed, permanetly being slept poorly, and trust RNG that you won't get looted?

Correct. To make it harder the game forces you to sleep after 3 days by giving you the exhausted status. My strategy is the night before I decide to go to sleep I'll store my extra meds and food at one of the locations. For example, I'm not going to leave 4 diamonds in my house but I know I'm going to need them later. So when I go to the looted gas station I'll put my diamonds, tools, meds, etc in one of the piles. I'll bring only 1 or 2 days worth of supplies back home then sleep poorly that night. That way if they break into my house there won't be much to steal.

Bringing 1-2 days with of supplies also frees up slots to bring commodities like cigarettes or books back. Looters seem to grab those first over meds and food for some reason.

So you are reliant on rng but you can take steps to minimize the damage

[6 Helpless Kittens]

Originally posted by TheWorld:

Originally posted by 6 Helpless Kittens:

trust RNG that you won't get looted?

You only take enough to build when you come back, i.e. you keep yourself empty at night so there's nothing to loot.

If you want to sleep, then you have to sleep of the floor, and in poor condition you might get killed if you get looted.