Do you need to kill wolves/dogs in this game?

[Zolanibar]

Hi,
I believe have a bit not typical question:
Do you need to kill (or hurt) wolves and/or dogs (wild dogs etc.) in this game? Can you possibly avoid it?
Thanks,
Zolanibar

[happybjorn]

You can avoid them.

It is often safer, and more time efficient, to kill some of them.

[SBlack]

There even are times when you need to avoid them because you are don't have weapons. There are usually alternate routes. And there are ways to distract them or scare them off.

Only on the highest difficulty do you really need to kill wolves for their nice, warm skin

[IFIYGD]

In Pilgrim Mode, they are not aggressive, so no need to hurt or kill them. In the other 3 Survival experience modes, they are hostile toward you. So, you can, in theory avoid and evade them, but there will almost always be a time where one or more will surprise you, and attack. And you will need to defend yourself.
They are not *needed* for food (hunting), but their pelts and guts are useful for crafting. You can get guts and meat from other animals, but you will not be able to craft the Wolfskin coat. you can live without it, there are many other clothing items available as loot, or to be crafted.
In Wintermute Story Mode, you can avoid wolves, but again, you may get surprised by them, they are hostile in all experience modes in Wintermute, no "god mode".
Custom settings will let you set Survival Mode games to all passive wildlife, so you can have harsher weather, less loot, more challenges, but not have to deal with angry wolves (unless you provoke them, but it takes a really concerted effort to provoke them in Pilgrim or passive wildlife settings games...).

So, in theory, you *can* avoid conflict with them, but it will not be "easy", and there may be times where you have no choice if they attack you. Hurt the wolf or let it kill you...
Pilgrim or Custom settings will be your best choices if you want to play a more passive game, Custom settings to add weather and loot related challenges for yourself. Lots of players enjoy Pilgrim mode in this game, with hundreds or thousands of hours played. Hard to say if you will enjoy it, only you can decide that. Singleplayer game, no need to complete with anyone. The game is pretty good at letting everyone enjoy it their own way.

[Zolanibar]

Thank you! Those answers are great! I really appreciate the details regarding the game style and mode.

[IFIYGD]

Most welcome. I hope you find your own way to enjoy the game. Custom settings can take some time to find the combo that suits you best, but the community here can help, if you ask for help. Great community here, one of the best on Steam, IMHO.

[PowerOn]

In Interloper is almost "obligatory" kill an dozen of then, for make jackets that will protect you from cold and... wolves. This mod don't have fire arms.

But other by than this motive you can just avoid "dance with wolves".
I have games (Stalker, Interloper) with more than 100 days without wolf fights.

[lkandrb]

Unless I am virtually out of ammo, down to my last two arrows, I kill every one I see to keep them from killing me. It's much harder to strangle rabbits LOL, I snare them instead unless I find a pair of gauntlets or a balaclava and don't need that nice warm fur...

[jswilliams]

Stones won't kill them but will only scare them a short fright flight distance. Try crouching right after your throw(s).

[Zolanibar]

Thanks people!

Yeah, Tekel1959, wolves are my only concern, so I think I will try with that custom configuration You are talking about. This is amazing we can actually do that!

[IFIYGD]

Originally posted by Zolanibar:

Thanks people!

Yeah, Tekel1959, wolves are my only concern, so I think I will try with that custom configuration You are talking about. This is amazing we can actually do that!

Keep in mind that Custom Settings games do not get any Feat Badge progress, so you will not earn any of them while using Custom Settings. Vanilla Pilgrim will give you passive wildlife, no wolf interactions needed, and allow you to earn Feat badges, while you learn the maps and *most* of the game mechanics. Not saying you should not try the Custom Settings, rather- have a vanilla Pilgrim run going as well, to get the Feat Badges earned, to apply to future saves. You can have multiple saves going at the same time, and choose which one you play on any given day, using the "Load game" option in the Survival Mode menu.

[{O|G} Erik the Red]

Originally posted by IFIYGD:

In the other 3 Survival experience modes, they are hostile toward you.

I don't think it was stressed enough, that the wolves in this game just how hostile they are; that's an understatement.

Its more that they are face ripping (and hats), insatiable killing machines, scent seeking missiles of death designed solely to end you in this already apocalyptic world.

Nobody ever goes "oh look at the majestic wolf, protect the wildlife" in this game. If they do, they and those attitudes don't last very long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM8PtsQl-bU

[jswilliams]

Originally posted by {O|G} Erik the Red:

Originally posted by IFIYGD:

In the other 3 Survival experience modes, they are hostile toward you.

I don't think it was stressed enough, that the wolves in this game just how hostile they are; that's an understatement.

Its more that they are face ripping (and hats), insatiable killing machines, scent seeking missiles of death designed solely to end you in this already apocalyptic world.

Nobody ever goes "oh look at the majestic wolf, protect the wildlife" in this game. If they do, they and those attitudes don't last very long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM8PtsQl-bU

Another favorite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrSWSx35Zok

[IFIYGD]

Lol!

While I enjoyed the videos, the OP seems to be looking for advice about not wanting or needing to hurt or kill the doggos. and if the game can be played that way. Let's not scare them away by making them think we are all a bunch of bloodthirsty-wolf-killer-heathens.

Even if we are...

[{O|G} Erik the Red]

It's an eat or be eaten world apocalypse though... opinions tend to change when your face is being ripped off for like, the third time... Hard to have some sympathy for them when you can expect none in return.

That said, I don't encourage the same level of ruthlessness in wanton extermination as the wolves and some other players have, but I do see the practical benefits of a wolf free lifestyle, if only for a few days... And certainly not going to cry over a nice juicy wolf steak if you been hungry for days...

[IFIYGD]

Lol! You know I play Stalker. And Stalker without wolves would be "Dances With Bunny Rabbits". My point here was:

Originally posted by IFIYGD:

Lol!

While I enjoyed the videos, the OP seems to be looking for advice about not wanting or needing to hurt or kill the doggos. and if the game can be played that way. Let's not scare them away by making them think we are all a bunch of bloodthirsty-wolf-killer-heathens.

Even if we are...

The game is flexible. They aren't the only player who has expressed a desire to not have to hunt, hurt or kill wolves, for a variety of reasons. The game can be played and enjoyed many ways. Even on Stalker or Interloper, with no custom settings, once you learn how to evade and avoid, distract wolves, and not draw their attention to yourself, you can avoid wolf conflicts. That's what they asked for help with.

I would just hate to see someone discouraged from playing or joining in the Community, because they see people saying "The only good wolf is a dead wolf, and that's how the game has to be played."

Just wishing to see more tips and advice on how to play the game without needing to kill or harm wolves, if that's what they want to do. Some good ones already posted...

Originally posted by Tekel1959:

OR you can simply use custom config and turn wolf spawn completely off if that is your only concern.

Originally posted by jswilliams:

Stones won't kill them but will only scare them a short fright flight distance. Try crouching right after your throw(s).

We joke here, and that is good. I just don't want the OP to come away thinking that "Wolf-Killer-Simulator" is the only way to play and enjoy the game.

Fire will stop a wolf, as long as the campfire is between you and them, and in their direct line of sight. Torches and flares are iffy. Fire won't stop a bear, they Honey Badger right through a fire to rip you to shreds.

Drawing a weapon on a wolf in any mode other than Pilgrim (vanilla modes) will instantly aggro them, and *almost always* cause them to charge and attack.
Crouching will make your detection radius smaller, but if you have smelly guts, hides, meat or fish on you, and they are close enough, or happen to wander in closer, they will detect you. Crouching is not a guaranteed wolf-avoidance technique, but it does help.

Originally posted by PowerOn:

But other by than this motive you can just avoid "dance with wolves".
I have games (Stalker, Interloper) with more than 100 days without wolf fights.

Hoping folks will try to tell them how to do this, so they can enjoy a "dog-friendly" game. It can be done, even though *most* of us don't play the game that way.