Mine\gasmask

[Bael]

So after wandering arount ~50 days (Stalker) I accidently found the new location - contamination zone (with a giant mine in the middle).
I tryed to get into the mine from different entry points just to find that you start choking and need to have working gasmask.

What gets me frustrated: The filter only works like 15-30 seconds, after that you choke (and I assume die).
So I have no idea whats lies behind the gas and where\when it ends. I can't explore tunnels normaly (cause I don't know if I'll have time to return back safely without dying). And I can't reload if I die (let's not discuss cheezing saves).

Questions: Is it really that bad ? Do I have to YOLO my 100 ingame hours in hope there's a bubble of fresh air on the other side ? Or can I somehow flush the gas from the mines ? (I haven't searched the location for 100% yet).

Helpful tips (preferably without spoilers) much appreciated! Cause I'm slowly losing it.

p.s. Those contaminated wolfs are crazy I tell you! Sometimes I'm holding the torch and they charge at me just to run away in the very last moment. And sometimes they try to bite my arm off with a torch still holding it.

[stage]

As far as remember, you only need the mask mandatory on 2 of the places - on the 1st floor and on the 3rd floor, and one more optional area on the 3rd floor but only for some extra loot.

In some areas you can run through, on 2 areas there is some gas pockets but I would not rely on those, if you are unfamiliar.

There are at least 10+ gas filters scattered around (at least on Interloper, on Stalker prolly more) and I only ever used 4 or 5.

Regarding the wolves, that is intended, they are much aggressive and dangerous, and there is a chance they will attack no matter if you hold the torch (like 20%), so fire is unreliable in a minor amount of encounters.

Back to the mask, is mainly there for when doing the Buried Echoes tale. so in-case you want spoilers, I can share some guides for the mine that will guide you through the gas.

[Bael]

Thanks for the info guys. Really helpful!

Nah, I don't want any major spoilers but now I got a few more questions in regard.

1. Choking hazard (without the gasmask but with a cooldown) - am I instantly dead after it reaches zero ?
2. Same question about toxic poisoning - am I going to die when the bar reaches 100% or Im just getting some illness that I can cure with time ?
2.1 Also about the outdoors chemical spills - Can I just run through them ? Cause it looks the bar fills kinda slow when Im standing on the edge of it but I dont wanna test it with my dead body sinking in a pool of green goo.
3. Reading your tips I assume I better loot all the surroundings first (to get those 10+ filters) and only then get inside the airless mineshafts ?
4. Now about the Buried Echoes - Is it all located on this map ? Or I have to go to the airfield (or somewhere else) for some key items ? i.e. Can I do it all by myself just stumbling upon things ?
So far in one of the mine shafts I found some kind of safe box locked with a key and (I dont remember exactly where it was) some trailer\wagon thing also locked with supervisor's key.
5. Can you describe Buried Echoes in general ? Is it like I have to collect some notes of dead people scattered around the place with extra loot in the end ? Or unique loot ? Or hidden achievement ? Or alltogether ?

[stage]

1. Yes
2. You lose well fed instantly and have your health reduced.
2.1 Generally you can run through, but have in mind they will chew your clothes really fast. As far as I seen it only damages the boots and socks atm but maybe it will be changed. One way to avoid that is to wear Miner's boots. They protect from the chemical spills, and bonus offer protection from water on the ground as well.
3. Yes, loot the outbuildings and the 5 level of the Concentrator before going to the mines. Have in mind you get more filters inside the mine as well.
4. Buried Echoes is all in this region, but you need to have finished the Signal Void tale to be able to start it. There are some locked box/door not related to the tale. They keys for those are somewhere in the mine.
5. You need to finish Signal Void first. The quest is about finding some hidden info and key through the transmitter, and then investigating where this notes and key will lead, revealing huge chunk of information about what is happening in Great Bear and all the hidden bunkers and machinery. There is a very unique loot at the end as a reward (for both Signal Tale and Buried Echoes). You also get a in-game badges for completing them as a challenge.
For signal Void the reward is Technical Balaclava for Interloper, and for Stalker i think it is Rifle hostler that reduce the weight of your rifle (by half?), And the reward for Buried echoes is a tool belt, that reduces the weight of your 3 highest weighted tools you carry - it gives you like ~2kg carry reduction or so. (more if you decide to transport the hammer to a new location for example etc),

[Bael]

Thanks again! Got a lot of useful info now!
I think after all you've said I better do the Signal Void first. Man I hate leaving locations half-done.
Regarding Signal Void: Do I have to go to the Airfield then ? Is that the same Airfield map that connected with Zone of Contamination through the cave system ?
Also Bunkers you've mentioned - are those the same that I found in Forlorn Muskeg ? (big iron hatch leading to a small underground room).

[stage]

Yes. Signal Void starts, when you pick up the receiver at the Airfield tower, and fixing the first Transmitter there. It is quite a long quest and will prolly take you some in-game weeks to do.

Yes all bunkers are like that, but this are special ones, that you cannot find without the tale active, and receiver. They also have a different layout and the narrative notes for the backstroy.

[Bael]

Ok gotcha! Thank you very much again for all the info provided!
Happy New year!

[PowerOn]

Originally posted by stage:

2.1 Generally you can run through, but have in mind they will chew your clothes really fast. As far as I seen it only damages the boots and socks atm but maybe it will be changed. One way to avoid that is to wear Miner's boots.

Miners boot is too heavy, for cross the toxic areas (outside) I take off my running shoes and socks (Interloper) and run.

Originally posted by Bael:

Also Bunkers you've mentioned - are those the same that I found in Forlorn Muskeg ? (big iron hatch leading to a small underground room).

The Tales bunkers hatch are buried in snow mount and can be open only during Aurora, need use the Radio detector for find.

[Bael]

Originally posted by PowerOn:

Originally posted by stage:

2.1 Generally you can run through, but have in mind they will chew your clothes really fast. As far as I seen it only damages the boots and socks atm but maybe it will be changed. One way to avoid that is to wear Miner's boots.

Miners boot is too heavy, for cross the toxic areas (outside) I take off my running shoes and socks (Interloper) and run.

Originally posted by Bael:

Also Bunkers you've mentioned - are those the same that I found in Forlorn Muskeg ? (big iron hatch leading to a small underground room).

The Tales bunkers hatch are buried in snow mount and can be open only during Aurora, need use the Radio detector for find.

ty for reminding me about to take off shoes\socks. As soon as I realised Im not dying straight away in a toxic waste I started running through them like madman (not looking at my boots at all).

[Nanc]

Video linked below definitely has spoilers, but also a lot of helpful tips.
Watch at your own risk - good for first traveling in Zone of C.
spoilers in video
SA Harian's Zone of C video

[alastairkendall]

Would someone please tell me if you can craft used canisters? At some point I will run out!

[stage]

No you can't. Stop using them so much.