Difficulty episode 3

[i_matson]

So I'm new to TLD and I'm on episode 3, playing as Astrid.
I honestly play most games on easy mode just because I want to enjoy the story.
So all through previous episodes, all wolves left me alone, they simply never attacked me. And that's the way I want it.
But since starting ep 3, the wolves are now attacking me like crazy.
I read on Reddit about someone going out to the menu and restarting the chapter to be sure it was on easy. I did. But it did not help, the wolves are still attacking.
And I see on my "Load Game" screen that I am, in fact, in easy mode.
So my question is: Is this the way ep 3 is?
Am I just not allowed to have the chill wolf-experience any more? I almost feel like I don't really wanna play any more...
Sorry about any bad writing, I'm Swedish.

[IFIYGD]

Yes, the Timberwolves are not the same as the regular black wolves- they are more aggressive, and attack in packs that can and will surround you. Many of the encounters are scripted, others you can avoid by taking the long way around and not traveling the "easy" roads. In Green Survivor it is easier to break their morale meter and there will be fewer Timberwolves (the really big grey wolves) in the pack than in the 2 other modes.
Keep in mind, even in Green Survivor, you are not playing at the same "passive wildlife" level as Pilgrim Mode in Survival Mode. Predators can and will attack, especially if provoked (or scripted to do so), though on Green it takes more to provoke them.
There is no truly "absolutely nothing will come after me and hurt me" mode in Wintermute Story Mode. You will have to learn how to break their morale or learn how to avoid them.
Survival mode in Pilgrim Mode may be what you are hoping for, but it has no narrative and no quests to follow. Green Survivor in Wintermute Story Mode is closer to Voyageur Mode in Survival Mode.

[i_matson]

Originally posted by IFIYGD:

Yes, the Timberwolves are not the same as the regular black wolves- they are more aggressive, and attack in packs that can and will surround you. Many of the encounters are scripted, others you can avoid by taking the long way around and not traveling the "easy" roads. In Green Survivor it is easier to break their morale meter and there will be fewer Timberwolves (the really big grey wolves) in the pack than in the 2 other modes.
Keep in mind, even in Green Survivor, you are not playing at the same "passive wildlife" level as Pilgrim Mode in Survival Mode. Predators can and will attack, especially if provoked (or scripted to do so), though on Green it takes more to provoke them.
There is no truly "absolutely nothing will come after me and hurt me" mode in Wintermute Story Mode. You will have to learn how to break their morale or learn how to avoid them.
Survival mode in Pilgrim Mode may be what you are hoping for, but it has no narrative and no quests to follow. Green Survivor in Wintermute Story Mode is closer to Voyageur Mode in Survival Mode.

OK, thank you so much for this information! I've come a long way so I'll probably try to continue, but I'm a little disappointed that the difficulty-level's "promise" has now changed....

[IFIYGD]

Originally posted by i_matson:

OK, thank you so much for this information! I've come a long way so I'll probably try to continue, but I'm a little disappointed that the difficulty-level's "promise" has now changed....

Not sure what "promise" you are talking about, There was never any "promise" of all passive wildlife that always runs away.
The description for Green Survivor is pretty clear:

Green Survivor:
For new players most interested in pensive exploration and storytelling.
Most survival elements are tuned to be very forgiving.
Wildlife may attack, but are less aggressive.

Each Episode ramps up the challenge and teaches you new mechanics- like breaking Timberwolf Morale. Green Survivor is, again, not the same as Pilgrim Mode in Survival Mode. The 3 difficulties in Wintermute Story Mode are tuned to give different levels of challenge, but again- none of them "promise" purely passive wildlife. Just less or more aggressive predators depending on which one of the 3 modes you choose.
I wish you luck in your game- but if you want no hostile wildlife, you won't get that in Wintermute. Timberwolves are not the same as the regular and smaller black wolves, they have a different AI and behavior pattern. And in Episode 3, they are your primary threat in Green Survivor, along with a few scripted blizzards, and the challenges of carrying heavy plane crash survivors back to the Community Center and keeping them alive as you do so. Wintermute is not permadeath- you can reload old save if you want a do-over, and using that feature you can practice how to break their morale and make them run away- finding the way that works best for you. If you have the bow and some arrows, use it to practice killing them (at least one). If you don;t have the bow and some arrows, you can use flares to deter them, throw stones at them, and always try to move with your back to a rock wall or buildings to not allow them to get in behind you. And when you have made them flee- don;t stick around wherever you were at- they will regroup and come back if you just hang out in the same spot where you had to deal with them.

[i_matson]

Originally posted by IFIYGD:

Originally posted by i_matson:

OK, thank you so much for this information! I've come a long way so I'll probably try to continue, but I'm a little disappointed that the difficulty-level's "promise" has now changed....

Not sure what "promise" you are talking about, There was never any "promise" of all passive wildlife that always runs away.
The description for Green Survivor is pretty clear:

Green Survivor:
For new players most interested in pensive exploration and storytelling.
Most survival elements are tuned to be very forgiving.
Wildlife may attack, but are less aggressive.

Each Episode ramps up the challenge and teaches you new mechanics- like breaking Timberwolf Morale. Green Survivor is, again, not the same as Pilgrim Mode in Survival Mode. The 3 difficulties in Wintermute Story Mode are tuned to give different levels of challenge, but again- none of them "promise" purely passive wildlife. Just less or more aggressive predators depending on which one of the 3 modes you choose.
I wish you luck in your game- but if you want no hostile wildlife, you won't get that in Wintermute. Timberwolves are not the same as the regular and smaller black wolves, they have a different AI and behavior pattern. And in Episode 3, they are your primary threat in Green Survivor, along with a few scripted blizzards, and the challenges of carrying heavy plane crash survivors back to the Community Center and keeping them alive as you do so. Wintermute is not permadeath- you can reload old save if you want a do-over, and using that feature you can practice how to break their morale and make them run away- finding the way that works best for you. If you have the bow and some arrows, use it to practice killing them (at least one). If you don;t have the bow and some arrows, you can use flares to deter them, throw stones at them, and always try to move with your back to a rock wall or buildings to not allow them to get in behind you. And when you have made them flee- don;t stick around wherever you were at- they will regroup and come back if you just hang out in the same spot where you had to deal with them.

Originally posted by Vzzdak:

Originally posted by i_matson:

OK, thank you so much for this information! I've come a long way so I'll probably try to continue, but I'm a little disappointed that the difficulty-level's "promise" has now changed....

Timberwolves are a challenge to your story progress. You need a campfire to fend them off, and then you need to demoralize them by either shooting them, or throwing things at them (stones or torches).

For those rescue missions, the timberwolves are nearby, but will only attack when they see you. You have the option of sneaking away in the opposite direction, and then circling around the map.

In previous forum posts, I have posted strategies for dealing with timberwolves.

Timberwolves can also be bugged, such that there is no progress bar. If this happens, then load an earlier save.

Thanks you guys!
I made it, I've saved the survivors. The Timberwolves weren't as difficult to handle as I first feared, and I got some practice now. I guess I was just scared. And I'm not used to having this heart-rate while playing X)
Now I just have to fill up that cabinet, but I fear I won't get to the secret supplies on time before the storm hits... Well, wish me luck!

[IFIYGD]

Hey, congrats! I knew you could do it- the trick is convincing yourself that you can!

For filling the cabinet- keep in mind that once you put something in there, you can't take it back out. The game will make sure that everything you need is available in the world, but it might make getting some of it a bit tricky. Make sure you have what you need for yourself, and don't start stocking the cabinet until you are sure you have most of what you need- put stuff on countertops, in drawers, the fridge or freezer, drop it on the floor, whatever. Also keep in mind you can do a side quest at the same time as you are doing a main story quest- the game will let you work both at the same time. And at least one of those quests (the Joplin's Bunker Raid side quest) can provide a good bit of what you need to stock that cabinet up.
The storm is scripted- it won't just happen randomly. The narrative is scripted to make you feel like you need to hurry, but you really can take as much time as you need- no need to stress yourself out thinking the storm will hit later that day. The weather will change, but the big storm- you'll know when it hits. It's a humdinger of a storm. Prepare and get yourself ready for it before you complete The Coming Storm main quest. And remember you can reload a previous save if you need a do-over to try things a different way.

You got this!