Yes, you can start fires without tinder at fire starting level 3...

[Micahmunch]

But shouldn't there also be a chance penalty for trying to start a fire without any tinder? Because tinder plugs and cat tail heads would be useless when you reach this level.

[IvantheFormidable]

Still useful for marking locations and trails, but I agree. Personally, I think tinder should be required at all levels, but another solution would be to have tinder become optional at level 3, but confer a bonus to the overall percentage chance of firestarting.

[iwasa]

For simplicity, I suspect that it was either tinder is required or it is not. I have taken to using tinder in my fire-making, even though I don't have to, because I tend to have a lot of newspapers, etc., and it is not that weighty. I have used cattails to mark crossing points in Forlorn Muskeg - one at each end and one in the middle - so I know that path is okay.

I would have preferred that tinder be required, since it is not hard to come by, and some other benefit have been instituted. The ability to either 1) build a windbreak that provides some protection against the wind against maybe a 180 or 270 arc or 2) be able to build a fire (albeit this was before New Cooking and the new Campfire) on a steeper slope than currently allowed.

[IFIYGD]

Personally, I would prefer that we be able to burn tinder as fuel. 1-2 minutes burn time for each. but it would allow us to use excess tinder for things other than trail marking, and fine-tune timing for cooking and water making without using (wasting) more precious wood and fuel sources.
We DO have way too many tinder sources in the game, IMHO.

[Goweigus]

I'm new to the game, can someone explain more thoroughly how dropping items to mark paths is useful?

I've only played episode 1 so i didn't realize that tinder wouldn't always be required, it was a problem for me a few times haha

imo: tinder should always be required, instead of no longer needing it you should just get a bonus to success when lighting a fire as a perk

imo2: Ive only played episode 1 and its a bit insane how much tinder there is without having to make any (is there any reason to use plus with all the paper everywhere?)

edit: Whoops i forgot about how maps arent just given to you outside story mode

[IvantheFormidable]

Originally posted by Goweigus:

I'm new to the game, can someone explain more thoroughly how dropping items to mark paths is useful?

Marking a path that you have to travel in unfavorable conditions, usually. One example would be marking the way back to base from a fishing hut so that even in a blizzard (when visibility is terrible) you can find your way back. Another example would be marking dead ends in cave systems, so that you know which way to go at the junctions. And the last example I have would be using it to mark which houses you've already looted in places like Milton.

It's more of a thing to use in survival mode, tbh.

[Micahmunch]

Originally posted by IFIYGD:

Personally, I would prefer that we be able to burn tinder as fuel. 1-2 minutes burn time for each. but it would allow us to use excess tinder for things other than trail marking, and fine-tune timing for cooking and water making without using (wasting) more precious wood and fuel sources.
We DO have way too many tinder sources in the game, IMHO.

This should be the solution. Being able to use tinder as a burnable fuel.

[Hajami]

Originally posted by Goweigus:

I'm new to the game, can someone explain more thoroughly how dropping items to mark paths is useful?

Even in Mystery lake new Players can get lost on the Lake on a very Fogy Day or in a Blizzard.
Some earlier Placed directional stone marks, can help you navigate your path, even if your not to familiar with your surroundings, while having short Vision.
I placed 3 Rocks infront of Fishing hut entrance to mark the direction to the lake office in case of Fog or Blizzard. Not sure if i still need it in that place, but maybe somewhere else.

Edit:
Did not know that you can start fires without tinder with level3. interesting, i also thought that tinder is most important to start one.