Heat

[BardzBeast]

I'm playing time to die. Im picking up as little as possible (just card pieces, crests, and ammo). and i'm getting half a dozen clowns, faceless and all the rest constantly spawning. is this right? in a game just now I had 5 clowns, 6 faceless, like a dozen butchers and all the rest, and this was just after finding the blue crest. i ran out of ammo.

Just saying this heat thing seems inconsitent to me. I pick up eff all and a bajllion monsters spawn anyway. then I have to pick up ammo as i'm now empty, and more stuff spawns that I cant deal with.

[Big fish]

Originally posted by BardzBeast:

I'm playing time to die. Im picking up as little as possible (just card pieces, crests, and ammo). and i'm getting half a dozen clowns, faceless and all the rest constantly spawning. is this right? in a game just now I had 5 clowns, 6 faceless, like a dozen butchers and all the rest, and this was just after finding the blue crest. i ran out of ammo.

Just saying this heat thing seems inconsitent to me. I pick up eff all and a bajllion monsters spawn anyway. then I have to pick up ammo as i'm now empty, and more stuff spawns that I cant deal with.

Heat is very inconsistent, yes. You should be picking this up after around 10-30 games, depending on your playstyle and approach (as well as luck.) What you always ought to know is that if you still got lots of enemies despite picking up as little as possible, you'd have it even worse if you played it unsafe. There are these games that are just more against you than normally, and it's part of the challenge and fresh excitement: You will never truly predict an entire game. Especially if you plan on picking up Rubies, because those are horrendous.

If you are getting a 10-50% win rate on the same settings and approach, then it's probably a sign on that you are

a. Doing it wrong, you need to up your OWN game as trinkets will only hold you so much. Your skill, item memory and strategy is what matters most
b. Plain misfortune, it happens to us all. Too many demon speeding backstabbers eating your health/armor, getting wrong totems and mods - or no guns at all.
c, possibly the most likely scenario for many people who has not reached and "completed endgame", your trinkets/loadout is not good enough. Maybe you're missing some ammo-pickup buff, or you don't have enough damage to make that wealth of ammo count. A friend on the Discord server mentioned having lots of ammo problems on Beast Mode until he, with great fortune, recieved the Unholy Ammo bag on lvl 7. Ammo pickup is possibly the rarest trinket bonus in the game, so for him to get Ghost Ammo + Max Ammo, it worked like a charm. (I think only Marine/Law/Special Forces Gloves + Glutton Ring tree gives ammo pickup right now.)


If you wanna discuss this, I'm available through the Discord channel. Just note me if you got any questions or if you seek more advice.

[Zod]

After some digging I found this old post from Blue that might help shine some light on the heat mechanic:

In topic My theory about heat - 2nd edition
Your theories are not too far off ;)

I really love how the human mind works if it gets confronted with something like this. I'm pretty sure this is how all kinds of mysteries and old folk tales came to be. For example getting the flu has to do with ghosts n demons n stuff. Or seeing a black cat brings you luck :)

The RNG in UNLOVED does not care how many keys you have collected, but have you ever wondered if items that are inside a red room are more dangerous than items that lie in a white room? It's how the game lures you, the brighter the colors, the more exciting you get, but also the more dangerous it becomes ;)

[Useless NPC]

In my experience of the game, this is how the heat system seems to operate.

Every item in the game offers a certain level of heat, and items in higher-tier rooms boost that heat further (making it advantagous to deal with large hordes in lower-tier rooms like white and red). If given the chance, you should pickup items from the floor, as they generate less aggro than prepositioned items.

As you pickup items, there is a chance that demons may spawn. As you continue to grab items the system builds up heat and kinda unlocks stronger demons to combat you with. Eventually an item you grab will initiate the demons to start spawning. The rate at which they spawn and how long it takes for the first demon to show up seems variable. An alright method of determining how 'angry' the game is at you is to take notice of what mobs you are dealing with. If you are coming across witches, clowns, and perhaps the rotten then you know that your aggro level is relatively high. If there are black pentagrams on the ground, there are spawns that are being built up.

There are ways to force the heat system in your favor, however. This is what allows disciplined Unloved players to solo beast mode and unearthly before being a really high level. To do this, you need to get a feel for the games heat level even if there are no demons around. If you are soloing on a risky difficulty, then you must be careful not to allow the heat to build to high before the demons begin spawning. So, if you have just activated 2 or 3 blood machines on beast mode and there are still no enemies STOP. Go to a white / red room and start picking up the smallest heat items off the floor and listen for spawns. As soon as the spawns start, make sure you drain them so that you are no longer fueling the system for a gigantic ambush.

A good rule of thumb is that you should only open doors if absolutely necessary (walk around a room rather than opening another entrance). This achieves two things: one, you are presenting less directions for the demons to attack you from, two heat... When hunting for demon chests, you will end up opening most of the doors inside each room layout, but beware that many rooms have multiple entrances that may already be open.

Weapon mods and totems can help you alot, but you should only pick them up when you know you are at a very low heat level (most players do not advise picking them up at all, so ask the host)

You should always keep stocked up on ammo and armor if possible, just make sure that picking it up is helping you more than the enemies (a "are you on the right difficulty" question).

In co-op, managing heat is much less in your control, so keep on your toes; in all likelihood, your allies already are familiar with heat-management to some degree.

Enemies are not infinitely spawning, and you can drain the heat level down to zero just by having a slaughterfest.

I'd advise reading on the yellow and orange messages in other threads, that may assist you in getting a feel for the spawning chance (My post is already pretty long)

This is my mindset when playing solo, perhaps it may help those of you who are new to the heat system.

Good Luck

[Blue]

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, pretty much the best and most accurate description of how heat in this game works. Pinned :)

[potterman28wxcv]

Originally posted by Useless NPC:

<Awesome description>

Do you mind if I just quote you in my Unearthly guide?

I think it's the best way i've seen this explained

I already knew that each heat level unlocked monsters, and Blue hinted in my thread about the White/Red/Blue/Yellow room heat modifier, but I always assumed the heat was an ever growing value, and that if you just got a Rotten Clown, then you should really stop taking stuff ASAP before more comes.

In a sense, this reflex of stopping taking items on sight of a Rotten Clown stays true - since you're then waiting for the heat to decrease.

But it definitely changes something, it's that Weapon Mods and Totems are worth taking early on. I always assumed they would add this constant Heat and you would get the Rotten Clown sooner as a result, and the rest of your game would just be harder.

Knowing that heat value can drop, it sounds like picking Totems/Mods will only impede your early game, but not your late game. Unless you overheat early on, and then you're forced to pick up heal/armor items, staying at a constant struggle until the end (because of the evil spiral of getting hit, then having to heal, which produces heat)

This system is even more well thought that I thought - since it actually rewards you for performing well against a wave. If you do perform well, heat decreases and game becomes easier.. If you don't, you have to heal, and heat will stay the same

[BardzBeast]

Originally posted by Useless NPC:

making it advantagous to deal with large hordes in lower-tier rooms like white and red.

An alright method of determining how 'angry' the game is at you is to take notice of what mobs you are dealing with. If you are coming across witches, clowns, and perhaps the rotten then you know that your aggro level is relatively high.

Enemies are not infinitely spawning, and you can drain the heat level down to zero just by having a slaughterfest.

1. why is it better to go to a lower room to kill enemies? is it so that if you need to pick up ammo and health it doesnt generate as many more monsters?

2. I've found that I end up with witches and clowns no matter how careful i am.

4. Does killing enemies reduce your heat then?

In which case heat that is generated by picking up an item stays in play until the enemy spawned with that heat has been killed, but as long as that enemy is still alive, it is contributing to the heat pool of enemies that can still spawn?

[Mader]

Originally posted by Useless NPC:

If there are black pentagrams on the ground, there are spawns that are being built up.

Do you suggest they are simply not present if game thinks there is nothing to spawn yet? I thought those black pentagrams are permanent and simply mark potential spawn/teleport destination points for monsters.

Originally posted by BardzBeast:

2. I've found that I end up with witches and clowns no matter how careful i am.

Do you play challenges? They are significanty nastier than standard game in my experience (that's it, beside challenge itself).

And define "careful". You may still grab too much things thinking you are careful. Try to go thorough game on absolute minimum heat. I mean it. Forget about totems, cards, photos, ink bottles and other optional things. Only open needed doors and take ammo for your main weapon. Maybe health and armor as needed.

[BardzBeast]

Originally posted by Mader:

And define "careful". You may still grab too much things thinking you are careful. Try to go thorough game on absolute minimum heat. I mean it. Forget about totems, cards, photos, ink bottles and other optional things. Only open needed doors and take ammo for your main weapon. Maybe health and armor as needed.

By careful I mean crests and card pieces only. and 1 big ammo pack for my shotgun, which fills it for the whole game. If I see a railgun I pick that up too, but I dont get any ammo for it because the starting ammo is usually enough. If I find armour i will pick that up also. Perhaps it is the card pieces that generate the most heat. I really should stop but I admit I pick up ink bottles and photos occasionally just because even if i lose i still get the fragments and karma. I never touch totems, mods or other weapons.

I will try a run with only crests and vital ammo. But if that is what I have to do to finish a run, then what is the point of having all the other items in the game.

[Mader]

You probably are simply too weak for diffculty level that you are playing. Get better trinkets.

[BardzBeast]

Originally posted by Mader:

You probably are simply too weak for diffculty level that you are playing. Get better trinkets.

Im playing the one after no hope. Im trying to get rank 2 trinkets.

Problem is im using the shotgun, but i cant even 1 shot a clown with a double shot.

[Useless NPC]

Wow, if I knew the discussion was going to get pinned for this I would have elaborated a tiny bit more in some areas :D

[Useless NPC]

Originally posted by BardzBeast:

1. why is it better to go to a lower room to kill enemies? is it so that if you need to pick up ammo and health it doesnt generate as many more monsters?

2. I've found that I end up with witches and clowns no matter how careful i am.

4. Does killing enemies reduce your heat then?

In which case heat that is generated by picking up an item stays in play until the enemy spawned with that heat has been killed, but as long as that enemy is still alive, it is contributing to the heat pool of enemies that can still spawn?

1) Essentially, yes. Only do this if you are anticipating a very large fight. Resupplying in lower rooms will allow you to get more goodies for less pain.

2) The occasional clown or witch is expected on higher difficulties, but a squad of clowns should let you know that you need to drain the spawns before advancing. If you are truely being as careful as possible, you would be constantly picking up single items and listening for spawns so you can deal with them immediately. You would also think twice about grabbing items that are preplaced in the level since they generate more aggro than dropped things. This is how I was able to solo a few Unearthly levels with dcs when I was around level 80-ish

RIP 3

4) Killing enemies doesn't actually decrease the heat. The spawning of enemies decreases the heat. (killing them promptly just prevents them from overwhelming you en masse) Heat is used up as fuel to spawn another demon, and more dangerous demons if there is enough aggro.

[Useless NPC]

Here is a good metaphor for the heat system. Think of the heat system as a balloon.

As (heat / air) is added, the balloon inflates. Each (item interaction / puff) of (heat / air) has a probability to suddenly deflate the balloon which expels demons. Larger items and higher-tier rooms have the capability of inflating the balloon much more per (item interaction / puff). A very inflated balloon can release air much more violently than a slightly poofy one which is symbolic of stronger enemies and larger hordes. Of course, with enough patience, you can completely deflate the balloon if you give it the chance (which would mean no enemies and no black pentagrams indicating spawns.)

Don't pop your inflatables, children :0

[Useless NPC]

Originally posted by CD potterman28wxcv:

Do you mind if I just quote you in my Unearthly guide?

Go ahead, as long as you mention me, I'm fine with it :D

[potterman28wxcv]

Originally posted by BardzBeast:

Originally posted by Mader:

And define "careful". You may still grab too much things thinking you are careful. Try to go thorough game on absolute minimum heat. I mean it. Forget about totems, cards, photos, ink bottles and other optional things. Only open needed doors and take ammo for your main weapon. Maybe health and armor as needed.

By careful I mean crests and card pieces only. and 1 big ammo pack for my shotgun, which fills it for the whole game. If I see a railgun I pick that up too, but I dont get any ammo for it because the starting ammo is usually enough. If I find armour i will pick that up also. Perhaps it is the card pieces that generate the most heat. I really should stop but I admit I pick up ink bottles and photos occasionally just because even if i lose i still get the fragments and karma. I never touch totems, mods or other weapons.

I will try a run with only crests and vital ammo. But if that is what I have to do to finish a run, then what is the point of having all the other items in the game.

Do you have all your Rank 1 upgraded to level 5? It's best to upgrade them first before chasing the Rank 2. And once you have a full roster of R1L5 you can do third difficulty very easily

(it's even possible to win it with a lvl 1 character given enough experience in the game and some luck!)