Stuck in the Sovient Installation

[Anthony]

I'm about 37% through the game, trying to reach the top of the Mill. I've reached a timber and pipe blockade. I know from video walkthroughs that the mill needs to be engulfed in flames for the blockade to burn enough to crumble, but I can't find a way to set the mill on fire now that the burst pipes are already burnt out. I've tried shooting all the lanterns, shooting burning arrows around different places, but nothing seems to work. The flames always burn out. I think this may be a bug and I can't go back far enough to restart the area (I made the mistake of not creating my own saved games)

[Sam]

Are you going back thru the copper mill for collectibles?

[Anthony]

No. Is there something I need to collect to set the mill on fire and burn down the blockade stopping me from reaching the top of the mill?

[Sam]

Hi Anthony:
I asked because there should be no barriers that cannot be burned down (using the molotov cocktails) in this area. However, if you return (to the upper Mill portion) there is a blockage that prevents you from traveling forward. There's a trick to returning down to the lower Mill.
You said you've used everything you can think of but you don't mention molotovs. And you shouldn't have fire arrows yet. You don't get fire arrows until you get to Geothermal Valley and you're not there yet. So I'm really confused here. Can you get me a screen shot?

[Anthony]

Thanks for taking the time to respond Sam. Unfortunately I've used most of the Molotov cocktails. Lara drops the ones left in the area when she swings back to where I need her to go, like the one's at the bottom of the long chute/slide.

To clarify, this is the area that I'm currently in:
http://tombraiders.net/stella/walks/TR10walk/details/copper-mill-9.html
(although for me the building isn't burning, all enemies have been killed and all of the 'leaking' pipes are now missing). The blockade is just past this area...

Please forgive my ignorance, but how do I post a screenshot in the discussions forum? I'd like to show you the blockade I'm talking about. In the walkthrough video I've seen, the building is on fire and blockade isn't even there.

[Sam]

Anthony, don't worry as I know exactly where you are. It's the "final" fight for this area.
Unfortunately, from what you're describing, I think (don't do that too often) the game thinks you've already been there, hence the blockage. This is what you'll see when you come back (?) to finish out this area for collectibles, etc. I know, been there, done that & have the t-shirt to prove it...lol.
You said you didn't manually save the game. Do you have a check point save? Usually the game will save it's self at campfire/checkpoints. Have you checked for that? A base camp save? I think it will say "autosave." Not sure.
BTW: Good job on finding Stella's Tomb Raider site. I like that site as it's everything TR. Anyway, she has saved files. You can download one of her files for this area which will allow you to continue with the story. In the alternative, use an old "autosave" file and begin from there.

[Anthony]

I ended up using one of Stella's saved game files to progress. Thanks so much for you help Sam

[DrNewcenstein]

If it's the area I'm thinking (where you can only get back down via the chute) then yeah, that gave me fits. However, that was blocked off by the story progression, and even grenades or grenade arrows won't move it. If you're looking for that Survival Cache or Document (blue column of light) at the top of the mill, you can't get it until later when that area opens up.

If you're looking for the Cosmonaut posters, it's not back there.

[Sam]

Originally posted by Anthony:

I ended up using one of Stella's saved game files to progress. Thanks so much for you help Sam

Awesome Anthony. Have fun, good luck & happy Raiding

[Anthony]

Hi Sam, when I loaded a couple of different save games (that I though were further on) I noticed that I'd already been to those areas. I do realise that some areas are meant to be revisited, but Is it somehow possible I've completed the levels in the wrong order? That might explain how I aquired the fire arrows when you said I shouldn't have them yet...

[The Fifth Horseman]

Originally posted by Anthony:

Hi Sam, when I loaded a couple of different save games (that I though were further on) I noticed that I'd already been to those areas. I do realise that some areas are meant to be revisited, but Is it somehow possible I've completed the levels in the wrong order? That might explain how I aquired the fire arrows when you said I shouldn't have them yet...

It's not possible to complete them in wrong order, the story is completely linear. You get the fire arrows in a story quest shortly after going through the Abandoned Mines and visiting Geothermal Valley for the first time.