Best playthrough ideas to keep it fun?

[Chrisjonezz98]

I love the game so im just curious how to make it more adaptable.

[Protectron]

what do you mean more adaptable?`

Some self-imposed rules to make the game push you out of the comfort zone:

1. Start with 3 random characters who don't have a 5th skill
2. Only recruit survivors who don't have a 5th skill
3. Don't use DLCs (including calling for Red Talon agents)
4. Don't use Trader Leaders

[Chrisjonezz98]

Im close to completing all legacies on each difficulty so just looking for stuff to do other than killing plague hearts each playthrough, once iv done this final legacy im just gonna stick with 3 main character and make them survive as many days as i can with different playstyles.

[Protectron]

What I do now that finishing legacies are no longer a motivating factor to play the game, is to play "endless mode" - so I jump from map to map building my community to the maximum of 12 survivors, maxing them out with a rounded-out selection of skills, maxing out the base with the best facility mods and equipping all the NPCs with full-auto-only guns for maximum base defense. Also, I want all the rare (and best) suppressed guns and melee weapons of course.

Once that is achieved, there is literally nothing to play for anymore. Then I'll take a break or start all over again, depending on how I feel atm.

[Chrisjonezz98]

Might give that strategy a go, see how long i can keep the community going.

[colonelty]

Adding to #1 i always recommend avoiding cars as often as possible! The map becomes a whole new world and you need every single location and resource. Playing this way i also recommend having the sniper support from an enclave or builder leader sniper tower. Makes life a bit easier especially when travelling at night ;)

[Burp Reynolds]

Before I deleted my 31 day True Grit [Lethal] community, they would clear all buildings, destroy all Hearts, and reside in each area for 25 days apiece. I did all the missions that came up save the "These people killed my friends. Kill them for me" because 1: I don't want to kill other humans, and 2: the AI hostile Enclaves are nigh impossible to kill, and a big waste of ammo and medication. The undead are a more imminent threat.

[colonelty]

Originally posted by Humannequin:

... the AI hostile Enclaves are nigh impossible to kill, and a big waste of ammo and medication.

If possible i always use Zombait to keep the hostile enclave "busy" and then use .50 cal rifles for one-shot/instakill each survivor. If necessary i always have a ScentBlock with me ... just in case ;)

[Fenris]

I wrote this a long time ago, it was something I did to keep the game fun. It's just a set of rules ot make the game more pragmatic/interesting and challenging. give it a try if you're bored.

New SoD Difficulty: Real Lethal:

The goal of this difficulty is to increase the challenge while adding practical realism.
You should still have fun with this playthrough, so your first one, two, or three survivors will act as
"Heros" and be capable of using the best gear. After the first three survivors each
survivor will be an ordinary human, taking longer to heal, being less efficient, and
overall less capable.

1) Start a FRESH community
Select three of your favorite characters with whatever gear you choose
These three members will be allowed to do anything you choose for this playthrough

2) After you have walked to your first free base, use the CE to import enough characters
to max out the difficulty. After you have maxed out the difficulty, dismiss each
character. You are now ready to play for the new difficulty.

Rules:

0) No boons

1) All firearms / crossbows found are 'broken'. The exception being rare weapons
that if you choose may be used on your first three survivors. Bullets/Bolts may
be scavenged from broken weapons, but the weapons themsleves may not be scrapped.

2) Any firearms/crowbows used by survivors after the intial starting 3, must be crafted.

3) The Network DIY rifle may not be repaired. Once broken it is salvaged. May be
unjammed two times. The Masterwork Network DIY rifle may be repaired.

4) Survivors after the first three may only use bandages to heal wounds, no pills
or first aid kits allowed.

5) Weapons may not be purchased from traders, unless being used for the initial
3 survivors.

6) Food may not be scavenged, but may be purchased.

7) Can't use pleague heart supplies supply drops or alcoholics supply drops

8) Can't abuse backing over zombies with cars

[Lich King]

-go for the 100 day achievement on Nightmare/Lethal
-No guardtowers or using bases with built in guard towers
-Get your Noise level up to 20 or higher. Higher the better
-Sieges will become like a tower defense mini game, and often people will die. You will need a lot of ammo to help your people defend. Seeing 10+ special infected per siege became normal, with 3-4 Jugs as well. It will get out of hand, but that is fun.
-To make it even harder you could take away auto guns, but that might be going too far.

-Be sure to warn any friends joining your game. A few joined mine and this killed off some of their favorite characters because they had not seen any siege like that before.

Fair warning, on Lethal these sieges can wear down a community and you will have to be careful with blood plague and managing your ammo reserves. I finished my playthrough like this but I lost probably about 20 characters. The insane spawn mechanics claimed some of these as well. Cramped or smaller bases only add to the difficulty and make it hard for the AI to support each other when you get overwhelmed. But, it is nice to have a challenge and something to prepare for. Some of the larger bases like the Strip Mall, Whitney Field, Container Fort, and Firestation become death traps due to cramped areas.

[Cheesehead]

There are other ways to have fun with this games besides making the game artificially harder.

Do this. Having a friend (I play with my daughter) adds possibilities. --->

Play as normal for as long as you feel like it, then do "Dares and Stunts".

I have great fun with my daughter daring each other to do silly stuff, and see if you live or die. It's great comedy, and good for laughs.

My favorite item in the game is fireworks. Especially in mass quantities for maximum dramatic effect.

Dares and stunts you make up on the fly. It usually involves dangerous stunts that you shouldn't be doing. The person proposing the dare watches at a safe distance usually.

Running through heavily infested areas with silly costumes with only a baseball bat with the goal of looting a house while launching at least a stack of fireworks in quick succession is one idea.

You can also play a game of Tag. One person comes up with an item to loot, like in scavenger hunts, and it becomes the other persons turn when you find that item. Obviously, use general items instead of really rare stuff so it's sort of fair. The other player can also try and sabotage the other player by throwing firecrackers into the windows and stuff to make it silly.

Funny stuff can also be done with vehicles. Make lap races where you go in opposite directions in a small area honking your horn like crazy. This can get out of control very fast, and can lead to many laughs.

Killing hostile enclaves can also be very silly if you make up rules like using only mines or soda can bombs and stuff that you may only place in the house makes for great entertainment. Throw in (once again) fireworks and smoke grenades for extra dramatic effect. This can also be done like the game of Tag. Just make sure you make as many enemies as possible.

Just sayin. You can make the game fun without making it harder. I've laughed myself to tears by pulling this crap. Just make sure your enclaves has plenty of people because you tend to go through them pretty fast.

[BuzzFuzz]

This is what im gonna do for my new game. Im gonna survive the outbreak, secure assets and survive the apocalypse.

Rules
Choose 3 new survivors
Use military clothing
Choose 2 at random, and 1 medic
Survivors are extracted (exiled) every day at dawn
You can only use close combat weapons during mission 1
No silencers untill mission 3
No gardens or hydrophonics untill mission 3
Do not use the builder boon
Can't change leaders

Mission 1: Outbreak
Choose 1 commander (leader)
Recruit 5 survivors, keep 1 of them and extract (exile) the remaining 4
Secure water and power
Secure 8 doses of plague cure
Change maps

Mission 2: Adapt and improvise
Melee weapons unlocked
Recruit 10 survivors, keep 2 of them and extract (exile) the remaining 8
Secure the artillery position outpost
Secure water and power
Secure a computers expert
Destroy 6 plague hearts
Change maps

Mission 3: New dawn
Silenced weapons unlocked
Garden and hydrophonics unlocked
Find your favorite base
Secure water and power
Secure the artillery position outpost
Survive 3 extreme sieges (create a lot of noise)
Finish the game!

[agentcardinam11]

Originally posted by Humannequin:

Before I deleted my 31 day True Grit [Lethal] community, they would clear all buildings, destroy all Hearts, and reside in each area for 25 days apiece. I did all the missions that came up save the "These people killed my friends. Kill them for me" because 1: I don't want to kill other humans, and 2: the AI hostile Enclaves are nigh impossible to kill, and a big waste of ammo and medication. The undead are a more imminent threat.

I think the beta finally fixed the survivor health where they don't deal nearly as much ungodly damage as they used to. The only downside is that you still can't kill them in any reasonable amount of time and the loot they drop often isn't worth it. If you have to fight hostile survivors, never attack with anything less than a 7.62mm weapon since they don't seem to feel anything lighter save getting ganged up by four people at a time and hacking them apart with machetes.

[Makeithappen]

Originally posted by Chrisjonezz98:

Im close to completing all legacies on each difficulty so just looking for stuff to do other than killing plague hearts each playthrough, once iv done this final legacy im just gonna stick with 3 main character and make them survive as many days as i can with different playstyles.

thats generally the next thing to go for is survive for 100 days. doing bounties help make this process less boring. Staying in at night and only going out during the daytime.

Other custom goals that might be fun are to stock up on items in your storage. Like get to 100 snacks. 50 energy drinks, etc. Get yourself 100 car repair kits and get wild when driving around the map.

[Lich King]

Originally posted by BuzzFuzz:

This is what im gonna do for my new game. Im gonna survive the outbreak, secure assets and survive the apocalypse.

Rules
Choose 3 new survivors
Use military clothing
Choose 2 at random, and 1 medic
Survivors are extracted (exiled) every day at dawn
You can only use close combat weapons during mission 1
No silencers untill mission 3
No gardens or hydrophonics untill mission 3
Do not use the builder boon
Can't change leaders

Mission 1: Outbreak
Choose 1 commander (leader)
Recruit 5 survivors, keep 1 of them and extract (exile) the remaining 4
Secure water and power
Secure 8 doses of plague cure
Change maps

Mission 2: Adapt and improvise
Melee weapons unlocked
Recruit 10 survivors, keep 2 of them and extract (exile) the remaining 8
Secure the artillery position outpost
Secure water and power
Secure a computers expert
Destroy 6 plague hearts
Change maps

Mission 3: New dawn
Silenced weapons unlocked
Garden and hydrophonics unlocked
Find your favorite base
Secure water and power
Secure the artillery position outpost
Survive 3 extreme sieges (create a lot of noise)
Finish the game!

Doing this on Lethal? :D

[Vexov]

* Don't use radio, no calling for anything.
* No Red talon (clearly considered radio)
* 100% Fresh no carry over, fresh survivors.
* First 3 survivors, period.
* No exploits - Standing on cars to take down plague hearts.
* Do not upgrade or mod the ... coms station, radio (whatever it is) (2 Outpost limit).
* Solo, no multiplayer.
* No Bounty, period.

You can take it further and not use guns. Crossbow and melee only.