Questions for answers Here!

[ToastedRipper]

So this topic originally started out as me venting my frustration with the game, but soon after through members tips I realized I was doing a ton of things wrong. So now that I have gone from hating this game to really enjoying it I figured I'd change the topic to a questions, and answers topic instead so as to perhaps help others feeling frustrated with the game. If you have a question, or are struggling with something in the game post here, and these helpful members will try to help you like they did me. Thanks again for everyone's help!

[Geronimo]

I think you should go to the Way of the Hunter forum. They're always saying that this game is an easy arcade. Maybe they can give you their reasons why.

[ToastedRipper]

Originally posted by Geronimo:

I think you should go to the Way of the Hunter forum. They're always saying that this game is an easy arcade. Maybe they can give you their reasons why.

I'm not looking for an easy arcade. Just wanna figure out what I'm doing wrong, and get to hunting! Sucks that I can't even find anything to hunt is my problem.

[Waldherz]

Th reason why you see so many animals in video is cuz they dont show you the 20-60 minutes of time spent looking for those animals.

[ENTARCHV©]

I have answer for you my brother. I have same problem when I first play this game, but 10 - 15 hours (I forgot exactly) I just realize, I can't always running because it made many sound and all animal in this game is so damn sensitive. Don't forget your parfume also, the "scent deleter" or whatever it called in-game, it will delete your scent and help you while you hunting. Use always your binocular or scope, when you use scope or binocular, all the in-game SFX will be mute except your breath, your walk sound and ANIMAL WALK SOUND. Use bushes for hiding when stalking animal but be careful, it will make sound too when you move through them. I hope you can get what I mean, this game is a tricky game, but it will be fun when you got the "click" like I do. Don't forget to keep calm, patient, and enjoy the scenery. That's tips from me, I hope that can helps you.

[ToastedRipper]

Originally posted by MixMax:

I have answer for you my brother. I have same problem when I first play this game, but 10 - 15 hours (I forgot exactly) I just realize, I can't always running because it made many sound and all animal in this game is so damn sensitive. Don't forget your parfume also, the "scent deleter" or whatever it called in-game, it will delete your scent and help you while you hunting. Use always your binocular or scope, when you use scope or binocular, all the in-game SFX will be mute except your breath, your walk sound and ANIMAL WALK SOUND. Use bushes for hiding when stalking animal but be careful, it will make sound too when you move through them. I hope you can get what I mean, this game is a tricky game, but it will be fun when you got the "click" like I do. Don't forget to keep calm, patient, and enjoy the scenery. That's tips from me, I hope that can helps you.

This is exactly what I have been doing, or trying to do. Perhaps I'm not being quiet enough? Am I just rushing the hunt time? What should I be able to hunt down, and kill in one session lets say, and also how slow or silent should I be? Thank you for the reply.

[ENTARCHV©]

Originally posted by ToastedRipper:

Originally posted by MixMax:

I have answer for you my brother. I have same problem when I first play this game, but 10 - 15 hours (I forgot exactly) I just realize, I can't always running because it made many sound and all animal in this game is so damn sensitive. Don't forget your parfume also, the "scent deleter" or whatever it called in-game, it will delete your scent and help you while you hunting. Use always your binocular or scope, when you use scope or binocular, all the in-game SFX will be mute except your breath, your walk sound and ANIMAL WALK SOUND. Use bushes for hiding when stalking animal but be careful, it will make sound too when you move through them. I hope you can get what I mean, this game is a tricky game, but it will be fun when you got the "click" like I do. Don't forget to keep calm, patient, and enjoy the scenery. That's tips from me, I hope that can helps you.

This is exactly what I have been doing, or trying to do. Perhaps I'm not being quiet enough? Am I just rushing the hunt time? What should I be able to hunt down, and kill in one session lets say, and also how slow or silent should I be? Thank you for the reply.

I'm afraid you just doing the mistake i was doing before LOL. Yes, not quiet enough, when you hear the animal warning call or mating call, don't forget to ducking or better prone when approaching. Yes, it will be more slow but trust me you will kill more animals with this approach. killing one animal in 15-35 minutes is normal, longer than that is our fault for not hunting stealthy enough. note : when you get the hang of this game and levelling up, pick the skill that helps you tracking first not ambushing, it will help you alot more. Cheers!

[ENTARCHV©]

oh i forgot, i suggest you to hunt for roe deer, red deer and boar first. Those 3 animals is the easiest for grinding level (you need skills and perks from levelling up, so the game can become easier). Don't try to shoot from more than 100 m, I'm afraid you still using "soft-point bullet", the penetration is worse than the polymer one, so keep the distance short but safe from animal sensing you.

[ToastedRipper]

Originally posted by MixMax:

oh i forgot, i suggest you to hunt for roe deer, red deer and boar first. Those 3 animals is the easiest for grinding level (you need skills and perks from levelling up, so the game can become easier). Don't try to shoot from more than 100 m, I'm afraid you still using "soft-point bullet", the penetration is worse than the polymer one, so keep the distance short but safe from animal sensing you.

I will try everything you suggested, and keep playing. Thanks again.

[Mo0on]

I just sprint around the bodies of water until I see or hear something then sneak up to it. If you're running through the forest this is why you aren't finding anything. The maps are huge and the population of animals is minuscule.

You WILL eventually find something but it takes like 30 minutes of running simulator until you spot something. Meanwhile the bodies of water almost always have animals because its always someones drink time.

Also, unlock as many need zones as you can. Some players speculate population is correlated with need zones.

[Haddock_Dundee]

Major advise. Just DON'T RUN.

[ToastedRipper]

Thank you everyone for the advice.... will keep trying.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by ToastedRipper:

Originally posted by Geronimo:

I think you should go to the Way of the Hunter forum. They're always saying that this game is an easy arcade. Maybe they can give you their reasons why.

I'm not looking for an easy arcade. Just wanna figure out what I'm doing wrong, and get to hunting! Sucks that I can't even find anything to hunt is my problem.

Sorry Toast, I didn't mean to imply that you wanted an arcade game. I was just pointing out the fact that there are alot of people in the Way of the Hunter Forum,( a recently new game), that often try to prop up that failing game by comparing it to this one and suggesting this one to be much easier. Which it isn't, as you are now discovering.

To your problem, try typing various hunting tactics, for example, 'tracking', into the forum search engine to bring up the many past discussions that will offer much in-depth information. But be aware of their dates because many patches may have changed some aspects.

Also be aware that you have 12 hours in. I have over 4000 hours in and I still have questions that have no answers, mainly because that is how the Devs have chosen to keep an edge to their game.

It would probably be more productive for us to list the 'Don'ts', rather than the 'Dos', simply because this game has so many dynamics that are learned over time and experience and would take pages to write.

1. Don't run!
If you are heading to a specific area that you want to hunt, you can run until you get within 350 yards. But everytime you run you WILL spook everything within that area. And the higher level animals often don't return.

The ATV will spook further to around 600 yards.

Being able to find good hunting in any area will be decreased every single time you tap that run button or start up that ATV.

And getting into the habit of running is extremely easy when one doesn't develop the patience of properly approaching an area.


2. Don't develop bad habits!

Bad habits are very hard to break later on. These include clicking on everything to identify it. This can be unproductive for a few reasons. Learn to use your own eyes to identify tracks/signature early on to avoid developing that bad habit of being 'click-happy'. Even though some missions will require it.

3. Don't 'glass' quickly !

Being patient will become your greatest asset. Most people never develop this skill. Glassing means using your scope or binoculars to scan for animals or sign. And because of that glowing outline that shows around animals when they're 'lit', many people just quickly scan across broad areas hoping something will light up. Another of those bad habits!

It's undoubtedly better to go to system>options>interface and turn off that 'spotting outline', so that you don't become impatiently reliant on it, never developing the actual skill of finding what is really hiding in those woods.

4. Don't kill immediately upon new maps!

Animal spawning mechanics are one of those well-kept Dev secrets. But one thing that seems obvious to most of us is that, you need to open Need Zones onto your new map, without 'pressuring' them, or worse, killing that same individual you just used to put that zone on your map. Once you get zones on your map, and give them some time to become used by more animals, you WILL start seeing more animals of the species you opened the zone with in that area.

The fact that most new players will simply kill these animals right away is one of the main reasons they won't see many animals in their maps.

New maps pretty much require putting unruined zones on your map.


5. Don't ignore Hunting Pressure!

When travelling the maps you must be aware of the purple to pink colored circles on your map that denote the degree of pressure applied in an area. Pinker implies more degree. It will not be productive to try to hunt in pressured areas, and it can take a few in-game days for them to recover. Don't assume the lack of purple means that pressure has been removed. And be aware that you might be in an area you pressured previously that hadn't yet recovered, even though there might not be any purple showing on the map.


6. Don't use inadequate ammo!

This will result in your having to endlessly track cripples, often only to find they stopped bleeding and leaving you in despair. Get within 150 yards and aim broadside, at least until you can get the more powerful weapons.


7. Don't neglect your Presence!

Every second you're in their habitat, you are exposing yourself to their enhanced senses. Some more advanced than others, so know your prey. Be aware that they will far more often know you are there long before you know of them. If you go to the menu under hunter settings you can find a list that shows exactly how many animals you have spooked and what scared them. It's eye opening.

In the bottom right corner of your HUD there is a horizontal line with a couple of icons representing how visible you are, how noisy you are, and which way the wind is blowing.

Ultimately you want that visibility line to either disappear, or be flat. When flat, you can look around without exposing yourself, but you cannot take one step without risk. When the line is gone, than you can take a step or two around without exposure but you still have to watch for that line to change as you move. Those hidden zones in bushes and trees are often not very large.

Being prone is tricky. Don't assume you are always invisible or not making noise. Watch that meter everytime you move. And be aware that using the accelerated prone speed usually disabled your invisibility and increases your noise. And it's very hard to crawl in slow speed once you get used to the faster.
Always know wind direction, and have it in your face or crossing your position. Trying to approach a hunting zone with the wind at your back is like ringing a loud bell as you go.

8. Don't ignore the Need Zone timing!

Expecting to find animals at a drink zone when it's their time of day to be elsewhere is one of the biggest reasons that unaware hunters are seeing no animals.

END

[Gazzza]

I hope you're starting to have more luck. Lots of decent advice above but:
1) Pay attention to need zones (examine them, or spot animals in them, so they register permanently on your map). By their very nature, most you encounter will have been abandoned a short time previously (they disappear after a few hours), either because you scared away the animals or it was just their time to leave. Check the tracks to see which paths they took coming and going. Go back the next day ~1 hour in to the active time, being sure to keep the wind in your face, and if you can avoiding the incoming tracks so as not to meet any stragglers.
Drink zones are easiest because at least one side will give clear views (across the water or along the shore).
Once you know where a zone is, you can run to about 200m out, walk to about 120, crouch to about 90 and then crawl - but on the way, occasionally get into cover and stand to check where your prey is, it's easy to lose your bearings.
2) Get some skills & perks. In Stalker, get Locate Tracks, Track Knowledge and then Soft Feet, which reduces the noise you make. In Ambusher, get Spotting Knowledge and Sight Spotting.
3) When you do get a chance to take a shot, wait for a broadside shot and aim for the lungs. You get more XP for a clean shot, which helps you level up and unlock more skills, perks and equipment.
I hope that helps. Go well.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by Gazzza:

I hope you're starting to have more luck. Lots of decent advice above but:
1) Pay attention to need zones (examine them, or spot animals in them, so they register permanently on your map). By their very nature, most you encounter will have been abandoned a short time previously (they disappear after a few hours), either because you scared away the animals or it was just their time to leave. Check the tracks to see which paths they took coming and going. Go back the next day ~1 hour in to the active time, being sure to keep the wind in your face, and if you can avoiding the incoming tracks so as not to meet any stragglers.
Drink zones are easiest because at least one side will give clear views (across the water or along the shore).
Once you know where a zone is, you can run to about 200m out, walk to about 120, crouch to about 90 and then crawl - but on the way, occasionally get into cover and stand to check where your prey is, it's easy to lose your bearings.
2) Get some skills & perks. In Stalker, get Locate Tracks, Track Knowledge and then Soft Feet, which reduces the noise you make. In Ambusher, get Spotting Knowledge and Sight Spotting.
3) When you do get a chance to take a shot, wait for a broadside shot and aim for the lungs. You get more XP for a clean shot, which helps you level up and unlock more skills, perks and equipment.
I hope that helps. Go well.

The zones you get out on your map Do Not disappear over time. They remain until your hunting pressure causes the animals to use other zones, and when pressure reaches the pink color, or four kills within a 250 yard proximity, than that zone will no longer be effective and is usually removed from your map. However sometimes those zones may remain longer than usual, but they will not remain with their previous interactive element.

[ToastedRipper]

Originally posted by Geronimo:

Originally posted by ToastedRipper:

I'm not looking for an easy arcade. Just wanna figure out what I'm doing wrong, and get to hunting! Sucks that I can't even find anything to hunt is my problem.

Sorry Toast, I didn't mean to imply that you wanted an arcade game. I was just pointing out the fact that there are alot of people in the Way of the Hunter Forum,( a recently new game), that often try to prop up that failing game by comparing it to this one and suggesting this one to be much easier. Which it isn't, as you are now discovering.

To your problem, try typing various hunting tactics, for example, 'tracking', into the forum search engine to bring up the many past discussions that will offer much in-depth information. But be aware of their dates because many patches may have changed some aspects.

Also be aware that you have 12 hours in. I have over 4000 hours in and I still have questions that have no answers, mainly because that is how the Devs have chosen to keep an edge to their game.

It would probably be more productive for us to list the 'Don'ts', rather than the 'Dos', simply because this game has so many dynamics that are learned over time and experience and would take pages to write.

1. Don't run!
If you are heading to a specific area that you want to hunt, you can run until you get within 350 yards. But everytime you run you WILL spook everything within that area. And the higher level animals often don't return.

The ATV will spook further to around 600 yards.

Being able to find good hunting in any area will be decreased every single time you tap that run button or start up that ATV.

And getting into the habit of running is extremely easy when one doesn't develop the patience of properly approaching an area.


2. Don't develop bad habits!

Bad habits are very hard to break later on. These include clicking on everything to identify it. This can be unproductive for a few reasons. Learn to use your own eyes to identify tracks/signature early on to avoid developing that bad habit of being 'click-happy'. Even though some missions will require it.

3. Don't 'glass' quickly !

Being patient will become your greatest asset. Most people never develop this skill. Glassing means using your scope or binoculars to scan for animals or sign. And because of that glowing outline that shows around animals when they're 'lit', many people just quickly scan across broad areas hoping something will light up. Another of those bad habits!

It's undoubtedly better to go to system>options>interface and turn off that 'spotting outline', so that you don't become impatiently reliant on it, never developing the actual skill of finding what is really hiding in those woods.

4. Don't kill immediately upon new maps!

Animal spawning mechanics are one of those well-kept Dev secrets. But one thing that seems obvious to most of us is that, you need to open Need Zones onto your new map, without 'pressuring' them, or worse, killing that same individual you just used to put that zone on your map. Once you get zones on your map, and give them some time to become used by more animals, you WILL start seeing more animals of the species you opened the zone with in that area.

The fact that most new players will simply kill these animals right away is one of the main reasons they won't see many animals in their maps.

New maps pretty much require putting unruined zones on your map.


5. Don't ignore Hunting Pressure!

When travelling the maps you must be aware of the purple to pink colored circles on your map that denote the degree of pressure applied in an area. Pinker implies more degree. It will not be productive to try to hunt in pressured areas, and it can take a few in-game days for them to recover. Don't assume the lack of purple means that pressure has been removed. And be aware that you might be in an area you pressured previously that hadn't yet recovered, even though there might not be any purple showing on the map.


6. Don't use inadequate ammo!

This will result in your having to endlessly track cripples, often only to find they stopped bleeding and leaving you in despair. Get within 150 yards and aim broadside, at least until you can get the more powerful weapons.


7. Don't neglect your Presence!

Every second you're in their habitat, you are exposing yourself to their enhanced senses. Some more advanced than others, so know your prey. Be aware that they will far more often know you are there long before you know of them. If you go to the menu under hunter settings you can find a list that shows exactly how many animals you have spooked and what scared them. It's eye opening.

In the bottom right corner of your HUD there is a horizontal line with a couple of icons representing how visible you are, how noisy you are, and which way the wind is blowing.

Ultimately you want that visibility line to either disappear, or be flat. When flat, you can look around without exposing yourself, but you cannot take one step without risk. When the line is gone, than you can take a step or two around without exposure but you still have to watch for that line to change as you move. Those hidden zones in bushes and trees are often not very large

8. Don't ignore the Need Zone timing!

Expecting to find animals at a drink zone when it's their time of day to be elsewhere is one of the biggest reasons that unaware hunters are seeing no animals.

END

Oh definitely going to look over this info with my morning coffee, and ya I was not meaning to come off as putting the game down... was just kinda frustrated. Thank you.

Originally posted by Gazzza:

I hope you're starting to have more luck. Lots of decent advice above but:
1) Pay attention to need zones (examine them, or spot animals in them, so they register permanently on your map). By their very nature, most you encounter will have been abandoned a short time previously (they disappear after a few hours), either because you scared away the animals or it was just their time to leave. Check the tracks to see which paths they took coming and going. Go back the next day ~1 hour in to the active time, being sure to keep the wind in your face, and if you can avoiding the incoming tracks so as not to meet any stragglers.
Drink zones are easiest because at least one side will give clear views (across the water or along the shore).
Once you know where a zone is, you can run to about 200m out, walk to about 120, crouch to about 90 and then crawl - but on the way, occasionally get into cover and stand to check where your prey is, it's easy to lose your bearings.
2) Get some skills & perks. In Stalker, get Locate Tracks, Track Knowledge and then Soft Feet, which reduces the noise you make. In Ambusher, get Spotting Knowledge and Sight Spotting.
3) When you do get a chance to take a shot, wait for a broadside shot and aim for the lungs. You get more XP for a clean shot, which helps you level up and unlock more skills, perks and equipment.
I hope that helps. Go well.

Thank you for the info. Much appreciated. This morning I decided to reset everything, and start over. Somehow I did not one shot the white tail directly in front of me, but I did end up getting to track it for a second shot which also like the first missed the vitals. Continued to track it to where it bleed out. Perhaps I need better aim or needed to get closer. I then spotted an black tail which I followed, and put down with a single, but I did sneak up pretty close... maybe 40m. I guess I'm learning. Should have recorded the hunt, but thought for sure I was going to continue failing. Also have seen much more animals now... white tail, elk, turkey, and heard a bear which seemed to be following me... or my prey. Here are the results of both hunts.

https://vimeo.com/829454267?share=copy

https://vimeo.com/829459715?share=copy