True Viking Walkthrough on Extreme Difficulty (Part 1)

Overcome the unforgiving environment and save the island from the evil Björn!

What makes this guide so special?

A painstaking fresh run was done to test the information on extreme conditions despite the massive penalties. The toughest challenge is to survive the early game by pushing all characters almost to their breaking points.

Note: The guides below elaborate on the many intricate mechanics that require its knowledge to excel in the game.

Please click here for Enhancing Combat Prowess:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2905846409

Please click here for Max Event Rewards:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2910427364

Please click here for Expert Camp Management:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2805315057

Please click here for Power Leveling:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2800522829

Why is this game tedious?

Sheer patience is needed to handle the heavy RNG elements of the game that includes dialogues/conversations, selecting traits after level up, skills check, and etc. Yes, night dialogues at the wrong time can completely end the game! Optimal save-scumming is needed to counter its negative effects while benefiting the most from higher roll.

Why are you writing this guide?

I enjoy helping others by writing about technical topics to a higher standard and provide key findings for a higher chance of success!

Who is the intended audience?

The guide is for everyone, but much friendlier to new players. Everything will be explained to be on the same level as those who are the most experienced. The writing will be easy to follow with plenty of screenshots for those who are too lazy to read everything!

Difficulty Setting

Four options need to be selected for the new game, which are Extreme Condition, True Viking, disabled Tutorial, and Quick Start.

The last two options give more loot from shipwreck and 3 rare bones without the depression damage.

How to Save Scum

The Save & Quit option should be used for every desirable outcome and Quit/Alt & F4 for everything else. Examples include getting higher percentage when repairing or feeding the fire. This will benefit the most from the heavy RNG while negating the lower rolls.

The save location is next to the Unity one with the X number being unique for each player: AppData\LocalLow\CCCP\Dead In Vinland\X\.

Within that folder, the save slots correspond with its location, such as Profile 1 being the top most slot.

Rolling for the Best Start

An estimate of ~20-60 new games will be created for better stats to have a successful run.

Survivor	Speciality	Important Acquired Skill(s) Range
Kari	Scavenger Explorer	Scavenging 30-50 (priority) Exploration 40-60
Eirik	Crafter	Crafting 20-40 (priority)
Blodeuwedd	Early Scavenger for Shipwreck Jack of All Trades	Scavenging 30-50
Moira	Harvester General Workhorse	Her starting stats are irrelevant as her rapid leveling will focus on more fatigue traits!

The higher stats are worthwhile as each takes forever to level up due to the significant time and energy spent on the game.

Note: Kari and Eirik makes the most impact and need to have their starting traits checked first.

No Dangerous Traits

All traits that affect any of the 4 states (Fatigue), overall XP gain, and speciality are considered to be very harmful. The latter is about not disrupting the expertise like traits that lower exploration or scavenge for Kari.
After rolling, Kari and Eirik needs to be examined first for their specialty stats and not have negative state traits (e.g. fatigue, depression, etc) that also includes all family members.

Kari the Everything Hero

She needs to have exploration above 50 (max: 60) and above 40 for scavenging (max: 50). Her scavenge skills are more important because of obtaining most resources from events.

Kari does almost all of the exploring and events throughout the entire game. Most items are used on her except Crafting, Constitution, and Wisdom. The latter two are to avoid interfering with power-leveling as explained in the guide.

Eirik the Crafter

He needs a crafting stat of at least 35 (max: 40) for faster tech rate to develop the camp faster.
The higher roll ensures each project can be completed in two half-days or less.
His first four traits to be in crafting with the rest being in fatigue.

Blodeuwedd the Protector

Her ultimate purpose is to serve as Kari's bodyguard since she is immune to critical damage.

She works on all labor-intensive stations like lumber, mining, including the workshop. During first few days, she will be scavenging the shipwreck for early supplies.

Her traits can follow the same path as Kari and focus on power leveling traits then focus on all combat after the 4th trait. The main ones should focus on AP and Health early on then accuracy and some damage.

Moira the Tribute Negotiator

She is the snake oil salesman who tricks Elof into more favorable tribute terms.

Her rapid leveling allows her to get more fatigue traits to excel in hard labor like the mining camp.
Her starting traits can be bonus XP, then 2 in charisma, 1 in constitution, and the rest on fatigue.

Note: She should not bother with harvesting because fruit does not satisfy much hunger.

Daily Cycle

There are 3 phases of morning, afternoon, and evening for each day.

The morning is best to do most exploration events as fatigue levels are the lowest for all characters. The evening is reserved for welfare check to see if medicine is needed to survive the overnight evolution.

Before starting the night, make a save backup as insurance for any negative dialogues/night events and roll for a desirable weather tomorrow.

Day 1: Morning

At the very start, the fire should not be activated yet to have enough wood for the first Workshop project of Mining Camp. Both Stone and Iron are the hardest resource to gather and best to start earlier due to its slowest regeneration.

Blodeuwedd needs to limit shipwreck scavenging to once per day to not generate too much depression and perishable food.

Survivor	Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Shipwreck (Roll for ~4 Rope & 4 Celandine Ointment)
Eirik	Workshop (Mining camp)
Kari	Exploration
Moira	Water

Starting Exploration

The first location to look for is on the shoreline that has Dirty Clothing to get fabric for the resting area.
The general direction needs to move northwest towards Björn's Camp that connects to the top half of the island. The narrow 1-tile wide land bridge can only be entered through one way.
Alternatively, direction can be changed to search for lakes that are fishing spots that give more food and scavenge items for Kari. However, events that power level will be further delayed and hurt overall progress.

Additional Survivors

Preferences vary with each player on how much trouble is tolerable because of adverse events that include cheating, theft, suicide, and even murder. There is always a hidden and dark catch with recruiting couples, let alone the shelter space to accommodate them.

Preferred Recruit	Most Important Benefits
Tomoe	Buffs Kari Combat Traits
Cisse	Looter & Moira's BFF
Shanaw	Buffs Kari Traits & her BFF

If the recruit will be a worker, the traits need to be skilled in fatigue resist and recovery traits first unless the work detail is specific like hunting.

The locations are shown by their distance from the shelter:
1. 2x West
2. 3x North, 1x East
3. 4x North, 1x West
4. 5x North, 2x East
5. 5x North, 3x West
6. 6x North, 3x East, 2x North
7. 5x North, 3x West, 3x North, 1x East
8. 5x North, 3x West, 5x North, 1x West

Day 1: Afternoon

Kari needs to use Celandine Ointment to reduce her sickness when 9% or above to explore further!
Note: The ointment will only reduce by 9%, not 10% because of the Extreme Conditions.

Before ending the night, the campfire needs to be started and make 4 potable water for everyone.

Survivor	Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Water
Eirik	Workshop (Mining camp)
Kari	Exploration
Moira	Resting in Shelter (Fully repair beforehand!)

Day 1: Night

The first night can be rolled to have less people needing water and not have random diseases.
Eirik is the only one who needs to be fully fed first to craft at max efficiency. The rest can share the scraps until a hunter is found.

Understanding Night Events

Night events can be good, bad, or neutral. Learning about these events are found on their official wiki website to get the best outcomes Website link [deadinvinland.fandom.com]

The riskiest event is when Eirik goes on a wood-cutting spree that causes fatigue and bleeding.
The night can be restarted with a backup save to delay the event until later when he has better means to cope and recover.

Day 2: Morning

The workshop can now be repaired further because of more stone from the Mining Camp. Shipwreck scavenging can be skipped for today. The Tinder Tree event yielded 4 Meade and wood.

At the end of the morning, Bjorn pays a visit to trigger a battle and have Kari answer to boost her courage!

Survivor	Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Mining (Stone)
Eirik	Workshop (Resting Area)
Kari	Exploration
Moira	Water

Björn's Storyline Battle

Two enemies debut in their first battle and can still be challenging.
Please refer to the Advanced Viking Warfare guide for further information.
After winning the battle, Björn will start the next fight and select Moira alone to be the sacrifice because it is a guaranteed loss.

Day 2: Afternoon

Eirik and Blodeuwedd need their depression treated once it reaches around 50%.
The recently obtained Meade should be used right away and roll for 5 days excited for the most depression healing over time!

Before ending the night, feed the fire just enough to cover the overnight evolution, same method to repair shelter, and make enough potable water for all.

Survivor	Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Workshop (Resting Area)
Eirik has 60+ Fatigue.	Shelter (Resting)
Kari	Exploration
Moira has buff mining stats from Anger	Mining (Stone)

Special Event Choices For Bonuses Later

There are 2 double-linked (4 total) events that reap larger rewards when making specific choices. More is explained in the Maximum Event Rewards guide.

Floating Chest - Skull Tree
Bury the floating chest for now and dig up later at the Skull Tree for more valuable loot.

Mysterious Grave - Strange Lights
Kari can safely take the bones without any penalty and get a permanent scavenge trait!
Moira needs to look for clues to level up her charisma to bypass some tribute events.
Not opening the Mysterious Grave gives a Blessing instead of Cursed.

The event also heals 27 depression from Strange Lights.

Day 2: Night

Moira gives 4 Yarrow potions and she can heal her battle injuries with one of them.
Eirik needs to pick the last of the 3 options when dealing with Björn' to choose letting anger out.
He gains a fatigue buff with Determined from Anger choice and can go beyond 7 days!
Loud Snorer can be rolled up to 5 days and is obtained after completing Rest Area.

Weather Manipulation

The third day can be rolled for a different weather, preferably Rainy for free potable water.
The night before can be loaded with an older save to accomplish this task.

Day 3: Morning

Preferred Weather for Today

Rainy

Battles begin today and needs to be rolled to always spawn two each day for extra resources!

The Workshop needs to be repaired until Excellent condition for max possible crafting speed.

Survivor	Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Shipwreck & Roll for 4 Rope
Eirik	Resting Area
Kari	Exploration
Moira	Workshop (Lumber Camp)
Tomoe	Mining Camp (Stone)

Battle Loot Priorities

The loot must always focus on the rare ropes but also beer/arrows when needed.
Ropes are needed to craft the Hunting Camp tomorrow and both battles must yield them.

Note: More information is available in the Advanced Viking Warfare and Perfect Camp Management in Extreme Conditions guides!

First Survivor

The survivor can be recruited if listed on the approved list.
The recruitment should only occur in the morning to be able to work a full day unless an emergency.

Day 3: Afternoon

Today will be the only rare day to do shipwreck twice for more rope.
She needs to use medicine to reduce sickness to best use her current level of scavenging.

Before ending night, the fire needs to be fed wood and repair shelter to excellent condition when needed.

Survivor	Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Shipwreck & Roll for 4 Rope
Eirik	Workshop (Lumber Camp)
Kari	Exploration
Moira	Resting Area
Tomoe	Mining Camp (Stone)

Freyja: Relevant First 3 Visits

Her exact location varies per game and is roughly 2 tiles away from the home camp.
Kari must do the first visit to obtain +5 scavenging and early Ancient Knowledge!
Eirik must do the second visit to clear path for the next one and choose these options of Freyja, Vanir, and Njörd .

On third visit, she will heal all states of 18% to anyone who offers milk but should be saved for emergencies only.

Day 4

Preferred Weather for Today

Sunny

After Moira has leveled, her next trait can either be faster level gain or charisma.
The charisma trait must not give a fatigue penalty and will have an easier skill check to bypass future tribute.

Pick +10 Crafting skill for Eirik when he levels up for faster tech.

Feed fire again until over 50% and need 5 potable water this time. Repair shelter if not in excellent condition.

The night event will be about completing the hunting camp and roll for 5 day excitement.

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Resting Area	Lumber Camp
Eirik	Workshop (Hunter Camp)	Workshop (Hunter Camp)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Mining (No Focus)	Mining (No Focus)
Tomoe	Lumber Camp	Resting Area

Understanding The Project Hammer

A project that needs 2 hammers translate to 2 turns at 100% craft speed.

The random roll needs to make progress of at least 50% per turn to complete the project on same day.

Day 5

Preferred Weather for Today

Rainy

Kari needs to use beer to get a 5 day Excited trait for battle buff and depression healing.

Eirik needs to listen to the voices from the Mushroom event to obtain Ancient Knowledge!
He was selected since he is not power leveling.

For the night event, try to trigger Tomoe's conversation with Kari to advance her combat training!

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Lumber Camp	Lumber Camp
Eirik	Workshop (Study I)	Workshop (Study I)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Resting Area	Mining (No Focus)
Tomoe	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)

Day 6: Free Beer Day

Preferred Weather for Today

Sunny

3 enemies will spawn from now on, along with Drunkard for unlimited free beer!

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Lumber Camp	Lumber Camp
Eirik	Workshop (Lumber Camp II)	Workshop (Lumber Camp II)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Mining (No Focus)	Mining (No Focus)
Tomoe	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)

Day 7: 1st Tribute

Preferred Weather for Today

Rainy

The Lumber Camp can now employ 2 at same time! Tomoe leveled up and get hunting.

5 wood tribute can safely be given without triggering a negative event.

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Resting Area	Lumber Camp
Eirik	Workshop (Religious Idol I)	Workshop (Religious Idol I)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Lumber Camp	Resting Area
Tomoe	Lumber Camp	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)

Day 8

Preferred Weather for Today

Sunny

Cisse was found this evening and can be recruited tomorrow morning.

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Lumber Camp	Lumber Camp
Eirik	Workshop (Pillows I)	Workshop (Pillows I)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Lumber Camp	Resting Area
Tomoe	Resting Area	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)

For anyone who is in danger of dying, Freyja can heal 18% of each state on the 3rd visit after offering milk.

Day 9

Preferred Weather for Today

Rainy

Workshop II is now ideal to craft with the newly recruited survivor, Cisse!

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Resting Area	Mining (Iron)
Eirik	Workshop (Workshop II)	Workshop (Workshop II)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Lumber Camp	Resting Area
Tomoe	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)	Lumber Camp
Cisse	Lumber Camp	Lumber Camp

He can also replace Eirik in all future battles for additional loot!

Day 10

Preferred Weather for Today

Sunny

Cisse with his crafting skill now works together with Eirik to finish most projects in half a day! Study 2 needs several redos and can be finished in the morning with at least 179% crafting speed!
A random afternoon event can occur that reduce fatigue or hunger for a random character!

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Lumber Camp	Lumber Camp
Eirik	Workshop (Study II)	Workshop (Iron Axe)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Lumber Camp	Resting Area
Tomoe	Resting Area	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)
Cisse	Workshop (Study II)	Workshop (Iron Axe)

Day 11

Preferred Weather for Today

Rainy

If Ravaged Camp is found, Kari needs to search the body to roll 4 pelts when looking for survivor. This gives enough for Pillows II! She needs to use Ullr's Golden Arrow for more hunting skill.

Cisse can be assigned to lumber camp for the afternoon and Eirik can finish crafting on his own.

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Resting Area	Mining (No Focus)
Eirik	Workshop (Pillows II)	Workshop (Pillows II)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Mining (No Focus)	Resting Area
Tomoe	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)
Cisse	Workshop (Pillows II)	Lumber Camp

Day 12

Preferred Weather for Today

Sunny

The Lost Shipment provides the second fire crystal that is obtained by Kari after searching the sandbank when looking for the loot.

Eirik will get crafting again as his next trait to make it easier to finish 2 hammer projects instantly!

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Mining (Iron - roll for 2)	Mining (Iron - roll for 2)
Eirik	Workshop (Religious Idol II)	Workshop (Religious Idol II)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Lumber Camp	Lumber Camp
Tomoe	Lumber Camp	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)
Cisse	Workshop (Religious Idol II)	Lumber Camp

Mid Game Exploration

The discovery of Björn's camp marks the start of mid game when exploring north from there.
Prioritize all lakes to the north for the Abandoned Boat (golden M) for power leveling.
The direction can e briefly changed to lakes for the Strange Lights shown as bright blue circle.
If the third desired survivor was still not found, try the nearby area.

Day 13

Preferred Weather for Today

Rainy

Kari can get 4 bones from the Mysterious Bones safely without being restricted on current scavenging stat. The Abandoned Boat event is now unlocked for power leveling and getting some extra wood!

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Resting Area	Mining (Iron)
Eirik	Workshop (Steel Axe)	Workshop (Steel Axe)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Mining (Iron)	Lumber Camp
Tomoe	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)	Lumber Camp
Cisse	Workshop (Steel Axe)	Resting Area

Abandoned Boat

One of the most important game-changing event that gives free healing and power leveling at the cost of depression! Refer to the power leveling guide.

The first step is best done by Cisse who needs to successfully assess the package with his high resistance to depression. The punishment is 3x depression of 10-15 and 19 fatigue.
The "Honoring the Dead" option is now unlocked for power leveling when conditions are ideal. The one-time looting gives a fixed number of 10 arrows, a charisma crown (used on Kari), and small depression healing.
Kari can collect twigs up to a max of 5 wood and best done in morning when fatigue is lowest.
The embroidery needs to be examined with Moira because she is not power leveling.
Her failed skill check will have a harmless concentration XP penalty that does not affect her work routine. and is not affected by the likely failed skill check that gives concentration XP penalty.

Note: The very last option of finishing the funeral must be avoided until the very end to finish the game.

Day 14: 2nd Tribute

Preferred Weather for Today

Sunny

In the morning, Moira needs to use the rest area and depression medicine to retain her high charisma stats, She needs to trick him and give 12 non-potable water that bypass the tribute and erases all of Björn's animosity back to zero.

During the afternoon, Cisse is replaced with Blodeuwedd so that he can fully craft traps in a single half day.

Survivor	Morning Work Station	Afternoon Work Station
Blodeuwedd	Mining (Iron)	Workshop (Sturdy Traps I)
Eirik	Workshop (Forge)	Workshop (Sturdy Traps I)
Kari	Exploration	Exploration
Moira	Resting Area	Mining (No Focus)
Tomoe	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)	Hunting (Roll for Pelts)
Cisse	Workshop (Forge)	Forge(Trap x1)

Day 14: Setting Traps

Before ending the night, set up the recently made trap!
The next 3 traps need to be set up over the next 2 days.

Epilogue

The next stage begins after the 3rd Tribute and continue the adventure in our next upcoming guide!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3263579877

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[Laguna Queen]

Did you even read the guide before commenting? I already explained how to manage to deal with the heavy RNG. Plus, you wouldn't be here if you had that much trouble with the game.

[Tegga21]

Your guide is cheat to win. So not a guide. Just use cheat engine.

[Laguna Queen]

Nice person Jessie https://steamcommunity.com/id/motherofpenguins

He just blocks me after helping get the True Viking achievement on Extreme Conditions without having to redo the whole game. Also,didn't fulfill word to support guide.

Even deletes comments here to try to hide trail.

[Laguna Queen]

Thank you! You can still recruit them and Eustache isn't as damaging as the others. You can still go for the survivor locations to recruit the ones you want or if you think the map is crap. Try over again?

[Longinus69]

Great guide, I've been trying to follow it for the past few days. But my biggest hurdle is finding the survivors you mentioned. For example in this playthrough I got Eustache from the closest point, and the next three survivors I found were the two couples and the old hag, and the oither survivor spots are really far away now, so I'm kinda screwed. What do you do to counter this RNG?

[ThePickNick]

yes maybe its my fault. I did not specify Im am reloading 15+ times in the morning on a day 5 trying to get a battle without any luck.

[Laguna Queen]

Did you read the details carefully? It is only on Day 3 that getting two battles are possible and you can save & quit if rolling for one in the morning then doing the same for the afternoon instead of rolling for both half-days at same time.

[ThePickNick]

how is it that you are getting 2 battles per day, I have reloaded 15+ times and never got any battle

[alexlegard3]

When you encounter Freyja (blue cat woman), make sure you advance the story with her because she will reduce all states for one character by 18. Crucial during the early game.

I don't think you mention traps, but they're very good after you get the upgrade that increases the chance that they're reusable. Without them, hunger is probably the biggest challenge in the midgame.

[tomasulo]

Good guide. One suggestion i have is: let one of your early recruits soak up bad health stats and die (Eustace is great for this). Try and time their death from, say, depression/injury with max hunger/fatigue limits: stop feeding/resting him so those stats reach 100 approx. when his depression/injury will hit 100. Let him soak up the damage during battles, don't waste beer/meade on him but make him do depressing work (fish/lumber/mining).

Any bad stats your sacrifice is taking is bad stats your main peoples aren't taking.