Lets have a stalker thread. I'm an hour in on my first

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bump cmon guys

Gonna pick up SoC on steam sale. Only played with a pirated ver. up to this point. Last time I played I got stuck in some sewer, any tips?

>>381986539
are you talking about the sewer with the electricity?

>>381985847
you'll get good sometime after you get to the bar

>>381985847

My advice is finish with the research institute as fast as you can and go right into the Army Warehouse and get better guns.

One of the main sins of Stalker is how crappy the starting weapons are, which throw people off the game

>>381987213
Don't remember, there was just a lot of enemies that I couldn't get past.

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>>381987427
The AK + scope is already highly accurate and more than enough for the bandits and soldiers in early game.

>>381988903

Yes but they are not fun to shoot.

>>381985847
i never got past it. i finished the game, at least, i got an ending, but i never once knew what the fuck was going on.

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>>381987427
Ignore this person, if you do this you're going to fuck up the games natural progression and ruin it for yourself

>>381985847
Honestly you should get the latest version of AMK or something while you're still early.

>>381988903
is this vanilla STALKER?

There is hidden pretty good weapon in the starting village that helps you to take over the army base instantly. (But its good all the way to bar too)

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>>381985847
>When do I get guud and used to the game.

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To any rookies out there that are thinking of starting the STALKER series, Consult this Starting Guide,
then see the /vg/'s huge Stalker General for more tips and links: >>>/vg/stalker

Play in the release order. Start with no mods - only latest patch, OR get the full "Starter Pack" first; these contain bug-fixers and light visual mods that can help performance as well.
Leave big overhauls for later playthrougs. Avoid the "Complete" -mods. Always play on MASTER difficulty for best realism and atmosphere, and disable crosshair.

Don't give up in the beginning! The starting gear sucks ass and first area can be a bit boring.

>>381992274
No.

>>381992138
Now, I love me some AMK any day or night, but throwing fucking greenhorns to the deepest end of boiling water right off the bat is NOT the right way to do it.

Vanilla games have a fine balance and unique atmosphere, that should be experienced first

>>381993463
I played STALKER the first time in 2008, 9, or 10 and got the Bar before deciding on Oblivion Lost 2.2. To this day I have not finished vanilla Stalker an don't ever intend to. I know my experience isn't god, but the thought of a new player slogging through the bore that is vanilla just grates me.

>>381985847
>I'm confused as fuck and lost
You people should learn to 1) Read your PDA, and 2) listen to what NPCs say.

>Just finished the part where you set up an ambush near that garbage place or whatever
so like 20 minutes into the game. ADHD much?

>>381993940
>so like 20 minutes into the game. ADHD much?

Helping out Bes could easily be an hour into the game if you dick around in the Cordon as a first time player.

>>381993908
>the thought of a new player slogging through the bore that is vanilla just grates me.
Your "opinion" matters jack shit, OL faggot.
I've beaten and seen the vanilla beaten many times in the past 10 years, and it's fucking great.

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>>381993908
>vanilla
>bore
m8... big chunk of rookies can't even survive all the way to the Aprogrom institute. And the few that do, shit bricks. And the even fewer that get to the Bar always say that the game's amazing.

>>381994073
Really can't hear you over my giving medkits to wounded stalkers and then having their friendship forever.

Fuck clear sky and its faction war system. Freedom refuses to send out a squad to duty's main base and ive been waiting for an hour.

>>381994173
A basic vanilla feature. So?

>>381994298
Should have used SRP

>>381994330
I installed it before I did my playthrough.

>>381994327
Not so. In OL 2.2 you could have these individuals follow you from map to map. This is not in vanilla. More than that I haven't played OL 2.2 in 7, 8, or 9 years. AMK has been my go to.

>>381994008
Sure thing. I would say it's easy to waste a couple hours in the Cordon area on your first time, and it'd be almost recommended.

It is still quite cute how rookies seem to think that getting to Garbage would be a huge accomplishment.

>>381994298
>siding with the 420 dude weed lmao memelords
kys

>>381994580
I didnt have a choice, duty wont send squads for some reason if Freedom has 0 resources which they did for me.

>>381994692
Yah that is one of the issues with the system. I guess the devs thought that if theyre at no resources they would be wiped out.

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>>381994580
>siding with literal jarhead Nazis who get eaten by stray dogs all the time
no son, YOU kys. Now.

>>381994692
Just play faction wars if you want more of that shit. Finish the story and ignore it.

>>381994964
but i side with the best faction
>not being brainwashed and fighting to death for your nonexistent monolith waifu

For some reason I have clear sky and CoP but no SoC.

How does it compare with CoP's story?
What features are missing from SoC thats in CoP?
Is there more mod support for SoC than CoP?

>>381995334
>How does it compare with CoP's story?
Better in all ways. More of a personal mystery, and the whole Zone's being "introduced" to you as if you were a rookie with amnesia for real.
>What features are missing from SoC thats in CoP?
Upgrade trees and artifact detectors.
>Is there more mod support for SoC than CoP?
Yes.

I just beat Soc a few days ago. Gotta say, the whole ending portion when you start heading towards the wishmaker was crazy from start to finish. I got the ending where you wish for the zone to disappear. I didn't get it at first actually but I looked it up and got an explanation on the wiki and found out about the other endings. I'll probably install SOUP and try for another playthrough or move on to the other games.

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>>381995947
>I'll probably install SOUP
You're a real masochist, arent' you?
Haven't heard anyone talk about that thing in years.

Instead of filling your game with tons of unbalanced for-teh-lulz crap, how about you start off a bit softer, with "The definitive STALKER experience" -mod of pic related?

>>381995947
that's not the true ending though fellow stalker

play again and do it right this time

>>381996140
But after I figured out that there were multiple ones I watched them all and read the explanations on the wiki. Might try for the true ending anyways though honestly.

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>>381996382
>doing that
>ever
no wonder "replay value" is nonexistent in modern mainstream games.

Quick S.T.A.L.K.E.R'.s! post your favorite weapons or weapons you just wished you had more time to use if you didn't pick them up fast enough in game. Recommend weapons to your fellow S.T.A.L.K.E.R.'s as well.
Fast shooting AK with the scope and grenade launcher reporting. Rarely got to use the launcher at all since I couldn't find any ammo for it but it made my gun look like a gungungun so I kept it anyways.

>>381985847
Things pick up and feel a little more structured when you get to the bar. That's also about the time you start getting your hands on some decent gear.

>>381996480
I mean I can still play it for the gameplay alone. Which, lets be honest, is why we all play S.T.A.L.K.E.R. in the first place. Even knowing whats going to happen its the journey that will keep me playing the game, not the destination.

>>381996613
SPSA-12

Has anyone played with the Call of chernobyl mod? Sounds pretty interesting.

>>381996613
Exo/USP/Chaser is my go-to loadout, always.

Stalker Suit if i don't have the Exo yet.

>>381996835
the bullet sponges in that mod made it unbearable to play for me. Holy fuck how fucking awful if I wanted to play borderlands I'd let a man fuck me in the ass to make me gay and then download it off steam

>>381996835
Good, get it with the arsenal overhaul mod and experience all the content it has to offer.

>>381985847
The story is pretty loose so if you feel lost that's normal. The gameplay is what really sells it though. Around the bar is where the game really solidifies itself and what direction it wants to take with the story.

>>381995947
Which SOUP are you thinking?

>>381996835
who HASN'T played with it at this point?
And it's dull. Like I said earlier, one main reason why I and many people like STALKER is the fact that you're NOT just "surviving" for the sake of survival, in a big, empty sandbox world full of nothing. Which is exactly what CoC's all about.

>>381997630
Are not all the quests available?

>>381997692
It's a sandbox mod. You fool around as you please, without superior motives or goals.

No, it does not "literally merge all three games into one". It's just "all" the maps, connected with new and old exits, with some new NPC activity.

Clear Sky's "The Faction War 3" did it all way better, way earlier.

>>381997880
I had no idea The Faction War had come so far. Thanks for the tip-off.

>>381997880
>>381998327
Is it solely the areas in Clear Sky? Neither the moddb page nor the GSC game world page stipulate.

>>381998516
Just clear sky

>>381998620
Gotcha. Thanks man.

>>381997416
Stalker soup listed here >>381993463

>>381999025
Right but aren't there a million versions?

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>>381999260
There are. Anon's just a cute lil' rookie who's yet to venture the deep sea of STALKER mods.

>>381994167
I beat it, game was trash, just here to tell you this

>>381999467
Thought so. The one I tried years back was Nardonya's with that beginning maze section jesus christ.

>>381999629
I strongly suggest you try AMK, or if you're feeling for something crazy one of the SOUP variants.

>>381999629
OK, don't care.
Beat the game many times, it is amazing.

do i buy 1 stalker, call of pripyat, or 3 stalker

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>>381999916
You pirate all three STALKERs, so the nu-GSC and its jew CEO don't get any of your valuable bucks, then play in release order.

>>381993463
what's wrong with complete?

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>>382000307
>every single thread
is it summer again?

Complete is casual as fuck AND obsolete as hell mod. Pic very related.

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>>381994580
>>381994964
>tfw you just went full loner

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>>381995947
>not doing the true ending
>he fell for the brainwashing

>>381996613
AK 74 with scope > Obokan > GP 37.

Headshot after headshot my man.

>>381985847
The first lab (it will come soon, just keep playing) and the part after that will make a man out of you

>>381987427
I don't agree, the gradual procession is what makes SoC so good, I love CoP and it's probably my favorite Stalker overall but getting powerful as fuck guns basically 20 minutes in the game if you know what you are doing is the worst part of it easily.

>>381994580
It's funny cause Freedom actually gets shit done
But that probably just talks more about how shit Duty is more than anything

>>382000496
it's been summer for a while, yes

>>382000496
>sounds reduced
Not that I am defending Complete, but isn't that good, since stealth is broken? From what I know (didn't stealth), pulling out a knife/gun has sound too, and since you do it when you load, retrying stealth might as well be impossible.
Granted, I don't know, so I might be wrong.

>>382001339
you wouldn't believe it where I live.

>>381985847
alright boys i just bought the 3 game bundle
what am i in for?

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>>382001463
>isn't that good, since stealth is broken?
it's only "broken" for people who thought you could play it like a generic, modern AAA console title where pressing Crouch + sneaking behind an enemy would be all that's needed for "stealth" and one-hit finishing moves.

"Stealth" in STALKER games means sneaking into a good vantage point, sniping out a couple unaware enemy units before they realize you're there, then disappearing from the scene before the survivors locate and flank you.

tl;dr: People are too used to the very binary ""stealth"" mechanisms like pic related.

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>>382001558
Some of the most immersive and unique survival-shooter titles out there, that also spawned the whole sub-genre back in the days.

>why are they so good?

They're scarier than many "true" horror games released in past few years.
They look prettier than some much later released multiplat titles.
They make games like Far Cry 3-4 feel like horribly dumbed down, handholding kiddie games.
They are fairly realistic, but not simulator-level. There's real bullet physics and stuff like bleeding and hunger, and one shot to the head can kill anyone.

They are VERY long lasting games. One playthrough in vanilla can last well over 25 hours at calm pace, but I've spent a good two WEEKS in all three of them on my first playthroughs. And later a lot more with numerous mods.

They're not perfect games and have their few issues, but in the end they are like "rough diamonds": totally worth investing time and effort in. They are just not afraid to kick you in the groin and call you a bitch - which is quite rare in modern games.

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Stalker is the only game I can immerse myself enough to roleplay in. I live the daily loner life scavenging, hunting mutants, doing dirtywork for the other factions and making money from artifacts. It's great, especially when CoC has the areas from all three games.

>>382001781
There's also thing with walls not affecting noise and most buildings are really small/have small rooms. Military outpost is probably stalker's first stealth moment and blockpost buildings are nothing more than 2 rooms on top of each other.

Finished SoC using latest ZRP and SHADERS MAX on Steam. Super atmospheric and blew away my first time playing it years ago using Complete.

Started CS but all the faction warfare was too overwhelming.

Am wanting to revisit the Zone in SoC using some mods. What's next? I'm a sucker for 'ultimate mods' that restore cut content/add lore-friendly stuff and keep true to the original game.

Any recommendations?

>>382002541
Autumn Aurora and AMK were hot shit when I played SoC some years ago, don't know if there's some new stuff

>>382002541
see >>381996129

When that's done, consult: >>381999467

>>381985847
>I'm confused as fuck and lost
I love when games give these feelings

> When do I get guud and used to the game.

Very soon once you realize:

- This game is all about taking potshots at enemies from cover with assault rifles. Charging forward is usually bad idea.
- You can get very good weapons really early, for example if you go after the to the areas after the bar early.
- Don't bother taking multiple weapons in inventory - it takes too much space. Take only your trusty assault rifle and lots off ammo, medkist, food etc. so you have space for loot.

in the very beginning when there are no on only really bad assault rifles, take the shotgun or mp.

quicksave and reload ruins the gameplay anaway, as with all single player PC shooters

>>382001351
HOLY SHIT!

so it's this what happnes when you find a wounded guy around a camp??!!?, i always thought that their friends were just jerks


>>382003192
by the way, just keep playing man, let yourself go loose

>>382003135
>>382003049
Oh, thanks. Would you recommend pirating the gog version to not mess about with modding the steam files and having to roll back game versions? Or just doing a clean install and going with Steam?

>>382003775
I've always used my steam versions but you can do either

>>382003775
pirating a retail version would be the best bet, as you usually get pure 1.00 versions, which then can be patched manually.

Starter Packs got the latest / fairly recent patches for all 3 games.

>>382003913
>>382004061
Thanks a ton for your replies. Which AMK would you recommend? There seems to be one that incorporates Autumn Aurora as AMK: Autumn Edition...?

>>382004353
I think it's just AMK merged with AA2, might as well go with that if it works

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>>382004353
The pure vanilla AMK 1.4.
The other ""versions"" have nothing to do with real AMK, and just fill it up with stupid shit.

you can use Starter Pack's graphical mods with it if you want.

>decide to play Clear Sky
>finally find a mod for it
>it's english
>russian, playing russian version obviously
I think it's been around 10 months since I downloaded it, I am still to lazy to finish translating it.

>>382004353
>>382004743
AMK AE is good. Authentic AMK gameplay with AA's nice visuals.

The Starter Pack's graphics mods are awful. The STALKER Weather Overhauled mod as seen in your screenshot for example replaces AMK's dynamic weather with a static one. AMK AE not only looks better but actually maintains dynamic weather.

>>382004743
So 1.4.1 isn't the true AMK mod? Can AMK just be applied over my patched ZRP version with the shaders max patch? Or would you recommend the gog-pirate way or a clean steam install?

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>>382005113
Yes.

No, ZRP is a minor yet still gameplay logic affecting mod, and you don't want to mix two of those at the same time. Luckily, you can "disable" the current mods just by re-naming your Gamedata -folder to something else.
Pure graphical mods, like Shaders Max, Absolute Nature... etc, are OK.

I'd guess GOG would be better option, as Steam auto-updates its games to latest. I bet GoG does the same too tho', so I'd still vouch for pirating the 1.0 retail version.

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>>382004967
>The STALKER Weather Overhauled mod as seen in your screenshot for example replaces AMK's dynamic weather with a static one.
AMK did not have dynamic weather at all by default. Barely any visual mods in general actually. Any fancy effects like that would've been later 3rd party additions.
I personally mostly use the weather mod for darker nights, though there are alternative options for that.

The textures and shaders Starter Pack includes are great though.

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Those AMK mutant spawns though

>>382005997
Appreciate the help. At the moment, I'm still tossing up between Autumn Aurora and AMK: Autumn Edition (seem easiest to install and are on moddb) and then the AMK 1.4 and 1.41 mods (seem a bit more finnicky to install from nexus mods). Don't think my comp could handle any additional texture packs - stalker really seems to tax my system - I've a nvidia 640gt with 8gb of ram.

>>382006117
AMK very much has dynamic weather, it doesn't look visually different from vanilla but it's dynamic; it may rain at a certain time of day or it may be cloudy or it may be clear. Fancy effects has nothing to do with it.