You're better off just using bolts or other tiny pieces of metal when you suspect an anomaly is near.
1) As an inexperienced stalker, would you bet your life on your ability to correctly predict when an anomaly is near? I wouldn't.
2) No tactile feedback on a thrown item
3) Less information from a thrown item. For example, let's say you've confirmed an anomaly, but you don't know what it does. If you stick your broom stick in, pull it out and tip of the broomstick is warm or cold to the touch, or is an inch shorter, or trips your geiger counter that's useful information. How do you do that with a bolt that you threw on the ground and is now 5-10 feet away from you?
4) Slow and limited field of coverage on a thrown item. If you suspect there's an anomaly-edge somewhere within a 20 by 20 foot area, a stick can easily be moved around while you walk. That seems much simpler to me that throwing a bolt every couple feet.
5) The stick method
does allow for constant "minesweeping" as you call it for the entire length of the trip, and I see no reason to not do it. Whereas I'm not sure it would be practical or convenient to bring enough bolts to throw them into your path every step of the way for a two day trip, and/or stop to pick them up every time you throw.
6) The stick method is vastly superior in conditions of poor lighting. If you can't see the bolt, it doesn't do you much good. You can feel the stick even if you're blind.
7) Remember that anomaly edges are not necessarily flat planes at 90 degrees to the ground. What if the anomaly begins 5 feet above the ground? So you throw your bolt at arm height, nothing happens to it so you walk right in and lose your head. A stick can easily be moved around wherever you want it.
We could conceivably address some of the above using bolts instead of sticks by tying a bolt to the end of string and swinging it. And if people would prefer to do that instead of use sticks, I'm ok with that, though I think a stick would be much less tiring than swinging figure 8s with a string for hours at a time. If metal is required, we could easily wrap a stick in aluminum foil and get the best of both worlds.
But I get the impression that your objection is motivated by aesthetics, not practicality. You'd
feel silly doing what I'm describing.
You feeling silly is not my problem.
It simply won't do to try minesweeping every area you come through.
Why not?
anomaly detectors
Hermes: Do such things exist? Because I'm doing a text search through my PDF version of the manual, and no such item is listed.
All anomalies have warning signs as well, so you'll see or hear them before you trigger them.
Hermes: is this true here? Or is GUNINANRUNIN describing only the PC version of the game?
All anomalies have warning signs as well, so you'll see or hear them before you trigger them. And if you're
close enough to trigger an anomaly with a broom handle? Well, frankly, you're going to get hurt anyways.
Again, are you talking about the PC game or the RPG? Because what you're saying doesn't match the description I'm seeing in the manual. For example, a Mosquito Mange wouldn't give any visible or auditory indication of its presence, but the stick method I'm proposing would definitely locate it because you'd feel the end of your stick suddenly get heavier. A Painting anomaly would give no auditory indication, and might or might not give visual indication depending on what was in it, as well as humidity and dust conditions, but either way the stick method would definitely detect it because the stick would become fixed in space shortly after entry.
Yes, thrown bolts would
also detect these anomalies...but only if you're throwing one ahead of you every couple seconds as you walk. I don't think that's practical.
Scooters could be useful, but you have to consider that they'll only work well on even ground, and that even if you get a chance to use it, when you're not using it you'll need to carry it.
They're light, and easily carried over a shoulder. I suggest we let Marcus decide whether he wants to bring one, since he's the one who's going to get stuck trying to keep pace with people half his age and in much better physical condition.
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Topic: Stalker Community RPG Game (Read 27296 times)