Underrail Forum
Underrail => Let's Plays => Topic started by: HulkOSaurus on September 20, 2019, 11:14:01 am
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Hello, Underrailers,
This is Nerfed Old Man
(https://i.imgur.com/VhcdJIL.png)
A predominantly melee character(with a twist to come), which for me, despite my hundreds of hours into the game, is an entirely new experience. That's right - I've never played one, so you may want to stick around for the laughs, but be warned, you may find yourself shaking your head instead.
So without further ado, the first thing any serious melee character needs to do is to sell his guns and get some grenades on the way.
(https://i.imgur.com/kaHXX7S.png)
That way I know I haven't completely screwed up.
Nerfed Old Man punched some Rathounds with his bare fists in the first zone. It goes like this - 1 Rathound is worth almost your entire health. With superior punches, however, you're guaranteed to win. You still need to go back to base for free heals.
(https://i.imgur.com/ITV15p6.png)
But punches alone will not get us far, so it was time to employ the real weapons:
(https://i.imgur.com/nWteyCe.png)
Nerfed Old Man felt good when he ninja'd two at the same time without taking a scratch.
He then devised a superior tactic to take on the rest.
(https://i.imgur.com/1P28Loh.png)
One by one at the choke. It's important that you shout ''You shall not pass'', or ''This is Sparta'' or something.
RNJeesus blessed me next.
(https://i.imgur.com/wvKx5pm.png)
A single egg took M'lan Ratula and both of his pets out. I can get used to that... but I know it won't last.
With power restored to four outposts I took on the next task.
Here's how you hunt Cave Hoppers... I know you all know, but just a tip for those coming from Sseth's channel.
(https://i.imgur.com/WWkQmMt.png)
You wait for them to come out form the hole, then start combat. Straight in the cage.
(https://i.imgur.com/ew92N0p.png)
The choice is final, and so it shall remain.
Next I needed to busy myself with small things because I needed loot and XP.
(https://i.imgur.com/2VKvp97.png)
Got into a knife fight with Lurkers, and it went well.
I managed to lvl up to 3 so I was able to upgrade my eggs up a tier. Do note that I ate the one and only Underpie I found to be able to do that.
(https://i.imgur.com/B7D9uXK.png)
Still needed more XP, so I head out to do Jack's task.
(https://i.imgur.com/DzCzT3X.png)
I saved my MKII Eggs and used the basic ones instead. With the help of a flare and the SGS Guard I managed to survive the furry attack.
The last bit to lvl 4 was found here:
(https://i.imgur.com/md9ZD6O.png)
That magic cockroach was guarding a heap of rubble in which I knew I could find the last point of XP. Magic cockroaches hurt, by the way. The way to damage them with a Dex based melee build early in the game is to make them open their heads, thus lowering their Physical resistance. Still, if you take them on one by one you'll succeed.
After lvl 4 was achieved it was time to help Newton.
Utilizing the superior tactics of closing the door after starting combat, Nerfed Old Man made his life much easier.
(https://i.imgur.com/TJSqdBa.png)
After that he laid some good ol' bear traps in a chequered formation around the floor with a little sideways clear to get to the door. What followed did surprise me a bit - probably why I didn't take a screenshot of it. I opened the door and lured a cockroach in, another followed. Let them bleed as much as I could, then finished them with a HE tin. Closed the door and relaid the traps. Open the door, and there are a couple of roaches there. Run back around the corner and pass turn. Hear traps spring. On my turn I peek around the corner and see six roaches all clumped up together. I can't remember if they had their heads open, but they all wiped with a single MKII egg.
(https://i.imgur.com/P1f3StO.png)
So that was one of the hardest parts of the game done. I think RNJeesus blessed me there again.
Next, it was time to get busy with Gorsky's assignment. Inside the facility I got another proverbial bless in the form of a blueprint.
(https://i.imgur.com/cugktxK.png)
I got that when I needed money the most, so I will call it a blessing.
After that Nerfed Old Man concluded that it's alright to bring a knife to a gun fight, so long as your armour is tough enough... and your 'nades fly true(it's always about those, isn't it.)
(https://i.imgur.com/dJmONoH.png)
Poking these with a knife is ok. But you really only do damage to them on critical hits. They also only do damage to you with critical hits, albeit single digits, but still, I wouldn't call it exciting. A vest made for bullets and reinforced with bits of dead magic roaches was the difference between a repetitive and long walk in the park and a rage-inducing experience, I guess. But hey, I felt that it's the first time when heavy investment into Dex paid off :-X.
After finishing with Gorsky I must have leveled to 6, because I've taken a picture of Nerfed Old Man happily stuffing an egg full of higher grade explosives.
(https://i.imgur.com/6YQ9VWy.png)
The eggs keep getting getting tastier...
I think I busied myself with small stuff around: kill the Siphoner, meet Abram, do the gang's early tasks... things like that. I've taken a screenshot of my first serious piece of equipment right around here:
(https://i.imgur.com/YQh64iM.png)
I think this was from the gang guarding the entrance to the embassy. I did wipe them with couple of eggs.
Right around here Nerfed Old Man felt brave enough to step into Styg's Personal Purgato...I mean Depot A.
(https://i.imgur.com/5sIxAeh.png)
Got into heavy fighting with muties and dogs. I decided beforehand that I wanted Pneumatic Gloves to take on those, but as always, I messed up.
(https://i.imgur.com/yCvWohB.png)
I remember clearly that it was Rathound Reinforced Leather I needed for the lower AP, but instead I must have mashed everything and ended up with a Steel Spiked... it isn't bad, but at the moment it has an AP cost of 11, which means that if I miss a strike in a turn I won't be able to incapacitate the target. Derp.
This is the build so far:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?BwMLBQkDAwcALQAtHh4AAAAAACgjKAooAAAAAAAALScvYRYg378
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This build has 3 Perception and no points into Traps.
But Nerfed Old Man knows where most of the traps are. It's a mystery, I know... In case you're not sure what you're doing - stick to the walls.
(https://i.imgur.com/jtEKp4A.png)
You're bound to avoid the vast majority of traps in the game that way, but if you're a newer player, don't do as I do.
What really surprised me about Nerfed Old Man is how easy the Acid-Tripped Dogs were. I've always thought them to be incredibly annoying and dangerous in a pack, but Nerfed Old Man was handling them like they were nothing. They also couldn't land their ranged Acidic Entanglement, so I guess 30 points in Evasion pays off big time. Used a net and a few Fist of the North Star procs so controlling the choke was easy.
(https://i.imgur.com/i9wcsnq.png)
But Depot A is not Depot A on DOMINATING until you have to take down a Plasma Turret.
(https://i.imgur.com/9faDkcN.png)
Poking that one with an electric knife isn't fun. I spend, maybe, ten batteries or so, but once it was down it looted for just as much, so it was ok.
The muties in the same area were probably the biggest hurdle in the whole of the Depot. I spent a few 'nades more than I expected, but better safe than sorry :).
(https://i.imgur.com/ludj35w.png)
The way to deal with packs of ranged enemies like this is to look for those who occupy more than a single square at the front. If you entangle, or Fist of the North Star them, they will block the passage for the rest.
Still, I have to say that regular dogs and muties with guns were more dangerous than the acid dogs or mutants.
(https://i.imgur.com/qYnt7N8.png)
Nerfed Old Man was dressed entirely in Mutant Dog Skin and had the Escape Artist Perk at this point, as well. Once again, control the choke with a Taser, Nets, Flashbangs and Fist of the North Star procs.
Happily finished that part of the game.
(https://i.imgur.com/okH1HH2.png)
And immediately left for Core City.
(https://i.imgur.com/N5GMlxF.png)
Possibly the densest area in terms of XP in Oddity mode.
I got busy doing small things, looting every container I could, and fighting superior enemies with Fist of the North Star procs.
(https://i.imgur.com/hjjweuc.png)
Nerfed Old Man was using a Taser, then punching them four times. Wait for the Taser to come on again and repeat. Quick good loot, and also a piece of stealth equipment with value of 33. I'd need that.
On the way to rummaging through all the containers in the Core, Nerfed Old Man stopped by the arena.
(https://i.imgur.com/ojou1qb.png)
And used his companion challengers to tank Ancient Rathound attacks. Their loot is better served in his pockets.
Just make sure you have enough AP to actually loot the corpses before combat ends. It wasn't exactly an easy encounter, so Nerfed Old Man was content with only one challenger dying in the process.
(https://i.imgur.com/owZNEYu.png)
Continuing to loot Core City, Nerfed Old Man joined Praetorian Security and did them a freebie by disposing of that burglar for free. He still took everything he could from that obviously expensive house... you know... for expenses.
(https://i.imgur.com/Nce4jAl.png)
After finishing the small stuff in Core City, an idea came to Nerfed Old Man's head. Why not visit Panacea Lab in Upper Underrail? Emboldened by the recent success with Depot A it didn't seem too bad of a plan.
And it wasn't.
(https://i.imgur.com/apkbXtu.png)
Fist weapons are silent, so you can take a number of enemies out one by one.
(https://i.imgur.com/F0p5Fxl.png)
Those lonely Hunchbacks are nothing but Punchbags for the Fist of the North Star.
And again, armed muties turn out to be more dangerous than bigger mutants.
(https://i.imgur.com/QqDZVEE.png)
There's a wider choke here, but still doable with generous use of eggs, Molotovs and caltrops. Enemies generally don't like walking on a combination of flame and caltrops, so controlling them is still possible. And I did have a number of 'nades I wanted to get rid of.
What is not possible to be taken down, at least at this stage of the game, is an Industrial Bot.
(https://i.imgur.com/2ynK5OQ.png)
I don't know how you feel about Nerfed Old Man utilizing the lack of door handle recognition algorithms in the coding of the bots, but running away from one until he is an a room with a door, and then closing it once it's inside is the best he's got in terms of dealing with them at the moment. I honestly don't know how I should take down one if I have to.
Once done with Panacea Lab it was time to go back to literally the opposite end of Underrail. On the way there Nerfed Old Man stopped by the arena again.
(https://i.imgur.com/n8ikaMo.png)
This time with more success, yielding two challenger corpses instead of one. More loot for the wicked.
He did get busy with small things in the sewers, but quickly went out and headed straight to Junkyard.
If Depot A is Styg's Personal Purgatory, then the Magic Roach Island of Doom is the improved version.
(https://i.imgur.com/XYR2DIh.png)
I went in with 10 MK III Frags, 10 Magnesium 'nades, Burrower Poison Caltrops and additional paraphernalia of things. You can see how much I spent of those. Captain Bro bravely tanked totally balanced Magic Roach magicks, meaning travelling from Junkyard will be more difficult now. But I still count that as a win. I always prefer siding with the Eels here, so it was important to finish this part of the game.
With the stealth gear looted earlier, black Tabi's purchased from Blaine and a crafted Balaclava, Nerfed Old Man got nearly 70 Stealth without a single point in the stat. He did manage to complete Abram's task with that.
(https://i.imgur.com/96Mbud8.png)
I put on the best clothes for the occasion:
(https://i.imgur.com/7q1sHS1.png)
And proceeded to attack the Scrappers from the front. Nerfed Old Man wanted to make sure that Salas wasn't going to die because then there won't be no dinero.
And the Scrappers were putting a surprisingly good fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/hY2aOkr.png)
I was also hoping that a Protectorate Soldier would die in the raid, but nope. Hopes dashed. Still, that's a lot of cash made on the return to Junkyard.
It was time to check another zone of the game.
Much like in Core City, you loot containers, try to do small things at first when you arrive in Foundry... kill wives by derailing mining carts, ect.
(https://i.imgur.com/EVnTZj8.png)
And you also step on worms to learn more of the world.
(https://i.imgur.com/Szx1b9J.png)
There's also free TNT here, if you want to help yourself to it.
Foundry quickly yielded a bar worth of Oddity XP, so Nerfed Old Man was able to improve his Crafting. He also became more Versatile... by deciding to use Energy weapons and SMGs, and whatnot.
(https://i.imgur.com/9M81s58.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/C2oIgZl.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/wlAmeEr.png)
I don't know if Ancient Rathound Leather is any better for glove weapons, but I still used that patch I looted earlier from the Arena to make 6 AP per attack Combat Gloves with a Pneumatic Hammer.
It was time to finish the first task from the Praetorian Security.
The first Guard has very high Physical resistance, so we only deal damage on Critical Hits and Fist of the North Star procs.
(https://i.imgur.com/j2Ze7Pf.png)
Still no problem with him. Lone enemies in general never will be a problem, I think, unless they are Industrial Bots.
Same with these two.
(https://i.imgur.com/y1FYEfW.png) (https://i.imgur.com/GBnnsGy.png)
I had EMP 'nades ready for the next batch of enemies.
(https://i.imgur.com/bxiumsM.png)
Again, notice how the enemy in the front is slightly off from his square. This means that in the game's logic he's occupying two squares. If you can control him, you control the group. And so with quite a generous amount of 'nades, and poking his head from the corner, shooting and whatnot, Nerfed Old Man was able to take down De Pacino and gang. Finally got a Shield Emitter.
This is the build at the moment.
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?DQMNBQkDAwcASwBLHjwAAAAAAEZLNxRLAAAAAAAAQScvYRYgTgbCo9-_
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I tried joining Expedition next.
(https://i.imgur.com/BFeafYQ.png)
Wasn't surprised that I didn't get admission. Still wanted to give it a try.
I reckoned I needed to become a Gladiator first. So I got busy with that.
Tanky as these enemies are, Nerfed Old Man is the punching master of punches... :P
(https://i.imgur.com/XXbLNc7.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/5X4vGX6.png)
If this is was real time with pause, you'd see the character swinging 1.66 times per second and the enemy doing nothing but stagger. Well... it's not quite Fist of the North Star levels of punching... but we're working on it, alright.
I screwed up here and couldn't get the loot.
(https://i.imgur.com/dJdo4AC.png)
Derp.
(https://i.imgur.com/lfDuqdH.png)
Sandman?...
Strange name for somebody who punches things in the face, but alright. The Sandman it is.
So now Nerfed Old Man was a Gladiator, thus he tried getting admission again.
(https://i.imgur.com/9bZss2L.png)
And failed.
I honestly expected it to work. Guess I still don't know the game well enough.
Let off some steam by blowing gangsters, instead.
(https://i.imgur.com/a4vFpCW.png)
But I needed to get busy with the Arena again.
(https://i.imgur.com/G6xLM0E.png)
Versatility is paying off here as Master Exploder has very high Physical resistance. Punching still stuns him and does small damage on Pneumatic Hammer procs, but predominantly the damage was done with the Laser Pistol.
Had a brutal opening against Chemical Agent.
(https://i.imgur.com/aT0RkPu.png)
And happily looted his gun, as well. I was curious to see how it was going to work. Never used one of those before.
But punching things in the Arena, apparently, can get boring, because after that I've taken a picture of Nerfed Old Man going all the way back to Junkyard.
(https://i.imgur.com/fIxhE5J.png)
Yes, by that way, that was me. I'd totally do that.
Finish Abram's task is what I did here. And a piece of cake that was, because those two soldiers didn't stand a chance. Once again, the silent power of fist weapons makes sure you don't alert everybody on the level.
(https://i.imgur.com/IEbAuq6.png)(https://i.imgur.com/f762o2A.png)
That quest pays for a lot of coins, and you should always do it. You can pass by cameras in combat mode, just make sure you hide around corners.
Nothing special next - just more punchbags.
(https://i.imgur.com/4zshWju.png)(https://i.imgur.com/urqrUZn.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fHRsA1u.png)
The Stygian Exorcist was by far the easiest fight in the whole of the arena. I did notice that after two EMPs Zap drops his weapon and goes melee - maybe you want to use that to your advantage in the future.
That, however, left Nerfed Old Man with the final encounter. At this point I checked again to see if Chief Briggs had changed his mind but he still wasn't impressed. Fine... I'd give it a try. I went in with the things I had in my inventory.
(https://i.imgur.com/RRE1eGx.png)
I think RNJeesus blessed me here, because I think I die on Critical Hit. Still I survived first turn against Carnifex and immediately used Escape Artist followed by a Taser stun with Fist of the North star proc. I wanted to wait the Yell out.
I honestly expected Carnifex to hand me my arse back to me. I was ready to just do other things instead of save-scumming this fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/fOOm6xo.png)
Instead I found that Acid Guns are pretty good against him. I also started spending all the Caltrops and Magnesium 'nades I had to deal as much damage as possible - as low as it may be.
I had them everywhere. Although, if you want to do that, you're much better off gaining some more levels beforehand and using Burrower and Cave Ear Caltrops. Don't do as I did. Oh, and if you take the time to make Toxic 'nades, those are awesome against him.
(https://i.imgur.com/WRHlqSP.png)
I was able to recharge the Taser/Pneumatic Gloves in between all the cc/slows so I managed to keep Carnifex at a distance. At this point he helped me by popping his Morphine Shot. Sometimes you gotta love the AI.
(https://i.imgur.com/iNWrld9.png)
The last few hundreds of his hp went down while he was entangled in acid all the time. I think that was another blessing blessing, because I got a lot of those procs. The Acid Gun was doing triple digits worth damage on Critical Hits... I am still amazed.
And it surprised me that I was able to finish the fight in the first go. I will let you decide if I was super lucky or what...
(https://i.imgur.com/a2WtWsf.png)
Small tip - don't stand in flames at the end of an Arena fight. The damage is still there while the announcer speaks, so it's possible for you to die.
But in any case, I've earned a place in the Expedition.
(https://i.imgur.com/6OFhzCy.png)
I don't have a lot to show for it, because basically I went to scavenge corpses. Natives and Sec-troopers alike. The defense on the beach consisted of me largely trying to stay in cover and fighting only those who came close by. I wasn't quite able to sneak to any Sec-trooper corpses yet - that may remain a task for the future. By the way, Sec-troopers are funny. One enemy shows up and they blow all their grenades on that one plus their Adrenaline Shots. When the real fight comes they don't have explosives/Flashbangs and are tired so one guy with a stick comes by and kills 3-4 troopers.
I did manage to lvl up to 14 and got a nice piece of light armour I was going to use for the next few levels. This is the build now:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?DgMNBQkDAwcAUABQHkEAAAAAAEZLNxRLAAAAGQAAQScvYRYgTgbCowcr378
After that I took a Junk Jet back to the caves.
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I call this picture Stuns for Everyone.
(https://i.imgur.com/NgHuVzB.png)
Nerfed Old Man head back to Rail Crossing. Didn't want to deal with Plasma Sentries, so instead he chose the ''easier'' path - blowing up a band of Ironheads.
And triggering the robotic sentries in a dilapidated facility.
(https://i.imgur.com/B91tMPS.png)
That said, there is a decent way to avoid the hardest fight here.
(https://i.imgur.com/eEAKaZA.png)
The secret weapon is making noise.
Then everybody show up at the same time.
(https://i.imgur.com/5KbfqgU.png)
The enemy of my enemy is not a friend; they're still an enemy, but Nerfed Old Man let them sort it out first. Death Stalkers kill everything, Industrial Bot kills Death Stalkers.
And Nerfed Old Man...
(https://i.imgur.com/NuwgmGS.png)
...keeps the Industrial Bot in the closet.
Didn't engage the Faceless directly. Instead head to the tunnels to establish level of bug punchableness.
And it went well. De Pacino's High Shield Emmiter has almost 800 capacity so it's very useful against the Burrowers. Punching the Warrior, however, does next to nothing. He can resist some of the Pneumatic procs, as well. It was the Acid Gun that was dealing with him, though.
(https://i.imgur.com/HM7pStk.png)
I still got chased by Faceless, even though I was trying to avoid them.
(https://i.imgur.com/rJxs77d.png)
Had to fight in self-defense. I don't know what that will trigger later on, but what's done is done.
(https://i.imgur.com/upLw9ih.png)
The Mindreader didn't react at all to his buddies dying. So I still let him do his thing.
(https://i.imgur.com/yL4wUNH.png)
I think it will be ok in the end. Couldn't save Buzzer, but quest done, so now I head to the hijacked train.
(https://i.imgur.com/v8yE4qs.png)
I know there is a sniper in here, and Nerfed Old Man doesn't have any reliable way of dealing with snipers at this stage... if ever. I also don't think it's a good idea to try to force RNG in a situation like this, so instead why not let the Protectorate handle it?
It aligns perfectly with who Nerfed Old Man is:
(https://i.imgur.com/U7FJnfD.png)
Opened up Frazer's shop - one of my favorite places in the game.
(https://i.imgur.com/L2ZUq7M.png?1)
And promptly made a large purchase. That Galvanic Vest will come in handy later on. I also found a 150 quality Impala SMG base and made another forward planning decision... no, those don't extend to my real life :D.
I did find the Free Drones here.
(https://i.imgur.com/skyQMSb.png)
But I didn't fight them. Too early, I think.
Instead, Nerfed Old Man head back to Camp Hathor to deal with more bug problems.
(https://i.imgur.com/PAQ00ZC.png)
Regular Burrowers are not a problem. With Warriors and Spawn in the mix the situation is certainly something else.
(https://i.imgur.com/6H0XCoF.png)
Copious use of 'nades is what helped here. After only the Warriors were left, it was easy.
(https://i.imgur.com/AVba6o7.png)
Dealing with the Rathound King was next. I usually always have a grand easy time with him. But getting to him is a different matter.
(https://i.imgur.com/edp5XDZ.png)
One Magnesium 'nade will keep most of the Rathound away for a while. There will be enough flames left to scare them even after recovering form the first time they get terrified.
The big boy would like to have a word, though.
(https://i.imgur.com/5LlgcNG.png)
I wouldn't call this an easy encounter. Plus all the noise I made didn't produce the desired effect I was after.
Until finally he joined when I had almost all of the Rathounds cleaned up.
(https://i.imgur.com/ygNwp0k.png)
Still, the Death Stalker did finish the Ancient Rathound. In a direct fight between the two, the Ancient Rathound would always win. But I already had him so low, plus the A.I. doesn't bother to change targets. Once it was only the Death Stalker left it was easy with consecutive incapacitations, nets and Taser use.
Remember - keep to the walls... although I have to say that at this stage Nerfed Old Man was starting to spot traps.
(https://i.imgur.com/KnuVomT.png)
Skip.
(https://i.imgur.com/lOz3zlD.png)
The King fight itself was a breeze in comparison to everything else.
(https://i.imgur.com/wYUGoPA.png)
He never attacks first leaving you an opportunity to trap him inside and gas him out. Two sets of Burrower Poison Caltrops, a few 'nades, and that was it. I had another three Ancient Rathound Leather out of this. Plus leveled up to 16.
Here's the build:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?EAMOBQkDAwcAWgBaHkYAAAAAAEtQNypQAAAAIwAASScvYRYgTgbCowcrDOK1rgHfvw
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wow this is the best Dominating play-through in the Universe
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This is great. Looks like you're well on your way to beating dominating with this build.
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wow this is the best Dominating play-through in the Universe
This is great. Looks like you're well on your way to beating dominating with this build.
Thanks, guys. Glad you enjoy it. Hope you learn something, as well :)
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Do you like fishing?
I don't like fishing much. But it's very important that you make some time for it.
Here's Nerfed Old Man trying his luck.
(https://i.imgur.com/bQQQKfp.png)
Wasn't very lucky, but I found what I was looking for later on.
(https://i.imgur.com/DWFu5u5.png)
And derped again. Miscalculated how much Biology I needed for that. I think at the time I was looking for ways to deal with Jookhela. I did join Praetorian after all. In retrospect - it might have been a mistake. I have done Jookhela before, but on a hybrid Psi character, so it wasn't even a fight. Still, an Ancient Rathound with a Psi bar underneath it's health is, I am sure, nothing to sneeze at. So I needed to prepare.
Instead Nerfed Old Man went on to finish the Protectorate quest line.
(https://i.imgur.com/uBHtmlJ.png)
Free Drones hit hard. I think I ate some shotgun shots here. Still, managed to block the passage with cc.
(https://i.imgur.com/EuR7SA4.png)
And gassed them, same as I did the King. Also Crawler Poison Caltrops and MKIV Eggs, as well. If you think you're up for a difficult fight - use gas grenades.
I can never remember where exactly the labs are, but Colonel Cathcart actually gives accurate direction on how to get there. And not a single Death Stalker on the way. I think it's the first time I listened to what he said.
(https://i.imgur.com/H4UaIQL.png)
Nerfed Old Man had no problems smashing bugs at this stage.
(https://i.imgur.com/xDTuF4U.png)
And things got fun.
A lot more fun.
(https://i.imgur.com/3FVvJGg.png)
But only for so long... :(. Power-armour fantasy ends here.
(https://i.imgur.com/1w4nrv2.png)
Having completed this part of the quest triggered the CAU coming to Fort Apogee. Send Nerfed Old Man after D5 mutagen. Unfortunately, there is some heavy grenade fodder on the way there.
(https://i.imgur.com/xbJ9qNK.png)
It didn't matter to me if I was bombing a single roach or the whole group. I was throwing eggs at every one I could see. Gosh... I hate roaches for some reason.
(https://i.imgur.com/l8NWoA9.png)
And found the place one area after that, I think.
(https://i.imgur.com/tFnzH8w.png)
But of course I didn't have anything to break rocks with, so I had to travel again.
High-tech combat is easy once you have a Shield Emitter.
(https://i.imgur.com/PGakSZP.png)
I came prepared with EMPs and HE Tins, as well.
In fact, Nerfed Old Man was so brave that he faced the nefarious Industrial Bot.
(https://i.imgur.com/sfULqGX.png)
Eh... ok, it wasn't that big of a deal. Just had to craft a few Acid Vials more.
The turret I ignored on the way in greeted me for goodbye.
(https://i.imgur.com/EzkWN8g.png)
The right thing to do is to put the shield on when you leave. I didn't :-X
It was time to gas the Drones.
(https://i.imgur.com/iLQzDGL.png)
And that fight was surprisingly tough. Nerfed Old Man got frozen, but luckily they shot at him in the same turn, so he was able to stabilize.
Quite eerie when all was said and done.
(https://i.imgur.com/qaGykfG.png)
I took a Morphine Shot and put on the Shield before entering the next area.
(https://i.imgur.com/TEZiZxv.png)
If you want to be serious about this, though, you'd need Aegis, Jumping bean, Lifting Belt, Initiative boost, and a better armour, probably a better shield, as well. But that's more for when Ironman Mode comes out, if ever. Still, managed to survive from the first try - but only because one of the snipers missed *cough* Evasion *cough*. Don't do as I did... although I did get a low Initiative roll, you know.
''I am not a dog, Captain. I am a man.''
(https://i.imgur.com/rO8mJAg.png)
After earning cool points with Captain Mareth, Nerfed Old Man head to Foundry to finish Balor.
Not much to show getting there. Using fist weapons means that Nerfed Old Man won't raise a ruckus when fighting a certain group of enemies. He was able to take out singled out patrols and sentries, or small groups of enemies quietly. And while there were gunshots here and there, surprisingly, the alarms did not raise. Mostly a methodical, if somewhat slow progress.
I entered the Balor area from the west, which means that I got spot directly by a sledge-hammer user and a dog. Taking those out before getting seen by more enemies, however, means that the alarms won't raise. Enemies come to check out what the dog is barking about, but they go at the spot where the dog barked, so you can actually hide.
I attempted some more ''stealthy'' takedowns with the help of Flashbangs and Adrenaline Shots. This would work a lot better if you have Fancy Footwork, but we managed to make do without.
(https://i.imgur.com/bktyl5C.png)(https://i.imgur.com/NfIL4J0.png)
Enemies still come at the sound of the Flashbang, but they take some time to get there, so Nerfed Old Man had the time to hide around the corner.
When all was said and done, taking down these enemies before the big fight was... cool, but unnecessary.
Because once again I guard the doorway with stuns.
(https://i.imgur.com/ifgGkPT.png)
And gas everything inside.
Balor himself was quite easy. He has 100% armour penalty, so Nerfed Old Man was able to keep out of reach of his melee attack only by spending his moving points.
The build at that point:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?EQMOBQkDAwcAXwBfHkYAAAAAAFVVODJVAAAAIwAASicvYRYgTgbCowcrDOK1rgLfvw
-
Fist weapons incur a large nerf to damage due to increased enemy physical threshold when using them.
Still, Bladelings did take some damage, although that was entirely for testing purposes.
(https://i.imgur.com/NMdPh0J.png)
Dissolving them works much better.
(https://i.imgur.com/o3WncGd.png)
Nerfed Old Man felt like punching The Beast for good luck.
(https://i.imgur.com/W1AB337.png)
And continued on with the Foundry quest line. Doing it is mostly menial work by now, but if you want to have fun, you have to prepare well.
And Nerfed Old Man is anything but not prepared. #Illidan
(https://i.imgur.com/vkhend7.png)
He build a rainbow corridor of death out of three different types of Captrops, ending with Crawler Poison. Saban, Dan and the bot didn't take a scratch.
(https://i.imgur.com/t5wVkGX.png)
Gas Grenades were great here.
Everything left to do in Foundry was saving Todor - made easy once you deal with The Beast.
(https://i.imgur.com/RGyoVln.png)
Having finished that I collected one of my most favourite pieces of equipment in the game.
(https://i.imgur.com/EAJWxU7.png)
And head back to Core City to take the next step with Praetorian.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZNepWWh.png)
A large Ancient Rathound with a Psi bar underneath it's health. I correctly assumed that I won't be able to finish this thing at all if I don't bring Black Dragon Knives with me. I also put on a Doctor's Pouch, and had a few other bits and bobs equipped. All correct decisions, mind you.
But Jookhela has to be one of the hardest enemies in the entire game.
(https://i.imgur.com/UOMdtUL.png)
Her special Adrenaline Rush gives her 100 % bonus to Dodge and Evasion. I missed a few throws with the Knives, and if this game ever gets Ironman Mode, don't take on that quest with builds like that. If RNJeesus decides to be a bitch, you can miss enough throws so as to be unable to do other important things to survive.
Still, I landed a throw and popped all the medicine I needed, plus a pouch of Caltrops and a slow on her.
(https://i.imgur.com/ykQ4FGs.png)
The Psi Shadows did a ton of damage but she managed to strike only once. It was time for Nerfed Old Man to bee-line outta there with haste.
(https://i.imgur.com/duQ7OIX.png)
If she has something cool for drops, I don't know about it. But if she wants to become my pet I'd consider it.
Next, I continued doing Abram stuff.
(https://i.imgur.com/JhM16wI.png)
I did this the very hard way by paying all the money to all the different guys. Praetorian wasn't open with the info at this stage.
Finishing all the minutiae with that I head to the Hanging Rat.
I waved the Roaches hi from the shadows.
(https://i.imgur.com/pk3MkVt.png)
And met Azif.
(https://i.imgur.com/34J9z9q.png)
Opened up one of the best stores, if not the best, in the game. And made a big purchase right away.
(https://i.imgur.com/CfofvQW.png)
Nerfed Old Man wasn't done with spending money.
(https://i.imgur.com/TADesSp.png)
I'd say I got decently lucky here.
(https://i.imgur.com/L2wtnuF.png)(https://i.imgur.com/tiBUP4I.png)
Made some new shoes.
(https://i.imgur.com/BLjinId.png)
Though I don't know if I will ever use these...
Then I head back to the Black Sea.
(https://i.imgur.com/6r1rd4R.png)
I wanted to check how punchable the natives are.
Turns out they're quite ok.
(https://i.imgur.com/JAcY7Fx.png)
I found this guy.
(https://i.imgur.com/hWrHVCt.png)
He's in charge of several defenseless women who didn't volunteer to become grenade target practice or punching bags...
(https://i.imgur.com/TyyFoTs.png)
But they held interesting things in their stashes. Between fighting serpents in the open sea with a huge melee/ranged nerf and killing weak women to plunder their stashes, Nerfed Old Man chose the later. Sensible.
Deeper inside the grave site I exercised a few stealthy kills more.
(https://i.imgur.com/lUddFuE.png)
And bombed the rest.
(https://i.imgur.com/t9RwNeN.png)
One MKIV egg one shots the Psi users. Very helpful. Although I had Three-Pointer at this stage.
I continued going around the Black Sea, avoiding the serpents and looking for all the Oddities I could find.
The last one I got here.
(https://i.imgur.com/vcOhJGV.png)
This is the build at the moment:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?EwMOBQkDAwcAaQBpHkYAAAAAAF9fODxfAAAANwAASicvYRYgTgbCowcrDD7iopYB4rWuA9-_
-
Jumping from Underrail to the Black Sea always feels bad because everything is a tier above. Melee enemies hit like a truck, ranged enemies root you, or poison you all the time and some things have too much physical resistance.
(https://i.imgur.com/elvlg7f.png)
Dealing with the crabs under the Mutie Refuge took some Gas Grenades as it's the only thing Nerfed Old Man has to deal with incredibly high armour at this point. I covered as wide an area as I could with gas and lured them in. The acid pistol was doing work - mostly the entanglement. After a few HE 'nades the way was open. Shields helped with absorbing the Psi Crabs' ranged attack, though there was a stun or two.
Avoiding as much combat as he could, Nerfed Old Man went a level down and met these fellas.
(https://i.imgur.com/YI8WdtX.png)
Had his custom crafted SMG with W2C bullets, so dealing with them wasn't that much of a problem. It still felt like spending too many bullets, though.
Later on I found that crabs and statues don't like each other.
(https://i.imgur.com/nMoUaUb.png)
Useful info, although I didn't know how to utilize it now. Instead Nerfed Old Man took to sneaking through the caves.
(https://i.imgur.com/rNE2RSl.png)
The Cloaking Field from Constantine was doing work.
(https://i.imgur.com/zHsJWds.png)
One by one the statues are not a problem, but four at the same time sounds like too much of a trouble.
(https://i.imgur.com/fGughxV.png)
Rearranged the quick slots while in stealth, then tossed an EMP and ran out of there. Don't have the money to spend dealing with these things now. The important thing was that I grabbed the arm and was done with the first part of the Expedition.
Nerfed Old Man opened the Arch Keep, the Professor got kidnapped, and the Invictus wasn't quick enough to evade being grabbed by the neck. Still, he didn't start a fight there, but instead boarded his jet and went into the open sea.
He waited until there was only one Aegis patroller left in sight and attacked him while he was alone.
(https://i.imgur.com/reavSNI.png)
I know that you know, but if you're having trouble with these guys, and I expect you do, just wait while they are leaving the area and attack the last one. They are quite tough, and melee builds have it especially hard.
(https://i.imgur.com/dq9GDaT.png)
Nerfed Old Man even landed on the small mass of rocks nearby. He was fighting much better with two feet on the ground.
(https://i.imgur.com/hhj4c24.png)
After spending his Adrenaline Shot the trooper got chain cc'd, and the Aegis Jet itself was untouched.
Nerfed Old Man presented that to the pirates; they let him join them.
(https://i.imgur.com/q5kNiSK.png)
The Professor was there, as well.
(https://i.imgur.com/svaMECy.png)
Aegis also came to try and save the Professor.
(https://i.imgur.com/n9C1K1g.png)
But they are vastly outnumbered, and the Pirates make easy work out of them. Basically just free loot to sell, but not much to show.
Katya had interesting things to say about the Natives. I can't remember if that conversation were there the last time I did Expedition, but it seems to me that they are only available when you rest at Aegis' camp. Interesting bit of lore, if you want to take a look.
(https://i.imgur.com/akhbB4F.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ncpUV6G.png)
Nerfed Old Man boarded his new Aegis Patroller and head for Joint Security Headquarters. He wanted to prepare the ground for later.
(https://i.imgur.com/klF58Os.png)
After that he exited the sea and found a small Protectorate Outpost nearby.
(https://i.imgur.com/MDQayKI.png)
After leaving no witnesses, he found an interesting piece of armour and the keys to a Protectorate Cruiser.
(https://i.imgur.com/DF1WMAi.png)
Outfitted that with the best engines he could find and now he had decent means of transportation between Core City and the Black Sea. Choosing this path, unfortunately, deprives us from Jenkins.
Didn't gain a level here.
-
It was time to finish Core City's quests.
(https://i.imgur.com/IfjfMGv.png)
Paid Rubin only 50 coins to go in and be served the pleasure of having to deal with Spider-Scorpions.
That one just kept stinging Nerfed Old Man all the time, and Nerfed Old Man kept crawling back into the vent to wait it out.
(https://i.imgur.com/RSS3olM.png)
I don't remember how many times it repeated, but finally the Spider-Scorpion decided to attack instead of stinging.
(https://i.imgur.com/rk1FxiB.png)
It melted in a turn.
Nerfed Old Man threw Caltrops around the corner and observed to see when they will disappear. He caught the rest of the bugs with a flare and a Flashbang.
(https://i.imgur.com/zDGU2eM.png)
The Protectorate soldier was no problem.
(https://i.imgur.com/t4gpnFR.png)
Before entering the Warehouse Nerfed Old Man put all the sneaky clothes he had and managed to get to Wilkins without getting seen.
(https://i.imgur.com/yf63pAn.png)
He got a few more stealthy kills, including an Acid Pistol one - that one apparently doesn't make much noise.
He did get spotted and worked himself into a corner in the office.
(https://i.imgur.com/ERRZoei.png)
The old tactics of punching the first guy that comes through the door - made easier from the fact that one punch was worth 5 AP. Keep the first guy cc'd then punch the ones behind him. There's a Juggernaut in here, as well.
(https://i.imgur.com/ebt0mGW.png)
But we had the SMG ready with W2C bullets.
Cleared all the soldiers, grabbed the shields and went outside only to get assaulted by the two sentries.
(https://i.imgur.com/uVZ8Qs1.png)
Despite being a member of Praetorian, the guards did not help at all :-\
Gave the Shield Emitters to Gorsky and we were on our way to assault the Black Crawler's base.
(https://i.imgur.com/KCIhlif.png)
That was a very easy battle. I believe Gorsky was made tankier in a recent patch, so he just takes all the heat while Nerfed Old Man was flinging grenades and punching people.
(https://i.imgur.com/1HhKlw9.png)
Only one Zone Rat died.
On the way out, however, after engaging the mutants outside, Gorsky and the rest of the Zone Rats went hostile. No idea why.
(https://i.imgur.com/aAX8PhR.png)
Gorsky got dominated.
(https://i.imgur.com/0AzOpnD.png)
Well, no rest for the wicked.
Nerfed Old Man made a new coat.
(https://i.imgur.com/7UiJZ52.png)
And went on to try his luck in the Core-Tech Warehouse.
Now, this area is extremely hard, in my opinion. Praetorian quest-line in general is kinda hard, but this one must be one of the hardest parts of the game.
Had some luck sneaking and spot these guys before they spot me, even with 3 Per.
(https://i.imgur.com/2G8TRL3.png)
Got one, but the entire Warehouse goes alert as soon as you do that, so running away is the only option. No way to fight these guys directly.
Deescalated the situation by showing my face from the windows.
(https://i.imgur.com/p0lHukn.png)
Wait in the corner until combat ends and go back inside.
This feels extremely cheese-y, but all those guys were in the corner hugging each other.
(https://i.imgur.com/daAjjvM.png)
Easy targets for grenades. There are also hunters in the area, as well, so Nerfed Old Man had to run each time he flung a 'nade. I repeated the thing once or twice before the snipers went down so I could fight normally. Even though with the new coat Nerfed Old Man can take a sniper round crit, it's not wise to fight while those are around.
But finishing that means we open up Praetorian's special store and meet with Cornell, as well.
I put on the CAU armour and explicitly went hostile with them.
(https://i.imgur.com/HgZefEX.png)
The advanced Catalyzing Belt is looted from Cornell and that is one hell of a good item to have.
After that Archibald sends us to Core-Tech's basement. Which is full of bugs.
(https://i.imgur.com/SXCTfPP.png)
One step at a time and always a flare in front of him, Nerfed Old Man found not one.
(https://i.imgur.com/QpIXEOn.png)
But three Spider-Scorpions. Iced one and ran out of there.
(https://i.imgur.com/n4SAXe0.png)
This can possibly be more cheese, but apparently when you leave the area and come back, the first thing the bugs do is restealth.
(https://i.imgur.com/s4S6i8L.png)
You, however, see them. Not exactly sure how it works, but you go back in with -1000 Initiative and the bugs go back into stealth wasting their turn - they are trying to sting you after all.
Fine, not going to look that horse in the mouth.
Putting on the new Catalyzing Belt, Nerfed Old Man happily melt all the robots on the lower level.
(https://i.imgur.com/wHIzlwl.png)
And punched a line through the mutants without taking a single hit.
(https://i.imgur.com/xEucBKn.png)
Saw the Tchortists taking the Cube, went past the ambush without a problem...
(https://i.imgur.com/Cnm4PXf.png)
...and leveled to 21.
Here's the build:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?FQMPBQkDAwcAcwBzHksUAAAAAGRkP0lkAAAANwAASicvYRYgTgbCowcrDD4k4qGQAeKilgLita4D378
-
Pretty entertaining read, would like to hear more about the thinking behind making Nerfed Old Man.
Also you can steal arena loot even without enough AP, if you are close enough to the body just end turn then spam click on it and the A key to take all, works every time.
-
Pretty entertaining read, would like to hear more about the thinking behind making Nerfed Old Man.
Have some spare time so made a thread asking what people would like to see and mixed out a build out of the responses :D
Still, trying to play as seriously as I can without save-scumming.
Also you can steal arena loot even without enough AP, if you are close enough to the body just end turn then spam click on it and the A key to take all, works every time.
Never tried it. Sounds hard, but thanks all the same.
-
Nerfed Old Man was running low on cash. I shouldn't have made that super steel earlier.
Still, he decided to get busy with Talloski's Manor.
(https://i.imgur.com/FETp2kc.png)
Got a Borer.
(https://i.imgur.com/c3PJYQ0.png)
And gained entry to the 1st floor.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZS6kssj.png)
Released the spawn and fixed the 4 m 8k monitor.
(https://i.imgur.com/8RET6Uh.png)
Sadly, he couldn't pick pockets and didn't have any means to finish that peacefully, so he just ''took'' the key from Vlatko while being alone with him on the 2nd floor.
There he met his long-lost twin brother.
(https://i.imgur.com/XVmcyrc.png)
Who unfortunately died shortly after.
Still, earned some good cash for that.
With the money, Nerfed Old Man went on a trip around Underrail to get some materials he needed. He even paid visit to the natives to check their stashes again.
(https://i.imgur.com/VUshTcc.png)
After checking all the shops, underneath the Mutie refuge in the Black Sea and some of the natives' stashes, he threw together some additional gear he'd need.
(https://i.imgur.com/zKAfQoA.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/YfGpwAV.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/v52LQdR.png)
Nothing too fancy. Some of the components were of low quality, but still they would be useful.
Putting everything on...
(https://i.imgur.com/euro1WX.png)
...Nerfed Old Man went underneath Core City in the caves past the sewers.
(https://i.imgur.com/sHCfM3Z.png)
And met these fellas.
One would think that with 98% resistance they wouldn't touch you, but Nerfed Old Man still had to use two Advanced Health Hypos and a number of 'nades to make it out. 10 damage on critical hit with 98% resistance means that they must be doing 500 damage. Can they charge each other multiple times?
Despite that, Nerfed Old Man cleaned house and collected all the oddities he could from the area.
He moved on to another part of the sewer.
(https://i.imgur.com/PuQHnHy.png)
There are more shock bugs here, but not as numerous as in the previous cave, so they are not as much of a trouble.
Getting past those, Nerfed Old Man tried sneaking up to Zaman...
(https://i.imgur.com/O5dqJ1Y.png)
...but got caught in a trap.
Nothing we can't handle here, though.
(https://i.imgur.com/r9sHcok.png)
With that we were finally done with Core City proper, so Nerfed Old Man took his new gear and boarded his jet back to the Sea.
He had some unfinished business with Aegis.
He used the same small island from earlier so that he could fight better.
(https://i.imgur.com/C4Hk992.png)
The Troopers themselves could only do damage with 'nades.
(https://i.imgur.com/daZZxpm.png)
So Nerfed Old Man cleaned those with relative ease, healed up, and it wasn't long before a new batch showed up.
(https://i.imgur.com/MQj54cF.png)
Basically rinse and repeat.
After finishing that job, Nerfed Old Man went east all the way to the pirate lighthouse. Underneath it he opened the Lemurian evacuation tunnels, or rather, the archive behind them.
(https://i.imgur.com/K5pp3CK.png)
Opening the door to the archive itself activates Naga Protectors - an enemy I am sure would be too much of a hassle to fight now, but Nerfed Old Man instead managed to sneak around them. There are Plasma Turrets here, which, apparently, can be activated with enough Hacking. I am expecting those to fight the Naga Protectors, but I am not sure.
(https://i.imgur.com/1oBdxLW.png)
I don't know whether this is a guaranteed drop or not, but I'd call it a blessing because I found a Hypercerebrix Blueprint in here.
(https://i.imgur.com/BzeYCTj.png)
The rest of the loot was good, as well.
Nerfed Old Man made two precious portions of that and used one to open up Katya's shop.
(https://i.imgur.com/wwZN8Yh.png)
One of my favorite places in the game. If nothing else it always has Gizzard Enzymes.
With Aegis' presence thinned out enough, Nerfed Old Man sneaked through the small beach...
(https://i.imgur.com/O22Zi7f.png)
...all the way to Chief Briggs.
(https://i.imgur.com/eeRboVx.png)
After punching the life out of him, he left inflicting no more casualties.
(https://i.imgur.com/23oc1F9.png)
It was time to raid the waterways.
The build at the moment:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?FgMPBQkDAwcAeAB4HksZAAAAAGRkP0lkABkANwAASicvYRYgTgbCowcrDD4kS-KhkALiopYC4rWuA9-_
-
Fighting on jets is hard.
Fighting on jets while being a melee build is harder.
But it was time to get busy with the pirates' quest line.
(https://i.imgur.com/VJWgjDl.png)
The mates tank a few shots. There is a sniper on the boat - totally op. And there's nowhere to hide, as well. The only way to do this, I think, is to EMP the turrets, bomb the crew, then flashbang them. The escorts are still a problem, but once landed on the boat dealing with them is much easier. The Eels do join a few turns later on. This generally felt like a scrappy battle. I'd say it's quite hard, although a different build would fare better here, no doubt.
(https://i.imgur.com/xAmDoSg.png)
By the time the Eels came, Nerfed Old Man could use the Flashbangs, EMPs and explosive 'nades again. The Lemurian Blaster was the weapon of choice. It's the only one that has decent accuracy from jets and it's stacking crit chance is very nice with Focus Stim. I think some goggles for ranged crit chance would have been even better, but I didn't have them at the time. I took a sniper round earlier - of course, managed to survive because of the overcoat.
I must have been close to leveling up after that because next we see Nerfed Old Man dressed in 100% Bio/Acid resistance and hunting serpents in the marshes.
(https://i.imgur.com/obyyRVb.png)
They do have Oddities to drop.
Same with these guys.
(https://i.imgur.com/zIW8lbO.png)
Dealing with them wasn't hard. With Adrenaline Shot and Psi Haste Nerfed Old Man punches the hives in a turn. Then bombs the bugs, and hides from the rest who come out at the sound of 'nades.
(https://i.imgur.com/UV8fbCM.png)
The Locusts do have lower engagement sight range so that makes life easier.
Going south to the Creeper Bay, Nerfed Old Man ogled that statue over there.
(https://i.imgur.com/qB7JvyW.png)
That's not entirely safe for work, I guess, but I am fine with it. That's how I like my games :).
Around here you'll find toxic clouds, as well as a fair number of spiders who do Bio damage. So going around with CAU armour is a nice choice.
He found a lone Naga Protector.
(https://i.imgur.com/zabnrLW.png)
Spent a few bullets and an EMP to deal with that. I think it was because of the Oddities again.
After punching, blowing, and shooting his way through what felt like innumerable amounts of spiders...
(https://i.imgur.com/mI4aFmZ.png)
...Nerfed Old Man found the Tesla Armour.
(https://i.imgur.com/d6NjNkz.png)
He quickly hatched a plan to use that for the next task at hand.
Namely - the Hospital of Horror.
(https://i.imgur.com/T3abShx.png)
No way out until we get to the bottom of this. Time to get busy.
(https://i.imgur.com/WF5Tc32.png)
After putting the floor in a state of alert, Nerfed Old Man observed the area and decided to work himself in that corner over there.
(https://i.imgur.com/EBzXYHE.png)
That way he could shoot only one robot and block the passage with enough space to not get attacked. Using the Acid Pistol here. Although the Strongman hurl a lot of things around the room
(https://i.imgur.com/9xIYKeI.png)
This looks really hairy, but it's also the time when an EMP MK III flew out and did a ton of damage. Cleaned the rest of the robots with the Tesla Armour's Shock aura plus some Shock Gloves I had crafted earlier. The Tesla Armour has a cool gimmick... but it mostly feels like that - just a gimmick. I think it's 85 % electric resistance is the best thing about it. Not sure, maybe it's just me.
(https://i.imgur.com/sAFz7rF.png)
Here's more horror for your coffee. Cheers.
(https://i.imgur.com/GTW1PIM.png)
The rest of the combat encounters weren't as hard as the first one. Generally just using the Acid Pistol/Advanced Catalyzing Belt for safe takedowns.
(https://i.imgur.com/7SvNlzj.png)
I implanted the microchip and gained a cool new perk for finishing the hospital.
(https://i.imgur.com/fRH75I1.png)
At Pirateville I beat D'Flinger at flingin' for some cash.
(https://i.imgur.com/NDCUveL.png)
And continued on with the quest line.
(https://i.imgur.com/Du3pCod.png)
The Protectorate ship raid is really, really tough. If the first boat was hard, this is a tier above in every way. I don't think you will have an easy time if you approach the ship from any direction but the east. There is also an Initiative nerf of 10 here - that's a sniper round crit that came first thing in the turn. Again, survived because of the coat. I should have popped all the defensive medicine before entering the area... still, the Juggernaut and turrets don't move until after Nerfed Old Man, so he was able to bomb and shoot the sniper. After that he produced the biggest smelly block of blue cheese you've ever seen by hiding here:
(https://i.imgur.com/R14313a.png)
That way nothing will shoot back. Razor totally got sent under :(
And Nerfed Old Man patiently continued bombing the ship.
(https://i.imgur.com/AnPXfqW.png)
Shot down the Juggernaut with the Lemurian Blaster.
(https://i.imgur.com/rKeFU3Q.png)
And stopped by his favourite band of Zoners on his way back.
(https://i.imgur.com/417h3Ig.png)
The last part of the quest line is the Rig. A wide space with a lot of lonely enemies - perfect for sneaky takedowns.
Nerfed Old Man was so happy to finally feel like an assassin...
(https://i.imgur.com/wNEnsjk.png)
...that he must have gone overzealous with the kills.
(https://i.imgur.com/MQ81vCM.png)
The pirates didn't want to raid the Rig together with him anymore. I must have screwed something.
(https://i.imgur.com/lygFsoS.png)
We had to do it alone, then.
Getting back there and killing as much as he could all sneaky like, Nerfed Old Man had to openly engage them in the end.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZF4psUR.png)
There are snipers here, therefore this is already harder than most other combat encounters. The Rigmaster is no pushover, either. Nerfed Old Man did a 'nade, reduce cooldown, run, 'nade, flashbang, 'nade, Force Field, 'nade combo here. The Rigmaster is the last one left standing, but just like any other lone enemy - they're only punchbags.
That finished the pirates' quest line.
(https://i.imgur.com/H3mJT35.png)
And I leveled to 23:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?FwMPBQkDAwcAfQB9I1AkAAAAAGRkQVBkABkANwAASicvYRYgTgbCowcrDD4kS-KhkAPiopYC4rWuA9-_
-
I took to sneaking around the Horticulture Center next.
(https://i.imgur.com/aKeeQaO.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/sO6EFng.png)
Interacting with the gate's controls puts your out of stealth so I thought it was better to fight the serpents before that.
(https://i.imgur.com/AyPabQW.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/STrVI2s.png)
Made a cakewalk with the CAU Armour/Bio-Technician's Boots/Sec-Trooper Helm. The Sea Serpents are best fought on the ground because they can still melt the jet.
Inside Horticulture I was still sneaking, but failed here.
(https://i.imgur.com/trcto9B.png)
The good thing about it is that if the enemy is still not spotting you(red eye) you can start combat and rearrange your quick slots at no AP cost. I am not sure whether this is intended or not, but it's how it's working now. So I was able to get what I needed for this fight, and even though it's a fairly open area I found a corner to work myself into. The Rathound Overcoat was protecting against the cold.
(https://i.imgur.com/e6L2Bnd.png)
Witty :)
I failed to sneak again here against a band of crabs.
(https://i.imgur.com/dvtiuT2.png)
But luckily there is a doorway you can use to choke them into. Gassed them, then tried some new Plasma 'nades, which did some good damage.
I think these are the two most serious encounters in the whole of Horticulture - a character with Lockpicking/Hacking will probably be able to get much more out of that place. There were a lot of locked doors and containers, as well as a whole storage department behind a console.
But not Nerfed Old Man - he was sneaking around what was left to explore.
(https://i.imgur.com/8sUw4Eg.png)
After finishing Horticulture, Nerfed Old Man made another expedition to Nativeville. Finding a good place to land takes some time, actually. I was running constantly into crossbowman or those bone ''turrets'' they have and was waiting for combat to finish without engaging before leaving. Found an easy spot to land west of Geyser Village.
(https://i.imgur.com/RrJYw7O.png)
As much as he was trying to sneak - it wasn't working all the time. If there's a lone sentry somewhere it was fine, but we had to rely on good ol' punches here.
(https://i.imgur.com/eawYVu1.png)
Which were working well.
(https://i.imgur.com/rjzBWyz.png)
In the next area to the east Nerfed Old Man got into heavy fighting with the natives. Luckily there's also a choke we could get them into to make the 'nades work better. You have to be careful with these fellas at all times. At least I am. There are those guys who launch an acid ball, so you have to make sure you take cover as much as you can. A decent shield emitter would absorb almost all damage from the crossbowman, although they shoot at you while you can't see them.
(https://i.imgur.com/4Ty1pXt.png)
Over here I found one of the bits I was looking for.
(https://i.imgur.com/DykrOLB.png)
I also found this guy.
(https://i.imgur.com/8K6njX6.png)
He was quite easy, actually. His retinue is small - took them out easily with 'nades. He is very tanky and has Thick Skull but he didn't land a single strike. Took a while to take him down, though.
(https://i.imgur.com/hjyTSrx.png)
Moving to the east still, Nerfed Old Man went full conquistador on the natives by bombing them from the water and shooting their defenses down with a blaster. Melee enemies always try to stay as far from as possible, while ranged/psi enemies move in to try to kill you. Exploiting that, Nerfed Old Man was able to take half of the enemies in this area before returning on foot.
(https://i.imgur.com/qEEhKPw.png)
And taking down this guy:
(https://i.imgur.com/asz1FrA.png)
Because of the combat earlier all the melee enemies are clumped together - basically a 'nade, flashbang, 'nade took them out, while he, as much as a badass he is, couldn't do much on his lonesome.
Nerfed Old Man plundered as much as he could:
(https://i.imgur.com/zyXudLA.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/j3qRl4U.png)
And head back. At Expedition Island he saw that Aegis was already kaput.
(https://i.imgur.com/Kl2uKSz.png)
He traveled all the way back to Core City, though.
(https://i.imgur.com/1KUSylq.png)
And after making some precious Nidamantal Gel out of the squids, he felt powerful enough to take on Lunatic Mall in Upper Underrail.
Sneaking wasn't working bad here at all. Taking out two Lunatics from stealth alerts a small group nearby. But if you don't use loud weapons or explosives, the rest of the floor doesn't alert. Apparently the Acid Pistol isn't loud enough.
(https://i.imgur.com/gMWtxMB.png)
Nerfed Old Man continued to take them out small group by small group at a time.
(https://i.imgur.com/B8FtU0n.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cYZ8Rlp.png)
At the second floor he couldn't sneak no more, so he, instead, started shooting them and taking cover in the lower floor. You can transition between floors quite nicely during combat, which also protects you from their ranged Psi.
(https://i.imgur.com/a3h35xz.png)
Even though he wasn't seeing any enemies, combat wasn't ending. Knowing full well of the dangers of sneaky Lunatics, Nerfed Old Man ran halfway through floor one and waited for combat to end. On his way to second floor he found these guys.
(https://i.imgur.com/PIHB9A0.png)
Squishy as they may be, Nerfed Old Man pumped all the medicine he had and engaged directly.
(https://i.imgur.com/qxwpHhY.png)
There was a sneaky Psychopath here, as well. Courtesy of Bullhead, we survived.
All that was left in the Mall was Vanga.
(https://i.imgur.com/KXWAwmO.png)
Got admission to Institute of Tchort.
(https://i.imgur.com/Bq5Bm1C.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/QugHKTz.png)
And got the XAL.
(https://i.imgur.com/4zkhkBC.png)
6 AP per attack. Although I have to wear CAU Armour/Bio-Technician's Boots.
I went around Underrail to purchase all the benches. Because Captain Broderick at Junkyard died earlier I had to travel on foot.
In the caves around SGS I found that SGS is hostile towards me - probably because of Gorsky at Core City(confirmed fix for next update, courtesy of Stygian.)
(https://i.imgur.com/sas6FbV.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/zAZK3yT.png)
I traveled from Camp Hathor which isn't all that far, either.
And here are some stats for crafting with all the benches on.
(https://i.imgur.com/nXyvbzu.png)
Here's the build at the moment:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?GQMQBQkDAwcAwocAwoctZD0AAAAAZGRBVWQAGQA3AABKJy9hFiBOBsKjBysMPiRLwofioZAD4qKWA-K1rgTfvw
-
I tried going to the Joint Security Headquarters.
(https://i.imgur.com/xanodNn.png)
But forgot that I needed to do something else before that.
(https://i.imgur.com/UFpFclp.png)
I thought that implanting the chip in Nerfed Old Man's hand would be enough. I kid you not I thought for a bit what I needed to do here.
I remembered that it was the Nexus of Technology. The place that took me forever to find the first time I played Expedition.
The good things was that by that time Sneaking was starting to stack up quite nicely.
(https://i.imgur.com/naBi8oT.png)
Nerfed Old Man was able to sneak around not only crabs...
(https://i.imgur.com/vZ0VZQW.png)
...but spiders as well. Actually remaining unseen until he can spot the sneaky ones. Every once in a while we would bump but because of high Initiative I'd be able to pretty much punch the spider and move on stealthed.
(https://i.imgur.com/VlKs4mJ.png)
Fighting these in smaller groups is certainly better. There are quite a few Oddities to loot from them and the area in general.
Past the courtyard and through the elevator...
(https://i.imgur.com/4SGw0WX.png)
...and I think this is last floor of the Nexus. Not too sure.
Put the power back on and melt all the sentries that come around with the XAL. It was doing a fantastic job in general.
(https://i.imgur.com/iuG2WvO.png)
It's downside being that it spends a lot of ammo. The whole of the Nexus cost around 250 Acid Vials.
It also can't entangle that one.
(https://i.imgur.com/jJqHvbl.png)
I made it to this place... somewhere around the floors.
(https://i.imgur.com/uPSp098.png)
I know there is a puzzle here - I haven't checked anything concerning it or how to solve it. I understand only the basic idea behind it, but like the mutagen puzzle, I've never taken the time to solve it. Something to think about in the future... if ever :).
I also found this, alongside with the quest item needed to gain entry to HQ.
(https://i.imgur.com/STEbRDY.png)
Nice.
I must have gone on a preparation spree of some sort next, because here are some pictures of Nerfed Old Man and his inventory before going into HQ.
(https://i.imgur.com/gf3rtUx.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/3kzdV3L.png)
The Infused Ancient Leather Overcoat was changed for the superior Infused Bison Leather Overcoat. It gives +1 Con, +70 HP and immunity to chill, as well as 40 % physical resistance. If you find a decent quality like 150 + it will probably be 45 - 50 % resistance.
HQ is open...
(https://i.imgur.com/QdrldCk.png)
...but we gotta naked for now.
(https://i.imgur.com/OCgDUYJ.png)
Avoiding the cameras in combat mode, Nerfed Old Man made his way one area to the west.
(https://i.imgur.com/h7mBvV9.png)
Open both doors and let the statues and spiders sort things between themselves. In the mean time, because they don't target you, you can walk around them without any problems.
There's TNT in the room behind the statues. Looted that and set it up back in the first area. That, however, awakened some sentries on this floor. I can't remember if that was the case the first time I was doing it... but I was certainly surprised.
I got my weapons and 'nades from the container and fought naked.
(https://i.imgur.com/4M28jwu.png)
Luckily there's not too many of them coming at once.
(https://i.imgur.com/AqHfRjf.png)
Got busy with clearing the Plasma Turrets.
(https://i.imgur.com/v5n7J8R.png)
There are Plasma Mines here, as well, so shields up at all times.
Running into that doorway here will prevent the Turrets from shooting you. Makes the whole thing easier.
(https://i.imgur.com/obiB7qN.png)
Next, I found some Naga Protectors. I used the shields to tank the blasts from the two at the back while close to the first one. A bit more damage to it that way. An EMP MK III after that to take down another one, and the last one is just run around an obstacle in circles - it can never catch up to you, or shoot you.
(https://i.imgur.com/FwafEzj.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/sKIussp.png)
Going down to the basement we loot the Reef Glider key and awaken some more statues.
(https://i.imgur.com/KclinLA.png)
But with the new coat and the now decent Evasion those really don't do a lot of damage anymore. With shields on they do 20 or so health damage when they throw things. An EMP MK III and just clean up with the SMG.
I quickly cleared the natives' ambush outside - made easier because of the toxic clouds. They either have to walk around them, or take a lot of extra damage. MK V 'nades do a lot against these guys.
(https://i.imgur.com/nfANJNW.png)
Back inside you can loot some jet engine and battery for the Reef Glider.
(https://i.imgur.com/jHU9HXd.png)
Complete junk, sure, but now at least you can ride it.
And you need to take it all the way back to Core City.
(https://i.imgur.com/Wy1hNlM.png)
And sell it to Ray.
I think I got 30k for it. Not too sure now - I can't remember :D.
I bought a cheap junk jet for 800 coins for the trip back.
(https://i.imgur.com/q32i01c.png)
But instead went to Foundry to make some more super steel.
(https://i.imgur.com/DWoSZHg.png)
I didn't level up during this whole time.
-
I got busy with doing the Institute of Tchort quest-lines.
(https://i.imgur.com/pOvLdL8.png)
The first step were the Lunatics in Hapocres Station.
You may not be able to see it at first - sorry for taking such a bad screenshot, but there's a crawler there. At this point, even at 3 Per, Nerfed Old Man was able to spot them while being stealthed. Moving very carefully, of course.
(https://i.imgur.com/fzI7GIo.png)
There is more space between Lunatics groups here than in the Mall, so sneaking around was much more easy, actually.
(https://i.imgur.com/XTvCJSt.png)
Get really close from stealth, then just punch the entire group and place them into cc.
(https://i.imgur.com/tTDEQsP.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/NDqvuy6.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/L6tCchI.png)
Completed the whole thing without a scratch.
Sneaking to the mutants was easy, alright, but you just take out a dog or two and a Hunchback.
(https://i.imgur.com/ei8N54u.png)
Blocked the doorway with Crawler Caltrops and blew them up with a single 'nade. Had the CAU armour ready to loot the whole area of Oddities.
(https://i.imgur.com/zG6Wndl.png)
Nerfed Old Man went to Core City next - that lab next to Foundry.
(https://i.imgur.com/XU4BKAa.png)
Managed to get caught into a trap from the Lurker ambush. Luckily only the gunslinger moved before him - Kneecap Shot still is a solid response to the build. There is also a sniper here, so you always gotta be careful.
(https://i.imgur.com/fby2Ujq.png)
A Flashbang 'nade works really well against them.
For the lab itself Nerfed Old Man equipped the Tesla Armour and some new Insulated Infused Ancient Rathound Leather Striders with 150 + quality foam on.
(https://i.imgur.com/jqPhJQJ.png)
Got 100 % resistance for the fight in the maze.
(https://i.imgur.com/fWpK3Nq.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ew3V5N8.png)
You can even walk over the electrified floor tiles, though you have to be careful because the Tesla Armour has low durability and it's losing it quite fast.
I found the Power Fist - a very nice weapons, although I can't utilize it with this build.
(https://i.imgur.com/huJbxWa.png)
Completely stomped the Zone Boys on the way back.
(https://i.imgur.com/2mffgwQ.png)
Got wasted in the name of science.
(https://i.imgur.com/LWVkTum.png)
I think it's called shlyokavitza :)
I found the first decent Pneumatic Hammer I've seen in the game so far...
(https://i.imgur.com/vvoaEsT.png)
...which I won't be able to use now.
I picked up the quest for Median Samuel and the West Wing next.
(https://i.imgur.com/4pn7BWr.png)
With the build so far I had no problem getting there.
The Efreitor himself is not hostile, and we better not make him so.
(https://i.imgur.com/jjJFiBW.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/hjjpjMl.png)
After talking with him, you can actually spot all those bugs around him.
(https://i.imgur.com/nf1C9yt.png)
No cheating.
The Mediant still wants him dead, though.
(https://i.imgur.com/8rE25k7.png)
So knowing the position of the bugs now, this is what Nerfed Old Man did.
He worked himself behind the Efreitor and used Force Wall to block all sides except for a choke blocked by a crawler.
(https://i.imgur.com/qzej3HA.png)
He then punched the Efreitor until his head fell off.
(https://i.imgur.com/6Cou6ip.png)
And blocked the choke with a stunned bug.
When the Force Wall wore off he Flashbanged the crawlers and ran for it.
(https://i.imgur.com/lREGTMa.png)
There are still a couple of bugs around - one of which will sting you. But by the time the poison takes effect, Nerfed Old Man was so far away, the crawlers either couldn't catch up, or were not aggressive towards him anymore.
(https://i.imgur.com/Zfhao0l.png)
No bugs came to attack him while he was stunned.
Finishing that, he went to collect his super steel at Foundry.
Got lucky here.
(https://i.imgur.com/zcByZx1.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/N6utPqc.png)
This is the build at the moment:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?GgMQBQkDAwcAwowAwowyZUsAAAAAZWdGVWUAGQA3AABKJy9hFiBOBsKjBysMPiRLwq3Cm8KewqDCh8Kz4qGQAuKilgPita4F378
-
I continued with the Institute shenanigans.
(https://i.imgur.com/ts6TpoG.png)
Finding the vent does not require any Per from your character - only that you start the quest. I actually wasn't completely sure of that.
(https://i.imgur.com/H5q0lix.png)
I forgot about the Coil Bugs here. Wasn't prepared with the usual 100 % Electric resistance stuff.
(https://i.imgur.com/PenbdVC.png)
Lucky for me and despite them being very perceptive, I was able to somewhat sneak around them.
Found a lone bug here.
(https://i.imgur.com/DG6E51c.png)
Took it out, but right after walking a tile to the back I got trapped in one of those electric cob web trap-things. The bugs get alerted if this happens.
One of them, however, blocked the choke and spent it's entire AP pool on an EMP. That makes the whole fight incredibly easy.
(https://i.imgur.com/YFQDzMd.png)
After that not-so-smooth experience Nerfed Old Man found Nevil.
(https://i.imgur.com/nJGEMhG.png)
The whole place goes alert and the swarm of bots comes to wage some high-tech warfare.
(https://i.imgur.com/ik7UFS1.png)
Used a Laser Pistol at first, but switched to the Acid Pistol after that. It both entangles them and does very good damage with the Advanced Catalyzing Belt.
Nevil, in the mean time, got set on fire and ran in the opposite direction.
(https://i.imgur.com/JcJmjzx.png)
An EMP, HE 'nade combo did a ton of work here.
(https://i.imgur.com/PPmnACj.png)
Also, Nevil ran to me this time.
Seeing that I might get a shot at saving him, I decided to go full bodyguard on his ass.
(https://i.imgur.com/SGhM7aU.png)
The only way to do this, I think, is to completely prevent him from doing stupid stuff... like, you know, fighting the bots.
Despite my best effort, an Industrial Bot went around me and ignited Nevil from a tile next to me while Force Wall was on.
(https://i.imgur.com/629eaBU.png)
There's no saving him now, plus Nerfed Old Man had to take a step back because shields had taken a beating, as well.
The rest of the bots weren't that big of a problem. Dancing around the corner and throwing an EMP or two, Nerfed Old Man cleaned house pretty well.
Got this for his effort.
(https://i.imgur.com/DrtEYMQ.png)
Interesting weapon. Don't think it can stand up to the 6 AP, +2 bullet per burst custom Impala he had made for himself, though. I think you could make this work on a crit build.
That was the last task I had form the Institute. After that Median Samuel invited Nerfed Old Man to meet Eiden, but he had something else to do before that.
Namely, collect more oddities.
(https://i.imgur.com/k7aT3eS.png)
One thing I left for pretty late in the run were the Lurkers. I find them to be a very dangerous bunch, and usually go about very carefully when fighting them.
This is, however, the first time I do a stealthy melee character, and I have to say that it really has it's benefits.
Basically, all around the tunnels there are these small groups of Lurkers which won't get alerted if there are no gun shots. I was also moving around a tile at a time to try and spot and ones who are stealthed.
(https://i.imgur.com/bhtAEdd.png)
I used Morphine, Bullhead here - entirely unnecessary. Still, better be safe than sorry.
Sneaking further in the tunnels, Nerfed Old Man found the main Lurker Base.
(https://i.imgur.com/2k0oD0i.png)
Also learned this little trick, although it might be a little too late in the run to make good use of it.
In the room to the east the suspicion bars were filling too quickly on the enemies, so instead Nerfed Old Man threw a bag of Caltrops and hid behind that barrel over there, thinking it would provide cover.
(https://i.imgur.com/Fgp6WIo.png)
He was, instead, wide open for the whole gang to shoot him, but he also had the shields up.
That, however, also makes the entire gang come together in one tight spot.
(https://i.imgur.com/zKIXUhx.png)
Just look at them... begging for a 'nade.
An egg, flashbang, egg combo wiped them completely.
The Butcher was nothing.
(https://i.imgur.com/JkqHlc2.png)
After looting the area of Oddities - quite a few around here, mind you, Nerfed Old Man boarded his Protectorate Cruiser and head back to the Black Sea. I just wonder, though... is the Black Sea and the whole Native, Pirate, Aegis stuff somehow related to the real Black Sea...?
(https://i.imgur.com/rW1E5ps.png)
He did some more Oddity hinting.
(https://i.imgur.com/41OOnsw.png)
And tested some new Laser Pistol he had made for himself.
(https://i.imgur.com/7aL51ly.png)
It was doing alright, even without being a build fully focused on energy weapons.
The whole wildlife thing in Expedition is very important for Oddity XP. Make sure you always collect everything.
(https://i.imgur.com/AfW4kkd.png)
He found the Submarine.
(https://i.imgur.com/ar4NWpC.png)
Snuck past all the crabs without any problems.
(https://i.imgur.com/fBlqsZa.png)
And without engaging in any combat, put the power back on.
(https://i.imgur.com/WBiGFBZ.png)
While the crabs and the statues were having a go at each other, Nerfed Old Man just ran past them with all the haste and adrenaline he had. Didn't want to deal with them anymore, although, he still threw a flashbang on his way out.
Next, he head a little to the west and landed on a busy shore, bustling with Natives.
He made a complete mess out of the place.
(https://i.imgur.com/i2nIYsl.png)
Every Psi user was bombed - MK V 'nades with Three-Pointer on one shot them. The shields completely tanked the crossbowmen's shots, and between the punches and the SMG the rest of the natives were no problem at all.
Observing a bit of Native aesthetics, he noticed that skull which might have a wig.
(https://i.imgur.com/vAv4kKQ.png)
Nerfed Old Man made his way to the Shrine of the Serpent Eyes.
(https://i.imgur.com/UYRvz6i.png)
Sneaking in was filling their suspicion bars too quickly, plus there are Sea Wyrms in the water beneath. So instead, Nerfed Old Man barricaded the corridor to the entrance with Crawler Caltrops and Toxic Gas.
(https://i.imgur.com/JIxUuH1.png)
Took out the few isolated shamans close to the entrance, alerting the whole shrine in the process.
Using SMG single bullet fire and 'nades, he had no problem cleaning the natives coming through the gas cloud. Serpent Eyes himself took a ton of damage with a single 'nade.
(https://i.imgur.com/giIIWTS.png)
BTW, how much Thought Control do you need for 21 images...?
I blocked him with a net and Force Wall combo to prevent Psi shenanigans and wait the images out.
(https://i.imgur.com/IT7Q3wt.png)
Hunting Nets land on a Psi user with Pseudo Spacial Projection on... neat, although logically I think it shouldn't. I am sure it was made deliberately for balance reasons.
After the images went away, Serpent Eyes was a sitting duck.
(https://i.imgur.com/Z9pP5gY.png)
Deeper in the Shrine we find an interesting piece of lore for Expedition.
(https://i.imgur.com/29XzrS6.png)
Lvled up to 27 during this run:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?GwMQBQkDAwcAwpEAwpEyalAAAAAAZWdGVWUALQA3AABKJy9hFiBOBsKjBysMPiRLwq3Cm8KewqDCh8Kz4qGQA-KilgTita4F378
-
Nerfed Old Man found himself in this place.
(https://i.imgur.com/WcPgvlv.png)
Proceeded under stealth to the next area.
(https://i.imgur.com/TiT4WtY.png)
And scored a kill or two before the natives got alerted.
Magnar showed up pretty quickly.
(https://i.imgur.com/S3Yes5y.png)
He didn't manage to attack on his turn, so Nerfed Old Man tried stunning him instead. Spent quite a few AP doing that because Magnar's defences are superior. Nerfed Old Man had 50ish % to land a melee strike. He got lucky with a Cheapshots proc and spent the rest of the AP dealing with the entourage - stun the other guy, throw some Caltrops, block the choke with Napalm 'nade, ect.
The rest of the natives weren't too slow behind.
(https://i.imgur.com/m0tofsQ.png)
Nerfed Old Man applied Pneumatic Hammer proc to Magnar and started pelting the natives with SMG single fire, all the while keeping all the melee enemies stunned and the Psi users at range.
The next Napalm 'nade was huge.
(https://i.imgur.com/8wnXECF.png)
He threw another one just in front of him without touching Magnar.
(https://i.imgur.com/OwjcJVX.png)
And dealt with the natives' stragglers by using the SMG.
When only Magnar was left alone, Nerfed Old Man trapped him with a Hunting Net...
(https://i.imgur.com/AXTpa4D.png)
...which has maximum accuracy when Magnar is stunned and lasts for a turn. That allowed him to permanently keep Magnar under Pneumatic Hammer proc while the flames were dying out. Nerfed Old Man also looted the bodies of the natives while in combat to replenish the Hunting Nets.
Once the fires died out, so did Magnar.
(https://i.imgur.com/Tg7x0Br.png)
And Nerfed Old Man proceeded deeper into the throne chambers, looting everything he liked. He was in combat mode all the time because of the women, but he didn't kill any of them. He wanted to stay in combat mode to see if he could escape the chambers before the Magic Dust came.
That may have bitten him in the ass, though, because as he was making his way out he encountered four patches of Magic Death Dust.
(https://i.imgur.com/HUJr1zR.png)
The first time I did this fight there was only one of it, but now even the lights were going out.
Still, with Haste and Adrenaline Nerfed Old Man escaped the throne chambers without much of a problem.
Next he went to see the Ferryman and got him to move the Submarine to the Creeper's Bay.
(https://i.imgur.com/YPyO9wz.png)
He did learn some interesting lore concerning the natives from him this time around.
He hopped in the submarine...
(https://i.imgur.com/WVpYtm3.png)
...and arrived at Abyssal Station.
The whole area is quite rich in oddities. You better give it a good shake.
(https://i.imgur.com/BhcFTQZ.png)
Nerfed Old Man convinced Todd to open the door.
(https://i.imgur.com/5TJsbE7.png)
And arrived at the Shadowlith.
(https://i.imgur.com/AjUAQzu.png)
You can clearly see that the cut piece is the one from the Black Rock Shrine. The lore from this area together with the one learned from Todd really explains who the natives are and how they came to be, as well as their brutal religion.
Nerfed Old Man grabbed the AconR...
(https://i.imgur.com/JFfLhup.png)
...and ran from the additional Magic Death Dust balls that came to chase him.
(https://i.imgur.com/MymwMqn.png)
He boarded the submarine. Todd was already inside, so they both escaped.
(https://i.imgur.com/ujzf4Vh.png)
He spoke with the Ferryman about taking care of Todd and head to Pirateville.
He ended the Expedition's quest-line by speaking with Captain Grim.
(https://i.imgur.com/fxqvpib.png)
In turn the Captain asked Nerfed Old Man to join him to see the Professor.
(https://i.imgur.com/516IPut.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/JBUO7LU.png)
The Captain revealed some interesting lore here.
(https://i.imgur.com/JgnGWhM.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/eHySe7J.png)
He then released the Professor.
(https://i.imgur.com/W1zAhmH.png)
Katya reacted to Serpent Eyes being dead.
(https://i.imgur.com/UY4h1Wi.png)
After that Nerfed Old Man boarded his Cruiser and head back to Core City. Expedition was done.
(https://i.imgur.com/Q5dExEZ.png)
He met with Aran who swore that he'd be his mortal enemy now.
(https://i.imgur.com/JeAJIsw.png)
And then gave the AconR to Azif, who reveals what the AconR actually is.
(https://i.imgur.com/P6u8PMi.png)
Nerfed Old Man gave Underrail one last shopping trip and loaded as many supplies into his inventory as he could carry.
(https://i.imgur.com/PYYkUrK.png)
With that he head back to the Institute.
Didn't lvl up during this run.
-
Went straight to Eiden for the interview.
(https://i.imgur.com/RfU9YCE.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/4K6SDSM.png)
After that I decided to fight him.
(https://i.imgur.com/EQihL2k.png)
Opening with a Fist of the North Star proc.
In fact Nerfed Old Man managed to get all the guards on the same turn.
(https://i.imgur.com/PUimLus.png)
Pretty impressive for a build without Fancy Footwork.
(https://i.imgur.com/5KOswu1.png)
That was the end of Eiden. Looted his keycard and took the elevator behind him.
(https://i.imgur.com/VR26vys.png)
On the lower floor Nerfed Old Man was sneaking to see what he could do around.
(https://i.imgur.com/6h7MtOc.png)
The suspicion metres were filling quite quickly for the guards. Nerfed Old Man decided to fight them instead.
From all the enemies present in the room the only ones that can do something to the build are snipers and crossbowmen.
(https://i.imgur.com/UAItHeZ.png)
So Nerfed Old Man did a true stealth takedown on the sniper.
(https://i.imgur.com/KSISKww.png)
And pelted the crossbowman with the SMG.
The AR users won't punch through the shield and the melee enemies can't get in reach due to their low MP.
(https://i.imgur.com/6QfwF8l.png)
The rest of the fight was a piece of cake.
In the next area Nerfed Old Man took out all the enemies with true stealth kills. They are too far from each other to notice anything.
(https://i.imgur.com/0K228aN.png)
That was a nice change of pace.
Met with the Old Reject and despite his interesting lore, I couldn't free him, so I just looted the oddities and carried on.
(https://i.imgur.com/Dim2a9I.png)
Pushed the elevator button in stealth.
(https://i.imgur.com/g2uQoKq.png)
And the Faceless came.
(https://i.imgur.com/LYNJkNB.png)
Nerfed Old Man backed away and hid in the corner in the mean time.
Once they settled down He snuck past the few guards that went ahead and blocked the area behind him with a Force Wall.
(https://i.imgur.com/Wv1dCIk.png)
Punched out the one guy that blocked the elevator during their turn and went in without further casualties for the Faceless.
(https://i.imgur.com/aDmTSdj.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZUXqTbj.png)
We arrived in Deep Caverns.
(https://i.imgur.com/8MegVCI.png)
He immediately head to the Faceless patrols to the east.
(https://i.imgur.com/zyNvF94.png)
Those, naturally, guided him to their base. And in the base, surprisingly, the Commander was all happy with Nerfed Old Man.
(https://i.imgur.com/BwKS9uc.png)
Ok, I thought it wouldn't work, but it's nice that the game recognises that. More AP ammo, although I doubt I'd use it all.
I took a small detour and fought the Faceless here for shizz and giggles.
(https://i.imgur.com/3iySc6i.png)
The Commander was permanently under Fist of the North Star proc, and the rest of them were outside, slowly bleeding out. Spent quite a number of 'nades and Caltrops, but won it in the end. It was more annoying than anything, to be fully honest. The Gaunts are especially nasty.
Anyways - it wasn't really my intent to go hostile on them. Fighting them all around DC would be too much of an annoyance. So reloaded a save and continued on normally.
Went to visit Leo. Grabbed the Jackhammer from his place.
(https://i.imgur.com/4qtGEOS.png)
Gave back his knife which I had stashed earlier.
(https://i.imgur.com/7eaREFK.png)
And had that conversation with the Hole of Reason.
(https://i.imgur.com/qfXxcql.png)
After that I went sneaking around Hollow Earth, gathering a few oddities and demolishing walls. I met the the Tchortists after that.
(https://i.imgur.com/aPRBQqc.png)
Kudos for those who actually read the report :D.
Nerfed Old Man checked all the junk in Warehouse Block B afterwards.
(https://i.imgur.com/NB4aYgE.png)
And found this together with a few other pieces of 160 + quality. Never seen anything like it. Wonder how much shield capacity I'd be able to squeeze out of it. Either way, I wasn't going to be able to use it.
Stocked up on Ancient Rathound Leather.
(https://i.imgur.com/mEwGXSj.png)
Leo likes those and they trade for a good number of ampules and other things needed for crafting.
With that out of the way, Nerfed Old Man went sneaking towards Arke.
(https://i.imgur.com/t3Hfw2L.png)
The bugs are alright in terms of detection, but nothing too hard, so sneaking past them wasn't that big of an issue.
Nerfed Old Man scored a few stealthy kills...
(https://i.imgur.com/Lu5vV8E.png)
...and entered Arke.
(https://i.imgur.com/ucWr8HO.png)
Pain incoming, I guess :).
The build at the moment:
http://underrail.info.tm/build/?HAMQBQkDAwcAwpYAwpY3bloAAAAAZWdGYGUALQA3AABKJy9hFiBOBsKjBysMPiRLwq3Cm8KewqDCh8KzduKdjQHioZAD4qKWBOK1rgXfvw
-
Sneaking around Arke is relatively easy. The bots really don't have that much detection, but there is one huge obstacle to making the whole thing accessible - 4 Plasma Turrets.
(https://i.imgur.com/MGKmN1c.png)
So Nerfed Old Man snuck to the turrets then blocked one side with a Force Wall. Tossed an EMP on the other side, followed by an HE MKV 'nade and after a few shots those two were down. The only thing left to do now was to retreat to the next area.
(https://i.imgur.com/TSlQcJu.png)
Nerfed Old Man proceeded to sneak around all the cameras and bots. The cameras are indestructible but you can use combat mode to pass by them easily.
(https://i.imgur.com/tSrkhHH.png)
In one corner room - I can't remember exactly which one, there was the key for another corner room, the location of which I also can't remember. Arke is fun...
(https://i.imgur.com/OqPUJho.png)
After getting that one Nerfed Old Man put on the shields and returned to the previous area...
(https://i.imgur.com/kMyMx81.png)
Underrail magic still persisted. The Force Wall insured that the Plasma Turrets won't fire even though Nerfed Old Man was moving last for the turn due to -1000 Initiative nerf. The whole floor of bots, alerted from the noise made last time, was also moving in to strike. Nerfed Old Man responded with an EMP 'nade to make the choke difficult for the bots to come through. He had another Force Wall ready for the Turrets.
Once the bots clustered up in the choke Nerfed Old Man blew them all up with an HE MKV, MKIII Plasma and finished the industrial bot with W2C bullets. He used the corner around the entrance to take cover from the Turrets.
(https://i.imgur.com/1uhdZFz.png)
All in all, that was an easy encounter.
Nerfed Old Man immediately went in stealth and proceeded to sneak around the floor before the new batch of bots came in.
In another unknown corner room, opened with the key from the last corner room, Nerfed Old Man found a key for... another corner room somewhere in Arke.
(https://i.imgur.com/HFrgAqQ.png)
Got gassed here, but managed to put on all the protection before the clouds built up.
(https://i.imgur.com/UlK24L9.png)
I can't remember if there was a key in the gassed room, but the way to Arke's basement was now open.
(https://i.imgur.com/SWnhTHQ.png)
Once inside Nerfed Old Man took it real slow - a tile at a time. He managed to spot the bugs before they spot him.
(https://i.imgur.com/eM7Tl8u.png)
It's not very clear from the screenshot, but if you look carefully you will notice the Death Stalker's outline and shadow.
It's a lot more clear after a flare.
(https://i.imgur.com/nKgq0Ia.png)
There are more bugs on the floor that get alerted but with a generous use of flares they are not that big of an issue.
(https://i.imgur.com/ImLxbF6.png)
Continuing to sneak around Nerfed Old Man spot more bugs here.
(https://i.imgur.com/2ik2yqI.png)
He made sure he was ready for the fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/kibFC1p.png)
And continued cleaning the floor.
(https://i.imgur.com/cJ19V3e.png)
He found yet another corner room key.
(https://i.imgur.com/rAINQhZ.png)
And made it to the third large area of Arke.
(https://i.imgur.com/o9Revml.png)
There was, I believe, yet another key looted from somewhere, but finally, the key to the main console was looted back in the first large area of Arke.
(https://i.imgur.com/wMDNXDJ.png)
After allocating power through the main controls, Nerfed Old Man opened the way to IRIS.
I think this build can do it without having to fight the AI, but Arke always causes a bit of frustration, so fighting the bots for real always feels good.
(https://i.imgur.com/vp9EHzh.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Us0zW19.png)
After explicitly being told to throw everything it has got IRIS summoned a horde of bots plus some Shock Turrets for Nerfed Old Man to fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/nrbpbYZ.png)
Nerfed Old Man pumped the temporal haste on and ran out of the room immediately. Took a cover in the room to the north before the bot army could surroundshim. From there he systematically bombed the bots with EMP, Plasma and HE 'nades, filling the spare AP with W2C bullets. This build actually doesn't struggle against the robots. It was rather easy.
Didn't level up during this run.
-
After finishing with Arke Nerfed Old Man powered up the residential block and went straight there.
(https://i.imgur.com/cmTA12V.png)
Met some Rathounds on the way. Even though they are immune to stun and incapacitation they posed very little threat simply due to their low MP.
On the floor above Nerfed Old Man changed into full insulated costume.
(https://i.imgur.com/cNmhnBI.png)
Then he looted his favorite drug recipe in the entire game.
(https://i.imgur.com/faLtr7C.png)
After getting done with that he head for the Mushroom Forest.
(https://i.imgur.com/ajUXUnB.png)
Dressed for full Bio/Acid resistance the wildlife was causing no problems.
The area also has quite a few oddities.
(https://i.imgur.com/JiNIZQm.png)
Soon after that Nerfed Old Man put all the clothes away and bathed in some mushroom spores.
(https://i.imgur.com/zCSfFBv.png)
After emerging(or submerging) in the new area he set up a fishing spot here:
(https://i.imgur.com/Y2gehas.png)
And went on to challenge the... boss of the area.
(https://i.imgur.com/cqIWT7g.png)
Nothing much to show here, to be honest. Full Bio resistance makes this a very straightforward fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/xXAHdMx.png)
Nerfed Old Man collected the Mycokardia and traveled back to Arke. There he powered the Hollow Earth research center and head to Tithonus lab. He made the Biocide 'nade along the way.
(https://i.imgur.com/IeVI3FR.png)
The Psi shadows at Tithonus are quite annoying. You can walk around them in combat mode and the trick to passing the area is to keep a distance of at least two squares away from them. That is, of course, unless I am mistaken. Either way - there's a lot of them and in the absence of Neural Overload your only way to deal with them is to wait for them to create enough space so that you can walk past. If you start combat the shadows won't move(unless they ''see'' you) which is the saving grace for non-Psi characters.
I can't tell you how happy I was to pull those plugs away.
(https://i.imgur.com/lIHhNnw.png)
Switching back to full Acid/Bio resistance, Nerfed Old Man traveled to the Labyrinth.
Much like the mushroom people before, the worms in the area weren't that much of a deterrence other than being bullet sponges in need of filling. They use acid blob attacks so Nerfed Old Man, naturally, came prepared.
(https://i.imgur.com/GdUjha8.png)
And there's a lot of them, as well.
(https://i.imgur.com/zlqcKpx.png)
Kudos to those who understand the reference.
(https://i.imgur.com/ewAiI1j.png)
You can use this Tunneler as a landmark to orienting yourself to the way back.
(https://i.imgur.com/nyMDTt3.png)
Getting done with the Labyrinth, Nerfed Old Man collected all the necessary parts to fix the gate leading deeper into the Mutagen Tanks.
He made a bee-line for the room underneath the gate, stopping only briefly at the refuges along the way to hide from the Eye of Tchort.
(https://i.imgur.com/7D4AYI4.png)
He didn't need the AI cores to get he job done.
(https://i.imgur.com/4iOmJHQ.png)
He quickly darted through the gate and arrived at the final room.
(https://i.imgur.com/F3rAcLN.png)
This is the video with the final boss and the showcase of the build together with the items used throughout the game:
https://youtu.be/f54VHB1tXCs