Submerged: A Subnautica Survival Diary โ€“ Log 2: The Depths of Progress

Submerged: A Subnautica Survival Diary โ€“ Log 2: The Depths of Progress

Difficulty: Survival (Steam Deck Survival)
Optional Features: Grav Trap Deployed for Science and Snacks

โ€œSilver is rarer than common sense on this planet.โ€

After yesterdayโ€™s fire-fighting and frantic crafting, I started the day with a new radio message: Lifepod 17 had also crashed somewhere nearby โ€” right next to the Seamoth Bay, apparently. But priorities are priorities, and since Lifepod 3 radioed me first, they got first rescue attempt.

Priorities, Podcasts, and PDAs

Lifepod 3 wasnโ€™t exactly a rescue success.
I did, however, find a blueprint for a compass โ€” the kind of thing that makes you wonder why your pod didnโ€™t come with one pre-installed. I added it straight to the โ€œto-craft-once-I-can-see-straightโ€ list, along with a PDA Iโ€™ll read later when Iโ€™m not holding my breath underwater. No survivorsโ€ฆ unless you count me, which I do, enthusiastically.

Back at my pod, I realised something important: I canโ€™t see a damn thing once it gets dark. So I finally crafted a torch โ€” apparently the galaxyโ€™s most underrated invention โ€” along with a survival knife because thereโ€™s nothing like a little sharp-edged comfort in an ocean full of unknown lifeforms.

Lifepod 17 and the Great Seamoth Discovery

Next stop: Lifepod 17.
Predictably, it was another empty seat arrangement, but I did strike technological gold โ€” enough Seamoth fragments to unlock the blueprint. I just need a Mobile Vehicle Bay now, which sounds easy enough until you remember Iโ€™m surviving on cooked bladderfish and spite.

While exploring the wrecks, I also found the last few materials to upgrade my Oโ‚‚ tank. More air equals more curiosity, and more curiosity usually equals more trouble, so thatโ€™s a win all around.

Incoming Messages and Explosive Warnings

Just as I was feeling productive, I got a new transmission โ€” this time from the Sunbeam. They wanted a response, but my comms system is, and I quote, โ€œirreparably damaged.โ€ Translation: Iโ€™m talking to myself for the foreseeable future.

With no one to call and no Netflix subscription in sight, I built a Grav Trap and tossed it outside the Lifepod to watch it work. Instant sushi buffet. Fish helplessly drawn into an invisible vortex of doom. Itโ€™s oddly soothing.

Science in Motion

Full gameplay log below โ€” forty minutes of exploration, crafting, and the occasional panic swim. Featuring Grav Trap testing, Lifepod 17 dives, and my ongoing battle with visibility and oxygen management.

Watch on YouTube

I even had enough parts for a Rebreather, further extending my underwater escapades. Everything was going fineโ€ฆ right up until the PDA told me the Aurora will explode in approximately two hours.
Sure. Two hours to stop a planet-sized reactor meltdown with nothing but a knife and optimism. Sounds totally achievable.

Silver, Sunbeam, and Sinking Realisations

I spent the rest of the day chasing one thing: silver. Iโ€™d convinced myself it didnโ€™t exist anymore, that Iโ€™d mined the planet dry earlier. But after far too many dives and muttered curses, I finally found some glimmering salvation among the sandstone outcrops.

Back at the Lifepod, another message awaited โ€” the Sunbeam again. Theyโ€™ve spotted the wreckage of the Aurora and are coming to investigate. Theyโ€™ll be here within the week.

So not all doom and gloom then. Just mild existential dreadโ€ฆ and a new compass freshly crafted to help me get lost in the right direction next time.

Continue the Journey:
Log 1 |
Log 3

Derailed & Doomed: A Choo Choo Charles Survival Diary Log 1 โ€“ Welcome to the Rails

๐Ÿฉธ Derailed & Doomed โ€“ Log 1: Welcome to the Rails

Difficulty: Default (Steam Deck)
Rules: I start with three strikes under the Apex Predator Rule.
Only Charles can take them away. Each egg collected restores one lost chance, but I can never hold more than three at once.

โ€œEugene called with a โ€˜big find for the museum.โ€™ I shouldโ€™ve known when he refused to say what it was until the boat was already docking.โ€

Arrival โ€“ The Call That Shouldโ€™ve Stayed Missed

Apparently Eugene has discovered something huge on Aranearum Islandโ€”something the museum โ€œcanโ€™t ignore.โ€ What he forgets to mention, until weโ€™re thirty seconds from land, is that the discovery hisses, hunts, and has legs that would make a freight spider jealous. By then, of course, itโ€™s too late to turn around.

No sooner do we dock than Eugene takes off at a sprint like heโ€™s late for his own funeral. I grab the station key, unlock the building, and meet my transportation for this misadventure: a battered yellow locomotive that looks one patch of rust away from retirement.

First Blood โ€“ Eugeneโ€™s Farewell Tour

I test-fire the roof gunโ€”short bursts, satisfying recoilโ€”and then weโ€™re moving. The honeymoon lasts roughly twenty seconds before Charles himself crashes the party. Eugene insists we โ€œkeep firing.โ€ I oblige; Charles responds by turning Eugene into exhibit material. The monster vanishes into the trees, leaving me with a wrecked train, a dying mentor, and new marching orders: find the eggs that power this nightmare.

๐Ÿ“บ Watch the Run โ€“ Log 1 Gameplay

Hereโ€™s the footage from this log โ€” the moment Eugene and I make first contact with the eight-legged nightmare himself. Recorded on Steam Deck using the built-in capture tool.

Side Tracks โ€“ The Islandโ€™s Welcoming Committee

My first stop is Tony Tiddler, who generously offers the key to his barn and a stash of scrap. I call that charity; he calls it cleaning up. Next, I reverse the train, switch tracks, and meet Candece, who points me to her balconyโ€”more scrap, fewer spiders.

Feeling brave (or stupid), I detour toward the middle of nowhere and meet the local witch, Lizbeth Murkwater. She wants swamp meat from an island guarded by something named Barry. I donโ€™t see Barry, but I feel himโ€”same energy as the invisible water creature from Amnesia: The Dark Descent. I retrieve the goods, vow never to swim again, and sprint back to dry land to upgrade my trainโ€™s speed. Priorities.

Locks, Luck, and Helenโ€™s Revelation

Next up is Daryl, a man armed with lockpicks and zero clue how to use them. Fortunately, I manage. The mini-game is all timingโ€”light on punishment, big on satisfaction. More scrap secured, more confidence gained.

My final stop of the day is Helen. As I slow the train and step off to meet her, I hear that familiar metallic shriek echoing through the forest. Instinct wins: I sprint back to the train, gun ready, waiting for the inevitable screech and charge. Nothing. Just the wind and the kind of silence that feels like itโ€™s holding its breath. After a tense minute, I risk itโ€”back down the path to Helenโ€™s camp.

Helen greets me like I havenโ€™t just done the most dramatic 100-metre dash of my life and explains that Charles canโ€™t simply be killed; he has to be lured into a one-on-one fight to the death. To do that, Iโ€™ll need to locate the three eggs hidden in mines across the island and use them to summon him. Simple plan: collect cursed objects, trigger final boss, try not to die first.

Night Falls โ€“ The Quiet Before the Screech

I head back to my train under a sky that looks like itโ€™s plotting. Thereโ€™s another survivor nearby, but they can wait. Somewhere out in the fog, metal claws scrape against steel. Charles knows Iโ€™m hereโ€”and he wants a word.


Log 1 Pro Tips (Steam Deck Edition)

  • Speed first. Running away is still a strategyโ€”just louder.
  • Scrap early, scrap often. Spend it before Charles taxes it.
  • Keep to the tracks. Wandering equals dying with extra steps.
  • Barry exists. Trust the ripples; theyโ€™re not friendly.
  • Fire in bursts. Overheated guns are invitations to funerals.

Need a guide? Explore every stop, scrap pile, and spider sighting with the Aranearum Island Map Guide โ€” your unofficial atlas to surviving the rails.


Continue the journey:
Log 1 (You Are Here) | Log 2

Submerged: A Subnautica Survival Diary โ€“ Day 1: The Peeper in the Pod

Submerged: A Subnautica Survival Diary โ€“ Day 1

Difficulty: Survival Mode (Steam Deck Edition)

Welcome to 4546B

I wake to alarms, a smoking console, and one extremely calm Peeper hovering in the middle of my lifepod like it pays rent. Fire out, situation stable, roommate secured. I catch it. I cook it. Breakfast of champions.

The PDA boots into Emergency Mode with the sort of cheerful corporate tone that suggests HR wrote it. Regardless, itโ€™s my lifeline now, so I listen.

First Steps (and First Swims)

Before diving, I pin the essentials:

  • Oโ‚‚ Tank โ€” lungs are optional, but preferred.
  • Fins โ€” Iโ€™d rather swim fast than panic slowly.

A few quick foraging runs later and Iโ€™ve got both crafted, plus a Repair Tool and a Scanner. The ocean is being cooperative… for the moment.

Right on cue, the radio chirps in with an update: rescue ETA 9โ€ฆ 9โ€ฆ 9โ€ฆ 9โ€ฆ 9 hours. So, roughly eleven and a half years. Excellent. Iโ€™ll, uh, keep busy.

Nightfall, Notes, and New Blueprints

Scanner built, I point it at everything that moves (and several things that donโ€™t). The shallows hum with life โ€” coral pulsing softly beneath me, strange silhouettes drifting just beyond visibility. Itโ€™s beautiful in a way that feels like a warning.

Darkness drops quickly, and scanning in pitch black is just guessing with extra beeps, so I pin a Torch for tomorrow.

At first light I spot Seaglide fragments. One scan later and the blueprint unlocks. New goal: build it before the day ends โ€” because slow swimming is a lifestyle choice I refuse to adopt.

Then: a ping from Lifepod 3. Marker acquired. Iโ€™ll head there once the Seaglide is humming.

Crash Fish Chaos

While hunting materials, I discover two facts in rapid succession: Crash Fish hate visitors, and they express this by exploding in your face. Two back-to-back detonations later, my health bar looks like a bad stock chart. I limp to the lifepod, patch up, and get back to work. Controlled recklessness: unlocked.

The Hunt for Copper

Finding copper is like looking for hope in a horror movie โ€” technically present, rarely where you expect. I comb the shallows, finally crack the right limestone outcrop, and sprint-swim home to craft Copper Wire.

Moments later, the Seaglide is mine. Sleek, fast, and probably not covered by warranty. I take it for a celebratory lap around the pod and call it a day. Tomorrow: Lifepod 3.

End of Day Reflections

The sun sinks below the horizon, painting the shallows gold and the deeper water black. My vitals are stable, the pod is repaired, and Iโ€™ve managed not to die โ€” all major wins in my book. The ocean hums quietly around me, equal parts beautiful and unnerving. Somewhere out there, Lifepod 3 is waiting. Hopefully with snacks.

Watch the Chaos

๐ŸŽฅ Subnautica Survival โ€“ Day 1
See the full adventure โ€” from surprise Peeper roommate to Seaglide success โ€” on YouTube:

Continue the Journey

Day 1 (You Are Here) |
Day 2 โ€“ The Voyage to Lifepod 3 (Coming Soon)

Seven Days to Survive โ€“ Day 3: Honey, Zombies, and Home Improvements

Difficulty: Default Survival
Optional Rules: Permadeath, one horde night per week
โ€œIf you ever find yourself cornered by two zombies in a strangerโ€™s living room, just remember: honey is natureโ€™s antibiotic. Who knew bee juice would keep me alive?โ€

The Fetch Quest of Doom

The morning began with me jogging toward the latest house that Trader Rekt wanted looted for supplies. From the outside, it looked quiet โ€” shutters drawn, roof sagging slightly, just another abandoned suburban home. But this is 7 Days to Die, so I knew the interior would be less โ€œsuburban charmโ€ and more โ€œscreaming corpses.โ€

Sure enough, as soon as I hit the flag at the back of the property and stepped inside, the soundscape turned into a zombie alarm clock. Two of them barreled toward me, cutting off my escape. I managed to fight my way out, but not without a parting gift: infection. Perfect.

After clearing the stragglers and pocketing the supplies, I searched my pack for antibiotics. Nothing. A return trip to Papaw Residence confirmed the same โ€” unless you count decorative piles of junk and a near-useless jar of murky water. But buried in a chest was salvation: honey. Exactly the right cure for my low-level infection. Bee magic saves the day.

Medical Centre Run

I staggered back to Rektโ€™s, handed over the supplies, and chose skill books as my reward. Then I spent some coin on more honey, because clearly zombies see me as a chew toy. Another fetch quest? Why not. This one sent me toward what looked like a pop-up medical centre โ€” white tarps, overturned stretchers, and the distinct impression that the last patients didnโ€™t leave voluntarily.

The zombies inside were fewer and slower, which suited my still-throbbing wounds. Looting the shelves, I stumbled on something that felt like Christmas morning: a cooking grill. Finally, the days of choking down charred snake meat are behind me. Now I can prepare food that doesnโ€™t taste like it came out of a campfire accident.

I cleared the building, snagged the supplies, and returned to Rekt. My reward? Charred meat. Honestly, I think the man is trolling me. โ€œHereโ€™s some food, survivor.โ€ Yes, Rekt, I literally just looted the thing that makes your reward obsolete. Thanks for nothing, champ.

Dew Collector Dreams

Back at Papaw, I started eyeing my supplies. Between yesterdayโ€™s scavenging and todayโ€™s haul, I realised I was close to crafting a Dew Collector. After a bit more rummaging and resource-gathering, the parts came together. I placed the contraption outside, whispered a hopeful prayer to the condensation gods, and waited.

After five minutes of staring at a metal bucket with mesh, I admitted that Dew Collectors are not exciting to watch in real time. With thirst still an issue, I decided to channel my boredom into base-building. The first layer of the horde base is now fully cobblestone. The second layer is patchwork, half cobble, half wood. The third layer? Still dreams and dust. At least I can say progress is being made, even if it looks more like a construction site than a fortress.

Thirst, the Silent Killer

The Dew Collector is great in theory, but water production is glacial. By mid-afternoon I was dehydrated again โ€” stumbling around with blurry vision like Iโ€™d been on a pub crawl with the undead. Tomorrow, water is priority number one. Either the trader sells me a stash, or Iโ€™m boiling every murky puddle I find.

Still, the looming problem isnโ€™t just thirst. Itโ€™s the horde night clock. Day 4 is practically here, and my base is still an empty shell. If I donโ€™t switch gears soon, the zombies will be less โ€œcontained threatโ€ and more โ€œunwanted guests knocking down my half-finished walls.โ€ Tomorrow, the hammer and cobblestone get priority โ€” fetch quests can wait.

Continue the Journey

Day 2 | Day 3 (You Are Here) | Day 4 (Coming Soon)

Seven Days to Survive โ€“ Day 2: Chickens, Bandages, and Pipe Bomb Decisions

Difficulty: Chill Solo
Optional Features: XP set to 150%

โ€œThe chicken wasnโ€™t faster than me โ€” it was simply playing 4D chess while I was stuck with a stone axe.โ€

Adjustments and Priorities

Loading back in, I realised Iโ€™d left my XP multiplier at default. Rookie mistake. Bumped it up to 150% โ€” because if Iโ€™m going to die to zombies, Iโ€™d at least like to die while leveling a little faster.
First order of business: a buried food stash quest. Second: the elusive dew collector. The recipe calls for 100 scrap polymers, 4 short iron pipes, 4 duct tape, and ideally a water filter. Since I donโ€™t have the filter yet, Iโ€™ll only get murky water โ€” but with a cooking pot in the campfire, I can still boil it into something drinkable. Not glamorous, but thirst makes you less picky.

Survivorโ€™s Tip: Dew Collector Water

  • With Water Filter: Collects clean water directly โ€” no cooking needed.
  • Without Water Filter: Collects murky water. Use a cooking pot on the campfire to boil it safe.
  • Murky water is better than no water โ€” just donโ€™t forget to boil it, unless you enjoy dysentery roleplay.

The Chicken Incident

On the way, I decide to test my hunting skills. Enter: chicken. Exit: all my dignity. The little feathered gremlin zig-zagged through the grass like a professional sprinter, forcing me to waste more arrows than I care to admit.
After some zombie interference (probably hired muscle for the chicken mafia), I finally down it. A bone knife later, I had meat for dinner and a stockpile of feathers for arrows.

Blood and Bandages

At the buried stash location, a zombie ambushed me and managed to inflict a bleed. Thank you, starting bandage โ€” youโ€™ve earned your retirement.
Note to self: learn how to craft more. Turns out all you need is cotton โ†’ cloth fragments โ†’ bandage. Problem solved. My feather surplus also became arrow surplus. Feeling slightly more capable, I dug up the stash and headed back to Trader Rekt.

Pipe Bombs for Later

Rekt offered me a tough choice of rewards. I went with five pipe bombs, because nothing says โ€œHorde Night insuranceโ€ like handheld explosives.
Next stop: Papaw residence to unload my loot, then scouting a new Horde base location.

First Steps Toward Horde Night

I laid out the foundations of a 6×3 base. Not glamorous, not reinforced, but itโ€™s a start. Iโ€™ll reveal more of its design on the big night โ€” for now, just know it exists, itโ€™s square-ish, and itโ€™s mine.
With daylight fading, I tried to squeeze in a fetch quest, but after one zombie fight it was already 9pm. Jogging zombies are not on my wishlist, so I postponed.

Evening at Papawโ€™s

Back at Papawโ€™s, I cooked up my chicken, learned eggs can be eaten raw (filed under: desperate measures), and salvaged what I could.
A zombie came knocking on my door uninvited, so I introduced them to my club. Afterwards, I excitedly crafted an armor crafting kit โ€” only to immediately discover I had no clue how to use it. Survival irony at its finest.

Looking Ahead

Day 2 ends with preparations in motion but confidence on shaky legs. Iโ€™ve got pipe bombs, a half-built base, and one less chicken in the world. Tomorrow, Iโ€™ll knock out that fetch quest early and dedicate daylight to shoring up my defenses. Horde Night is coming, and I need all the help I can get.

Continue the journey:
Day 1 | Day 2 (You Are Here) | Day 3

Seven Days to Survive โ€“ Day 1: Punching Trees, Evicting Corpses

Seven Days to Survive โ€“ Day 1: Punching Trees, Evicting Corpses

Difficulty: Default Survival
Optional Rules: Permadeath, one horde night per week

โ€œI woke up in front of a caravan with a few scraps, a stone-axe dream, and a passive-aggressive note from the Duke. Welcome to 7 Days to Die.โ€

The Duke Hates Me, Trees Hate My Fists

Like every survival game worth its salt, the tutorial goes like this: punch nature until it gives up resources. Twigs, stones, and grass became my new currency. Before long Iโ€™d cobbled together a stone axe, wooden bow, arrows, a club, and some basic armor. The Dukeโ€™s instructions? Go see Trader Rekt. Fine. But Iโ€™m docking him points for management style.

Papaw Residence: Home Sweet Maybe

On the way, I found the Papaw Residence. Inside: zombies, a cooking pot, and โ€” after several panicked swings and one deeply ungraceful bow shot โ€” victory. A few quick wood frames in the doorways, some repair slapdash on the windows, and I served my first eviction notice to the undead. I dropped the land-claim block becauseโ€ฆ the tutorial said so. Itโ€™s just me out here, but sure, paperwork matters.

Administrative Hostility at Trader Rekt

Rekt handed me a shovel and told me to dig. When I stepped back outside, a zombie was loitering like security had gone on break. A couple of club taps later, the parking lot was clear and my cardio stat was emotionally damaged.

Diggy Diggy Hole (ft. Immediate Zombie)

Quest in hand, shovel in pocket, I marched out to unearth supplies. Within seconds of my first swing, the dirt complained โ€” and so did a nearby zombie, who arrived to file a noise complaint with his teeth. One frantic scuffle later, I was back to the dwarven anthem: โ€œIโ€™m a dwarf, and Iโ€™m digging a hole.โ€ Every thunk felt like ringing a dinner bell for the next groaner, but the stash popped and I grabbed the goods.

Snake on a Path

On the return leg I spotted a snake. Compared to the zombies outside Rektโ€™s place and the dig site, this was stress relief with scales. One arrow later, dinner. The bone knife Iโ€™d made earlier turned it into tidy cuts for the pot.

Night by the Fire

Back at Papaw, I set up a campfire, boiled every drop of murky water Iโ€™d hoarded, cooked snake meat, and tossed a couple of potatoes on for good measure. The house creaked, the wind howled, and distant moans reminded me that the homeownersโ€™ association here is very hands-on.

Day 1 Reflections

Base secured (ish). Water safe (mostly). Food cooked (definitely snake). Iโ€™ve got another buried supplies quest from Rekt lined up for tomorrow and the horde clock has quietly started ticking. One day survived. Seven? Weโ€™ll see.

Day 1 Pro Tips (7 Days to Die Edition)

  • Gather early, gather often: Grass, stones, and wood fuel your first tools and defenses.
  • Craft the basics fast: Stone axe, wooden club, wooden bow + arrows, and primitive armor.
  • Secure a roof: A fixer-upper beats the outdoors. Frame and patch doors/windows immediately.
  • Cooking pot = jackpot: Boil water safely and expand your recipe list.
  • Bone knife bonus: Butchering with it yields more meat, hides, and resources.
  • Expect company when digging: Shovels are loud. Fight, reset, keep scanning 360ยฐ.
  • Trader quests pay: Early tools, food, meds, and dukes โ€” stack them for momentum.
  • Night jobs: Boil water, cook, sort loot, plan upgrades. Donโ€™t waste the dark.
Continue the journey:
Day 1 (You Are Here) |
Day 2

โ† Back to Seven Days to Survive Hub

Snowrunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries โ€“ Driver Log Eight: Flips, Fuel, and a Double Rescue Mission

Red goes rogue in Smithville Dam, flipping twice while chasing a Watchtower. Frank clears a blocked road, performs a double rescue, secures an engine upgrade, then hauls fuel back to Black River to set up tomorrowโ€™s delivery for โ€œThe Essentials.โ€

๐Ÿ“œ Series Hub: SnowRunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries Main Hub

๐Ÿ›  Rules: SnowRunner Permagear Rules

๐Ÿ’ก Why Permagear Works: Read the reasoning behind the challenge

Missed Day Seven? Find it here.


๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Crossing the Dam (and the Line)

With most of Black River mapped and missions cleared, I decide itโ€™s time to see what Smithville Dam has to offer. Redโ€™s fired up and we set โ€œThe Essentialsโ€ as the main task โ€” one item in Smithville, the rest in Black River. Easy on paper. Reality had other plans.

๐Ÿšง First Roadblock: Literal Roadblock

After finding the Smithville garage, I immediately hit a blocked road needing Service Parts. Luckily, thereโ€™s a depot basically around the corner. I pencil that in for after I grab the nearby Watchtower.

๐Ÿ”„ Red Goes Rogue (Twice)

I point Red up the Watchtower track andโ€”whoopsโ€”he flips onto his side. Full turtle. Thereโ€™s only one truck for this kind of drama: Frank.

I transport Frank into Smithville, pick up the Service Parts, clear the roadblock, and roll out to rescue Red. Frank rights him like the dependable legend he isโ€ฆ and Red immediately repays the kindness by rolling over again. Cue rescue mission #2. Frank handles it without breaking a sweat.

๐Ÿ” Watchtower Found, Upgrade Secured

With Red back on his wheels (twice), we nab the Watchtower and ping a nearby upgrade: an engine that fits both Red and Scout. Whether itโ€™s actually better is a question for the next garage visit โ€” Iโ€™ll compare stats when weโ€™re back under a roof.

โ›ฝ Frank Hauls, Like a Pro

While Red takes a breather, Frank gets back to business. He grabs Fuel for โ€œThe Essentials,โ€ hauls it over to Black River, and calls it a night โ€” textbook veteran move.

๐Ÿ“… Tomorrowโ€™s Mission

Fuel staged, Frank is ready to finish โ€œThe Essentialsโ€ delivery tomorrow. Red? Heโ€™s on probation until he proves he can stay upright for more than ten minutes.


Want more SnowRunner? Day 9 link coming soon.

SnowRunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries โ€“ Driver Log Seven: Mud, Bridges, and Big Dreams

โ€œSometimes the smallest truck has the biggest heart. And sometimes, Red gets new shoes.โ€

๐Ÿ“œ Series Hub: SnowRunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries Main Hub

๐Ÿ›  Rules: SnowRunner Permagear Rules

๐Ÿ’ก Why Permagear Works: Read the reasoning behind the challenge

Missed Day Six? Find it here.


๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Exploring With Red (and Just a Little Jealousy)

With Pipe Dreams in the rear-view mirror, itโ€™s a well-earned day off for Frank. Today? Itโ€™s all about Red. Heโ€™s got the boundless energy of a puppy on caffeine and the mud-crawling tenacity ofโ€ฆ well, a Scout whoโ€™s tired of being second-best.

The target? The wooden bridge task. Along the way, I spot a trailer Red thinks he can handle. He canโ€™t. But youโ€™ve got to admire the ambition.

We reach the bridge and, of course, it needs wooden planks. Frankโ€™s domain. But Redโ€™s not doneโ€”he also picks up a SnowRunner throttle upgrade (one for himself and one for Scout). Naturally, Red gets the install. Scout remains benched.

๐ŸŒŠ Mud Wrestling and Watchtower Glory

Tempted to spoil Red with more upgrades, I decide to hold off. Then he earns them. Charging through deep mud and water, Red smashes through the terrain to grab another Watchtower like a tiny, determined hero.

Back to the garage we goโ€”Red gets a roof rack for longer hauls and, most importantly, a tyre upgrade. Thatโ€™s right: better grip, less slipping, and maximum mud-mashing potential. Watch out, Frank.

๐Ÿชต Frank Does What Frank Does Best

Now itโ€™s Frankโ€™s turn. Time to deliver those wooden planks and make that bridge a reality. He follows the same route Red scouted earlier, proving why heโ€™s still the heavy-lifting king.

  • Bridge? Built.
  • Frank? Effective as ever.
  • Red? Flexing in the garage.
  • Scout? Still patiently waiting for relevance.

๐Ÿ“ Next Stop: Smithville Dam

Black River is slowly bending to our will, and tomorrow we head deeper into Michiganโ€”straight into Smithville Dam. There will be mud. There will be breakdowns. But Redโ€™s got new tyres, and morale is high.

๐Ÿ›ž Team Status Update

  • Red: Roof rack, throttle upgrade, fresh set of tyres. Officially a mud-slaying menace.
  • Frank: Old reliable. Still gets the job done. Probably feeling a little upstaged.
  • Scout: Collecting dust. One day, Scout. One day.

๐Ÿ“ธ Coming Soon

  • Red showing off the new tyres.
  • Watchtower victory shot.
  • Frank delivering planks like a pro.

Want more SnowRunner? Day 8 link coming soon.

Customloper Diaries โ€“ Day 7: Bow Before the Blizzard

Customloper Diaries โ€“ Day 7: Bow Before the Blizzard

Weather: Clear start โ†’ freezing winds โ†’ blizzard
Loot Highlights: Survival Bow, cooking pot, skillet
Mood: Excited โ†’ frozen โ†’ grateful to still have toes

โ—€ Customloper Diaries โ€“ Day 6: Blizzard Send-Off, Ptarmigan Detour, and the Great Cooking Pot Tragedy  | 
What is Customloper?

Morning Discoveries: Maxโ€™s Last Stand

Todayโ€™s goal was simple: reach the Camp Office without becoming a wolfโ€™s breakfast. Thatโ€™s really the only bar for success these days. On the way, I spotted one of The Long Darkโ€™s most reliable signals that something is worth investigating: birds circling in the sky, waiting patiently for either my demise or someone elseโ€™s.

Luck was on my side for once โ€” it wasnโ€™t my turn. At Maxโ€™s Last Stand, a corpse lay frozen in place, and right beside it sat the holy grail of early-game weaponry: a Survival Bow. I snatched it up with the speed and enthusiasm of a raccoon finding a half-eaten cheeseburger.

All I needed now were arrows. With them, I could finally graduate from โ€œrock-throwing medieval PE teacherโ€ to โ€œslightly competent hunter.โ€

Deadfall + Hypothermia = Great Life Choices

Feeling pretty pleased with myself, I decided to swing by the Deadfall area. Thatโ€™s when my overconfidence caught up with me. The temperature dropped faster than my optimism during an Interloper run, and I was soon staring at the dreaded red text: Hypothermia.

I lit a fire in the nearby stove, boiled some water, and cookedโ€ฆ something. Iโ€™d like to say it was a hearty stew, but given my supplies, it was probably just porridge or whatever counted as โ€œhot foodโ€ in my pack. Once I had a bit of warmth and hydration, I grabbed a torch from the fire and pressed on toward my main goal.

Lesson learned: Interloper weather waits for no one, especially those who think they can โ€œjust pop overโ€ somewhere.

Camp Office and Instant Regret

The rest of the walk to Camp Office was blissfully uneventful โ€” a rare thing in Mystery Lake. Inside, I scored a skillet and cooking pot. Not exactly a rifle or a quiver of arrows, but after yesterdayโ€™s cooking pot debacle, I wasnโ€™t about to complain.

Then I made the fatal mistake: I decided to โ€œjust explore the areaโ€ before settling in. First came the snow. Then came the blizzard. In minutes, visibility dropped to โ€œguess and hopeโ€ territory. Navigation became a mix of scent, instinct, and blind luck.

Somehow โ€” and I truly do not know how โ€” I managed to stagger back to the Camp Office without being eaten, freezing to death, or wandering onto thin ice. The blizzard roared outside as I slammed the door shut, my heart still hammering.

Evening Wrap-Up

Back inside, I set about cooking more porridge, boiling as much water as I could, and letting my core temperature crawl back to something survivable. The bow was now mine. The arrows? Still a distant dream. But tomorrow, Iโ€™d change that.

Tomorrowโ€™s Goal

Find arrows. Or a rifle. Or, failing that, a pointy stick and a really bad attitude.

Continue the Journey

โ—€ Customloper Diaries โ€“ Day 6: Blizzard Send-Off, Ptarmigan Detour, and the Great Cooking Pot Tragedy
Customloper Diaries โ€“ Day 8 โ–ถ

Snowrunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries โ€“ Driver Log Five

Frank puts in a full shift as Road Block and Wet Harvest get cleared in Black River. Red gets a look at the map, and we hit Rank 4.

๐Ÿ“œ Series Hub: SnowRunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries Main Hub

๐Ÿ›  Rules: SnowRunner Permagear Rules

๐Ÿ’ก Why Permagear Works: Read the reasoning behind the challenge

Missed Day Four? Find it here.


A Day in the Life of Frank

We begin the day staring down a literal Road Block. It wants two service parts from the warehouse. No problem. This is Frank’s moment. The Fleestar rolls out, collects the goods, and delivers them without so much as a grumble. Road cleared. Mission done. Easy.

With the path open, Red (our sprightly little Scout 800) heads out and uncovers another Watchtower. A little more map, a little more potential chaos.


Wet Harvest, Maximum Effort

With more of the map visible, I queue up Wet Harvest. Itโ€™s a multi-stage farm delivery runโ€”only one truck is suited to the task. You guessed it: Frank is back in action.

First stop, the warehouse. We grab some bricks and discover they also stock metal beamsโ€”very handy intel for future tasks. Bricks get dropped off at the farm without incident.

Frank heads home for a well-earned breather, some repairs, and a small upgrade: a raised exhaust pipe. Itโ€™s not glamorous, but it keeps the engine breathing when the terrain gets swampy.


Wood, Metal, and a Promotion

Next, weโ€™re off to the lumber mill for wood. Frank makes the pickup and hauls it straight back to the farm. No drama. Just dependable grunt work.

Finally, we collect metal beams from the warehouse. One last delivery and the Wet Harvest task is officially in the rear-view mirror.

And with that, we hit Rank 4. Not bad for a dayโ€™s work. Frankโ€™s still in one piece, Redโ€™s scouting strong, and the map keeps growing.


๐ŸŽฏ Task Summary:

โœ… Road Block โ€“ 2x Service Parts delivered

โœ… Wet Harvest โ€“ Bricks, Wood, and Metal Beams delivered to the farm

๐Ÿ“New Watchtower discovered


๐Ÿ›  Fleet Update:

Frank (Fleestar 2070A) โ€“ Now with a raised exhaust. Still the MVP.

Red (Scout 800) โ€“ Cleared the fog and didnโ€™t flip once. Proud of them.


๐Ÿ†™ Rank Up!

Weโ€™ve hit Rank 4. A few more levels and we can start unlocking better upgrades, which will come in handy when the terrain stops playing nice.


Want more SnowRunner? Day 6 link coming soon.

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