Day 1 Diary – ARK: Scorched Earth – Heat, Hubris & A Doedicurus

Spawn Location: Midlands 4
Difficulty Setting: Easy (allegedly)
Death Count: 1
Notable Quotes: “That doedicurus looks manageable.”


Wake Up, Punch a Bush

I came to in the middle of the desert wearing absolutely nothing except a sense of misplaced confidence. Sun blazing, heat rising, and the HUD silently judging me. First instinct? Punch a bush. Gathered some fiber, thatch, and self-respect.

Leveled up once from raw enthusiasm alone. Put that point into Health, because even I could tell I was about five bad decisions away from dying.


The Accidental Shirt Empire

Decided to craft some clothes before the sun roasted me alive. Opened the crafting menu, tried to make one shirt—accidentally made five.

Now accepting names for my pop-up desert boutique. Eventually got it together and added some pants. No shoes though. Those required hide. Hide required confrontation.


Tooling Up & Feeling Bold

Made a pickaxe and found a water vein. Hydration status: temporarily acceptable.

Crafted a hatchet. Then a spear. Then a sun hat, because I like my survivalism with a side of flair. I had gear, water, and the kind of reckless optimism that leads straight to the respawn screen.

The Enemy of My Confidence

I needed hide. So I looked around:

Ankylosaurus: Too many spikes. Hard pass.

NOPE!

Doedicurus: Round, slow-looking, vaguely adorable. I could take it.


I could not.

The second it noticed me, it went full Beyblade and chased me halfway across the dunes. I survived, barely, and took that as a sign to regroup. Obviously, I didn’t listen.


The Fatal Spear Throw

Bandaged my pride, gathered more supplies, and returned to the scene of my failure with renewed stupidity.

Lined up the doedicurus in my sights. Threw the spear.

Missed completely.

It charged. I died.


Summary of Bad Decisions

Crafted 5 shirts by accident: Unplanned fashion mogul
Picked a fight with a doedicurus: Lost. Twice.
Made tools and a spear: Forgot to aim before throwing
Died as tradition dictates

Final Thoughts

ARK on Easy Mode is still full of bad decisions if you’re making them fast enough.

Doedicurus: not food, not friendly, not forgettable.

Respawning is a learning experience. Eventually.


Next time, I’ll pick a different animal to harass. Probably regret that too.



Read my other Day One Diaries here

Day 1 Diary – Ark: Survival Evolved – Dodos, Dilophosaurs & Disasters

It began, as all great survival stories do, with a half-naked stranger waking up on a beach and immediately punching a tree. This is how we build civilizations in ARK: Survival Evolved. Or at least, how we bruise our knuckles trying.

Welcome To The Island

I picked:

Single Player

Easy Mode

The Island

Easy spawn zone

Randomized survivor (so I could blame poor decisions on someone else)


Did I know what I was doing? No. But I was armed with determination and the ability to mash buttons on a Nintendo Switch. That’s basically survival.


Early Progress: Punch > Pickaxe > Panic

I picked berries, harvested rocks, and punched trees until my fists cried. I crafted tools and learned a vital truth:

> If you don’t know how to unequip something, you’re just a caveman with commitment issues.



Eventually, I figured out how to stash my pickaxe, crafted a thatch shack, and proudly stared at my beachfront real estate. It was ugly. But it was mine.


Enter The Dodo

I spotted my first dodo and made a moral decision: tame it, not kill it. A few club swings and some berries later, Doddie was born.

Then came a second tame. I was unstoppable. Until I wasn’t.


Dilophosaur: Agent of Chaos

Like a raptor’s sloppy cousin, the Dilo charged in, spat venom, and chaos erupted.

I panicked. Swung wildly. Hit everything.

> “Doddie was killed by Survivor Incognito.”



Yes. I clubbed my own tame to death. Twice. The Dilo died in the end, but at what cost? (Spoiler: Hide. Enough for shoes.)


The Taming Spiral

I swore vengeance. Then I swore allegiance. I tamed a Dilophosaur. If you can’t beat ’em, feed ’em narcoberries until they like you.

I tamed another Dodo. Named it Dodder. It died too.

By nightfall, I had a new tribe of misfit companions: a Dilophosaur named Dilo, another Dodo named Dodder to replace original Dodder, something else called Lyon, a torch, and a pile of regrets.

Lost & Afraid

Then it got dark.

Really dark.

And I realized I’d forgotten one critical step: marking my shelter. Turns out the map doesn’t help much when every jungle tree looks the same.

I wandered in circles, torch in hand, until I miraculously stumbled on my sad little shack. Home. Sweet. Hut.

I built a bed, collapsed, and promised myself I’d do better tomorrow.



Lessons Learned

Easy Mode isn’t shameful. It’s life-saving.

Dodos are loyal, fragile, and easily betrayed by friendly fire.

Dilophosaurs are chaotic evil with spit mechanics.

Beds are not optional.

Torch = godsend. Build one early.



Read More Day One Diaries Here

Survivor’s Shorts Are Live – Because Chaos Deserves Its Own Page

Survivor’s Shorts is now live! A new page on the blog featuring my funniest, strangest, and most disastrous survival moments—bite-sized stories, full-sized regret.


Sometimes a moment in a survival game doesn’t need a full playthrough post—it just needs a spotlight, a raised eyebrow, and maybe a bandage.

That’s where Survivor’s Shorts comes in.

It’s a new page on the blog dedicated to the little disasters. The sudden bear charges. The pancake heartbreaks. The moose lurking behind trees. All real stories from my permadeath runs, trimmed down and served with a side of sarcasm.

If you’ve ever screamed when you meant to crouch or felt betrayed by a breakfast item, you’ll feel right at home.

What You’ll Find There

The Pancake Betrayal – Found the recipe. Found the syrup. Got betrayed by Cooking Level 4.

There is more coming soon. But here is what to expect for ones that are being drafted:

The Wolf That Interrupted My Mapping Session – Cartography meets carnivore.

The Moose Behind the Tree – A 5% spawn rate that showed up at 100% volume.

The Doedicurus That Broke My Spirit – One spear. No hits. Lots of tail.

The One-Shot Wonder – A bear, a rifle, and a moment of absolute panic… that somehow worked.


And plenty more moments coming soon.

Check it Out Here:

Survivor’s Shorts

Got a favourite chaotic moment?

Let me know in the comments or tag me on social—I’m always looking for new disasters to celebrate.
And if you enjoy these shorts, consider sharing the page with a fellow survivor.
Because nothing says “friendship” like a moose silently judging you from behind a tree.

Skyrim Day 3 Incoming + Blog Updates!

Skyrim Survival – Day 3 drops this Wednesday. After reaching Whiterun, I get caught up in the city’s favorite pastime: dragon slaying. Spoiler—my attempt at stealth archery is about as subtle as a mammoth in a library.

In the meantime, the blog’s had a few upgrades:

  • The Skyrim Hub is now live! It’s the central place for the full survival run and all related content.
  • The Long Dark Hub It’s the central place for the full survival run and all related content.
  • The Graveyard is open—every permadeath now gets logged, labelled, and (lightly) mocked.
  • The FAQ page answers burning questions like “Why the Switch?” and “Was that death avoidable?” (Usually: yes.)

New content’s coming. Expect chaos. Bring your torch.

New Rules, Who Dis? (Permadeath Begins Now)

Setting the official rules for all future playthroughs on Survivor Incognito—permadeath is here, and chaos just got consequences.

Starting today, all future playthroughs on this blog—The Long Dark, Skyrim: Survival Mode, and anything else I drag my tired, freezing self into—will follow official permadeath rules.

That means:

If I die, that run is over.

No reloads. No saves. No mercy.

I start fresh from Day 1, with a new character or region.

What about previous entries?

My original Day 1 diary for The Long Dark was from my first experience with the game—long before these rules existed. So yes, I fell through the ice and died like a confused deer. That was real. That was me. That was chaos, pre-regulations.

What now?

From here on out:

I’ll clearly label each run.

I’ll document every in-game day, death or glory.

And I’ll stick to the rules. Even if a moose doesn’t.

Full breakdown of the rules are now live and can be found here [The Rules of Survival (According to Me)]

Let’s see how long I last.

Here’s What You Missed This Week (And What Is Coming Soon)

Missed this week’s survival updates? Catch up on new posts, check out what is in progress, and out where Survivor Incognito is headed next.

What You Missed This Week:

● Sneak, Snipe, Repeat – Day Two:

The Skyrim Survival saga continues with a cold climb, stealthy bow work, and a few undead inconveniences: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival – Day Two

● A Voyageur’s Tale – Day Three:

Said “Nope” to a bridge guarded by a moose, took a detour through an abandoned mine, and emerged in the Crumbling Highway in my continuing search for matches: The Cold Chronicles: A Voyageur’s Tale of The Long Dark – Day 3

● The Map Hub is Live!

Currently featuring:

○ ARK: The Island

○ ARK: Scorched Earth

○ The Long Dark Regions Transition Zones

More maps and survival notes are on the way: The Map Hub

Pinterest is now a thing!

You can now follow Survivor Incognito on Pinterest for post updates, gear lists, and all the cozy chaos in one scrollable place: Pinterest Page

What’s in the Works:

● Green Hell – Day One Diary

Failed to punch some trees, got poisoned by something unseen, and spent most of the day searching for vines to make rope. A strong start.

● Beginner-Friendly Guide – The Long Dark

A practical survival intro using Mystery Lake, minus the gatekeeping.

And finally, a Privacy Policy page is now live – because even barely-surviving bloggers need fine print. Read it Here

And remember: if it moves and growls, it’s probably not friendly. Survivor Incognito,  signing off – for now.

Survivor Incognito Is Now on Pinterest

Turns out I made a Pinterest account years ago and promptly forgot it existed—until now. Good news: it’s back, it’s live, and it’s getting updated.

If you enjoy cozy survival chaos, scenic screenshots, and curated tips from The Long Dark, Skyrim, ARK, and beyond, you can now find and follow Survivor Incognito on Pinterest too.

Follow me on Pinterest

More pins coming soon—survival, but make it scrollable.

The Map Hub Is Live: Navigate My Chaos One Region at a Time

Survivor Incognito’s new Map Hub is here! Get quick access to detailed maps for The Long Dark, Skyrim, ARK: Survival Evolved, and more.

Lost again? You’re in luck—because now I know where I am. Mostly.

The Map Hub is now live on Survivor Incognito! It’s your one-stop page for every survival game map I’ve blundered through so far. Whether you’re wandering Mystery Lake, dodging deathworms in Scorched Earth, or just trying to remember which way Bleak Falls Barrow is, I’ve got you covered.

Here’s what’s inside:

The Long Dark region pages (including DLC and transition zones)

ARK: Survival Evolved maps for The Island and Scorched Earth, with links to interactive versions

Skyrim world map (because frostbite waits for no one)

A placeholder for future games, because let’s face it—I’m probably going to keep making poor survival decisions


Each game has its own dedicated map section, and I’ll keep expanding it as the blog grows. So if you ever need to get your bearings—or just want to laugh at mine—you know where to click.

Visit the Map Hub

100 Views and Counting – You Lot Are Gluttons for Punishment

Somehow, 100 people have visited this blog. Whether you came here by accident, curiosity, or you just enjoy secondhand frostbite, thanks for stopping by.

I’m about 75% done with the Long Dark region maps page, which will include:

Clickable region maps

Survival advice (questionable but heartfelt)

All zones: Great Bear, Far Territory, and transition maps


It’s coming soon. Until then, stay fed, stay warm, and don’t trust the ice.

🧭 Survivor Incognito Weekly Recap

Missed this week’s survival misadventures? Here’s your one-stop recap of ARK, Skyrim, and The Long Dark escapades, plus a sneak peek at what’s coming next.



🔥 What You May Have Missed

Day One Diary – ARK: Scorched Earth

Woke up in a desert, punched a cactus, and got killed by a doedicurus. Survival at its finest.

Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day One

Escaped Helgen, fought bandits and picked flowers. Activated Survival Mode because I enjoy suffering.

Cold Chronicles: A Voyageur’s Tale – Day Two

Still cold. Still lost. Now with more wolf dodging and questionable life choices.


🛠️ Blog Updates This Week

Launched Day One Diaries for ARK

Began my life as a Stealth Archer in Skyrim Survial

Continued Cold Chronicles with Day 2

Teased upcoming content to keep you (and me) on our toes


Stay tuned for more survival tales, misadventures, and the occasional accidental success.

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