Tag: The Long Dark Stalker

The Long Dark – Stalker Instinct Log #3: Turns Out I Was Already Armed

Difficulty: Stalker
Region: Mystery Lake

The day started well. I sat down at the crafting table to work on my bow, settled in, got into a rhythm… and realised I hadn’t hit record. Rookie mistake. I’d only lost about an hour of crafting, so I chalked it up as a warning shot from the universe.

As punishment, I stopped crafting and went outside. The bow could wait.

The Bow I Forgot I Owned

I grabbed some beef jerky and immediately spotted something I had somehow missed the day before: arrows. Several of them. Right next to them? A bow.

In my excitement during the last log, I’d completely overlooked the fact I already had a functional weapon setup. No crafting required. I took the bow, checked the arrows, and headed straight out to see what my snares had been up to.

Two rabbits, caught cleanly. I reset the snares, started a fire, and immediately had it refuse to light. One match gone, no progress.

Quick reminder for anyone new to this:

  • Light a torch first
  • Use the torch to start fires
  • Save matches for when you actually need them

Food cooked. Water sorted. Crisis avoided.

Exploring Mystery Lake (The Hard Way)

With supplies handled, I decided to explore more of Mystery Lake. I knew there had to be another way down besides the rope, and I was determined to find it.

I did. Eventually.

It cost me a sprained wrist and ankle, but I had bandages and painkillers to spare. No panic. Once I got my bearings and realised I’d hit the transition toward Forlorn Muskeg, I made the call to head for Trapper’s Homestead.

Worst case, I lose some daylight. Best case, I find better clothing.

Crafting Progress (And Future Problems)

No luck on the clothing front, but the trip wasn’t wasted. While there, I crafted a rabbitskin hat. Not glamorous, but effective.

Next target:

  • Rabbitskin mittens

I dropped another snare nearby. No rabbits in sight, but that’s future me’s problem.

I also made a point of staying outside as much as possible. Cabin fever will become an issue eventually, and I’m not interested in speeding that up.

Threats on the Horizon

Two long-term concerns are now officially on my list:

  • Cabin fever – managed for now by not living indoors
  • Scurvy – temporarily covered by stored food, but fishing will be needed

Fishing is unavoidable. It’s just a matter of when.

Stalker Reality Check

Three logs in, and Stalker hasn’t been the nightmare I expected. I genuinely thought I’d be tripping over wolves every time I stepped outside.

That hasn’t happened. Yet.

The tension is there. The margin for error is thinner. But so far, it feels manageable — and more importantly, enjoyable.

That probably means the game is waiting.

Video Log


Continue the journey:
Stalker Instinct – Log 2 |
Log 3 (You Are Here) |
Log 4 (Coming Soon)

More from The Long Dark

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The Long Dark – Stalker Instinct Log #1: Mystery Lake Was the Sensible Choice

Difficulty: Stalker
Optional Features: Cougar enabled, Scurvy enabled, Trader enabled

Before I even began, I had three choices to make: do I want the Cougar, Scurvy, and Trader to be active?

Because I apparently enjoy making poor decisions, the answer was yes to all three.

For my first proper attempt at Stalker, I chose Mystery Lake for one simple reason: I wanted to be eased in. If the game was going to punish me, I wanted it to do so gradually.

Spawn Point: Cave Near the Fishing Huts

I started my journey in a cave near the edge of the fishing huts. One hut was close enough to feel safe, so I checked that first. The others were further out across the ice, and I could already see wolves roaming.

Not ideal. Not surprising. Very on-brand for Stalker.

Rather than pushing my luck early, I headed straight for the Camp Office. If things went wrong, at least I’d be indoors when it happened.

For context — and future mistakes —

Mystery Lake maps and region notes.

Camp Office Loot and a Small Win

The Camp Office treated me better than expected. I found:

  • A lantern
  • A skillet

That was enough to get something going. I lit a fire, warmed up, and decided to head back out with torches. The plan was simple: torches to deter wolves, quick trips to the huts, no unnecessary risks.

Fishing Huts: Where the Game Lied to Me

In my head, wolves were going to be circling me the entire time. I expected growling, posturing, and at least one moment of panic on the ice.

None of that happened.

Not a single wolf came near me as I moved from hut to hut. I could see them in the distance, but they kept their space. I did spot a bear, which immediately raised my stress levels, but even that had its back turned and showed no interest.

I looted what I could, kept the torches lit, and tried not to trust the calm.

Food Reality Check

After clearing the huts, I returned to the Camp Office. Food was becoming an issue, but I knew there were potatoes inside. It was Day 1, and I wasn’t going to starve overnight.

Another look around paid off when I found a cooking pot. For a brief moment, I imagined porridge and proper meals.

That optimism didn’t last.

My cooking skill was too low to do anything interesting. No porridge. No comfort food. Just the basics.

Dinner ended up being:

  • Boiled water
  • A couple of potatoes
  • Some crackers

Not exciting, but it kept me alive, which is the only metric that matters in Stalker.

End of Day 1

I ended the first day inside the Camp Office, hydrated, minimally fed, and strangely untouched.

The wolves were present but passive. The bear made an appearance and then left. Nothing attacked me. Nothing forced a bad decision.

That kind of restraint never lasts.

For Day 2, I’m undecided:

  • Head to Trapper’s Cabin
  • Or go somewhere else entirely

Either way, this calm feels temporary.

Video

Day 1 Notes

  • Mystery Lake is still the safest place to learn Stalker.
  • Torches work, even when you don’t end up needing them.
  • A bear ignoring you is luck, not safety.
  • Cooking pots are exciting until skill levels intervene.
  • Potatoes and crackers count as a meal.
Continue the journey:
Log #1 (You Are Here) | Log #2
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