Starting directly at Collector mode

Hi all, I've started collector mode right away from the menu, but I find it very hard to find a shelter in so little time!

Help! Where can I find a strong shelter here at cordon?
I need a specific place since this blowout is very strong!

From memory I think you arrive at the top of the cement factory building near the bridge. One of the corner areas on the ground floor of the same building is a safe area from blowouts. You should get a notification when you are in the right place.

Due to the Collector stage onwards now being integrated with the main storyline, starting at the Collector is no longer recommended as a viable alternative option

It'll be like going to see a movie at a cinema and coming in halfway through, or starting to read a book from the middle

In other words, the plot and the dialogues won't make sense unless you've made it through the first part of the game, and make a natural transition from the Dead City to the Cordon to start what used to be known as the independent Collector level - because it's no longer independent...

Sword2012 wrote:

Due to the Collector stage onwards now being integrated with the main storyline, starting at the Collector is no longer recommended as a viable alternative option

It'll be like going to see a movie at a ycinema and coming in halfway through, or starting to read a book from the middle

In other words, the plot and the dialogues won't make sense unless you've made it through the first part of the game, and make a natural transition from the Dead City to the Cordon to start what used to be known as the independent Collector level - because it's no longer independent...

Hi Sword, having played extensively in what was at one time the first part, yet with less experience of Collector etc, except for testing the latter, I do prefer the second part of the game, albeit your comments are totally true. 

Once a player has done all the storyline, then of course, players can choose any parts to replay. I do agree that an initial play right through works best. 

To any players that want to later choose parts to play, they can save all their saves apart from Stalkersoup as well as those archived in the game. Then on go-back, copy in the section they wish to try; for unless I am mistaken all saves from the start carry the players' history of their play and thus if I play right through, then locate eg the Dead City save, post full playthrough then on eventual arrival reload from that save, to just play on, into where Collector is, will that work please?

Going straight in to Collector is very tiresome. The encyclopedia and game notes will be missing, for anyone doing this, though the Walkthrough will be of help.

Until I read your comment, I would have started as usual in the middle but now, I see the sense of a recorded full walk-through saves beforehand choosing where to pop into.
I am very interested in your thoughts on this suggestion, please.

Will DLC depend on a full playthrough, or are they independent of the Stalkersoup game, please?8

Thanks and Regards TrueB

Hi TrueB

I believe you're correct in what you suggest, that playing though Level 0 first, and ending at the Dead City, before taking the tunnel and (SAVE HERE) teleport back to the Cordon, will prepare you far better for what's to come - instead of starting the game in Collector, which drops you into the Cordon with no prior knowledge nor experience, and just enough equipment to survive on

The game has developed and moved on since its original flexible piecemeal approach and, IMHO, starting at Collector is now an outdated and obsolete way of playing StalkerSoup, simply because 'Collector' is now the natural sequel to Level 0, and assumes that you've completed it because it continues the story

I can't answer your question about DLC, sorry, because I've not yet seen any. Having said that, I'm hoping that, in some way, each DLC will either continue the existing and evolving story, or add further background to it...

Sword2012 wrote:

Hi TrueB

I believe you're correct in what you suggest, that playing though Level 0 first, and ending at the Dead City, before taking the tunnel and (SAVE HERE) teleport back to the Cordon, will prepare you far better for what's to come - instead of starting the game in Collector, which drops you into the Cordon with no prior knowledge nor experience, and just enough equipment to survive on

The game has developed and moved on since its original flexible piecemeal approach and, IMHO, starting at Collector is now an outdated and obsolete way of playing StalkerSoup, simply because 'Collector' is now the natural sequel to Level 0, and assumes that you've completed it because it continues the story

I can't answer your question about DLC, sorry, because I've not yet seen any. Having said that, I'm hoping that, in some way, each DLC will either continue the existing and evolving story, or add further background to it...

Thanks Sword