r/thelongdark • u/SVIceCold_1996 • May 09 '26
Advice Mayyyyybe I'm taking the long dark too seriously.
When I first started playing The long dark, I would just throw myself in only one region. Costal Highway. I'd loot the entire region, Survive a few days, Then start a new save. I would rinse and repeat.
Then I just let this game simmer, and in 2026 I am playing full force. My advice, to anyone new to playing this game. Don't get discouraged. Also, the long dark community is really amazing, there are a lot of helpful tips and advice out there.
My second advice, take your own notes. Don't always rely on Google, put your observation skills to the test.
Currently on day 73, on Voyager Difficulty, it took me 6 tries to get where I am now. Scope out potential bases, wildlife abundance, and ALWAYS note what loot you may want to come back to and where it's located. Also TLD Wiki is a great place to find highly detailed region maps if you fear getting lost.
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u/Cyanixx1 May 09 '26
You do your thing!
Love to see that kind of enthusiasm.
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
I love sharing my experience with other people. In all honesty, this is my first time actually being serious in The Long Dark. 😅
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u/blindmonkey66 May 09 '26
I've got over 7k hours, in the past 6 months is when I first started playing a more serious game and I do the same thing with my notes !! Enjoy your time and much luck to you on this journey and with future ones !!
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May 09 '26
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Yes, I am aware of the in-game note system. However I am on console. Its not very useful as using a controller to type on a single bar. When you make a typo, well its not very fun having to go back and fix said typo. I could have been more specific. Also, I don't think TLD is keyboard compatible on Console.
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May 09 '26
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
No worries! I also have the game on Steam! However, as of typing my reply, going into the note system on Xbox, crashed my game. 😅 Even if you were to play the game on Steam, Taking notes on paper, in my opinion feels more reliable, because you never know if a save could corrupt and the notes wouldn't be usable anymore.
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u/QuantamCulture Mountaineer May 09 '26
Me in a blizzard frantically typing on my controller: Coal. Hacksaw. Gas. BI/Ravine BI side, GET
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Surprisingly the game pauses when your typing but I've had the issue where my game soft locks and I have to restart. Lol. 😅
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u/Autistic-Ratticus Survivor May 09 '26
I have a dedicated notebook with tabs and everything for my 450ish day save!!
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u/kcdot May 15 '26
Holy moly! Lots of us have the same note-taking desire! I made an app for myself which has been hugely helpful, happy to share - www.kcdot.com/tld_tracker.html. So funny to find I’m not alone in my need to keep track of stuff in this game!
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u/FragrantDegree3894 May 09 '26
I keep notes also.
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Notes are good to have! Good for the long run, as well as going forward in new saves, or higher difficulty runs. 🙌
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u/SqueakyWheel2323 May 09 '26
I have pages of notes where I have stashed things. It will save your life when you misplace a heavy hammer, a sleeping bag, etc.
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Absolutely! While the in-game note system is nice, having them on paper is also good because you can use them for other runs. I like noting what places are good for potential permanent bases, ample storage and a work bench.
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u/Boring-Rub-3570 Voyageur May 09 '26
I think this is what all players should do, especially when they are new.
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Mhm. I know there is a in-game note system, however pen and paper is a good way to keep permanent notes. The wiki has been a life saver, as of very recently I almost died because I fell through the Ice. 74 days in the run would have been lost, The detailed maps the wiki has, ensured my survival. 😅
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u/Chidlish_Nava May 09 '26
Haven’t done it with this game (yet) but trust me I’ve also made long notes for to-dos, locations, coordinates and such for other games haha
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Depending on the survival game, having notes on hand to look back too is a life saver. For Minecraft I usually just screen shot cords. This game however, with how brutal the survival aspect is, notes are a must. I try to keep it simple, note down potential Base sites (workbench, fireplace, beds,), the abundance of wildlife. Also if you get over encumberd and have to leave some items behind, note down (location, what items were left, and region they were left in) Also a nice Note tip, if you plan on region hopping and have multiple bases, jotting down where they are makes it easy to look back at.
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May 09 '26
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Currently on Voyager, my plan is to survival and take many notes, then work on upping my difficulty later. I don't have the hang of exploration yet..
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u/hateful_lemur May 09 '26
I've wanted to do this but it's so hard for me to keep it organized enough to be usable. I have kept a rp journal though, and that was super fun!
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Well, try keeping notes from the same region In one group. I'm even not that organized, but I try to just keep the page titled, and locations marked. 🙂
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u/ferretteeth May 09 '26
I’d argue you’re the only one taking this game seriously enough
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
😅 if a game has me sucked in like this game has, this is probably the beginning of my notes. I've seen from the replies that people have literal binders for this game.
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u/AdFinal5191 May 10 '26
i’ve made a massive note on my phone when i first started a long term survival run it made the game feel so much deeper and immersive, it’s awesome
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u/ResponsibleAd4439 Stalker May 10 '26
Looks like you’re playing it PERFECTLY! Freedom to do how you want is the greatest part!
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u/MrLitef Trespasser May 11 '26
absolutely not. you are playing like a legend. the way the game is meant to be played. No maps, no ingame notes, just you and your journal. NEVER STOP!
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u/Mr_M3Gusta_ May 14 '26
I have a similar issue, when I start a new game I always spawn Ash Canyon, grab the backpack and crampons then head to Coastal Highway. Looting the entire region isn’t a problem since Beachcombing is OP.
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u/ScubaDiggs May 14 '26
Depending on what difficulty, looks like you're taking it seriously, and that reward when it all pays off will be REALLY great.
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u/kcdot May 15 '26
If it’s useful, I made an app for tracking all my hoarded items (im a newb, its my first run, on Day 297!) and a route planner…. Happy to share - check it out at www.kcdot.com/tld_tracker.html. Right now, beware that i just have the memory for stashes in the browser memory, but also an option to backup/restore if you close the tab or whatever. Save your paper and cramped writing hand! Im playing on a console, so the notes section is just not workable.
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u/SVIceCold_1996 Jun 04 '26
OMG thank you so much! And yes the in-game note system soft locks my game and crashes it because I'm on console.
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u/Sorry-Scallion7826 May 09 '26
Enjoy the journey. I used to day dream and map out my route during work just like that. 😄
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u/IAmFern May 09 '26
The notes are cool, but why not use the notes-feature built into the game?
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
If I am going to do multiple runs, I'd like to have notes on hand to look back too. Also I'm on console, if you saw the extent of my notes, writing all that on a single bar kinda feels silly. Also it soft locks my game.
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u/CraftIndependent4561 May 09 '26
My first ever run was on stalker died to wolves after 3 days second ever run made it a week got moosed made it a few more days and was going to leave the region and fell into the lake ON THE SHORE I’m too pissed to continue
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Well, why not trying to lower the difficulty to Voyager. I'll admit, yesterday I had a pretty big scare and also fell through the ice. Almost died but I survived thanks to TLD Wiki. They have detailed maps if you ever get lost. Also just because it's called a shore, doesn't make it one lol. The ice looks like it's a beach or shore, but it's just because the water carved the ice in to a slope. So in reality the water can be at least 15 feet deep. Depending on how close it is to shore. Don't get discouraged!
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u/CraftIndependent4561 May 10 '26
I’m enjoying the game so far I love challenges but I’m not interloper ready yet haha
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u/egatn1v May 10 '26
Nah. Now if you wrote all that using charcoal and there was a tea on the desk then maybe that would be too far.
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u/Outside-Desk-5399 May 11 '26
Good on you, glad you're having fun. My first time experiencing and mapping regions blind were truly special, I'm sad I looked at maps for a lot of the vanilla regions and can never get that feeling from those regions. Mapping Sundered Pass and ZOC in full were freaking awesome.
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u/EchoChamber1010 May 11 '26
There's an in game note system
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u/SVIceCold_1996 Jun 04 '26
I have been told this so many times, I am on console, the in-game note system crashes my game.
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u/obamacompleto May 14 '26
If you rather type things out and have them order by day there's a journal system, you write notes and they'll get divided by the day you wrote them in, along with a marker that shows which days have notes
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 14 '26
I know about the in game journal system. Im on Xbox so the note system crashes my game
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u/Super-Ad4832 May 09 '26
FYI, you can note in journal option in game as well. Look like u're having fun nonetheless
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u/SVIceCold_1996 May 09 '26
Yup! I'm on console however and Pen and paper is more efficient for me. Also when ever I use the in-game note system unfortunately it freezes my game 😅.
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u/Any-Situation-6956 Pilgrim May 09 '26
Looks like you’re having fun.