⭐┃nospoilers_general

[gaunt burrow]

Those dialogues also seem to imply that some stalkers even liked Monolith, since 1 Yantar stalker says "I sure as hell would like to meet one of them"

[broken latch]

Weird, they don't sound a lot friendly considering they protect the zone from others

[gaunt burrow]

Heavy implication that older Monolith was hated less than trilogy Monolith

Yk whats even more weird guys?

Random Bar Dutyer in SoC tells (as of May 2012) Monolith went hostile on regular stalkers just recently, before they were more like just talking people into their religion

Lemme find and post it in #📸┃screens_and_videos will be back soon

[forest snow]

Still no update on the ultimate edition for pc in the UK? Worried I might’ve missed it

[wild wharf]

So guys hear me out. I know we already have Vodka. BUT should we have other stuff like whiskey, beer, a bit of white powder if you know what I mean, etc?

[wild wharf]

Probably because unironically, people who join Monolith, worship some funni rock and are never the same again. Once everyone realizes this, monolith does some morally okay ideas to make them join! Such as kidnapping.

[hard ember]

unofficially finished SoC i guess, got the "bad" endings

[ebon burrow]

Gib rum

[wild wharf]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot about Rum

[hard ember]

speaking of a bit of white powder, I was playing this other game Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands and got interested and googled about the history of coca leaves, seems like it was totally normal thing to munch on for multiple centuries in south america.. I am guessing the whole war on drugs for the USians could be that they just got spooked by how opium considerably weakened the mighty Chinese civilization of old--to the point of losing Hong Kong to the colonialists--and they don't that to happen to the North American continent--but what do I know..

are there a lot of enjoyers of beer and whiskey in .UA/.RU in that alternate universe of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Sovietland?

[wild wharf]

Oh yeah, the Opium wars, I just remembered that.

[hard ember]

well both SoC and CoP are amazing fun, I'll move on to my other neglected games in steam catalog I guess, will for sure be back for Stalker 2 :3 bye gang, happy chat'n and thanks for all the fish

[wild wharf]

It was because Britain tried to get opium into China to replace silver as their main trade income, but the Chinese refused, thus the opium wars began

[wild wharf]

Bye

[hard ember]

waves 🙂

[ebon burrow]

Spot of the old hard-core drugs uncle Chang?
n o
I beg your pardon

[wild wharf]

Man, I really want to take some Crack (In game of course, ATF please don't arrest me)

[thick bolt]

hold on you finished soc already?

you started after me and finished before me, eh its different ways to play

I play the game, leave it for a few days and come back, I usually play until a mission end or something big

[hard ember]

yeah i was no-life'n it XD

[thick bolt]

alright

[celest goblet]

Vanilla games are not overly long

[hard ember]

oh something like gamma is much longer?

[thick bolt]

everytime I play the game I have to build up my will to play it

for soem reason I just cant seem to just play it out of the blue

[celest goblet]

Well that is a freeplay mod mostly, so it is hard to compare, but there are some mods/mod packs that can get very long to finish yes

[hard ember]

it's okay, enjoy your fav hobbies 🙂 whatever fits your mood
that's why i have multiple projects, multiple hobbies, different moods different tact

[thick bolt]

ok

[hard ember]

bits don't rot dawg, the game will patiently await your return :3

[hard ember]

what makes em very long to finish? difficulty? added content/maps? i haven't a clue, that's why i ask'n >__< pls elaborate

[thick bolt]

right

next time I play im gonna go thru x16 and do whatever is after that I think

get to like freedom's camp i dont know

[hard ember]

i'd like to make progress on Roadside Picnic, supposely the novel that inspired all these digital shenanigans 🙂
loaded it on my phone, so watching it while having coffee, if not watching netflix

[indigo marsh]

Soup mods are the most content packed

[thick bolt]

Thats something id like to do after finishing soc

[celest goblet]

Any or all of the above, depending on the mod. Something like Misery for CoP will make the game take longer just because it is more difficult. A soup mod just packs in tons of content, so there can be hundreds of hours of quests to do

There are a lot of mods out there

[hard ember]

i have put thousands of hours into games like Fallout 76 Guild Wars 2 and Arma 3 and others and .. the epiphany is that I wonder if I should just go in, understand and appreciate the story, and get out--breadth over depth--you know.. mebbe no need to put in thousands of hours of the same ol.. i dunno.. every1 is different

[celest goblet]

Certainly nothing wrong with just enjoying the games as they are. If you ever find yourself wanting some more or to revisit them, there are a lot of ways to alter or add on to the experience

[hard ember]

mhmm

[wild wharf]

For me, before I played SoC, or even got introduced in the franchise. I played New Vegas, and some Starcraft, which I really enjoyed. A freind recommended it to me, specifically SoC, I am having a good time. I'm on my first playthrough, and I just got to the Bar for the first time.

[thick bolt]

how do you know kruglov then?

or you watched a playthrough

[wild wharf]

Oh, I saw a playthrough, however, I made sure not to spoil anything regarding story, I was looking at a review to decide if SoC was worth grabbing at the time.

[ebon burrow]

That's more a DEA thing, the main difference being they'll only ruin your door rather than kill your dog

[wild wharf]

Ah ok, I thought the ATF were after me because of my Questionable Activities that can't totally be found in my description

[ebon burrow]

No no no that one would be the FBI

[hard ember]

the reviews for stalker games gave me a completely different notion than actually playing it, not saying reviewers' incompetent, but like i always say, movies or video games are a very personal thing, what someone else dislike or have a different take on, it's normal

[wild wharf]

Wait, wouldn't that be homeland security?

[ebon burrow]

What you need for the ATF to be after you is to say "gee whiz I sure love having fun"

[wild wharf]

This especially applies if you live in California (I unironically live there, god I want to get out so bad!)

[ebon burrow]

Yeah you right

[ebon burrow]

If you like the cali weather I'd tell you to consider Florida lol. I've lived here all my life but I hate the humidity

[wild wharf]

Oh yeah, the only reason why I don't want to go to Florida, is humidity, but most scary of all Flying Roaches

[hard ember]

i'd love ot someday drive the coastal highways of california, heard a lot of good things, or enjoy the art and architectures of arizona, north americans have it made, so much cool things to see

[wild wharf]

It's pretty good sure, but all the homeless though, OOF you don't want to see it

[ebon burrow]

Just wait until you hear about the tiny gators that sneak under your bed and eat bad children

[hard ember]

yeah there are youtubers that seem to specialize in driving through the poorest and worst neighborhoods and use that to trash their least fav political parties

[wild wharf]

Too be honest, I don't give a damn about the politics, For two reasons. One, I am not educated in this stuff, so i can't have an opinion. Two, I just want them to take option and do the job RIGHT for once.

[ebon burrow]

I'd like to live in Montana far enough away from the cities to not have to worry about politics as much (ofc some of it would still affect me but I'd rather not hear about it all the time) but able to have friends over and stuff like that

[wild wharf]

For me, I have a feeling somewhere up north will do good for me. Say, Oregon or potentially Canada

[ebon burrow]

The US government and doing the job right don't usually go together unless it's militarily speaking in which case it's our specialty (blow shit up, no thoughts)

[hard ember]

if you go to Montana be sure to open a bit coin farm near all the ICBM launch sites and every server should be installed with a software full-spectrum radio to keep Pentagon up at night XD
www.nytimes(dotty)com/2023/10/13/us/bitcoin-mines-china-united-states.html

[wild wharf]

Oh yeah, can't forget that all the ICBM sites is practically in that area

[hard ember]

(sorry for all the off topics)

[indigo marsh]

farming subsides and chip subsidies

[ebon burrow]

True true fair

[lime gull]

I stayed away from the franchise for ages because at the time, people called it eurojank with barebones features. I absolutely loved the original trilogy when I played through it the first time! (Keep in kind I played it in 2022, long after much prettier and mechanically fluid games came out.)

I fell in love with the core gameplay loop and went sorta backwards through the trilogy, staring with COP and then moving backwards to play SOC and CS, before giving Gamma a try ( and loving it)

[quick sentinel]

where is the army radio speaker near novice camp. so I can listen to it???[in SoC]

[fervent ice]

you mean in the game files?

can i rename the steam installation without spaces

for example: stalker: shadow of chernobyl to stalkersoc or something like that

im trying to get the sdk working

ohh nvm the sdk path cant have spaces but the game installaiton path can

[quick sentinel]

no I meant literally in game

[fervent ice]

the outpost commander says the lines afaik

[quick sentinel]

I'd like to listen to what they have to say is all

[wild wharf]

The classic U.S Government

[quick sentinel]

btw are energy drinks used for restoring your run energy or your character can just get sleepy in SoC???

[fervent ice]

then just demo_record there

[fervent ice]

and listen to it

[quick sentinel]

I'd rather to find it. also. energy drinks. idk what is their purpose

[fervent ice]

i dont know where did you get that information, but yes, it can only restore your run energy in soc

[fervent ice]

i already told you how to find it

and plus, you cant go there because you are hostile to the military (unless you edit game files)

it is the megaphone that is emitting the sound

[quick sentinel]

do you know if it's safe to store your loot in chests. such as the one next to trader

[fervent ice]

yes, nobody will take it

[fervent ice]

it is best to figure out these game functions for yourself

[quick sentinel]

I like stone blood artifact because it increases your health

[prisma goblet]

Hello, I have a question about lore. Spoilers for soc : ||Do you know if the monolith is an artefact controlled by the group or is it simply a big rock with a psi emetter in it?||

[wild wharf]

The Monolith itself is controlled by the C- Conciousness and the Monolith Cultists themselves are essentially obeying the C- Concouisness, which is to prevent any stalkers from entering Pripyat

[prisma goblet]

Yeah I know but I was asking if it was man-made. I know they are using it. Like.. maybe they found it and thought it would be a good idea to use it..

[stark steppe]

Monolit

[fast stratus]

i really want to go to javaherdeh

[fervent ice]

i would only recommend you use it when you are not in combat, as it severely lowers your rupture (the damage dealth by mutants) and impact (damage done by bullets), especially in early game when your suit is bad (even if you get the merc suit)

[fervent ice]

according to doctor: "Look, Strelok, we've got no time so I need you to listen to me. Everything you've said about the Monolith is true. All of it! It is just an illusion manufactured in a lab next to the Sarcophagus."

so it isnt some weird ass alien crystal, it is just an illusion created by the ccon

[prisma goblet]

Thanks!

[cinder stratus]

hello, should i preorder S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl?

[fervent ice]

no.

[cinder stratus]

why tho?

[fervent ice]

never preorder anything, no matter how good it might seem

you never know what kind of bugs or shit will happen

wait until it releases, or better not, wait until reviews come out

[cinder stratus]

idk if i will be able to play on my rx 580..

i5 6600k...

[fervent ice]

yea so thats why, youve just answered your own question

[cinder stratus]

yep, i was not sure...

[fervent ice]

150gb of shit is not gonna be good on potato pc's haha

[cinder stratus]

it's not really a potato... but ok

[loud gate]

Monol1t*

[pearl jacinth]

hi monolith hows big glowing rock going

[loud gate]

[red spruce]

[silver pagoda]

YOU ASKED ME ABOUT MY GOOD LUCK CHARM, REMEMBER?
ITS AN EMPTY SHELL 🐚
DECIDED TO PLAY SOLDIER?! WITH ME?!
DMYTRO AND I WERE JUST DISCUSSING ABOUT A CERTAIN PUZZLE WE FOUND IN THE ZONE
BUT WE CANT QUITE SEEM TO GET ALL THE PIECES TO FIT
MAYBE YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT
IT REMINDED ME THAT WE USED TO BE PUPPETS
I TOOK JUST ONE AWKWARD STEP AND MY WHOLE WORLD PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS :banchou_zoomin:
IM SORRY, STRIDER
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA....
THAT WAS THE DAY THE PSI FIELDS WERE TURNED OFF
SUDDENLY, THE VOICE OF MONOLITH WAS GONE!
I FELT AS IF I WAS AWAKENING FROM A YEARS-LONG COMA!
AND THROUGH THE SCOPE, I SAW THE BODY OF AN UNKNOWN SOLDIER FALL
WE HAVE A SIMPLE CHOICE! 🕴️
SIT BACK, AND JUST WAIT FOR ANOTHER SUPER EMISSION
OR TAKE A CHANCE, AND GET CONTROL OF THE ANOMALOUS ENERGY
ONLY I DIDNT CHOOSE THAT PATH
UNLIKE YOU

[old jungle]

[granite mortar]

Hi Anomalous from Anomalous Dugout channel

[old jungle]

hello Goldshpere Shill from Golden Sphere mod

[granite mortar]

[old jungle]

How is it going?

[granite mortar]

I just got up, so im still kinda eepy

[broken latch]

Ignored

We ball

[stark steppe]

Preordered since it was announced, i've been here for the team in the end

[amber tendon]

I have same graphics card and I will say no

[safe badge]

I wish you all a good day be well

[amber tendon]

it's listed as a minimal spec but these specs were put up in 2021

[cinder stratus]

ok...

[gaunt burrow]

Nothing, it's just a projection, a hologram of sorts. It was powered by the six generators that the player destroys before meeting with the C-Consciousness representative.

Doctor in SoC describes it as "an illusion, manufactured in a lab", and Strelok in CoP says that it is "just a lie, a device that clouds your mind"

You can even hear a voice announcing that the installation's power level is decreasing when you're destroying 6 generators powering it: https://vocaroo.com/11X8FoIJttS5

[gaunt burrow]

Say what? Monolith before the trilogy used to be different faction, while in trilogy it contained a lot of stalkers who willingly tried to reach the center and got converted

[granite mortar]

Did the engine change tho?

[gaunt burrow]

@tall stirrup When speaking with Marked One/Strelok, the C-Consciousness representative mentions that they are recruiting agents with the use of psi-emitters:

"We created a network of psi-fields on the way to the Zone’s center in order to recruit agents. You know one of these fields by the name of Brain Scorcher. When a stalker attempts to reach the Zone’s center in order to fulfill some wish we acquire control over his consciousness and program him to a specific mission."

Most stalkers believe that the Brain Scorcher only turns people into zombies, but it seems that it was also capable of converting them to Monolith. In fact, in one PDA entry written by a Monolithian, he describes an encounter with a stalker who was 'on his way to conversion':

"Brothers, as we were patrolling the outskirts of the Dark Forest we came upon an unfaithful loner. We did not kill him, seeing as he was already on his way to conversion, although he was still half-way in his animal state... Such is the wisdom of the Monolith: once again it revealed to us the true countenance of our enemies." - PDA entry called "A convert in the Black Forest"

[amber tendon]

unreal engine 5

decade old graphics card won't handle it Shill

[granite mortar]

If it was UE5 since beginning then the requirements should be same

[amber tendon]

Shill no, it barely runs any modern game. Abiotic Factor is UE5 and it runs mid, even if the graphics aren't complex.

[granite mortar]

580 is fairly capable card even today, if it can run other UE5 games then S2 shouldnt be a problem

Damn

[amber tendon]

it runs Helldivers 2 on 40 fps on lowest settings

[granite mortar]

Thats, decent

I mean, its well above being playable

[amber tendon]

hunt showdown is stuck at 36-57 fps

and jumps are frequent

[granite mortar]

Still, very well playable

[amber tendon]

I know because I play it like that

[granite mortar]

I finished the entirety of DreamCatcher on 15fps

[amber tendon]

but it's an eye sore

[granite mortar]

Maybe 20
Not sure

[old jungle]

An interesting thing I learned is that the C-Consciousness representative's speech has small but interesting differences in its Russian version. I should take a closer look at this at some point.

[gaunt burrow]

Are differences big or not so much?

[old jungle]

Depending on how you interpret what he says it could end up being significant

[gaunt burrow]

Aha

[old jungle]

I'm sure you would be interested in it

[gaunt burrow]

Absolutely

[old jungle]

Let me try to find more info

ok this is very interesting

🤔 Some things make so much sense

https://stalker-fandom-com.translate.goog/ru/wiki/Представитель_«О-Сознания»/Диалоги?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=fr

It may be worth doing a video on

[gaunt burrow]

Interesting

[amber tendon]

do you mean the fact that c-con ghost mentions that strelok disabled one of the brain scorchers? (Implying that there were more)?

or are you talking about mention of antenna

[old jungle]

this is also in the English version

[gaunt burrow]

They outright say that the Zone is the result of the noosphere's energy making contact with the Earth, as opposed to English where you're just supposed to infer that

The Brain Scorcher is also confirmed to be the largest psi-emitter

[old jungle]

Yep. Also in the English version he says that the Zone hosted experiments from 1989, but in Russian no date is mentionned

among other interesting details

[gaunt burrow]

RU dub definitely seems to imply that the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. program is actually effective, whereas the English makes you wonder why they even bother since half of them die and the only known living agent turned against them

EN dub excluded very specific details. I wonder why

[old jungle]

Indeed, overall it does not change much but the Russian version makes things clearer

[red spruce]

Hi there Anomalous

[amber tendon]

congrats on appearing media channel Kira

[red spruce]

Thamks :3

[amber tendon]

weed salad

[finite dragon]

Hey. Nice day, right?

[red spruce]

Probably

[amber tendon]

No, it's fuking ass

[finite dragon]

How so?

[gaunt burrow]

This bit about experiments definitely makes more sense because the English version implies that they achieved all of their discoveries and inventions in only 2 decades
Whereas the Russian says only the C-Consciousness experiment specifically followed the disaster

[old jungle]

I mean between 1986 and 1989 there is not much difference but I wonder why the English version wanted to specifically mention this year

either way we do know that at least some sort of experiments did take place before that, in Limansk for example

[gaunt burrow]

yeah

[finite dragon]

I wish usa invade ussr în 1947 and defeat them in 1949 before the ussr make the nuke

[red spruce]

Wat?

[old jungle]

[red spruce]

Is that related to stalker or do you think the USSR invented nukes...

[gaunt burrow]

another interesthing thing: RU dub doesn't actually mentions that resources of C-Consciousness aren't unlimited, while in EN dub he says this:

"That depends on you. The Zone is growing. We're trying to restrain its expansion, but humanity seems to be intent on hindering our work. Our resources are not limitless and bodies connected to C-Consciousness eventually die. If you join us, we can restrict the Zone's growth. If you decide otherwise we cannot make a credible prognosis of the outcome."

[old jungle]

Yes. Also, in Russian he said one of the reasons they chose to set up in the Zone was using the power from the station, a very important detail ommited in the English translation

[red spruce]

Lore :3

[gaunt burrow]

RU dub: "It is known that the Earth is surrounded by a special information field - the noosphere."

another very specific excluded detail. no mention of the fact that this is a known information in EN dub

[old jungle]

yeah he says "according to our calculations"

[versed crypt]

Hello gang

[old jungle]

Of course

[gaunt burrow]

Hi there

[old jungle]

hello

[versed crypt]

I'm about to sit on overpriced sofas in IKEA in an hour

[gaunt burrow]

enjoy

[versed crypt]

Nah, they're sh!t TBH

But it's the only placed my friends can agree to go to for some reason

[warm linden]

Ngl I'm very nervous for the release of stalker 2 considering other game releases have not been good this year

[versed crypt]

Anyway, I got to go. Bye STOCgang

[gaunt burrow]

Cya bro

[old jungle]

Don't worry, GSC is built different

[warm linden]

I'm praying, homeworld 3 release did terrible things to me

[old jungle]

Trust me Heart of Chornobyl will be a blast

[deft stirrup]

my parents promised to buy me a pc and i showed them it and hopefully i get to play Stalker 2 on a good pc with good graphics

[oblique prism]

Hello Stalkers

[warm linden]

I usually wait until 2 weeks after release

[deft stirrup]

ive never played like an actually graphicly intensive game

[warm linden]

the only game I ever pre ordered in my life was the system shock remake

[old jungle]

I hope you will get it

[warm linden]

I

[old jungle]

Hello!

[warm linden]

I'm content playing stalker anomaly for a good long while

[old jungle]

[deft stirrup]

same

[warm linden]

oh good news, I can stream anomaly just fine now if anyone wants to watch

[deft stirrup]

i always wanted to do stalker edits n stuff

[oblique prism]

Do we know yet the optimal requirements for S2?

I mean in 2007 it was a bomb and better PC needed. I think now its the similar era, that upgrade of PC will be essential.

I still play vanilla games and I'm grateful for the community and @old jungle videos. Its work of art man.

[warm linden]

streaming anomaly in vc rn

[deft stirrup]

i dont have access to vc :/

[old jungle]

We do not. There are requirements on the official website but they are from 2021 and need to get updated. Thanks!

[warm linden]

you need the experienced orle

[gaunt burrow]

Hi

[deft stirrup]

how

[oblique prism]

Ok, thank you. I appreciate

[warm linden]

Hello human

[half bone]

They'll probably be lower if they started using 5.4

[gaunt burrow]

hello to you too

[old jungle]

I don't know, they also improved the visuals

[half bone]

At least for now, my rx 6600 xt will arrive today.

[quick sentinel]

are there female characters anywhere in zone??

[oblique prism]

Good question, I don't think so

[gaunt burrow]

they are mentioned, but there are no females in the Zone

1 girl called Leska, was mentioned by Agroprom stalker leader Orest in Clear Sky

"I'm just your average Joe, no different from anyone else. I've always been a rolling stone though. When I was ten I took off for China to study Shaolin martial arts. They took us off the freightliner three days later, and my dad gave me a real good thrashing. When I got older I spent all my time travelling - hitchhiked across Europe, spent a winter with chukchas. Then the Zone emerged. At the time I was friends with one girl Leska - also a thrill-seeker, like me. Well, she thought we were friends, though I felt a little different... Anyway, one day I was looking for Leska and some friends told me she'd gone to the Zone. Right away I get my things, grab a pistol with some rubber bullets and head straight here. I made it thanks to all my travelling experience. I spent months searching for her, carrying her photo and showing it to everybody. Finally a stalker told me some international troops apprehended Leska with some pretty boy near the Zone's border. Gave the two a lecture and sent them home. So, I thought, God bless you, Leska, God bless. I didn't go back home then. And now I'm just kind of stuck to the Zone."

[deft stirrup]

dont listen to this guy he is just a f*cking troll

[gaunt burrow]

man this isn't trolling lol, want a SS?

this is official ingame dialogue

[deft stirrup]

not u

[warm linden]

He's not a troll

[deft stirrup]

the bkenny guy not matt

[gaunt burrow]

ahh

[hazy helm]

there are no female models in any of the original stalkers

[warm linden]

I can very well attest to that

[quick sentinel]

screw you

[warm linden]

Was it due to techincal difficulties or just a developer choice

[hazy helm]

no particular reason

[oblique prism]

Good question

[deft stirrup]

last time u were here u did nothing but troll with the most stupid questions ever

[warm linden]

roger roger, won't question it further thne

[quick sentinel]

you duty boys think army will reward you for your goals. only reward you will receive is gun to the head

[deft stirrup]

this isnt lore related but ok

[gaunt burrow]

although there are no wome in the Zone, they are actually mentioned and not just once

Sidorovich mentioned pretty ladies, in description of "Find the Stone Flower artifact" sidequest:

"I have a request for the Stone Flower. The order is from the jewellers, by the way, so let's try to make the pretty ladies happy, eh? If you get it, you'll get the money and a bottle to drink to their health..."

[warm linden]

so what has been happening here lately?

[gaunt burrow]

some stalkers can mention their wife:

"Nothing. I don't know squat. I grab a bite here and there, trying to make enough for my daily bread. It's too creepy going into the Zone itself - to hell with it. And there's no work at home, my wife's on my case - gotta live somehow. Here at the Garbage, if you look around for a day, you can get some artifacts together. And it'll do for your bread and butter." - Random Cordon Loner NPC in Shadow of Chernobyl

[deft stirrup]

also for the pseudodog tail

[gaunt burrow]

"On Loneliness" PDA entry in SoC mentions a women but it's more like a mirage

heavily implied that it is/was some Zone shenanigans

[quick sentinel]

which faction do you find weirdest inside zone?? lmao

[deft stirrup]

monolith

[oblique prism]

Mercenary

[quick sentinel]

i find duty weirdest because they are willing to share goals of what army has. just to get killed by them anyways

[deft stirrup]

duty IS the part of the army

[quick sentinel]

while every other faction knows that army are assholes and cant be trusted

[hazy helm]

they arent

[deft stirrup]

well they were

ex military soldiers

[hazy helm]

Duty's creators are deserters but Duty is made up of stalkers

[deft stirrup]

ur right

[gaunt burrow]

https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/1cm8tms/dutys_weird_relation_with_the_military/

Duty had direct skirmishes with the army:

"I know what you're trying to say: Duty is in league with the army, right? I hear it all the time, but it just ain't true. No, I used to think that myself, until I witnessed a showdown between them. I was walking along, searching for loot, when I heard shots. I approached silently and used my optics. There it was: Duty fighters and the army boys shooting each other from a little over 100 feet. I have no idea how it ended, 'cause I sneaked out of there, but it sure wasn't a display of brotherly love. There's another problem though. Our guys saw some stalkers in black palling it up with Spetsnaz. Makes you think bad things, don't it?" - Dialogue of Thrush in Clear Sky

"I want to warn you, stalker. The soldiers here lately seem to have gone mad. Before they used to calmly and quietly protect the scientists, but now it's as if their tail got burned or something: dashing around, bustling...Not in the most peaceful mood - shot at your brother more than once already, and even among us they've wounded two men in the last week." - Dialogue of Random Dark Valley Dutyer in Shadow of Chernobyl

But Duty also helped field officers such as Shulga: "That's a boring story and there's no heroism involved. As soon as the Zone appeared, Lenya, a friend of mine, decided to come here and check it out. I was a field officer at the time and Lenya was in the intelligence service. Now, we weren't suckers or anything, but we ended up in a real mess. We crawled for hours, wounded and bleeding, until finally Duty picked us up. I made it, Lenya didn't. I had no friends in the Zone, so I decided to stick around here, with Duty. Plus, I've had a thing against the Zone ever since." - Dialogue of Shulga

[gaunt burrow]

more details here

in short relation of military and Duty is very complicated

[quick sentinel]

duty is group of people which has size of "militia" via organization that has large population of warriors willing to defend their goals

[gaunt burrow]

also yeah, Duty has ex soldiers

[hazy helm]

https://tenor.com/view/fennec-fox-foxinniewi-gif-13342487400836230649

[quick sentinel]

if you didnt know there are real world militias. like people that hunt down and attack people like deranged cultists

[gaunt burrow]

like barman Kolobok, who used to be army grunt, Zvyagintsev, who used to be a leader of a special force battalion etc

[quick sentinel]

organized groups that fight against corruption and evil

[hazy helm]

bkenny, you die on the weirdest hills

[gaunt burrow]

In fact, many Dutyers are former stalkers:

"Our faction is called Duty. Why, you ask? Well, it's simple. If we don't do it, who will? Our responsibility is to fight the Zone and all its manifestations. Many of our present members started out as ordinary stalkers, trying to make a buck, but after seeing enough of the Zone's horrors, they realized it's time to do something about it. Better to sacrifice your own life, if need be, than let mutants into your home! It's a shame that not all stalkers feel this way. It's an even bigger shame we actually have to fight such idiots to prevent the Zone from spreading..." - Krylov. Duty leader during Clear Sky events

[quick sentinel]

i've already got deranged cultists trying to hunt me and my friends down. because we dont share same goals. dislike each other

[hazy helm]

https://tenor.com/view/fennec-fox-foxinniewi-gif-13342487400836230649

[deft stirrup]

200 round mag PKM

vs 100 monolith who wins

[fervent ice]

not anything like hip

[gaunt burrow]

Hip is anomaly creation. not canon

[fervent ice]

haha

[quick sentinel]

i wonder who would win in direct combat. army vs duty in open battlefield. with no advantages like covers

[fervent ice]

oh hey i know you from some server

[gaunt burrow]

[fervent ice]

army because they have helicopters

[deft stirrup]

cough pkm

[fervent ice]

although that would mean sacrificing their entire ground troop

[quick sentinel]

from things i been reading army and duty are big players of the zone

[fervent ice]

yes and no

while duty and the mvc are close (they cooperate afaik)

[hazy helm]

the army usually sticks to their own bases and alcoves while performing a few raids
they arent big players

[gaunt burrow]

There are also some very heavy implications that Duty receives equipment from the military.

"I heard that Duty has totally sold out. They keep on saying something like "we're all volunteers who want to establish safety and order in the Zone"...yeah right, volunteers! Some sponsor gave these so-called volunteers so much ammo, such barrells, that you'd die from envy. And so they sold out." - Dialogue of Army Warehouses loner NPC in Shadow of Chernobyl

"What? What do you want to know? I'll tell you this much: Duty might be cops, but they know how to maintain order, that's for sure. Still, I don't like them much. They think they own everything: "don't take this, don't take that." On top of that, they've already decided what you're allowed to say on the outside and what you're supposed to keep quiet! I even heard they actually want to destroy the Zone, little by little. Well that doesn't surprise me, they're former soldiers after all...damn dreamers. The trouble is I hear their support comes all the way from the top." - Dialogue of Clear Sky loner NPCs

Description of Shadow of Chernobyl's stash called "Package for Duty":

"They told them not to fly over the Scorcher, and look what happened. They landed in the middle of the forest, and it's unlikely that anyone survived. We were supposed to get the stuff that was with them."

[broken latch]

Army is involved in everything, mentioning military is like saying there's radiation in the zone

[stable fable]

Is there any options to pre-order outside of Steam?

[fervent ice]

and they only got one as val gotta wonder how broke dooty is

[hazy helm]

#🖤┃s2-pre-order

[broken latch]

There was also text about people not wanting to join duty cuz they would wake up in a jail cell the day later

[fervent ice]

why would you preorder any game

[gaunt burrow]

yeah. "Duty fights against the Zone, I fight for the people. Besides, they're too closely linked with the government and the army. I don't want to wake up in a cold cell one day."" - Bes

[broken latch]

Because I want to support it

[warm linden]

If I stalk someone irl is it lore accurate?

[gaunt burrow]

Another interesting thing is that Duty could actually send people in prison cells:

"Time for you to show what you can do. Duty captured a group of bandits that had been causing problems for stalkers near Rostok. Duty took 'em at night so most of the bandits were taken alive. They were all gonna be executed anyway so I convinced Duty to give them a chance. If any of them survive, they'll go in the can outside the Zone, which is better than dying here. They're not well-armed - just a few pistols and sawn-offs - but there's six of them so watch yourself. Go on now!" - Arnie

[quick sentinel]

army of the zone are corruptible. its already visible with what you can do in SoC at begining. so you can guess that even mercenaries buy from army

[stable fable]

kinda recent offtopic news changed my mind 😄

[hazy helm]

the army in the main series is already corrupt

[broken latch]

You're a stalker if you do these : Scavengers, Trespassers, Adventurers, Loners, Killers, Explorers and Robbers

[warm linden]

real

[warm linden]

because I believe the developers can deliver a finished and polished game, my trust was realised with system shock

[broken latch]

Mercs are a large organisation kind of, they have their own supply

[gaunt burrow]

army is very corrupt but it's not stated anywhere that mercs buy equipment from the army. In fact, mercs of CoP buy equipment from Morgan (Corrupt Duty quartermaster), like PDA of Ridge the mercenary says:

"Incoming message reads: "I managed to arrange something about the weapons and that greedy bastard is going to sell us his faction's stock. It's gonna be fairly cheap but we’ll have to haul ass to Jupiter. Vulture.”

[fervent ice]

they arent that organised compared to svoboda, dolg and the mvc

dolgystyle

[broken latch]

MVC?

[quick sentinel]

i wouldn't be suprised if main origins of mercenaries is Usa/America scouting zone to gain wealth or technological advancments in technological warfare

[broken latch]

No

I hate this American theory

[fervent ice]

the "army" in the game isnt actually the ukrainian ground forces, they are the internal troops with some ssu elements

[broken latch]

Hate mods for implying it

[gaunt burrow]

https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/1c8nahh/stereotypes_regarding_mercenaries_uncovering_how/

[broken latch]

@gaunt burrow

[fervent ice]

its the internal troops of the ukrainian government, if you pay close attention to their patches, it says mbc

[gaunt burrow]

Of course, we can assume that some mercs could be of western origin because they actually could be from anywhere, but that statement makes it look like that the whole mercenary faction is intended to represent westerners in principle and that mercs talk with western accents in the games is simply false. That's just a misconception. First of all, mercs in Shadow of Chernobyl have Armenian accents (some of them). Proof: https://vocaroo.com/1cshY0LisMNx (Voiceline of random merc NPC) https://vocaroo.com/1kjCQ2bp2mm9. (Voiceline of Mercenary Ara)

[fervent ice]

and b is v in cyrillic afaik

[gaunt burrow]

bruh

no bro they're USA military

[broken latch]

I couldn't read them compressed textures on lowest grpahics

[fervent ice]

i rephrase, i meant army

[quick sentinel]

they have Ukrainian weapons. and Flag tag on their shoulders of ukraine

[broken latch]

@quick sentinel

[quick sentinel]

its how officials identify themselves while on duty

[fervent ice]

yes but freedom also has ukr flag

[gaunt burrow]

How is that even a debate? their patch says "МВС УКРАIНИ"

[fervent ice]

oh sorry i meant mvs

[broken latch]

So is it the Ukrainian army or the government

[quick sentinel]

dude this name is name of some dude/guy

[fervent ice]

government

[quick sentinel]

google this. literally

[gaunt burrow]

#📸┃screens_and_videos

[fervent ice]

you are actually just trolling, you cant be this 傻逼

[quick sentinel]

google that text and you will find some dude working in ukraine as 1st result

[gaunt burrow]

also

[fervent ice]

its the head of the mvs, not the mvs itself

[gaunt burrow]

Spetsnaz troops have Obokans, that are Russian weapons as their description says

"The weapon of the elite troops in the Russian army. It was designed as a replacement for the outdated Akm 74/2. Not only the Obokan's internal mechanisms but also its receiver and its barrel are movable, which decreases the recoil and increases accuracy." - SoC description of Obokan

[quick sentinel]

i bet army of zone is corruptible because "im not getting paid enough to give shit"

if 500 rubles is enough to bribe soldier then imagine what their check is

[fervent ice]

yes exactly, ask kuznetsov (the army guy beneath the bridge or semyon (agroprom deserter)

[gaunt burrow]

Would make sense. Dialogue of Major Khaletskiy in Clear Sky heavily implied that he isn't getting paid a lot: "So what if I let loot through the Cordon for some cash? I live and let others live, understand? Do you know even what my official salary is, asshole? Exactly, you try living on that! They pay me nothing and expect me to feel pride in my job and in my country... The bosses are making a killing out of the Zone, just like everyone else. Why shouldn't I? My job is to do what I'm ordered and survive. So, I'm surviving as best I can. Curse this whole place and all the assholes in it... I don't know whether to shoot them all or to blow my own brains out"

[quick sentinel]

500 rubles is literally 5 bucks🤣

[fervent ice]

wonder how they did the currecny conbversion, 500 soviet rubles= how much rubles/hryvnia?

[old jungle]

Yeah, don't forget these are Soviet Rubles, we don't know how much it's worth

[quick sentinel]

i bet they are getting paid 2000 rubles/month

[fervent ice]

probably less/depends on the rank, since ukraine is extremely corrupt

this problem exists in many post soviet and post soviet aligned ocuntries

[quick sentinel]

i kinda wish we could do tasks for military in SoC and convince them to become neutral to us tho. showing them we are no danger

sidorovich literally befriends them from what you hear in start

[fervent ice]

not befriend, more like strategic partnership

or else they wouldnt be killing stalkers, especially with the high chance that some of them are his couriers/employees

he just prevents the military from blitzkreiging the place altogether

[gaunt burrow]

Military makes money, other than Kuznetsov, in CS, Military sells weapons (Clear Sky even bought weapons from military)

[quick sentinel]

if you account all of factions in the zone then i dont think military could take on all of factions in zone

[gaunt burrow]

Description of "Return item: Akm 74/2U" sidequest:

"A few days ago renegades attacked a Clear Sky squad, just as they were buying a shipment of weapons from the military. Most shooters were captured by the renegades, but the best assault rifle was hidden. You need to recover it."

[fervent ice]

but they would be much more aggressive, and can easily take cordon and sidorovich

[gaunt burrow]

"How should I put it to you... Stalkers and the army used to work together. They gave us weapons, we gave them money, and everyone was happy. Sometimes they'd tell us if a new anomaly cluster emerged. But at some point their commander got too greedy for his own good. He hooked up with the bandits and began to sell them information about our movements. At first we thought the bandits were just lucky, but eventually we caught on to their shady dealings with the army. At that point we got together and decided that the time was ripe for some heads to roll." - Dialogue of Father Valerian

"The army's nothing but a bunch of dirty rotten crooks. Their job is to seal the Zone tight and shut off all access. But have you ever wondered how we manage to get all kinds of goods from the outside, and the outside world gets artifacts and other illegal items from the Zone? Of course, it all goes through the army boys, and you can be sure they're lining their pockets well with each transaction. It used to be that you would wet their beak and they would keep their word, but no longer. Pay or no pay, you just can't be safe with them. What happened was that stalkers, who could have just stuck their heads in the sand like they did, actually began to stand up to the military. It's even rumored that they've taken the outpost commander hostage." - Random Cordon loner in CS

[fervent ice]

i would bet they would make it to the barrier at most

[quick sentinel]

i dont think army could eliminate stalkers and factions from zone because they are already using their technology in the zone. which could also be used against them

[gaunt burrow]

military used to defend barrier at 1 point

[old jungle]

Matt is on fire today 🔥

[gaunt burrow]

in fact barriers story in CS makes 0 sense

[fervent ice]

yea, so they could have the ability to take it

[fervent ice]

dont get replaced... i love your videos...

[old jungle]

The day I get replaced is the day I deserve to step down

[gaunt burrow]

Barrier story in Clear Sky makes 0 sense and here's why

"I'd say the most important thing around here is the military base. Freedom is fighting the military for it, because the army is down to bare bones after the last Emission. There are also a couple of villages around here. They're nothing special, but you can find some loot in the ruins of old huts. To the north is the Barrier, built by stalkers to hold the monsters coming from the Brain Scorcher. If you want to leave this place, just head south for the Dark Valley, or if you want to see Duty fighting most of Freedom's forces for the right to new territories, then go west to the Red Forest."

Dialogue I provided above mentions that stalkers built the barrier, but Raven mentioned that Barrier has fallen because military is no longer able to hold it:

"You managed to pass through the Red Forest. Seems to me you're one hell of a lucky guy. But the situation we got here is even more difficult, merc. The barrier has fallen. The military are no longer able to hold it."

"The military held the warehouses for a long time, but the last emission changed all that. It got so rough that only a few survived, mainly those who hid inside the base. Everyone who was in the open died there and then. How do I know? Well, brother, Freedom has an intelligence service too, and we control the situation now; and now the lone stalkers have got together to contain the monsters coming from the Brain Scorcher."

And lastly, it's also mentioned that stalkers came AFTER military lost their hold on Barrier:

"After the military lost their hold on this area, a whole load of stalkers appeared, hoping to get past the Brain Scorcher. Dumbasses! I can tell you right now that getting through the Scorcher simply ain't possible. Not a single person who tried ever came back. Freedom is here to get rid of the military and set up a base. After all, if we're to hold the Barrier, we need to have a base close by."

[fervent ice]

about the artifact thing, they have the ecologists (government funded), who are researching all kinds of wacky shit, so they might be making weapons, but i need @gaunt burrow @old jungle to clarify, as its just my theory

[gaunt burrow]

why would army eliminate stalkers when they can directly profit from them?

[fervent ice]

oh wait i remember, the group interception

they have tech that allows them to detect mutants and even tame them

[gaunt burrow]

1 sec

[old jungle]

Artifacts seem to be used for military purposes. For example, protective suits

[fervent ice]

the healing beril?

[gaunt burrow]

#📸┃screens_and_videos

[old jungle]

I think they only do so when stalkers interfere with top secret stuff, such as stealing documents and raiding X-Labs

[fervent ice]

i dont recall any other armor having it (maybe upgrades?)

[gaunt burrow]

ye I meant generally

[fervent ice]

and then they die.

[gaunt burrow]

when they're not on a important mission

[old jungle]

Yes. There is also the SSP and Seva

[old jungle]

Sure

[gaunt burrow]

another interesting thing to add:military somehow utilizes the Night Star artifact. Additional description of Barkeep's "Find the Night Star artifact" sidequest:

"Find the Night Star artifact to help the national military research effort."

[quick sentinel]

can sidorovich ever become friendly to you??[green]

[gaunt burrow]

nope

[fervent ice]

hes the trader faction

[quick sentinel]

damn. I was hoping to offload items on him once he'd like me

[fervent ice]

it doesnt work like that for traders, they only change inventory after you completing certain missions

[old jungle]

I suggest watching this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGKpO8g-dhk

[quick sentinel]

if you want to spoil yourself whole experience then watch videos like these

[fervent ice]

really in depth, though i recommend playing all three games first

[old jungle]

yeah obviously this is heavy lore for veteran stalkers

[fervent ice]

i fall asleep to anomalous dugout (dont take that as an insult anomalous)

its so relaxing

[quick sentinel]

which artifact is prettiest in your opinion???

[gaunt burrow]

Flame for me

[old jungle]

Night Star from SoC

[stable fable]

Why even begin to look for these kind of videos before playing?

[quick sentinel]

why exist??

[fervent ice]

pellicle or fireball from soc or

[stable fable]

For people who want go in-depth

[quick sentinel]

or tryhards

[fervent ice]

nah tryhards are anomaly/gamma channels, real sweatlords out there

[stable fable]

Not possible to notice everything, so people just watch it after finishing game

[gaunt burrow]

interception is more of a myth faction than anything

[quick sentinel]

it would be funny if there was stinky cheese artifact. which repels mutants from you

[fervent ice]

it would be cool to have a mod featuring them

[old jungle]

I disagree. Doing the same thing as everyone else is the easy way.

[gaunt burrow]

taming mutants is possible tho. Noah tamed a pseudodog and even called it Lassie

[fervent ice]

haha

[gaunt burrow]

plus Doctor also has a mutant dog

[fervent ice]

i dont think that was with artifacts or any advanced tech tho

[old jungle]

In the design docs there is an artifact which repels mutants

[gaunt burrow]

wow. that sounds very interesting

[old jungle]

Let me find it again

[gaunt burrow]

take your time

[quick sentinel]

blind dogs* behave like innocent children. until they try to bite you

they run everywhere and ignore you for 60% of cases

[gaunt burrow]

Did you guys know that a bandit called Kirill (nicknamed Spotty) picked up wounded Chernobyl puppy?

[fervent ice]

they rely on a sebnse of smell, so its understanbable

[gaunt burrow]

"Frankly, I couldn't give a shit about what's going on. So long as there's enough work (and drink!) to go around - it's all good. My life might be crap, but it's too late to change it now. So why should I cram my head full of useless gossip? I mean, all sorts of shit happens around here. You met Kirill yet? He's the lad with the spotty face - we even call him Spotty. Well, if you ain't seen him he's probably at the bottom of a bottle somewhere. Anyway, I spotted Spotty going outside the base a few times. I figured the boy's got himself a stash where he hides the loot he don't feel like sharing after raids. Others noticed it too, and it got to Yoga one way or another. He summoned Spotty and ordered him to give up the stash. Spotty was like: "Boss, I ain't no rat, I swear..." so he went and showed him. Turns out the lad picked up a wounded Chernobyl puppy and was feeding him scraps, 'cause he had no one else to talk to - the boys didn't think too much of him. Anyways, Yoga got real pissed about the whole thing - shot the puppy, Spotty got a bad beating and lost his cut. Man, that's life..." - Dialogue of Limpid

[fervent ice]

yea, until it died, its so sad

[old jungle]

ok there are actually several of them

[quick sentinel]

blind dogs still behave kinda adorable

compared to boars which directly charge at you. even when you aren't close to them

[old jungle]

Galantine - Loss of strength, protection from rats
Needles - Temporarily shield from psy-impacts, blind dogs “lose track”
Plasma - Scares zombies away
Dead Head - Scares away nearly all mutants, but attracts controller

[gaunt burrow]

what a cool idea

[quick sentinel]

would you want to have any of mutants as your personal pet??

[gaunt burrow]

yes, Chimera

I'd call it Cupcake

[fervent ice]

psueodogiant, just without the radiation. ill make him my battle chariot. Ill call him schwert( german for sword, as i am messer, knife), and we will feed on duty stalkers together.

[quick sentinel]

i bet it would be wet dream of girls if boys had mouth of bloodsuckers

[gaunt burrow]

💀

after that comment, even Renegades wouldn't want you in their faction

[quick sentinel]

my sense of humor is freaky

[gaunt burrow]

@old jungle why does dead head attracts controllers tho? Isn't it weird?

Controllers are pretty smart mutants

[old jungle]

Most likely it has psy properties. Besides, I'm not sure if controllers are really that smart... they are often said to be smart but we've never really witnessed it, they are very dumb in combat

[gaunt burrow]

@quick sentinel Pseudogiants, judging by their human foot hanging from their lower back, their face and even bald spot were most likely humans at 1 point. Pseudogiants are also likely the result of some experiments. So are the bloodsuckers, however the latter are more enigmatic - they almost seem like a different species. Their original description mentions that they are "leftovers" from the experiments that somehow continued to mutate in the Zone on their own. It would make some sense, there is almost nothing "human" about them, and there are several subspecies of them that have adapted to a given environment. But they could also be designed in such way from the start, during the experiments

https://cop.stalker-game.com/?page=burer https://cop.stalker-game.com/?page=controler as for mutants such as burers and controllers, they're results of experiments

[gaunt burrow]

I'd say they're smart even if they're dumb in combat. they're capable of communicating with people (at least cave controller in CoP was able to do so)

[old jungle]

yeah, that's the only instance. Probably this is just a technical limitation in their AI, I guess will see in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

[gaunt burrow]

they also possesses a good perception, and an ability to control the behavior of less developed creatures. Mature specimen are capable of taking control over human's head

but they're rather slow

[old jungle]

sure but it does not mean they are intelligent, it could be an instinctive ability

[gaunt burrow]

good point

[old jungle]

it's a bit unclear in my opinion

[gaunt burrow]

mutants, (some of them at least) are smarter than it might seem first

for example this dialogue of Gonta: "Remnants of humans... A lone snork isn't much of a problem for an experienced hunter. You wait for him to jump on you and pump him full of shot in the air. Now, when there's a few of 'em... You've gotta just shoot at them as fast as you can while dodging their jumps. They know this and usually try to attack together."

Burers, capable of imitating voices (Lab X8 Burer)

And that Dark Valley bloodsucker in SoC that seems to be using stalker as a bait

[old jungle]

yes, they are animals really

wild animals can do such things

The Burer is another case though, since it can also talk

[gaunt burrow]

I wish that Chimera would get more lore tbh

I'm 100% sure Chimeras are results of experiments

[old jungle]

in the design docs there is no doubt about it

its description also explains that it has double of every organs, so that if it loses one it has a spare one

[gaunt burrow]

GSC whyyy? this 100% should've been included

[old jungle]

but since it did not make it into the game who knows if this is real lore

[gaunt burrow]

weird how CoP official website has entry about burers https://cop.stalker-game.com/?page=burer

but not entry about chimeras. both only appeared in CoP

[old jungle]

indeed

[quick sentinel]

do you think anyone in zone has good intentions besides being power or wealth oriented??

[old jungle]

depends what you define as good

[quick sentinel]

i meant actually good people or faction

[old jungle]

I'd argue some scientists are working with good intentions but it's subjective

[quick sentinel]

i only see freedom faction as being good guys. they try to be open with the world about what zone is

[old jungle]

it could also be argued that protecting the world from the Zone is a good action, in which case Duty and Military have some credit

[gaunt burrow]

Zone residents and factions did some good deeds if that's what you're referring to. Duty helped Kolobok and Shulga, 1 was field officer another army grunt

Trapper put all his savings to avenge death of his friend Fox

[old jungle]

I feel like every faction has both good and bad sides, which makes them more human and believable

[gaunt burrow]

Ghost, refused to abandon Strelok and even Limansk bandit didn't abandoned his fellow

but generally there isn't such thing as "good vs bad guys"

all factions have understandable goals

its basically subjective

[old jungle]

Absolutely. Although some are clearly worse than others, like Bandits for example

[gaunt burrow]

its understandable why would someone think that Zone must be destroyed for example and why someone would think it's a wonder

[gaunt burrow]

all my homies hate bandits

[old jungle]

Mercs are also generally presented as antagonists, except for a few squads. Btw, have you seen Mecheney's theory about the mercs?

[quick sentinel]

freedom are true good guys because their goal is to expose zone to the outside world which would spread awarness of wtf is going on in ukraine

[gaunt burrow]

I don't think so

[gaunt burrow]

Humanity having literally all information about the Zone is a very bad idea. C-Consciousness Representative directly admitted that humanity isn't ready for the truth:

"You're a bolt that fell out of the machine. Unfortunately, that did not come to our attention for a long time. From the moment the Zone was formed, many people have tried to get to its center but we cannot let that happen. Humanity is not ready for the truth. That is why we recruited stalkers by promising them the fullfillment of their most coveted desires. Once recruited they would be sent to protect the Zone’s secret."

Additional video proof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwZxo4UAXao (Start watching from 2:25)

So in conclusion that's actually a very bad goal. Not only humanity isn't ready for the truth, but even if humanity knew about everything that happens in the Zone there isn't any guarantee that people would like that information

[quick sentinel]

mercs are people who are driven by personal reasons. such as wealth

[old jungle]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdsBtFm_ILo&t=2s

[gaunt burrow]

Imagine a scenario where someone will find out the truth and decide to join Duty

because he didn't liked information he received. that goal of Freedom not only is bad

but can also cause harm to Freedom itself unironically

also outside world does know a thing or two about the Zone. existence of the Zone isn't a secret by all means

[quick sentinel]

i think Freedom would get along to understand goals of Clear sky and join them

[gaunt burrow]

https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/1bit5p9/comment/kvmk122/

[gaunt burrow]

Clear Sky doesn't even exists anymore

[old jungle]

Much better than the usual NATO theory

[gaunt burrow]

Even though there are ex members of Clear Sky that are present in CoP, faction itself died in CNPP

and chances of it getting recreated are either very low or impossible

[quick sentinel]

freedom still has righteous perspective. Since zone cant be stopped. people might as well have choice whether they want to visit the place or not

[gaunt burrow]

Strelok in CoP said: "I have information that'll allow the army to take control of the Zone and destroy it." so there might be some chance that the Zone could actually be destroyed

also, you do realzie that their actions could pose a threat to the world, right?

It doesn't apply just to Freedom, but rather to everyone besides Duty, scientists and the military - artifacts smuggled into the wrong hands at the Big Land can be dangerous. It's possible that some artifacts are capable of generating anomalies, as mentioned by Yar in Clear Sky:

I'll tell you about artifacts. What's an artifact? It's a cluster of anomalous energy, kinda like a stock cube. There's also artifacts that can...err...what's that damn word...ah, right...ge-ne-ra-te anomalies! I think that's how Chekhov says it. Anyway, only problem is, once the artifact generates an anomaly it's as good as useless. The anomaly itself ain't exactly powerful nor does it last long, but it's good enough to delay someone or knock 'em off your trail altogether.

[quick sentinel]

goverments already use nukes on each other and americans use guns on each other. terrorists use Suvs and Rocket launchers. who would care if artifacts were exposed to world

with time they would be accepted as everyday thing. like weed or cocaine

[gaunt burrow]

point is that actions of freedomers and other factions could posess a serious danger (except Duty since their PDA entry in SoC says "Duty members are the only group who refuse to trade unique items from the Zone with the outside world")

[quick sentinel]

only thing they seem to do is change humans into superheroes

[gaunt burrow]

how does government using nukes excludes my point?

[quick sentinel]

that there are already dangerous devices existing in the world

[gaunt burrow]

whats even your point genuinely?

just because people use weapons, nukes etc doesn't mean artifacts also can't be dangerous

[quick sentinel]

only danger is zone not mutated artifacts

so far we havent seen any stalker getting changed into zombie or mutant from using them. just getting killed

[gaunt burrow]

tell this to a Hermit. full dialogues in #📸┃screens_and_videos

Zombies at Kopachy village also didn't touched Uncle Yar in CoP

although he was clearly visible to all the zombies at the perimeter

Hermit is a living proof that coexistence with the Zone is actually possible

[quick sentinel]

some stalkers already can tell you that zone can be called as their home

[gaunt burrow]

man just play the games lol

literally no one said "Zone can be called my home"

[quick sentinel]

and you go join monoliths group

[gaunt burrow]

seriously man stop talking out of your ass

but rather play actual games and read dialogues, PDA entries etc

there are hundreds of dialogues and none of them said something like "Zone can be called my home"

[quick sentinel]

there are some stalkers that say that being inside zone is better than actual home

[gaunt burrow]

whats your proof?

[quick sentinel]

one stalker guy you can find in novice camp. cant remember his name

[gaunt burrow]

you're making this up

I can literally send you all stalker dialogues

none of them say something like "Zone can be called my home" or "Zone is better than my home"

[quick sentinel]

there is literally one stalker guy which says that zone is good place for job instead of staying at home

also if some of these guys dont like zone. they shouldn't have gotten there in begining

[gaunt burrow]

literally where? send a dialogue, screenshot or any other proof

I have if not all then almost all dialogues of Cordon loners

[quick sentinel]

i think its one of stalkers your supposed to kill along in mission where some guy is sellling trash items to stalkers. mission from sidorovich

[hazy helm]

the Monolith are brainwashed drones with no autonomy
once they break their brainwashing, they are no longer monolith

you dont join the monos

[gaunt burrow]

:fp:

[quick sentinel]

@gaunt burrow talk to stalkers you will encounter in mission. one of them says familiar quote to what i meant. before attacking them. unless their dialogues are randomly generated

[gaunt burrow]

literally no one says "Zone is better than my home" you're making things up

I can provide tons of dialogues and none said anything like that

also that NPC selling broken stuff and introducing himself as Sid's representative will have dialogue of other random NPCs, not unique dialogue

[quick sentinel]

he said something along lines that making living in zone is better than staying at home. or than dealing with his wife

[drowsy schooner]

Are zombies just monolith soldiers gone crazy?

[gaunt burrow]

stalkers mention their wife, yes, but because wife is on their case

[quick sentinel]

if stalkers prefer to hunt in around zone than deal with their wives then its saying something

[gaunt burrow]

because they gotta live somehow. how are you reading dialogues man? :fp:

go check #📸┃screens_and_videos . that stalker came in the Zone out of desperation

not because he thinks that Zone is wonder or something like that

he literally said "there's no work at home"

so its pretty understandable why he came to the Zone

next time read dialogues carefully and don't take things out of context

[quick sentinel]

knowing what conditions poor side of ukrainians and russians are living. they would find stalker unvierse as their new home. if it was ever real

[atomic coral]

Is strelok a sigma

[quick sentinel]

if he was sigma he would have crawled out of death truck on his own

[sand fiber]

he's a yogurt male

[sand fiber]

what

[quick sentinel]

you seen how homes of some russians are looking like??

[sand fiber]

yes

[quick sentinel]

some of russian homes literally look like they were built before WW1

[sand fiber]

no not really

[gaunt burrow]

At this point I have no idea if you're trolling or being serious. my man, do you know that most of the stalkers come to the Zone to get richh quicky by selling artifacts?

what does look of their houses have to do with them liking the Zone and thinking its a wonder?

[sand fiber]

at its worst it's rotten commieblocks and poorly maintained houses

there's a lot of them, to be fair

[quick sentinel]

and then there are dudes like Hermit who would probably tell you that they started feeling truly alive after entering zone

[gaunt burrow]

many Cordon stalkers have dialogues that say "I want to go home, but they're not letting me" and "There's no point to hang out here"

others entered the Zone because they say "there's no work at home"

full dialogues provided in #📸┃screens_and_videos but anyways, we don't know why Hermit entered the Zone in the first place, but it can be assumed he also wanted to get rich quickly

[quick sentinel]

or he wanted to get rich quickly and started enjoying zone

[gaunt burrow]

in fact Hermit said "I too spent a few years being a stalker"

I mean yes you might change your opinion about the Zone sooner or later

[quick sentinel]

zone could be enjoyed by some for its unique nature and freaks. mostly psychopaths would find home in this land

[gaunt burrow]

but that got nothing to do with original reason you had of why you entered the Zone in the first place

people can change their opinions

[quick sentinel]

lmao if zone was real i would enter it just to see if zone had manifested holy grail into it. or its own remix of holy weapons

[sand fiber]

if zone was real they'd nuke it

[quick sentinel]

i bet zone is the home for excalibur

[gaunt burrow]

horrible idea obviously

besides military already tried nuking it, according to Zvyagintsev

[sand fiber]

wha

what

[gaunt burrow]

#📸┃screens_and_videos

[sand fiber]

i don't see anything about nukes

[gaunt burrow]

oops, wrong dialogue

meant to sent another one my bad. 1 sec

done

[quick sentinel]

im only one who gets vibes of rastaman smoking weed on marijuania plantation from listening to freedom theme??(from wiki)

[fervent ice]

they did freedom dirty with that theme tbh

[pearl olive]

hey bkenny have you played stalker yet or just reading wikipedia stilll?

[fervent ice]

he started soc apparently

[loud gate]

I don't believe it.

[fervent ice]

he was still shitting on vanilla a few hours ago

[pearl olive]

lollll

[fervent ice]

but i mean its a start

[fervent ice]

i mean gamma is the most immersive and canon stalker game, who doesnt want a bunch of shity useless items and weird shit?

and that hip femboy

[pearl olive]

i started Old World llast night, they removed Hip

[fervent ice]

oh yea old world is awesome, but its still let down by the anomaly story, and its a quite unbalanced

got a merc suit and vla rifle in the first 5 mins of my playthrough lmao

[pearl olive]

yeaaa i more or less was just giving it a peek, because yeea..... the 'story' is such a joke and the COP vibes can only go so far

[fervent ice]

when i got to the warehouses, i was already the jeff bezos of the zone

[celest goblet]

Anomaly story is definitely an afterthought.

[pearl olive]

damnnnnn that explains why the first bandit i shot dropped 3 working weapons

[fervent ice]

not even a thought lmao

[fervent ice]

ah yes the random renegade dropping 2 ak's and a g36

i swear skadovsk loner spawn is the easiest, as sinners occupy the substation workshop. you can easily farm their weapons (they sell quite well) there

[pearl olive]

he was a bandit in cordon, and i just hahd the sawwed off and makarov... one kill later i had a pump shotgun and 9mm smg lol

[fervent ice]

but other than that, i think its a great mod

[pearl olive]

I want to find a good combat-focused mod that's not EFP

or at least one that can offer a lot of combat

[fervent ice]

nlc7 and op2.2

i havnt played them yet tho

the ccon server has quite a lot of documentation on both, and dedicated channels

[pearl olive]

i tried op2 before i knew too much and my PC was a potato.. might have to finally try NLC7 on my good PC

[fervent ice]

play xiani's freeplay mod, or dooms mod merge (freeplay and l.u.r.k. combined) for the ultimate SoC freeplay experience

l.u.r.k. is an early survival/realism addon for shadow of chernobyl

[celest goblet]

NLC7 HE got released recently, though I have not tried it myself yet, been away from home on a holiday

But it is supposed to be an updated English version

[pearl olive]

nlc7 has lots of levels/maps considering its name right? sorry i coud ressearch myself

i just replayed SOC and would like to get outta the cordon/garbage if i can

[fervent ice]

whats the most boring map in vanilla for you guys?

For soc its garbage (a bit too boring), for cs its agroprom, and for cop its just basically all the maps except for the underground sections

[pearl olive]

none of them in particular for me, its just when im playing walking sim back and forth through the starter areas so many times it gets old

[fervent ice]

sorry cop

[celest goblet]

Garbage perhaps. It's a crossroads area so you walk through it an awful lot

[spring apex]

rostok ofc. never ending loudspeakers

[pearl olive]

I haaven't actually tried NLC7 ... now when i want to try it, its NLC7 HARD EDITION? looking forward to this...

[hazy helm]

the translation of NLC7 HE2.3 did, its up to date

if youre gonna play it make sure to read the stuff we put in the guides if youre finding it difficult and remmeber that Gleksimus made a guide for the first 4 missions

which are basically the starting tutorial

[sweet belfry]

SoC best stalker game

agroprom most memorable besides storming the CNPP

kil the strelok kill the strelok. Omg you are the strelok

[loud gate]

CS>>>

[sweet belfry]

i could spend hundreds of hours reading PDA entries and I promise you I would not remember what they said 10 years later LOL. But I 100% remember agroprom and CNPP and why I was there in SoC

[old jungle]

these moments are too iconic to forget

[gaunt burrow]

^

[loud gate]

I can argue with memorable moments too

fighting the military in Cordon, the controller in Ahroprom, fighting trough Lymansk, going trough Red Forest at night

I guess it's just a matter if you liked these moments in the first place.

[sweet belfry]

not a single one of those moments was reading a PDA entry tho lol

[loud gate]

You compared PDA entries with Memorable locations/moments tho

[sweet belfry]

Yeah my point was no one is going to remember a PDA entry ten years later but they will remember the better moments

[loud gate]

ah, got you

[sweet belfry]

Sorry I understand what you are saying now my fault

we understand each other now

you were just adding moments

[celest goblet]

Going through Pripyat-1 and the final mission in CoP were also very memorable

Most of the labs are too, definitely hoping we get to see some more new ones in S2

[loud gate]

You already saw a confirmed one

[sweet belfry]

i need to replay CoP and CS

[fervent ice]

soc>cs>cop (by a wide margin)

[sweet belfry]

100%

[fervent ice]

the agroprom controller made me jump out of my seat lmao

pripyat is beautiful, but radar is top

[versed crypt]

Back from IKEA. I feel sick now

[fervent ice]

call of pripyat is so boring, i actually dont have the drive to finish it anymore

[gaunt burrow]

I hope S2 won't have those "babysit your ally NPCs" moments like CoP had

[fervent ice]

lmao

[gaunt burrow]

nah seriously, who even likes babysitting companions?

[fervent ice]

vano is chill tho, and strider

[spring apex]

if they are actually durable like uncle yar, its ok

[gaunt burrow]

Always hated that Jupiter Underground mission in CoP and still do

Unidentified weapon and evacuation missions were piece of cake (At least for me)

[fervent ice]

i hate zaton and jupiter

[gaunt burrow]

but Jupiter Underground gave me most trouble

[fervent ice]

shit map design compared to the other two

[spring apex]

because close range with snorks are bad idea

[celest goblet]

Personally I found CS to be the weakest, but to each their own. Could just be the half baked ending sequence leaves me with a sour impression whenever I walk away from it

[fervent ice]

less talking, more bugged out face to face strelok shooting

[gaunt burrow]

CS is my favorite tbh

[fervent ice]

the ending cutscene was done well though

[spring apex]

CS mind-blown me on how different it is from SoC

[gaunt burrow]

for me it's like this: 1) CS 2) SoC 3) CoP

[fervent ice]

for me its 0)gamma

[spring apex]

[old jungle]

[celest goblet]

Yeah. The transition to the CNPP from the hospital is just very abrupt. And that is after two maps of nonstop action pretty much

[fervent ice]

the english voicelines are both shit and gold

hey bro, howdy ho!

[gaunt burrow]

CoP's EN dub is so bad that it's good

[static compass]

So anyway, new trailer at SGF or Xbox showcase?

[old jungle]

[loud gate]

[static compass]

I'd love to see that uncut gameplay they mentioned

🐱

Mine didn't work lol

[celest goblet]

I assume that we will see some at one of those two at least, whether it is a demo or a new trailer

[loud gate]

Maybe Mol1t can figure it out

(It's Xbox Showcase )

[static compass]

I love that there's a sticker for that exact scene lol

[loud gate]

[old jungle]

[fervent ice]

[static compass]

[loud gate]

[fervent ice]

gsc: remake when?

[old jungle]

remake of what?

[fervent ice]

of gsc: lost

[old jungle]

[fervent ice]

yea its getting too late, my brain is scorched

[old jungle]

take this

[fervent ice]

good night guys before i turn into a zombie in yantar

[fervent ice]

i could never thank you enough!

[old jungle]

[bold sphinx]

GOOD SLEEPING STAKER!

[granite coral]

Definitely on Xbox Showcase

🤘

[blazing depot]

Good afternoon stalkers

[gaunt burrow]

afternoon

[blazing depot]

Oops, this is not off-topic. My apologies. Anyway, I can't wait for the upcoming Xbox Showcase. I hope to see some new gameplay trailers

[grim palm]

licks a snork finger popsticle

[versed crypt]

Hello

[old jungle]

[blazing depot]

Hi, hi

[gaunt burrow]

[versed crypt]

I saw what you edited

[blazing depot]

You got me

[indigo marsh]

AREA

[wild wharf]

Good morning (it's 9:00 for me)

[wild wharf]

... what did I just witness

[blazing depot]

Good morning. Have a great and chill day

[stark pond]

Do y'all think we'll see Deggy in stalker 2?

[deft stirrup]

who

[celest goblet]

50/50 I feel, though if we do I don't think he will be a major character

[loud gate]

Ye

[deft stirrup]

who deggy

[gaunt burrow]

Why not?I mean he requested to be sent to the Zone as the USS permanent observer

[loud gate]

[stark pond]

Degtyarev

[gaunt burrow]

I do feel like he'll appear in S2

[deft stirrup]

ah

[loud gate]

He could become important asset of IPSF

[celest goblet]

It's been at least 10 years so any number of things can have changed

[deft stirrup]

in the end of COP it is said that he stays in the zone

[stark pond]

I hope he still has the crew (Vano, Zulu, etc) maybe as a minor faction or maybe we'll even get a mission with them

[gaunt burrow]

If Strider will be in S2 why not Degtyarev?

Or any other important characters for that matter

[deft stirrup]

Some may not be there

the end of COP explains a lot on their story

[stark pond]

Yeah they'll probably still be in touch, and Deg is a more important character than Strider

[deft stirrup]

by their i mean degtayrev's squad

[celest goblet]

That is why I say 50/50. No reason they could not be there, it just depends on if there is a reason to include them

[deft stirrup]

ofc there is

[gaunt burrow]

Degtyarev literally helped Strider. If anything it would be weird if Deg won't appear or at least won't get mentioned

[blazing depot]

I think no

[stark pond]

I mean they are protecting the zone, Deg is an important stalker and almost as much of a legend as Strelok, if they can put in strider who had like 25 minutes on screen they can give my boy Deg some time too

Maybe he'll be balding like papa Strelok😭

[loud gate]

It's not important that he had little screen time, it's important what he did

[stark pond]

And the fact that he is the only reformed monolith we see. Sure. But he would've died if Deg didn't help them

[loud gate]

He isn't

[gaunt burrow]

I'm more interested in Scar's fate tbh

[stark pond]

He died?

[gaunt burrow]

His fate isn't clear

[loud gate]

Probably not

I expect him to be in tbh

[stark pond]

Nah dawg it's pretty clear he done got himself killed

[gaunt burrow]

Scar's fate could have turned out in many ways - perhaps, if the brainwashing process failed, he became simply zombified; if it was successful, he could've died while being transported in the death truck; if this didn't happen, he had a clearly defined task to perform, and could die while trying to do it; if he survived, he might still be wandering around the Zone as an amnesiac.

It's also possible that he simply died during the emission, or was captured but somehow managed to overcome the brainwashing process and escaped from whatever laboratory it was taking place in.

[deft stirrup]

there is a few options brainwashed into a monolith member or brainwashed agent or just dead

[celest goblet]

This, and the fact that the new story seems to be placing a lot of importance on the ex-monolith members, so they will have a new importance

[loud gate]

So Strilets magically survived, but Scar didn't?

[gaunt burrow]

not confirmed

[gaunt burrow]

.

[stark pond]

Yeah scar did not survive because the clear skies lads said a 3rd emission would end him

[deft stirrup]

strilets has a better haircut

we actually havent seen scar's haircut actually

or he is just bald guy

[red spruce]

Well, he already survived 2 emissions. Sure, they said a 3rd emission would end him, but this is the zone after all

[gaunt burrow]

No confirmation of that

We can only speculate and theorize

[stark pond]

Yeah but asuming he survived is stretching it

Odds are he is very much dead.

[deft stirrup]

there is a theory that he turned into that monolith soldier in radar

[celest goblet]

They said as much, though we do not know for sure if it was true or if they were correct. Still, I don't assume he survived. Maybe we will be surprised though

[gaunt burrow]

and besides, all theories, speculations and lore aside why would GSC introduce a main character just to kill him in the same game?

that's just a waste

[stark pond]

The one with the vintar? Whom you also unalive?

[gaunt burrow]

Scar = Charon theory is weak to begin with

[deft stirrup]

yes but thats optional

[gaunt burrow]

only thing that connects those 2 is the fact that both have Vintar

[loud gate]

People do not consider that Strelok survived it

[delicate chasm]

one of my most despised fan fictions lol

[stark pond]

Why did GRR Martin write so many chapters for Ned Stark only to kill him🤔

[deft stirrup]

strelok sigma

[loud gate]

Shut

[deft stirrup]

he protagonist why he die

[gaunt burrow]

I don't care tbh. Why would you even compare GoT and Stalker lol

[delicate chasm]

if an individual is their memory, then "Strelok" didn't survive, his body did

[gaunt burrow]

2 different universes entirely

[deft stirrup]

ye but actually what does happen in the CNPP fight in CS?

[deft stirrup]

oh crap ye i forgot im so unbelivably dumb

[loud gate]

[stark pond]

Because in fiction people die. It happens

[deft stirrup]

i just had the biggest brain fart in existance

[gaunt burrow]

Scar's fate isn't confirmed. So you can't even say he died

[stark pond]

Strelok just forgor

[gaunt burrow]

Only thing we can do is speculate and theorize

[stark pond]

You asume he survives. I asume he dies. My asumption is much more likely to be true based on in game evidence

[delicate chasm]

Marked One is a shell of Strelok, he's only really called that in CoP because that's his fame, but really the person that we actually see in the events after CS is not the same one

[loud gate]

which evidence

[deft stirrup]

there is no evidence

[gaunt burrow]

^

[loud gate]

the fact you don't see Scar in ShoC or CoP isn't evidence lol

[deft stirrup]

there is no 100% true evidence

[gaunt burrow]

you automatically assume that he died while his fate could've turned out in different way(s)

[deft stirrup]

Scar remains a mystery until S2

[delicate chasm]

he may not even be mentioned there, we don't knw

[deft stirrup]

many things arent mentioned but could be in the game

[stark pond]

This is a silly argument guys. We've been told a 3rd emission would kill him, in game every time we are exposed to another emission Scar dies, so what do you guys base your ideas that he lives on?

[deft stirrup]

i doubt he actually lives on he prob got brainwashed or some weird stuff

i doubt he just gets up after the emission and then continues

[stark pond]

Yeah if he was to be brainwashed he is very likely to be the Vintar Monolith...whom Strelok shoots.

[delicate chasm]

i think they're arguing not that he lives per se, but that we don't know if he died

[deft stirrup]

thats a theory not a statement

[gaunt burrow]

It all depends on how much trust you put into Lebedevs statement that being caught in another blowout would be his demise

[deft stirrup]

also the lebedev is the C-conciousness representative theory

[gaunt burrow]

^

Don't take Lebedev's words for granted

[stark pond]

I do put quite a bit. He is a scientist, and ingame emissions kill us, so he isn't far from the truth

[deft stirrup]

clear sky's main guys used to be scientist parttook in the CNPP

[deft stirrup]

or something along those linesZ

[gaunt burrow]

In fact Lebedev directly contradicts himsef n a way - he talks about the Zone as a living organism, but at the same time he knows that the Scorcher "appeared for a reason" and is supposed to "prevent the center of the Zone from being reached". These words suggest that he is aware that the Scorcher is a tool created by someone in order to prevent people from reaching the center. And this isn't a common knowledge

[loud gate]

So you say Scar dies.. then also say he lives to be a Monolithian

[stark pond]

Well he has insider knowledge

[delicate chasm]

yeah but you're tying a gameplay element in with a lore one

[gaunt burrow]

Moreover, Kalancha seems to be aware that the Zone was created as a result of the C-Consciousness's actions, since that's what he says in one dialogue:

The Zone appeared as a result of the actions... let's call them "misguided" human actions, and we are unable to return to the status quo. The Zone cannot be destroyed, nor will it disappear of its own accord.

[loud gate]

So does he die according to you or not?

[deft stirrup]

he said the word guys

[celest goblet]

His fate is definitely left ambiguous, I just have one choice I think is more likely until there is evidence one way or another

[stark pond]

No i do not. I was saying IF. And i'm 90% sure he is dead. If he was alive he'd probably be that guy, but i doubt he is.

[gaunt burrow]

my point is that you shouldn't take Lebedev's and Kalancha's words for granted

[gaunt burrow]

the fact that Lebedev directly contradicted himself is one of the reasons why

[stark pond]

I wonder what new mutants we gettin in stalker 2

[gaunt burrow]

Moreover, there is one small detail that often goes unnoticed - Lebedev sends Scar to find Fang after learning that the latter has purchased some electrical parts - in some unexplained way he connected the fact that some random stalker was buying specific electrical parts with the fact that someone was trying to get to the center. How? The explanation may be that he simply knew what security measures were used by the C-Consciousness, and figured out that these parts will be used to create a decoder to the door at the Sarcophagus.

[deft stirrup]

check wiki n stuff

[loud gate]

I don't understand why you would trust him since he just manipulates Scar lol

[loud gate]

Bayun, Deer, and more

[stark pond]

I do hope i get to fight the evil little psychic dwarves

[deft stirrup]

i think lebedev used Scar as a tool to get rid of strelok but failing to do so because he gets saved in SOC

[loud gate]

Burers?

[gaunt burrow]

The fact that the documents from X-8 were not transferred doen't necessarily mean that Lebedev, Suslov and Kalancha left them because they left the Group; we don't know whether the 'materials' mentioned in the "Order of Transfer" also refer to the notes that were left behind, and there is no indication that these three men were responsible for transferring anything to another lab. Besides, it's possible that this document indicates that this transfer has already taken place, rather than that it was supposed to take place (and putting the lore aside, why even mention them in these documents, if they were to have nothing to do with the creation of the Zone? To me, it looks like a deliberate choice to make the player connect the dots)

[stark pond]

Yessir

[gaunt burrow]

plenty of facts that allow us to assume that Lebedev knew about C-Con

With no additional context outside of what we see in the prequel, it seems weird that Lebedev believes that the Zone will immediately calm down when Strelok is stopped and is shocked when it doesn't happen. But if we assume that he was aware of the C-Consciousness, then his surprise makes sense - he probably expected his former colleagues to realize that Clear Sky is actually trying to stop a man who is one step away from discovering them, rather than eliminating everyone instead.

[stark pond]

I asume he did too. He knew lots of stuff, i doubt the great secret of the zone was a secret to him. But i do wonder, did Strelok know about the C-Con the first time he went in there?

[gaunt burrow]

^

he directly said "I know a lot about the Zone, but I can't share everything with you"

[delicate chasm]

Clear Sky founders broke away from working in those labs in an unknown period of time, it's not clear how much they know about the C-Consciousness btw.

They have suspicions but unlikely the whole ordeal

[deft stirrup]

no? no one got in the CNPP ever

like the C-conciousness* mb

[stark pond]

My bad. I meant as in...was he gonna use the wish granter or did he want to do what he did in canon?

[gaunt burrow]

Lebedev and the rest of the leadership didn't even told common Clear Sky members about their real plans, since this dialogue of CS member: "Like everyone else here, we observe and collect data. I think Beanpolev and Lebedev have learned more about the Zone than the rest of us combined. **They rarely tell us, common soldiers, about it though.**We just worry about our immediate priorities, while they keep track of the bigger picture."

[deft stirrup]

he originally wanted to see the secrets of the whole monolith thing

[gaunt burrow]

What makes you think he'd told Scar the truth and his real plans lol

[delicate chasm]

Scar always appearde to me a convenient puppet

[gaunt burrow]

I'm 100% certain that Scar had some doubts as well tbh

[delicate chasm]

if it weren't for him, it would be someone else, but Lebedev needed an existential reason for someone to do what Scar did for CS basically for free

never mind the occasional supply and money

[old jungle]

Arguing about Scar's fate? Again?

[deft stirrup]

why does the ultimate edition cost so mach money i mean i get it kinda it has so many things inside it

[delicate chasm]

well we aren't going to discuss how Tchaikovsky died in this chat, so Scar will have to do

[celest goblet]

Well that is your answer - It has additional content and some other extras too

[deft stirrup]

1 euro is x2 my currency

[old jungle]

It is good that I don't need to argue since I already have a video prepare on the topic

[delicate chasm]

with inconclusive results

[old jungle]

and you have conclusive results?

[gaunt burrow]

GSC does

[old jungle]

I doubt that

[delicate chasm]

No, my point is, the only good answer you can have is an inconclusive one

[old jungle]

It's much better to leave things mysterious

[deft stirrup]

my biggest question rn is how do stashes work in S2*

[gaunt burrow]

No. Since he, Fang and Ghost never managed to open the door leading to Monolith Control Center

that's why Fang was collecting electrical parts in Clear Sky

To assamble the decoder

[deft stirrup]

in SOC that device was finished

[delicate chasm]

they managed to find it, only Marked One managed to open it

[gaunt burrow]

They found Monolith since Doctor told Strelok in SoC that it's just an illusion manufactured in a lab

so he was told about that but the trio after they retreated but they never reached C-Con since for that they'd have to open that door, and they had no decoder back then

[loud gate]

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/561153910891347968/1241109633683161169/Life_of_a_S.T.A.L.K.E.R_online-video-cutter.com.gif

[delicate chasm]

yes, but it's before the reach of the door

also what I always wondered, where tf were all the Monolith troops for the Group to sneak around inside the Sarcophagus long enough to find the "wish granter" AND then the door

[old jungle]

Strelok talked about in his manuscript

[delicate chasm]

not extensively enough

[old jungle]

the one in the Pripyat stash

[gaunt burrow]

"The stash contained a short report on how Fang and I infiltrated the underground galleries under the station sarcophagus and found a suspicious-looking door. Fang said that he'd put together a decoder for the electronic lock for our next visit. After that we had to run for our lives. There was hordes of Monolith patrols there. Well, I also found the decoder in the stash and directions for finding the door. However, it seems that approaching the Monolith is extremely dangerous - last time we avoided going under the sarcophagus above the destroyed reactor and it seems that's where the Monolith is."

From Pripyat stash entry

[old jungle]

true that

[delicate chasm]

the underground galleries under the station sarcophagus and found a suspicious-looking door.

The same ones we reach at the end of SoC, which are teeming with enemies

and don't provide any alternate routes

[old jungle]

They must have increased security after the first breach

[gaunt burrow]

Good point honestly

Seems like very plausible theory

[old jungle]

Besides, the number of enemies is probably increased for gameplay purposes. No way Strelok would fight through that many.

[delicate chasm]

I think they were just holding in there because of the military attack and the disabling of the Scorcher; their positions became severely compromised and then they were ordered to hold the corridors

perhaps there was more security before the Scorcher went down, but i doubt there were that many

besides, all this is happening just during the emission

[deft stirrup]

i think like after the fact they see stalkers making their way to the center and etc. they would have lines of soldiers-monolithians

[old jungle]

good point

[gaunt burrow]

"S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a coded acronym, which we use to mark agents programmed for particular missions. Your mission, as our agent, was to kill Strelok and his group. They got too close to finding out things they shouldn't know. We created a network of psi-fields on the way to the Zone's center in order to recruit agents. You know one of these fields by the name of Brain Scorcher. When a stalker attempts to reach the Zone's center in order to fulfill some wish we acquire control over his consciousness, and program him to a specific mission. A mistake was made, and your mission, was to kill yourself."

Plus Representative also said that Strelok is a bolt that fell out of the machine

and that it did not come to their attention for a long time

but Strelok and his group was an individual case really

[deft stirrup]

ig its hard trying to be an agent supossed to kill the main reason of the whole reaching the center thing when the agent is that one that caused it

[gaunt burrow]

so it can be assumed that C-Con simply thought their defenses was unbreachable

I see no reason why C-Con simply wouldn't increase their security after Strelok's groups first expedition

would make sense and would be a smart thing to do as well

[solid dome]

**Brain sizzle, memory delay
Dark thoughts, cant relay
Human mind, led astray
C-Consciousness, hey hey
Take peoples souls, any day
**

[delicate chasm]

btw this kinda breaks the lore of the anomalies in the Zone. In that case, what the hell are the psi-fields in CS that appear at random, with ones even on Garbage or Swamps

[deft stirrup]

thats cool

[solid dome]

Lyrical business by Krezzin the Lyricist

[gaunt burrow]

consistency was never trilogy's strong point tbh

[delicate chasm]

nope

[gaunt burrow]

Strider for example said that he lost several years of his life, while his brainwashing literally happened just 1 year ago: "Well... We don't remember how we got here. I remember that we were a Monolith squad... We had this burning desire to reach the center of the Zone. That's where the Monolith is - it's a meteor, that brought the beginnings of new life from other planets... I remember reaching the CNPP together... And then it's all fragmented. I remember a bright light... cosmic cold... and a clear voice... Everything was just... perfect. I don't remember what that voice ordered me to do now. Several years of my life... just gone. The boys are the same... We don't know what to do. We definitely need somewhere to take cover from emissions... and mutants, right? Do you have any ideas about where we would be safe?"

Barrier's story in CS, makes 0 sense whatsoever

[gaunt burrow]

.

many contradictions, oversights and plotholes

[delicate chasm]

Perhaps, he means his memories? Not just the life under brainwashing

but even before

Marked One is like completely void of memories, but he was in the heat of it
Strider easily could have lost more than just the years in Monolith

[gaunt burrow]

This is most likely an oversight by the devs (after all, they overlooked much more important elements of the timeline, such as the date of creation of the Zone, which in Call of Pripyat is completely different than before), but it could also imply that Monolithians have a distorted perception of time

Or it just could just be a human error

Also Zone in SoC literally has 2 creation dates

[delicate chasm]

this is my theory

[gaunt burrow]

Barkeep in his tale about Monolith said "When the Zone exploded in 2006"

while in History of the Zone PDA entry mentions "2008, April 12, 14:33" date

[delicate chasm]

yeah that's a commonly known screw-up

i see the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. program as a fine-tuned and cranked up version of what a Scorcher type emission does on a broad scale and to a lesser extent, with less specific directives, and either way the loss of memory suggests the hippocampus is severely affected by it, hencewhy memories from even before the "zombifiecation" can easily be erased

[gaunt burrow]

Fang having 2 graves also doesn't makes sense, if he died at Army Warehouses according to Ghost why and how does he has another grave in Pripyat?

[delicate chasm]

I think it's possible that it's just some other Fang

i don't remember what conclusion we came to with Sur

[gaunt burrow]

[gaunt burrow]

what's your imput about this btw? @delicate chasm

input*

[hard ember]

might just go ahead and play CS so to make it kosher to watch youtube complete lore summaries that inevitably will have spoilers

[delicate chasm]

what inconsistency are you pointing at, exactly? I'm not sure

[hard ember]

novel's been great

still nibbling on that

"Roadside Picnic"

[gaunt burrow]

one of the dialogues directly said that stalkers built the barrier, while another says "After the military lost their hold on this area, a whole load of stalkers appeared"

plus military held the barrier before stalkers

[delicate chasm]

could it be possible the barrier was captured by the military at some point after it was built?

and held it for a while?

[gaunt burrow]

that'd make sense

According to dialogues military actually held Barrier for a while as well

[delicate chasm]

besides, it seems like the Zone is teeming with inconsistent rumours due to the fact that many simply don't live to tell the tale

And what yesterday was mentioned to be "a few artefacts", now becomes "an Eldorado"

[gaunt burrow]

Fair enough, remember dialogue of CoP stalkers?

[delicate chasm]

I can wrap my head around some inconsistencies in what stalkers say

[delicate chasm]

CoP is my least played, I'm spotty on that one, remind me please

[gaunt burrow]

1 min

[indigo marsh]

@gaunt burrow have you heard of the game of telephone?

[gaunt burrow]

for example this one: "Did you hear about Topol? He found some new shithole for his guys to wander into, and of course, they happily went for it. Their escapades ended up with a controller ironing their brains out. They would be pissing all over themselves in hospital bunks if it weren't for this one stalker that was with them. When Topol came to his senses from that zombification crap, that stalker was squatting down right next to the controller, cutting its ears off."

or that: "I heard they found some kind of gross mutant shit in the tunnels north of Jupiter. Trapper sent a stalker in there to investigate. Turned out there used to be a burer lair. Why "used to be"? 'Cause that same stalker wiped out all the burers. On his own... You even seem to fit his description, except he's a bit taller and always carries a grenade launcher."

[gaunt burrow]

I don't think so

[delicate chasm]

yes, perfect example, lol
all this can be personified in Flint, too

[old jungle]

I love the ending of that one

[indigo marsh]

Its not a video game but a group of people stay in the line and on person in the front or back get a sentence, they have to whisper the sentence in a persons ear until it reaches the end of the line where the sentence becomes different from the original

Maybe that would happen in the stalker universe too

[delicate chasm]

as he wrote, it does

[gaunt burrow]

ye there are many rumors, in fact some stalkers even mentioned that there are too many versions of the story

[delicate chasm]

I wonder, headcanonically, if the inconsistent date of the Zone's creation is also deliberate. I know it's a dev mess-up but I can even wrap my head around that. I mean, hell, even irl facts of this sort are constantly skewed for political or otherwise reasons

[old jungle]

I think it's just an honest mistake. Everywhere apart from the PDA the date is 2006

[deft stirrup]

did PDAs' exist before 2006

[old jungle]

I believe so

[delicate chasm]

they began in the 80s...

[indigo marsh]

they started declining in 2007 according to wikipedia