loner85

Hey, guys, loner here.
I'd like to say a few things to this new mod, yea, you may know it: Misery 2.0. It finally happened!
But many people are not even getting past the first mutant pack welcoming them to the Zone. So I, as a zone veteran, will give you rookies some tips for how to survive in this Misery.

• FIRST LESSON: LEARN YOUR AMMUNITION

Pistol ammo: Used for pistols, machine pistols and submachine guns. Little to not armor-penetrating, the benefit is the high hit impulse at armored targets.
Provides good damage against little to non-armored targets like mutants and bandits as well as rookie STALKERs.
Not effective against armored targets, only to keep them at a distance.

Rifle ammo: Used for hunting rifles (12x76mm variant), assault rifles, carbines and sniper rifles. Medium to high armor penetration.

Shotgun ammo: Used for shotguns...that was easy, right? Superior to pistol ammo in close-quarter. That again means that buckshot is most effective against mutants...or some dumbass bandits. Not armor-penetrating at all, but nice to keep enemies at a distance and/or hurting them. ONLY for close range, you can forget everything above 30m.
Special tip: Carry at least ONE gun with you which uses pistol bullets (or buckshot), as a secondary weapon against all un-armored surprise. As a primary weapon you should use a rifle-bullet using gun for armored targets.

• SECOND LESSON: SURROUNDINGS

Always keep an eye on your surroundings, make use of everything you can find. Place stashes intelligently if you know you might have to flee fast, or if you have too much mutant parts to sell.
GOLDEN RULE: If it's hostile, you kill it. Be it a loner, be it a mutant. If you can't avoid it, you eiter flee or fight, depending on your current state of ammo.
Special tip: Start the game as a sniper. You will need the scope and the long-range tactics, and the overall balanced stats.

• THIRD AND LAST LESSON: TACTICS

As above mentioned, an important element is placing stashes on the right spots. For example, if you want to approach enemy territory, then you'd better make a stash where you put in some medical items and a shotgun/pistol. If you flee then (what you WILL do), you just collect the goods you stashed and continue your way back to your main base.
Very important is the use of weapons in a fight: If you are going to fight in buildings it is more recommended to use a fast-firing carbine or SMG than a sniper rifle. If you are fighting on longer ranges a sniper rifle (semi-automatic) is recommended. If you are just strolling around (that you actually shouldn't do, you should have an objective) a pistol/sniper combo is recommended (bolt-action sniper, more reliable than others and you won't need to fire fast and much if you spot your target early).

Loner over and out,

Cheers

PS: Stop whining, b*tches. Misery 2.0 is hardcore, get used to it. With a little common sense you get through this misery!