S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Series Megathread: The Zone will stop the Russians

[Beacon]

[IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19779215/Photos/STALKER/Thread/banner.png[/IMG]

-Banner courtesy of Rikimaru!

[I]This is the way it is with the Zone: if you come back with swag - it's a miracle; if you come back alive - it's a success; if the patrol bullets miss you - it's a stroke of luck. And as for anything else - that's fate.[/I]

-Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

[IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19779215/Photos/STALKER/Thread/619965916dw.png[/IMG]

Welcome to the zone. The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Series is made up of three games as of now, [URL="http://www.stalker-game.com/en/"]Shadow of Chernobyl[/URL], [URL="http://cs.stalker-game.com/"]Clear Sky[/URL], and [URL="http://cop.stalker-game.com/"]Call of Pripyat[/URL]. Each game has its own set of unique experiences and features, and each game has a new twist upon the life of a Stalker.The game series is based off of the Chernobyl Nuclear catastrophe, with it's own fictional additions. The zone is an irradiated hell hole that was formed after the second explosion at the powerplant, it's filled with anomalies and known to be home to deadly mutants. The zone is populated by scavengers nicknamed S.T.A.L.K.E.R's, which stands for "Scavenger, Trespasser, Adventurer, Loner, Killer, Explorer, Robber". There are also various other factions of stalkers which may be friendly, neutral, or hostile.

This is just a quick overview for more in-depth information I recommend taking a look at the individual game websites highlighted above, or if you don't mind spoilers you may also take a look at the [URL="http://stalker.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page"]Stalker Wiki[/URL].

[IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19779215/Photos/STALKER/Thread/Stalker_dawdawd007.png[/IMG]

- [B]Be sure to play the games without any game changing mods if you're going through your first playthrough![/B]

There is a plethora of different modifications for all of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R games, some are just minor tweaks but others provide a vastly different experience. You can go on and find one that interests you or just ask in the thread! Beware of mods like Complete that advertise to only "enhance" the vanilla experience, this is not true. The mods change certain aspects of the game that would otherwise not be in the vanilla version of the games, so please play vanilla first and THEN enjoy those mods.

Here are a few websites that you can visit to find Stalker mods: [URL="http://stalker.filefront.com/"]Stalker Filefront[/URL], [URL="http://www.moddb.com/"]ModDB[/URL], and the [URL="https://sites.google.com/site/stalkermodlist"]Facepunch Mod Repository[/URL]. (Please PM the OP if there are any other sites you would like to have added!)

[URL="http://kocayine.ru/photorealistic/"]Photorealistic Zone Texture Pack by Argus[/URL]

[URL="http://rasputinator.com/blog/mod-lists/s-t-a-l-k-e-r-shoc-list/"]List of preferred SoC mods[/URL]

[URL="http://rasputinator.com/blog/mod-lists/s-t-a-l-k-e-r-cs-list/"]List of preferred CS mods[/URL]

[URL="http://rasputinator.com/blog/mod-lists/s-t-a-l-k-e-r-cop-list/"]List of preferred CoP mods[/URL]

[IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19779215/Photos/STALKER/Thread/dwdwdwdwdwd.png[/IMG]

Q: [B]What order should I play these games in?

[/B]I'd recommend playing them in the order they were released, SoC - CS - CoP.

Doing it any other way may ruin certain game experiences or spoil the story!

Q: [B]I just bought these games is there anything I should install right off the bat?[/B]

A: For Shadow of Chernobyl you could install [URL="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/41052015/FPSTALKER_StarterPackSoC_1.0.rar"]the Facepunch Starter pack[/URL] if you really need to, and for Clear Sky install [URL="http://stalker.filefront.com/file/Sky_Reclamation_Project;104153"]The Clear Sky Reclamation Project[/URL].
These are community bug fixes that will make your experience with the games more pleasant.
Call of Pripyat on the other hand is the most stable build of STALKER so far and only requires to be on the latest patch.

Other than this don't install anything else, playing mods on your first playthrough is not encouraged. PLEASE don't use STALKER Complete.

Q: [B]How do I install these mods?[/B]

A: First get to the directory for the game you want to install the stuff in -

[B]Steam[/B]: "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common" - In the common folder the games will be in their own folders.

[B]Shadow of Chernobyl[/B]: "C:\Program Files\THQ\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Shadow of Chernobyl"

[B]Clear Sky[/B]: "C:\Program Files\Deep Silver\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Clear Sky"

[B]Call of Pripyat[/B]: "C:\Program Files\bitComposer Games\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Call of Pripyat"

If you're running a 64-bit OS then go to the (x86) portion of your program files.

Depending on what you're installing it's most likely going be a folder named "gamedata", just toss that into the main directory.

Also go into the "fsgame.ltx" file and open it in notepad, then go the the line game_data and make it look like this: $game_data$ = true|true|$fs_root$|gamedata\

Q:[B]How do I reduce/get rid of this annoying headbob?!
[/B]
A: Open the console with tilde - type 'cam_inert x' where:

x = 0 to 1
0 = least headbob

[IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19779215/Photos/STALKER/Thread/a25awdad30.png[/IMG]

[URL="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19779215/Photos/STALKER/Thread/x6c5mc.png"]Facepunch Stalkers 2011[/URL], [URL="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19779215/Photos/STALKER/Thread/yeah.jpg"]Facepunch Stalkers 2009[/URL].

Here's a link to the [URL="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17631572/xray-cop-sdk-setup.exe"]Call of Pripyat SDK[/URL], courtesy of Glitch360!

You can access the Zone Survival Guide through [URL="http://www.zsg.dk/"]here[/URL].

The infamous artist Crisis made a compilation of all his work [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=867476&p=19216337#post19216337"]here[/URL].

Another great artist Raiskauskone made a compilation [URL="http://www.eurostalker.co.uk/stalker-campfire/common-stories-in-the-form-of-art-t20.html"]here[/URL] as well!

SibilantJoe's adventure into the zone that exists in real life! Check it out knowing that many of us may never visit there, here's the [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1034447-S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-Series-Megathread-Now-with-a-TV-Series!?p=26502115&viewfull=1#post26502115"]link[/URL]!

[IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19779215/Photos/STALKER/Thread/lined.png[/IMG]

And as always...

[IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19779215/Photos/STALKER/Thread/Sidorovich_HQ2.jpg[/IMG]

[bishibosh]

[t]http://images.wikia.com/stalker/images/5/5b/SCS_Monolith_Patch.png[/t]

obligatory praise to the monolith for letting us survive that blowout

[Beacon]

3 days till freedom national holidayyyy

[iRunner]

Just wondering, does anyone know any good SoC trainers?

I'm stuck on a part where loading back is not advisable, even though I'm low on ammo, health, supplies and surrounded by almost 30 enemies, with a blowout waiting for me outside and a tank near the exit door

[SupaBastad]

That last blowout got me in the mood for stalker again. I've downloaded SGM 2.2 after seeing some of the screenies people have posted. Is this the version with the alternate start or was that 2.3?

[Amez]

[t]http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/867216269350060493/2C37E1E77DAB9821E06A7689BA1F8461750EEEBC/[/t]

The Alpha squads are trying to get me :(, they're pretty damn tough. Up until I managed to loot an M82 off one of their bodies, now it's as simple as aiming for the head.

[QUOTE=spekter;40308587]That last blowout got me in the mood for stalker again. I've downloaded SGM 2.2 after seeing some of the screenies people have posted. Is this the version with the alternate start or was that 2.3?[/QUOTE]

Yes you start off in Cordon.

[don868]

[QUOTE=WarRocker32;40308114][t]http://images.wikia.com/stalker/images/5/5b/SCS_Monolith_Patch.png[/t]

obligatory praise to the monolith for letting us survive that blowout[/QUOTE]

[img]http://puu.sh/2Bvmc[/img]

[Teh Zip File]

[QUOTE=Amez;40308609]Yes you start off in Cordon.[/QUOTE]

Wasn't there a mod that let you skip that though? I'd play SGM 2.2 more if I didn't have to go through Cordon and the Swamps...

[PollytheParrot]

Lost Alpha confirmed to release September 17th, 2017

[PotatoArmada]

I'm kinda stuck in CoP with a mission. I'm supposed to rescue this Mitay guy by either giving bandits $15,000 (fuck that) or giving them an artifact. I decided to just kill the whole encampment but now Mitay won't follow me, he's just crouching indefinitely. Any way to get this dingus moving?

[editline]16th April 2013[/editline]

Also, I'm getting a shitload of stuttering in CoP whenever I'm outside.

[Daemonion]

What do you guys think of hearing the player character breath occasionally, and having heavier breathing as endurance decreases?

Your responses will have an affect on what I do for LURK 1.2

[don868]

[QUOTE=PotatoArmada;40308918]I'm kinda stuck in CoP with a mission. I'm supposed to rescue this Mitay guy by either giving bandits $15,000 (fuck that) or giving them an artifact. I decided to just kill the whole encampment but now Mitay won't follow me, he's just crouching indefinitely. Any way to get this dingus moving?

[editline]16th April 2013[/editline]

Also, I'm getting a shitload of stuttering in CoP whenever I'm outside.[/QUOTE]

I had that issue too. As it turns out, there's either a bandit hiding really fucking well, or you need to rerun the course (I don't mean revert, just run around every nook and cranny) and hopefully you'll hit the trigger to get him to haul ass out.

If all else fails, just go back to the station and wait for him to come home.

[SupaBastad]

[QUOTE=Teh Zip File;40308859]Wasn't there a mod that let you skip that though? I'd play SGM 2.2 more if I didn't have to go through Cordon and the Swamps...[/QUOTE]

Funnily enough I actually enjoyed the Svamps a lot. I don't know why but the difficulty curve seemed to totally switch up at that part for me and I progressed through it quicker than I did cordon.

[iRunner]

Apparently that part where I was stuck at (and I pulled through, legit) was the ending part of SoC

Now, I made a wish to the monolith

[sp]And the ending was shit, I mean come on

"I wish to be rich!" and then gets splatted by the falling building, gg best ending[/sp]

[SupaBastad]

[QUOTE=iRunner;40309167]Apparently that part where I was stuck at (and I pulled through, legit) was the ending part of SoC

Now, I made a wish to the monolith

[sp]And the ending was shit, I mean come on

"I wish to be rich!" and then gets splatted by the falling building, gg best ending[/sp][/QUOTE]

[sp]There are multiple "wish" endings as well as two "true" endings.[/sp]

[Zander]

Went through and recently beat all the games on vanilla, it was nice to see the positive development progression for the stalker games, shame that there will be stalker game off-shoots rather then the series continuing.
On a side note: the links for the preferred mods are broken.

[don868]

Do we need spoiler tags for SHOC? I think it's old enough to not be that big a deal. But like Spekter said, there are a lot of endings to this game. You got one of the bad endings.

[Amez]

[QUOTE=Daemonion;40309040]What do you guys think of hearing the player character breath occasionally, and having heavier breathing as endurance decreases?

Your responses will have an affect on what I do for LURK 1.2[/QUOTE]

As long as it's not loud enough to the point where I'd have trouble hearing the surrounding environment then it would provide a great deal of immersion. I'd say go for it!

[QUOTE=Teh Zip File;40308859]Wasn't there a mod that let you skip that though? I'd play SGM 2.2 more if I didn't have to go through Cordon and the Swamps...[/QUOTE]

No idea, I liked it because it was my first time playing SGM in general. Although looking back those levels were fairly irritating, especially going across the swamps only to have to head back ALL THE WAY to the southern Cordon outpost.

[Pops]

[QUOTE=iRunner;40309167]Apparently that part where I was stuck at (and I pulled through, legit) was the ending part of SoC

Now, I made a wish to the monolith

[sp]And the ending was shit, I mean come on

"I wish to be rich!" and then gets splatted by the falling building, gg best ending[/sp][/QUOTE]

[sp]that wasn't the true ending, huehuehue, you were tricked[/sp]

[BloodShot12]

I really liked how [sp]the true SoC ending was so easy to miss, and the monolith endings were fitting of how you had perceived the thing since you first heard about it. If you never look it up or get an alt ending you would essentially think it was something supernatural, just like the character you played would have believed [/sp]

[jill920]

[QUOTE=iRunner;40309167]Apparently that part where I was stuck at (and I pulled through, legit) was the ending part of SoC

Now, I made a wish to the monolith

[sp]And the ending was shit, I mean come on

"I wish to be rich!" and then gets splatted by the falling building, gg best ending[/sp][/QUOTE]

Poor soul.. You got [B]one of the many[/B] false endings.

[iRunner]

Is there some way to get out of the monolith area? I found a exoskeleton and backtracked to the stairs I used to get down to where I was, but apparently they're broken

[Cutthecrap]

Now that I think about it, STALKER 2 could have been the best "Apocalypse Now/Heart Of Darkness" game atmosphere ever.

Think about it: Fucked up radioactive zone with a shitload of crazies looking for money, totally hostile enviroment and dangerous mutants.

Couldnt get it any better.

Oh man, wish STALKER 2 sees the light some day.

[QUOTE]What do you guys think of hearing the player character breath occasionally, and having heavier breathing as endurance decreases?

Your responses will have an affect on what I do for LURK 1.2[/QUOTE]
If it runs without wasting stamina, it should be the same noise.
If it runs AND depletes stamina, then it should sound like someone agitated and slowly go back to normal.

[Amez]

[QUOTE=iRunner;40309804]Is there some way to get out of the monolith area? I found a exoskeleton and backtracked to the stairs I used to get down to where I was, but apparently they're broken[/QUOTE]

You gotta be more specific when you say something like monolith area.

[iRunner]

[QUOTE=Amez;40310089]You gotta be more specific when you say something like monolith area.[/QUOTE]

By monolith area, I mean the part after avoiding the blowout, you go through a ladder and appear at the bottom of some stairs in spiral, and they're broken, so you can't go back using them.

[Psykiris]

Question for anyone mod savvy. Got SGM 2.2, ironsights fugged. Downloaded Gum's ironsights fix, and now Stalker won't start, I know it's because of those files, because replacing them with the originals it starts again.

Any other sight fixes?

[jill920]

Play 2.1.

[Psykiris]

I really don't want to download 2.1, It took me long enough because I have to use my phone..

[Warriorx4]

Hey guys-

[IMG]http://i.cubeupload.com/w3KhNr.jpg[/IMG]

What are you all looking at-

[IMG]http://i.cubeupload.com/dACOi6.jpg[/IMG]

I didn't get screenshots, but they were looking at two military guys wandering north of the rookie camp, I went over and killed them since they were clearly upset by it. As I was looting the corpses I got blown up by a random grenade which I'm PRETTY sure came from the rookie camp. C'est la vie.

Using the compilation mod [url=http://www.moddb.com/mods/legendary]L.E.G.E.N.D.A.R.Y.[/url] for lack of the proper space for STALKERSOUP. Content wise I'm not impressed so far but whatever I'll see where it goes.

[Psykiris]

Managed to find a working ironsight fix for 2.2.. "Alright, let's just pl-HOLY HELL THIS AK-74 IS AMAZING."