Posted April 21, 2013

I see that there still isn't a thread about general strategy, and I'm hoping to get some insight.
Tried the game on Beginner, got about 10 floors in before getting a bit bored, though I might return later. I'm usually low on food, mostly because I get lost easily and backtrack a ton. I wish I had used the knife more on earlier floors, because bullets are starting to become an issue, though I often find a pack of 30-60 of them right when I'm almost out.
When is it a good idea to go down a floor, and when is it better to scavenge around more first? This seems to be a pretty basic issue that I don't have a good grip on. My really inefficient exploring with multiple backtracks is killing my food supply though. :(
What changes when you go up difficulty levels?
Keep in mind that most enemies can't open doors. This includes those annoying, equipment-damaging Proteans. If you can, lead them to a room that you have previously explored and lock them in there. It will save you precious ammo and food since you won't waste time killing them.
Here's how I deal with the food issue: I first start by eating any food pellets since they aren't an ingredient, then I work on the Sol Force rations to extend my food bar , again because Sol Force rations aren't an ingredient. By this time, I should have access to a cooker and be able to make a Sotswich (Sotswich = Cooked meat + Tarka Warbread) or a Blandwich (Blandwich = Moldy Bread + Raw Meat + Rotten cheese) which buys me some time.
I also use the knife on small enemies like rats or Zu'ul infant swarms or bats (except rabid ones because those can put a nasty disease on you). Bullets I save for everything else such as Stranglers, Waste Management bots (really hate those guys!!). The bullet type used depends on the enemy: if it's a light security bot a few shots from the autopistol takes care of it, if it's heavier then I use a heavier bullet like shotgun or eve laser weaponry.