The Frontier Comforts update toThe Long Darkadded a homely feel to the world that’s long been missing. A warm meal rather than charred flesh off the fire, cozy layers to snuggle into, and some very personal items left behind after the collapse.
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Some of these additions are free with the purpose of the Survival mode of the game, whereas some require the paid DLC pass. Most of the things added to Survival Mode can also be experienced in Story Mode though, so there are lots of ways to get experience the update.
7Cooking Mechanic
Cooking has a whole new level, with the basics of putting meat on something hot still around; you can also now access the Culinary tab to combine ingredients. There is even a skillet item necessary for some of the dishes, such as pies and bannocks. Cooking the more complex foodsrequires a high Cooking Skill, so you’ll need to work up to those through cooking meat, reading books, or preparing one of the six skill one recipes.
These special dishes are often more calorie dense and can leave you with afflictions, both good and bad. The most common are improved carry weight, decreased fatigue, increased condition, and getting a headache. The ingredients can be found in places that make sense, like kitchens and stores, or in potato sacks and vegetable drawers in cool dark places.
6Recipe Cards
Recipe Cards are how you keep track of the dishes you know how to cook. Anything more complex than Ground Acorns can be found in the Culinary tab, detailing the necessary ingredients, the time it takes to cook, and which cooking implements you’ll need. You’ll start each world knowing fifteen recipes but only be able to cook six of them due to being skill level one.
There are also nine unique recipes that are hidden all over Great Bear Island that give a small glimpse into the day-to-day lives of the previous residents. They count as collectibles and are certainly the most useful set in the game. These special recipes take a lot more ingredients but provide the best buffs, and most don’t require a high Cooking Skill.
5Fishing Mechanics
There is also an update to the fishing mechanics, which have long been pretty bland, having you sit over an ice hole in a fishing hut while the hours tick past. This is a free addition, not requiring the paid DLC. Firstly, you can now create ice holes for fishing yourself. These can be placed anywhere the water is deep enough, so don’t bother scouting along streams. You’ll need the same tools necessary for clearing regular ice holes, and if you want it to remain there, it’ll need regular maintenance, or it’ll freeze over.
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If sitting with a line on the ice during a blizzard isn’t to your fancy, you may craft a Tip Up to fish for you. It’s not as skilled as you might be and won’t improve with your Fishing Skill, but it’ll show a red flag and jingle when something is caught. If you place too many close to each other, they can deplete the fish population or even break, so be mindful.
Finally, there are lures and bait you can attach to your line or Tip Up to improve your chances of catching a whopper. Bait is harvested from fresh fish, and lures can be crafted at a Work Bench using all sorts of bits, such as Scrap Metal, Wires, Acorns, and Feathers.
4New Animals
It may take you a while to come across any of the five new animals in Great Bear, but they really are around, and four of them are available for free. When you start fishing, rarer species are ready to be caught, including Burbot and Goldeye in freshwater lakes and Red Irish Lord and Rockfish out on the frozen ocean. These are a great reason to try out the fishing mechanics and craft some fancy lures, as some fish are pretty picky.
The fifth animal is tied to the DLC and can only be found in remote places, away from common paths. Ptarmigans are small birds found in the coldest reaches of Canada. They easily meld into their surroundings and fly off as soon as they hear you approaching. You’ll need to be super stealthy and listen out for their clicking call. Try dropping some Rosehips to distract them longer on the ground.
3Crafting Items
Along with the lures and Tip Up items, there are a few other handy things to craft.To pin down rabbitsand ptarmigans, you can make some Fire-Hardened Arrows. These are much cheaper to make than standard Simple Arrows and don’t need a forge. Instead, some sticks, a knife, and some Crow Feathers will make a handful of slim arrows that then need to be dipped into flames.
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From the ptarmigans, you can harvest meat, and also Ptarmigan Down. These soft feathers are perfect for stuffing the Improvised Bedroll, for those runs where you can’t seem to find a regular bedroll. Another use for the down is the Improvised Insulation accessory. This soft, padded cloth strip is wrapped around your character’s torso for added warmth and fits snuggly into an accessory slot.
2Item Variants
A previous update includedvariants of the classic Hunting Rifle. Frontier Comforts expands on this concept with revolver variants. Three new(ish) Revolvers are hidden in each region, and their names give clues as to where you might discover them. The Warden’s Revolver is likely found inside the penitentiary at Blackrock, weighing a little less and being quick to aim. The Hunter’s Revolver is good long-range and might be around a Hunter’s Blind or the Hunting Lodge. The Forester’s Revolver will be out of the way at a Forestry Look Out, and is very durable.
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The Miner’s Flashlight is a much more battery-efficient torch, casting a strong, wide beam. It’ll probably be in one of the mines or nearby. Lastly, an incredibly lightweight Sport Bow can be found in the Forsaken Airfield. It takes up only 0.35kg and is great for catching out ptarmigans.
1Burdock And Acorn Plants
Acorns have now been fully implemented and can be dug up from dirty-looking snow around large oak trees. They need to be well prepared to be edible, but once they’ve been roasted on the fire, you’re able to munch on them as a snack, or with four handfuls and a heavy hammer, you can make some Acorn Coffee which only reduces fatigue for 30 minutes. These acorn grounds are also necessary for three Recipes. They won’t respawn once a patch has been dug.
Another plant in the free updateis Burdock Saplings. These also don’t respawn, so harvest responsibly. They look like small, brown shrubs and require a tool such as a hatchet or prybar to dig the roots up. When chopped up, the Burdock Root can be eaten raw or steeped in hot water for Burdock Tea. This item is an alternative to antibiotics or Reishi Tea.
