The Trail Guide: How to survive your first few days
The Trail is a curious little game, with bits of Firewatch, The Oregon Trail, and freemium mechanics blended together to create a surprisingly addictive concoction. It sort of defies definition, which can make it difficult to parse what exactly you're supposed to do, or if you're doing things right at all. It's a neat idea, though, and there are a lot of fun things to do with crafting and character progression in The Trail. We have a few beginner tips to help you settle into the explorer's way of life.
Keep your clothing in good repair
You need good hiking clothing to improve your stamina, speed, and other attributes. Your clothing will degrade over time, though, so it's important to maintain them every other camp or so. It's a matter of simply selecting the item in the crafting window to create a new and improved version of your trusty bandana or mocassins.
Be smart about trading
Trading is a useful way to make money or gather supplies, but use some discretion. Trading is a mini-game, with the person bringing in the most profit earning a prize. This is rarely worth it, though. Instead, be on the lookout for items you need for a quest or a recipe, and only sell extra items you don't need at the moment to clear up some pack space.
Be on the lookout for new ways to get items
When you're out and about, it's easy to get distracted by all of the goodies floating around waiting for you to grab them. Constant vigilance is the key here, however. Make sure you're also looking out for racoon tails. When you pull on them, you'll often be rewarded with items you need for your next quest. You'll also run into a wacky lady wearing a billboard. She wants you to watch an ad, and you'd be wise to do so -- she also grants you pretty nifty items in return. Pay close attention and you'll notice her sign displays your potential reward.
The Trail rewards intrepid explorers who find a way to survive. That won't be a problem for you as long as you follow these tips, though. We're confident you'll arrive in Eden Falls a seasoned adventurer.
Be sure to share your own tips in the comments below!