July Digest #3

SurrounDead

Saw a comment in Jingles continuing playthrough of SurrounDead the other day. The commenter stated they had found the Barret rifle on the Oil Rig. So tonight I went there. First attempt was a failure though as I thought to drive around the headland and approach from the south (short swim). Unfortunately as I stepped out of the RV, it sort of sprung itself into the deep water. And I mean deep: I would use up all my oxygen just reaching it! Wish they would add dive tanks as a mod.

I tried a couple of attempts to reach the RV but it was beyond my reach. So I returned to the shore and returned to my start point near Richlands, the city opposite the oil rig, nearly drowning in the process. After milling about taking my frustration out on the local zombie population as well as a randomly spawned bandit group, I decided to forego recovering the RV.  Lost some laptops and a gun case with two machine guns, some food, fuel, and sleep out gear. Nothing that can't be replaced.

I decided then to swim the long way out to the oil rig from where I was at the beach near Richlands. And from my location, the oil rig appeared clear as the image above shows.

But looks can be deceiving. For the rig is shrouded in a heavy fog as soon as you enter the zone. And for a moment I could not find a way to get up as I approached it from the north until I spotted the ladder in the northwest corner of one of the platforms (near the half-sunken ship as shown in below's image).

Lucky for visibility I had my night vision goggles on (plus plenty of batteries). Contamination level was highest (level 3) so I wore my gas mask (with plenty of charcoal filters) as I climbed on to the rig. 

Once on board, I secured my position then moved to a suitable high vantage point (top of the crane) and slowly began taking out the zombies below and sighted. Did this as I moved from location to location and platform to platform (top of the container stack is another nice possie for spotting and shooting). Access in some parts was down between platforms in certain places so had to be careful moving from location to location. 

For example, you can connect to platform 2 from platform 1 by jumping down. But not in reverse apart from jumping back into the water and swimming back to the climb-up ladder.

Eventually took out the zombie bosses - there's the Scientist and one other (John). Unable to reach to loot the Scientist even though I kilt him because the access to him was gone or I failed to find it. I did loot the other zombie boss though. Initially thought they were one and the same but the Scientist is dressed in a white lab coat while Joe is not so I learned on my subsequent visit.

No Barret unfortunately. Mind you, I did not find the Special loot box associated with this location. Maybe it's in that crate?

Will have to return again for sure to search for that Special Container (as indicated above) properly. 

The images above show the location of the ladder to board the rig and where the other zombie Boss is situated (between those two building structures). Below shows the two main parts of the rig with the working drill and crane on the right and labs and control rooms on the left platform. A couple of helo pads exist as well.  

To the right of the rig is a partially submerged vessel whose bridge is just visible above the waterline. Radiation level at this spot is at its highest (level 3). I could not find a way on board but I only skirted around the vessel before moving on.

There is also another submerged ship to the right of that partially submerged vessel mentioned above. And somewhere in-between both submerged vessels is where the RV finally came to rest on the bottom after it flung itself to its watery grave. 

All around and within that area is a permanent shrouding fog - oil rig, sunken ships and headland - making visibility difficult. But from the shore, there is no visible sign of fog which is misleading. 

Yes, you can swim out to the rig. Just make sure your cursor is above your figure upon entering the water. It will look odd while you're swimming out there. And don't forget to use the compass to keep you on course. 

You will know if you're doing it right because for much of the way you will be viewing yourself from underneath doing the breaststroke. And your health energy bar will remain full, a sure sign you are actually swimming. As soon as you submerge though, the light blue oxygen bar will appear and begin depleting quickly. That will tell you you're underwater and potentially drowning. Lol. 

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Went back the next day to the oil rig. Swam out....

Once on board, I went searching for the Barret. But did not find the special crate where it might be. 

There is a locked room which needed a 4-digit PIN. Found it on a table note a couple of levels above on the same platform. Note: PIN number resets whenever you reload a saved game. Anyway, I finally went in and searched thoroughly but no success on finding either the Barret or the Special Container. Will return once more but there is no rush now that I know what to expect. 

Of course, each visit sees the zombie bosses respawn but as they're on the second platform and the climb-up ladder is at the first platform it gives you time to prepare.  

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