Overview
A guide that lists ideas for challenge runs, because Hard Mode is a joke. (Sorry Asymmetric, I love your game but it’s true)
Introduction
West of Loathing is a fun game. But after a few playthroughs, it becomes ridiculously easy – even with the so-called “Hard Hat”. This guide is going to help you find ways to challenge yourself once you learn the game by heart.
I’d like to point out that any challenge can be completed if you play long enough with that run, even if you don’t actually try. For it to be a real challenge, consider setting yourself a time limit, like on in-game day, or three (ideal for multiple quests). Going alone, and with a horse other than the dark, can also help make the game harder.
Another boundary you can set for yourself is a max number of wanderings you do in a region, so as not to farm items repeatedly (e.g. dynamite, smelling salts, army field trauma kits).
The “Really Hard” Way
I felt like I must start with this one. Even though this is still incredibly easy, and the game itself offers this challenge using the achievement, it’s a good place to start the list.
The Really Hard Way is a playthrough using the Hard Hat and completing it within one in-game day. To be fair, all you really need is to find good consumables (fudge, for example), level up your Grit for Pain Tolerance 4 (just in case), and level up your Intimidatin’/Outfoxin’/Hornswogglin’ and watch as everything kneels before your high stats/convincing skills.
No Gear Run
A No Gear Run is a tricky run. You must empower yourself through XP and Perks – and there’s a limit where that can take you. To make sure you don’t accidentally equip an item, you might want to use placeholders – the Old Wedding Ring is easy to acquire early on, for example, and so is the Spider Ring, for extra challenge. The Hard Hat is an obvious placeholder for the hats, as it is acquired at the beginning of the game, it cannot be removed, and has no effect other than make the game harder, which is what we’re looking for in the first place. For a placeholder pistol, I’d suggest the Worst Gun, however, notice that being unequipped with a gun entirely will allow you to disable gun skills (Snake Oiler abilities, bullets, etc.), so you might want to try that. After all, extra challenge is what you’re here for, no?
No XP Run
A “No XP” run means a run where you disable autospending XP but never actually level up a single thing yourself, only hoarding up all the “useless” XP. All skills are at base level, and so are all combat skills. Any empowerment must be done through items and perks.
More Challenge Runs
These are only a few of the many, many challenges possible! Any form of self-restriction is a good idea for a challenge. I’d appreciate it if you help me expand this list, by offering other ideas, to help the community have fun. Thanks for reading, and please, share this guide. 🙂