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Ah, thanks for letting me know. I'll take a look at the advanced options, and perhaps the advanced config options, too. Cheers!

Is there a way to scroll through the map locations of items I search for using the keyboard?

Perhaps this is an option in keyboard mode, but I play almost exclusively mouse+keyboard. I'll hit Space, then F, to open the search menu. I'll type in the item name, and I often (subconsciously) click the down key to start scrolling through the item list, but that has no effect

This might be a handy addition. We type in the item, then we can scroll through the list via keyboard; perhaps we're taken to the location of each item on the map as we scroll. Or perhaps we scroll to an item we're interested in, then hit a key to bounce to its location.

If this is already an option and I've missed it, my apologies!

I play without music 95% of the time.

However, when I'm in the mood for it, I find this to be a good fit (if you approach the game as industrial horror, or something like that):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo5bU7Nq0Wg

I haven't used the alternate centerpoint feature myself. I very frequently use ALT+direction to scan the map, then Enter to re-center myself.

It does help knowing that Cogmind's always at the centre; still, I sometimes find it a bit challenging when all the tiles are filled with items. But, to be honest, such situations are rare -- for me, it happens almost exclusively during the cave infestation -- and I can mitigate the effect by playing slower (which I should probably do anyway )

This is trivial, but there's been a few situations where the ground is littered with items, making Cogmind a little difficult to see (see screenshot). Would it make sense, in these scenarios, to make Cogmind stand out a little bit more -- some sort of highlighting mechanism?

This doesn't happen a lot, and it's a very minor thing, but it may be a slight QOL addition. And if this already exists, my apologies!

Thank you!

And yes, that's the plan. Looking at trying something a little more aggressive -- a gunslinger with treads build. 

Thank you! 

Honestly, I really like the focus on items -- which items you choose determines how you play, and you can switch that up mid-game. Allows for flexibility and interesting, varied comebacks.

Really looking forward to the new items in the upcoming beta(s)!

I finally got my first win in Cogmind!

After playing around with some different builds, I went back to FarCom Flight. It was by no means well-tuned, but I got a decent flight set (arrays, with their increased integrity, worked very well) and a good thermal/melee weapon combo for digging and some light combat.

Items I enjoyed using: the Enhanced Optical Array is one of my favourites; the 0b10 decode chips (Looter and Scout) proved very helpful; and the Transmission Jammer can prevent a lot of headaches.

Just a tremendously fun game. I still have a ton to learn, and my builds could be better optimized, but what a blast. Look forward to trying some different win paths and builds!

Thank you, both, for the comments. I'd admittedly forgotten about the FC warning, and I didn't realize the consequences were so dire. Even so, I'd put myself in a position where I had to go to the branch or be destroyed—which happened shortly after. Lesson learned!

Thanks, lyrabold, for the tip about the drone bays. Sounds like fun!

For the most part, I've been aligning with FarCom for the beginner-friendly sensors. But having played for a bit now, I'll try experimenting a little more.

Really appreciate the tips and feedback!

I've heard how much fun the branches are. I haven't explored them much, so I decided to with a leg + melee build.

Came across

Spoiler

Warlord for the first time and stuck around a little too long; ran through the front entrance with 10+ hostiles firing at me, and made it to the stairs.

[close]

Then, on -3, I was discovered and had to shed everything and make a break for it. Got a little lucky and found the stairs to Quarantine with, um, a pretty light load-out (see screenshot). At that point, security was so high that several patrols landed on my position, and that was that!

A few notes:
- Drones are amazing. The Splicer Drone Bay, in particular, is helpful and super fun.
- Used traps extensively for the first time. Very deadly, very satisfying.
- Melee is enjoyable -- especially when you knock out two enemies with a single volley.

What a blast! Look forward to exploring and learning more.

This game is well worth the full price. I'm a relatively new player, with only about 50 hours clocked, but already it's one of my all-time favorite games. A labor of love, and a joy to play. Never have I had so much fun dying in a game. .

Thanks for all your work on this, Kyzrati. I very much look forward to what comes next!

Thank you for the additional advice! I really appreciate it.

Look forward to (hopefully soon) posting about my first successful run.

Amazing -- thank you again for the detailed, helpful response!

I'll aim for more offensive hackware. So far, I've been using mostly defensive hackware, but I can see it's making me vulnerable to attack. And noted about the weapons. I was shying away from launchers, because I know they can spike alert levels, but I suppose I can reduce that at terminals. (Plus, such engagements shouldn't be happening much, anyway.) I'll keep a cannon on hand, too.

I've been dedicating slots to swappable hackware -- for example, if exterminators are called in and I can't recall them, I'll swap in utility shielding; when I'm roaming, I'll slot in a trap scanner.

I'll take another peek at the manual, too, and fill in some knowledge gaps.

Again, I really appreciate you sharing this with me! Thanks kindly.

I've actually gotten to Research twice since you last posted, and you're right -- it's definitely more challenging.

One thing in partcular I have trouble with are Extermination Squads. When I get the alert, I try to recall them when near a terminal, but this isn't always possible. Their EM weapons quickly fry utilities, which isn't ideal but not the end of the world; but my flight propulsion units also go pretty quickly, and that becomes a more serious problem. Any advice for handling the late game, and these squads in particular?

I carry around a melee / digging tool. I employ different utilities -- trap scanners, visual processors, terrain scanners / processors, structural scanners, transmission jammers, and lots of hacking suites and system shields. I try to hack terminals (botnets, tracking, assimilation, alert purging). For Extermination Squads, I carry powerful kinetic weapons, like Gauss Rifles and Cannons, and corruption-reducing components. I try to scan my hacking suites and flight propulsion units and fabricate them, but perhaps not often enough. I do a pretty good job of avoiding main corridors and generally remaining undetected.

If you have even a few words of advice, that would be great! Thanks kindly for all your help.

lyrabold, following your advice, I was able to get to -2 -- the furthest I've gotten. So, slowly but surely, I'm getting a little better. Thanks again for your help!

lyrabold, thanks so much for the detailed response. I appreciate this.

Noted about the engines, hackware, and thrusters. In my builds, I've been focusing a lot on digging, and it's highly effective -- a great strategic tool.

I unfortunately lost on the run I referenced, but I'll be starting a new one with all your advice in mind. Thank you again for sharing this!

I'm working on my first win, and I've decided to go for the easy one -- a FarCom Flight-Hacker build. I'm currently on -6, and I'd like some advice on how to proceed.

Right now, I've been using wheels and large storage for parts-collection. I'm grabbing micro-power units and Improved VTOL Modules, which I've also scanned. I'm currently running with 1 Power, 5 Propulsion, 7 Utility, and 2 Weapon. I know I want to focus on propulsion and utility for this build, but at what point would it make sense to add a second Power slot? Is there any other Utilities I should be prioritizing? (I need a Hacker Suite, for example.) Any advice would be wonderful.

I've also attached my current stats, if that helps.

Thanks very kindly!

you'll have to read the rules FAQ when you get a chance to enter the code for access

Done!

Dataminer is very cool, too, with links to graphs of a lot of the scoresheet data etc, and comparisons to community stats as well.

Just checked this out. Wow -- I'll definitely use this. Thank you for sharing!

Next step: go for a full-on FarCom Flight-Hacker build and get a first victory! 

No worries at all about timely responses. I know you must have lots going on with development, responding to others, and so on, not to mention the time difference. I'm just grateful for the responses, so thank you for taking the time! I've also joined the Discord.

Re: matter collection by luring Recyclers -- this is a great idea! I'll definitely use this in the future.

Managed to get to -4 Armory today. Switched from wheels (to carry a Huge Storage Unit) and treads (recoil reduction) to hover at -7. The speed makes a massive difference, but managing the heat, energy, and relative delicacy of flight/hover becomes its own interesting challenge. And there's definitely more to learn about hacking, schematics, and item-building (for the flight-hacker build, for example).

Those scoresheets are a thing of beauty, btw. Very helpful.

I ended up dying several minutes later because I wasn't tracking my matter close enough and was overrun by Sages and Soldiers -- a good learning experience. 

Thank you, Kyzrati, for the detailed response -- very kind!

I took your advice: I used my rocket launcher to blow a path through the cave. The Behemoth noticed this and started moving towards me. Luckily, I was able to back off and, using my scanners, I was able to track his movement towards me. I led him to a circular structure of the cave, waited for him to follow me in one direction, then I rushed around the other side and passed where he was initially guarding. Only lost one leg.

Thank you, again, for your detailed help and input!

I'm now at L5. If you don't mind, and if it doesn't take too much time, I'd love some advice on how to proceed. Right now, I'm on legs, but I'm not particularly fast. I'm leaning heavily into propulsion and utilities (infowar), and I'm considering a transition to a smaller storage unit and flight build. (I've attached my current-game dump stats.) I'm currently at a fabricator with some nice schematics from the Data Miner, plus one for Biomechanics wings. I suspect I may be in a decent position to fabricate some additional flight units and go for that.... But I'd love some feedback.

Hello all!

I'm a recent player of Cogmind. (Thanks, Kyzrati, for a fantastic game!)

I'm in an interesting predicament in the Lower Caves, just off Level 7. Check out the included screenshot. There's only one path forward, but unluckily for me, it's guarded by a Beast. I've looked around for other paths, even dug to see if I might tunnel to a side path, but no such luck.

I'd love to hear some advice for getting by the Beast. I have a couple ideas:

• I could remove my delicate bits, throw on the Reactive Plating and Hard Heavy Armour Plating, grit my teeth, and rush past him.
• Another option is to shoot him, attract his attention, and hope he busts through and chases me, which may allow me retreat, circle around, and rush past him (See the other screenshot highlighting the east part of the map.)

Any other suggestions? Thanks kindly!