Ruined Warehouse was full of Immaculates

So I did find my backpack again (after some desperate running around) - it was next to the train in the Destroyed Test Chambers. I didn't really think of checking there. I just randomly saw it, somehow, IN THE BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT.

Anyway, I've cleared a few more places.

Said Chambers, the Compromised Mana Transfer Station (damn all that corruption), the Ruined Warehouse and the Abandoned Living Quarters, in addition to scouring places I'd already cleared for loot.

I'm glad I found the Abandoned Living Quarters so I don't have to worry too much about all the enemies respawning in other areas, since ALQ only has troglos and bandits and it's easy peasy to board the train and go wherever (if a bit slow).

Now I have to tackle the Crumbling Loading Docks and I'm scared, because I know what's coming (spoiled myself).

I'm not sure I really appreciate the fact that the devs decided to add bosses? The combat in Outward isn't great. My fight against MK-7 was pretty much: standing next to the base of the golem, strafing a bit, guarding and then hitting after (most of) the golem's attack missed me, after - of course - using a variety of potions. Took me three attempts only because on second attempt I failed to take the stamina regen potion. Sure, I could have spent a while trying to learn the boss's attack patterns and dumped my backpack to properly dodge, but idk, I feel really no incentive to do so. The main thing that made me play Outward was the exploration, not the combat.

I did get better at melee fighting after my first playthrough, and after reading more of the lore I'm not as scared of certain enemies as I once was. Particularly, Immaculates.

ME last year:
- *shitshitshit an Immaculate, scary music, omg no*
- WHY AM I EVEN HERE

ME now:
- mmmh, an Immaculate, look how sexy cool this guy is, how nicely he grunts while he's trying to murder me
- HURT ME MORE

Seriously I even tried looking for fic on AO3 - and I have an AO3 phobia atm - but there doesn't exist any Outward fic at all.

F to all my dreams of dub(or even non)con Immaculate fic.

I also spoiled myself a bit on the lore, i.e. why do I have to stop the Forge Master and who he is. Honestly, if I could I'd fight for the guy! Why isn't the option there? Though I guess you could fail the quest. There's a big hint on the Forge Master's identity on the map, it's a nice touch.

Speaking of the map, I kinda like the fact that the places as marked on the map don't match with what the place actually is - i.e. Ancient Bunker being the Abandoned Living Quarters, or the Hyppodrome being just a gateway to the Ancient Foundry. It gives a nice sense of discovery. On the other hand, I don't like how little of the map you can explore. You're pretty much 'channeled' by all the high slopes. It's easier to find your way, but it doesn't really feel like you're actually exploring, more like you're just going from A to B (so the mismatch between name on the map - place is even more important). I guess it does fit thematically - Harmattan housing so many runic train lines (I do like the steampunk-y vibe of the place).

I did some easy-going exploration too yesterday & today, and I think I've found pretty much every single place it is possible to find in the Antique Plateau, and I have just a couple left to visit. I wonder now, if you move to Harmattan, what is the main quest and where would it take place?

I need to replay this game so many times to do all possible quests in all possible ways!

#1 disappointment with the game: getting stuck. I have already gotten stuck twice since entering the Antique Plateau and both times I was just trying to look down into a river from a slope. I guess I hit some sort of invisible wall but what the heck? I had to say goodbye to 1 hour 1/2 of gameplay today = 2 days in-game because of that.