The journey home through the Siberian snowscape can be perilous, even with a mighty steam engine and the best and most loyal crew. Out in the Russian and Siberian wilderness, the Czechoslovak legion is vastly outnumbered and outgunned, and they’ll need to exercise all their wits and cool to make it through to the First Republic in one piece.
For playerswho are new to the genre, those who are having trouble gaining momentum, or just looking for the best way to maximize their chances on the Trans-Siberian railway, there are a few general pointers to keep in mind to help prevent the whole mission from getting derailed before even making it halfway across the white desolation.
6Taking On Machine Gun Nests Directly
Direct Fights With Gunner Nests Can Only End Badly And Should Be Avoided At All Costs
In video games, machine gunstend to be depicted as faster but lighter damage-dealing firearms. This is not true of real life or ofThe Last Train Home. Direct confrontation with machine guns in a machine gun nest is to be avoided at all costs. Charging this kind of weaponry is a death sentence for the squad at worst and a complete waste of ammunition (and time) at best.
The soldiers stationed in the nests can be taken down, but not from within their line of sight. A side path usually leads back to the turret blocked off by an obstacle, such as a broken bridge or a patrol. Armored machine gun vehicles are slightly more vulnerable and can be taken on with better chances, especially with a lucky grenade toss or two.
5Treating Every Enemy Encounter Like A Glorious Battle
Being that the Czechoslovak legion is surrounded on all sides by enemy forces that vastly outnumber them,stealth, not mindless bravado, is the winning tacticin most situations out in the field. Using tall grass and bushes to hide soldiers is much more effective than half or even full cover (which are generally bad at shielding the squad from enemy eyes) and should be exploited whenever possible. Additionally, hovering over an enemy will reveal their cone of view.
Moves the troops slowly and carefully in silent mode. Riflemen are the most effective for quick-dash assassinations when an enemy must be silenced quickly. Even if they’re spotted at close range, the riflemen inLast Train Homewill be able to charge their target and stick them in the neck, preventing a full-scale alert. Moving quietly and methodically also allows the squad to pick up vital supplies and consumables that will often go to waste if a more direct approach is taken. When some missions end, there’s no way to double back to collect the goodies.
Focus On Building A Small, Elite Group
While it is tempting to build up a large number of soldiers in case the worst happens, it’s advisable to focus on building a lean but elite team to tackle missions at the various points of interest found throughoutLast Train Home. Stick to training eight to ten of the best soldiers. Of the ten best, there should be an even allocation of outside roles: two riflemen, two grenadiers, two medics, two scouts, and two machine gunners.
This even distribution will come in handy later down the line when a mission’s best tactics call for splitting the group across the map. Keep in mind that experience is shared across the outside squad once a mission is complete, and attempt to balance the number of soldiers accordingly.Don’t pack too many soldiers into missions, but remember to send enough to actually get the job done.
3Moving The Train At Full Speed & Heating Every Car With Stoves
Keeping An Eye On The Cold Is Important, But Players Should Conserve Fuel To Sustain The Journey
As tantalizing as it is to push the “full speed ahead button” and use the locomotive’s “overdrive mode” to shorten the journey, be mindful that doing so burns through fuel at a needlessly wasteful pace, which can lead to heating problems and worse down the line. Speaking of heating, stoves (necessary to keep the infantry cars warm, preventing negative outcomes such as giving the troops negative traits) also use fuel every three hours.
Try to be conservative when placing stoves, and consult the temperature before doing so. The coldwon’t be at apocalyptically frosty levelsduring the opening chapters, so train insulation can also wait. There is an opportunity to upgrade the train engine’s boiler immediately after entering Chapter 2, which provides 20% more efficient fuel consumption from the locomotive’s engine. This costs 100 metal, but the upgrade very quickly pays for itself in terms of fuel saved. Additionally, the more efficient the inside worker, the more fuel they will conserve when feeding the engine.
2Sending Wave After Wave Of Riflemen Into Every Field Mission
Effectively Leveling Up The Legion Means Picking The Right Soldiers For The Job
Scouts inLast Train Homeare invaluable members of the legion in a few ways. Besides being able to use sniper rifles, they can most effectively remove the fog of war, which can help reduce the likelihood of some nasty surprises. Getting a good lay of the land allows the squad to set up a flanking maneuver (attacking the enemy from both sides) more efficiently, a powerful battle tactic in missions with 8+ legion soldiers in the field.
Scouts can also learn the ability to throw rocks as a distraction, which breaks patrol routes, allowing the rest of the squad to backstab any strays or sneak by unharmed. Another essential addition to the team early on is the medic. The early game will be full of little accidents as the squad slowly gains experience, and until they can pull off missions flawlessly later, thereshould always be a medic on hand to patch up their boo-boosand see them off to fight another day.
1Storming Through Points Of Interest & Choosing The Wrong Upgrades In Chapter 2
Methodical Looting During Missions & Careful Upgrade Management Is Key
In terms of resources, players should keep their eyes out for fuel and food before everything else. Food can be obtained easily enough through consistent stealth tactics. Fuel is only sometimes sold by merchants but is not guaranteed to be in their inventory. Claiming victory in battle at a point of interest usually results in a jackpot of fuel. As for wood, stopping and cutting down too many trees is inadvisable as the train will encounter plenty of clearable blockades that produce wood as a byproduct.
Although it may be tempting tobeautify the locomotive and make life more pleasant for its passengers, two major upgrades should be prioritized as early as possible, one of which can be picked up at Penza. The workshop will unlock some useful upgrades that the legion’s soldiers can use to improve their survival odds and overall make each excursion run more smoothly. The workshop (and upgrading in general) will get much harder the further down the line. The other upgrade is the hospital car, which will be a lifesaver (literally) after a particularly bad scrap or mishap.
