In the Prologue of The Alters, players are introduced to the concept of rapidium and its potential. Following this initiation, Jan and his technician alter embark on a frenetic journey to reach their extraction point, where challenges are imminent. The threat of the scorching sun hangs overhead like a ticking clock, leaving little room for hesitation.
Despite helpful tutorials designed to familiarize players with various gameplay mechanics, the omnipresent sense of urgency amplifies the game’s tension. Remaining composed can make this segment manageable. The following guide serves two purposes: as an educational resource for future obstacles or as a live-action handbook to assist you during gameplay. Remember to pause the game while reading to conserve essential in-game time.
Journey 1
As players delve into Act 1, they first encounter an interlude known as Journey 1. Here, Jan and his alter are maneuvering their base towards safety. However, “buddy” is a stretch when describing the relationship between Jan and his Technician, who feels resentful about being brought to life against his will. Winning him over becomes a key objective.
Common Ground – Part 1
Your first order of business involves checking the “Alters”tab in the menu, which reveals your Technician is feeling anxious and rebellious—discontent that is quite understandable. Conversations initiated here are unlikely to yield positive results, and to complicate matters further, your communication room is offline.
Radio Silence
This scenario leads to the objective titled “Radio Silence.”To resolve the communication issue, you need to craft a repair kit in the Workshop—requiring only 10 organics, which you likely possess. Then, repair the Comms Room by interacting with the suitcase on the floor.
Once communications are restored, Lucas will suggest using the Quantum Computer to tap into the Technician’s memories—an essential step towards establishing a rapport with him.
Common Ground – Part 2
You must delve into the Technician’s memories via the Quantum Computer, as understanding his perspective is crucial for progress. Upon gaining insight, find him in the base and engage in a conversation about… pierogies. Together, you’ll decide to recreate Jan’s mother’s recipe, which requires only two raw foods—ingredients that should be readily available.
Interact with the kitchen table to trigger a cutscene where both characters share a less-than-stellar meal but bond over it nonetheless. Following this, you’ll have an opportunity to check in with the Technician. Utilize the following dialogue choices to improve his disposition:
- “How do you feel?”
- “They weren’t that bad.”
- “Are you showing feelings?”
- “We need to handle this our way.”
- “Leave the politics to me.”
- “We’ll improvise.”
- “Versions of us, you mean.”
- “I can’t wait to do it again.”
Completing this dialogue chain will earn you the Technician’s permission to create new alters—an essential mechanic as you progress through Act 1.
Before heading forward, return to the Comms Room to receive a call from your ex-wife, Lena. This call will launch a new cutscene that halts your progress.
Act 1 – Main Objectives
Your mission becomes more complex as you now face a lava river blocking the path to extraction. The base cannot advance until you find a way to safely navigate to the other side.
Fortunately, you are on Day 5 of your expedition, and while the sun is approaching, it’s not an immediate threat yet.
Prior to any actions, consult the Technician. He will inform you of new items available in the Workshop, critical for your next steps.
Find A Way Out
The first task involves “finding a route for the base.”Venture outside and head south. Be observant of any mining locations during your trek. In the provided map, you will find various resource deposits useful for your needs.
Your immediate objective lies at the location marked with two downward arrows and a rock icon just past the enriched metals. While you can head there now, setting up mining operations could provide necessary resources for your endeavors.
Utilize the new Scan Wave feature through your scanner probes to identify mining spots and establish your first outpost, prioritizing metal collection. Once metal deposits are in place, proceed to secure organic resources too, while skipping enriched metals for now due to their complexity.
Connect your mining outposts back to the base using the pylons from the Prologue. Now, it’s time to head to the relevant quest area. You will encounter fallen rocks obstructing your way, and crafting a drill in the Workshop becomes essential to clear the path.
Nearby, there’s a rapidium deposit available for farming. To create the drill, gather 50 metals and 20 organics, and consider creating additional alters to delegate tasks more effectively.
After returning inside, answer a call from Lucas, who will inform you that you can now create additional alters using the Quantum Computer.
Prioritize cloning the Miner and Scientist alters, as both will significantly enhance your resource collection capabilities. I found the Miner particularly useful, as he gathers resources at a quicker pace, an advantage you’ll gratefully rely on moving forward.
Be cautious; the Miner has a tendency toward self-destructive behaviors. Ensure you foster a positive working relationship with him by choosing encouraging dialogue. Address his addictions, or risk severe consequences.
Upon acquiring the Scientist, promptly build the Research Lab. He is crucial for advancing research, which will soon be fundamental to your team’s survival.
The Scientist possesses a notable ego; reinforce his self-worth through your conversations to ensure he remains cooperative.
At this stage, it is prudent to maintain mining outposts for both metal and organic resources to streamline your crafting needs. Assign the Miner primarily to metal tasks, as his efficiency will prove invaluable.
Once you’ve collected enough resources for the drill, craft it in the Workshop, and head back to the obstructing rocks.Deploy the drill in front of the rocks to proceed.
Beyond the newly cleared route, you can establish another outpost for rapidium collection, found on the upper level after accessing a ledge.
To assess the lava river’s severity, head east from the rapidium deposit until you reach a cliff with a cutscene revealing the river’s full extent. Afterward, return to inform the Technician about the formidable obstacle in your way.
The Lava River
It’s imperative that you create both the Scientist and the Research Lab immediately if you haven’t done so. Next, navigate to the Research menu and select “Crossing The Lava River”for the Scientist to study, which will take roughly ten hours.
Remember to explicitly assign the Scientist to the Research Lab; he won’t embark on the task autonomously.
After completing the research, converse with the Scientist, who will recommend building a bridge over the lava, contingent on acquiring the appropriate blueprints.
Connecting with Lucas during the next call may yield the necessary documents.
The Rapidium Ark
Unexpectedly, Maxwell, the boss of Lucas, reaches out next in the Comms Room. He swiftly redirects your focus on constructing an ark for transporting rapidium to Earth, overriding your previous bridge discussion.
This ark becomes your new priority, with the promise of blueprints in exchange for completion of the rapidium ark.
The creation of the rapidium ark demands 30 metals, 120 rapidium, and 100 organics. Deploy your Miner to secure resources from your outpost, task the Technician with organics, and gather metals yourself if necessary.
After collecting the materials, proceed to the Command Station to allocate space for the ark’s construction. Once constructed, return to the Comms Room to inform Maxwell that the task is complete.
The Path Ahead
Maxwell expresses gratitude for your efforts, but unfortunately, he lacks useful bridge blueprints. Instead, he provides rudimentary schematics for bridge anchors as a consolation.
Deliver these plans to the Scientist, who will critique them harshly. He will need to conduct his own research on the bridge anchors, available now in your Research Lab under the “Missions”tab. Assign him to this task immediately, which will also take about ten hours.
This is an excellent time to explore the remaining map while your team carries on with their research and mining duties. Ensure you have crafted the climbing hook and several drill bits to manage any unforeseen obstacles.
Be vigilant for mineral deposits during this exploration phase, particularly on the eastern side of the map, where a mineral-rich area awaits. While navigating, you may encounter anomalies—handled properly, they won’t pose a serious threat to your character.
Utilize your Scan Wave tool to locate the source of the mineral deposits, establish another mining outpost, and create a pylon path back to the base. A narrow northern path leads to your organic outpost, allowing you to connect resources efficiently.
During this trek north, pick up cargo drops and one particular item, the Damaged Chip. Repair this with the Technician to gain a Qubit Chip, which enables the cloning of an additional alter and unlocks valuable research topics, one of which is base expansion—a critical subject you’ll want to prioritize.
Direct your favorite alter to mine minerals, as you may start this game lacking sufficient resources, particularly with the challenges ahead.
Your Scientist should soon conclude his research. Once completed, check in with him for the bridge anchor plans, which require crafting four units, totaling 80 metals and 80 polymers.
Polymers are a new resource to acquire solely through the Refinery module, as they do not naturally occur on the planet’s surface. If you haven’t built a Refinery yet, do so now—it will take 80 polymers to craft, costing a total of 160 metals and minerals.
As you approach Day 16 in your expedition, the proximity of the sun will accelerate the survival timer. Radiation warnings will commence an hour earlier and increase radiation build-up rates. The bright side? Resource deposits you’ve previously discovered may have replenished, so take advantage of this boon and farm your environment.
After crafting the necessary 80 polymers and subsequently the four bridge anchors, the moment has finally arrived to build your bridge. There are two spots for anchors located right next to the base, directly east. Select the anchors from your inventory and place them down.
The other two anchors are situated across the river. Use fast travel to get to your mineral mining outpost, then take the fork to the right where you collected the Qubit Chip. Navigate through anomalies to locate your remaining anchor points.
Place the final two anchors, and the bridge will manifest, granting you the ability to traverse it and easily return to the base.
Now, investigate the anomalies in the area, notably one behind you.
Strange Phenomena
Upon venturing towards the specified area on the map, you will begin encountering anomalies—disturbing patches of air that accumulate radiation if you venture into them. Finding these anomalies triggers the “Strange Phenomena” objective.
To progress, consult an alter for deeper insights on findings of the anomalies, and your best bet is the Scientist. His initial task is to identify more anomalies, which will enhance your understanding.
After completing the necessary requirements for “The Path Ahead”and discovering a glowing, green anomaly across your newly built bridge, return to the Scientist. He will formulate a plan for a tool to analyze these anomalies but must first complete research on the “Internal Analysis Tool, ”which will consume four hours.
Once his research concludes, converse with him to receive the plans for the Luminator. Craft this tool using 20 metal and 20 rapidium, making it invaluable for navigating these anomalies. It consumes suit charge points each time it’s used but is effective for clearing obstacles positioned in your way.
Utilize the Luminator on the glowing green anomaly found across the bridge. It will unveil a hidden trail of invisible plants leading to a core. Follow this trail and upon arriving at the core, shine the Luminator to transmute it into a planetary sample, which you can then return to the Scientist.
These collected planetary samples unlock further research topics—each one consumed for a subject, so choose carefully.
Having gathered all necessary samples, additional internal veins may become visible, allowing for more exploration and collection of cores as required.
Moving On
With all main objectives completed, you can now proceed to Act 2, provided you have the requisite organics to power the base’s movement. The number of modules built directly correlates with the needed organics to mobilize.
You may find yourself needing to gather organics, reorganize storage spaces, or even delete modules to streamline resource management for a smooth transition.
Don’t forget to collect all your outposts and pylons before launching into the unknown.
Surely, the challenges ahead can’t escalate any further… right?
Act 1 – Additional Objectives
While these are side quests that aren’t necessarily required to advance to Act 2, they can greatly impact your overall survival. One side mission, “A Mysterious Device, ”is particularly essential not to overlook.
A Place To Sleep
The Technician will soon express his desire for a proper sleeping arrangement, having grown weary of the floor. Respond positively and prioritize the construction of a Dormitory module. Failure to do so will diminish his mood and subsequently affect other alters as well.
This module is inexpensive at only 40 metals and comes with beds for four alters—sufficient for your needs throughout Act 1.
A Place To Rest
As Act 1 progresses, the Technician will request the construction of a Social Room, which, while seemingly superficial, is vital for maintaining morale.
Commit to building this space as soon as you gather the necessary 40 metals and 30 minerals.
The Social Room offers movie nights for the crew and serves as a great morale booster. Additionally, engage in beer pong with your Technician—a surefire method for lifting spirits!
Complete this side quest by playing at least one round of beer pong with the Technician once the Social Room is available.
This experience will also teach Jan the important life lesson of Assertiveness, reinforcing your character’s growth.
Is One Enough?
Lucas and Maxwell’s demands are relentless. After constructing the first rapidium ark, they may insist on a second. The costs mirror the first, and it will consume as much cargo space.
Although maintaining their favor is advised, be cautious about space constraints in your base as you consider fulfilling their request.
There’s A Pattern
Another routine request for a third rapidium ark will inevitably arise. If you have the resources and space to accommodate this request, oblige them—but postponing can be an option if it interferes with your goals.
The Good Husband
Lucas may suggest finding an alter still on amicable terms with Jan’s ex-wife, Lena, to ease her inquiries about Jan. The Botanist is the alter you’re seeking, so planning for his creation becomes vital.
A Mysterious Device
This objective involves discovering, repairing, and utilizing the Qubit Chip mentioned earlier. It’s crucial that you don’t progress to Act 2 until this is completed.
Retrieve the Damaged Chip from the aforementioned cargo drop, consult the Technician for repairs, and subsequently engage the Quantum Computer. Securing the Qubit Chip is instrumental in augmenting your team.
Productivity Boost
During the initial stages of Act 1, expect the Scientist to bring up the concept of crunch hours. Agreed, this option allows all alters to work 12-hour days in exchange for increased resource production. Despite the possibility of backlash, the enhancement can be more than worthwhile.
Maintaining a two-day crunch period will conclude this additional objective.
Afterward, speak with the Scientist to further your exploration and character progression.
Act 1 Tips
Here are several essential points to ensure efficient gameplay in Act 1:
- Monitor Your Radiation Filters: Constantly ensure at least one filter on hand; craft them at your Workshop to avoid extreme radiation exposure.
- Engage with Alters Regularly: With more alters, managing their moods becomes critical. Interact with alters when dialogue prompts appear, and offer gifts found in cargo drops to keep spirits high.
- Assist When Necessary: Take initiative if alters are occupied with tasks; stepping in to manage a mining outpost can help fulfil crucial resource requirements.
- Stay Aware of Storage Space: Anticipate resource accumulation this act, so establish extra Small Storage modules to handle material overflow. Research Medium Storage as you progress.
- Optimize Base Layout: Arrange created modules thoughtfully; keeping elevators aligned and storage organized enhances navigation.
- Prioritize Constant Research: Maintain ongoing research in the lab. The Recycler module can offer a steady flow of organics, making it a high-priority subject.
- Prepare for Magnetic Storms: Be ready for storms that damage your structure and deplete radiation filters rapidly. Keep repair kits handy and have alters ready to assist during repairs.
- Capitalize on Beer Pong: Winning in beer pong is a fun, effective way to uplift alter moods, especially if you allow them to win!
Cargo Locations
While traversing Act 1, be on the lookout for valuable cargo scattered throughout the map. This cargo may include items that enhance alter morale, movies, or vital resources such as the Qubit Chip.
The accompanying maps illustrate the locations of these valuable cargo drops along with their rewards.
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