For the chronological mission OCD types, how many times do you think Arthur canonically goes into the Elysian Pool cave?

[LucidLocomotive]

And in what order?

 

My understanding is that there are multiple events that lead here. There is the dreamcatcher puzzle, which ends with us going there and reaching into the buffalo eye for the ancient arrowhead. Then there is the treasure hunt, which leads us here to get 4 gold bars. Then there is also the side mission involving the poisoning of butcher creek, which involves exploring this cave. 
 

Are there any more reasons to go besides these? And then also, can more than one of these be done at a time? Either way, which order of events makes the most sense? Does Arthur act like he’s never been there in the poison mission? How many times do you think he logically went there?

[Edward RDRIII]

Bro, I think you should open a single topic for all those questions of yours, you're kinda overcrowding this section of the Forums unnecessarily.

[LucidLocomotive]

2 hours ago, Edward RDRIII said:

Bro, I think you should open a single topic for all those questions of yours, you're kinda overcrowding this section of the Forums unnecessarily.

Ah yeah sorry about that. I’m more used to Reddit, where that kind of thing doesn’t really matter, than traditional forums. I haven’t gotten many responses to my questions. I don’t know where else to ask. I can see from the chronological missions thread, and other similar threads, that there are a lot of people on this site that would know the answers to most of my questions

[cp1dell]

On 4/4/2022 at 1:59 AM, Edward RDRIII said:

Bro, I think you should open a single topic for all those questions of yours, you're kinda overcrowding this section of the Forums unnecessarily.

 

On 4/4/2022 at 4:20 AM, LucidLocomotive said:

Ah yeah sorry about that. I’m more used to Reddit, where that kind of thing doesn’t really matter, than traditional forums. I haven’t gotten many responses to my questions. I don’t know where else to ask. I can see from the chronological missions thread, and other similar threads, that there are a lot of people on this site that would know the answers to most of my questions

Honestly, the chronological mission topic that is stickied is probably the best place. I remember some of the guys in there discussing where to place some of the stranger missions.

 

That aside, narrative-wise I wouldn’t pay too much attention to a lot of the side stuff like the dream catcher stuff, treasure hunts, etc. What’s next, a question about how many times Arthur canonically visits the “evil man” in the cave in West Elizabeth? Or the canon placement of random events? You need to realize a lot of this stuff is in the game for gameplay/exploration purposes.

 

Regardless that they have cutscenes, I would not even include the dinosaur bones, rock carvings, cigarette cards, or legendary fish in a “chronological run,” because from a narrative perspective they do not fit anywhere in the story. You can make arguments for some of the stranger missions like the gunslinger one, the slave catcher one, or even the Butcher’s Creek one because story-wise Arthur is forced to the exact location where the strand starts. Anything else where the player has to “go out of their way” to do anything doesn’t really fit, considering the main story missions flow together so tightly that there aren’t many points where you’re given a moment/good excuse to “breath” and screw off to do side content without it detracting from the narrative. I mean there are some points, but then that brings into question again of why Arthur would travel to certain locations.

 

Some stranger missions just have no place in a “chronological mission/narrative focused” play through. There are definitely some though that belong like The Veteran, or Widow of Willard’s Rest.

[LucidLocomotive]

1 hour ago, cp1dell said:

 

Honestly, the chronological mission topic that is stickied is probably the best place. I remember some of the guys in there discussing where to place some of the stranger missions.

 

That aside, narrative-wise I wouldn’t pay too much attention to a lot of the side stuff like the dream catcher stuff, treasure hunts, etc. What’s next, a question about how many times Arthur canonically visits the “evil man” in the cave in West Elizabeth? Or the canon placement of random events? You need to realize a lot of this stuff is in the game for gameplay/exploration purposes.

 

Regardless that they have cutscenes, I would not even include the dinosaur bones, rock carvings, cigarette cards, or legendary fish in a “chronological run,” because from a narrative perspective they do not fit anywhere in the story. You can make arguments for some of the stranger missions like the gunslinger one, the slave catcher one, or even the Butcher’s Creek one because story-wise Arthur is forced to the exact location where the strand starts. Anything else where the player has to “go out of their way” to do anything doesn’t really fit, considering the main story missions flow together so tightly that there aren’t many points where you’re given a moment/good excuse to “breath” and screw off to do side content without it detracting from the narrative. I mean there are some points, but then that brings into question again of why Arthur would travel to certain locations.

 

Some stranger missions just have no place in a “chronological mission/narrative focused” play through. There are definitely some though that belong like The Veteran, or Widow of Willard’s Rest.

I actually am wanting to do a full compendium, all random events, all secrets, everything type of run that is done in the most logical way hahaha!

[cp1dell]

Understandable, good luck.

 

I saw your other post about how you’re trying to make a video series, which is why you’re really on this canon stuff. In my honest opinion, in a story where the main character is not too happy about moving further east, on the run from the law, and his gang and their future is his top priority—above his love interest—narratively there is no way to form a “canon” scenario where he goes and studies over a hundred species of animals and draws them in his journal.