The Hermit's Request

Fulfill the Hermit's Request in I Hate This Place. This walkthrough explains how to find the hermit and complete their unique quest objectives.

The Hermit's Request is a pivotal early-game quest that introduces players to the dangers and rewards of exploring the Cultist's Town. Successfully completing this quest not only progresses the narrative but also unlocks crucial crafting recipes and a valuable achievement. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough, detailing every step, item location, and strategic consideration.

Quest Giver and Initial Location

The Hermit is typically found in a small, secluded shack on the outskirts of the Cultist's Town, often to the west or north of the main settlement. He is a non-hostile NPC who will offer you a task in exchange for rewards. His dialogue will hint at the need for specific crafting blueprints and the dangers lurking within the town.

Objectives and Key Items

The Hermit's primary request revolves around acquiring two essential crafting blueprints: the First Aid Kit blueprint and the Meat and Potatoes blueprint. These are vital for survival, providing much-needed healing and temporary buffs.

Blueprint Locations within Cultist's Town

Cultist's Town is a moderately dangerous area populated by various cultist variants and mutated creatures. Careful exploration and preparation are key to safely acquiring the blueprints.

• First Aid Kit Blueprint:
  • Location: This blueprint is found within the dilapidated Church, a prominent building in the western section of Cultist's Town.
  • Enemies: The Church is typically guarded by 2-3 Cultist Zealots and a single Cultist Shaman who can cast debilitating status effects.
  • Strategy: Prioritize taking down the Zealots first, as they are melee-focused and can quickly overwhelm you. Use cover effectively within the church's interior. The Shaman should be engaged from a distance if possible, or quickly closed in on once the Zealots are dealt with.
  • Container: The blueprint is located on a small altar at the front of the church, often in a wooden chest or directly on the altar itself.
• Meat and Potatoes Blueprint:
  • Location: This blueprint is located in the Cookhouse, a smaller, more isolated building on the eastern edge of Cultist's Town, near the town's perimeter fence.
  • Enemies: The Cookhouse is usually guarded by 1-2 Mutated Dogs and a single Cultist Brute.
  • Strategy: The Mutated Dogs are fast and can inflict bleed damage. Keep your distance and use area-of-effect attacks if available. The Cultist Brute is slow but hits hard; focus on dodging its heavy swings and attacking its flanks.
  • Container: The blueprint is typically found inside a large, overturned pot or on a workbench within the Cookhouse.

Recommended Loadout and Strategy

Before venturing into Cultist's Town, ensure you have a balanced loadout:

• Weapons: A reliable ranged weapon (e.g., Hunting Rifle, Crossbow) for dealing with Shaman and engaging from a distance, and a strong melee weapon (e.g., Machete, Combat Knife) for close-quarters combat.
• Armor: Any armor that provides decent damage resistance.
• Consumables: Plenty of bandages and any crafted healing items. Consider bringing some food items for temporary buffs.
• Ammo: Ensure you have a full stock of ammunition for your chosen firearms.

General Strategy for Cultist's Town:

• Stealth: Utilize stealth whenever possible to pick off enemies one by one, especially when approaching the Church or Cookhouse.
• Awareness: Always be aware of your surroundings. Cultists can emerge from buildings or ambush you from hidden corners.
• Resource Management: Conserve ammunition and healing items. Every encounter is an opportunity to learn enemy patterns and exploit weaknesses.
• Exploration: Thoroughly search all buildings and containers within Cultist's Town. You may find additional crafting components, ammunition, or lore entries.

Rewards and Achievements

Upon returning the blueprints to the Hermit, you will receive:

• Experience Points: A significant boost to your character's level.
• Reputation: Increased standing with the Hermit faction, potentially unlocking further quests or vendor discounts.
• Crafting Recipes: The ability to craft First Aid Kits and Meat and Potatoes.

The Arsenal Achievement

While not directly tied to the Hermit's quest completion, the Arsenal achievement is often pursued during this phase of the game. This achievement requires You to craft at least one of every available weapon in the game. The blueprints found in Cultist's Town are early steps towards this goal, as they unlock basic but essential weapons. Players aiming for this achievement should keep a running tally of crafted weapons and actively seek out new blueprints as they explore the world.

Common Pitfalls and Missables

• Overconfidence: Cultist's Town can be deceptively dangerous. Do not underestimate the threat of even basic cultist enemies.
• Resource Depletion: Rushing through the town without managing your health and ammunition can lead to a frustrating death and loss of progress.
• Missing Blueprints: Failing to thoroughly search the Church and Cookhouse will mean you cannot complete the Hermit's request. Ensure you loot every container.
• Ignoring the Shaman: The Cultist Shaman's status effects can be crippling. Prioritize neutralizing them quickly.

By following this guide, You can efficiently and safely complete The Hermit's Request, securing vital crafting recipes and setting themselves up for further success in the challenging world of I Hate This Place.