Yea, it's pretty freakin' buggy. That's very unfortunate. However, I'm enjoying just wandering around. I moved from Cordon in the Garbage where I did some murdering... good stuff. I went to the place where all the broken cars are parked (if you played the first game, you may remember it). I was hoping to make friends, but the guys warned me, then started shooting at me, so I had to wipe them out.
I then wandered about some more, did some of the main quest, then noticed some bandits heading to a stalker hangout. I followed and ambushed them when they were attacked by some wild boars and took them all out. I then went to the stalker hangout and helped them defeat another bandit attack. I'd say half the stalkers were killed, but then again those idiots have pistols and the bandits have the mini AKs. Unfortunately noone there bought stuff, so I'm lugging around all this gear.
While I was yaking with them, another bandit attack came... I managed to kill them all but that was it for the stalkers. None survived. I next took out a bandit camp nearby, then headed toward the Agropom Research Facility map. I wiped out the train yard on the way, but it doesn't seem like you can get into the train building. Too bad.
Onto the Agropom map, apparently Duty has a decent presence here... I helped defend against some monster and bandit attacks which made them my friends. They also had a trader set up there so I finally got to sell. I've just been going back and forth helping them defend, then looting the bodies of friends and enemies. I've made a decent amount of money selling their weapons so far.
And that's pretty much where I'm at. The worst bug I've had so far was one of those invisible creatures (you can only see their eyes and a predator-like cloaking haze) kept running through the cordon camp. Every time he came near everyone would start shooting.. there were dead bodies everywhere, so I'm guessing they were killing each other in the process. Lots of cash loot.
I was also in the garbage trying to help a guy against dogs. He told me to get on a rock, so I started climbing up on his rock. He then yelled and shot at a dog in the distance, but I'm guessing he shot me in the head because I just fell over and died. Bastard.
Oh, on a positive note, you can now buy upgrades to your weapons and equipment. I don't really have the money to do it too much yet, but it's badass. Add a larger clip to your weapon, or higher accuracy (you can add more than 1 upgrade), higher rate of fire, add more armor or better anti-radiation to it, add night vision. Very cool. The upgraded weapons from the first game were the best in the game, so it's nice you can now make your own.
Hey Derf, what's up with you these days anyway? Stop working so much and post more. 
Last time I accidentally started the game on novice mode, so now I'm playing as a Stalker. Previously it was too easy, I'll admit. Now the challenge is more in line with what I like.
