The Crossing: Survival Archetypes

Choose your survivor. Define your role. Make the crossing.

The Crossing: Survival Archetypes adds a first-run archetype selection system.

At the start of a run, you can choose what kind of survivor you want to play as. Each archetype gives your character a different background, identity, and gameplay feel without trying to completely change the core experience.

The values are intentionally kept modest. I wanted each archetype to feel different, but not so strong that one choice becomes the obvious best option.

 

Latest Update

Version: v0.1.5
Released: April 29, 2026

Highlights

• Rebalanced bonus loot for Scavenger, Hunter, and Nomad so extra loot still feels rewarding without handing out high-tier items too often.
• Added a new Notifications category to Mod Configuration Menu, including toggles for mod pop-ups, Scavenger bonus-loot sounds, Trail Sense arrows, and Trail Sense cooldowns.
• Added Search Loot compatibility so Scavenger bonus-loot notices no longer appear before container slots finish revealing.
• Added a bonus-loot audio cue and moved status notices to the bottom of the screen.
• Rewrote unclear perk text for Dependency, Surgical Precision, Adrenaline Rush, and Trail Sense so the descriptions better match what they actually do in-game.

 

What This Mod Does

This mod is meant to make the beginning of each run feel a little more personal.

Instead of starting every character the same way, you pick a survivor background before entering the crossing.

Are you a trained operator?
A scavenger scraping by?
A medic trying to survive?
A civilian who was never ready for any of this?

Your archetype does not replace the normal survival experience. It gives your run a starting identity and a small gameplay direction to build around.

 

Features

• First-run survivor archetype selection UI
• Multiple playable archetype profiles
• Configurable archetype availability
• Persistent archetype selection per profile/run
• Lightweight gameplay modifiers for class identity
• Compatibility-focused setup that avoids replacing vanilla scripts

Optional support:

• XP & Skills System integration
• Mod Configuration Menu support
• Search Loot compatibility

 

Survivor Archetypes

Current archetypes include:

Archetype	Strengths	Tradeoffs
Spec Ops	Stealth XP, suppressed weapon control, crouch speed, and quieter movement.	Carries less, recovers stamina slower, handles thirst worse, and is slightly more injury-prone.
Scavenger	Better container loot, lower hunger/thirst drain, faster item use, better weapon condition finds, and improved sell value.	Worse recoil control, slower aiming movement, more weapon jams, and heavier hit shake.
Engineer	Better weapon durability, repairs, reliability, and repair-related item use speed.	Slower movement, higher hunger/thirst drain, worse recoil control, and easier to hear.
Rambo	Better recoil control, weapon durability, hit stability, and combat stamina after taking damage.	Much louder movement, higher hunger/thirst drain, and worse trader sell value.
Hunter	Better loot chances, better weapon condition finds, steadier recoil, quieter movement, and nearby enemy tracking hints.	Worse trader value, slower item use, slower movement, and more hit shake.
Medic	Stronger medical items, faster medical use, and lower hunger/thirst drain.	Worse recoil control, slower movement, lower carry weight, and weaker trader sell value.
Nomad	Faster movement, lower hunger/thirst drain, reduced travel fatigue, and a small extra loot chance.	Worse recoil control, more weapon jams, worse trader value, and more hit shake.
Civilian	Better trader sell value, slightly lower hunger/thirst drain, a small task hand-in bonus, and a fresh-start supply bundle.	Poor recoil control, slower movement, more weapon jams, and heavier hit shake.
Drug Addicted	Stronger stimulant effects, faster movement, better pain recovery, and less hit shake.	Higher hunger/thirst drain, worse recoil control, and more weapon jams.
Bard	Better morale recovery from instruments, better trader value, lower hunger drain, and small bonus task reward chances.	Worse recoil control, slower movement, more hit shake, and more weapon jams.

More detailed information about each archetype can be viewed in-game through the archetype selection UI.

 

Configuration

The mod is configurable, so you can adjust the archetype system to better fit your setup.

Depending on your installed mods and configuration options, you may be able to change:

• Which archetypes are available
• Whether optional integrations are enabled
• How strongly archetypes affect a run
• Compatibility behavior with supported systems

For the best configuration experience, Mod Configuration Menu is recommended.

 

Requirements

Required

• Metro Mod Loader / Community Mod Loader by metro

Recommended

• Mod Configuration Menu

Optional

• XP & Skills System by domfrags

 

Installation

1. Download the latest release.
2. Place TCSurvivorArchetypes.vmz into your Road to Vostok mods folder.
3. Enable the mod in your mod loader.
4. Launch the game through the mod loader.
5. Start or load a run.
6. Choose your archetype when the selection UI appears.

 

Compatibility

This mod was made with compatibility in mind.

It avoids replacing vanilla scripts where possible and should fit alongside most other Road to Vostok mods.

Optional integrations are only used when the supported mods are installed.

If you run into a compatibility issue, please report it with your mod list so I can look into it.

 

Feedback, Bugs, and Suggestions

Found a bug, balance issue, compatibility problem, or have an idea for a new archetype?

Please post below.

When reporting a bug, please include:

• Mod version
• Road to Vostok version
• Mod loader version
• Other installed mods
• Steps to reproduce the issue
• Screenshots or logs, if available

Suggestions are welcome for:

• New archetype ideas
• Balance changes
• Compatibility improvements
• UI polish
• Better class descriptions
• New passive effects
• Optional integration improvements

 

Credits

Special thanks to @rinite, whose mod request helped inspire this project.

 

Choose your survivor. Define your role. Make the crossing.