Now I am certain...
No prospector, in their right mind, would EVER drop in a desert region with nothing to start.

I can't imagine any mission would start in the desert.
Desert survival must be prepared before tackling its challenges.

The way I see it; land in a forest region and prepare to go to the desert if the mission requires it.

Ok.

It's certainly more difficult than forest but there is wood and fiber, and you can craft sticks with wood with a perk that is an absolute must to take for any player.

Craft asap Cloth Armour to manage the heat and focus cougars, you can outrun scorpions, hyenas are a joke, but a cougar could definitely kill you in an ambush with scorpions around, because scorpions are very tanky and the cougar has that ridiculous attack hitbox. Cook asap Prime meat and meat, and perhaps dried meat for the 3rd buff, or fish. It's other of the issues on the desert, it's not so easy to get vegetables and a nice 3rd buff early game.

Build a 1x1 wood shelter for storms and that's enough for early prospect. Go to a cave, get some resources and build a base.

Caves and oasis for water. Oasis for fibers that are very scarce so I suggest crafting a bone sickle, you really need to bring a f*ckton of fibers. Craft the bandages there if you need to lessen space.

I never had any problem dropping by the desert. Maybe because of experience. Hahaha. I remember having a hard time even on the forest and I cannot find water. I was running around one square and collecting berries for water for a couple of days also running out of oxygen because I don't know how to craft the oxidizer.

I would avoid landing into canyons before I can get 3 main items from the Workshop. Canteen, Oxygen tank and a knife. No need to hurry then and you can play tactical.
The good part is that you can gather enough Ren and Exotics in the forest missions to unlock and craft these without repeating any mission multiple times.

Well yeah dont drop in naked.

If you have the basics like that guy above said, its not really hard.

The workshop knife can kill anything.

And what is problem with Desert ? cant find sticks and stone to make axe and pick axe ?

It's certainly possible, just takes some getting used to. Make sure you build though on a rock ledge, NOT on the sand. Then it really is not so bad.

another tip would be to build your base (which I'd start on ASAP after you got the essentials) on one of those small plateaus or on a cliff side. This means you'll never again have to worry about cougars' huge aggro distance or base damage while you're going about your crafting business.

The ghillie suit which is pretty easy to craft early on also helps a lot.

Like others said though, a canteen and oxygen tank and perhaps even a knife make starting out in the dessert a lot easier. you can pre-fill them too on another mission and they'll keep their charges.

Originally posted by Spaceminnow:

Now I am certain...
No prospector, in their right mind, would EVER drop in a desert region with nothing to start.

Guess I'm not in my right mind, then.

I can't imagine any mission would start in the desert.

They do. This is what workshop gear is for, and why it's such a critical part of the mission gameplay loop.

Desert survival must be prepared before tackling its challenges.

Absolutely correct. The same is true for Arctic missions.

The way I see it; land in a forest region and prepare to go to the desert if the mission requires it.

Not always possible.

Both the Desert and the Arctic regions DO require you to THINK FIRST about where you are going, and what you will need, and plan accordingly--as you SHOULD for a survival situation.

This includes thinking about and planning what workshop gear you drop with: a canteen pre-filled from another mission is a huge asset in the desert. Likewise, having a full suit of Naneo armor means you have temperature protection in the Arctic (just don't die out there... then you need fur to recover your gear).

Icarus punishes poor preparation.

Thanks Pach!

Now I understand the purpose of the workshop better.

The workshop is to prepare for arid regions that need gear to make it more manageable after landing. Like a fur coat for cold regions...

Yes, some workshop items will make your work faster and safer: the canteen, the oxygen tank, the campfire and portable forge, a good backpack, modules, bows with good durability, naneo armour for difficult boss missions or trips through arctic and desert, tools, the device to summon the dropship and save time when the mission is over, etc.

It just takes time getting used to. My first time in the Desert was nerve-racking, but now I enjoy it. It's much easier to see where fauna is, and once you get the proper workshop items, it's not as difficult as it seems now.

Originally posted by Spaceminnow:

Thanks Pach!

Now I understand the purpose of the workshop better.

The workshop is to prepare for arid regions that need gear to make it more manageable after landing. Like a fur coat for cold regions...

... or anything else you might need. Although I don't believe there's fur armor in the workshop, there are other armors that protect against the cold (like the Naneo).

But yes, as you take on harder missions, you need some kind of starting gear, just to "bootstrap" starting the mission.

And that's why you have workshop gear.

But you are limited to 15 slots. Choose wisely. :)

i never really experienced issues landing in desert areas. with a starting canteen. landing and heading first for fiber, for t1 fiber armor, then water. i tended to be fine and about the same point i'd naturally wonder into the desert anyways. its a bit more difficult than forest, but once you figure out your build order and plan for it, it really wanes off. also the desert mobs are easier than forest in my experience. since you can walk backwards faster than scorpions move forwards. while they try to attack. and the other mobs are just reskinned wolfs.

The problem was defending and hunting... water became a problem later.
Those deer take a lot of stone arrows...
Making the first kill to get started toward bone is hard.
( I thought I head shot that one...)

Scorpion!!! D:
RUN!!!
Phew... :)

Cougars SEE from a long distance... D:

Cougar, "WOW...mrrr...."

D:'

(Aw come on! I'm trying to hunt here!)

"WOW, WOW...mrrr..."

D:
(Two of them! Aw come on!)
@@'
:P (Fighting... eh, eh...)
00'
xx ( I need better weapons...or desert skills :P )

I believe bone weapons would have helped; if I could get there!!!

The drop site was near a guarded oasis.
Decided to run toward the large body of water... >> far away...

All the passes toward the large body of water seemed guarded.
The frantic desperation to find a way to sneak around them lead to getting lost.
Silly isn't it? Getting lost...
I was so frustrated trying to sneak toward water I lost track of the map features and had to double back... only to find more hostile guards :(

There are two desert region drop points to choose from...
One looks close to large oasis bodies and the other (the one I chose) is next to a puddle of guarded water. I felt forced to reach the far body of water...
The other desert drop point choice may be easier.

Bottom line...
My character needs to drop with at least a good weapon and some water.
or...
learn to defend early with stone to somehow reach bone...

Playing desert on high must be near impossible dropping with nothing.
Those looking for a challenge from the game...
here it is...
Drop with no gear; nothing; try to survive desert.