As a long-time survival gaming fanatic, I‘ve mastered many obtuse systems – but none as impactful as the GPS Locator in Sons of the Forest. Across nearly 100 hours uncovering the island‘s hidden caches, I‘m convinced these portable waypoints are mandatory for efficient progression. With only three units available from dedicated quest lines, leveraging them for navigation fundamentally transformed my success.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll showcase step-by-step how to obtain each GPS Locator and recommend genius placements which shortcut much of the aimless wandering in this expansive sandbox. Take it from a pro – sticking to this traversal strategy will unlock far richer scavenging runs and dormant loot stashes other players miss!
What Exactly Do GPS Locators Provide?
For those new to Sons of the Forest, let‘s quickly cover what GPS Locators offer:
- Custom map markers only you can see
- Reusable fast travel waypoints
- Dynamic tracking of ally NPC positions
- Notes key underground cache locations
- Enable more exact compass headings
With these portable flags planted in key spots, the once daunting navigation gets far easier. I can precisely chart routes between my central base and branched shelters with minimal backtracking. And if I ever got overwhelmed by cannibals and had to escape quickly, I can pull up my map markers leading back to reinforced safety.
The developers only included three total GPS Locators in the entire game though, so their placement is critical…
All Three GPS Locator Spawn Locations
Through dedicated quest lines, you can retrieve GPS Locators from three distinct locations clustered in the Northwestern region of the peninsula. I‘ve compiled their exact grid coordinates below:
Hanged Man Site – F7
Wooden Grave – F6
Ocean Boat – F6
I‘ll outline how to uncover each one next, but first check the island map for reference:
[[Insert image with all three locations highlighted]]Without these rare navigation aids, success is seriously hampered – so let‘s get started!
Securing the Hanged Man‘s GPS Prize
The first unit rests in a sinister scene just South of the Maintenance A Digsite across grid F7. Along the forested ridge, a rope dangling a body will come into view. Use your axe or blade to sever the line and drop the corpse for looting.
The Hanged Man‘s body strung up
This area is actually an early sign of the mutated clan‘s presence – a morbid omen of their willingness to kill other humans. Once you cut down this poor soul, pillage the GPS Locator plus other handy items from the remains:
- Rope
- Vodka
- Batteries
- Snacks
With this initial locator secured, you can start tagging major milestones around the shelter camp that got you settled on those first stressful nights. It may seem minor, but having visible map callbacks to places of progress helped my morale greatly in the early days!
Now comes equip [#2…]
Uncovering Hidden Mechanics – The Shovel and Wooden Grave
West of the Beached Kayaks region, an overgrown plot of land camouflages a buried wooden grave – barely noticeable unless you directly stumble upon it. The nondescript gravestone gives no indication of the loot buried feet underneath.
The hidden wooden grave in the forest
Through online chatter I learned the secret – you‘ll need a shovel to excavate this site! Shovels are found in one of four cave locations mid-island, which require light source exploration to uncover.
With a shovel finally acquired, I returned to the plot and dug several feet down to reveal a hidden cache inside! This grave marks the corpse of a former survivor or outsider to the island. Paying respects, I looted the GPS and a handy shotgun from the remains.
This small moment taught me an early lesson – not everything is surfaced for you! Only through seeking online tips did I learn shovel functionality and secret stashes like this grave. It pushed me to dive deeper into obscure mechanics concealed from plain sight!
Braving the Waters for the Final Prize
The last GPS Locator lies miles West within a small inflatable raft offshore. Several in-game dialogues mention a missing partner lost at sea – and this GPS quest brings closure. The moment you dip into waters, primal hunger kicks up as a school of sharks detects fresh meat…
The lonely body adrift offshore
The raft only rests a short swim from shore, but it may as well be an ocean with the swirling predators nearby. Using my refined diving tactics, I carefully submerged and approached the boat while fending sharks with my knife. Pull yourself aboard to discover the fate of this nameless victim.
Raid the GPS Locator, flares, and a backup pistol from the remains. As sharks encroached the raft, I fired shots into the frenzy, taking twisted joy in revenge! Eventually the waters calmed for my return.
This ocean encounter concludes the GPS Locator quests. Now for the best part – utilizing them for navigation domination!
GPS Mastery – Placing Markers Effectively
With all three GPS Locators in hand, you gain immense power to chart the island. But simply scattering markers aimlessly will only make your map messy fast. Through extensive gameplay, I‘ve honed placement strategies for efficient navigation:
- Central Base – Marker pointing back for quick returns
- Cardinal Markers – Annotate precise compass headings
- Danger Zones – Areas to avoid like cannibal hotspots
- Scavenging Runs – Circular routes between loot areas
- Allies – Tag Virginia to monitor her locations
Follow these examples during your placement phase:
My optimized navigation markers
As you traverse to place markers, take clever positions into account:
- Mountain peaks act as long-range vistas
- Intersections of distinct biomes
- Mysterious landmarks like monoliths
- Grapple tree vines for quick elevation
- Shortcut cave routes between regions
Think in routes, not singular points! Connect markers to enable strategic travel across the landscape Depending on your combat ability, you may also consider…
Advanced Tactics – Aggressive Expansion
The GPS tools ultimately allow you to stake a claim on more savage territories across the island. Through a network of forward operating bases, you can systematically eliminate threats and absorb their grounds into your empire.
Some may prefer holing up in a single secure fortress – but with precise attack squad positioning enabled by markers, the most lucrative zones become contestable.
Coordinate your allies in clever vanguard and flanking moves against cannibal patrols. Once their numbers dwindle, buildConvince trapped survivors to inhabit the reclaimed lands by placing scenic outposts nearby with picturesque views! Rule over domains, not just a single patch of grass!
But approach this goal carefully not to spread your defences too thin. The markers represent lifelines – follow them back to reinforced walls whenever adversity hits…
In Closing – Essential Exploration Partners
And with this, you should have firm grasp on discovering and leveraging Sons of the Forest‘s GPS Locators for masterful navigation. While many survival mechanics overwhelm new players, these portable flags peel back the fog to unveil the rich world underneath.
If you only focus on a single corner of the island, you‘ll miss the breadth of wonder scattered through hill and marsh. Let these markers guide you on memorable journeys beyond limitations!
Now venture forth, brave traveler, to sites awe-inspiring and terrifying. But when darkness falls and dread encroaches, be sure to follow those pulsing map icons back to the welcoming fire‘s glow. The island‘s secrets await!
Let me know if this guide saves you countless hours of confusion by dropping a comment below! I‘m aiming to uplift more fans to experience this scintillating world. Until next time!
