Obstacles

Obstacles are all objects in the game world with the main purpose of providing cover, blocking paths or simply filling the canyon with stuff to look at and experience. Examples are fences, rocks, trees and of course cliffs.

Obstacles can be divided into three broader categories. Destructibles, Solids and Half-Solids. In theory cliffs are a fourth category, but in reality they are also simply part of the Solids category.

Vaulting
Most Destructibles and Half-Solids can be vaulted. That means that the player can pass over them despite them blocking the player's path. This mechanic is explained in the prologue/tutorial of the game.

To vault these obstacles the player can literally squeeze their way through the object. Keep moving in the direction you want to go and if the obstacle is not too difficult to overcome the player character will pass right through with some resistance. Some characters have an easier time here than other. If the object is too difficult to pass through the player will need to find a different path or destroy the object blocking their way, for example by using explosives.

Bullet Penetration
All objects have properties that decide how easy bullets are able to penetrate them. They can also have the property that bullets can ignore them altogether. For example objects that are not completely closed or are very small, like low fences or other scenery objects, might let some bullets completely pass through them without any interaction while others hit the object and only keep flying because they penetrated the object, loosing some power and velocity while doing so.

Stronger weapons, like rifles, are better at penetrating objects.

Some objects might have such a low penetration value that penetrating them with regular weapons is basically impossible, but in theory every object, including Solids, could be penetrated.

Destructibles
A lot of obstacles can be damaged and destroyed. To know whether an obstacle can be destroyed the player can simply attack the object with melee or ranged attacks. If the object shakes and damage indicators pop up the object is destructible.

Some of these objects have a lot of health and using simple melee or weapon power might not be enough to destroy them. In those cases it is best to use explosives.

Destroying these objects will not drop any loot but will make them much easier to vault and will prevent them from providing cover.

Destructibles are a sub-group of the Half-Solids category.

Examples: Fences, Wheatpacks, Hay bales, Containers

Half-Solids
Half-Solid obstacles are similar to destructible objects but cannot be destroyed. In fact, Destructibles are part of the Half-Solids category.

It is possible to vault them just like most destructible objects. Bullets can also penetrate these objects.

If they are tall enough they can provide some cover against being spotted, but will not prevent being spotted entirely.

Examples: Trees, Water Tower, Small Rocks, Poles

Solids
Solid obstacles cannot be vaulted and are very difficult to penetrate with weapons. They also provide complete cover against being spotted.

Cliffs cannot be penetrated with any weapon.

In reality Solids are also Half-Solids, just with hard collisions.

Examples: Cliffs, Buildings, Carriages