# Needful things (simple additions to improve the game)

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570>\
**Category:** The Drawing Board\
**Created:** [March 23, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570 "2014-03-23T22:36:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 171

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**Author:** ![pisskop](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/pisskop/32/1327_2.png) [@pisskop](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/pisskop)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3401 "2016-10-18T18:43:16Z")

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tazers blow chunks in the current version of the game. if its not a robot it doesnt care if you waste a turn zapping it

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**Author:** ![Firestorm\_01](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/firestorm_01/32/1977_2.png) [@Firestorm\_01](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Firestorm_01)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3402 "2016-10-18T20:07:45Z")

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One of the most useful and yet simple things to add:

Set default font on something that contains multilingual symbols. A lot of FAQ’s for Russian players teach new player how to set font that can works with Russian language. Default Terminus conatins only basic ASCII symbols. Without it player will see only squares ("[][][][][]") in menu (game selects default language based on OS language BUT uses terminus.ttf as default font anyway). This kinda hits game presentation hard - to start playing player need find new font and tweak game settings in files after that.

Terminus TTF Bold is very good candidate. It has appropriate license and tt even looks similar to Terminus.

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**Author:** ![lordmatiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@lordmatiz](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/lordmatiz)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 11:44am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3403 "2016-10-20T11:44:21Z")

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Change buthering stat of weapons/tools from “chance to get meat” to “speed factor”. You won’t cause magical dissapearance of meat by cutting cow with sharpened stone- you will only do it slower than with butcher knife.

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**Author:** ![Valpo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/valpo/32/341_2.png) [@Valpo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Valpo)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3404 "2016-10-20T15:14:36Z")

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> [@lordmatiz](#):
>
> Change buthering stat of weapons/tools from “chance to get meat” to “speed factor”. You won’t cause magical dissapearance of meat by cutting cow with sharpened stone- you will only do it slower than with butcher knife.

Isn t that how it works already?

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**Author:** ![Coolthulhu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/coolthulhu/32/2446_2.png) [@Coolthulhu](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Coolthulhu)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3405 "2016-10-20T18:28:19Z")

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> [@Valpo](#):
>
> Isn t that how it works already?

Only with positive values. Negatives still cause loss.

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**Author:** ![lordmatiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@lordmatiz](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/lordmatiz)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3406 "2016-10-20T21:43:51Z")

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Most recipes thet requires fire should require only few minutes of setting it up, while all the cooking should be done automatically. As example - who needs to watch how water boils for 6 hours? Place barrel on campfire and come back after that time!  
Or why should I waste 12 hours making charcoal which only needs to put on campfire in closed metal container?

I’ve seen tanning pelt recipe that creates item that can be unfolded after 2 days - the same way should work most recipes.

I know it’s tempting to watch how meat dries whole day… but during that time I might do a lot more 🙂

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**Author:** ![RAM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@RAM](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/RAM)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3407 "2016-10-20T22:39:14Z")

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> [@lordmatiz](#):
>
> Change buthering stat of weapons/tools from “chance to get meat” to “speed factor”. You won’t cause magical dissapearance of meat by cutting cow with sharpened stone- you will only do it slower than with butcher knife.

It is less magical disappearance of mass and more mangling into uselessness. A scattering of meat strips spread around the ground are not much use for eating where a better tool would have kept it in a single piece… Although perhaps a better alternative would be to produce mangled parts? Mangled organic matter could be used for fertiliser, mangled metal could be scrap metal, mangled wood could be chipped…

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**Author:** ![BeerBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@BeerBeer](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BeerBeer)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3408 "2016-10-21T00:16:48Z")

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On/off modes for acetylene torch. Off-mode prevents the nag prompt every time one intends to repair his car with the welding rig. Or something.

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**Author:** ![Zireael](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/zireael/32/956_2.png) [@Zireael](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Zireael)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 8:57am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3409 "2016-10-21T08:57:11Z")

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> [@RAM](#):
>
> [quote=“lordmatiz, post:3403, topic:5570”]Change buthering stat of weapons/tools from “chance to get meat” to “speed factor”. You won’t cause magical dissapearance of meat by cutting cow with sharpened stone- you will only do it slower than with butcher knife.

It is less magical disappearance of mass and more mangling into uselessness. A scattering of meat strips spread around the ground are not much use for eating where a better tool would have kept it in a single piece… Although perhaps a better alternative would be to produce mangled parts? Mangled organic matter could be used for fertiliser, mangled metal could be scrap metal, mangled wood could be chipped…[/quote]

Mangled parts is a good idea in this case.

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**Author:** ![lordmatiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@lordmatiz](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/lordmatiz)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3410 "2016-10-21T16:28:02Z")

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> [@RAM](#):
>
> It is less magical disappearance of mass and more mangling into uselessness. A scattering of meat strips spread around the ground are not much use for eating where a better tool would have kept it in a single piece… Although perhaps a better alternative would be to produce mangled parts? Mangled organic matter could be used for fertiliser, mangled metal could be scrap metal, mangled wood could be chipped…

When you are fighting for survival - there is no such thing as “meat strips not much use for eating”.  
I suggested it sometime ago- divide “meat” into tiers, from worst (smallest) to best (biggest): shreds, cuts, steaks, slabs. IMHO worse tool should create more shreds and cuts, while better tools (with proper skill) would yeld more steak and slabs (which then could be cut into smaller pieces, needed for some recipes).

Also meat amount given by animals is sad. When animal which should weight 450 kg, weights 120kg and gives 4kg of meat… 🙂

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**Author:** ![Solusphere](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/solusphere/32/66_2.png) [@Solusphere](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Solusphere)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3411 "2016-10-24T03:04:39Z")

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Give deputy badge 1% coverage, 30 cut resistance 😛

Allows you to, by an act of god, catch a bullet with the deputy badge, as per the legends (and at least one documented case, IIRC).

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**Author:** ![iceball3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c89c15/32.png) [@iceball3](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/iceball3)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3412 "2016-10-24T04:52:25Z")

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[quote=“Solusphere, post:3411, topic:5570”]Give deputy badge 1% coverage, 30 cut resistance 😛

Allows you to, by an act of god, catch a bullet with the deputy badge, as per the legends (and at least one documented case, IIRC).[/quote]Cool flavor! I approve, as is.

Though, worth noting: the badge irl is not really any better than any sort of bullet absorbing steel.  
To my knowledge, it’d only protect against hollow point (sort of), small calibers, cause narrow deflections, or just cause a bullet to dig a bit less deeply into the skin (along with the badge).

That little thing aside, I think a 1% 30 cut resist police badge would be neat.  
I’d imagine someone attempting to find an exploit to wear multiple of the same item, and wearing 6000 police badges. And it will be amazing.

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**Author:** ![BorkBorkGoesTheCode](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/borkborkgoesthecode/32/2343_2.png) [@BorkBorkGoesTheCode](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BorkBorkGoesTheCode)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 5:43am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3413 "2016-10-24T05:43:33Z")

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Also remember that as a bullet travels, it loses its energy; so a 9mm could decelerate to BB energy after a few hundred yards.

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**Author:** ![BeerBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@BeerBeer](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BeerBeer)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3414 "2016-10-24T12:23:59Z")

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- When a metal shelf is destroyed, and if it had items on it, have them fall on top of the pipes, scrap metals and chunks of steel, just so the loot items are more visible. These shelves are often destroyed by zombies, and it would help quickly discern which shelves were empty. That is to say, set the pipes, metal pieces and sheet metal as “to be placed at the bottom of the pile” or something like that.

- The Stylish trait could have a downside. It could inflict negative morale for wearing damaged, filthy or other non-fancy clothing.

- A clear third category of traits - ones with both benefits and penalties.

- Have solar panel repair depend on Electronics or Fabrication skill (consider the same for certain other vehicle parts)

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**Author:** ![BorkBorkGoesTheCode](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/borkborkgoesthecode/32/2343_2.png) [@BorkBorkGoesTheCode](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BorkBorkGoesTheCode)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 12:41pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3415 "2016-10-24T12:41:36Z")

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There is already a UI display for mixed traits. The entries are either yellow or purple.

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**Author:** ![noname1208](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/noname1208/32/23_2.png) [@noname1208](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/noname1208)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3416 "2016-10-25T14:01:20Z")

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I’m thinking he means at character creation, could be wrong though. It does sound like a cool idea

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**Author:** ![BeerBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@BeerBeer](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BeerBeer)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2016, 4:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3417 "2016-10-25T16:33:01Z")

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Oh! Indeed, I meant character creation.

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**Author:** ![Judge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@Judge](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Judge)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3418 "2016-10-26T03:19:55Z")

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Weightlifting.

If you pick up heavy stuff everyday or every other day for an hour or two until you get hungry, then eat lots of protein rich food and get some rest, it adds to a hidden counter and after six months or so your strenght improves by a fraction of your base strenght, each improvement after the first is smaller and takes significantly longer. You lose all your strenght gains relatively quickly if you stop eating a protein rich diet and lifting heavy, but it is slightly easier to recover the strenght than it would be to acquire it in the first place.

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**Author:** ![KayelGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a587f6/32.png) [@KayelGee](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KayelGee)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 12:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3419 "2016-10-27T12:38:19Z")

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Autocrafting of intermediate items  
Problem:  
When crafting something like a steel jerrycan I need a metal tank, so I’ll first craft the tank and then the jerrycan.  
This gets tedious with more complex recipes.  
Suggestion:  
I would like to have an option to auto craft required items if I have the materials and tools lying around.  
It would also be nice if the crafting screen would show me all the items I am  
able to craft when autocrafting of intermediate items is enabled.

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**Author:** ![Bidyhackier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de053/32.png) [@Bidyhackier](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Bidyhackier)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/needful-things-simple-additions-to-improve-the-game/5570/3420 "2016-10-28T00:00:20Z")

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Everyone should get a bonus for wearing stylish stuff,having stylish trait should just make it stronger.

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