# Starting Location
**URL:** https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029
**Category:** The Drawing Board
**Created:** [September 14, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029 "2013-09-14T04:34:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@StoneCacti](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/StoneCacti)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/1 "2013-09-14T04:34:32Z")
Hobo starts on a city corner.
Mechanic starts in a garage.
Survivalist starts in a wood cabin.
Lawyer starts in an underground lair with lava surrounding him.
Different professions should start in appropriate locations.
Or is the story line based on you starting in a evac shelter?
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### Author:  [@KA101](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KA101)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/2 "2013-09-14T04:48:27Z")
Starting locations would then have a point value as well as the profession’s gear & skills. Best to stick with the shelter for now.
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### Author:  [@Rivet](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rivet)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/3 "2013-09-14T04:49:28Z")
> [@StoneCacti](#):
>
> Lawyer starts in an underground lair with lava surrounding him.
I see what you did there.
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### Author:  [@StoneCacti](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/StoneCacti)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/4 "2013-09-14T04:54:41Z")
> [@KA101](#):
>
> Starting locations would then have a point value as well as the profession’s gear & skills. Best to stick with the shelter for now.
Very good point, maybe even be able to pick location based on point values?
> [@Rivet](#):
>
> [quote=“StoneCacti, post:1, topic:3029”]Lawyer starts in an underground lair with lava surrounding him.
I see what you did there.[/quote]
😉
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### Author:  [@Mrnocamera](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Mrnocamera)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2013, 11:28am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/5 "2013-09-14T11:28:00Z")
Defense attorney starts at a barbers, with the trait: “Pointy hair”
[size=3pt]Shut up, my ideas are cool. (o.o)/ ¬-(.-)|[/size]
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### Author:  [@Ian\_Strachan](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Ian_Strachan)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/6 "2013-09-14T16:33:29Z")
> [@StoneCacti](#):
>
> Lawyer starts in an underground lair with lava surrounding him.
There’s actually a “Hellmouth” terrain type, so…
I actually had a world in an experimental build glitch out and give me the “couldn’t find a shelter!” message, and then dumped me way out in the middle of nowhere (and by pure luck, next to a helicopter crash). I had to walk a long way to find a road and follow it to a town, and it was actually quite fun and a change of pace - I’d like to see something like this.
However, it should probably be turned on/off in the options so that you can opt to always start in an evac shelter.
Considering that nobody’s actually getting evacuated, it’s possible that your character Didn’t Get The Memo or Doesn’t Trust The Gubmint or went back home after nobody showed up.
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### Author:  [@Iosyn](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Iosyn)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/7 "2013-09-14T16:44:49Z")
Hobo should start in a dark alley with the junkie profession.
Prostitute profession should start on the street corner. \>.\>
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### Author:  [@StopSignal](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/StopSignal)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/8 "2013-09-14T17:47:39Z")
Remember that DDA happens 5 days after the apocalypse. I don’t think you could survive being unconciou in an alley for five days next to loads of zombies…
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### Author:  [@kevin.granade](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kevin.granade)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/9 "2013-09-14T23:33:01Z")
maybe your’re buried in trash and not moving.
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### Author:  [@StoneCacti](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/StoneCacti)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/10 "2013-09-15T01:50:22Z")
[quote=“Mrnocamera, post:5, topic:3029”]Defense attorney starts at a barbers, with the trait: “Pointy hair”
[size=3pt]Shut up, my ideas are cool. (o.o)/ ¬-(.-)|[/size][/quote]
rofl
> [@Ian Strachan](#):
>
> [quote=“StoneCacti, post:1, topic:3029”]Lawyer starts in an underground lair with lava surrounding him.
There’s actually a “Hellmouth” terrain type, so…
I actually had a world in an experimental build glitch out and give me the “couldn’t find a shelter!” message, and then dumped me way out in the middle of nowhere (and by pure luck, next to a helicopter crash). I had to walk a long way to find a road and follow it to a town, and it was actually quite fun and a change of pace - I’d like to see something like this.
However, it should probably be turned on/off in the options so that you can opt to always start in an evac shelter.
Considering that nobody’s actually getting evacuated, it’s possible that your character Didn’t Get The Memo or Doesn’t Trust The Gubmint or went back home after nobody showed up.[/quote]
Dude that does sound fun.
Seriously love how often random corpses/crash are scattered. makes exploring hella worthwhile.
[quote=“Iosyn, post:7, topic:3029”]Hobo should start in a dark alley with the junkie profession.
Prostitute profession should start on the street corner. \>.\>[/quote]
hahahah, damn right!
Bartender should start in the Winchester bar with heavy alcohol withdraws, a 1886’s carbine repeater, eight “Shells” and the jukebox playing Queen - Don’t Stop Me Now.
Police Officer should be in the station, locked in a cell, with High Adrenaline trait and Trigger Happy.
Celebrity should start in a mansion with Pretty, Fast learner, and Hardcore.
Mortician should start in a hospital with Masochist, Self-Aware, and Terrifying.
Emo Punk should start in a park with Wool Allergy, Meat Intolerance, Light Eater, and Pain Resistant.
Grandma’s Boy should start out super stoned with a fat sack of weed, Gourmand and hurt hands.
Charlie Sheen should start out totally coked out in the middle of the street naked with Optimist, Addictive Personality and Skilled Liar.
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### Author:  [@Annarchia](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Annarchia)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/11 "2013-09-15T14:13:00Z")
I thought Bill Murray would start in tattered clothes (and zombie makeup) in a mansion, with a theater room playing “Ghostbusters.” Hardcore is obvious, as is having a pair of NPCs in the theater room, at least one of them with an obsession for rules, a gun, and a penchant for shooting Bill Murray.
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### Author:  [@vultures](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vultures)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/12 "2013-09-16T21:39:40Z")
I think that the spawn momentum is treated as a fair advantage. Imagine you have to improve skills or something of that value in order to attempt and break free - and I’m not just posting 'bout jails, cells and dungeons. Look at it this way - if there was a copy protection question every time you run the game, would you run through docs, or even worse - memorize them, or admit you’re no game owner?
There’s already a heap of professions to chose from and with starting gear, it’s a flying start already if you wish for one, don’t you think? The mess you have to deal with from the very start should be treated accordingly and, since there is Hardcore trait involved also, the massive idea change should follow the point cost direction. You could go Vanilla, Vanilla-Strawberry and full-on Strawberry. You should be able to get 3 or 5 points from a scenario of your choosing, whereas your hardest choice would lead you into a belly of the infestation beast.
Just a note, I think that Shower Victim spawning in a bathroom of a suburban home is inconclusive, and a mechanic having to deal with serious Z trouble just because he found himself in the middle of a Public Works is choice-torment. But (yes, but!) if the player is to have something out of it before the actual play and there’s a gun in one of the lockers just to prove his whereabouts, I’m pitching in.
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### Author:  [@kevin.granade](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kevin.granade)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/13 "2013-09-16T21:44:00Z")
I totally agree, spawn location should be a chargen choice with a point value along with traits, skills, stats, profession, etc.
Additionally prepackaged starting scenarios would be fun, and a good way to ease new players into the game.
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### Author:  [@StoneCacti](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/StoneCacti)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/starting-location/3029/14 "2013-09-17T02:09:28Z")
> [@Annarchia](#):
>
> I thought Bill Murray would start in tattered clothes (and zombie makeup) in a mansion, with a theater room playing “Ghostbusters.” Hardcore is obvious, as is having a pair of NPCs in the theater room, at least one of them with an obsession for rules, a gun, and a penchant for shooting Bill Murray.
hahaha, for real. Would finally get to see Murray survive, even though that scene is hilarious.
[quote=“vultures, post:12, topic:3029”]I think that the spawn momentum is treated as a fair advantage. Imagine you have to improve skills or something of that value in order to attempt and break free - and I’m not just posting 'bout jails, cells and dungeons. Look at it this way - if there was a copy protection question every time you run the game, would you run through docs, or even worse - memorize them, or admit you’re no game owner?
There’s already a heap of professions to chose from and with starting gear, it’s a flying start already if you wish for one, don’t you think? The mess you have to deal with from the very start should be treated accordingly and, since there is Hardcore trait involved also, the massive idea change should follow the point cost direction. You could go Vanilla, Vanilla-Strawberry and full-on Strawberry. You should be able to get 3 or 5 points from a scenario of your choosing, whereas your hardest choice would lead you into a belly of the infestation beast.
Just a note, I think that Shower Victim spawning in a bathroom of a suburban home is inconclusive, and a mechanic having to deal with serious Z trouble just because he found himself in the middle of a Public Works is choice-torment. But (yes, but!) if the player is to have something out of it before the actual play and there’s a gun in one of the lockers just to prove his whereabouts, I’m pitching in.[/quote]
Yeah, that makes sense. A choice for starting location is an advantage/disadvantage depending on location.
Love the shower victim idea too.
[quote=“Kevin Granade, post:13, topic:3029”]I totally agree, spawn location should be a chargen choice with a point value along with traits, skills, stats, profession, etc.
Additionally prepackaged starting scenarios would be fun, and a good way to ease new players into the game.[/quote]
Exactly! +10
Way to sum up exactly what we are all trying to say ;).