# Tips, Tricks, and Newb Questions!

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42>\
**Category:** The Bunker\
**Created:** [January 3, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42 "2013-01-03T03:04:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 131

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**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2601 "2014-03-16T17:51:22Z")

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Use a real knife.

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**Author:** ![jimboblordofeskimos](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/jimboblordofeskimos/32/2_2.png) [@jimboblordofeskimos](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/jimboblordofeskimos)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2602 "2014-03-16T18:35:49Z")

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> [@kingorkami](#):
>
> Question: Is there a way to get back some kevlar from helmets and other army gear? I usually use the scissors on my leather and cloth stuff but obviously this doesnt seem to work on helmets…

Yah, you want a knife, scissors are only good for cutting up leather and cotton. Though IIRC army helms give plastic chunks, you need to find kevlar vests and the like to get kevlar.

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**Author:** ![Lawliman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/lawliman/32/1056_2.png) [@Lawliman](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Lawliman)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2603 "2014-03-16T19:59:16Z")

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Random nub question, but is there any way to get rid of liquids on the ground? I dumped out some acid water, and now it’s just sitting on the ground taunting me. Stupid acid rain.

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**Author:** ![pulsefrequency](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@pulsefrequency](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/pulsefrequency)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2604 "2014-03-16T20:02:08Z")

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“Wool ignites at a higher temperature than cotton and some synthetic fibers. It has a lower rate of flame spread, a lower rate of heat release, a lower heat of combustion, and does not melt or drip; it forms a char which is insulating and self-extinguishing, and it contributes less to toxic gases and smoke than other flooring products when used in carpets. Wool carpets are specified for high safety environments, such as trains and aircraft. Wool is usually specified for garments for firefighters, soldiers, and others in occupations where they are exposed to the likelihood of fire.”

> **[Wool](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool)**
>
> Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other animals, including cashmere and mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, hide and fur clothing from bison, angora from rabbits, and other types of wool from camelids. 
> Wool consists of protein together with a small percentage of lipids. In this regard it is chemically quite distinct from the more dominant textile, cotton, which is mainly cellulose.
> Wool is produced by follicles which are small cells located in the skin. These follicles a...

  
LMGTFY

so in other words, wool IS technically flammable, but not very; it is extremely flame retardant and will most likely go out on its own. but this all depends on the heat of the flame. if you tried to light a wool hat with a lighter, it probably will not “burn.” but if you light a wood fire and throw a bunch of wool on top, it will probably burn up pretty quickly, though the fire needs to be going good, and the wool will not contribute to the overall heat or intensity of the fire. it will just kinda sizzle up.

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**Author:** ![SKiPPY](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/skippy/32/123_2.png) [@SKiPPY](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/SKiPPY)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2605 "2014-03-16T20:24:53Z")

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Are there any mods for a crossbow that I can craft? Or any period?

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**Author:** ![John\_Candlebury](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/john_candlebury/32/6437_2.png) [@John\_Candlebury](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/John_Candlebury)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2606 "2014-03-16T20:31:56Z")

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I think you can mount underbarel crossbows in your crossbow, so you can crossbow while you crossbow

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**Author:** ![HunterAlpha1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@HunterAlpha1](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/HunterAlpha1)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2607 "2014-03-16T20:56:27Z")

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[quote=“SKiPPY, post:2605, topic:42”]Are there any mods for a crossbow that I can craft? Or any period?[/quote]No mods, you just need to learn the recipe from a book.

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**Author:** ![pulsefrequency](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@pulsefrequency](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/pulsefrequency)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2608 "2014-03-16T21:00:39Z")

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how many xzibits would xzibit exhibit if xzibit could exhibit xzibits?

![](http://www.metalinjection.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/xzibit.jpg)

an UB shotgun would be useful… not sure if CB has UB attachment

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**Author:** ![kingorkami](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kingorkami/32/242_2.png) [@kingorkami](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kingorkami)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2609 "2014-03-16T21:44:39Z")

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Were unarmed weapons fixed (knuckles and such).

I remember back in the day they used to slow down attacks without activating style specials. Are they working now?

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**Author:** ![Lawliman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/lawliman/32/1056_2.png) [@Lawliman](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Lawliman)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2610 "2014-03-17T00:16:39Z")

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Playing experimental, where do I find hops? Are there seeds for it, or do I have to lucksack it off of a random zombler? My 'zerker needs his mead.

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**Author:** ![Fish](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/fish/32/249_2.png) [@Fish](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Fish)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2611 "2014-03-17T00:27:34Z")

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First thought in my mind at seeing that (sorry i dont know).

```
                                                                         FOR ARMOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
```

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**Author:** ![Rayko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e4f/32.png) [@Rayko](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rayko)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2612 "2014-03-17T01:57:18Z")

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> [@Lawliman](#):
>
> Random nub question, but is there any way to get rid of liquids on the ground? I dumped out some acid water, and now it’s just sitting on the ground taunting me. Stupid acid rain.

Mop it up with a mop.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jimboblordofeskimos](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/jimboblordofeskimos/32/2_2.png) [@jimboblordofeskimos](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/jimboblordofeskimos)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 5:41am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2613 "2014-03-17T05:41:12Z")

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> [@Lawliman](#):
>
> Playing experimental, where do I find hops? Are there seeds for it, or do I have to lucksack it off of a random zombler? My 'zerker needs his mead.

Farms, and I believe ive seen some in liquor stores as well. You may have to find some seeds for it and try growing the stuff yourself.

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**Author:** ![Goombah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Goombah](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Goombah)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 12:26pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2614 "2014-03-17T12:26:30Z")

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So I had a middle of the city start with spawns up to 2.0.

Needless to say, I was immediately surrounded by a huge horde of zombies. Reasonably, I decided to retreat down the stairs to kill zombies down in the basement as they came down the steps, using the doorways to limit their approach.

Only, apparently, the z ombies from upstairs were able to /teleport/ into the room behind me. It /had/ been clear.

Can someone explain? XD

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**Author:** ![Musu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Musu](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Musu)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2615 "2014-03-17T17:21:02Z")

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Haven’t played in a game for a while and now decided to try again. And now I have a problem, sidebar takes too much screen space. How to change game field and/or sidebar size? I found only window size.

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**Author:** ![pulsefrequency](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@pulsefrequency](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/pulsefrequency)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2616 "2014-03-17T18:09:53Z")

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[quote=“pulsefrequency, post:2567, topic:42”][quote=“Stingray, post:2556, topic:42”]Thanks. I’m using Raga’s, but my sidebar is unnecessarily big. Is why I tried to change the size. Sorry for all these stupid things I’m doing and asking, I’m still very new to things. Is there a way to make the sidebar small while in fullscreen?

Edit - If there is maybe a way to change the font size, it will be narrower?[/quote]

right click on your desktop and select “screen resolution” to see the resolutin you should set it at. set the height a bit smaller than the actual screen size. its width x height btw. the actual option displays the size in tiles; look to the option description to see the actual resolution this translates to. if you set them both to the max, either edit it via notepad as previously mentioned in this thread, or just delete the folder (very simple uninstall) and extract the game again.

to change the font size, in the cata folder, go to the data folder, open the FONTDATA file in a program like Notepad++ or something and here you can edit the font size. this will skew your “console size” options however. use with caution, and ALWAYS increase the font size BEFORE you increase console size, or you may have the same problem.

that is; if the console is set too big, the window is so big that windows is not even displaying it. or it is just way off-screen. go to task manager (ctrl + shift + escape) and close out any persisting instances of cataclysm, as you may have racked up a few, which can eat up a bit of memory.

(edit - i see that you are actually just trying to make the sidebar smaller in fullscreen - i dont use tiles so i wouldnt know, sorry - this method is useful for a geometrically accurate view of the game, as by default, tiles are taller than they are wide. for example, the evacuation shelter is a square, not a rectangle. count it off if you want proof. your starting view of the map, barring forests or other obstacles, is also square, not rectangular, as it may seem. consequentially, monsters that are vertically displaced from your character are actually much closer than horizontally displaced monsters that look like they are at the same distance, and vice versa.)

the reason for this is that text is almost completely illegible in a square font. even if its not perfectly square, when you start reducing font size, it just truncates off the bottom. and then you are thrust into situations such as this.  
 ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-whjWW31Sed4/UyKvT8k-g7I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/YSV0rTU8-cg/w119-h72-no/drugs.png)  
i guess you cant really go wrong.

all hail the RNG[/quote]

you can also change the “sidebar style” in the options menu.

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**Author:** ![Frostwood](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/frostwood/32/112_2.png) [@Frostwood](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Frostwood)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2617 "2014-03-17T18:57:16Z")

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> [@Lawliman](#):
>
> Playing experimental, where do I find hops? Are there seeds for it, or do I have to lucksack it off of a random zombler? My 'zerker needs his mead.

A farmer profession was added in the experimental, that starts with all the currently available seeds and a hoe. That way you can have large cities, without having to worry about finding seeds, if you desire to farm(which I do).

You can also find hops on farms.

I wonder if you can add more seeds without having to break into the code.

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**Author:** ![kingorkami](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kingorkami/32/242_2.png) [@kingorkami](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kingorkami)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2618 "2014-03-17T19:01:17Z")

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How do I improve things not made with plastic or fabric? (ie: Chitin Arm-guards)

Soldering irons and sewing kits dont work on those…

EDIT: Another question: Are pickaxes craftable? If not, where should I go to find one? (please dont tell me a mine, I don’t have a car…)

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**Author:** ![Soyweiser](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/soyweiser/32/37_2.png) [@Soyweiser](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Soyweiser)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2619 "2014-03-17T19:46:12Z")

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[quote=“kingorkami, post:2618, topic:42”]How do I improve things not made with plastic or fabric? (ie: Chitin Arm-guards)

Soldering irons and sewing kits dont work on those…

EDIT: Another question: Are pickaxes craftable? If not, where should I go to find one? (please dont tell me a mine, I don’t have a car…)[/quote]

Either the sewing kit or the iron should work. Sure you aren’t missing materials? (not 100% sure if all stuff can be improved btw).

A pickaxe needs a recipe. … or at least is used to need one. [http://cdda.estilofusion.com/pickaxe](http://cdda.estilofusion.com/pickaxe) seems it has been removed…

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**Author:** ![kingorkami](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kingorkami/32/242_2.png) [@kingorkami](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kingorkami)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/2620 "2014-03-17T20:23:34Z")

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The sewing kit says that its not made of fabric, and the soldering iron says its not made of iron or plastic.

And, well… I guess I will have to raid a mine soon…

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