# 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:** 163

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HunterAlpha1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@HunterAlpha1](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/HunterAlpha1)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3241 "2014-05-20T01:34:36Z")

</div>

> [@jimboblordofeskimos](#):
>
> [quote=“HunterAlpha1, post:3230, topic:42”]When I’m building my main base I place a large square of spiked pits around it, and then another outside of that separated by a space. Then on the inside of the inner square I build palisades. Inside of that I place turrets sheltered by roofs and separated by a single wall tile so they don’t shoot each other. If I still feel I need it I add another row of spiked pits outside of the outer row. At this point my base is pretty much impregnable by anything, but if I feel like it I’ll add a row each of nailboard traps and caltrops just in case a Zombie Hulk that’s part of a horde stumbles across my fortress.

You can build your trap layers 2 tiles thick and still reach both sides easy enough. It also gives room to have diagonal holes as entrances, much less likely for something to get through and avoid a whole line of traps.

I havent been playing against hordes, will your setup hold out against them?[/quote]The inner row butts up against my palisade, so if I put the first two rows of spikepits next to each other I won’t be able to reach them unless someone makes palisade walls climbable. The reason the inner row is right up against the palisade is because if a strong enemy makes it to the palisade before I get my turrets up I can lure the enemy into following me along the line of spikepits until it dies.

Haven’t tested it with hordes yet, because in every game I’ve played since hordes were implemented a really nice vehicle has spawned near my starting shelter so I haven’t needed to build a base yet.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Creamy\_Goodness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/creamy_goodness/32/292_2.png) [@Creamy\_Goodness](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Creamy_Goodness)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3242 "2014-05-20T01:37:20Z")

</div>

Hey guys had a noob question, Made my first actual surviving archer and his archer and marksman have maxed out at 5 and 4, I have just slaughtered a mansion and beyond of zombies and didn’t get a % of skill, am using a compound bow. does it expect me to find a low chance bow in a sporting store or search forever for a crossbow trap / Archery book for something different? melee does not seem to have these limitations on gear and skill as far as I remember.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [May 20, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3243 "2014-05-20T01:47:23Z")

</div>

Keep trying. Takes a while, or find the bowyers buddy and make that sexy reflex recurve bow.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kilozombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@kilozombie](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kilozombie)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3244 "2014-05-20T01:47:33Z")

</div>

> [@Creamy Goodness](#):
>
> Hey guys had a noob question, Made my first actual surviving archer and his archer and marksman have maxed out at 5 and 4, I have just slaughtered a mansion and beyond of zombies and didn’t get a % of skill, am using a compound bow. does it expect me to find a low chance bow in a sporting store or search forever for a crossbow trap / Archery book for something different? melee does not seem to have these limitations on gear and skill as far as I remember.

Not familiar entirely with the Experimental learning mechanics.

Were you low/empty on Focus?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![greenpanda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@greenpanda](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/greenpanda)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3245 "2014-05-20T02:05:24Z")

</div>

> [@Creamy Goodness](#):
>
> Hey guys had a noob question, Made my first actual surviving archer and his archer and marksman have maxed out at 5 and 4, I have just slaughtered a mansion and beyond of zombies and didn’t get a % of skill, am using a compound bow. does it expect me to find a low chance bow in a sporting store or search forever for a crossbow trap / Archery book for something different? melee does not seem to have these limitations on gear and skill as far as I remember.

Did you get you need a more accurate weapon to improve your skill message?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Creamy\_Goodness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/creamy_goodness/32/292_2.png) [@Creamy\_Goodness](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Creamy_Goodness)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3246 "2014-05-20T02:09:55Z")

</div>

> [@kilozombie](#):
>
> [quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3242, topic:42”]Hey guys had a noob question, Made my first actual surviving archer and his archer and marksman have maxed out at 5 and 4, I have just slaughtered a mansion and beyond of zombies and didn’t get a % of skill, am using a compound bow. does it expect me to find a low chance bow in a sporting store or search forever for a crossbow trap / Archery book for something different? melee does not seem to have these limitations on gear and skill as far as I remember.

Not familiar entirely with the Experimental learning mechanics.

Were you low/empty on Focus?[/quote]

I do not remember but I never move into combat below 60 focus im very cautious

[/quote]  
Did you get you need a more accurate weapon to improve your skill message?  
[/quote]

I think I might have, but I was in combat so I didn’t have time / Was too impatient to stop buttom smashing F for a second to read it

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Khrysanth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@Khrysanth](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Khrysanth)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3247 "2014-05-20T02:16:59Z")

</div>

The two main ways of improving the accuracy of a bow is either to find/make a more advanced bow, or to make and use better arrows.

You didn’t mention what type of arrows you were using with that compound bow.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Creamy\_Goodness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/creamy_goodness/32/292_2.png) [@Creamy\_Goodness](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Creamy_Goodness)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3248 "2014-05-20T02:18:35Z")

</div>

[quote=“Khrysanth, post:3247, topic:42”]The two main ways of improving the accuracy of a bow is either to find/make a more advanced bow, or to make and use better arrows.

You didn’t mention what type of arrows you were using with that compound bow.[/quote]

I use field point arrows, Second noob question guys, I heard basements are safe zones from monsters, can I smash shit down here and the above ground level wont hear me?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HunterAlpha1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@HunterAlpha1](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/HunterAlpha1)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3249 "2014-05-20T02:20:53Z")

</div>

[quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3248, topic:42”][quote=“Khrysanth, post:3247, topic:42”]The two main ways of improving the accuracy of a bow is either to find/make a more advanced bow, or to make and use better arrows.

You didn’t mention what type of arrows you were using with that compound bow.[/quote]

I use field point arrows, Second noob question guys, I heard basements are safe zones from monsters, can I smash shit down here and the above ground level wont hear me?[/quote]So far. I’ve set off C4 and dynamite when breaking open science lab armories with 1k hordes right above my head and never saw them aggro.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Creamy\_Goodness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/creamy_goodness/32/292_2.png) [@Creamy\_Goodness](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Creamy_Goodness)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3250 "2014-05-20T02:27:18Z")

</div>

[quote=“HunterAlpha1, post:3249, topic:42”][quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3248, topic:42”][quote=“Khrysanth, post:3247, topic:42”]The two main ways of improving the accuracy of a bow is either to find/make a more advanced bow, or to make and use better arrows.

You didn’t mention what type of arrows you were using with that compound bow.[/quote]

I use field point arrows, Second noob question guys, I heard basements are safe zones from monsters, can I smash shit down here and the above ground level wont hear me?[/quote]So far. I’ve set off C4 and dynamite when breaking open science lab armories with 1k hordes right above my head and never saw them aggro.[/quote]

The king of farts has spoken, thank you very much sir I will proceed with my drug fueled rage against this book case

That would be a strange quote

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dec](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/dec/32/218_2.png) [@Dec](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Dec)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3251 "2014-05-20T02:30:35Z")

</div>

[quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3250, topic:42”][quote=“HunterAlpha1, post:3249, topic:42”][quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3248, topic:42”][quote=“Khrysanth, post:3247, topic:42”]The two main ways of improving the accuracy of a bow is either to find/make a more advanced bow, or to make and use better arrows.

You didn’t mention what type of arrows you were using with that compound bow.[/quote]

I use field point arrows, Second noob question guys, I heard basements are safe zones from monsters, can I smash shit down here and the above ground level wont hear me?[/quote]So far. I’ve set off C4 and dynamite when breaking open science lab armories with 1k hordes right above my head and never saw them aggro.[/quote]

The king of farts has spoken, thank you very much sir I will proceed with my drug fueled rage against this book case

That would be a strange quote[/quote]  
Hunter, sig this. It’s about you.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HunterAlpha1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@HunterAlpha1](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/HunterAlpha1)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3252 "2014-05-20T02:47:09Z")

</div>

[quote=“Forrest, post:3251, topic:42”][quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3250, topic:42”][quote=“HunterAlpha1, post:3249, topic:42”][quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3248, topic:42”][quote=“Khrysanth, post:3247, topic:42”]The two main ways of improving the accuracy of a bow is either to find/make a more advanced bow, or to make and use better arrows.

You didn’t mention what type of arrows you were using with that compound bow.[/quote]

I use field point arrows, Second noob question guys, I heard basements are safe zones from monsters, can I smash shit down here and the above ground level wont hear me?[/quote]So far. I’ve set off C4 and dynamite when breaking open science lab armories with 1k hordes right above my head and never saw them aggro.[/quote]

The king of farts has spoken, thank you very much sir I will proceed with my drug fueled rage against this book case

That would be a strange quote[/quote]  
Hunter, sig this. It’s about you.[/quote]Done. Damn 300 character limit. ☹

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [May 20, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3253 "2014-05-20T02:48:47Z")

</div>

Just shorten it to “The king of farts has spoken”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Creamy\_Goodness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/creamy_goodness/32/292_2.png) [@Creamy\_Goodness](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Creamy_Goodness)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3254 "2014-05-20T02:51:56Z")

</div>

[quote=“HunterAlpha1, post:3252, topic:42”][quote=“Forrest, post:3251, topic:42”][quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3250, topic:42”][quote=“HunterAlpha1, post:3249, topic:42”][quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3248, topic:42”][quote=“Khrysanth, post:3247, topic:42”]The two main ways of improving the accuracy of a bow is either to find/make a more advanced bow, or to make and use better arrows.

You didn’t mention what type of arrows you were using with that compound bow.[/quote]

I use field point arrows, Second noob question guys, I heard basements are safe zones from monsters, can I smash shit down here and the above ground level wont hear me?[/quote]So far. I’ve set off C4 and dynamite when breaking open science lab armories with 1k hordes right above my head and never saw them aggro.[/quote]

The king of farts has spoken, thank you very much sir I will proceed with my drug fueled rage against this book case

That would be a strange quote[/quote]  
Hunter, sig this. It’s about you.[/quote]Done. Damn 300 character limit. :([/quote]

I must say it classes up the place mr hunter 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HunterAlpha1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@HunterAlpha1](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/HunterAlpha1)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3255 "2014-05-20T03:30:02Z")

</div>

[quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3254, topic:42”][quote=“HunterAlpha1, post:3252, topic:42”][quote=“Forrest, post:3251, topic:42”][quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3250, topic:42”][quote=“HunterAlpha1, post:3249, topic:42”][quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3248, topic:42”][quote=“Khrysanth, post:3247, topic:42”]The two main ways of improving the accuracy of a bow is either to find/make a more advanced bow, or to make and use better arrows.

You didn’t mention what type of arrows you were using with that compound bow.[/quote]

I use field point arrows, Second noob question guys, I heard basements are safe zones from monsters, can I smash shit down here and the above ground level wont hear me?[/quote]So far. I’ve set off C4 and dynamite when breaking open science lab armories with 1k hordes right above my head and never saw them aggro.[/quote]

The king of farts has spoken, thank you very much sir I will proceed with my drug fueled rage against this book case

That would be a strange quote[/quote]  
Hunter, sig this. It’s about you.[/quote]Done. Damn 300 character limit. :([/quote]

I must say it classes up the place mr hunter :)[/quote]Indeed, but let’s not all get banned for pyramiding, eh?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Creamy\_Goodness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/creamy_goodness/32/292_2.png) [@Creamy\_Goodness](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Creamy_Goodness)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3256 "2014-05-20T03:36:46Z")

</div>

But its a glorious monument to the blood god armok… err wait wrong game

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Khrysanth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@Khrysanth](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Khrysanth)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3257 "2014-05-20T03:49:10Z")

</div>

[quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3248, topic:42”][quote=“Khrysanth, post:3247, topic:42”]The two main ways of improving the accuracy of a bow is either to find/make a more advanced bow, or to make and use better arrows.

You didn’t mention what type of arrows you were using with that compound bow.[/quote]

I use field point arrows, Second noob question guys, I heard basements are safe zones from monsters, can I smash shit down here and the above ground level wont hear me?[/quote]

Fletched field points, or just basic ones? Beyond that, of course, are actual wood arrows (arrowheads and fletching), then heavy wood arrows (arrowheads and fletching again)…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![The\_Lone\_Badger](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/the_lone_badger/32/8063_2.png) [@The\_Lone\_Badger](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/The_Lone_Badger)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 9:37am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3258 "2014-05-20T09:37:03Z")

</div>

> [@Creamy Goodness](#):
>
> Hey guys had a noob question, Made my first actual surviving archer and his archer and marksman have maxed out at 5 and 4, I have just slaughtered a mansion and beyond of zombies and didn’t get a % of skill, am using a compound bow. does it expect me to find a low chance bow in a sporting store or search forever for a crossbow trap / Archery book for something different? melee does not seem to have these limitations on gear and skill as far as I remember.

Use a Basic Repair Kit on the bow to Accurize it.  
Then fit an Under-Barrel Laser Sight to it.

(Alternatively, grind up your skill using a slingshot and pebbles)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Creamy\_Goodness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/creamy_goodness/32/292_2.png) [@Creamy\_Goodness](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Creamy_Goodness)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 9:53am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3259 "2014-05-20T09:53:08Z")

</div>

> [@The Lone Badger](#):
>
> [quote=“Creamy Goodness, post:3242, topic:42”]Hey guys had a noob question, Made my first actual surviving archer and his archer and marksman have maxed out at 5 and 4, I have just slaughtered a mansion and beyond of zombies and didn’t get a % of skill, am using a compound bow. does it expect me to find a low chance bow in a sporting store or search forever for a crossbow trap / Archery book for something different? melee does not seem to have these limitations on gear and skill as far as I remember.

Use a Basic Repair Kit on the bow to Accurize it.  
Then fit an Under-Barrel Laser Sight to it.

(Alternatively, grind up your skill using a slingshot and pebbles)[/quote]

Doesn’t slingshot just raise my marksman though, and I cant imagine a slingshot being an upgrade in learning how to aim then a bow, but I guess I give it a try thanks for the info

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![The\_Lone\_Badger](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/the_lone_badger/32/8063_2.png) [@The\_Lone\_Badger](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/The_Lone_Badger)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3260 "2014-05-20T10:26:16Z")

</div>

> [@Creamy Goodness](#):
>
> Doesn’t slingshot just raise my marksman though, and I cant imagine a slingshot being an upgrade in learning how to aim then a bow, but I guess I give it a try thanks for the info

Slingshots are an Archery weapon (don’t ask me why. But they are.)

Slingshot + pebble has a total dispersion of 14, which is good enough to get your skill pretty high. Certainly much better than longbow + wood arrow (total dispersion 27) or longbow + field point arrow (total dispersion 32).

Eventually you’ll want to be rocking an Accurised Reflex Recurve Bow+ w/ heavy wood arrows (total dispersion 4, as good as most guns).

[Previous page](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42.md?page=162)

[Next page](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42.md?page=164)