# 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:** 183

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Annoyed\_grunt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/annoyed_grunt/32/1075_2.png) [@Annoyed\_grunt](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Annoyed_grunt)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 11:12am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3641 "2014-06-24T11:12:30Z")

</div>

No, I had only one.

PS: I died. Damn Zombears.

---

<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:** [June 24, 2014, 11:29am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3642 "2014-06-24T11:29:47Z")

</div>

I believe damaged batteries lose charge, pretty quickly too. Make sure your storage batteries are in good nick (I believe light-green is OK, but yellow definitely isn’t).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Annoyed\_grunt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/annoyed_grunt/32/1075_2.png) [@Annoyed\_grunt](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Annoyed_grunt)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 12:09pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3643 "2014-06-24T12:09:14Z")

</div>

It was, like, pink, which if I remember well is heavily damaged.

---

<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:** [June 24, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3644 "2014-06-24T18:53:27Z")

</div>

> [@Annoyed grunt](#):
>
> It was, like, pink, which if I remember well is heavily damaged.

Yup.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [June 25, 2014, 7:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3645 "2014-06-25T07:16:59Z")

</div>

> [@Annoyed grunt](#):
>
> It was, like, pink, which if I remember well is heavily damaged.

So it was losing charge…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![skyhog281](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@skyhog281](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/skyhog281)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3646 "2014-06-25T19:26:19Z")

</div>

I cleared out my first ever town and I found some nice loot (MkII light power armour and an advanced UPS). But, I have no plutonium cells to power it. From my searches it seems that fusion packs and broken robots are supposed to drop them when dismantled, but the inventory screen doesn’t allow it (grey).

Why can’t I dismantle robots and fusion packs? What are some other sources of plutonium?

Also is it bad if my ‘like new’ vehicle exhausts smoke when the engine runs. I assume its supposed to do that but I just want to be sure because its taken me almost 3 in game seasons to make it.

---

<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:** [June 25, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3647 "2014-06-25T19:28:55Z")

</div>

[quote=“skyhog281, post:3646, topic:42”]Also is it bad if my ‘like new’ vehicle exhausts smoke when the engine runs. I assume its supposed to do that but I just want to be sure because its taken me almost 3 in game seasons to make it.[/quote]Yeah the puffs of smoke let you know the vehicle is running, just in case you release the controls and forget to turn it off.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [June 25, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3648 "2014-06-25T19:51:05Z")

</div>

Best sources of plutonium are labs, the rooms with crates on it can have plut cells on them, killing the turrets can also net some (and a lot of 9mm ammo by the way) another good source is killing copbot after copbot after copbot.

If have the skill to disassemble bionics, power storages have a cell in them, (but it might be more advantageous to install them)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![skyhog281](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@skyhog281](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/skyhog281)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3649 "2014-06-25T20:12:44Z")

</div>

Thanks for the reply’s.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Annoyed\_grunt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/annoyed_grunt/32/1075_2.png) [@Annoyed\_grunt](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Annoyed_grunt)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3650 "2014-06-25T21:14:31Z")

</div>

Now that I think about it, does it take more time if you take [^] Control of a vehicle while the engine is off?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![userpay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/userpay/32/1128_2.png) [@userpay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/userpay)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 6:11am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3651 "2014-06-26T06:11:48Z")

</div>

How do you pull water from a mansion’s pool? Tried diving in and using g or , but doesn’t seem to want to grab the water despite having bottles.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Arek\_PL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b77776/32.png) [@Arek\_PL](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Arek_PL)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 6:31am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3652 "2014-06-26T06:31:26Z")

</div>

[quote=“userpay, post:3651, topic:42”]How do you pull water from a mansion’s pool? Tried diving in and using g or , but doesn’t seem to want to grab the water despite having bottles.[/quote] Examine water source not Grab it and if you pour liquid on surface you cant pickup it

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![1D-1\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/e5b9ba/32.png) [@1D-1\_T](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/1D-1_T)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 6:56am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3653 "2014-06-26T06:56:02Z")

</div>

Does anyone have any advice on how to find charcoal or a charcoal kiln? I recently found a charcoal smoker, and I’d rather like to use it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [June 26, 2014, 6:58am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3654 "2014-06-26T06:58:24Z")

</div>

> [@1D-1()T](#):
>
> Does anyone have any advice on how to find charcoal or a charcoal kiln? I recently found a charcoal smoker, and I’d rather like to use it.

Charcoal spawns in decent numbers inside labs (chek the room with the rows of counters). I dont think I have ever found a charcoal kiln, but if they spawn I would check public works buildings.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![1D-1\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/e5b9ba/32.png) [@1D-1\_T](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/1D-1_T)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 7:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3655 "2014-06-26T07:27:06Z")

</div>

> [@John Candlebury](#):
>
> [quote=“1D-1()T, post:3653, topic:42”]Does anyone have any advice on how to find charcoal or a charcoal kiln? I recently found a charcoal smoker, and I’d rather like to use it.

Charcoal spawns in decent numbers inside labs (chek the room with the rows of counters). I dont think I have ever found a charcoal kiln, but if they spawn I would check public works buildings.[/quote]  
Cool. I was just reading 101 crafts for beginners and I actually found the recipe for it. Just need a welder and possibly a hack saw and I can make it myself.

---

<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:** [June 26, 2014, 10:59am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3656 "2014-06-26T10:59:27Z")

</div>

I saw a charcoal kiln in a pawn shop once. Once.  
Otherwise they’re pretty easy to make. Remember that you don’t have to memorise recipes anymore, you can just have the book nearby.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dorian](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Dorian)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3657 "2014-06-26T14:56:25Z")

</div>

If you’re exploring a mine and find one of the levels with the dead miner bodies, go into those circular rock formations that are strewn about. There’ll be extra bodies in the center of the spiral (I assume this is an Uzumaki reference).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![userpay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/userpay/32/1128_2.png) [@userpay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/userpay)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3658 "2014-06-26T15:07:21Z")

</div>

[quote=“The Lone Badger, post:3656, topic:42”]I saw a charcoal kiln in a pawn shop once. Once.  
Otherwise they’re pretty easy to make. Remember that you don’t have to memorise recipes anymore, you can just have the book nearby.[/quote]

Seriously? That’s awesome! And here I was getting frustrated that I kept failing to learn recipes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![userpay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/userpay/32/1128_2.png) [@userpay](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/userpay)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3659 "2014-06-26T15:23:19Z")

</div>

And sorry for the double post but I’ve seen multiple references to finding statues or something with weapons in mansions. Thus far I’ve been in two mansions without noticing any, and I blind or are they not a guaranteed spawn?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ea666f/32.png) [@vache](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vache)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3660 "2014-06-26T15:24:55Z")

</div>

They’re not guaranteed. That would be really broken if anything were guaranteed.

[Previous page](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42.md?page=182)

[Next page](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42.md?page=184)