# 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:** 192

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**Author:** ![VonCede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@VonCede](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/VonCede)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3821 "2014-07-11T13:34:12Z")

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Kids these days…

I mean, did something change on the zombie kids or did the RNG just mess with me?

I haven’t played on the couple of months, and in the latest experimental (0.A-1773), I encountered my first kid and I missed it on melee like crazy. Over 20 misses before I got my first stab in with the combat knife. Not that my skills are great (melee 3, cutting 3), but damn. Before him I killed brute with just 5 stabs and the all normal Zeds drop easily with 3/4 stabs, with no misses.

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**Author:** ![vache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ea666f/32.png) [@vache](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vache)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3822 "2014-07-11T14:00:44Z")

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There’s some craziness with the size code that makes creatures smaller than you ridiculously harder to hit.

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**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:** [July 11, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3823 "2014-07-11T14:36:21Z")

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[quote=“VonCede, post:3821, topic:42”]Kids these days…

I mean, did something change on the zombie kids or did the RNG just mess with me?

I haven’t played on the couple of months, and in the latest experimental (0.A-1773), I encountered my first kid and I missed it on melee like crazy. Over 20 misses before I got my first stab in with the combat knife. Not that my skills are great (melee 3, cutting 3), but damn. Before him I killed brute with just 5 stabs and the all normal Zeds drop easily with 3/4 stabs, with no misses.[/quote]

try throw your knife i cleared shool just by throwing my reinforced katana from 0 lvl of throwing now i have 4

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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:** [July 11, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3824 "2014-07-11T16:54:54Z")

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I only miss children when I have +5 enc on my torso…

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**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:** [July 11, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3825 "2014-07-11T19:21:40Z")

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i allways have 5-7 enc on torso its realy hard to carry 200 volume and keep torso enc under 5

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**Author:** ![kilozombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@kilozombie](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kilozombie)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3826 "2014-07-11T19:33:39Z")

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> [@Arek\_PL](#):
>
> i allways have 5-7 enc on torso its realy hard to carry 200 volume and keep torso enc under 5

Wear two bindles and a duffel bag, carrying the duffel bag in your inventory when you’re not hauling a big load.

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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:** [July 11, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3827 "2014-07-11T20:24:58Z")

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> [@Arek\_PL](#):
>
> i allways have 5-7 enc on torso its realy hard to carry 200 volume and keep torso enc under 5

What the hell? I have 3-4 enc on my torso and I can carry 160-190 volume at anytime. You stop carrying to much stuff…

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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:** [July 11, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3828 "2014-07-11T21:38:02Z")

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I always keep my torso at 2 or under, dont know what you guys are doing. Endgame that comes out to 200+ carry, early game its a bit over 100. You only need to carry about 50 worth of stuff with you (2x melee wep inc knife, food, handcannon + ammo, book for acid rain, sew kit, drugs, few assorted other things to taste, maybe 20 worth of food and drink), everything else should be for random loots. With a shopping cart you can carry 50 and still have all the random bits and gubbins you only need everyso often right there with you. The debuff from 5 torso is huge if you are doing anything but pure ranged until late game.

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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:** [July 11, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3829 "2014-07-11T21:48:18Z")

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Well, I do wear scabbards for my melee weapon and a quiver for my arrows. If I don’t have integrated tool set, I’m carrying a hammer and a screwdriver. I always carry a lighter and a sewing kit, plus a crowbar if I ever need to open a door quickly/can’t be picked. What are you wearing, Jim? Here’s mine, if anyone is interested.

[spoiler]  
Ignore foodstuffs for now. But I do carry a waterskin at all times.

![](http://i.imgur.com/6ljtPad.png)[/spoiler]

 ![](http://i.imgur.com/K6g2kXI.png)

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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:** [July 11, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3830 "2014-07-11T22:46:21Z")

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Fairly similar late game, but without the jewelery (no stylish on the current), undergarments (socks/jocks/), 1x holster w/handcannon (RM99), trench knife as melee, no scabbard/big melee. Barbute helm cause its boss and seems to be top tier at 24c 24b, just elbow and knee pads, not the hard ones. I run guns rather than bows, that cuts it down a bit. Current ‘walking around gun’ is a deagle with all the trimmings with about 500 rounds to work my way through. End game I have just 1000s of rounds to play with. Im also rocking a reinforced dragon skin vest. Total carry is about 180, 2 torso enc, 0 arms, 1 leg. Vest only went on after I got above 10 melee skill, before that, 1 torso enc.

Beyond what you have there, endgame I also carry a PDA so I dont loose my car, taser w/double storage to carry batteries, atomic nightlight, good store of 50 or so of all the day to day drugs (not antifungal, etc, they are in car), bottle of disinfectant. Yah, crowbar is a must, reinforced as a backup melee, ive got all the cbms by this time so I always carry a 3l waterskin (overkill tbh) and a half dozen or so of pemmican to supplement whatever food I find. Oh, and a skill book incase of acid rain. No towel though.

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**Author:** ![Vanigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Vanigo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Vanigo)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3831 "2014-07-12T00:05:12Z")

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[quote=“FunsizeNinja123, post:3829, topic:42”]Well, I do wear scabbards for my melee weapon and a quiver for my arrows. If I don’t have integrated tool set, I’m carrying a hammer and a screwdriver. I always carry a lighter and a sewing kit, plus a crowbar if I ever need to open a door quickly/can’t be picked. What are you wearing, Jim? Here’s mine, if anyone is interested.[/quote]Why are you wearing a survivor trenchcoat and cargo pants instead of a light survivor suit? It’s a little more storage, and I guess it’s about 5 pounds lighter, but only about half the armor and environmental protection. Has something been rebalanced in experimental?

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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:** [July 12, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3832 "2014-07-12T00:34:20Z")

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Do folding seats allow your to add a trunk or cargo space under the seat?

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**Author:** ![Taraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@Taraq](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Taraq)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3833 "2014-07-12T00:49:54Z")

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What skill is used for repairs with a soldering iron to non-electronic objects, like a knife?

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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:** [July 12, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3834 "2014-07-12T00:50:59Z")

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[quote=“Taraq, post:3833, topic:42”]What skill is used for repairs with a soldering iron to non-electronic objects, like a knife?[/quote]Probably mechanics.

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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:** [July 12, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3835 "2014-07-12T01:23:42Z")

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> [@Vanigo](#):
>
> [quote=“FunsizeNinja123, post:3829, topic:42”]Well, I do wear scabbards for my melee weapon and a quiver for my arrows. If I don’t have integrated tool set, I’m carrying a hammer and a screwdriver. I always carry a lighter and a sewing kit, plus a crowbar if I ever need to open a door quickly/can’t be picked. What are you wearing, Jim? Here’s mine, if anyone is interested.[/quote]Why are you wearing a survivor trenchcoat and cargo pants instead of a light survivor suit? It’s a little more storage, and I guess it’s about 5 pounds lighter, but only about half the armor and environmental protection. Has something been rebalanced in experimental?

Yes. And the LSS puts one more on my legs, so that’s 3 enc on my legs. I don’t want that.

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**Author:** ![mgreg68](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/mgreg68/32/1323_2.png) [@mgreg68](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/mgreg68)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 6:49am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3836 "2014-07-12T06:49:03Z")

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Hi there. Long time listener, first time caller! ^-^

I’ve been playing CDDA for a couple of weeks now. My son introduced me to the game and I am now quite hooked. Excellent game, BTW, and thank you devs!

I’m playing stable 0.A and I’d like to offer a valuable life lesson that nearly killed my char off. Never, never, ever put a “cracked” atomic nightlight in your pocket. Bad things happen! I was moving from the evac shelter into town and it just happened to be one of the things that I put in my inventory instead of into the shopping cart. Confused about the puking and stat debuffs I were, until I mutated a snout! Egads. Luckily, I had previously found a Geiger counter that I used for confirmation…400 rads…I disposed of the atomic nightlight in an ecofreindly way–thrown at a weasel’s head. So several iodine tabs and a purifier later, all was well with lesson learned. _._

[quote=“VonCede, post:3821, topic:42”]Kids these days…

I mean, did something change on the zombie kids or did the RNG just mess with me?

I haven’t played on the couple of months, and in the latest experimental (0.A-1773), I encountered my first kid and I missed it on melee like crazy. Over 20 misses before I got my first stab in with the combat knife. Not that my skills are great (melee 3, cutting 3), but damn. Before him I killed brute with just 5 stabs and the all normal Zeds drop easily with 3/4 stabs, with no misses.[/quote]  
Yeah…and skeleton dogs are quite the bitch, too. Kids I take out with a bow, so wasn’t worried about torso encumbrance that much. Until the skeleton dog kept biting my nut sack while my nail bat swung around “wildly”. And yes, I did throw my extra torso crap off and beat the hell out of the skelly puppy with two well-placed whacks. \*\_- So yeah, encumbrance. Totally a thing. \>.\<

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**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:** [July 12, 2014, 8:28am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3837 "2014-07-12T08:28:54Z")

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> [@HunterAlpha1](#):
>
> Do folding seats allow your to add a trunk or cargo space under the seat?

yes

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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:** [July 12, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3838 "2014-07-12T16:30:22Z")

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> [@mgreg68](#):
>
> I’ve been playing CDDA for a couple of weeks now. My son introduced me to the game

Your son? I’m impressed.

> [@mgreg68](#):
>
> I’m playing stable 0.A and I’d like to offer a valuable life lesson that nearly killed my char off. Never, never, ever put a “cracked” atomic nightlight in your pocket. Bad things happen! I was moving from the evac shelter into town and it just happened to be one of the things that I put in my inventory instead of into the shopping cart. Confused about the puking and stat debuffs I were, until I mutated a snout! Egads. Luckily, I had previously found a Geiger counter that I used for confirmation…400 rads…I disposed of the atomic nightlight in an ecofreindly way–thrown at a weasel’s head. So several iodine tabs and a purifier later, all was well with lesson learned. _._

I’m surprised you didn’t get mauled by some of the zom-animals.

[quote=“mgreg68, post:3836, topic:42”][quote=“VonCede, post:3821, topic:42”]Kids these days…

I mean, did something change on the zombie kids or did the RNG just mess with me?

I haven’t played on the couple of months, and in the latest experimental (0.A-1773), I encountered my first kid and I missed it on melee like crazy. Over 20 misses before I got my first stab in with the combat knife. Not that my skills are great (melee 3, cutting 3), but damn. Before him I killed brute with just 5 stabs and the all normal Zeds drop easily with 3/4 stabs, with no misses.[/quote]  
Yeah…and skeleton dogs are quite the bitch, too. Kids I take out with a bow, so wasn’t worried about torso encumbrance that much. Until the skeleton dog kept biting my nut sack while my nail bat swung around “wildly”. And yes, I did throw my extra torso crap off and beat the hell out of the skelly puppy with two well-placed whacks. \*\_- So yeah, encumbrance. Totally a thing. \>.\<[/quote]

Keep going down the bow path, my friend. Bows are awesome.

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<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:** [July 13, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3839 "2014-07-13T00:03:25Z")

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Do mutations clash with bionics? I had heard implementing a mutation/bionic clash being passed around but haven’t heard anything lately.

And could someone please list all the mutations in the Alpha mutation tree?

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**Author:** ![KA101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@KA101](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KA101)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/3840 "2014-07-13T00:59:31Z")

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[quote=“HunterAlpha1, post:3839, topic:42”]Do mutations clash with bionics? I had heard implementing a mutation/bionic clash being passed around but haven’t heard anything lately.

And could someone please list all the mutations in the Alpha mutation tree?[/quote]

Not yet. Only bad things in Alpha currently are Nauseous, Weakening, and Fast Metabolism, last I checked.

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