# 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:** 28

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**Author:** ![Flare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c0e974/32.png) [@Flare](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Flare)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/541 "2013-04-18T03:02:38Z")

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You craft a brazier and set it down via the a button. Any fire in that space will be contained.

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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:** [April 18, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/542 "2013-04-18T03:05:24Z")

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> [@sting\_auer](#):
>
> How do I go about cooking indoors safely? I’d prefer cooking my food inside where it’s safer instead of going out in the open where I might be attacked while I’m cooking.

Let’s go with the Hotplate there: it’s basically a portable electric stove burner. You can craft one with some Electronics, or find them in Electronics stores, houses, or science labs.

If you have a Stove in your base, players have reported being able to start fires in those safely, too. You could also craft a Brazier, deploy it and make a BBQ of the thing.

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**Author:** ![warppooted](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/warppooted/32/905_2.png) [@warppooted](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/warppooted)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/543 "2013-04-18T04:27:18Z")

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Does anyone know how long it takes for chunks of meat to fully rot away?

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**Author:** ![Flare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c0e974/32.png) [@Flare](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Flare)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/544 "2013-04-18T05:14:15Z")

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Can I eat fresh raw meat and not get sick?

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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:** [April 18, 2013, 6:34am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/545 "2013-04-18T06:34:49Z")

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I’ve had meat last multiple seasons before cooking it. I don’t think it ever completely rots, though IIRC GlyphGryph was musing about making a giant roach or something that would eat unprotected stockpiles.

Chunks of meat (non-rotten) can be eaten safely, but give a minor Morale penalty. Someone (I forget who, sorry) made the argument that the Carnivore mutation ought to let players eat raw meat without a morale penalty, but I don’t think that went anywhere.

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**Author:** ![Patatkraam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@Patatkraam1](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Patatkraam1)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 8:49am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/546 "2013-04-18T08:49:25Z")

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Hey, I’ve had a few questions and tried to skip through the thread ( also used the search option, ) but I just couldn’t find them or I somehow missed them.

1.Can you make your own traps? Currently I have a skill of 0 and I can’t seem to create any traps. Do I have to disarm traps, risking my life for the experience or is there a book of it? ( currently found 3 libraries without anything regarding traps, nor in houses. )

1. Can you deconstruct walls? Can you build a stairs up or add another floor on either the top or dig a hole down?

2. How do I deconstruct Metal fence posts? Can’t deconstruct as furniture and smashing attempts just says that there’s nothing there.

3. Are NPCS still to be added? I used a two way radio to call some faction, they came and as soon as they arrived they all fell dead during a debug message.

4. I’m in a bit of a dilemma:  
 ![](http://i49.tinypic.com/douuk9.png)

What do I do, and what does the Master Zombie do, except turn other zombies into random classes?

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**Author:** ![Flare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c0e974/32.png) [@Flare](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Flare)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:19am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/547 "2013-04-18T09:19:31Z")

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> [@Patatkraam1](#):
>
> 1.Can you make your own traps? Currently I have a skill of 0 and I can’t seem to create any traps. Do I have to disarm traps, risking my life for the experience or is there a book of it? ( currently found 3 libraries without anything regarding traps, nor in houses. )

Some traps you can construct, like pits and spiked pits from the construction \* menu.

Other traps you craft and then "a"pply them from your inventory and set them down on the ground.

There is a book called “How to trap everything”. Libraries aren’t very good in terms of book diversity. Best to look for a mansion.

> 2. Can you deconstruct walls? Can you build a stairs up or add another floor on either the top or dig a hole down?

You can destroy walls with a jackhammer (maybe a sledge hammer), and by driving a vehicle through it. You can’t make separate layers up or down afaik.

> 5. I'm in a bit of a dilemma: [IMG]http://i49.tinypic.com/douuk9.png[/img]
> 
> What do I do, and what does the Master Zombie do, except turn other zombies into random classes?

Chug your adderral, cocaine, and meth all at once until over 175 speed. And try to make it to that car. But you’re probably already dead anyways.

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**Author:** ![Patatkraam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@Patatkraam1](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Patatkraam1)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:42am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/548 "2013-04-18T09:42:38Z")

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> [@Flare](#):
>
> Chug your adderral, cocaine, and meth all at once until over 175 speed. And try to make it to that car. But you’re probably already dead anyways.

It was a daring escape, using adderral twice, crack and caffeine pills, being quick and surefooted I rushed to the car, got into the wrong seat, had to beat up a hulk using a bayonette rifle for the drivers seat and drove nearly into a building when I realised the car was the other way around and had a trunk in the front. Barely got out of there alive ^^

EDIT: Oh and thanks for the quick answer, I do know where to find a sledge hammer, so I’ll try it out.

Do you also know if you can make barbed wire or do you really have to find it in a farm or somewhere else?

EDIT2: Sledgehammer doesn’t appear to work, at least on a concrete wall. ( Military outpost ). I’ll try to find a jackhammer I suppose.

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**Author:** ![Flare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c0e974/32.png) [@Flare](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Flare)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 10:43am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/549 "2013-04-18T10:43:07Z")

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Not to sure on barbed wire, I usually just live in the woods until I begin cleansing the town with my bow. I’ve never really required much in the way of a built up home ever since I got with static spawn.

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**Author:** ![Danv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Danv](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Danv)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 12:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/550 "2013-04-18T12:28:31Z")

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few quick questions:

- how to interact with water tank on car? how to fill it, drain water from it, maybe purify all water in tank and so on…
- is there any way to drain fuel from vehicle back into suitable container?
- muffler, one per vehicle or one per combustion engine?
- minireactor, it generates power for electric engine or doing something else?
- how much power generates one solar panel and how much power uses one large electric engine (on safe speed)?
- best armour for vehicle - hard plating? in terms of defense and don’t counting weight
- few technical ones: where i can find variable for gas pump to become empty and variable for power armor power usage?

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**Author:** ![youtoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/779978/32.png) [@youtoo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/youtoo)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/551 "2013-04-18T17:28:50Z")

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I think the top newb tip is get a bow. The easiest way to do this is to start with the archery skill. A bow can be crafted with 1 archery and 1 survival. It is often tough to find a bow or crossbows. Bows are sometimes found in Sporting Good stores but on average tend to be rare. Crossbows are found in crossbow traps. Sometimes you get lucky and find them and sometimes you don’t. Plus there is limited ammo.

you don’t need to start with survival. You can get this to 1 pretty quick by butchering corpses. You can kill rabbits with stones, then butcher them. Turn off gain for throwing so you don’t waste exp.  
While doing this break into houses on the outskirts and find 2, 3ft string. These are very common random items in general houses. On average it should not take you more than 4-6 hours to get 2 pieces of string.

you can craft a bow with 1 heavy stick that is easily found in the woods.  
you can make all the arrows you need from the benches in the shelter. Carry about 30.

Arrows are reusable. Most of the time you shoot them you can pick them up.  
Silent weapon. Not as serious with the current static spawns. If you use non-static spawns noise spawns Zombies (Ill bet noise will be a big problem again in a later release).  
Range. So you can wear a backup and stock up on items that that let you carry more bulk for easier early game looting. Since dodging is not as much of an issue.  
Range makes it easier to run a way.

you still need a bashing items. Bows are not effective at all against skeletons (probably some other mobs). So bring a bashing weapon too. But early on run from anything you can’t take down with bows.  
With level 2 bows, you are already doing quite a bit of damage to most zombie types.  
By level 5, you can easily take down zombie hulks at range (especially if you put some points into perception).

Due to the range of bows. It is more effective to try to clear out the corners of town during the day since you can see farther and can run away. So you can pick off a few at a time. Run. Get your exp back up and get a few more. At night you can stumble on tough baddies.

Bow is effective at close range, but you will get hit.

It is probably the single best weapon in the game. Not as powerful as the big guns ,but its much lighter, you have unlimited ammo, and ammo can be picked up.

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**Author:** ![Labtop\_215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Labtop\_215](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Labtop_215)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/552 "2013-04-19T05:12:22Z")

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[quote=“youtoo, post:551, topic:42”]I think the top newb tip is get a bow. The easiest way to do this is to start with the archery skill. A bow can be crafted with 1 archery and 1 survival. It is often tough to find a bow or crossbows. Bows are sometimes found in Sporting Good stores but on average tend to be rare. Crossbows are found in crossbow traps. Sometimes you get lucky and find them and sometimes you don’t. Plus there is limited ammo.

you don’t need to start with survival. You can get this to 1 pretty quick by butchering corpses. You can kill rabbits with stones, then butcher them. Turn off gain for throwing so you don’t waste exp.  
While doing this break into houses on the outskirts and find 2, 3ft string. These are very common random items in general houses. On average it should not take you more than 4-6 hours to get 2 pieces of string.

you can craft a bow with 1 heavy stick that is easily found in the woods.  
you can make all the arrows you need from the benches in the shelter. Carry about 30.

Arrows are reusable. Most of the time you shoot them you can pick them up.  
Silent weapon. Not as serious with the current static spawns. If you use non-static spawns noise spawns Zombies (Ill bet noise will be a big problem again in a later release).  
Range. So you can wear a backup and stock up on items that that let you carry more bulk for easier early game looting. Since dodging is not as much of an issue.  
Range makes it easier to run a way.

you still need a bashing items. Bows are not effective at all against skeletons (probably some other mobs). So bring a bashing weapon too. But early on run from anything you can’t take down with bows.  
With level 2 bows, you are already doing quite a bit of damage to most zombie types.  
By level 5, you can easily take down zombie hulks at range (especially if you put some points into perception).

Due to the range of bows. It is more effective to try to clear out the corners of town during the day since you can see farther and can run away. So you can pick off a few at a time. Run. Get your exp back up and get a few more. At night you can stumble on tough baddies.

Bow is effective at close range, but you will get hit.

It is probably the single best weapon in the game. Not as powerful as the big guns ,but its much lighter, you have unlimited ammo, and ammo can be picked up.[/quote]

To make any real use of a longbow, you must have 10 or more strength. You could use a composite bow, but they are slow.

Personally, the best trick I ever learned was that you need to keep your torso, leg, and feet encumbrance low. A trenchcoat, pair of army pants, and a good pair of sneakers (all fitting preferably) will keep cover you well during the spring and autumn months and will provide good storage. Having space in your inventory to store vital items will help keep you alive for much longer while allowing you to dodge and melee attack enemies as well as shoot them reasonably well.

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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:** [April 19, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/553 "2013-04-19T12:10:27Z")

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Does archery skill decrease reloading time of crossbows and bows?

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**Author:** ![Sheb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@Sheb](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Sheb)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 12:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/554 "2013-04-19T12:28:50Z")

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No, strength lower reloading time fro crossbows, and I think fit gloves liners helps as well.

But yeah, bows are awesome. If you can find a good supply of booze, a bow a a half-dozen molotov will greatly help clearing any town.

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**Author:** ![Dalgul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c89c15/32.png) [@Dalgul](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Dalgul)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/555 "2013-04-19T14:52:08Z")

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Is the only way to repair windshields from parts of other cars? Is there anyway to remove windows on houses without breaking them?

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**Author:** ![warppooted](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/warppooted/32/905_2.png) [@warppooted](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/warppooted)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/556 "2013-04-19T14:54:28Z")

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> [@Dalgul](#):
>
> Is the only way to repair windshields from parts of other cars? Is there anyway to remove windows on houses without breaking them?

You can dismantle windows if you have a hammer and screwdriver (using the construction menu, \* and B). This produces a sheet of glass which IIRC can be used to replace windshields.

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**Author:** ![Jack\_Slinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jack\_Slinger](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Jack_Slinger)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/557 "2013-04-19T14:56:45Z")

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Yeah i can confirm that. (ninja me damn it)

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**Author:** ![Patatkraam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@Patatkraam1](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Patatkraam1)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/558 "2013-04-19T22:41:25Z")

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[quote=“Danv, post:550, topic:42”]few quick questions:

- how to interact with water tank on car? how to fill it, drain water from it, maybe purify all water in tank and so on…[/quote]

You can fill it by pressing e on the vehicle, hovering over the location of the water tank and press the (f) Refill button.

But I haven’t found out how to interact with it any other way though.

Also, is there any easy way to make rope? I’ve tried raiding every sport clothing store I find and hauling every single thread, but I need 64.000 just to create 1 30ft rope for a wooden palisade. even with the random strings I find it’s just not enough.

P.S. I’ve calculated that I need around 290 of them… so… there.

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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:** [April 20, 2013, 7:20am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/559 "2013-04-20T07:20:45Z")

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Sinew.

Although it’s a bug at the moment, if you unload a needle (even if it used sinew) you get out thread, turns into string, turns into string, turns into rope, turns into rope.

It still takes a hell of a long time though.

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**Author:** ![Pakislav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@Pakislav](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Pakislav)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 9:43am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/560 "2013-04-20T09:43:47Z")

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I have a problem. I reset the world and started a new game, and my character has 3 encumberance on every body part when naked. I assume it’s due to temperature since it’s 0+3 everywhere.

This is just ridiculous. The weather is clear and it’s 18C. My previous character was getting blisters at this temperature!  
Is this a normal behaviour for current version, and something that is going to be fixed or is it just me and I can do something about it?

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