# 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:** 29

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**Author:** ![TaintedHolyWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TaintedHolyWater](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TaintedHolyWater)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/561 "2013-04-20T14:28:05Z")

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If you are carrying more then you have space (volume) for you get encumbrance everywhere. As you said you were naked you have 0 volume. Are you carrying anything?

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**Author:** ![skillithead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@skillithead](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/skillithead)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/562 "2013-04-21T03:00:47Z")

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Im fairly new to this game and im wondering what i can use with solar panels. It would be ideal if I could somehow recharge my batteries off solar power, but I currently have no idea how to do this.

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**Author:** ![Williham](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/williham/32/845_2.png) [@Williham](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Williham)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/563 "2013-04-21T03:06:34Z")

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There are presently two types of solar panels in the game; vehicle solar panels, and CBM: Solar Panels.

Neither can be used to get batteries for tools..

Both vehicle storage batteries and CBM: Power System batteries are essentially black holes: You can put energy in, but you can’t get it back out.

This is by design: wrt. CBM operation in particular, energy expenditures tend to be somewhat more efficient, but they are bound to your POW rather than existing as free batteries.

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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 21, 2013, 6:36am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/564 "2013-04-21T06:36:51Z")

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[quote=“Patatkraam1, post:558, topic:42”]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.[/quote]

There is no easy way to make rope, it just takes an absurd amount of string to do so. You’d probably be faster by going to another town with a sporting good’s store and seeing if they have any in stock there.

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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 21, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/565 "2013-04-21T17:05:24Z")

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I’ve lately been hitting the labs, and I was wondering if hacking multiple consoles in the lab for map information provides new information or just the same? Is it worth to hack all the consoles for the details?

EDIT: Tested it, it does not provide new map information. With so many consoles it would be too easy.

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**Author:** ![skillithead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@skillithead](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/skillithead)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/566 "2013-04-23T00:05:53Z")

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Hey I have a quick question when it comes to bionics. I have several different CBMs like infared and alarm system ones but I think I need an internal battery bionic to start installing them. Is there any place that normally has one because I have searched a science lab, a Fema camp, and two towns with no luck, so any tips as to where I could find one would be greatly appreciated

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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 23, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/567 "2013-04-23T00:14:27Z")

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> [@skillithead](#):
>
> Hey I have a quick question when it comes to bionics. I have several different CBMs like infared and alarm system ones but I think I need an internal battery bionic to start installing them. Is there any place that normally has one because I have searched a science lab, a Fema camp, and two towns with no luck, so any tips as to where I could find one would be greatly appreciated

Easiest way is to butcher shocker zombies. This also provides many other DBMS sometimes rare ones

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**Author:** ![Iosyn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/iosyn/32/35_2.png) [@Iosyn](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Iosyn)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/568 "2013-04-23T03:26:54Z")

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Quick question folks:

Dual wieldan. How do?  
I’m sure I read somewhere you could Rambo-wield guns if your STR was high enough.  
I assume you don’t need 14 Str to dual-wield two pistols, right?

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**Author:** ![Williham](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/williham/32/845_2.png) [@Williham](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Williham)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 6:07am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/569 "2013-04-23T06:07:33Z")

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[quote=“Iosyn, post:568, topic:42”]Quick question folks:

Dual wieldan. How do?  
I’m sure I read somewhere you could Rambo-wield guns if your STR was high enough.  
I assume you don’t need 14 Str to dual-wield two pistols, right?[/quote]

You can’t dual-wield weapons, but you can fire any weapon you’re strong enough for one-handed while driving.

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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 23, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/570 "2013-04-23T06:23:57Z")

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> [@Williham](#):
>
> You can’t dual-wield weapons, but you can fire any weapon you’re strong enough for one-handed while driving.

I’ve fired my longbow while riding a motorcycle though.

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**Author:** ![Williham](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/williham/32/845_2.png) [@Williham](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Williham)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 6:38am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/571 "2013-04-23T06:38:57Z")

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> [@warppooted](#):
>
> [quote=“Williham, post:569, topic:42”]You can’t dual-wield weapons, but you can fire any weapon you’re strong enough for one-handed while driving.

I’ve fired my longbow while riding a motorcycle though.[/quote]

That’s an artefact of how bows are handled. (i.e. poorly)

Essentially, bows should not be fireable one-handed in any case, and crossbows should not be reloadable with one hand.

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**Author:** ![Iosyn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/iosyn/32/35_2.png) [@Iosyn](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Iosyn)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/572 "2013-04-23T12:44:45Z")

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> [@Williham](#):
>
> [quote=“warppooted, post:570, topic:42”][quote=“Williham, post:569, topic:42”]You can’t dual-wield weapons, but you can fire any weapon you’re strong enough for one-handed while driving.

I’ve fired my longbow while riding a motorcycle though.[/quote]

That’s an artefact of how bows are handled. (i.e. poorly)

Essentially, bows should not be fireable one-handed in any case, and crossbows should not be reloadable with one hand.[/quote] Indeed. Then again, you could probably fire a crossbow one handed at short range, with a pretty hefty accuracy penalty. Probably wouldn’t hit anything more than 4 tiles away.

Fun Fact: Point crossbow at ground, Stand on bow. Haul the bow string with both hands, voila reload complete. It’s actually pretty simple and fast. A lot of sporting crossbows these days come with a front-mounted bracket (that U-shaped piece of metal on front) so you don’t have to step on your nice shiny carbon-fibre bow for an easier reload.

Frankly I think reloading crossbows in cata is a bit harder than it should be. Fire. Step, Bolt in, haul string, Haul weapon up for a fast aim at nearby targets.  
Easily comparable with jamming a magazine in an assault rifle, (aka Eject spent mag, insert new mag, cock and lock. And pick up your damn brass.) only problem would be that you need to do it after every shot, thus increasing the amount of reloads.

Treble Edit:: Protip\> Start as a Wannabe mechanic and take that point out of mechanics and stick it in somewhere else, e.g traps, survival, tailoring, melee…  
Read the book you get at the start to boost your mechanics skill up to one and make a crowbar. instant 150 exp and a decent weapon.  
But no shoes.

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**Author:** ![Williham](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/williham/32/845_2.png) [@Williham](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Williham)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/573 "2013-04-23T13:32:03Z")

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Indeed you can fire a crossbow one handed, if strong enough, but you can’t reload it.

In fact, this would probably be easily solved by making reloading impossible one-handed altogether, maybe.

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**Author:** ![Caconym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aca169/32.png) [@Caconym](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Caconym)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/574 "2013-04-23T13:46:48Z")

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Can you get a Plasma Engine(s) without cheats? I don’t think I have ever seen one before other than in a few cheat characters for trying such things out.

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**Author:** ![Williham](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/williham/32/845_2.png) [@Williham](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Williham)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/575 "2013-04-23T13:54:29Z")

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You find them in bank vaults, occasionally, and possibly spider/wasp-infested houses.

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**Author:** ![Iosyn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/iosyn/32/35_2.png) [@Iosyn](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Iosyn)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/576 "2013-04-23T14:27:28Z")

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[quote=“Williham, post:573, topic:42”]Indeed you can fire a crossbow one handed, if strong enough, but you can’t reload it.

In fact, this would probably be easily solved by making reloading impossible one-handed altogether, maybe.[/quote]  
Indeed, reloading a crossbow one handed would be a chore. Certainly couldn’t be done in any kind of combat situation without leaving yourself wide open-- unless you’re strong enough to reload it one-handed, of course.

How about this, Halve STR for reloading purposes if you’ve lost an arm, so you could still do it but it would take much longer.

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**Author:** ![Williham](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/williham/32/845_2.png) [@Williham](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Williham)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/577 "2013-04-23T14:45:44Z")

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You could probably reload it one-handed if you’re strong enough, and you have both feet firmly planted on the ground.

Reloading a crossbow (or any firearm for that matter) while riding a motorcycle I’m pretty sure cannot be done one-handed.

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**Author:** ![Iosyn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/iosyn/32/35_2.png) [@Iosyn](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Iosyn)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/578 "2013-04-23T15:23:18Z")

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Indeed Wil. Shouldn’t be able to fire longbows while driving. Firing crossbows yes, but reloading no.

However, you could feasably reload a lever-action rifle one-handed while driving. [Same with the Winchester 1887.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EcE9WwNLKw)

It would be tricky-- and once the tube is dry you’re still stuck in the same position. Probably better off going with a few spare pistols or SMGs and just dropping them back into a spare seat or bike box as you empty them, since actually reloading anything, not just cocking it, while driving a motorbike would be a royal pain in the ass.

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**Author:** ![Williham](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/williham/32/845_2.png) [@Williham](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Williham)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/579 "2013-04-23T16:42:10Z")

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That reload isn’t really one-handed, tho’.

Although I do remember seeing the Terminator do a one-handed shotgun reload thing in Terminator 2, on a motorbike.

But I still think a “no reloading while driving” rule is a fairly sensible approach.

At least for motorcycles. 😛

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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 23, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/580 "2013-04-23T23:38:43Z")

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Yeah, T2 had Arnold flip-cocking a shotgun. Problem was that the shotgun was an antique that had been modded for the purpose…so, probably a crafting or at least a Mechanics roll required first.

[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103064/faq?ref\_=tt\_faq\_sm](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103064/faq?ref_=tt_faq_sm) (Most of the way down–sorry)

Road Warrior modification? “This weapon has been modified for ease of one-handed use, including reworking the action and streamlining the magazine for easier reloading.”

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