# 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:** 32

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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 28, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/621 "2013-04-28T15:35:37Z")

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> [@drake1storm](#):
>
> Then why can’t I use my finger laser? I already ate like 12 sticks to try and fuel up, but it still says I have 0/0 power.

Looks like you don’t have a battery installed. You can’t charge up if you haven’t got any place to store the charge. I hear butchering Shockers is the best way to find battery mods.

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**Author:** ![drake1storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/54ee81/32.png) [@drake1storm](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/drake1storm)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/622 "2013-04-28T17:33:09Z")

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_sigh_

Looks like, at some point, I managed to break cataclysm… Ah, well, time to delete, re-download the source code and do it all again!

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**Author:** ![kastor246](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f19dbf/32.png) [@kastor246](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kastor246)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/623 "2013-04-28T17:40:11Z")

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[quote=“kastor246, post:614, topic:42”]So when I use my pocket knife it says I whack what ever I’m hitting… How do I stop whacking and actually cut the damn things?![/quote] So no one is gonna answer my question?

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**Author:** ![drake1storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/54ee81/32.png) [@drake1storm](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/drake1storm)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/624 "2013-04-28T17:44:57Z")

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> [@kastor246](#):
>
> [quote=“kastor246, post:614, topic:42”]So when I use my pocket knife it says I whack what ever I’m hitting… How do I stop whacking and actually cut the damn things?![/quote] So no one is gonna answer my question?

press @, highlight your bashing skill, press space, and repeat that for your piercing skill. That will divert all xp to cutting while you fight.

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**Author:** ![kastor246](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f19dbf/32.png) [@kastor246](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kastor246)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/625 "2013-04-28T17:48:25Z")

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> [@drake1storm](#):
>
> [quote=“kastor246, post:623, topic:42”][quote=“kastor246, post:614, topic:42”]So when I use my pocket knife it says I whack what ever I’m hitting… How do I stop whacking and actually cut the damn things?![/quote] So no one is gonna answer my question?

press @, highlight your bashing skill, press space, and repeat that for your piercing skill. That will divert all xp to cutting while you fight.[/quote] Thank you!

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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 29, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/626 "2013-04-29T20:43:57Z")

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There’s something I just don’t understand about vehicle construction … I found a car chassis and attempted to modify it by adding additional trunks instead of seats. But i can’t retrieve my items from those trunks using 'e’xamine, it just takes me to the vehicle construction screen. Anyone know how to make this work?

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**Author:** ![Weyrling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@Weyrling](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Weyrling)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/627 "2013-04-29T20:53:58Z")

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> [@warppooted](#):
>
> There’s something I just don’t understand about vehicle construction … I found a car chassis and attempted to modify it by adding additional trunks instead of seats. But i can’t retrieve my items from those trunks using 'e’xamine, it just takes me to the vehicle construction screen. Anyone know how to make this work?

From my experience this only happens when you don’t have any items in the trunk, try dropping something on it and then examining it?

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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 29, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/628 "2013-04-29T21:00:05Z")

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> [@Weyrling](#):
>
> [quote=“warppooted, post:626, topic:42”]There’s something I just don’t understand about vehicle construction … I found a car chassis and attempted to modify it by adding additional trunks instead of seats. But i can’t retrieve my items from those trunks using 'e’xamine, it just takes me to the vehicle construction screen. Anyone know how to make this work?

From my experience this only happens when you don’t have any items in the trunk, try dropping something on it and then examining it?[/quote]

You’re right, in my muddleheaded confusion I forgot which trunks I had put items in and thought I couldn’t retrieve from the empty ones. Cheers!

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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:** [May 1, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/629 "2013-05-01T03:31:57Z")

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I was searching around in a lab and turrets started spawning in every other room for some reason. I mean rooms that i had already searched started to have turrets spawned in them and i almost died considering zombie scientists started to spawn too along with robocops, which were not there when i first began looting. Hell a turret spawned in the room with stairs leading up to the surface and I barely made it out alive. I thought on static spawn stuff like that wasnt supposed to happen

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**Author:** ![drake1storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/54ee81/32.png) [@drake1storm](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/drake1storm)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/630 "2013-05-01T03:51:15Z")

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> [@skillithead](#):
>
> I was searching around in a lab and turrets started spawning in every other room for some reason. I mean rooms that i had already searched started to have turrets spawned in them and i almost died considering zombie scientists started to spawn too along with robocops, which were not there when i first began looting. Hell a turret spawned in the room with stairs leading up to the surface and I barely made it out alive. I thought on static spawn stuff like that wasnt supposed to happen

Look in your log. You tripped the alarm.

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**Author:** ![Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@Phoenix](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Phoenix)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/631 "2013-05-01T15:42:21Z")

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Just a quick question: Why am I getting mutations randomly everytime I’m going to sleep in the game (usually bad), I see no status effects or anything that would cause them… and is there any way to cure this condition? don’t really wanna get mutated into a lizard.

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**Author:** ![Ferodaktyl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/ferodaktyl/32/56_2.png) [@Ferodaktyl](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Ferodaktyl)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/632 "2013-05-01T15:48:31Z")

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you are most probably irradiated, get a Geiger thingie and check yourself out. I got the same problem, i wet to sleep and i woke up slymy and with light intolerance, but smart :P. Now i leave a trail of slime behind me anywhere i go, which is kinda useful, but annoying at the same time.

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**Author:** ![Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@Phoenix](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Phoenix)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/633 "2013-05-01T15:52:14Z")

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Used geiger counter on myself and radiation came up as 0, any other ideas? 😃

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**Author:** ![Ferodaktyl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/ferodaktyl/32/56_2.png) [@Ferodaktyl](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Ferodaktyl)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/634 "2013-05-01T15:57:23Z")

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must be the mutation fairy than 😃

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**Author:** ![Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@Phoenix](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Phoenix)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/635 "2013-05-01T16:01:46Z")

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I wonder if this could be a bug? really have no idea what could cause this, couldn’t find anything that could explain this from the wiki either. Kinda sucks because I have a good set of mutations and wouldn’t really want to start chugging down purifiers daily on this run.

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**Author:** ![i2amroy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/i2amroy/32/909_2.png) [@i2amroy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/i2amroy)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/636 "2013-05-01T16:05:05Z")

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You don’t by any chance happen to have the “genetically unstable” mutation do you? That would cause you to constantly gain new mutations over time.

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**Author:** ![Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@Phoenix](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Phoenix)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/637 "2013-05-01T16:09:05Z")

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Nope, unless it’s hidden

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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:** [May 1, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/638 "2013-05-01T16:16:19Z")

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Did you scan the environment?

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**Author:** ![i2amroy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/i2amroy/32/909_2.png) [@i2amroy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/i2amroy)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/639 "2013-05-01T16:19:09Z")

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> [@Sheb](#):
>
> Did you scan the environment?

This right here, a low level of radiation could be causing mutations but not really registering on you.

Also have you been sleeping in the same place all the time? Or in different places every time?

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**Author:** ![Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@Phoenix](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Phoenix)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/640 "2013-05-01T16:19:47Z")

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Environment still 0 and also left it on continuous for a while and came up with nothing. I have cheated in my game (giving myself feathers mutation, because I hate not being able to go out when it’s raining), maybe this is like a “screw you for cheating, have some random mutations” from the devs? heh

Edit: and I mostly sleep in my car or completely empty LMOE shelter I found.

Another edit: Can it be some questionable stuff in my trunk, I think I have 5 plutonium cells there, but shouldn’t it show it on the scanner then ?

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