# 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:** 42

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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:** [May 22, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/821 "2013-05-22T03:58:19Z")

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[quote=“drake1storm, post:820, topic:42”]Foot crank powered bikes are easily the quietest vehicle.

That is all.[/quote]  
Gas adds 25% of its power to noise, plasma 10%, batteries 3%, muscle 5%.  
Meaning that by power to noise ratios, gas is loudest, muscles are 1/5th as loud, but batteries are quietest.

More relevantly, judging by numbers, electric motors are usually more powerful than a foot crank, and are therefore louder in practice.  
Note that I have snipped a great deal of this code, the result of part\_power§ \* nc / 100; is applied to noise for every engine individually.  
The effect of mufflers is based specifically on the engine in question, but 1 muffler per engine is ideal.

` switch (part_info(p).fuel_type)
            {
            case AT_GAS: nc = 25; break;
            case AT_PLASMA: nc = 10; break;
            case AT_BATT: nc = 3; break;
            case AT_MUSCLE: nc = 5; break;
            }`

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**Author:** ![ClaytonRISING](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/claytonrising/32/75_2.png) [@ClaytonRISING](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/ClaytonRISING)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/822 "2013-05-22T21:42:27Z")

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Is there any real use for pipe bombs? I made a shit ton of them, around 20, in hopes of helping me clear out a part of town (I play on static), but from what I can tell they don’t do very much damage. Even with a direct hit by one, I was lucky to get a zombie kill or two. Most of the time it just damaged them, didn’t even kill them. Is there a way to balance this or is there any way to further the killing power of pipe bombs? Or were they made this way on purpose?

I’m not too worried about it, I was mainly using them because I couldn’t get into a liquor store for some molotovs.

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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:** [May 22, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/823 "2013-05-22T21:49:20Z")

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[quote=“ClaytonRISING, post:822, topic:42”]Is there any real use for pipe bombs? I made a shit ton of them, around 20, in hopes of helping me clear out a part of town (I play on static), but from what I can tell they don’t do very much damage. Even with a direct hit by one, I was lucky to get a zombie kill or two. Most of the time it just damaged them, didn’t even kill them. Is there a way to balance this or is there any way to further the killing power of pipe bombs? Or were they made this way on purpose?

I’m not too worried about it, I was mainly using them because I couldn’t get into a liquor store for some molotovs.[/quote]  
I use pipe bombs to break into military bunkers and their delicious loot, each explosion will damage the wall but it may take a couple bombs for each card reader, make sure to go for other explosives first once inside if you don’t have surplus bombs.

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**Author:** ![ClaytonRISING](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/claytonrising/32/75_2.png) [@ClaytonRISING](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/ClaytonRISING)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/824 "2013-05-22T21:52:52Z")

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[quote=“Weyrling, post:823, topic:42”][quote=“ClaytonRISING, post:822, topic:42”]Is there any real use for pipe bombs? I made a shit ton of them, around 20, in hopes of helping me clear out a part of town (I play on static), but from what I can tell they don’t do very much damage. Even with a direct hit by one, I was lucky to get a zombie kill or two. Most of the time it just damaged them, didn’t even kill them. Is there a way to balance this or is there any way to further the killing power of pipe bombs? Or were they made this way on purpose?

I’m not too worried about it, I was mainly using them because I couldn’t get into a liquor store for some molotovs.[/quote]  
I use pipe bombs to break into military bunkers and their delicious loot, each explosion will damage the wall but it may take a couple bombs for each card reader, make sure to go for other explosives first once inside if you don’t have surplus bombs.[/quote]

So are pipe bombs better used in tool-like capacity other than for crowd control?

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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:** [May 22, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/825 "2013-05-22T22:08:17Z")

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> [@ClaytonRISING](#):
>
> [quote=“Weyrling, post:823, topic:42”]I use pipe bombs to break into military bunkers and their delicious loot, each explosion will damage the wall but it may take a couple bombs for each card reader, make sure to go for other explosives first once inside if you don’t have surplus bombs.

So are pipe bombs better used in tool-like capacity other than for crowd control?[/quote]  
When worried about crowd control molotovs are dozens of times better than a pipe bomb.  
If you’re good with throwing explosives you can use the pipe bombs to take out individuals like hulks and smokers, but for hordes you’d want a molotov, a mininuke, or a gas station and any explosive whatsoever.

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**Author:** ![DerpMcgee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/derpmcgee/32/864_2.png) [@DerpMcgee](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DerpMcgee)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/826 "2013-05-24T04:50:36Z")

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> [@Weyrling](#):
>
> [quote=“ClaytonRISING, post:824, topic:42”][quote=“Weyrling, post:823, topic:42”]I use pipe bombs to break into military bunkers and their delicious loot, each explosion will damage the wall but it may take a couple bombs for each card reader, make sure to go for other explosives first once inside if you don’t have surplus bombs.

So are pipe bombs better used in tool-like capacity other than for crowd control?[/quote]  
When worried about crowd control molotovs are dozens of times better than a pipe bomb.  
If you’re good with throwing explosives you can use the pipe bombs to take out individuals like hulks and smokers, but for hordes you’d want a molotov, a mininuke, or a gas station and any explosive whatsoever.[/quote]

I reserve Mininukes for Fungles.

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**Author:** ![Miloch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/miloch/32/1339_2.png) [@Miloch](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Miloch)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:53am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/827 "2013-05-24T07:53:36Z")

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What happens if you are driving a flatbed truck at a turret and the turret fires at me. I’ve never done this. Do the bullets hit the frame? The windshield? Me?

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**Author:** ![Nopkar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/34f0e0/32.png) [@Nopkar](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Nopkar)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:15am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/828 "2013-05-24T08:15:49Z")

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> [@Miloch](#):
>
> What happens if you are driving a flatbed truck at a turret and the turret fires at me. I’ve never done this. Do the bullets hit the frame? The windshield? Me?

all of the above. the turrets are mostly inaccurate so they hit everything…will most likely kill you if you drive headon. now sideswiping them, there’s a REAL tactic.

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**Author:** ![Rookrune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Rookrune](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rookrune)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/829 "2013-05-24T13:33:11Z")

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ENGI: Im mov’n this!

EDIT: 10 minutes later: I just realized my question kinda goes under technical support. so ill just make a post there.

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**Author:** ![JMatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@JMatt](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/JMatt)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/830 "2013-05-24T14:50:56Z")

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> [@Weyrling](#):
>
> [quote=“ClaytonRISING, post:824, topic:42”][quote=“Weyrling, post:823, topic:42”]I use pipe bombs to break into military bunkers and their delicious loot, each explosion will damage the wall but it may take a couple bombs for each card reader, make sure to go for other explosives first once inside if you don’t have surplus bombs.

So are pipe bombs better used in tool-like capacity other than for crowd control?[/quote]  
When worried about crowd control molotovs are dozens of times better than a pipe bomb.  
If you’re good with throwing explosives you can use the pipe bombs to take out individuals like hulks and smokers, but for hordes you’d want a molotov, a mininuke, or a gas station and any explosive whatsoever.[/quote]

I concur with this guy. I always make Molotovs a priority in the beginning of the game (and always have a couple on hand at all times). They’re insanely powerful when used right and can make them right at the beginning. The Molotov creaves a 3x3 grid of fire that burns hotly for a good while (if it’s not raining). This means, after you used it initially to take out whatever scary monster you threw it at, you can lead zombies right into the fire (thank god for dumb zombies) and watch them burn. Unfortunately, fires you create that kill things does not add to your kill count for some reason.

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**Author:** ![JMatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@JMatt](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/JMatt)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/831 "2013-05-24T14:53:14Z")

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> [@Nopkar](#):
>
> [quote=“Miloch, post:827, topic:42”]What happens if you are driving a flatbed truck at a turret and the turret fires at me. I’ve never done this. Do the bullets hit the frame? The windshield? Me?

all of the above. the turrets are mostly inaccurate so they hit everything…will most likely kill you if you drive headon. now sideswiping them, there’s a REAL tactic.[/quote]

Was able to collide head on with a group of six turrets with a semi-truck without dying before. I don’t think I want to try that tactic again, if I can help it, because the 9mm ammo they can drop start making explosions lol.

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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:** [May 24, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/832 "2013-05-24T19:26:56Z")

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Where do you guys find integrated toolsets? I’m loaded up the wazoo with all the other very rare cbms but have not found a toolset.

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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:** [May 24, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/833 "2013-05-24T23:15:56Z")

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> [@Flare](#):
>
> Where do you guys find integrated toolsets? I’m loaded up the wazoo with all the other very rare cbms but have not found a toolset.

Find a lab or a pile of dead scientists, I’ve never seen them anywhere else.  
You might be able to butcher a shocker zombie and get one, but I never have.

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**Author:** ![halberdsturgeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ab992/32.png) [@halberdsturgeon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/halberdsturgeon)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/834 "2013-05-24T23:49:57Z")

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They’re very common. You can get them from shockers, like any other CBM, but there’s no need; science labs stock them in their CBM closets (the ones most labs have several of, not the rare CBM caches you occasionally find as a lab’s final room).

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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:** [May 25, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/835 "2013-05-25T00:49:56Z")

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My character in a modified 0.4 is a cybernetic mutant god, still don’t have anything to cook my food though (not it needs to be cooked any more anyway).

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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:** [May 25, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/836 "2013-05-25T02:12:09Z")

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Things I wish I’d known before building my just-in-case log cabin for the Winter:  
Log Walls block the heat from lava. Whoops!  
You can only build a Roof (=Floor) adjacent to two walls, or one wall and an existing Floor. (Good luck roofing a room that’s more than 2x2.)  
Window Frames are considered walls, not built into them.  
You can’t disassemble a Log Wall. The Wood Axe isn’t going to effectively Smash it either.  
Jackhammering out a Log Wall gives Rubble, which in turn clears to two (2) Rocks. (Same with standard 2x4 & Nails Wall.) That petrified fast!  
Makeshift Beds are considered Terrain, not Furniture. No moving them around!  
A stage 2 Window (with glass, but without curtains) can’t be opened. If you plan on opening your window, make sure you have curtains for it first!

> [@halberdsturgeon](#):
>
> They’re very common. You can get them from shockers, like any other CBM, but there’s no need; science labs stock them in their CBM closets (the ones most labs have several of, not the rare CBM caches you occasionally find as a lab’s final room).

Yeah, well, I’ve had 4-5 Office Towers, two Schools, 2-3 Churches, and umpteen Furniture Stores this version, but not one Lab. 32 Science Cards, too. Frickin’ new buildings. ☹

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/cataclysmdda/original/1X/21b5d044e8473b25d0bf905d60477e25f6fbe0cf.png) [@system](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/837 "2013-05-25T02:29:51Z")

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Always have a fallback.

Have a vehicle, carry lots of spare parts.  
Have a stockpile, make a separate one that could re-make your character elsewhere. I case of death/spitter acid/other unfortunate events.  
Have some food? Store the non-perishables. Preferably some in a separate off-site stockpile.

Also, if you have a death-mobile and a house. Make sure you have spare parts, gas, and a spare GTFO vehicle.

Can’t tell you how many times I have needed to GTFO from my death mobile after it has been nearly destroyed by a horde.

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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:** [May 25, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/838 "2013-05-25T02:44:18Z")

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[quote=“gtaguy, post:837, topic:42”]Always have a fallback.

Have a vehicle, carry lots of spare parts.  
Have a stockpile, make a separate one that could re-make your character elsewhere. I case of death/spitter acid/other unfortunate events.  
Have some food? Store the non-perishables. Preferably some in a separate off-site stockpile.

Also, if you have a death-mobile and a house. Make sure you have spare parts, gas, and a spare GTFO vehicle.

Can’t tell you how many times I have needed to GTFO from my death mobile after it has been nearly destroyed by a horde.[/quote]

Decent advice; not sure if you were talking to me or generally. (The log cabin was intended as shelter in the event that I’m the first Shoes-victim to make it to Winter: it’s 6-10 tiles from a lava rift. I’m on Dynamic and the area is wilderness, not urban.)

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**Author:** ![halberdsturgeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ab992/32.png) [@halberdsturgeon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/halberdsturgeon)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 5:19am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/839 "2013-05-25T05:19:00Z")

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> [@KA101](#):
>
> (The log cabin was intended as shelter in the event that I’m the first Shoes-victim to make it to Winter: it’s 6-10 tiles from a lava rift.)

You aren’t. And winter is very mild in 0.5. In 0.4 it could get down to nearly -20C, I didn’t see anything below -1C this time around.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KA101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@KA101](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KA101)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/840 "2013-05-25T05:53:58Z")

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Good to know, and I hope you’re right regarding temperatures. Will find out soon enough.

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