# 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:** 47

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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:** [June 8, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/921 "2013-06-08T18:57:10Z")

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> [@Justice](#):
>
> This is terrible advice, especially in a newb thread! Why waste an entire day, especially that early in the game, when a single point at character generation will start us with archery:2? Then, we only need survival:1 to craft a longbow. Which is easier? Raising a skill by 1 or 2? The day would be better spent finding clean water, foraging for food and essential supplies. By the end of day 1, we should have enough clean water and food for 1-2 days.

Possibly because that same point can buy you an attribute point, which is a permanent bonus that currently can’t be replicated by any other method.

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**Author:** ![qurvax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@qurvax](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/qurvax)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/922 "2013-06-08T19:21:44Z")

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> [@Justice](#):
>
> THAT bear, definitely, but not THAT landmine. My characters get a very high Perception, which not only skyrockets my ranged attacks with bows and firearms, but guarantees that I’ll always spot those buried bear traps and landmines long before I get close enough to step on them.

Don’t be so sure, my friend… A night, shitloads of worms, and high speed (in a car, of course) doesn’t mix too well with minefield’s, as i have found out already 🙂

Triffids screwed up my outpost. So i wanted to deal with them. Gathered 8 molotov’s, 100 7.62x51 and my belowed SCAR-H. Got to theyr caves… And now what? Theres shitloads of vines and other crap. I tried to burn mofos out, but it’s seems that fires don’t want to settle, so i can’t pass further into tunnels. Any advise on this,except mininukes?

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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:** [June 8, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/923 "2013-06-08T19:28:22Z")

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IIRC tear gas + gas mask is actually very effective against triffid groves.

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**Author:** ![qurvax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@qurvax](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/qurvax)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/924 "2013-06-08T19:32:30Z")

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So, do i have to bring along fire extinguisher, just put out that fire and use teargas instead? Will TG kill those creatures or what?

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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:** [June 8, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/925 "2013-06-08T19:38:01Z")

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Teargas will work just fine in combination with fire. And AFAIK (I’ve never actually done this, just read reports) tear gas will make them all start coughing, which should slowly cause them to keel over dead.

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**Author:** ![woflsipder](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/woflsipder/32/90_2.png) [@woflsipder](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/woflsipder)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/926 "2013-06-08T19:44:43Z")

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> [@i2amroy](#):
>
> Possibly because that same point can buy you an attribute point, which is a permanent bonus that currently can’t be replicated by any other method.

Unless you get Bionics or mutations.

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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:** [June 8, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/927 "2013-06-08T20:11:35Z")

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> [@woflsipder](#):
>
> Unless you get Bionics or mutations.

Enhanced base stats would make the extra bonuses even more effective.  
Personally I use skill rust option 1 and usually survive (a day or two or) a few months before I fail to notice a squad of Ninja Bears, decide to test something, or set off the wrong explosive in the wrong place and burn down everything everywhere.  
In the long run 2 bonus strength, dexterity, or perception up to 10-11 is priceless in comparison to any possible starting skill.  
Edit: In the short run as a newb, starting with some skills is probably a great idea.

However I would definitely like to see separate skill point allowances in char-gen, everybody should start with some skill at something. Having even just 1 point that can only be allocated into skills would make the skills tab noticeable again, as is I just go stats\> traits\> name\> maybe template\> done.

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**Author:** ![woflsipder](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/woflsipder/32/90_2.png) [@woflsipder](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/woflsipder)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/928 "2013-06-08T20:31:05Z")

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What can i do to stop endless swarms of dermatiks that want to eject their larvae into my flesh?

They keep spawning and spawning and soon i will run out of cocaine , i need quick advices.

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**Author:** ![Lexx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df705f/32.png) [@Lexx](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Lexx)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/929 "2013-06-08T20:42:35Z")

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> [@Justice](#):
>
> [quote=“Lexx, post:915, topic:42”]making a slingshot is a great way to easily get your firearms and archery to 2 by day 2/ end of day 1. Just make 100-150 pebbles and go practice on rabbits and squirrels. butcher any you manage to kill and enjoy the easy xp. Then you can make yourself a longbow once you hit 2 archery. Which is amazing for killing zombies and wildlife alike with.

This is terrible advice, especially in a newb thread! Why waste an entire day, especially that early in the game, when a single point at character generation will start us with archery:2? Then, we only need survival:1 to craft a longbow. Which is easier? Raising a skill by 1 or 2? The day would be better spent finding clean water, foraging for food and essential supplies. By the end of day 1, we should have enough clean water and food for 1-2 days.

> [@qurvax](#):
>
> Luck can give you lemons in this game for sure. Everyone had THAT bear or landmine or whatever.

THAT bear, definitely, but not THAT landmine. My characters get a very high Perception, which not only skyrockets my ranged attacks with bows and firearms, but guarantees that I’ll always spot those buried bear traps and landmines long before I get close enough to step on them.[/quote]

Currently the difficulty for longbow making in the latest download I have been playing is 2. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been doing what I said and done other things :P.

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**Author:** ![Destructios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Destructios](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Destructios)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/930 "2013-06-08T21:07:32Z")

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I have some questions about spawning.

1. How does wolf/cougar/etc. spawning work?
2. What exactly does static/dynamic spawning mean?
3. What is spawn spreading?
4. Does anyone know how random NPC spawning works?

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**Author:** ![qurvax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@qurvax](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/qurvax)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/931 "2013-06-08T21:15:48Z")

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> [@i2amroy](#):
>
> Teargas will work just fine in combination with fire. And AFAIK (I’ve never actually done this, just read reports) tear gas will make them all start coughing, which should slowly cause them to keel over dead.

Thanx for advice. I’ll try to find some TG around.

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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:** [June 9, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/932 "2013-06-09T00:34:13Z")

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[quote=“Destructios, post:930, topic:42”]I have some questions about spawning.

1. How does wolf/cougar/etc. spawning work?
2. What exactly does static/dynamic spawning mean?
3. What is spawn spreading?
4. Does anyone know how random NPC spawning works?[/quote]  
AFAIK all wildlife spawns dynamically (cougars, wolves, bears, giant mosquitoes, etc)

Static spawning is where enemies spawn when the map is generated, currently effects only zombies (AFAIK), this means that if you have static mode on then towns will be full of zombies of all kinds right from the beginning.

Dynamic spawning is where enemies spawn based on noise and time. Making noise causes enemies to spawn nearby, the kind of enemies depends on how old the world is. For the first hour zombies don’t spawn, after that making any significant noise will have dozens of zombies spawning ‘nearby’. You first only see normal zombies, but after the first couple of days, you start seeing acid spitting zombies, lightning throwing zombies, boomers, necromancers, etc.  
As far as wildlife is concerned, it’s just based on noise and area (forest, swamp, etc).

The difference is that in dynamic mode each town has a number that represents the zombies in town, and when you make noise this number goes down and adds zombies to the world, while in static mode all the zombies are already there in town. The key difference is that in dynamic mode zombies can spawn behind you and/or surrounding you if, for example, you fire a shotgun in the middle of town.

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**Author:** ![Destructios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Destructios](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Destructios)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/933 "2013-06-09T01:17:13Z")

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> [@Weyrling](#):
>
> -snip-

Thanks for the great answer! So coyotes and whatnot only spawn in places like fields and forests, or can they spawn in towns?

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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:** [June 9, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/934 "2013-06-09T02:03:17Z")

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> [@Destructios](#):
>
> Thanks for the great answer! So coyotes and whatnot only spawn in places like fields and forests, or can they spawn in towns?

Only in fields/forests, though they could potentially spawn near you as you entered and then follow you in.

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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:** [June 9, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/935 "2013-06-09T02:06:58Z")

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Wildlife does frequently spawn in towns as well, though - probably due to the fact that towns are typically interlaced with field tiles.

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**Author:** ![qurvax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@qurvax](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/qurvax)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/936 "2013-06-09T17:54:18Z")

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Screwing 'round my base camp i sudently decided to play with fire 🙂 But for unknown reasons my homemade flamethrower keeps shoting right under my feet. Gonna need another pair of sneeker’s… Any way to make it work, or it is suposed to be this “HOT”?

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**Author:** ![Justice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Justice](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Justice)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/937 "2013-06-09T18:39:53Z")

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> [@qurvax](#):
>
> Screwing 'round my base camp i sudently decided to play with fire 🙂 But for unknown reasons my homemade flamethrower keeps shoting right under my feet. Gonna need another pair of sneeker’s… Any way to make it work, or it is suposed to be this “HOT”?

Edit: This appears to be fixed, already, so be certain you’re using the latest nightly build.

This was a [recent issue](https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/issues/1482) with the longbow, i.e., firing at yourself when no targets are in range. I’ll update the issue tracker. As a workaround, you can press ‘f’ once and use the movement keys to choose where to fire, before pressing ‘f’ again.

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**Author:** ![Destructios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Destructios](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Destructios)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/938 "2013-06-09T20:31:07Z")

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Okay I have another question about spawning. What are the estimated sizes of the pool for dynamic spawning in a given town?

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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:** [June 9, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/939 "2013-06-09T21:15:54Z")

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> [@Destructios](#):
>
> Okay I have another question about spawning. What are the estimated sizes of the pool for dynamic spawning in a given town?

a very precise estimate would be very very big 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![halberdsturgeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ab992/32.png) [@halberdsturgeon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/halberdsturgeon)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/940 "2013-06-09T23:52:26Z")

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> [@Destructios](#):
>
> Okay I have another question about spawning. What are the estimated sizes of the pool for dynamic spawning in a given town?

About the same as the number of zombies you’d find scattered throughout it in static spawn, in my experience.

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