# 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:** 498

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**Author:** ![Random\_dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4da419/32.png) [@Random\_dragon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Random_dragon)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9942 "2015-09-12T17:48:43Z")

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[quote=“Dampe, post:9941, topic:42”]Hello, I’m Dampe, a two year Dwarf Fortress vet and Cataclysm newb.  
I was wondering, what are the best skills to put into a beginner-friendly character?[/quote]

Unlike in DF, the melee skill (think fighter) is a lot more useful if you don’t like missing. Dodge is also just as good as in DF, though if you’re being careful about backing away and not getting ganged up on, it’ not as vital.

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**Author:** ![Dampe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@Dampe](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Dampe)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9943 "2015-09-12T17:57:07Z")

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[quote=“Random\_dragon, post:9942, topic:42”][quote=“Dampe, post:9941, topic:42”]Hello, I’m Dampe, a two year Dwarf Fortress vet and Cataclysm newb.  
I was wondering, what are the best skills to put into a beginner-friendly character?[/quote]

Unlike in DF, the melee skill (think fighter) is a lot more useful if you don’t like missing. Dodge is also just as good as in DF, though if you’re being careful about backing away and not getting ganged up on, it’ not as vital.[/quote]

What’s my greatest threat to survival?

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**Author:** ![Random\_dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4da419/32.png) [@Random\_dragon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Random_dragon)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9944 "2015-09-12T18:02:25Z")

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If you don’t have the Mundane Zombies mod on, it’s getting swamped by special zombies. Brutes, hulks, and shocker brutes will backhand you into next week, shocker zombies (and shocker brutes) can stun you, and any reasonably tough special zombie can make the threat of being mobbed and immobilized by multiple grabs harder to deal with.

If not, just don’t get mobbed by the mundane undead, and instead you’ll get killed by mi-gos and mooseseses. XP

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**Author:** ![Pthalocy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/22d042/32.png) [@Pthalocy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Pthalocy)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9945 "2015-09-12T18:04:55Z")

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And remember: early game, if you’re having problems hitting squirrels and creature with high dodge, try throwing items at them. It seems to have much better success rates, provided you don’t mind having to pick up all your thrown items afterward (early game I keep a rock or two for this).

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**Author:** ![Random\_dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4da419/32.png) [@Random\_dragon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Random_dragon)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9946 "2015-09-12T18:07:25Z")

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Oh, and avoid turrets like the plague. \>.\>

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**Author:** ![Dampe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@Dampe](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Dampe)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9947 "2015-09-12T18:07:53Z")

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[quote=“Random\_dragon, post:9944, topic:42”]If you don’t have the Mundane Zombies mod on, it’s getting swamped by special zombies. Brutes, hulks, and shocker brutes will backhand you into next week, shocker zombies (and shocker brutes) can stun you, and any reasonably tough special zombie can make the threat of being mobbed and immobilized by multiple grabs harder to deal with.

If not, just don’t get mobbed by the mundane undead, and instead you’ll get killed by mi-gos and mooseseses. XP[/quote]

_Me talking to my friend (a fellow Bay12er) who showed me Cataclysm_

“okay bro i just downloaded the game”

“cool”

\*10 minutes later

“what the hell is a mi-go”

“run”

“what”

“run”

“mother of god”

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**Author:** ![Dampe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@Dampe](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Dampe)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9948 "2015-09-12T18:13:04Z")

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> [@Pthalocy](#):
>
> And remember: early game, if you’re having problems hitting squirrels and creature with high dodge, try throwing items at them. It seems to have much better success rates, provided you don’t mind having to pick up all your thrown items afterward (early game I keep a rock or two for this).

What’s the first thing I should look for?

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**Author:** ![Random\_dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4da419/32.png) [@Random\_dragon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Random_dragon)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9949 "2015-09-12T18:19:06Z")

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Mi-gos are the bane of all that live. And a Lovecraft reference.

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**Author:** ![Catfoodbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@Catfoodbob](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Catfoodbob)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9950 "2015-09-12T18:20:59Z")

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mi-gos are pretty much early player killers any mid game character will stomp a single migo into the dust

main reason is they may be strong but not strong enough to deal with the fact they are almost always alone

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**Author:** ![Noctifer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/noctifer/32/458_2.png) [@Noctifer](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Noctifer)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9951 "2015-09-12T18:22:26Z")

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> [@Dampe](#):
>
> [quote=“Pthalocy, post:9945, topic:42”]And remember: early game, if you’re having problems hitting squirrels and creature with high dodge, try throwing items at them. It seems to have much better success rates, provided you don’t mind having to pick up all your thrown items afterward (early game I keep a rock or two for this).

What’s the first thing I should look for?[/quote]

With a high enough skill,you should be able to craft throwing sticks and a decent throw skill helps.

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**Author:** ![Kryxx](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kryxx/32/438_2.png) [@Kryxx](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Kryxx)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9952 "2015-09-12T20:01:57Z")

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The key to early fighting is don’t be on top of items that slow you down, like brush/fences. The enemy should be on those. If it’s a tough enemy that can dodge or is hard to hit (anything skeleton). Light the brush on fire and them stand in it.

I craft the skewers and throw them and when it’s close to dead let it close the gap for a melee kill. Don’t fight more than 1 enemy at once unless you have too. Running means your not dead yet.

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**Author:** ![Random\_dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4da419/32.png) [@Random\_dragon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Random_dragon)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9953 "2015-09-12T20:11:32Z")

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And remember, moose are killing machines. Think like elephants from the 2D days. ;w;

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**Author:** ![Catfoodbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@Catfoodbob](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Catfoodbob)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9954 "2015-09-12T20:11:47Z")

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i kinda like slow but tough zombies, therefore you can easly outrun then even when weakend but they pose more of a challenge fighting

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**Author:** ![gimlet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@gimlet](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/gimlet)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9955 "2015-09-12T22:34:02Z")

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I can usually beat a mi-go hour 1 of day 1, stepping out of starting house/shelter with just a cudgel and no armor yet. I put most points into stats though, and only a few points into the “power” traits - quick, night vision. Robust Genetics when you can survive a few weeks, til then it’s a waste of points. Skills are a waste of points imho, you’ll be well served by learning how to raise them quickly saving your build points for melee stats and traits that will help you survive.

Biggest tip for a new player - Remember you can run. If you run before you’re too injured you can outrun _almost_ all zombies. #2 is throw. Throw all the time. Throw as they’re closing with you, wear them down and train throwing to be even more potent. You know how to keep from being injured by a melee-only zombie? DON’T MELEE HIM, throw stuff til he’s dead.

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**Author:** ![Random\_dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4da419/32.png) [@Random\_dragon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Random_dragon)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9956 "2015-09-12T22:40:47Z")

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Throwing is just as delicious in DF as in Cataclysm, yeah. :V

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**Author:** ![Catfoodbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@Catfoodbob](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Catfoodbob)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9957 "2015-09-12T22:59:59Z")

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[quote=“gimlet, post:9955, topic:42”]I can usually beat a mi-go hour 1 of day 1, stepping out of starting house/shelter with just a cudgel and no armor yet. I put most points into stats though, and only a few points into the “power” traits - quick, night vision. Robust Genetics when you can survive a few weeks, til then it’s a waste of points. Skills are a waste of points imho, you’ll be well served by learning how to raise them quickly saving your build points for melee stats and traits that will help you survive.

Biggest tip for a new player - Remember you can run. If you run before you’re too injured you can outrun _almost_ all zombies. #2 is throw. Throw all the time. Throw as they’re closing with you, wear them down and train throwing to be even more potent. You know how to keep from being injured by a melee-only zombie? DON’T MELEE HIM, throw stuff til he’s dead.[/quote]

or get up basic clothing and have a cudgel. thereon you lure them into a bush, butcher them, steal their cloths and tailor stuff

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**Author:** ![Dampe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@Dampe](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Dampe)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9958 "2015-09-13T13:52:44Z")

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> [@Random\_dragon](#):
>
> Throwing is just as delicious in DF as in Cataclysm, yeah. :V

Can I throw a live rabbit hard enough to make a zombie hulk’s head explode?

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**Author:** ![Valpo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/valpo/32/341_2.png) [@Valpo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Valpo)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9959 "2015-09-13T14:32:56Z")

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Maybe its possible to throw something hard enough to kil m a hulk in one hit. But you can not grab a live rabbit and throw it. Rip dream.

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**Author:** ![Random\_dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4da419/32.png) [@Random\_dragon](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Random_dragon)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9960 "2015-09-13T15:09:14Z")

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If only, yeah. XP

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**Author:** ![DG123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/54ee81/32.png) [@DG123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DG123)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/9961 "2015-09-13T16:33:00Z")

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I just started playing after a very long absence from DDA.

I noticed there are options for music and sound effect volume, but so far I’ve only encountered one sound effect on the main menu screen and no music.

What should I be expecting to encounter?

Also, why won’t the bloody map key work?

Edit: Disregard that, it’s working now. I’m not sure what happened there…

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