# 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:** 562

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**Author:** ![deknegt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6f9a4e/32.png) [@deknegt](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/deknegt)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 8:14am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11222 "2015-11-01T08:14:12Z")

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[quote=“Random\_dragon, post:11221, topic:42”][quote=“deknegt, post:11220, topic:42”]It’s the worst part about spitters and corrosive zombies right now. Even when fighting the likes of Brutes you can somehow armour yourself for getting tossed through three walls and have as little as possible injuries from it… But acid, your legs are pretty much fucked instantly the moment one of those bastards lay their eyes on you.

Spitters you can kite, a little bit, but getting into a fight with a corrosive is pretty much a one way ticket to pain-city with a lay-over in pound-town. You’re better off permanently wearing leg splints since it doesn’t matter if you’re wearing rubber boots or flip flops, their shit’s going straight to your thighs.[/quote]

Then do it the way Doom: the Roguelike teaches you to handle big nasty ranged enemies. Back around a corner, get a shotgun, A squared plus B squared equals CKaboom.[/quote]

That’s a useful option when you have guns to your disposal, but I play with wander spawns so that would also mean that the moment I step around the other corner his brothers Tweedle Zee and Tweedle Zed show up in their zombie clown car.

It would’ve been easier/better if acid chews up feet armour faster rather than ignoring it alltogether, perhaps giving rubber waders a longer acid protection than anything else. Then you’re on a ticking clock to smash/cut/pierce/shoot/(hug?) the shit out of the corrosive before your shoes disintegrate into a billion pieces.

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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:** [November 1, 2015, 8:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11223 "2015-11-01T08:16:48Z")

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Doing the same with a melee weapon will still save you a lot of free hits that thing would get if you banzai-charged it, so falling back to cover can still be used.

Or failing that, if you have a bow, crossbow…better yet, repeating crossbow, or sling, slingshot, or just a shitload of rocks, that’s also better than charging at it, assuming the expected amount of shots will take longer than the amount of time you’d spend exposed.

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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:** [November 1, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11224 "2015-11-01T13:21:16Z")

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These assholes are why I’m trying to become a proficient .50 BMG sniper.

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**Author:** ![Litppunk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/litppunk/32/409_2.png) [@Litppunk](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Litppunk)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11225 "2015-11-01T16:38:38Z")

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Its odd. The spitters are considered a low teir zombie. But they change gameplay ass much as moose or bear. I never realized just how much till now. They are not difficult to kill. But you need range, or to kill them in less than 3 turns or so after getting them to “miss” their first shot.

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**Author:** ![Liamix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/liamix/32/470_2.png) [@Liamix](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Liamix)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11226 "2015-11-01T16:40:36Z")

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If anything you Newbies should learn to STAY AWAY FROM MOOSE, they are Evil! (Unless you are a Survivalist with over 2 Melee and his knife)

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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:** [November 1, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11227 "2015-11-01T16:45:18Z")

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> [@Liamix](#):
>
> If anything you Newbies should learn to STAY AWAY FROM MOOSE, they are Evil! (Unless you are a Survivalist with over 2 Melee and his knife)

You can’t stop The Moosening.

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**Author:** ![Rot](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/rot/32/454_2.png) [@Rot](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rot)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11228 "2015-11-01T18:01:28Z")

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[quote=“Shopkeeper, post:11193, topic:42”][quote=“deoxy, post:11192, topic:42”][quote=“Rot, post:11190, topic:42”]I’m wondering on how to find cvd machines.  
Trying to reinforce my weapons with diamonds, but out of the years I’ve been playing, I’ve never encountered a single cvd machine.

I’ve heard that they’re in labs, but either I don’t seem to be looking in the right areas, or they’re super rare.

Any help?[/quote]

I’ve found them to be in something like 10-20% of labs - rare, but not shockingly so.[/quote]  
Also, don’t forget that they are a lab finale (only one spawns in each lab). So you have to go all the way to the bottom of any given lab and look for the unique room with several security bots (you’ll hear gunfire before you see it usually as the bots attack zombies that spawned with them). It’s represented as a unique teal ‘L’ on the map aswell.[/quote]

Ah. This helps a lot. I forgot that there were lab finales. Any tips on getting hydrogen by chance?

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**Author:** ![Rot](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/rot/32/454_2.png) [@Rot](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rot)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11229 "2015-11-01T18:07:12Z")

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The discussion about acid zeds are the main reason why I blacklisted them in my games.

On a side note, thinking about doing a sheltered start for extra !!FUN!!  
I’m more used to doing a lab challenge (My personal favorite, and the ones that i’m best at.) and my ambush start where i basically start as an OP survivor.

Thinking about that winter challenge with that minimal survival items/skills to get me by.

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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:** [November 1, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11230 "2015-11-01T18:22:48Z")

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Will burning a zombie’s corpse keep it from coming back to life?  
I’ve taken to butchering them when I have the chance (and a knife), but I’m wondering if there’s a faster way.

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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:** [November 1, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11231 "2015-11-01T18:41:46Z")

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[quote=“Dampe, post:11230, topic:42”]Will burning a zombie’s corpse keep it from coming back to life?  
I’ve taken to butchering them when I have the chance (and a knife), but I’m wondering if there’s a faster way.[/quote]  
Yes burning them should prevent them from reanimating if the fire has damaged them bad enough.

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**Author:** ![Taraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@Taraq](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Taraq)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11232 "2015-11-01T18:59:17Z")

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The worst part of dynamic spawns is how random survivors slowly start to attract zombies to particular areas, and then as they smash through cars and set them on fire you end up with massive hordes clustered around a single survivor’s corpse or a single burning car.

Don’t even get me started on the fucking police cars whose lights never go out.

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**Author:** ![Litppunk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/litppunk/32/409_2.png) [@Litppunk](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Litppunk)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11233 "2015-11-01T19:14:02Z")

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Butchering is probably the best way to go if you have the option. Gets your survival skill up. Getting better butchering leveled weapons will speed it up some (I think) or maybe it only increases chances of getting CBM’s/meat/other inner loot from appropriate entities bodies.

> [@Taraq](#):
>
> Don’t even get me started on the fucking police cars whose lights never go out.

Well… they do… if you stay in the area long enough. (but far enough away not to attract outlying zims) Which is something that is usually a waste of time, especiallly if you want all the delicious gas/diesel/battery loot. Problem is you have to keep the car inside the reality bubble for the batteries to wear out.

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**Author:** ![Jarlaxlejr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e495f1/32.png) [@Jarlaxlejr](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Jarlaxlejr)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11234 "2015-11-02T01:27:18Z")

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Anyone had any luck with the really bad day challenge? If so, any advice besides get insanely lucky?

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**Author:** ![Rot](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/rot/32/454_2.png) [@Rot](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rot)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11235 "2015-11-02T02:24:05Z")

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> [@Jarlaxlejr](#):
>
> Anyone had any luck with the really bad day challenge? If so, any advice besides get insanely lucky?

Honestly I don’t think it’s really worth the effort, the 10 extra points are nice and it’s definitely survivable but the lab challenge is (in my opinion) much better.

If you know what you’re doing then escaping the lab is easy and you start out as an already mutated survivor (allowing you to pick out some unique traits) not only that, but with you being in a lab allows you to mutate further. All this combined with the equipment in the lab allows you to skip early game all together and jump to mid game equipment and skills.

However if you’re adamant about doing the challenge I believe there is a guide on the wiki on how to survive.

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**Author:** ![evilexecutive](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/evilexecutive/32/447_2.png) [@evilexecutive](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/evilexecutive)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11236 "2015-11-02T02:45:30Z")

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[quote=“Noctifer, post:11231, topic:42”][quote=“Dampe, post:11230, topic:42”]Will burning a zombie’s corpse keep it from coming back to life?  
I’ve taken to butchering them when I have the chance (and a knife), but I’m wondering if there’s a faster way.[/quote]  
Yes burning them should prevent them from reanimating if the fire has damaged them bad enough.[/quote]

This brings to an important question, which I have not had enough time to figure out the answer to. Will the Bionic Flamethrower(Really shitty CBM, why the hell doesn’t it have any range) burn zombies enough to stop them from Reanimating? I’ve gotten through 100+ zombie fights, which just go on and on and on without me ever having enough time to even smash the bodies. I tried to use my Flamethrower CBM to burn the bodies, but I’ve never been able to stick around long enough to actually check and make sure they’re not getting back up.

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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:** [November 2, 2015, 2:48am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11237 "2015-11-02T02:48:50Z")

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I could’ve sworn the mini-flamethrower was meant to be a bionic lighter, not a weapon.

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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:** [November 2, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11238 "2015-11-02T02:59:47Z")

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> [@Random\_dragon](#):
>
> I could’ve sworn the mini-flamethrower was meant to be a bionic lighter, not a weapon.

Honestly, with the range on that thing, it’s more effective as the former.

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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:** [November 2, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11239 "2015-11-02T03:25:29Z")

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…that’s probably the entire point. \>\_\>

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**Author:** ![deoxy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@deoxy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/deoxy)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11240 "2015-11-02T03:46:28Z")

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> [@Random\_dragon](#):
>
> I could’ve sworn the mini-flamethrower was meant to be a bionic lighter, not a weapon.

The EMP bionic is like that, only worse, in that it doesn’t have any other use.

But on the topic at hand, if you hit the corpse three times (to get to “raging fire”), it still doesn’t generally get rid of the corpse entirely, so I don’t bother.

I do like having the flamethrower, though - easy way to get light and nearby fire that doesn’t STAY light after you start crafting, so you don’t stay lit up the whole time (possibly attracting passing creatures of all kinds).

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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:** [November 2, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/11241 "2015-11-02T03:50:43Z")

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It makes sense logistics wise. You get basically freedom from the need to hoard lighters.

Directional EMP though, never tried it. I would assume it can fuck up turrets like an EMP grenade would, but at short range? Can it be used from behind cover?

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