# 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:** 608

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**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12142 "2015-12-05T20:36:02Z")

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> [@Wyzack](#):
>
> Is there no scabbard that can hold a Nodachi? Shouldnt we at least be able to make a custom one, or strap it to our back or something?

Back scabbards hold large swords.

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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:** [December 5, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12143 "2015-12-05T20:54:19Z")

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> [@FunsizeNinja123](#):
>
> [quote=“Wyzack, post:12141, topic:42”]Is there no scabbard that can hold a Nodachi? Shouldnt we at least be able to make a custom one, or strap it to our back or something?

Back scabbards hold large swords.[/quote]

Nodachi is 2 volume too big for a back scabbard. \>w\>

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**Author:** ![BeerBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@BeerBeer](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BeerBeer)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12144 "2015-12-05T21:28:40Z")

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> [@Zireael](#):
>
> Is there any way to see in-game what the healthy mod of foodstuff is? I’m at negative health despite taking vitamins, and I’d love to know which food is causing it…

(No, not in-game, AFAIK)

Ok, so this sent me digging through the game data about food health… And I’m outraged by my findings.

First of all, in-game vitamin pills don’t make you healthier. Their health effect is ZERO. Eating them is useless, which is kind of funny, because that’s how it really is IRL. AFAIK the majority of vitamin supplements are entirely pointless, sometimes even harmful. I said it’s “kind of funny” but I’m not laughing - I’ve been munching vitamins myself in the game religiously. Something will be punched for this outrage… but not before my character gets super healthy.

Moving on. It turns out the majority of consumables have health values of 0, -1, or +1. Quite many of the food items have a health value of 0. I saw some -2s (most hard liqour), and some +2s (orange juice, some berries/fruit/veggies, chicken noodle soup). Cheap wine was -4, atomic energy drink had -6, sewage sample -20. Yikes. Mutagens get -2 or worse.

Pine tea, pineapples and pears net you +3.

Banana, cranberry and protein shake net you +4

Purifier (!), blackberry and grapefruit net you +5

Royal jelly and royal beef: +10

At that point I stopped doing searches. In no way is that list complete. You can view the values yourself in \data\json\items, in the file called comestibles.json, which can be viewed with a text editor. Look for the line “healthy”: for each item. At least I ASSUME that’s the health value.

The most important nutrient of adult human diet, beer, was given the value 0 (some beers get -1). I could be outraged by this but I don’t personally blame anyone because the increased health effect of beer comes through its positive psychological effect, which is enjoyed only by enlightened individuals who can truly value the bubbly dark golden nectar of the gods wholeheartedly and with their entire being. Mind over matter, and beer over mind.

So, understanding that the majority is 0, -1, or +1, it’s impossible to tell what has caused your unhealthy status. I’d suggest looking at what you’ve been eating and drinking mostly. Most of what you eat probably nets you 0 or -1 healthiness per portion. Especially look at the stuff that you can eat by the dozens in one sitting.

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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:** [December 5, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12145 "2015-12-05T22:19:49Z")

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I assert that you are wrong about vitamins. I will boldly claim that they will have a huge impact on your health.

You are wrong dig deeper and find the truth.

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**Author:** ![pisskop](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/pisskop/32/1327_2.png) [@pisskop](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/pisskop)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12146 "2015-12-05T22:49:41Z")

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How aweful.

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**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12147 "2015-12-05T23:20:05Z")

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> [@Random\_dragon](#):
>
> [quote=“FunsizeNinja123, post:12142, topic:42”][quote=“Wyzack, post:12141, topic:42”]Is there no scabbard that can hold a Nodachi? Shouldnt we at least be able to make a custom one, or strap it to our back or something?

Back scabbards hold large swords.[/quote]

Nodachi is 2 volume too big for a back scabbard. \>w\>[/quote]

Arrghhhhh

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**Author:** ![BeerBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@BeerBeer](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BeerBeer)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12148 "2015-12-06T00:28:03Z")

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[quote=“Valpo, post:12145, topic:42”]I assert that you are wrong about vitamins. I will boldly claim that they will have a huge impact on your health.

You are wrong dig deeper and find the truth.[/quote]  
I’m not sure if you’re arguing my point on RL vitamin supplements or in-game vitamins, but in-game vitamin supplements really do have the “healthy” value of zero, which is the same as for water, for example. If there is more to it than that, then I’m not aware of it. Some of the other zero value food items are: mayonnaise, peanut butter…

OK, wait…

Some of the consumables have

“healthy”: 0,

and some

“healthy” : 0,

The latter has a space between " and :

Makes me wonder if that’s an oversight (and a bug), with potential effects on gameplay, or if it’s perfectly harmless. Either way, it can mess up searches. This is from the experimental version 7923.

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**Author:** ![pisskop](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/pisskop/32/1327_2.png) [@pisskop](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/pisskop)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12149 "2015-12-06T01:52:02Z")

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how exact;ly does piercing damagew play into armor? I see the wiki stats for “bashing and cutting (including bullets)”, but never mentions percing.

I assume it has some armor piercing properties, and its analog n guns is probably armor piericing.

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**Author:** ![scorpion451](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/scorpion451/32/11266_2.png) [@scorpion451](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/scorpion451)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 2:48am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12150 "2015-12-06T02:48:13Z")

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Vitamins do have a major impact on health in game- this impact is calculated as a drug effect with accumulating benefits, however, not as a one-time health boost like food. (Think of it like an anti-addiction. The optimal timing is one vitamin every 12 hours for maximum long term payoff.)  
Basically their benefits reflect the primary benefit of real-life vitamins: preventing dietary deficiency diseases like rickets and scurvey, and making up for the fact that most people’s metabolisms suck at processing at least one or two of the major vitamins out of food.

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**Author:** ![pisskop](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/pisskop/32/1327_2.png) [@pisskop](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/pisskop)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12151 "2015-12-06T02:58:06Z")

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???

I was always told to take them in lumps. At least 5 or 10 at a time. No?

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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:** [December 6, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12152 "2015-12-06T02:59:29Z")

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Question: have secubots been amped up recently? I’ve died to them 3 times recently, and the most recent was in the dark from well outside night vision range.

Also, do secubots ever run out of ammo? The one that just killed me had been locked in the loot room with zombies to waste fire on for almost 4 weeks (I have z-levels on), so the answer would appear to be no…

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**Author:** ![scorpion451](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/scorpion451/32/11266_2.png) [@scorpion451](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/scorpion451)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12153 "2015-12-06T03:19:49Z")

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^ I think its night vision range that’s been changing a bit; there seems to be more middle ground between “total darkness” and “full light” where turrets and things can detect you.

^^You can get more benefit for taking more at once, but the long term min-max is one every twelve hours.

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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:** [December 6, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12154 "2015-12-06T04:47:55Z")

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Can anyone explain the process on how to get sound into cata? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Wyzack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@Wyzack](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Wyzack)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12155 "2015-12-06T06:37:55Z")

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It is easy. Just download the tiles version of the game (this is important and screwed me up for a while, won’t work on console version) and then copy the catasounds folder into the game folder and allow the files to overwrite. Massive improvement in terms of game immersion. Don’t have a link to the sound folder though

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**Author:** ![SenorOcho](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/senorocho/32/491_2.png) [@SenorOcho](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/SenorOcho)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12156 "2015-12-06T06:40:16Z")

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[quote=“deoxy, post:12152, topic:42”]Question: have secubots been amped up recently? I’ve died to them 3 times recently, and the most recent was in the dark from well outside night vision range.

Also, do secubots ever run out of ammo? The one that just killed me had been locked in the loot room with zombies to waste fire on for almost 4 weeks (I have z-levels on), so the answer would appear to be no…[/quote]

I had a pretty nasty run-in with some recently, but that was just being driven out of the room to heal up rather than getting killed. I chalked it up to the encumbrance changes and the fact that I couldn’t have all my gear lined with kevlar.

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**Author:** ![Stekcs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/stekcs/32/428_2.png) [@Stekcs](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Stekcs)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 6:44am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12157 "2015-12-06T06:44:20Z")

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Been playing for a while, but started using an NPC companion for the first time since they’ve been fleshed out a lot over the last few months.

Except, uh…she keeps dropping dead. I’ve kept a save game of the day she croaks - she goes to sleep, wakes up a few hours later, takes some painkillers, goes back to sleep, wakes up, hangs out for an hour or so, and promptly falls over dead, despite not being injured, tired, or under attack by literally anything at all.

Maybe it’s just her time to go?

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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:** [December 6, 2015, 6:50am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12158 "2015-12-06T06:50:20Z")

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She probably has an infection, check her status windows and check for any bites or infected wounds. For bites, use disinfectant or first aid kit, for infection use antibiotics.

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**Author:** ![Stekcs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/stekcs/32/428_2.png) [@Stekcs](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Stekcs)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 7:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12159 "2015-12-06T07:16:49Z")

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Ahh, yup, it’s an infection. Now, problem is, I can’t get her to actually save herself. Refuses to use first aid kits or antibiotics, won’t consume them if I trade them to her, can’t even find a debug menu option to rid herself of the infection.

Stop accepting your death, Bethel

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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:** [December 6, 2015, 7:29am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12160 "2015-12-06T07:29:32Z")

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There should be an option when you bump into them that says “use an item on them”.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Stekcs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/stekcs/32/428_2.png) [@Stekcs](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Stekcs)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 9:22am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12161 "2015-12-06T09:22:09Z")

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All I get in my “bump into” menu is swap positions, shove, look at health or attack - the “use this item” function is in the ©hat menu, but she’s not about that whole “using medkits or antibodies, ever” lifestyle.

Might just have to cut my losses. She’ll be missed.

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