# 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:** 613

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**Author:** ![Coolthulhu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/coolthulhu/32/2446_2.png) [@Coolthulhu](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Coolthulhu)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12242 "2015-12-10T12:51:24Z")

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> [@KliPeH](#):
>
> How do you read the radiation badge and the radiation biomonitor?

Badge changes colors when it absorbs enough radiation. Your character slowly regenerates radiation, but badge will only get darker with time until it becomes useless.  
It only really matters when the badge changes colors rapidly.

Biomonitor gives you your radiation level. If this one is above 100, you should get out of the irradiated area fast. You can also tell you’re irradiated by looking at your stats: if they are lowered with no apparent cause, it may be radiation.  
Once it reaches 150, you start taking damage to your entire body.

> [@Lomaster](#):
>
> Does negative body temperature (indicated in blue) affects PC’s health while not cold enough to give “cold” status? Do i have to bother keeping my temperature numbers green? Can PC get low immunity disease that way?

No, it only lowers your speed and morale.

> [@Wyzack](#):
>
> I repulsed a bigass horde from my town base, and there is piles of shit everywhere. The clothes i can cut up for rags or put in my internal furnace, and the tainted meat rots away, but there are piles upon piles of tainted bones. I already have all the mutations i could possibly want, is there anything i can do with all these bones? Or do i just have to collect them and dump it somewhere?

Bones can be burned down, but you need to make a big fire for it to happen.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 11, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12243 "2015-12-11T02:57:07Z")

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How do get an axe from crafting? I havent explored real well and I want to shore up the base before doing so. The issue if most, like 80% of what I can see is houses. A million places to spawn and I get suburbia . . .

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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 11, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12244 "2015-12-11T03:02:16Z")

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> [@pisskop](#):
>
> How do get an axe from crafting? I havent explored real well and I want to shore up the base before doing so. The issue if most, like 80% of what I can see is houses. A million places to spawn and I get suburbia . . .

Copper axe:

Skill used: survival  
Required skills: carpentry(1)  
Difficulty: 3  
Time to complete: 60 minutes  
Tools required:

> 1 tool with hammering quality of 1  
> Components required:  
> 1x heavy stick OR 1x two by four  
> 1x rock OR 1x ceramic shard OR 1x sharp rock  
> 2x small string OR 40x sinew OR 40x thread OR 40x plant fiber OR 1x withered plant  
> –  
> This recipe can be found in the following books when survival is at least the required level:  
> Outdoor Adventures (level 1)  
> Survival Under Atomic Attack (level 1)  
> Engineering 301 (level 2)

Stone axe:

Skill used: survival  
Required skills: carpentry(1)  
Difficulty: 3  
Time to complete: 60 minutes  
Tools required:

> 1 tool with hammering quality of 1  
> Components required:  
> 1x heavy stick OR 1x two by four  
> 1x rock OR 1x ceramic shard OR 1x sharp rock  
> 2x small string OR 40x sinew OR 40x thread OR 40x plant fiber OR 1x withered plant  
> –  
> This recipe can be found in the following books when survival is at least the required level:  
> Outdoor Adventures (level 1)  
> Survival Under Atomic Attack (level 1)  
> Engineering 301 (level 2)

Both recipes are autolearned in addition to optionally being learned from the books mentioned.

If you have More Survival Tools, makeshift axe uses almost the same recipe as the stone axe, only with a chunk/lump of steel instead of rock/ceramic.

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**Author:** ![Sirquote](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/sirquote/32/887_2.png) [@Sirquote](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Sirquote)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 10:28am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12245 "2015-12-11T10:28:50Z")

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[s]I’m trying to set up a Pure Zombie + wildlife world. I edited the Only\_Wildlife mod to add Generic zombie to the list but the game throws an exception.

Could someone point out to a hopeless code buffoon what I’ve left out. Thanks  
[/s]

Edit: Never mind, I’m an idiot 😉

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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 11, 2015, 10:33am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12246 "2015-12-11T10:33:17Z")

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[spoiler][code][  
{  
“type”: “MOD\_INFO”,  
“mod-type”: “SUPPLEMENTAL”,  
“ident”: “Only\_Wildlife”,  
“name”: “No Monsters”,  
“author”: “Kodi Arfer”,  
“description”: “Removes all monsters from the game, save for those in the WILDLIFE category.”,  
“category”: “monster\_exclude”,  
“path”: “modinfo.json”  
},{  
“type”: “MONSTER\_WHITELIST”,  
“categories”: [“WILDLIFE”]],  
“monsters”: [  
“mon\_zombie”  
]

}  
][/code][/spoiler]

Your code had an extra " where it did not need one. Try this one.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sirquote](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/sirquote/32/887_2.png) [@Sirquote](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Sirquote)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 10:34am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12247 "2015-12-11T10:34:10Z")

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Lol yeah just saw that after posting, DOH

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 11, 2015, 10:35am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12248 "2015-12-11T10:35:32Z")

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Common mistake, I believe a satellite once crashed from an extra or missing comma in the code.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 11, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12249 "2015-12-11T14:28:04Z")

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:v C++

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lomaster](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/lomaster/32/17_2.png) [@Lomaster](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Lomaster)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12250 "2015-12-11T15:55:22Z")

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I’m planning on building my first stone fireplace. How far away from my sleeping couch should i build it in order for it to:

1. provide enough heat in the winter
2. not being too bright to interrupt my PC’s sleeping?

Although i’m not sure about the first requirement, since all the clothes and blankets should probably do just fine keeping my PC warm.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Azrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Azrad](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Azrad)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12251 "2015-12-11T16:05:33Z")

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At the very least, you can wear a blindfold before sleeping so sleep won’t be interrupted by the light. I’m assuming that if the light status is brightly it’ll interfere with sleep.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 11, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12252 "2015-12-11T16:42:27Z")

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Light preventing sleep and ambient heat from the fireplace shouldnt be things that bother you.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lomaster](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/lomaster/32/17_2.png) [@Lomaster](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Lomaster)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12253 "2015-12-11T17:30:06Z")

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Thanks for the replies. Now what would you suggest as fuel for my fireplace?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Azrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Azrad](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Azrad)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12254 "2015-12-11T17:37:10Z")

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You can use the usual zombie junk; most of the clothing zombies drop should be good. Cutting down trees and turning them into two by fours should supply you with a ton of wood. As I recall, a full fireplace will supply you with light for days.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 11, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12255 "2015-12-11T17:40:42Z")

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While we are on this topic. Do wood stoves burn more efficiently than stone fireplaces? I have this impression they do 😑

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coolthulhu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/coolthulhu/32/2446_2.png) [@Coolthulhu](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Coolthulhu)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12256 "2015-12-11T21:37:41Z")

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> [@pisskop](#):
>
> While we are on this topic. Do wood stoves burn more efficiently than stone fireplaces? I have this impression they do 😑

They don’t.  
They’re better than fireplaces because you can drag them around, but that’s it.  
(Fire isn’t dragged, though!)

Burning efficiency is mostly related to fuel dosage.  
It is much better to add 1-2 two-by-fours than to dump them all.

Fire loses 1 fuel per turn unconditionally  
Fire that burns items gains some fuel (for wood with \<10 volume it’s 1 fuel per item per turn)  
Fire that burns no items loses extra 2 fuel per fire density (small loses 2, fire 4, raging 6)

So dumping all wood on the fire at once will make it burn roughly 3 times shorter than adding wood one by one.

This isn’t intended as a realism-enhancing mechanic, it’s just that the old fire mechanics resulted in fires accumulating mystical fire energy and then burning for ages with no fuel.  
It wouldn’t be hard to make it so wood stoves and fireplaces limit the fuel rate consumption. This would make them more useful than brazier+gas mask combo.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 12, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12257 "2015-12-12T16:33:03Z")

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> [@Wyzack](#):
>
> I repulsed a bigass horde from my town base, and there is piles of shit everywhere. The clothes i can cut up for rags or put in my internal furnace, and the tainted meat rots away, but there are piles upon piles of tainted bones. I already have all the mutations i could possibly want, is there anything i can do with all these bones? Or do i just have to collect them and dump it somewhere?

Tainted bones are awesome, they’ve got endless uses. Mutagen, Glue, charcoal, needles, skewers, bone armor, if you’re using the updated version of blaze’s mod you can make and fuel the awesome blob vehicle parts with them…heck, if you’ve got the right mutations, biotics, or are desperate enough, you can even eat them.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 12, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12258 "2015-12-12T16:35:33Z")

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> [@Coolthulhu](#):
>
> (Fire isn’t dragged, though!)

Why do I have the feeling at least one person has burnt down their house doing that? o3o

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Wyzack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@Wyzack](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Wyzack)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12259 "2015-12-12T17:45:02Z")

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Wait I can make charcoal from the tainted bones? How? I can always use more charcoal to make oxidizer powder for my ammo pressing room

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 12, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12260 "2015-12-12T18:38:35Z")

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> [@Wyzack](#):
>
> Wait I can make charcoal from the tainted bones? How? I can always use more charcoal to make oxidizer powder for my ammo pressing room

If you have a metal kiln, it can be used in the recipe to make the filled version.

Can’t recall if the constructed kiln can use tainted bones. There was a very old PR to allow it, but I dunno if it ever got merged.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Azrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Azrad](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Azrad)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/12261 "2015-12-12T19:12:34Z")

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The metal charcoal kiln that’s constructed can use tainted bones.

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