# 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:** 7

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**Author:** ![Rutilant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e57/32.png) [@Rutilant](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rutilant)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/121 "2013-02-27T23:59:49Z")

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> [@unback](#):
>
> [quote=“Tase, post:119, topic:42”]Why do you guys’ builds usually suggest putting getting 14 intelligence, why not put points in the other attributes?

i’d say its because 14 int means faster gains for all skills, and thus affect all aspects of play while str, dex and per govern only the parts.[/quote]

if Quick and Fleet Footed weren’t so mandatory, taking Fast Learner would allow you to save points on Int, if you have the points to spare on traits

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**Author:** ![AseaHeru](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/aseaheru/32/8_2.png) [@AseaHeru](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/AseaHeru)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/122 "2013-02-28T00:41:28Z")

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Random bit of advice: you can wear two backpacks at once.  
along with normal clothing and a belt rig.

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**Author:** ![Tase](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/tase/32/867_2.png) [@Tase](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Tase)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/123 "2013-02-28T00:43:02Z")

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> [@unback](#):
>
> [quote=“Tase, post:119, topic:42”]Why do you guys’ builds usually suggest putting getting 14 intelligence, why not put points in the other attributes?

i’d say its because 14 int means faster gains for all skills, and thus affect all aspects of play while str, dex and per govern only the parts.[/quote]

So nothing to do with the fact that I’m spawning with 2 bionics?

EDIT: Seems my trait composition makes me spawn with 2 bionics, usually 1 energy (solar, ethanol burner) and one active (Scent, Infrared, Fusion Arm)

Fleet Footed, Fast Healer, Night Vision, Light Step // Heavy Sleeper, Glass Jaw, Thruth Teller, Ugly

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**Author:** ![AseaHeru](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/aseaheru/32/8_2.png) [@AseaHeru](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/AseaHeru)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/124 "2013-02-28T00:45:45Z")

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you can get two useless things that way.

i normally go parkour, quick and quiet with packmule. i pay for it with HP, lightweight, addictive and truth teller.

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**Author:** ![Tase](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/tase/32/867_2.png) [@Tase](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Tase)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/125 "2013-02-28T01:05:31Z")

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[quote=“AseaHeru, post:124, topic:42”]you can get two useless things that way.

i normally go parkour, quick and quiet with packmule. i pay for it with HP, lightweight, addictive and truth teller.[/quote]

Yea I noticed I had bionics when I wasn’t able to equip a BB gun because I had a Fusion Arm Blaster. I’m not into bionics right now (maybe later, passive bionics).

Looks like you get the depreciated trait Android if you select certain traits.

Still wondering if it’s worth putting all those points in intelligence.

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**Author:** ![Master\_Darius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aca169/32.png) [@Master\_Darius](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Master_Darius)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/126 "2013-02-28T02:06:57Z")

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> [@Tase](#):
>
> Why do you guys’ builds usually suggest putting getting 14 intelligence, why not put points in the other attributes?

I like robots for fun & profit.

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**Author:** ![Jack\_Slinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jack\_Slinger](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Jack_Slinger)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 9:56am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/127 "2013-02-28T09:56:13Z")

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Looks like you can read books that are too smart for you now which is good. At a large increase in reading time of course but imo this makes int less vital than it was and more just generally useful. If you’ve got a good base with food and water you can read for as long as you want so its not a huge deal.

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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:** [February 28, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/128 "2013-02-28T16:50:25Z")

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I need advice. Worms. There are areas with things that i want and lots of those beasts. So they give me headaches nowadays, because of spawning in packs. And because i cannot shoot them before they get to me, not like almost anything else. Any good strategy to deal with them? Grenades maybe?

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**Author:** ![n9103](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e19adc/32.png) [@n9103](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/n9103)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/129 "2013-02-28T16:59:19Z")

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'a’ctivate Radio (100) \> 't’hrow Radio (100) (on) \> ??? \> Profit!

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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:** [February 28, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/130 "2013-02-28T17:31:45Z")

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Wow. Radios are actually useful now! Thank you.

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**Author:** ![Jihelu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e79b87/32.png) [@Jihelu](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Jihelu)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/131 "2013-02-28T18:09:21Z")

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> [@qurvax](#):
>
> Wow. Radios are actually useful now! Thank you.

I have killed over 100 worms using a silenced .22. I don’t see how they are a problem.

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**Author:** ![AseaHeru](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/aseaheru/32/8_2.png) [@AseaHeru](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/AseaHeru)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/132 "2013-02-28T18:28:12Z")

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they split in two and swarm you.  
how many med kits did you have to use?

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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:** [February 28, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/133 "2013-02-28T18:38:45Z")

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yep, 22 is faster than my .40, but still - 6-8 worms gonna eat you pretty fast, and i’m not sure it can handle graboids in one shot.

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**Author:** ![Jihelu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e79b87/32.png) [@Jihelu](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Jihelu)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/134 "2013-02-28T23:05:36Z")

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[quote=“AseaHeru, post:132, topic:42”]they split in two and swarm you.  
how many med kits did you have to use?[/quote]  
None actually. I had enough speed so I could run on the side of a road, shoot, dodge, repeat for the smaller worms. Only had to sleep off the pain.

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**Author:** ![AseaHeru](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/aseaheru/32/8_2.png) [@AseaHeru](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/AseaHeru)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/135 "2013-03-01T00:29:05Z")

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!

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**Author:** ![jimboblordofeskimos](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/jimboblordofeskimos/32/2_2.png) [@jimboblordofeskimos](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/jimboblordofeskimos)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 9:38am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/136 "2013-03-01T09:38:41Z")

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If I see worms, I usually just mark it on the map and go somewheres else and never come back, they arent super deadly, just a damn pain

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/cataclysmdda/original/1X/21b5d044e8473b25d0bf905d60477e25f6fbe0cf.png) [@system](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/137 "2013-03-03T02:40:07Z")

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EVERYTHING BURNS!!!

Near anything will burn to keep you warm. Just don’t burn all your clothes to stay warm.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rutilant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e57/32.png) [@Rutilant](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rutilant)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/138 "2013-03-03T15:28:48Z")

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I made a new character - I chose to start with archery and survival, intending to read mechanics up and make a crossbow, but lucked out and found a compound bow in the first town’s sporting goods store and have since gained 5 firearms skill and 7 Archery, and have turned into a headshot machine. I killed a hulk with adderall and 6 damage wooden-arrow headshots!

I noticed the longbow is quite a bit faster however and as a budding master archer I’m trying to weigh my options - I have 9 strength and 11 perception, would a longbow or a crossbow give me an edge or is the compound bow better than a hand-carved longbow?

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**Author:** ![DTF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@DTF](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DTF)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/139 "2013-03-04T12:00:07Z")

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Totally hooked on this game now… thanks Jef!

Fungaloids, attracted by a trigger happy NPC, overrun my spawn safehouse. I stumbled around the landscape for a couple of days, desperately trying to find stuff to eat and drink, developing some mutations along the way, before I found a nice comfy mansion.

Now, as it seems the mansion isnt in a good shape all that much, the roof is leaking, resulting in some Fun in acid rain times.  
Questions:

1. How can I check whether a tile has a roof over it or not? I started dumping my stuff along the walls and corners of the hallways and rooms, as these places seem to be sheltered from the weather.

2. Tried building a roof myself; had to choose a tile with a wall and for some reason instead of building the roof, I removed the wall. How do I build a roof? (well, obviously you cant start building a roof in the middle of a room, but ON the wall itself and it being removed seems a bit wrong)

3. I boarded up quite a few windows and sealed off portions of the mansion I dont need - somehow wildlife still makes it into the rooms I use. Is the mansion itself a spawnpoint for animals? While cute, having a bear wake you up by gently nudging you redecorating your face, it is a bit irritating.

4. WHERE THE HELL DO I FIND A SHOVEL?! I have a massive stockpile of all kinds of weapons, tools, clothing, but not a single shovel. You should be able to craft your own shovels (a broom + a chunk of steel or something). I’d really love to dig out some pits, as Triffids are closing in on my territory.

5. Speaking of which, is it possible to wipe out certain enemies for good in a portion of the map? I found the triffid grove, though I didnt really dare entering its ‘basement’ yet. Would wiping out the grove and a couple of triffid queens reduce the numbers of roaming triffids - or do they just spawn anyway? I dont mind the queens all that much, but they start obstructing roads with their trees, a tad annoying. Suppose, molotovs work great against these hippies?

6. Is there a way to yank your weapon free again after having it get stuck in an (still alive) enemy? I know you get it back when you defeat the enemy, but that doesnt help much during the actual fight.

7. Are there any alarm clocks in the game? I hate sleeping through most of the early evening just because I didnt go to bed early enough - it’s valuable looting time wasted.

8. How do I unstack items? Having lots of items stacked that are usually weightless + volumeless results in them start having weight and volume (like having 200 aspirin). So I’d like to drop some of items to reduce the stacksize - but you can only drop/pick up all of them… or am I missing something?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![The\_Darkling\_Wolf](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/the_darkling_wolf/32/828_2.png) [@The\_Darkling\_Wolf](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/The_Darkling_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 12:08pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/tips-tricks-and-newb-questions/42/140 "2013-03-04T12:08:11Z")

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> [@DTF](#):
>
> 1. How can I check whether a tile has a roof over it or not? I started dumping my stuff along the walls and corners of the hallways and rooms, as these places seem to be sheltered from the weather.

Anywhere with a floor should count as indoors, it’s currently a bit weird wrt tables and stuff.

> 2. Tried building a roof myself; had to choose a tile with a wall and for some reason instead of building the roof, I removed the wall. How do I build a roof? (well, obviously you cant start building a roof in the middle of a room, but ON the wall itself and it being removed seems a bit wrong)

A roof needs 2 cardinally adjacent walls to be built. Being able to actually replace walls with them is a bug.

> 3. I boarded up quite a few windows and sealed off portions of the mansion I dont need - somehow wildlife still makes it into the rooms I use. Is the mansion itself a spawnpoint for animals? While cute, having a bear wake you up by [s]gently nudging you[/s] redecorating your face, it is a bit irritating.

Spawns are currently being worked on.

> 4. WHERE THE HELL DO I FIND A SHOVEL?! I have a massive stockpile of all kinds of weapons, tools, clothing, but not a single shovel. You should be able to craft your own shovels (a broom + a chunk of steel or something). I'd really love to dig out some pits, as Triffids are closing in on my territory.

Hardware stores are the best place to find them, I'll be adding craftable shovels.

> 5. Speaking of which, is it possible to wipe out certain enemies for good in a portion of the map? I found the triffid grove, though I didnt really dare entering its 'basement' yet. Would wiping out the grove and a couple of triffid queens reduce the numbers of roaming triffids - or do they just spawn anyway? I dont mind the queens all that much, but they start obstructing roads with their trees, a tad annoying. Suppose, molotovs work great against these hippies?

If you go into the dungeon under the grove, you can kill the triffid heart. This causes their spawns to tail off.

> 6. Is there a way to yank your weapon free again after having it get stuck in an (still alive) enemy? I know you get it back when you defeat the enemy, but that doesnt help much during the actual fight.

It's strength based, and to do with the cutting damage of the weapon.

> 7. Are there any alarm clocks in the game? I hate sleeping through most of the early evening just because I didnt go to bed early enough - it's valuable looting time wasted.

No, but that's a good idea.

> 8. How do I unstack items? Having lots of items stacked that are usually weightless + volumeless results in them start having weight and volume (like having 200 aspirin). So I'd like to drop some of items to reduce the stacksize - but you can only drop/pick up all of them... or am I missing something?

Press the amount you want to drop before pressing the item number. Ferex, if aspirin was d, you'd type d, 100, d.

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