Tips, Tricks, and Newb Questions!

[Siferous]

WARNING CHANNEL WHORING I have a series of youtube videos I've been working on at the link in my signature. Maybe helpful to some. Just getting to outdoors-y survival innawoods stuff. END CHANNEL WHORING

Good videos so far, my only criticism is you say ummm a lot in them. Can’t wait to see how your progress with your lessons.

[Daniel696]

I need to go looking for food and drink as my character is very hungry, thirsty and the only portable light source I know of that is somewhat easily obtainable and won’t cause zombies to swarm down on me like gaming freaks are to a computer retailer offering a 70% off closing sale on EVERYTHING, are light amp googles, which I don’t have. So, what do I do? Otherwise I can’t see shit.

[Siferous]

I need to go looking for food and drink as my character is very hungry, thirsty and the only portable light source I know of that is somewhat easily obtainable and won't cause zombies to swarm down on me like gaming freaks are to a computer retailer offering a 70% off closing sale on EVERYTHING, are light amp googles, which I don't have. So, what do I do? Otherwise I can't see shit.

I assume you didn’t start with the night vision mutation?

[Daniel696]

[quote=“Siferous, post:263, topic:42”]

I need to go looking for food and drink as my character is very hungry, thirsty and the only portable light source I know of that is somewhat easily obtainable and won’t cause zombies to swarm down on me like gaming freaks are to a computer retailer offering a 70% off closing sale on EVERYTHING, are light amp googles, which I don’t have. So, what do I do? Otherwise I can’t see shit.

I assume you didn’t start with the night vision mutation?[/quote]

Nope I didn’t, and the night vision only lets you see an extra block anyway.

[Siferous]

Nope I didn't, and the night vision only lets you see an extra block anyway.

Might not seem like a lot but it’s very helpful. And just having it makes it more likely that when you drink mutagen it will upgrade. The 3rd mutation in the line gives you fill night vision, as much vision as you have during the day.

[Daniel696]

[quote=“Siferous, post:265, topic:42”]

Nope I didn’t, and the night vision only lets you see an extra block anyway.

Might not seem like a lot but it’s very helpful. And just having it makes it more likely that when you drink mutagen it will upgrade. The 3rd mutation in the line gives you fill night vision, as much vision as you have during the day.[/quote]

Sounds useful, (speaking of which, I found a flask of mutegen in a basement but didn’t drink it due to having found no purifier), but too late for it now, are there any solutions to this impasse?

[Siferous]

Sounds useful, (speaking of which, I found a flask of mutegen in a basement but didn't drink it due to having found no purifier), but too late for it now, are there any solutions to this impasse?

Not really, the best you can hope for is finding some light amp goggles. Late game you can get an implant that does it as well. The only other thing you can do, which is risky, is flicking on your flashlight and turning it off again immediately to get a judge of your surroundings. Zombies will see the light but it’s really the only other option.

[Iosyn]

Don’t knock nightvision. Probably one of the best traits next to quick, fleet-footed and fast healer/learner. yeah, it’s only one extra block-- but it’s an extra block in every direction. if a fast zombie/brute or hulk finds you at night (or wolves, cougars etc) they can attack you with impunity otherwise and you probably won’t be able to even spot them, let alone fight back. Also helps you go to full nightvision if you mutate iirc.

Also, first cybernetic mod I found was a cranial flashlight, which I managed to install with no relevant skills at 11 intelligence.
couldn’t power it though lol.

Also guys, made my first char with robust genetics and suddenly he’s grown wing stubs, but why? I’ve not drunk any mutagen or anything (maybe some unpurified toilet water. I was very thirsty.) All meat has been cooked before eating (might have eaten some child zombie meat. it wasn’t labelled as tainted and got mixed up with my decent meat.)

Only other thing I can think of is a bunch of rubble where half a library used to be, so radiation?

[DTF]

Yeah radiation. Either from rubble (i.e. craters), sewage, toxic waste dump, missile silos…
And beware of the robust genetics trait - for me at least, it didnt really work out too well: instead of having an 11% chance of getting a ‘bad’ mutation, I got them 3 out 4 times whenever I drunk a mutagen.

Full night vision makes the game almost too easy. Unless you are so silly to use a pure melee character with FNV … in which case it is silly, stop that.
Get a silenced rifle and have fun hunting oblivious prey during the night, in labs, in caves, etc.

Also of note: most bionics are not as energy efficient as their not-so-fancy everyday counterparts.
A mundane flashlight does the same as the cranial one and it consumes less batteries; same goes for the integrated toolset (welder).

[Asra]

I don’t really understand the problem with attempting to melee with full night vision. It’s still better than using it without night vision on, right? If you’re good enough(skill-wise) to manage against a Hulk, the only things you still shouldn’t be meleeing are turrets, fungoids or anything that explodes. Especially with how sparse certain types of ammunition end up being.

[AseaHeru]

the night vision mutation can mutate into one thats 5 blocks in all directions. and there is infared vision too.

[Greiger]

Robust genetics seems to work. I’ve had quite a few games now where I started with robust genetics and after 3 mutagens didn’t get a single negative mutation.

I think it’s just that it’s not completely random. If you get unlucky and get the first tier of a bad mutation (or start with a bad trait that turns into bad mutations) the increased chance to upgrade an existing bad ‘mutation’ is about the same as robust genetics chance to prevent it.

For example if you start with weak stomach even with RG chances are you’ll eventually end up with nauseous. Smelly turns to very smelly, Ugly turns to deformed, etc. Its exactly like how if you start with night vision you have a very good chance to mutate to full night vision.

[AseaHeru]

i think it is wonderfull when you just have RG and go to full NV. when you started with no night vision.

[WCG]

This is really a newbie question, I suppose (though I played a much earlier version of the game some time ago), but is there any way to change the font size in Cataclysm without manually changing the screen resolution on my monitor? Right now, the contents of the game window are far too small for me to me to enjoy playing.

As far as I can tell, there’s no full-screen mode, either, but that’s OK. I figured out how to enlarge the window, but my eyes aren’t good enough to play with such tiny symbols.

I’m sure I can lower my screen resolution, but I was hoping there was another solution I’d overlooked. Is there?

[TaintedHolyWater]

WCG I had this problem to start too.
Go into your Data folder and edit the Fontdata file. The three lines are Font, hight, width… might have the last two mixed up.

You just have to raise the numbers and play with them until something works for you.

[Iosyn]

[quote=“WCG, post:274, topic:42”]This is really a newbie question, I suppose (though I played a much earlier version of the game some time ago), but is there any way to change the font size in Cataclysm without manually changing the screen resolution on my monitor? Right now, the contents of the game window are far too small for me to me to enjoy playing.

As far as I can tell, there’s no full-screen mode, either, but that’s OK. I figured out how to enlarge the window, but my eyes aren’t good enough to play with such tiny symbols.

I’m sure I can lower my screen resolution, but I was hoping there was another solution I’d overlooked. Is there?[/quote]

I just tried editing the FONTDATA file in notepad but that doesn’t seem to increase font size, just the screen dimensions and character spacings. I’m sure someone will be able to find an answer.

[AseaHeru]

look in help and options.

[WCG]

Thanks, guys. I ended up using the “Magnifier” program in Windows 7. Doubling the size of the screen was just about right for me, and it’s not as awkward as changing the screen resolution every time I wanted to play for a bit.

I do have a couple of other questions, though:

(1) I’m not sure I understand the encumbrance part of the character screen. For example, I show this:

Eyes: (2) 0 + 2 = 2 (0)

My guy is wearing eyeglasses plus sunglasses, and I think that first (2) refers to the number of items. And even though neither has encumbrance by themselves, I think that wearing two items on the eyes adds one encumbrance for each. But, assuming that’s right, what is that first zero in the formula, the total encumbrance of each item? And what’s the final (0) stand for? That’s a high number in some of the other categories.

(2) On the main screen, there are the words “Normal” and “Cold.” I suppose the first one will change if my character is poisoned. But that “Cold” doesn’t seem to change, even when I add warmer clothing. Does that mean he’s cold, or just that it’s cold outside?

I think the screen said that it was 65 degrees, which doesn’t seem cold at all. But he shouldn’t be cold, either, with a cloth cap, leather coat, boots (with socks), gloves, cargo pants, and, at one time, both a sweater and a sweatshirt. Heck, at 65 degrees, I’m usually wearing just a t-shirt and jeans (admittedly, I don’t have zombies chasing me). Is there something I’m missing here?

Thanks!

[Greiger]

First number is the number of things worn, 2nd I believe is the amount of encumbrance gained just by encumbering clothing 3rd number I think is the encumbrance gained from layering clothing, last number in parenthesis is your total warmth protecting that part.

Normal is your firing mode with your current weapon. Capital ‘F’ changes it if you have a weapon capable. Guns with burst fire switch to burst fire mode, guns with underslung grenade launchers or crossbows switch to those. That kind of thing.

Cold is your general body temperature. As temperature was a little unbalanced it has been effectively disabled until it’s in a better state. In current versions your body temperature never updates so you are forever stuck at a level of mild cold that doesn’t do any harm. I think it worked back in 0.1 if you feel like messing with it.

[Iosyn]

Don’t worry about encumbering your head or eyes. Head encumberance is just a measure of total capacity iirc and eyes, well.
besides, the most you can probably fit on your head is a thin hat (boonie hat, cotton hat etc) and then a helmet.

One thing to watch out for though, is the mouth. do not encumber your mouth or your breathing is affected enough to slow your running speed. Some helmets cover the mouth too-- e.g Motorbike helmet. yeah, it’s a good helmet (very good, actually.) but it covers the mouth too, so no wearing a bandana/filter mask with it.

Also some types of clothes come in a ‘perfect fit for you.’ Always grab these, because they don’t encumber you as much compared to one that doesn’t fit just right. You always start with perfectly fitting jeans/t-shirt (and sneakers i believe?)
you can always find them easily by pressing V in a clothing store then cycling through the items for Encumberance - 0 or lower than average ones. Those Trenchcoats, mm… however, depending on how many layers you put on (t-shirt, polo shirt, belt rig, light jacket, trenchcoat e.g) you’ll still get an encumberance penalty.

I’ve recently been exploring a mine (and I didn’t fall down a mineshaft yet :D) but there’s dust clouds about-- and a metric shitton of gear too, so filter masks and hard hats for everybody