Tips, Tricks, and Newb Questions!

[Dampe]

Hello, I’m Dampe, a two year Dwarf Fortress vet and Cataclysm newb.
I was wondering, what are the best skills to put into a beginner-friendly character?

[Random_dragon]

[quote=“Dampe, post:9941, topic:42”]Hello, I’m Dampe, a two year Dwarf Fortress vet and Cataclysm newb.
I was wondering, what are the best skills to put into a beginner-friendly character?[/quote]

Unlike in DF, the melee skill (think fighter) is a lot more useful if you don’t like missing. Dodge is also just as good as in DF, though if you’re being careful about backing away and not getting ganged up on, it’ not as vital.

[Dampe]

[quote=“Random_dragon, post:9942, topic:42”][quote=“Dampe, post:9941, topic:42”]Hello, I’m Dampe, a two year Dwarf Fortress vet and Cataclysm newb.
I was wondering, what are the best skills to put into a beginner-friendly character?[/quote]

Unlike in DF, the melee skill (think fighter) is a lot more useful if you don’t like missing. Dodge is also just as good as in DF, though if you’re being careful about backing away and not getting ganged up on, it’ not as vital.[/quote]

What’s my greatest threat to survival?

[Random_dragon]

If you don’t have the Mundane Zombies mod on, it’s getting swamped by special zombies. Brutes, hulks, and shocker brutes will backhand you into next week, shocker zombies (and shocker brutes) can stun you, and any reasonably tough special zombie can make the threat of being mobbed and immobilized by multiple grabs harder to deal with.

If not, just don’t get mobbed by the mundane undead, and instead you’ll get killed by mi-gos and mooseseses. XP

[Pthalocy]

And remember: early game, if you’re having problems hitting squirrels and creature with high dodge, try throwing items at them. It seems to have much better success rates, provided you don’t mind having to pick up all your thrown items afterward (early game I keep a rock or two for this).

[Random_dragon]

Oh, and avoid turrets like the plague. >.>

[Dampe]

[quote=“Random_dragon, post:9944, topic:42”]If you don’t have the Mundane Zombies mod on, it’s getting swamped by special zombies. Brutes, hulks, and shocker brutes will backhand you into next week, shocker zombies (and shocker brutes) can stun you, and any reasonably tough special zombie can make the threat of being mobbed and immobilized by multiple grabs harder to deal with.

If not, just don’t get mobbed by the mundane undead, and instead you’ll get killed by mi-gos and mooseseses. XP[/quote]

Me talking to my friend (a fellow Bay12er) who showed me Cataclysm

“okay bro i just downloaded the game”

“cool”

*10 minutes later

“what the hell is a mi-go”

“run”

“what”

“run”

“mother of god”

[Dampe]

And remember: early game, if you’re having problems hitting squirrels and creature with high dodge, try throwing items at them. It seems to have much better success rates, provided you don’t mind having to pick up all your thrown items afterward (early game I keep a rock or two for this).

What’s the first thing I should look for?

[Random_dragon]

Mi-gos are the bane of all that live. And a Lovecraft reference.

[Catfoodbob]

mi-gos are pretty much early player killers any mid game character will stomp a single migo into the dust

main reason is they may be strong but not strong enough to deal with the fact they are almost always alone

[Noctifer]

[quote=“Pthalocy, post:9945, topic:42”]And remember: early game, if you’re having problems hitting squirrels and creature with high dodge, try throwing items at them. It seems to have much better success rates, provided you don’t mind having to pick up all your thrown items afterward (early game I keep a rock or two for this).

What’s the first thing I should look for?[/quote]

With a high enough skill,you should be able to craft throwing sticks and a decent throw skill helps.

[Kryxx]

The key to early fighting is don’t be on top of items that slow you down, like brush/fences. The enemy should be on those. If it’s a tough enemy that can dodge or is hard to hit (anything skeleton). Light the brush on fire and them stand in it.

I craft the skewers and throw them and when it’s close to dead let it close the gap for a melee kill. Don’t fight more than 1 enemy at once unless you have too. Running means your not dead yet.

[Random_dragon]

And remember, moose are killing machines. Think like elephants from the 2D days. ;w;

[Catfoodbob]

i kinda like slow but tough zombies, therefore you can easly outrun then even when weakend but they pose more of a challenge fighting

[gimlet]

I can usually beat a mi-go hour 1 of day 1, stepping out of starting house/shelter with just a cudgel and no armor yet. I put most points into stats though, and only a few points into the “power” traits - quick, night vision. Robust Genetics when you can survive a few weeks, til then it’s a waste of points. Skills are a waste of points imho, you’ll be well served by learning how to raise them quickly saving your build points for melee stats and traits that will help you survive.

Biggest tip for a new player - Remember you can run. If you run before you’re too injured you can outrun almost all zombies. #2 is throw. Throw all the time. Throw as they’re closing with you, wear them down and train throwing to be even more potent. You know how to keep from being injured by a melee-only zombie? DON’T MELEE HIM, throw stuff til he’s dead.

[Random_dragon]

Throwing is just as delicious in DF as in Cataclysm, yeah. :V

[Catfoodbob]

[quote=“gimlet, post:9955, topic:42”]I can usually beat a mi-go hour 1 of day 1, stepping out of starting house/shelter with just a cudgel and no armor yet. I put most points into stats though, and only a few points into the “power” traits - quick, night vision. Robust Genetics when you can survive a few weeks, til then it’s a waste of points. Skills are a waste of points imho, you’ll be well served by learning how to raise them quickly saving your build points for melee stats and traits that will help you survive.

Biggest tip for a new player - Remember you can run. If you run before you’re too injured you can outrun almost all zombies. #2 is throw. Throw all the time. Throw as they’re closing with you, wear them down and train throwing to be even more potent. You know how to keep from being injured by a melee-only zombie? DON’T MELEE HIM, throw stuff til he’s dead.[/quote]

or get up basic clothing and have a cudgel. thereon you lure them into a bush, butcher them, steal their cloths and tailor stuff

[Dampe]

Throwing is just as delicious in DF as in Cataclysm, yeah. :V

Can I throw a live rabbit hard enough to make a zombie hulk’s head explode?

[Valpo]

Maybe its possible to throw something hard enough to kil m a hulk in one hit. But you can not grab a live rabbit and throw it. Rip dream.

[Random_dragon]

If only, yeah. XP