Very new player, very many questions

[Mantar]

Makeshift lockpicks can be made from scrap metal with any hammering:1 item. Smash a locker and you get both, since the chunk of steel has a bit of hammering.
Make a bunch of them, they tend to break. It takes a while to get a door open, but is virtually silent, whereas the crowbar makes a CRUNCH that may draw zombies that are already close. Lockpicking also slowly levels mechanics, which is nice.

[ecchi_squid]

Don’t want to echo any of the same ideas as other people around here so I’ll give you some things I do.
1.Looking through bushes near a forest is a great way to get emergency food. Also ant colonies.
2. Materials are easy to get when you break and disassemble stuff. Crashing a car can get you spare parts if you don’t have tools. Also a good way of breaking into a gun store.
3. Starting out, play it safe and try to keep at range. The knife spear is great for this as you can attack using (f) to attack 2 tiles away. Personally I enjoy using vehicles to clear out towns. A vehicle is a small price to pay for peace of mind.