Vehicles: from your first bicycle to long-distance expeditions
A vehicle shortens transport, but needs components, maintenance and a return plan. Separate final assembly from crafting its parts.
Description
A locked component recipe does not necessarily stop you assembling a vehicle from parts you already own. The finished vehicle and its chassis or handlebars therefore have separate requirement cards.
A bicycle is a concrete first goal
Assemble a bicycle in your backpack from 2 wheels, a bicycle chassis, bicycle handlebars and 1 mechanical part. Its components have their own recipes and requirements. Vehicle Adventures magazines develop the relevant crafting path.
A bicycle does not use gasoline, but riding effort still matters. Food, water and character condition affect practical transport. A vehicle does not automatically cure every problem from an expedition.
A motorcycle is more than a better bicycle
Assemble a motorcycle at a workbench from 2 wheels, a motorcycle chassis, motorcycle handlebars, an engine and a battery. Producing those components is a separate planning stage.
Prepare fuel and repair capability before leaving home. Avoid spending every critical supply on assembly when the new vehicle must immediately handle a long route.
Measure transport by the work it enables
Greater range lets you reach useful shops, resources and quests, but makes breakdowns far from home more costly. Extra storage is not a reason to carry everything you own.
Separate work tools, return supplies and acquired loot. A group trip also needs a plan for the vehicle if the driver dies or leaves the game.
Check the route before hauling valuable cargo
Actual travel time depends on terrain, obstacles and safe access. The shortest line on a map need not be the fastest route. Flight also requires takeoff, landing and room to recover the machine.
In 3.2 a vehicle horn can open outer trader doors when the proximity prompt appears. Not every entrance fits every vehicle. Plan how to get back out too.
What to do
- Choose a vehicle for your goal: commuting, hauling loot or team expeditions.
- Open the finished vehicle recipe and its component cards. Check part unlocks and the required station.
- Obtain parts through crafting, looting or trade, then assemble the vehicle.
- Before leaving, check condition, fuel or stamina needs, cargo space and the return route.
Worked example
You found motorcycle handlebars and a chassis but cannot craft them yet. Check the finished motorcycle recipe: those existing parts may shorten the route without waiting to manufacture them yourself.
Common mistake
Reading only the finished vehicle recipe and overlooking component costs and unlocks.