Perks, books and crafting - FAQ

How is character level different from crafting skill?

Character levels provide points for perks. Crafting skills determine available recipes and crafted equipment quality. With magazine progression enabled, the relevant magazines develop those skills.

Does improving a weapon perk automatically unlock its recipes?

Not as a general rule. A perk can improve combat and related loot chances while a recipe needs a separate crafting skill or schematic. Check the individual recipe.

What is the difference between magazines, schematics and book series?

Magazines improve crafting skills, schematics unlock specific recipes and volumes in book series provide stated bonuses. Completing a series can grant an additional bonus. These items are not interchangeable.

Why do I keep finding the same magazines?

Some perks increase the chance of loot related to your specialization. Container type and randomness also matter. Reading one magazine does not guarantee that the next will cover a different skill.

Where can I find workstation magazines?

Search tool and workstation containers, bookshops and traders for Forge Ahead. Advanced Engineering can improve the relevant magazine chances, but does not guarantee a particular find.

Does Lock Picking boost Forge Ahead drops throughout the game?

No. Under current base rules, this extra help applies only below workstation crafting level 10. Older advice assuming an unlimited workstation magazine bonus is outdated.

When can I craft a forge and a workbench?

With standard progression, a forge unlocks at workstation crafting level 4 and a workbench at level 10. These are crafting skill levels, not character levels. You still need the recipe ingredients.

Read more: Forge, Workbench.

Where can I get a crucible, and what does it do?

A crucible equips the forge for recipes including forged steel. Obtain it through suitable loot, traders, rewards or crafting. The standard crafting unlock is workstation level 75.

Read more: Crucible.

I have iron and clay. Why can my forge not craft anything?

With normal smelting rules, first smelt the resources into the forge's internal supply. Check fuel, output space and required forge tools. Raw materials in your backpack do not replace the forge's stored materials.

Can I use workstations found in buildings?

It depends on the station and world settings. A destroyed workstation cannot be used as a functioning one. Settings for world workstations can change their availability.

Can I reset incorrectly assigned perk points?

Yes. Use Grandpa's Fergit'n Elixir. Check traders and read its description before using it. Resetting assigned perk points is different from erasing all books and crafting progress.

Does disabling magazines bring back learning skills by doing?

Do not assume so. Magazine and progression options change unlock requirements, but do not automatically restore the complete old system. Also check the world's Crafting Progression setting.

Why can I not craft quality 6 equipment?

You need sufficient crafting skill, the required ingredients and any required legendary parts. Check the selected quality and world crafting limits. Owning a good item does not unlock its recipe.