Game mechanics
Browse the entries below to read their descriptions, uses and requirements.
Survival & health
After death: recover your equipment without repeating the lossCheck death rules and respawn options first. Then prepare a recovery attempt that addresses the cause of your previous defeat.- Before you start: world settings that change how you playThe same recipe or tactic can behave differently in two worlds. Learn the rules for progression, combat, death and resource renewal before committing to a plan.
Cannot sprint or keep attacking? Check stamina and movementStop spending energy for a moment, check your active effects and look at your backpack. An empty stamina bar, an injury and encumbrance are different problems.
Farming and supplies: production that lasts beyond one harvestA successful first harvest does not establish self-sufficiency. Separate food, replanting supplies and ingredients for other recipes.
Healing step by step: health, bleeding and injuriesIdentify the active effect first. Stopping bleeding, restoring health, treating an injury and curing infection are separate jobs.
How to treat an infectionUse honey, herbal antibiotics or antibiotics. These treat infection over time; restoring health is a different effect.- Prepare for the next Blood MoonPrepare a fighting position, ammunition, repairs, medical supplies and a way out. The date depends on your world's Blood Moon settings.
Where to get drinking waterBoil murky water at a campfire with a cooking pot, or use ready-to-drink supplies you find or buy. Plan a renewable supply before a long trip.- Your first session: what to do and what the words meanYour first goal is to stay alive, find supplies and prepare a place to return to. You do not need to understand every menu or build a fortress immediately.
Character & equipment
- Damage breakpoints: why a small upgrade can matter moreAn upgrade matters when it changes the number of successful hits or reloads you need. A percentage increase in damage does not produce the same percentage reduction in every fight.
Fighting zombies: spacing, variants and target priorityKeep an escape route first. Then match attack rhythm to your stamina and choose targets and cover around each enemy's abilities.- How to repair equipmentThe required repair material depends on the item. A repair kit is useful for many items, but is not a universal replacement for every repair resource.
- Levels, perks and magazines: what actually unlocks equipmentCharacter level, perks, crafting skills and item quality describe different things. Separate them to plan your next useful upgrade.
- Which equipment is actually an upgrade?Compare equipment in the same conditions. Damage, attack speed, reload time, stamina use and available ammunition can change the decision.
Base & production
- Base activity and screamers: why production brings dangerWorking devices and certain activities contribute to activity that the world reacts to. As production grows, prepare to detect and deal with approaching enemies.
- Building and stability: a home that does not risk everything at onceStart with a small shelter and dependable supports. Separate living space, production and defense when losing them together would be too costly.
Forges and workstations: from your first craft to a reliable workshopProduction needs an unlocked recipe, the right station, ingredients and sometimes an installed tool. Check the whole chain before collecting materials.
Harvesting, mining and salvage: choose the tool for the resultSearching, destroying and dismantling an object can produce different results. Choose the action around the material you need, not just attack speed.- I have the materials but cannot craftCheck the recipe unlock, station, installed tools and ingredient form. Materials alone do not satisfy every recipe requirement.
Why an electrical device is not workingFollow the connection from the power source to the device. Check the source, wires, switches and total power demand in that order.
World & exploration
- Find a location and prepare for a POIUse the map for your actual world. The same building name can occur in different locations on different generated worlds.
- How to get an item: loot, buy or craft itChoose the item and its variant first. Then compare the available acquisition routes instead of searching every building at random.
- Loot chance: what repeated attempts really meanA possible item source does not guarantee a successful roll. Compare relevant containers, expedition costs and alternative acquisition routes.
Traders and quests: from accepting a job to collecting the rewardAccepting a job, activating it at the location and completing every objective are separate stages. Read the objective list throughout the trip.
Vehicles: from your first bicycle to long-distance expeditionsA vehicle shortens transport, but needs components, maintenance and a return plan. Separate final assembly from crafting its parts.