View source for Nomadic Living: Guide

{{delete|guide not updated since 2013, and way to small to be of much use. Either this needs to be expanded, or I suggest we delete it.}}

 '''Guide created using an unknown version of Cataclysm DDA.'''
 The information present here might not apply to the current version of CDDA.
{{ver|unknown}}

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Currently it is not only possible to live as a nomad, but it is substantially easier than raiding a city.

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If you plan to live as a nomad, it is recommended that you put a point in archery at character generation.

Recommended traits include: Night Vision, Gourmand and Fast Learner. Fast Healer is also useful.

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Two things that are absolutely necessary to any survivor are food and water. You can forage for food pretty easily, just {{key|e}}xamine bushes and underbrush. Water is more difficult - first, it is rare for the shelter to spawn near a river and second, you need a container to hold it. You can only craft a [[waterskin]] at lvl 3 survival and lvl 2 tailoring. However, you can stave off thirst for pretty long with berries (especially if you have the Gourmand trait).

Remember! NEVER drink 'water', only 'clean water'. You get 'clean water' by boiling 'water' on a nearby fire. 'water' might give you food poisoning.

Your first steps should be gathering sticks and rocks - these will come useful. If you cannot see sticks laying on the ground, {{key|s}}mash some young trees (represented as '1'). You can {{key|s}} smash a window in the shelter to get string and then you can craft a [[self bow]] if you have Survival 1. Now you can use sticks and rocks to craft [[field point wooden arrow]]s.
You can also cut the sheets into rags, which you can then use to train tailoring once you have made a [[bone needle]]. Rags are also useful because they can be used to stop bleeding.

If you need to light a fire, remember to dig a pit (using a digging stick) and to do it away from the shelter or any other flammable tiles (wood, paper, sheet). Also, lighting a fire in a rain is not the best idea.

Be wary of smoke - the best idea is to wear some mouth protection. (This does not apply to experimental builds, where the smoke bugs have been fixed)

When you kill an animal (the best options are either throwing rocks or shooting the bow), remember to butcher it. Not only does it increase survival, but also you can get pieces of meat. Stash the meat in a safe spot and then cook it before it rots. 

Once your survival hits 3, you have a chance of getting sinew and fur from the animals you butcher. Sinew is critical because you need it to craft a [[stone pot]], which is needed to boil water. Do not discard bones - they might seem worthless, but you can cook them to get [[bone broth]], which provides nutrition and quench; also, it is tasty. Just drop them in a safe spot.

Archery is preferable to other modes of combat, because it lets you keep a safe distance and because it is easy to craft arrows. However, you will miss a lot at first. You can raise archery quickly by crafting arrows (and believe me, you will need those arrows because they break easily).

Pick your targets carefully. Never approach bears. Wolves and cougars might be pretty dangerous at first.

Once you have a [[stone pot]], you can make a [[stone axe]] to cut down trees or a [[stone shovel]] to clear wreckages.

Hopefully by now you have a stash of sticks and furs. These (and more sinew) are needed to create a [[shelter kit]], at which point you can really become a nomad!

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