🎒 Getting Started
A practical first-session route from spawning to not instantly dying.
1. Game Setup
Recommended for new players:
- Turn permadeath OFF for your first runs.
- Turn loot respawn ON so early mistakes don’t brick the save.
- Choose a profession that supports your intended playstyle
(e.g. mechanic if you want heavy vehicle use).
Use this section to later document exact difficulty sliders and what they change.
2. First 10 Minutes
🧭 Priorities
- Scan surroundings – identify immediate threats and buildings.
- Grab any clothing, backpack, and basic melee weapon.
- Loot food and water – you’ll burn through both fast.
- Mark potential base candidates – houses with:
- Multiple exits
- Nearby loot sources
- Space for storage and crafting
3. Establishing a Starter Base
🏠 Starter Base Checklist
- At least one building with:
- Doors you can close and barricade
- A room that can be turned into a safe sleeping/storage area
- Nearby:
- Water source or reliable loot route
- Space to place crafting stations
- Room for vehicles later (garage/driveway if possible)
Tip: Don’t overbuild early. A modest, well-placed safe house beats an overextended fortress with no supplies.
4. Early Gear Targets
🔧 Minimum Kit to Aim For
- Melee weapon with decent stamina efficiency.
- Basic firearm + small stash of ammo.
- Backpack upgrade (capacity matters more than looks).
- Simple med supplies (bandages, painkillers, infection treatment once possible).
- Basic armor or tougher clothing if available.
Create sub-sections later with actual item names, stats, and locations.
5. Basic Controls & Interaction
Use this area for concrete control mappings and quick references.
(e.g. movement, inventory, interaction, stealth, aiming, etc.)
⌨️ Example Controls (placeholder)
- Movement: WASD
- Interact:
E - Inventory:
I - Crouch:
C - Reload:
R - Melee:
Left Mouse - Aim:
Right Mouse
Replace with exact bindings and options as needed.
6. First Night Strategy
Night magnifies every mistake. Before nightfall:
- Be inside a defensible building.
- Have some light source.
- Have a modest stash of food, water, and a backup weapon.
- Know at least one safe escape route if the base is overrun.
7. Next Steps
Once you survive your first day or two:
- Start planning a more permanent base (see Base Building).
- Learn the crafting stations and recipes (see Loot & Crafting).
- Learn how hunger, thirst, infection, and injuries actually work
(Survival Mechanics). - If playing co-op, align on roles (Multiplayer & Co-op).
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