What sort of character do you create?

[Quikel]

I was wondering which sorts of builds you guys tend to play when playing in Singelpayer/Multiplayer?

When I began playing this game one of my first builds was some shooty-soldier-character. Going for Veteran, Brave and some other gun related traits. Oh boy did I regret that once I realized what a shotgun blast does attract.

Later I thought that carpenter is the best profession and went full on carpenter with Traits such as Handy or even picked Lumberjack as a starter. After some time I thought: "You actually dont need that many points in carpentry to begin with..." and kept starting as an engineer, since I thought it would be nice to have the bonus on electrical and carpentry. My standard build became this:

http://undeniable.info/pz/CharacterPlanner.php#engineer,Handy,Dextrous,ThickSkinned,Outdoorsman,Organized,Cowardly,ShortSighted,HardOfHearing,HeartyAppitite,SlowHealer,HighThirst,Pacifist,WeakStomach,Hemophobic,Lucky,

and ever since I broke two bones, being stuck in base for seven weeks (leveling carpentry in the meantime) I thought it would be time for some other build, something that may actually has no starting level in carpentry whatsoever and sure as hell doesnt have slow healer (Having to wait seven weeks for the leg to heal was the absolute worst...).

My current setup would be this:
http://undeniable.info/pz/CharacterPlanner.php#fireofficer,Outdoorsman,Athletic,Strong,WeakStomach,Pacifist,Hemophobic,Cowardly,ShortSighted,HardOfHearing,HighThirst,SlowLearner,ThickSkinned,

While I do not have any Bonus to a specfic skill, i pretty much maxed out Stamina and Strength from the beginning. I noticed that after having played for 6 months on the same character my strenght bar only went up to roughly 15%-20%, leaving me thinking that its almost impossible to max out your strength/stamina stat without dying.

What do you guys tend to pick up in Multiplayer and are there some adjustments that you would recommend? For example: I was wondering if I should drop Thick Skinned since once you actually DO get scratched you have a way higher chance of actually catching an infection.

Anyhow, let me know!

[Mr. Quiet]

I would go for a build with more steath traits for MP (even SP). I have reasoned that not all survivors are good to make contact with sometimes (even with non-PvP servers), simply because they can run the gambit of drama: trolling zeds to your position, wrecking your equipment, breaking into your redoubts, etc. So, best to stay un-noticed in my opinion and choose traits to support this type of build.

[WillieSea]

I go with unemployed. I have mastered the ways to level up my character, and where to find the items I need to level them up. Its a bit of a grind, but I have a decent load-out of traits to go with it. Why pick a profession? Unless you plan on playing a quick game.

[DeadlyDanDaMan]

I tend to make a glass cannon type character. Max fitness and strength, but very prone to illness and injuries. Forces you to be aware at all times, and because it takes waaaay too long to max out fitness and strength. All other skills are easy enough to raise. Just a matter of time really. But fitness and strength you are almost guaranteed to never max out unless you start that way.

Edit: Didn't actually read your last paragraph's at first. But yeah, you came to the same conclusion as me:)

Second edit: And yeah, I dropped Thick Skinned after I learned it actually INCREASED infection chances. I took Thin Skinned instead because, yeah you have a higher chance of being scratched, but it REDUCES your chance of infection (not zombie infection, just normal infection). I think it's a viable trade off since like I said, my guys are usually glass cannons anyway. And scratches don't generally lead to zombification for me anyway for some reason. It rarely happened. Plus, the whole point of my build is to NEVER get hit. And unless I'm seriously not paying attention, I never do.

[Slimane]

http://undeniable.info/pz/CharacterPlanner.php#lumberjack,Handy,ThickSkinned,Athletic,Stout,Lucky,Clumsy,Hypercondriac,ShortSighted,HeartyAppitite,SlowReader,Conspicuous,HighThirst,Insomniac,Hemophobic,WeakStomach,

Traits I recommend:

OK First of all, INCONSPICIOUS and CLUMSY should pretty much always be taken. If playing singleplayer survival the zombies will already see you if you run or don't sneak. Plus they have nobody else to notice. I also like to run around to attract as many as possible and then kill them all with an axe.

HIGH THIRST and HEARTHY APETITE are the same deal. Truly free points. This only matters if you get beyond your first winter and start running out of canned foods. But honestly this never happens with the amount of lootable places in the game.

LUCKY is extremely strong. I always end up with an infinite supply of axes and non-perishables just from zombie kills.

I would also take the 6 point STOUT over the 10 point strong. The difference is really negligible. But always take the 10 point ATHLETIC. That one is probably the best trait in the game.

RESTLESS SLEEPER, more free points. Just use your infinite supply of vitamins you'll get from zombies using lucky. Or make some coffee.


For stuff I don't recommend:

Slow learner AND pacifist? That's insane, maybe if you enjoy staying at 1 blade accuracy and having just a few zombies be a danger. I would never recommend any of these.

Hard of hearing is another dangerous one. For a lousy 2 points you get about half the hearing range. I've had zombies destroying windows/doors in the same building I was in and never heard them. Don't use this one.


Anyway I would recommend something like my build up there for advanced players. This is from several hundreds hours of gameplay in both survival and online modes.

[Slimane]

Originally posted by DeadlyDanDaMan:

I tend to make a glass cannon type character. Max fitness and strength, but very prone to illness and injuries. Forces you to be aware at all times, and because it takes waaaay too long to max out fitness and strength. All other skills are easy enough to raise. Just a matter of time really. But fitness and strength you are almost guaranteed to never max out unless you start that way.

Edit: Didn't actually read your last paragraph's at first. But yeah, you came to the same conclusion as me:)

Second edit: And yeah, I dropped Thick Skinned after I learned it actually INCREASED infection chances. I took Thin Skinned instead because, yeah you have a higher chance of being scratched, but it REDUCES your chance of infection (not zombie infection, just normal infection). I think it's a viable trade off since like I said, my guys are usually glass cannons anyway. And scratches don't generally lead to zombification for me anyway for some reason. It rarely happened. Plus, the whole point of my build is to NEVER get hit. And unless I'm seriously not paying attention, I never do.

Taking slow healer and prone to illness is what I used to do but it's a really bad move IMO. Just getting a broken shin can take up to double the time to heal. If you get a horde/need supplies during that time you're screwed. I hate things that can end your game like that.

Prone to illness increases your chance of getting the zombie infection (according to several sources) so I just don't take that one anymore.

In my experience, not getting hit is something that doesn't happen. And I do 360's after each swing/zombie kill. You might be fine for a few months but that one day will come where you get slightly lousy/complacent and one will scratch you.

This is where thick skinned comes in, theres already enough free points lying around in clumsy/conspicious and hearthy apetite/high thirst anyway.

TLDR: I used to play like you guys but experience of losing 6month+ characters to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ has thought me to think long term safety. (says the guy that takes hearthy apetite and high thirst, lol, but honestly those are just totally free points.)

[Gilga ™ |Yonaguni|]

Originally posted by WillieSea:

I Unless you plan on playing a quick game.

Well spoken, the current system is more or less broken, thats why i have my own traits in a mod, that adds a lot of negative features to the game...

[DeadlyDanDaMan]

Originally posted by Prince Viserys Targaryen:

You might be fine for a few months but that one day will come where you get slightly lousy/complacent and one will scratch you.

That's kinda the point of the game. If I make it a few months, I am already going to have everything I need anyway and be cruising on easy street. I never expect any of my characters to actually live forever. Even though I couldn't honestly tell you the last time I got bitten or scratched by a zed. Combat really isn't difficult at all. I can take down a 20-30 size horde of zeds with a stack of butter knives, no sweat.