Do I need to watch all VHS tapes?

[500KG]

I just robbed a video store and there are hundreds of them.
Most just seem to reduce boredom, are there any that are essential?
What one's are useless? How do I know?

Is there any reason to watch them all?

Edit: I just spent an hour watching a load of VHS tapes, but when I go on my character panel > VHS. None of them are in white, so it looks like it's not tracking the video's i've watched? Or are useless VHS tapes NOT tracked?

[Quill]

Reduce boredom for the most part. Some offer lore. Some offer XP

[500KG]

How do I know which ones are useful and which ones are not?
So, CD's only reduce boredom and some random VHS tapes may give xp?

[Quill]

Originally posted by 500KG:

How do I know which ones are useful and which ones are not?
So, CD's only reduce boredom and some random VHS tapes may give xp?

Yes. You can either look on the Wiki or find some mods that show you which ones give XP

For example Z-Squad S2.03 will give some Metalworking and Mechanics XP

[Quill]

A mod I personally use that highlights which VHS takes give XP is Easy Literature

[Greb]

You do if you want what passes as 100% completion at the moment. Reading all of the books and magazines, watching every VHS tape, listening to every CD, it's all listed in your training journal on your information panel somewhere, if I recall.

But I mean, 100% also would mean getting to 10 in every skill and I mean screw that, lol. You set your own goals.

You don't actually have to watch a single VHS tape, I never bother with it, I collect CD's and VHS tapes because they weigh very little and are fairly uncommon loot, but I can't remember the last time I watched one. Usually my friend watches something like Car Zone to get Mechanics up for hotwiring stuff and I catch an episode or two.

I've never even watched Dog Goblin, which is all the rage and a 10/10 must watch. I'm boring, basically.

Most of the time people only care for VHS tapes because they contain the episodes of Life and Livin' TV you can see during the first two weeks of the infection outbreak, which gives you oodles of XP if done right. More or less the only reason to truly care about VHS loot I suppose, for the XP.

You'll know what gives XP mostly because it'll be episodic and probably listed in your training material tracker. Something like "Woodcraft Ep. 3" is going to give you Carpentry XP, for example. It should be fairly obvious, I think. Or you can just look up a guide on what VHS tapes give you XP I guess.

Some of the VHS tapes aren't too obvious, I suppose. I've heard you can randomly get stuff like Long Blade XP from watching a slasher movie or something? Seems neat.

[Kaldrak]

Originally posted by 500KG:

How do I know which ones are useful and which ones are not?
So, CD's only reduce boredom and some random VHS tapes may give xp?

Well, some VHS tapes are literally taped TV shows. Those are the ones that usually offer XP. Shows like Woodcraft, Exposure survival, etc. etc.

There's also a wiki with all the vhs tapes listed on it if you want to look there.

https://pzwiki.net/wiki/VHS

[Shady Allie]

None are necessary to play the game.

I watch them (if i can) during blizzards or tropical storms.

[khrenj]

Also check Video Meister mod.

[hardy_conrad]

It sounds a little odd to me that the game isn't keeping track of the ones you've already watched. There used to be a mod on the Kaeldor multiplayer server for making your own videos, which was pretty neat.

I'd say they fall into three categories. First are the obvious skill ones like life and living or cooking or car stuff. These are the most useful in purely practical terms. Secondly you have obscure things which give skill but only a tiny amount. Say an action movie which teaches firearms, but only two xp, stuff along those lines. Thirdly and lastly are those which give zero skill but help with boredom and unhappiness. Sometimes they're pretty funny I have to say, so depending on your sense of humour they could be the best of the bunch

[taxhelp_pro]

The ones that are recordings of "Life and Living" are useful. "The Dog Goblin" is kind of funny. Otherwise I don't bother much with them.

[GeoG85]

When you collect every VHS tapes, but still die like 10+ times, and watch those tapes over and over.

Just to hear that phrase "Over 7 billion dollars" for the @*#&@#*@#&th time.

:(

[500KG]

Thanks all, I checked the wiki and I think i'll just watch the useful ones.
After watching 30+ VHS tapes for no reason, screw doing anymore of that!

[Animalman]

if you equip the VHS in the main inventory, you can view the back cover. Save time watching it. I think you suppose to go to the store, pick up the VHS view the back cover, decide if you want it and put it back when you realise it will be a load of rubbish

Only works in main inventory.

Also there is some secret skills out there. I don't want to talk about because i don't actually remember the tapes, and i don't want to know. I will keep do as i do randomly check them until i find.

I add aswell there are also HOME VHS tapes. containing who know what. So sometime they are rare. Maybe some ultra secret deal can be locked up like a metalworking point might be found in the HOME VHS tapes i wouldn't imagine the wiki had it listed. Not sure. Maybe a nimble point could be bagged from a home VHS if the guy is up the shooting range making home videos.

Wiki states without reading too deep
Some VHS's can affect the player's Moodles, unlock Recipes and grant skill experience points.
Unlock recipes i have never had from a VHS tape, but if they give you the Pipe Bomb on a home VHS that would be a useful secret tape to have.

[GeoG85]

Originally posted by hardy_conrad:

It sounds a little odd to me that the game isn't keeping track of the ones you've already watched.

The game does track what books you've read, what movies you've watched.

Under the Health Menu, Info Tab, Training Manuels. The second you've finished watching a video, it'll highlight. Alphabetical Order.