With slow reader and fast learner, are level 1 skill books even worth reading?

[Pope Innocent the 69th]

I would assume that the time it takes to treat the book would be better spent actually doing the thing

[Yarok]

Recently been running slow reader fast learner and the skill books are almost always worth reading even level 1 books.

[Oragepoilu]

A book for level 1-2 is +200% max (x0.3 to x3 depending how long you read the book)

as a reminder it's useless to *only* read the first 30% pages of skills book level 1-2 because you end up having a multiplier "bonus" of 0.3, 0.6 or 0.9 - but at least the game round up to x1 so you don't lose any xp.

Reading a book level 1-2 require 7h 20min, or about 9h30min with slow reader.

Fast learner allow you to gain 1.3xp.

A skill require 75 (lvl1) and 150 (level2) before reaching lv3 and requiring the next book. Total of 225 xp.

If we want to compare regular trait-less gameplay with fast reader that would mean you need 173xp (that's not how it works, it's just to make thing more easy to understand since it apply on everything).

So now you only need to know if you want to either grab 173xp or instead read for 9h30 and then grab the equivalent of 58xp. So it depend on the skill and where you are. If you have access to a lot of stuff to dismantle, carpentry go up quite fast and you might get some material too while you also loot stuff. On the other hand, might be hard to dismantle stuff if you have high amount of z nearby slowing you down, especially with low skill and maybe crappy weapon.

If you have +1skill, you only need the second level, and with the xp bonus (x3) you get with it you might not want to bother reading a book at this point because you will level up REALLY quickly.

[Pope Innocent the 69th]

Originally posted by Oragepoilu:

A book for level 1-2 is +200% max (x0.3 to x3 depending how long you read the book)

as a reminder it's useless to *only* read the first 30% pages of skills book level 1-2 because you end up having a multiplier "bonus" of 0.3, 0.6 or 0.9 - but at least the game round up to x1 so you don't lose any xp.

Reading a book level 1-2 require 7h 20min, or about 9h30min with slow reader.

Fast learner allow you to gain 1.3xp.

A skill require 75 (lvl1) and 150 (level2) before reaching lv3 and requiring the next book. Total of 225 xp.

If we want to compare regular trait-less gameplay with fast reader that would mean you need 173xp (that's not how it works, it's just to make thing more easy to understand since it apply on everything).

So now you only need to know if you want to either grab 173xp or instead read for 9h30 and then grab the equivalent of 58xp. So it depend on the skill and where you are. If you have access to a lot of stuff to dismantle, carpentry go up quite fast and you might get some material too while you also loot stuff. On the other hand, might be hard to dismantle stuff if you have high amount of z nearby slowing you down, especially with low skill and maybe crappy weapon.

If you have +1skill, you only need the second level, and with the xp bonus (x3) you get with it you might not want to bother reading a book at this point because you will level up REALLY quickly.

Thank you, that's a really detailed and in-depth answer!

I am yet to level up Mechanics, Electronics and Metalworking...at all, ever, so I'm mainly interested in leveling those. My guy starts with Handy, so carpentry is lvl 4 on day 3 just by watching Woodcraft, but mechanics and electronics are a different beast.

Is it worth reading the books for those? I am a zombie-killing machine Axe Man so getting rid of the zeds in Rosewood is usually not a problem.

[Oragepoilu]

Electrical is stupidly long to grind (less so if you can find a generator to repair - if you want to reach high skill level for some reaso try to leave some generator near a gas station and refill them now and then while repairing them).
So obviously it's a huge advantage to have the book, even if you are level 1 already. Just grab any watches you find and wait till you get the book.

For mechanic, there isn't a lot of option to level up 1-2 (and you fail often and break thing), so again it's a good ide to read the book to reduce the need to walk around to find cars to tinker. If you have a good amount of cars and no bookstore nearby, you can still try to grind. it's time consuming (real life) tho because you need to keep clicking again and again and again. There is a mod that automatically do the clicking for you, just pick a car and you will remove/re-add part once so get the daily xp.

And for metalworking, if you don't have a mod that give you either a large amount of welding torch/ propane (like chinatown map) or a way to make some propane, and want later to I dunno make a metal house that would cost a good amount of propane, you probably REALLY want to read the book because otherwise it might be difficult to find enough propane to actually do anything after you grind this skill.
But if you only want the storage, you can make due skipping reading lvl1-2 book. Still not a great idea but you could do it.

As for any skill above 2, always read the book if you can. they are always worth it.

[Pope Innocent the 69th]

Thank you, with the last character I wasted the first 5 days more or less looking for a good car (good storage, good condition), then I found out that you only meed mech2 electric 1 for hotwiring (or the other way around?) and decided I'm better off grinding the skill so I can just yeet those sweet cargo vans instead of desperately trying to find one with a key.

And no, I'm not starting burglar, because I'm an Axe Man at heart and man's gotta swing.

[Pope Innocent the 69th]

Originally posted by Beltneck:

Slow Reader and Fast Learner affect different things.

Fast Learner is a global 30% boost to all XP gains, except Strength and Fitness. So any skill you grind, gets done 30% faster than someone without that trait.

Slow Reader just makes it take longer to read a book. You don't get XP from books, you get XP Boosts from them, and they stack with whatever other boosts you have from traits.

I know that, that's the point of my thread: BECAUSE reading becomes so slow, is the XP saved by reading even worth it, especially when I have fast learner anyway?

[Animalman]

Its not worth it if you had a boost, such as Handy or Amateur Mechanics or a foraging trait boost. In that case you read the book you advance to level 2. Sometimes can take more time to read the book than it would to of grinded the XP. thats what he means i think that is the experience he has had. He has wasted time reading a book with slow reader, only to advance levels instantly. lol

[Pope Innocent the 69th]

Originally posted by Beltneck:

Originally posted by Animalman:

You only get to get XP from VHS and TV shows once too, so if you want to maximise their potential, read the corresponding book fist. Like you can get to level 8 carpentry by watching Woodworking and reading the books, without ever touching a hammer or saw.

Can confirm, I would get up to Carpentry 6 without trying much, if I deliberately focused on it (as in, spent all my free time reading the next carpentry book) I can easily see that happening.

[Animalman]

Well i can tell you on slow learner, at approx level 1.9 Foraging. thats 1 level and 90% of level 2, that a rock and a twig is netting you 1 exp on reject or collect and 0.33ep on discovery (without book). So you can always take 6 points from slow learner. I mean, on a single player map with maximum zombies custom game, default loot, i had manage to grind almost 4 metal working on a slow learner, with books, and 3 mechanics on a slow learner, not so bad.

I think some MP have exp boost on all skills. Rarely you take a nerf on exp, but 6 points are worth it if you have to do miraculous spawn escapes. and have not much chance of survival in urban area's. The sneak and lightfoot inconspicuous and extras seem to make up for it. Such settings say hey even if i looted a gunshop or 3, loaded the car full, it is unlikely i can defeat an urban area. Such settings make bourbon the most valuable find. And in the safer zones bourbon is quite rare. Shy of westpoint farmlands.

Anyways i can grind up 4 and 3 on the two major skills slow learner with books in 1 month and few days, 4 cook, 5 carp (not trying) so it all relative. but certainly some multiplayer servers make reading into more a chore than is worth.