Running out of duct tape and spear crafting

[Ainess]

Hi, fairly new here, and I am wondering, how much of an issue is running out of duct tape in the game, and how does it pertain to crafting upgraded spears? Is it worth rather just using the basic wooden ones without any need for duct tape, or can you manage long-term when using duct tape for crafting like that? I have found that you can apparently forage it, but not sure how reliable or common that is.

Looking for more experienced players´ perspective on all this :)

[Quill]

Spears on their own are pretty good once you get Carpentry and Maintenance up

As for Duct tape as long as you aggressively loot or forage it shouldn't be an issue. Duct tape can be found commonly in Hardware Stores and Warehouses. It can also be found rarely in Foraging

[Armagenesis]

The game world is pretty large. In normal "Rare" setting, you'll virtually never run out of them. You will always find one in one of the garages, hardware stores, or warehouses.

Upgraded spears add more damage to the weapon, attaching machete being the best option. But I personally don't care much about attaching anything and just use the basic spear. I'd rather use my duct tape to fix my axes for a 2nd run with them, or even 3rd if I'm desperate.

[Ainess]

So you both think that duct tape is forageable enough that long-term, you do not really run out of it even if you use up a lot of the looting options?

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by Ainess:

So you both think that duct tape is forageable enough that long-term, you do not really run out of it even if you use up a lot of the looting options?

Pretty much should be the case, but with RNG loot distro, you can have serious issues, where you might be barely having any at all. But duct tape is not such an actually necessary item. I always thought it is a bit overrated in the game.

Of course if you are a pure attached spear user i can understand why that is an issue.
(But i am on the opposite end, i rarely if at all use spears:)

[Ainess]

Originally posted by Nordil(Hun):

Originally posted by Ainess:

So you both think that duct tape is forageable enough that long-term, you do not really run out of it even if you use up a lot of the looting options?

Pretty much should be the case, but with RNG loot distro, you can have serious issues, where you might be barely having any at all. But duct tape is not such an actually necessary item. I always thought it is a bit overrated in the game.

Of course if you are a pure attached spear user i can understand why that is an issue.
(But i am on the opposite end, i rarely if at all use spears:)

I see, thanks, so what are your preferred melee options?

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by Ainess:

Originally posted by Nordil(Hun):

Pretty much should be the case, but with RNG loot distro, you can have serious issues, where you might be barely having any at all. But duct tape is not such an actually necessary item. I always thought it is a bit overrated in the game.

Of course if you are a pure attached spear user i can understand why that is an issue.
(But i am on the opposite end, i rarely if at all use spears:)

I see, thanks, so what are your preferred melee options?

I am short blade and short blunt user most of the time with occasional long blunt.
I start with generally 0 str guy, so having a low weight stamina efficient weapon is a must.
Therefore i usually fight at start with stomping to increase my character's strength.
If i find a semi-decent short blade or short blunt i used that. Once i reach level 2 str is when i usually start to use long blunt as well. (So for instant screwdriver, kitchen knife, meat cleaver, metal bar are okayish starting weapons. Hammer i dont use to fight since i use it mostly as a tool, and since i have to escape most of the time and watch out for my weight capacity, i cannot rely on FINDING another hammer if i found one.)

When i am as to say slightly outfitted i usually have 2-3(and later at least 5) hunting knives on my char, along with a metal bar/lead pipe, and a crowbar, or sometimes two. But this usually happens when i already have the second best or the best military pack and an str of at least 2.

Using short blade is not an easy feat, but if you master it you are pretty much set. You can kill whole hordes with hunting knives, increasing your short blade skill and maintenance. With short blade skill 6 you can kill zombies in worst case with 5 stabs, but on an average 2-3 stabs or even 1. If you have maintenance past 5 you can use a hunting knife for a long time too:)

Also you can always use axes(and make stone axes to get your skill up, so the regular axes last longer). If i find machete or katana of course i always use those:)

[Ainess]

Originally posted by Nordil(Hun):

Originally posted by Ainess:

I see, thanks, so what are your preferred melee options?

I am short blade and short blunt user most of the time with occasional long blunt.
I start with generally 0 str guy, so having a low weight stamina efficient weapon is a must.
Therefore i usually fight at start with stomping to increase my character's strength.
If i find a semi-decent short blade or short blunt i used that. Once i reach level 2 str is when i usually start to use long blunt as well. (So for instant screwdriver, kitchen knife, meat cleaver, metal bar are okayish starting weapons. Hammer i dont use to fight since i use it mostly as a tool, and since i have to escape most of the time and watch out for my weight capacity, i cannot rely on FINDING another hammer if i found one.)

When i am as to say slightly outfitted i usually have 2-3(and later at least 5) hunting knives on my char, along with a metal bar/lead pipe, and a crowbar, or sometimes two. But this usually happens when i already have the second best or the best military pack and an str of at least 2.

Using short blade is not an easy feat, but if you master it you are pretty much set. You can kill whole hordes with hunting knives, increasing your short blade skill and maintenance. With short blade skill 6 you can kill zombies in worst case with 5 stabs, but on an average 2-3 stabs or even 1. If you have maintenance past 5 you can use a hunting knife for a long time too:)

Also you can always use axes(and make stone axes to get your skill up, so the regular axes last longer). If i find machete or katana of course i always use those:)

Interesting, thanks for the info and tips :)

[Armagenesis]

Originally posted by Ainess:

Originally posted by Nordil(Hun):

Pretty much should be the case, but with RNG loot distro, you can have serious issues, where you might be barely having any at all. But duct tape is not such an actually necessary item. I always thought it is a bit overrated in the game.

Of course if you are a pure attached spear user i can understand why that is an issue.
(But i am on the opposite end, i rarely if at all use spears:)

I see, thanks, so what are your preferred melee options?

My own suggestion would be using weapons that can receive exp boost from traits/professions. Basically anything but spear and long blade.

Long blunt only has Brawler trait bonus, but is one of the most common weapon types in the game.

[Ainess]

Originally posted by Armagenesis:

Originally posted by Ainess:

I see, thanks, so what are your preferred melee options?

My own suggestion would be using weapons that can receive exp boost from traits/professions. Basically anything but spear and long blade.

Long blunt only has Brawler trait bonus, but is one of the most common weapon types in the game.

Idk, there only seem to be a few viable options, and the only ones I´ve even seen in-game so far are the baseball bat and the crowbar. Guitars are maybe semi-viable, but also somewhat rare. But crowbar and bats are pretty damn good for sure.

[✚ Mariel ✚]

Originally posted by Ainess:

Hi, fairly new here, and I am wondering, how much of an issue is running out of duct tape in the game, and how does it pertain to crafting upgraded spears? Is it worth rather just using the basic wooden ones without any need for duct tape, or can you manage long-term when using duct tape for crafting like that? I have found that you can apparently forage it, but not sure how reliable or common that is.

Looking for more experienced players´ perspective on all this :)

Use a pitchfork instead. it is a spear but it doesnt instantly break

[Yarok]

Playing solo or with a friends you should be okay it's only once you have 3+ people trying to main spears that you can run short at times. The real drama starts when the wood cutting guy catches the baseball bat user using up all the wood glue on bats, then the bat user call out the axe guy for killing zombies and not trees thus he is also guilty, spear user hides in the corner clutching a roll of duct tape hoping to stay out of it.