Is the Lucky trait worth it in your opinion?

[Eric James]

Hello all. Just watched a tutorial video where someone ranks all the positive traits by tier. The creator said they were using the Clear Traits mod as a reference as to what the traits actually do. When they got to the Lucky trait, they said the trait had little value. They explained it this way:

They said there is 10% increase which is not enough to matter in finding any of the rare loot. They then used this example. If there is a 1% chance to find rare loot, Lucky would only give you a 0.1% bonus. Which in my opinion, is not at all worth the 4 points.

I saw the 10% increase listed on the PZwiki and I always figured that the 10% bonus would mean that if there is a 1% chance to find rare loot, Lucky would change that to 11% chance of finding rare loot.

Does anyone know for sure how Lucky works? FYI, I realize it does other things other than impact your chance to find rare loot. Such as giving bonuses to forging and repairing weapons. I am not interested in spending 4 points for those benefits.

[Animalman]

If a container defines rarity of loot that can spawn inside, and it had 1% chance for a sledge, then it had a 1.10% chance for a sledge.
But if it had a 35 % for an assault rifle, then it’s like 38%
?

Or more common say a bedside table, gun spawn. If it was 15% then he’s got 16.5%
If it was 50% then he’s got 55%

And if it works like that
In some place like a survivor home where rare loot is expected then the items you want will have a increased likelihood of appearing. Like a sledge machete katana and lesser rare guns and ammo

Seems like lucky equates to increased guns and ammo uncommon melee weapons, possibly finds such as Jason Vorhees

[Armagenesis]

You are talking about Retanaru's video right? Personally, I agree with him. But regardless, I will take the trait if I can. Might be placebo, but I find guns in the regular houses more often when I start with the trait.

[Animalman]

I’m not saying it’s good or bad I haven’t tested enough but in some builds 4 points are throwaway after you’ve already worked in all the traits you wanted. I sometimes throw away at first aid. Some might throw at tailor, It costs clumsy and slow reader after all. Once I think it effected car keys but I don’t know if it does.

[Eric James]

Originally posted by Armagenesis:

You are talking about Retanaru's video right? Personally, I agree with him. But regardless, I will take the trait if I can. Might be placebo, but I find guns in the regular houses more often when I start with the trait.

Yes. That is the video I am talking about. He seems to have a very good grasp of the game. However, I did take the Lucky trait on a character and I've found two Katanas. So, I was thinking that his data on this might be off. It just appears I got lucky for real and not with the Lucky trait lol.

[Armagenesis]

I don't think he's entirely off the mark. It's just your rarity setting and world setting also affects your loot, so if you encounter a lot of survivor houses, those 1.1% chances will increase significantly.

[Animalman]

You gotta think about rare mags aswell, rare engineering radio mags. Sometimes rare smoke bomb find. It’s pretty wide what can be considered rare, even if sledge and assault rifle are base rarity 1% other lesser rare item like propane, shotgun shells, VHS.

[Nordil(Hun)]

I think many folks actually as to say focus on the "rare" loot regarding Lucky, whereas its true strength comes from the chance of finding those ordinary items without which you cannot survive. I am talking about mainly food. At the start or when you have to leave and restart someplace else, that extra 10% chance means that usually you find something edible in ANY kitchen. And this is actually a huge bonus/boost. This can really help you if you are playing on very harsh settings.

Also sledgehammer and most of the rare loots are a hit or miss. That minor chance bonus rarely come into play. However who knows lucky might also affect the frequency of "weapon" carrying zeds. For instance Katana reliably is found usually on zombies. I sometimes even jump out of the car and single out that guy get the katana and run away not dealing with the rest. Even when there is a mass of them if you kite them well you can single him out -> that is why you do not take clumsy. Being able to loot a corpse fast is very important.

Beside a very few items most have scripted encounters for them. Like sledgehammer being on the ground by the repairman vehicle.(Along with the repairman zombies, allthough it seems that now various tools can spawn.)

[Animalman]

That’s right, does it also mean, more water in the gas station refrigerator? More lighters in the bar? More salt on the shelf? More boxes of jars at the farm shop, and for forage? In trash? Or for area with high probability for finding other Hm

[bulbatrs]

while 0.1% may not sound like much, increasing from 1% to 1.1% is quite a lot. Put it this way, in the same amount of loot one person will find 10 fire axes and another with lucky trait will find 11. is it worth? up to you.

[Animalman]

Muffin tray…

Worm?
I think I average up to high of 8 furrows for a worm without lucky.

[Eric James]

Originally posted by Armagenesis:

I don't think he's entirely off the mark. It's just your rarity setting and world setting also affects your loot, so if you encounter a lot of survivor houses, those 1.1% chances will increase significantly.

It certainly seems that most seem to generally agree with how Retanaru described it. So, I am not attempting to state that he is wrong. Simply looking for clarification on how the Lucky Trait works is all. It would seem my assumption of how the 10% benefit works was in errata. Not Retanaru's definition. At least based on the responses I am getting in this thread. In fact, based on what I'm hearing here, Retanaru's advice that the trait is disappointing is very accurate in my opinion. He put it in the D tier. Which is the second from the bottom. After getting some clarification on the matter, my only disagreement with Retanaru would be go full F tier with the trait. Avoid at all costs and no where near worth 4 points in my opinion. The only way one could justify it is if your some kind of crazy loot goblin wanting to make a meta build based on harvesting the most loot possible.

On the flip side, the unlucky negative trait to me has become much more appealing and it will likely be utilized in my runs in the future.

[Pantstron]

I just took unucky trait and so far seems like Ive had some luck, might take unlucky more often

[Armagenesis]

Originally posted by Eric James:

Originally posted by Armagenesis:

I don't think he's entirely off the mark. It's just your rarity setting and world setting also affects your loot, so if you encounter a lot of survivor houses, those 1.1% chances will increase significantly.

It certainly seems that most seem to generally agree with how Retanaru described it. So, I am not attempting to state that he is wrong. Simply looking for clarification on how the Lucky Trait works is all. It would seem my assumption of how the 10% benefit works was in errata. Not Retanaru's definition. At least based on the responses I am getting in this thread. In fact, based on what I'm hearing here, Retanaru's advice that the trait is disappointing is very accurate in my opinion. He put it in the D tier. Which is the second from the bottom. After getting some clarification on the matter, my only disagreement with Retanaru would be go full F tier with the trait. Avoid at all costs and no where near worth 4 points in my opinion. The only way one could justify it is if your some kind of crazy loot goblin wanting to make a meta build based on harvesting the most loot possible.

On the flip side, the unlucky negative trait to me has become much more appealing and it will likely be utilized in my runs in the future.

I kinda both agree and disagree at the same time. It's not worth the cost for sure but the trait isn't entirely useless in single player. Unlike the traits he actually put in F tier. Those are the true waste of points.

[Bored and Tired Gamer]

Not one of my favored positive traits.

[Kaldrak]

I pretty much always take lucky. Then again I play on extremely rare loot settings, so...I don't find a whole lot, but what I do find is usually useful. The less rare your loot settings the less useful the trait is, I'd say.