Disappearing resources

[ElPrezCBF]

I have searched every resource pile in the looted gas station and consolidated them into a single pile so that it would be easier to scavenge them on my next trip without running around. In other words, there is only one pile left in the entire place where I deposited everything. When I returned the next night, the entire pile was gone! I think resources may get looted gradually over time, but for the entire pile to disappear overnight is perplexing. Is it a bug?

[RubelliteFae]

I always use that method and I've never seen an entire pile disappear. Sounds buggy.

[ElPrezCBF]

It was very strange so I replayed a new game and intentionally left more than one pile intact. This time, the storage pile didn't disappear.

[Carlos]

Same thing happened to me when I looted the Garage, a very rich place. I moved all the good loot into one place, came back two nights later and it was gone. So I had a huge morale hit and nothing to show for it.

[Cetoiscini]

Well it never happened to me, but I always move all the stuff into a self-made pile (for those who don't know, you can make your own loot pile by opening your backpack and clicking 'drop'. It's pretty neat because you can actually choose the place where you want to dump your loot). I guess those piles are immune to other NPCs (they scavenge too) and bugs.

[ElPrezCBF]

Originally posted by Cetoiscini:

Well it never happened to me, but I always move all the stuff into a self-made pile (for those who don't know, you can make your own loot pile by opening your backpack and clicking 'drop'. It's pretty neat because you can actually choose the place where you want to dump your loot). I guess those piles are immune to other NPCs (they scavenge too) and bugs.

Great tip, thanks.

[Menshai]

Was this during the winter? One of the times when the radio tells you about scavangers across the city?

During these times, yes, loot piles will deplete/disappear, especially if all the loot is left in a place outside of a building.

Otherwise, it could well be a bug...

[ElPrezCBF]

Can't remember if it was winter or the radio announcement. Only it was left outside the building. But in an open unguarded building, inside should be no different than outside and it would be strange if the game differentiated in this aspect.

[MADE IN IRON]

I've just started a new game. It was the game starting with Marin, Arika and Katia.
Day 1: It's getting colder
It's the first day and it's already snowwing. The locations on Night 1 are "Looted gas station" and "St. Mary's Church".
I've only got a crowbar and a shovel, so I can get access to everything, but the stash behind the bars. I picked up everything and drop it back on a random loot pile. It's not a self-made pile, just a random one.
On Day 2 I choose to loot the gas station again, but I found nothing but the loot behind the bars. The pile I've made the night before is gone.
I can't know if there was the looter's message on the radio, because I didn't got to build the radio on Day 1, but it's winter, for sure.
I thought it would be a bug, so a left the game withouth returning from scavenging, but when I continued the game, the loot pile was gone anyway.
I'm affraind I'm going to re-start the game. It's only Day 2, I'd better start over and do differently.

[Woudo]

When winter hits, loot piles outside of buildings will be erased and replaced by piles that have the character say "Nothing but junk...", "Just dirt.." and other similar sounding messages. This happens at the very start of winter, when snow finally hits.

The "It's getting colder." radio message means Winter is about to start.

Since two of you mentioned the gas station, I should point out that the gas station has two different maps. In one, a soldier threatens a woman. In the other, three scavengers search the gas station alongside the player. In the case of the three scavengers, they will actively take items from piles until they're full, and then run off the map. This includes piles made by the player.

[bokvarv]

don't leave the cashe in the open....survival 1-0-1
as said winter may "destroy" it, as well as other looters.
This is a single player game, but actually loot decays in that if you enter a map, loot and piles it all up and then "never" return, you will notice that on a much later "check in" you will see somewhat less loot actually.

[ElPrezCBF]

Originally posted by Woudo:

Since two of you mentioned the gas station, I should point out that the gas station has two different maps. In one, a soldier threatens a woman. In the other, three scavengers search the gas station alongside the player. In the case of the three scavengers, they will actively take items from piles until they're full, and then run off the map. This includes piles made by the player.

No, you're referring to the supermarket, not gas station. And I don't think scavengers actually take from piles despite the animation. In my case, the entire pile disappeared and the only explanation is that anything not in a pile created by the player will degrade over time. Not sure if the degradation rate is faster in winter though.

[bokvarv]

Originally posted by Ratmannf:

Originally posted by Woudo:

Since two of you mentioned the gas station, I should point out that the gas station has two different maps. In one, a soldier threatens a woman. In the other, three scavengers search the gas station alongside the player. In the case of the three scavengers, they will actively take items from piles until they're full, and then run off the map. This includes piles made by the player.

No, you're referring to the supermarket, not gas station. And I don't think scavengers actually take from piles despite the animation. In my case, the entire pile disappeared and the only explanation is that anything not in a pile created by the player will degrade over time. Not sure if the degradation rate is faster in winter though.

I do believe it is faster in the winter, I have never left piles outside, so I do not know.
I do know however that there is a degree of "loss" over time to "other scavengers) but how great this is I really don't know, but it is there.

As to losing the entire pile over night, the only thing I can imagine is it being coverd in snow.....

[ElPrezCBF]

Originally posted by bokvarv:

Originally posted by Ratmannf:

No, you're referring to the supermarket, not gas station. And I don't think scavengers actually take from piles despite the animation. In my case, the entire pile disappeared and the only explanation is that anything not in a pile created by the player will degrade over time. Not sure if the degradation rate is faster in winter though.

I do believe it is faster in the winter, I have never left piles outside, so I do not know.
I do know however that there is a degree of "loss" over time to "other scavengers) but how great this is I really don't know, but it is there.

As to losing the entire pile over night, the only thing I can imagine is it being coverd in snow.....

Well I just attribute losses to scavengers as just part of the normal degradation process. Scavengers do not discriminate pickings afaik. In any case, creating your own self-made pile makes it immune to losses in any situation.

[Woudo]

Originally posted by Ratmannf:

No, you're referring to the supermarket, not gas station. And I don't think scavengers actually take from piles despite the animation.

You're right, my mistake. They absolutely do take stuff from the containers, and you check by observing the contents of a container before and after the looter has checked it. That said, it's only in that one level that looters will take things. Other guys, like the person on the right-side of St Mary's Church (Priest), or the guy on the left-side of Semi-Detached House (Sniper) just wander around but don't actually take loot.

[Spliff]

Originally posted by Ratmannf:

Originally posted by bokvarv:

I do believe it is faster in the winter, I have never left piles outside, so I do not know.
I do know however that there is a degree of "loss" over time to "other scavengers) but how great this is I really don't know, but it is there.

As to losing the entire pile over night, the only thing I can imagine is it being coverd in snow.....

Well I just attribute losses to scavengers as just part of the normal degradation process. Scavengers do not discriminate pickings afaik. In any case, creating your own self-made pile makes it immune to losses in any situation.

All the expensive stuff will disappear, at least from my piles. Tested on multiple locations, anytime i leave meds or bandages in a pile, come back the next night and they are not there.

To clarify, they are never taken while i'm at the location, but when i come back to same place next evening they are not there, also the piles are there, but the stuff that i put into them last night, isn't there, except for the components / wood which is basically a free resource i don't seem to run out of ...

It would make sense that there would be other scavenging too and then taking the stuff you leave behind.