Supermarket phenomena

[SpaceCat]

As background, I've played this game more than a few times. I've been trying to complete the difficult starts, and, after completing the solo Marko start one time decided to do it again with the things I learned.

Enough preamble, with only Marko I keep close track of what I am carrying, what I find, etc.

When I went to the "safe" supermarket - only people who tell you that there is enough to share - I did my usual and put my items into a pile and then went scavenging. I am an accumulator, which means to me that I like to gather everything from a place and get it into one big pile that I can then make my selection from.

Well I did that and ran back to dump stuff and my shovel had disappeared.

OK, out of curiousity I did a rerun of the day and went to the supermarket where I built my own dropped pile. The shovel disappeared again.

Interesting. Did it a third time and kept the shovel (and crowbar) with me while I searched. I found a broken helmet and broken shotgun. I put them in the pile with other stuff and when I came back, they were gone along with an electrical component.

More interesting. Did it yet again but only cherry-picked the stuff I really needed and thought was cool like the broken helmet and shotgun and other stuff. Then I left without building a stack. When I came back at least two of the loot piles were gone and the rest seemed rather depleted.

My thought at this point is that the game is set up so that the other folks will loot your pile if you make one. If you don't then it will reduce the things that are remaining.

After this, just for the record, I did a restart which isn't difficult but I like it to be clean.

I've got ideas or hints about the Marko-solo start that I wouldn't mind comparing. I'm really practicing for the Roman-Katia start which is difficult because one or the other starts off wounded and the game, at the start, is thus similar to Marko-solo except without the carrying capacity.

[WaywardPython]

Just checking: did you return to the pile of loot on a different night, or during the same raid?

[SpaceCat]

Same night - only a few moments after putting the items in there.

I also had a pile disappear from outside another location between trips - I just don't remember where.

[molenir]

I realize this thread is from several months ago, but I noticed the same thing, and was wondering if this is a bug, or just a feature. Regardless, anyone have any tips on how to avoid having your pile looted?

[Trent Durant]

I prefer the soldier version of the supermerket. When you know how to do it you can get rid of the soldier the first night without killing him and you have more stuff to yourself when you go there again. Of course after the 1.3 update I just chose the supermarket version I want :O)

[RainingMetal]

I seriously wouldn't trust safekeeping in the scavenger Supermarket. Stick with the Soldier scenario; you can easily kill that fruit from behind with an axe and take his weapon (and save that girl in the process, whatever) and the entire building is yours!

[RainmakerLTU]

Folks, from my experience, nothing will dissappear from loot pile, if this pile is created by the game itself. Not the pile you can make by dropping things (actually never tried because do not trust that). Just pick nearest pile to entrance to map and pour there everything you get from all map. Then other nights you can come and choose what you need most for that time. Of course there are events when wood, food, meds, components will dissappear from outside piles - listen to radio to know when that will happen. Wikia has good explaining on radio messages BTW.

[MoreLenore]

New player here. I attempted to do the same as OP, create stock piles of my own thinking that I could remove all of the items from rooms where I had to use a crowbar to enter so that I didn't have to return again with a crowbar to open it.

I discovered two things while attempting this on moderate, default levels at the Abandoned Apartment.
1. The doors and cabinets will sometimes be locked again upon returning to the location.
2. The stock pile I created in a cabinet by removing all of the items from the locked room and on the floors around and placing them inside... had changed dramatically. I actually assumed initially that I could not create my own stock piles and that the game would always change up the location after I leave to simulate that other people had come to loot it as well.


I agree with OP now that others will loot your stockpiles you create, more severely I think depending on the location.
Has anyone else discovered that the locked doors they open are locked again upon a second visit?

[RainmakerLTU]

Hm... I never have seen things I unlock becoming locked again. maybe because I do not store stuff in cabinets. I just put everything into nearest pile to the entrance of map and when everything possible is looted-transferred into pile/cut down for wood, I just do not look further. Just come in, grab what you need and get out. These later scavengings for me goes a minute or two real time :)

[Altruistic Muffin]

well if your in the supermarket during the friendly, scenario with the 3 people with guns ,they r looting the place as well, so if u leave stuff behind like food in a pile they will take it

[RainmakerLTU]

I always let them take what they want. As one of them says - It will be enough for all of us. Really it is. I just do not open locked things, while they on site.