Some Tips And Discoveries About Winterhome

[Oops, all Skol!]

I haven't beat the winterhome scenario quite yet, (I'm on attempt #3) but I figured I'd share some tips and discoveries I've made while playing so it'll hopefully help everyone else struggling out :)

**VERY IMPORTANT**
Here's a link to a really helpful map with suggestions how to improve/expand Winterhome!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1890/44849896181_cae47d53cc_o.png
A huge thanks to ExplodeySquirrel for the map!

-Use Gathering posts to clear the ruins. The ruins function exactly like resource piles so gathering posts will be very effective in clearing them out

-On Day 1 in Winterhome, there are 3 'hidden' Gathering Post locations which can be uncovered by deleting the right roadways. These seem to be intentionally placed to offer very good coverage for most of the ruins you need to clear.


-If you asign an automation to a gathering post, you won't need to worry about heatzones other than maybe a hub nearby so doesn't need to trudge all the way back to the generator to refuel.

-Tech Rush the Infirmary. If you do this fast enough, you should be able to prevent the gravely wounded from dying, and free up some engineers from medical posts.

-MOVE THE CORPSE PIT. Like most of everything else in this god forsaken city, its in a bad spot.

-Build an additional gathering post for each Coal thumper. They gave each thumper one gathering post, which isn't optimal.

-Stockpile coal. Just trust me on this one. You need 5k of it.

-As far as I can tell, there's no outpost location to produce more steamcores.
UPDATE: It is confirmed that there is no steamcore outpost. What you can find is what you'll have to work with. Spend them wisely!

-MOVE YOUR BUILDINGS INWARD AS RUINS ARE CLEARED. This is very important, as later on in the game, conserving resources will be very important and with the given layout of the Winterhome, Steam hubs will suck you dry from trying to keep everything covered in a heat zone.

-Try to save as many steam cores as possible! This is also very important later on in the scenario.

-Engineers will become a real pain in the♥♥♥♥♥♥later on. As far as I can tell, the ones stationed at the exploration center in the far west dont contribute much, so recall them home if you're in a tight spot.
UPDATE: The Engineers to the west will connect you to New London at somepoint, which is probably key to getting a good ending in this scenario.
UPDATE 2: Only take engineers unless you're desprate on manpower!
UPDATE 3: To trigger the canon ending, revisit the research outpost anytime after day 25 to trigger it. Departing before then will NOT trigger it!

-Stockpile Iron! You will likely need to do this if you wish to save everyone in Winterhome as building cabins can become very pricy in terms of iron.

-RESEARCH AND BUILD THE REPAIR SHOP WHEN PROMPTED! Don't wait and cancel and research you're working on! This can leave to an early game over due to your generator biting the bullet.

-Automatons, while reliable in the early game, instantly become useless scrap heaps when the generator malfunctions later on. STEAM HUBS WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE GENERATOR IS OFFLINE. This means that Automatons cannont refuel, and therefore will not work until the generator can be repaired.

-Do not take the Automaton from the bridge. As tempting as it is to grab yourself a free robotic companion, you will need access to the iron outpost if you have any hopes of saving everyone.

-Other than the people you find burried in rubble and the engineers working at research stations, there are no additional people who will join your cause. So think twice before sending fodder off to get executed with your fancy New Order contraptions.

-Take Radical Treatment and Overcrowding. Just swallow your pride and do it. Otherwise you will literally drown in amputees and sick people!


-This is more or less my personal opinion, but Order seems weak in this Scenario. Its good if you plan on abusing the hell out of emergency shifts but otherwise, not so much. I haven't tried Faith yet but Im hoping it yeilds better results.

-People WILL die in this scenario. Your escape transport can only hold 500 out of the 600+ in your city! If all else fails, keeping engineers alive should be your top priority.
UPDATE: Use Triage if things are looking a little rocky towards the end. You will lose some people as a side effect, but it will keep your population alive and kicking until you're ready to depart.

-Don't invest too much into coal mines. Thumpers should be able to carry you to your 5k coal goal along with smart steam hub management.


-Take your time and remember to breathe. Unless you're playing survivor mode (You masochist!) you can always pause to take some time to look over city and production. You have a lot to do and it can certainly feel overwhelming, so try your best to keep calm and collected. If you need to, don't be afraid to save and come back to the scenario later!

I'll post more tips as I think of them. Hopefully this helps everyone!

[Aturchomicz]

Originally posted by Kaguya:

-This is more or less my personal opinion, but Order seems weak in this Scenario. Its good if you plan on abusing the hell out of emergency shifts but otherwise, not so much. I haven't tried Faith yet but Im hoping it yeilds better results.

I'll post more tips as I think of them. Hopefully this helps everyone!

What a noob,you use the purpose tree

[Oops, all Skol!]

Originally posted by Aturchomicz:

Originally posted by Kaguya:

-This is more or less my personal opinion, but Order seems weak in this Scenario. Its good if you plan on abusing the hell out of emergency shifts but otherwise, not so much. I haven't tried Faith yet but Im hoping it yeilds better results.

I'll post more tips as I think of them. Hopefully this helps everyone!

What a noob,you use the pupose tree

What the heck is the 'Pupose' tree?

[Moro]

Originally posted by Kaguya:

Originally posted by Aturchomicz:

What a noob,you use the pupose tree

What the heck is the 'Pupose' tree?

they are just being pedantic.

its still order and faith. purpose is just a combination tree that shows you both sides so you can choose. where in like 'new home' they make a bigger deal out of the whole 'order' and 'faith' choices.

[Oops, all Skol!]

Originally posted by dd31879:

Originally posted by Kaguya:

What the heck is the 'Pupose' tree?

they are just being pedantic.

its still order and faith. purpose is just a combination tree that shows you both sides so you can choose. where in like 'new home' they make a bigger deal out of the whole 'order' and 'faith' choices.

Oh I know what it is. I was just being petty since they were as well.

[zero.issues21]

Originally posted by Kaguya:

Originally posted by dd31879:

they are just being pedantic.

its still order and faith. purpose is just a combination tree that shows you both sides so you can choose. where in like 'new home' they make a bigger deal out of the whole 'order' and 'faith' choices.

Oh I know what it is. I was just being petty since they were as well.

lol, Aturchomicz is just trolling as he did my topic. Thanks for the tips, I'm only halfway through Winterhome and agree with what you're saying, especially that ******* infirmary! lol

[Logothete]

For what it's worth, I failed because I did not research the repair/inspection platform immediately after the prompt about it. I figured that I could spare the 5 or so hours to finish the generator efficieny upgrade I was working on at the time.

This resulted in me being 4 hours late to clear what I presume is the first hurdle, even with having a foreman yell at my engineers to work faster and shutting the generator down in the vain hope that it couldn't overstress if the blasted thing was switched off.

[Pigeon]

So Much Iron, also those lazy explorers are just to connect you and New Londen, they do not do anything fancy... but honestly i would do the faith just for the healing houses to conserve on engies and sack the weather station. Also get a massive stockpile iron, if you think you have enough you are wrong

[jacksimth]

yea the ammount of iron was did me in i could not finsh the last cabin before i had to pull plug

[Enceladus]

Originally posted by jacksimth:

yea the ammount of iron was did me in i could not finsh the last cabin before i had to pull plug

You get about 2 days after the generator becomes irrepairable and if you've got a steam core another day before it explodes if you fix it.

For the last 2 days I just dismantled everything. wasn't able to get the last cabin either, was barely able to get the 3rd cabin. Left with 345 people. Still, fun times.

[zero.issues21]

Originally posted by Enceladus:

Originally posted by jacksimth:

yea the ammount of iron was did me in i could not finsh the last cabin before i had to pull plug

You get about 2 days after the generator becomes irrepairable and if you've got a steam core another day before it explodes if you fix it.

For the last 2 days I just dismantled everything. wasn't able to get the last cabin either, was barely able to get the 3rd cabin. Left with 345 people. Still, fun times.

I got 4 cabins but that last cabin is what did me in. I tried to keep running as strongly as possible with as many people as I could to boost everything then I sent 50 at a time asap but I got the final call and didn't have enough iron plus it being the last call only 50 could fit.

[Oops, all Skol!]

Thank you to everyone above who contributed! I've added your tips to the list :)

Keep the tips coming, guys!

[Oops, all Skol!]

Originally posted by Pigeon:

So Much Iron, also those lazy explorers are just to connect you and New Londen, they do not do anything fancy... but honestly i would do the faith just for the healing houses to conserve on engies and sack the weather station. Also get a massive stockpile iron, if you think you have enough you are wrong

Quick question, when do the explorers connect you to new london?

[Pigeon]

It was just a couple days before evac

Also it is story connect these scouts will be the lone survivor from Winterhome that makes it to New London. I wouldn’t take the engi from the south unless you need them to run infirmaries, just extra mouths to feed and house and save.

Other things are take radical and overcrowding or will not be able to deal the medical issues without pulling your hair out.

Do not take the automation, you need the bridge for iron later.

Their are two groups of engies, take if need otherwise you get no extra ppl good luck

Their is hints of the bear cave, the lichen forest, the children survivers, and other stuff I might not remember.

[Oops, all Skol!]

Originally posted by Pigeon:

It was just a couple days before evac

Also it is story connect these scouts will be the lone survivor from Winterhome that makes it to New London. I wouldn’t take the engi from the south unless you need them to run infirmaries, just extra mouths to feed and house and save.

Other things are take radical and overcrowding or will not be able to deal the medical issues without pulling your hair out.

Do not take the automation, you need the bridge for iron later.

Their are two groups of engies, take if need otherwise you get no extra ppl good luck

Their is hints of the bear cave, the lichen forest, the children survivers, and other stuff I might not remember.

Thank you so much! Added these to the list!

[Oops, all Skol!]

Originally posted by Cotton-Headed Ninny-Muggins:

I can't seem to get HOPE level high enough to even worry about the late-game content. Everyone has a home, everyone is warm, 5 churches built, and still can only get hope to 25% or so.

It'll take a bit, but you'll get there eventually. Be sure to use the active abilites of your churches, and be sure to complete requests when prompted. Rescuing people from ruins will also give you a small boost in hope too.