This War of Mine is not a game to be taken lightly, and the game rightfully depicts that in a depressing tone. After all, not only are the fate of your survivors in your hands, but also the fate of the people you steal from, or the people you decide whether to bring in or leave out. This is a war game from the point of view of the victims, and every choice you make will feel heavy.
That being said, this game actually makes you want to succeed. If anything, just so that you can come out from the war alive and live to see the light of day. So, these are a few general tips and tricks to hopefully help you survive the long and dark days of war.
Don’t eat food raw
Eat raw food only when your survivors are absolutely about to die and you have no other choice. Otherwise, the benefits of eating cooked food far outweigh chowing down raw food. First of all, eating cooked food will not only replenish your hunger more, but also give you certain benefits.
Cooking two meals at once make your supply of raw meat last twice as long, and saves small amounts of water and fuel. Bruno can save you even more resources with his Good Cook perk.
Another benefit of cooking your food is that it will stop raiders from stealing them. So try to get into the habit of cooking your food. They taste so much better too!
Make a radio ASAP
Radios are more for the end game, yes, but they also present many other uses that will make you happy you listened to me. For example, radios will broadcast the weather details for that day to help you prepare for what is about to come. Besides that, radios can also be left on to boost morale in the house. And as mentioned, you need it later on for news on what’s happening in the world and, more importantly, in the war.
Plan ahead and check inventory
Everyday, before the day ends, check your inventory to see what you need and what you don’t need. There is no point going scavenging and clogging up your backpack with things you already have or don’t really need.
Make a mental note of what you need to craft next, and work towards getting those ingredients. This will save you many wasted scavenging trips and will prolong your days alive significantly. A famous Chinese general once said that a war is won or lost before it has even begun.
Keep them happy and entertained
It can get really depressing in the war, especially during winter, when it’s cold, dark and hungry. Some entertainment can go a long way in keeping them motivated to do what needs to be done. As mentioned above, radios left on can increase morale, reading books can also keep them occupied so that they don’t think of killing themselves.
Besides that, just keep them well fed and rested, and they should be good enough to survive the next day. If all else fails, stock up on some alcohol for sad and lonely nights. (This tip is particularly useful for real life as well!)
Efficiency is key
Bring only what you need when going scavenging. For starters, that would be a shovel, crowbar, lock picks, sawblade, and a weapon. When visiting a location multiple times, spend the first day to clear all hostiles, debris, locked doors and cabinets. Try to remove as many obstacles as possible, so that on following nights you don’t have to bring anything with you and can carry more back.
On the second day (or even the first day, if you have the time), move all items you plan to loot to containers near the exit(s). This would save you time as you wouldn’t need to search the whole place every time.
Remember to loot everything off the dead hostiles and stash them somewhere (if you have no inventory left or don’t need them immediately), so they don’t disappear the next time you visit.
