This War of Mine is a brutal, unforgiving game. You'll have to make some agonizing choices throughout every run, and it all could be for nothing. This can make it especially daunting for new players.
You'll need every advantage you can get to bring your survivors safely to the end of the war. With these beginner tips, you'll be able to start your campaigns just a little stronger and make smarter decisions for the long haul. You'll still have a tough road ahead of you, so be ready for anything.
8 Search The Entire House On Day One
The first day of each run should be spent ransacking your shelter from top to bottom. The more adult characters you have, the quicker and easier this will be. Take all the time you need to clear piles of rubble, open boarded-up doors, and search every stash.
Since you're not on a scavenging run, everything you find will go straight into the group's inventory. This will give you a starting supply of crafting materials and food, giving you a buffer against shortages.
7 Upgrade Your Crafting Benches As Soon As Possible
After making sure you have the absolute essentials (a stove and at least one bed), your next step should be upgrading your crafting bench. If you have multiple types of crafting benches like the metal workshop, try to upgrade those too.
This will give you more crafting options and help ensure you have advanced items when you need them, rather than trying to scrape together the materials for something you needed yesterday.
6 Don't Trust The Radio Broadcasts About Intervention
Once you've built a radio, you can use it to predict upcoming major events like winter. If you get any broadcasts about "international intervention," though, you should ignore them. These promise that the UN is coming to put a stop to the war, suggesting the end of the game is near.
Often, this turns out to be false as the UN backs out of its promise with a few days to go. Players who ration their supplies based on an expected end date will find themselves scrambling when the international intervention is canceled. Don't fall into that trap - always plan as though the war isn't going to end any time soon.
5 Make A "Shopping List"
Characters have very limited carrying space when they're out scavenging. This means you'll rarely be able to bring back everything you find on a trip - you'll have to prioritize what you need. It's best to plan the next day's consumption and crafting projects and note what you'll need to make it through. Don't try to eyeball it - This War Of Mine is not a game that forgives mistakes.
4 Bring Only What You Need When Scavenging
Conversely, it can be important to bring a few important supplies when you're scavenging. This will prevent you from bringing as much back but can make the trip more efficient and even save your scout's life. If you're visiting a location you've previously searched, take along any tools like shovels, lock picks, and saw blades that you may not have brought the last time. If you're going to a dangerous area, bring a weapon - ideally a gun and a full stack of ammunition. If you're going somewhere that has barterers, bring valuable items like cigarettes or jewelry. Know what the purpose of your trip is, and bring the right items for the job.
3 Remember What You Leave Behind
Any items you don't bring home from a scavenging trip stay where you left them. Be sure to remember where you leave any useful items you can't fit in your bag so you can get them later - write it down if you have to. If you have the time, you can set up an easily-accessible stash at the entrance to the scavenging location. Leave one item at the nearest searchable point so it stays searchable. As you find things you can't justify taking home on the current trip, store them at that search point. When you come back, all you'll need to do is look in that nearby stash to retrieve what you need.
2 Shovels Are Weapons
The shovel is one of the first tools you'll craft and is primarily used for quickly clearing rubble piles to access new areas. Although it's not readily apparent, a character carrying a shovel can also use it as a melee weapon. The same is true of crowbars and hatchets. Attacking with a tool will count against its durability, but it's a lot better than trying to fight with your fists.
1 Flee At The First Sign Of Trouble
Survival is everything in This War Of Mine. Anyone who isn't a part of your survivor group isn't your concern. Saving civilians can help keep the group's morale up, and sometimes you'll need to fight for your life against hostiles. But unless you're certain you can win a fight, you should avoid combat at all costs. A single burst of fire can and will end a character's life; if trouble is coming and escape is an option, cut your losses and run away. You can always come back to the same location later - ideally more prepared.