In this section will be the explanation of statistic levels or “Stats” and how to keep them topped up.
Health, Carbohydrates, Mood, Hygiene, Thirst, Protein, Fatigue and Antibodies
It is best practice to maintain these levels and keep them up out of the Orange (40-21) and certainly out of the Red (0-20) to ensure no ill effects.
More Medical information here.
1- Health
| CONDITIONING | HEALTH |
| 0 | 100 |
| 1 | 102 |
| 2 | 106 |
| 3 | 112 |
| 4 | 120 |
| 5 | 130 |
Typical Health bar level and reduced when taking Damage through combat, accidents or illness.
Health can be regained from certain medical items, sleep or resting.
Health level can be increased by leveling the Conditioning skill and the Profession of Porter gives +1 at character creation. Running is the best method of skill leveling.
2- Carbohydrates
Also known as “Carbs” and is regained by eating certain foods such as Pies, Bread, Stews, Sandwiches and some Tinned goods. Full information on food here.
The Trait “Carb Lover” gives an extra 30% when eating food with a Carbohydrates value.
3- Mood
Mood (aka:Mentality) is the reflection of the mental state or mindset of the character.
Mood is lost over time, when you die or when learning skills through books or Traders. Low Mood levels will make the game turn black and white.
Mood is recoverable through sleep and using Wine/Beer/Cider, certain foods, Cigarettes, Magazines or the medical items, St John’s Wort and Sedatives.
4- Hygiene
Effects Wound infection and Mood recovery and is reduced over time as the character gets dirty. Melee combat hastens the effect leaving in game visuals to ensure you are aware of the need to wash.
Hygiene is recovered by washing in water sources (Rivers, Sea or Wells)or items built back at base (Well, Water Purifier and Shower Room) or by selecting “Clean Up” on Water Bottles.
| Item | Hygiene Increase Per Use |
| Water Bottle | +5 |
| Sea/River | +50 |
| Well | +60 |
| Water Purifier | +60 |
| Shower Room | +100 |
5- Thirst
Be aware that containers (Water Bottles/Canteens) have a condition level when used and once its gone the item will be destroyed. Each drink will give +30 Thirst.
Also some foods will reduce Thirst such as Jerky and Compressed Biscuits.
The level of fluids of the Character.
Running and Physical Labour will increase thirst rate.
The level is regained from drinking water or alcohol and its best to be fresh as to not suffer illness. If in an emergency you can drink Dirty Water if you have the right medicine to cure Dysentery/Cholera, More info here.
The Trait “Drunkard” gives an extra 20% to Thirst when drinking alcohol and the Traits “Thirsty” (-) and “Camel” (+) give a 30% penalty or bonus to Thirst Rate.
6-Protein
Another food type level and is regained by eating certain foods such as Meats, Stews and some Tinned goods. Full on food here.
The Trait “Meat Lover” gives an extra 50% when eating food with a Protein value.
7- Fatigue
The level of tiredness of the character and for every 30 points missing, Melee Damage is reduced by 25% and is tied to the amount of Stamina bar available to the character.
The Stamina Bar can be increased by leveling the Conditioning skill and the Profession of Porter gives +1 at character creation. Running is the best method of skill leveling.
This is regained mainly from sleeping but also eating certain foods and resting. More information on Medical is here and Cooking here.
8- Antibodies
You will die when this level reaches zero. This is resistance to Infection and is reduced when attacked by Zombies or from an illness. It is affected by the Virus Death Rate in game setting with it being lower is easier gameplay. More information here.
Traffic Lights 101
“Traffic Lights” is a nickname for the 8 different stat levels as previously mentioned above as they can be Green (Good), Amber (Needs attention) and Red (Dangerous!).
The obvious implication of not keeping healthy and Stat Levels high enough is being subject to an illness which will require medicines you might not have yet or force you out in a weakened state to find cures. It can also reduce your Stamina and make doing things more harder as well as fighting and that in turn could mean further illness even Health can be reduced leading to eventual Death and loss of Skills.
(More information on the Medical System is here)
Where and what to gather in nature and simple basic recipes
For food: Early days cheap meals with Pot:
| Food/Drink | Pot | Pot | Pot | Stats |
| Tea | Medicinal Herb | Water | Water | (Cures Dysentery) Thirst+10 Mood+5 |
| Broth | Venison | Water | Water | Carbohydrate+5 Protein+15 Thirst+15 |
| Minestrone | Mushroom | Mushroom | Venison | Carbohydrate+30 Protein+20 Fatigue+15 |
| Fruit Soup | Water | Water | Raspberry | Carbohydrate+15 Thirst+15 Mood+5 |
| Vegetable Soup | Mushroom | Water | Water | Carbohydrate+15 Thirst+15 |
| Rich Stew | Venison | Venison | Mushroom | Carbohydrate+10 Protein+30 Fatigue+25 |
Without Pot:
- Pick Mushroom’s (Carbohydrate +3 Thirst -1) and Raspberries (Carbohydrate +2)
- Dismantle a Honeycomb (From chopping Trees) to get Honey which gives Carbohydrate +5 and Mood +5.
- Pick Apple (Carbohydrate+5 Mood+3).
- Orange (Carbohydrate+5 Mood+3 Thirst+1).
- Peach (Carbohydrate+5 Mood+3).
(More information on Cooking is here)
Water Sources
Any River, Coastal area, Lake, Well and some Houses with Sinks or Toilets are sources of Dirty Water that don’t require building or crafting anything (more information on building things for water is here) but Dirty Water NEEDS it being boiled to Clean Water. Keep water on you and keep topped up throughout the day and make sure you have a high thirst level before sleeping. Beer, Cider and Corn Wine also regain thirst levels as well as Mood with no current ill effects from consuming alcohol.
Loot Sources
- Ships, Supermarkets, Motels, Houses, Cars, Police Stations, Military Bases, Gas stations and Bus Stops are sources of Food and Drink.
- Hospitals, Clinics, Rooms in Military Bases, Cars and Bathrooms in some Houses are sources of Medical Items.
- Traders/Merchants can be bartered with for Food, Drink, Clothes and Medicine. (More information is here.
Refer to the Interactive Maps on the Main Page for the location of Points of Interest (POI’s) and what Merchants trade.
Key Points
- Keep the Stats as high as possible, ideally above 70.
- Use the Lie Down emote to recover Health, Fatigue and Mood (Default key: i).
- Keep checking your Levels (Open Inventory) as it can often be too late when the icons start flashing.
- The Cooking Pot is essential for survival so if new to the game, use the Starter Kit!
- Visit the Merchants/Traders to barter for Food, Water and/or Clothing.
- Sleep! But little and often to keep Fatigue and Health up as it lowers Thirst and Carbs/Protein.