Mastering the Art of Rest: When to Sleep in This War of Mine

Sleep in This War of Mine isn’t a luxury, it’s a crucial resource management tool. The short answer to “How often should you sleep?” is: as often as needed to keep your survivors from becoming Exhausted or Very Tired, while balancing this with other essential activities like guarding the shelter and crafting. Prioritize sleep when characters are Tired or Very Tired, but avoid sleeping unnecessarily, as it leaves your shelter vulnerable to raids. Understanding the mechanics of tiredness and sleep is essential to keeping your team alive.

The Importance of Sleep Mechanics

In the brutal world of This War of Mine, sleep isn’t just about replenishing a health bar. It’s a fundamental element intricately linked to your survivors’ physical and mental well-being. Understanding the nuances of sleep mechanics is paramount for survival.

Tiredness Levels and Their Impact

The game employs a tiredness system with several levels, each affecting your survivors in different ways:

• Normal: Your survivors are functioning optimally.
• Tired: Minor penalties to productivity and efficiency begin to appear.
• Very Tired: Significant penalties to productivity, higher risk of illness, and increased susceptibility to depression.
• Exhausted: Severe penalties to all activities. Survivors move slowly, are highly vulnerable in combat, and are extremely susceptible to mental breakdowns.

Ignoring these tiredness levels can quickly lead to a downward spiral. Exhausted survivors are less effective at scavenging, crafting, and defending the shelter, compounding your problems.

Beds vs. Sleeping on the Floor

The quality of sleep also matters. Sleeping on a bed recovers two levels of tiredness (e.g., from Very Tired to Normal). Sleeping on the floor, however, only recovers one level and causes the “Slept poorly” state, increasing the risk of illness. Prioritize building and maintaining enough beds for your survivors.

Balancing Sleep with Other Needs

Sleep is essential, but so are guarding the shelter, healing, and crafting. A well-rested survivor is useless if the shelter is looted or if no one is crafting necessary resources. You must carefully weigh the risks and benefits before deciding when to send someone to sleep.

Maximizing Sleep Efficiency

The most crucial thing is to optimize your sleep schedules and resources for the best possible outcome.

Capitalizing on Day and Night Cycles

The 14-hour daytime period (6 AM to 8 PM) is generally safer for sleeping than the night. A single bed can accommodate two shifts of sleep during the day, potentially refreshing two Tired characters. The night is usually reserved for scavenging and guarding, but desperate times may require nocturnal naps.

Traits That Affect Sleep

Certain character traits can significantly impact sleep efficiency. Characters with the “Determined Father” trait, for example, only need 2.5 hours of sleep to recover one level of tiredness, making them incredibly efficient sleepers.

Understanding Sleep Deprivation

Allowing survivors to become consistently Exhausted is a recipe for disaster. It can lead to a breakdown, where they are unable to help with anything. Long-term sleep deprivation can also cause mental problems, which will only worsen the group’s situation.

Using Multiple Beds Strategically

Having multiple beds significantly increases your capacity for rest. With two beds, you can comfortably accommodate four or five characters during both the day and night. This is especially important in larger groups.

FAQs: Sleep Strategies in This War of Mine

1. How long does it take to recover from each tiredness level?

A character recovers one tiredness level for every 5 hours of sleep on the floor and two levels for every 5 hours of sleep in a bed. A character with the “Determined Father” trait only needs 2.5 hours to recover one level of tiredness.

2. What are the consequences of sleep deprivation?

Sleep deprivation leads to reduced productivity, increased risk of illness and mental breakdowns, and slower movement. Severely sleep-deprived characters become almost useless.

3. Is it always best to sleep in a bed?

Yes, if possible. Sleeping in a bed provides better rest and reduces the risk of illness. Only resort to sleeping on the floor if beds are unavailable.

4. How do I decide who should sleep and who should guard?

Prioritize sleep for characters who are Tired or Very Tired. Balance the need for sleep with the need for guarding. Characters with high combat skills or traits that make them efficient guards should be prioritized for guarding.

5. Can I make characters work while they are tired?

Yes, but it’s not efficient. Tiredness reduces their productivity and increases the risk of mistakes. Only do this in emergencies.

6. Does sickness affect sleep?

Yes. Sick survivors will need more rest to recover and may struggle to sleep soundly. Proper medication and comfort can help improve their sleep.

7. How many beds should I build?

The ideal number of beds depends on the size of your group. Aim to have at least one bed for every two characters. Building additional beds is always beneficial.

8. Can I sleep through raids?

No. Characters on guard will automatically wake up when a raid occurs. However, sleeping characters are vulnerable and won’t contribute to the defense.

9. What’s the best time to sleep?

During the day is generally safer than at night. Capitalize on the daytime to get characters rested.

10. Does mood affect sleep?

Yes. Depressed or stressed characters may have difficulty sleeping, or receive less benefits. Keeping your survivors content will contribute to better rest.

11. How does the weather affect sleep?

Cold temperatures can disrupt sleep, making it less effective. Maintain a warm shelter to ensure that survivors can sleep soundly.

12. Does the “Slept Poorly” status go away?

Yes, the “Slept Poorly” status disappears after a character has a good night’s rest. Make sure they get a bed when they’re feeling poorly from the last sleep.

13. Can I force a character to sleep?

You can choose to have them sleep, but if they’re tasked with another task like guarding, they will not stay asleep.

14. How does injury affect sleep?

Injured survivors will need extra sleep to recover. Ensure they are medicated and rested for optimal healing.

15. What if I don’t have enough beds for everyone?

Prioritize the most exhausted characters and those with skills that are essential to survival. Rotate sleeping arrangements as needed.

Conclusion: Sleep is a Weapon

In This War of Mine, mastering the art of sleep management is as crucial as mastering scavenging, crafting, or combat. Treating sleep as a strategic resource, understanding the needs of your survivors, and optimizing your shelter will dramatically increase your chances of surviving the war. Remember to always be thinking about your team’s well-being. Explore more about the societal and ethical aspects of games at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.