Mastering Pallets in Graveyard Keeper: A Comprehensive Guide
Pallets in Graveyard Keeper serve as vital infrastructure for managing corpses and optimizing your morgue. They primarily slow down the decay rate of bodies, giving you more time to perform autopsies, remove unwanted body parts, and ultimately, improve the graveyard’s overall quality and your income. Different types of pallets offer varying degrees of decay reduction, ranging from a simple slowdown to a complete halt.
Understanding Pallet Functionality
The effectiveness of a pallet is directly tied to its type. Here’s a breakdown:
- Basic Pallet: Offers a modest reduction in corpse decay. A cost-effective early game solution when you are starting and resources are scarce.
- Double Pallet: Provides a slightly better decay reduction than the basic pallet, allowing for a little more time before the corpse starts affecting graveyard quality negatively.
- Preparation Place: Further slows down decay and acts as a workspace for performing basic autopsy functions. It’s a crucial step towards improving corpse quality.
- Embalming Table: Similar to the Preparation Place but with advanced embalming capabilities. It provides the benefits of slowed decay while enabling higher-tier modifications of the corpse.
- Fridge Pallet (Preparation Place II & Embalming Table II): Temporarily halts decay completely while the corpse is placed on it. Essential for managing corpses with poor attributes or when you need time to gather resources for improvement. Remember that decay will resume once the corpse is removed.
These pallets enable you to buy time to improve corpses by removing red skulls (which lower graveyard quality) and adding white skulls (which improve it). This involves removing and replacing parts like blood, fat, and organs, as well as embalming. Proper use of pallets is fundamental to running a successful graveyard and generating a steady income from the church. You might want to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for insights on how other games use similar mechanics for teaching resource management.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where do I get the pallets to deposit crates with goods?
Crate pallets are not the same as corpse pallets. They are built in the barn cellar by the crate factory or located in the trade office. They are used to deposit crates with goods to be sold by the merchant.
2. How important is early investment in pallets?
Extremely important. Starting with basic pallets is crucial to controlling corpse decay. Upgrading to more advanced versions like the Fridge Pallet as soon as possible should be a top priority. This directly impacts graveyard quality and thus, your income.
3. Can I move a corpse from one pallet to another?
Yes, you can freely move corpses between different types of pallets. This allows you to take advantage of the varying decay rates offered by each. For example, you might store a fresh corpse on a basic pallet, move it to a Preparation Place for autopsy, and then transfer it to a Fridge Pallet to halt decay while you acquire the materials for embalming.
4. Do pallets require any maintenance or repairs?
No, pallets do not require any maintenance or repairs in Graveyard Keeper. Once built, they remain functional indefinitely.
5. Does the surrounding environment affect pallet efficiency?
No, the surrounding environment (e.g., proximity to crafting stations or other structures) does not affect how quickly a pallet slows corpse decay. Its effectiveness is solely based on the type of pallet.
6. Can I build pallets outside the morgue?
While you can technically place some pallets outside the morgue building, it’s generally not recommended. The morgue provides a base level of decay reduction, and keeping your corpses contained within its walls is best.
7. What’s the best strategy for using Fridge Pallets?
Fridge Pallets are best used strategically. Use them to “pause” the decay of bodies with particularly bad skull ratings while you gather resources for improvement. Avoid leaving corpses on Fridge Pallets for extended periods, as decay resumes immediately upon removal.
8. Does removing a corpse from a Fridge Pallet reset the decay timer?
No, removing a corpse from a Fridge Pallet does not reset the decay timer. The corpse will continue decaying from where it left off, so plan accordingly.
9. How do I unlock advanced pallets like the Embalming Table II?
Advanced pallets are unlocked through the tech tree. You’ll need to invest in the relevant technologies to unlock the blueprints, then gather the necessary resources to construct them. Prioritize unlocking the Embalming Table II as it will halt decay which will greatly help you.
10. Can zombies be placed on pallets?
No, zombies cannot be placed on pallets. Pallets are specifically designed for corpses. Zombies have their own dedicated workstation, which does not affect corpse decay. Zombies are instead managed through the zombie work station, which will enable to set up and control your zombie workforce.
11. What is more effective when preserving a corpse – advanced pallets or high-level embalming?
Both are useful, but high-level embalming offers the most long-term benefits. Advanced pallets like the Fridge Pallet provide temporary decay stoppage. Embalming improves the underlying quality of the corpse which helps more in the long run.
12. If I mess up an autopsy, can I undo the changes?
No, you cannot undo changes made during an autopsy. Be careful when removing body parts, as you can’t put them back. It’s a permanent action. Save often or plan carefully.
13. What is the effect of red and white skulls when selling burial certificates?
Red skulls decrease the value of a burial certificate because red skulls negatively affect the graveyard’s overall quality and a potential graveyard inspection. White skulls increase the value, reflecting a higher-quality graveyard. Thus, if you sell burial certificates with bodies with a lot of red skulls, you may receive less income.
14. How do I get more blue points to unlock the autopsy and embalming technology?
Blue points are obtained by studying body parts like the brain and intestines. You can also craft certain items. Prioritize these actions to unlock autopsy and embalming technologies as early as possible. Also, crafting the grinding stone can give a good amount of blue points.
15. Is there a limit to how many pallets I can build in my morgue?
While there may be practical limits based on the size of your morgue, there is no hard-coded limit to the number of pallets you can build. You can fit as many as your morgue can hold. You can expand your morgue to make room for the increasing numbers of bodies.
Mastering the use of pallets is a cornerstone of success in Graveyard Keeper. By understanding their function and utilizing them effectively, you can optimize corpse management, improve graveyard quality, and maximize your profits.