Mastering Survival: Your Priority Guide to This War of Mine

So, you’ve decided to test your mettle in the ravaged world of This War of Mine. Congratulations (or perhaps condolences)! This isn’t your typical power-fantasy game. Instead, it’s a grim, poignant, and often heartbreaking exploration of survival during wartime. Forget racking up killstreaks; your success here hinges on prudent resource management, emotional resilience, and making agonizing choices that can determine who lives and who dies. So, what should you prioritize?

The answer, in its simplest form, is this: shelter security, basic needs (food and medicine), and efficient resource gathering. Let’s break that down. In the early game, you must focus on securing your base from raiders by building a Metal Workshop so you can then construct a door and barricades. At the same time, you should find food and medicine as quickly as possible, and begin creating facilities to produce those items yourself.

Early-Game Essentials: Securing Your Survival

Shelter Security: Your First Line of Defense

Your shelter is more than just a building; it’s your sanctuary, your hospital, and your kitchen. It needs to be defensible.

1. Metal Workshop: This should be built almost immediately. The knife, crowbar, and shovel are invaluable early game tools. The crowbar and shovel will allow you to start looting important areas, unlocking doors and clearing debris.
2. Reinforce the Door: A flimsy door is an invitation for looters. Upgrade it as soon as possible.
3. Barricade the Windows: This is your second line of defense against raids. Prioritize windows on the ground floor and those easily accessible.
4. Guard Duty: Assigning someone to guard overnight, especially early on, significantly reduces the risk of being raided or minimizes the damage if a raid occurs. Ensure they are well armed.

Meeting Basic Needs: Food, Water, and Medicine

Starvation and sickness are silent killers in This War of Mine. Addressing these needs is crucial.

1. Food: Scavenge relentlessly for food in the early days. Supplement your supply with rat traps as soon as possible. Cooking meals at the stove is more efficient than eating raw food.
2. Water: A rain collector is essential for long-term water supply.
3. Herbal Workshop: Craft bandages and medicine to treat injuries and illnesses. Early treatment can prevent minor ailments from becoming fatal.
4. Bed(s): A rested survivor is a productive survivor. Building at least one bed early is vital. Consider the number of survivors you are starting with.

Efficient Resource Gathering: The Key to Sustainability

Running out of resources is a death sentence. Scavenging efficiently and trading smartly are essential.

1. Prioritize Components and Wood: These are the building blocks of everything you need. Locations like the Construction Site are excellent early-game sources for components.
2. Scavenge Strategically: Choose your scavenging locations based on your immediate needs. Are you low on food? Hit the Supermarket. Need components? Check the Construction Site.
3. Trade Wisely: Franko is your best bet for trading wood, but be careful not to let him take advantage of you. Always compare prices and haggle when possible.
4. Marko and Adam: These scavengers are better at looting than others. Use them to your advantage!

Mid- to Late-Game: Consolidating Your Position

Once you’ve stabilized your immediate survival, it’s time to focus on long-term sustainability and improving your quality of life (as much as possible, anyway).

Upgrading Your Base

1. Improved Metal Workshop: This allows you to craft crucial items like saw blades, a hatchet, and repair guns. This will drastically improve both your scavenging and defense capabilities.
2. Heater: Staying warm during winter is critical for morale and health. One heater is usually sufficient, but if conditions are extreme, a second heater might be necessary.
3. Comfort Items: A chair, radio, or guitar can significantly improve morale, reducing the risk of depression and despair.
4. Gardens: With proper fertilizer, these can be a great source of food.

Long-Term Resource Management

1. Produce Your Own: Focus on establishing sustainable sources of food, water, and medicine.
2. Stockpile Resources: Always have a buffer of essential resources to weather unexpected events.
3. Always Be Scavenging: Don’t be too comfortable with your resource stock. Scavenge strategically to increase your reserves.

Maintaining Morale

1. Keep Survivors Fed and Rested: These are the most basic requirements for happiness.
2. Address Emotional Needs: Talk to depressed survivors, provide comfort, and avoid actions that will further damage their morale.
3. Avoid Killing Innocents: Killing non-combatants has a devastating impact on morale. In some instances, killing is unavoidable, but always consider the consequences.
4. Radio: Provides updates on conditions, as well as a small boost to morale when played.

Advanced Strategies: Thriving in a War Zone

Once you’ve mastered the basics, these advanced strategies can help you survive even the most challenging scenarios.

Combat Tactics

1. Stealth is Key: Avoid direct confrontations whenever possible. Use stealth to eliminate enemies silently.
2. Backstabs: A well-placed backstab can instantly kill an enemy, even with a weaker weapon.
3. Use the Environment: Choke points, cover, and distractions can give you a significant advantage in combat.
4. Arica and Roman: These characters are adept at backstabbing. Use them for scouting and silent elimination.

Trading Strategies

1. Learn Market Values: Understand the value of different goods to avoid being ripped off.
2. Build Relationships: Trading with specific characters can unlock special deals or services.
3. Be Wary of Desperate Traders: Some traders may offer seemingly good deals, but there could be hidden risks.
4. Only Trade With Franko for Wood.

Understanding Character Skills

1. Leverage Strengths: Each character has unique skills and abilities. Use them to your advantage.
2. Compensate for Weaknesses: Identify characters’ weaknesses and compensate for them with support from other survivors.
3. Team Composition: Choosing the right team can significantly impact your chances of survival. Team combinations in This War of Mine prove quite effective for survival: 1 Arica, Boris, Marin, Katia; 2 Roman, Boris, Zlata; 3 Marin, Katia, Bruno, Marko; 4 Bruno, Pavle, Katia.

Survival in This War of Mine is a constant struggle. There is no “winning” in the traditional sense. However, by prioritizing shelter security, meeting basic needs, managing resources effectively, and understanding your characters, you can significantly increase your chances of seeing your survivors through to the end of the war.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What’s the best starting team?

There’s no “best” team, as it depends on your playstyle. However, teams with a combination of scavenging ability (Marko, Boris), combat skill (Roman, Arica) and construction/cooking (Marin, Bruno) are generally strong.

2. Is it better to kill or sneak past enemies?

Sneaking is always preferable, especially early on. Killing has a significant impact on morale, and unnecessary violence should be avoided.

3. How do I deal with depression?

Depression is a serious threat. Talk to the depressed survivor, provide them with comfort (a chair, a book, etc.), and ensure their basic needs are met. If necessary, consider trading for alcohol or tobacco, but use these sparingly.

4. Should I help my neighbors if they ask for it?

This is a moral dilemma. Helping can improve morale and potentially lead to reciprocal aid later on. However, it will also deplete your resources. Consider the risks and rewards carefully.

5. What’s the best weapon?

“Military assault rifle fitted with a scope.” A very rare ranged weapon. Can be considered the best gun in the game due to its range and damage.

6. Is it worth raiding other survivors’ shelters?

Raiding other survivors is a desperate measure with severe consequences. The impact on morale is significant, and it can trigger a cycle of violence. Avoid it if possible.

7. How important is heating?

Extremely important, especially during winter. Hypothermia can quickly lead to illness and death. Invest in a heater and stockpile fuel.

8. Where can I find gunpowder?

Gunpowder is a key ingredient for crafting ammo. You can find it in various locations, including military outposts and abandoned houses. Scavenge thoroughly!

9. How do I cure sickness?

Cure sickness with medicine. Prevention is better than cure, so keep your survivors warm, well-fed, and rested.

10. How often should I sleep?

Sleep only when necessary. Only allow survivors to sleep when they are very tired.

11. What’s the best use for water?

Cooking meals is more efficient than drinking it straight. Use water sparingly until you have a reliable source.

12. Does item placement matter in my shelter?

No, the placement of items doesn’t affect their functionality. Strategically position items to minimize travel time for your survivors.

13. Is the axe or knife better?

The Hatchet does more damage than the Knife. However, it is a less effective weapon in raid defense.

14. What is Emilia good at?

Emilia is good at negotiating and trading, making her valuable for bartering with traders. Emilia is a Talented Lawyer.

15. How long is a typical game?

It depends on the length of the war in your specific playthrough, but most games last between 25 and 45 days. When the winter ends, you are nearing the finish.

This War of Mine is not about winning; it’s about surviving. It’s about making impossible choices and living with the consequences. And perhaps, it’s about learning something about the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable hardship. If you are looking to learn more about games and their role in education and society, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society website.