Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead – Easiest Starting Scenarios

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Summary

  • Unique starting scenarios set the tone for new characters, offering varying levels of safety, resources, and role-play potential.
  • NPCs in starting locations can provide protection and help deal with early game threats, making survival easier.
  • Different starting scenarios offer diverse challenges and opportunities, from well-stocked cabins to vandalized shelters.

As a seasoned survivor of the apocalypse, I have seen my fair share of starting points in this game, but none quite compare to the Evacuee scenario. Having lived through the chaos and found myself in one of these well-maintained shelters, I can attest to their lifesaving potential. The protein rations and safe drinking water were like manna from heaven, and having an NPC inside to guard the building was a luxury I never thought I’d experience again.

2013 saw the launch of “Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead” (often abbreviated as CDDA), an open-source game that’s been developed by a community. It falls under the genre of survival horror. In this game, players are thrust into a world that has been devastated by all sorts of apocalypses – from common zombies and giant plants (triffids) to terrifying interdimensional creatures. The players can choose their own path; they could explore the world, engage in battles against these fiends, or even hide in a bunker. The outcome depends on the players’ decisions. The only objective is survival, and the one certainty is death.

During the process of creating a character, initial situations (or “starting scenarios”) are selected, which significantly boost the dramatic impact and interactive worth of these newly formed characters. These scenarios frequently drop players into distinct, sometimes dangerous environments. The majority of characters may meet their end, but for those who manage to survive, a fresh tale of resilience unfolds!

This article only includes starting scenarios that do not require achievements to unlock.

8. Wilderness

Utterly Lost

  • Starting Location: A selection of remote locations

In the midst of chaos, this character escaped from urban areas and found refuge in the untamed wilderness. Upon starting, players are placed in a few isolated spots with only a few essentials. Immediately upon appearing, they must race against time to locate abandoned civilizations before they face the threats of hunger, thirst, or injury.

Although these starting points aren’t inherently harmful, the openness of these secluded areas may put players at risk if they encounter unfavorable world generation. Being in campgrounds or campsites could be especially hazardous because zombies might wander near and within these places. Players who find themselves in such spots should prioritize finding a weapon as soon as possible!

7. Squatter

A Ramshackle Shelter

  • Starting Location: Vandalized evacuation shelter

As our character attempts to flee the turmoil, they stumble upon a refuge center. Regrettably, either the Cataclysm or hoodlums managed to reach it ahead, shattering windows, damaging furniture, and ransacking it. This structure now offers minimal protection or provisions, so continuing on seems advisable. In search of better lodging, they need food, water, and medical aid; unfortunately, these essentials have been taken from this building.

In this situation, gamers encounter a tougher variant of the Evacuee beginning, where the evacuation hideout has been ransacked. There are no initial supplies such as food, water, or medical equipment; all that’s left is the damaged remnants of what could have been a promising early game stronghold. The NPC is absent too, forcing players to confront the Cataclysm on their own.

6. Experiment

Free At Last

  • Starting Location: In the wilderness

In an unusual opening situation, players take on the role of a genetic test subject who managed to break free when disaster struck, known as the Cataclysm. Initially, this setup doesn’t pose any immediate perils unless one has bad luck with world creation. Starting off in the wilderness without any initial supplies or shelter, players should start exploring promptly to avoid hunger and thirst from becoming an issue.

In this gaming world, I’m given the chance to pick a few unique genetic tweaks while crafting my character. Instead of ordinary nails, I can opt for sharp, talon-like ones that inflict slicing damage, or cover myself with spikes that deal contact damage, both drastically changing the feel of the early stages of the game.

5. Safe Place

Safety, For Now…

  • Starting Location: One of a variety of secure, remote buildings

As the Cataclysm unfolded, this character managed to locate a secure refuge, distancing themselves from civilization and the horrific creatures that have taken over what was once known as home. This starting situation can vary greatly among players, as they might find themselves in diverse structures, each offering different quantities and kinds of resources, along with varying capacities for base construction.

As a survival enthusiast, I can’t help but be drawn to the allure of an LMOE (Last Man On Earth) shelter. This haven offers me instant access to a wealth of resources – from sustenance like food and water, to essential tools such as weaponry and books. What’s more, its remote and subterranean positioning makes it highly fortified against any threats.

4. Last Flight

A Helicopter And Nothing More

  • Starting Location Next to a bridge

Amidst the turmoil of the Cataclysm, this character chose to soar aloft, banking on their flying abilities for salvation. However, misfortune struck when their fuel supply depleted, compelling them to make an emergency landing on a bridge. Players initially find themselves in a similar predicament, equipped with scant resources, but boasting expertise in helicopter piloting – a skill as valuable as it is rare, yet instrumental in setting the story’s tone. Remarkably, their helicopter lay idle nearby, functional but fuel-less.

In most initial situations, the player character isn’t deliberately thrust into peril right away. Yet, it’s advisable to avoid crossing the bridge since it often attracts swarms of zombies near the entrance.

3. Middle Of Nowhere

It’s (Mostly) Safe

  • Starting Location: A selection of countryside buildings

As the Cataclysm occurred, this character abandoned the turmoil and became lost in the wilderness in search of refuge. Eventually finding a secluded structure for shelter, gamers need to locate sustenance and drinkable water promptly. The location where players respawn can determine whether they’ll encounter hordes of zombies and ruthless survivors within these buildings, forcing them to defend themselves with whatever tools or improvised weapons they have at their disposal.

In many cases, these structures serve well as temporary shelters for players, but if they appear in secluded spots, chances are slim for finding valuable loot. This scarcity can exacerbate resource constraints. It’s advisable for players to scavenge these buildings first before venturing into more densely populated areas where a consistent supply of resources can be found.

2. Friends To The End

The Preppers Were Right

  • Starting Location: Remote cabin

In this situation, the character initiates their adventure outside a secluded friend’s cabin, equipped with essential attire and a few belongings. The arrangement was to reunite at this friend’s cabin if global disaster struck, which is precisely what our protagonist has accomplished. Given that they are preppers, the cabin is fully supplied with edibles and useful survival gear, providing an ideal launching pad for new characters. Notably robust and easily fortified living spaces within the cabin offer players a unique sense of comfort and security.

In this situation, a character controlled by the game (NPC) appears in the cabin. Players have the option to easily enlist this NPC simply by conversing with them. Additionally, a handy axe made of wood is hidden within the cabin, providing an effective starting weapon for the game.

1. Evacuee

The Default Experience

  • Starting Location: Well-maintained evacuation shelter

Initially, players take refuge in an evacuation shelter following the turmoil, where they are relatively secure. Few survivors will make it to this location, which means that players may find a plentiful supply of protein rations and safe drinking water here. Evacuation shelters offer temporary protection with spacious basements, providing a suitable hideout for players from apocalyptic calamities.

Initially, every shelter setup comes with a Non-Player Character (NPC) inside. This not only provides the building with an innate guard, but it’s a boon for players who manage to recruit this NPC. They can then relax while their ally handles most early game dangers. Moreover, players can entice nearby enemies towards this neutral NPC, resulting in effortless kills without taking any risks.

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2024-12-22 15:34