One good albeit initially time consuming tactic is to methodically collect items and dump them near the location entrance in one huge pile.Then, when scavenging, focus on grabbing only what you need and leaving everything else. Before embarking on a raid, use a good old-fashioned pen and paper to note down exactly what you require to build the next items on your crafting list.Eating rat may not sound very appetizing, but itвЂ™ll keep your group alive. Small Animal Traps - Traps are a valuable, reliable source of fresh meat.Useful for making tradable cigarettes and medicines, but focus on building all the Tier 1 essentials first. Herbal Garden & Herbal Workshop вЂ“ These two are crafted separately but are largely dependent upon each other.Seat вЂ“ A much improved Chair, basically, but hardly vital provided youвЂ™ve invested in Beds.Guitar вЂ“ Worth crafting if someoneвЂ™s deeply depressed.Make sure you get the Reinforced Door too, which becomes available at Tier 3. This is probably one of the wisest investments you can make, as bandit attacks lead to loss of items and potentially severe group injuries, so get that place locked up tight as a drum as soon as possible. Board Up вЂ“ Helps prevent bandits invading at night.Bear in mind the water collected will need to be run through a Filter before itвЂ™s usable. Water is, needless to say, essential, especially for cooking and alcohol making. Rainwater Collector вЂ“ Aim to build this by the end of Day 2.We recommend one of these after the other workshops are out of the way, as you can trade booze for more essential items. Moonshine Still вЂ“ Used to create alcohol.ItвЂ™ll save you losing precious inventory space to wood on your initial scavenges. Make sure you craft a hatchet so you can chop up cabinets and convert them into Fuel. Metal Workshop вЂ“ Another Day 1 essential.Crude Stove вЂ“ This is a Day 1 essential, as it allows you to cook hot nutritious meals.YouвЂ™ll need fuel to keep the home fires burning, but provided youвЂ™ve got a hatchet that shouldnвЂ™t be problematic. If it starts to drop (or you have the misfortune to start the game in winter), make sure you have at least two heaters on the go, ideally three. Simple Heater вЂ“ Keep an eye on the temperature.When youвЂ™re done, switch it to the music channel вЂ“ itвЂ™ll help boost morale.

Radio вЂ“ Be sure to build this quickly (although not necessarily on your first or second day), then check it once daily for news about bandit activity and the weather.

Chair вЂ“ Slightly more rest for the wicked.

Aim to get three beds as soon as possible, so everyone can get a good nightвЂ™s rest if needs be.

Bed вЂ“ Although your group can sleep on the ground, theyвЂ™ll be happier and more rested in a bed.

Here are our recommendations for the critical first two Tiers: But you still need to decide exactly what to make.

You start with a work bench that can be upgraded twice, enabling you to build better and more useful items.

For example, we kept barter master Katia resting up in a bed by the door, so she could respond quicker to trader visits.

When placing furniture and workshops, think carefully and try to avoid group members having to walk too far.

Avoid anything that might tip people over the edge, like killing an innocent.

Depression is a real problem when itвЂ™s cold or youвЂ™ve suffered a string of bandit attacks.

Guitar music is another excellent mood booster, especially when ZlataвЂ™s plucking the strings.

All you need is one lying around near a chair.

A book is an excellent way of cheering people up.

Otherwise they have the potential to go suicidal.

Make a mental note of each individualвЂ™s vices, and if theyвЂ™re hungry and/or ill, make sure you cater to them.

Guitar this war of mine