Overview
This guide is moreso a list of tips, pointers, and advice that I’ve compiled after watching many, many new scavengers die BILLIONS OF DEATHS due to overlooking some of the smaller details in NEO Scavenger (￣▽￣)ノ
Intro/Disclaimer
Hi! First off, thanks for checking this guide out! A couple things to get out of the way – this guide, again, is more of a list than an actual guide, and; NEO Scavenger is a huge, brilliant game–I can cover and go over a ton of more tips/advice, but I feel that it’s more important for you, the scavengers, to explore and become wasteland vets through trial and error.
THE POINTERS
- Use the arrow keys to rotate items after picking them up with your cursor. The game thrives on inventory management, so make those spaces count!
- If you pick up a “strappable” item (e.g. crowbar) with your cursor, you’ll see a strap/line running vertically on your character’s right shoulder (left side from your view). Slap that baby on that shoulder like a cool person. Note: The strapped item cannot be used in combat.
- You also have a neck! Wear a half of a pair of binoculars with a strap with pride and see farther without holding it in your hand(s)!
- When in combat or spying on enemies, you’ll be able to see their status – what skills they have and how their condition is. USE THIS INFORMATION!!
- I have seen the following scenario happen to so many scavengers: 1) scavenger goes up to raider; 2) scavenger hands out a super beat down; 3) raider retaliates a bit; 4) scavenger dies; 5) scavenger complains that NEO Scavenger isn’t fair because s/he did way more damage to the raider and the raider was bleeding and choking and torn in half.
- In the above scenario, the raider, guaranteed, had the tough skill. Spend some time looking at the skills and traits when making a new character–it’ll help you understand your opponent.
- Have a lighter? Cool; use it when scavenging! Have a lockpick and the lockpick skill also? Great! Use all three while scavenging!
- You want all three of those bars/gauges on the scavenging screen to be as full and green as possible. The loot bar determines the chance of finding loot, the safety bar is the chance of looting with/out harm, and the sneak bar essentially determines the noisiness of your scavenging.
- Pop in a forest or lake or marsh or whatever into the crafting ingredients and receive good stuff!
- Need more room? Use (right-click & take OR drag & drop) a vehicle and drag that sucka around!
- Pay attention to your items’ condition levels–they’ll slowly but surely lower over time into nothingness.
- If you accidently choose to scavenge a certain hex/location unintentionally, don’t fret! Choose the “Scavenging a hex” option to go back to the list of hexes to scavenge.
- This is really handy since you can “preview” which hexes are best/worst to loot up.
- Don’t forget–choosing not to scavenge any hex doesn’t waste a turn!
Closing
Again, NEO Scavenger is a deep, deep game. Take your time and use your eyes–hover over things to find out useful information, READ, drag and drop things around, right click items, etc!