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The shelter setup uses a full security system, production, and living necessities into 1.5 floors. The floors beyond the 2nd level are used for food/water production and storage.

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2802550945
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2800760970
I enjoy helping others and wanted to also preserve the key findings before they are forgotten. Also, other guides do not seem to have the same high standards as mine and are missing key details in having successful runs.

The guide is for everyone, but much more friendlier to new players. Everything will be explained to be on the same level as those who are the most experienced. The writing will be easy to follow with plenty of screenshots for those who are too lazy to read everything!

This is not the first time in writing such a detailed guide that is comprehensive. Here are the other ones:

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2782133378
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1871229945
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2798943805
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1996086549
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=742714265

The starting inventory has some randomized items and is strongly recommended to start a new game until obtaining 7+ hinges and a bonus of rope (optional). Hinges are much more difficult to come by in the early game.

This was a very lucky starting inventory of 12 hinges and 6 rope!



An early level 3 Workbench will give a massive boost by unlocking advanced snare and medium freezer, which gives the most meat and medium meat storage.


Warning: A level 3 Workbench must be built in less than 2.5 weeks or risk losing the game.

All family members need to choose the highest level of perception because of getting more loot in early expedition. These stats presets are Street Smart in adults and Alert in children.

The adults need to be Proactive because of completing expeditions faster to quickly deliver the loot. Courageous trait is less effective in mid-late game but guarantees that the first two of three attacks will hit.


The children need to be Resourceful to get the maximum resources back from salvaging. Also, it is much easier to identify who should dismantle. Hands-on trait is not recommended because tools will quickly make such skill obsolete and there is very limited building in the early days


Note: Strength can be quickly developed with the punching bag until there is enough water to do the expedition

As for the pet, the cat is the best selection because it is a free rat trap with legs and generates free meat with a functioning freezer. If the shelter has more than one floor, the cat loses effectiveness in cornering the rat and has a bad habit of sleeping too often. Regardless, the cat saves hinges that will be wasted on rat traps, but a combination of the two is needed if much more meat is needed.

The starting shelter can barely support the family members and does not need more manpower. Every recruitment carries a dangerous risk of bringing a psychopath who can suddenly kill family members!

The most important needs are thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Hygiene is only relevant for those who are doing expeditions to eat without food poisoning (disables exploring).

Meat will eventually replace canned food during the starting days. Stoves were not built because they waste important resources, and food poisoning is actually a blessing to attract rats. Once the shelter becomes soiled, rats will begin to spawn that can be caught by the cat or the traps for additional meat. If any canned food is available during this stage, rats will eat all the canned food and this type of food should not be picked from expeditions.

Before switching back to canned food, the shelter needs to be cleaned up with a mop and be clear of all rats. The benefit of having canned food is to have family members go on another expedition right away because meat causes food poisoning. Just remember to take a shower before consuming.

Family members can just drink and eat at their leisure without waiting for the full maximum red bar of thirst and hunger. If lucky, your shelter will spawn in the middle of a forest and will have two additional locations of reservoir and lumberyard along with the trio of school, farm, and house.

If being cautious, they will need to wait until they start losing health after reaching the full maximum bar of thirst and hunger. This will buy some time but can be painful to manage if they are doing something important.

A detailed list of every system upgrade needed to create the cornerstone of every shelter:

During trading at the shelter, the first items to trade away is soap (value of 10). Later on, the main currency is meat (value of 15 or higher at times) from the cat, advanced snare traps, and rat traps.

Pay careful attention to the needed items for the next upgrade. Useless but valuable items can be bought early on to make freezer space for more meat. These items include lighter, magnesium, and bullets (used in mid-late game only).

In emergencies, Anti-Rad can be sold off but be sure to have 1-2 on hand in case family gets sick (they will die). Gas masks are the second most important for allowing to do expeditions safely.

AN IMPORTANT TRICK IS TO SAVE AND EXIT RIGHT AFTER A TRADE HAS TAKEN PLACE WHILE SOMEONE IS STILL BROADCASTING FOR TRADERS! FRESH TRADERS WILL MOST LIKELY COME VISIT AGAIN WHEN RESUMING THE GAME!


Note: A freezer is needed first to start storing meat or will be wasted.

THE RESOURCEFUL TRAIT CAN DISMANTLE TRAPS WHEN THERE IS 1 USE LEFT WITH FULL RETURN OF RESOURCES TO REBUILD A FRESH ONE AFTER!

When the game starts, press the rewind button (the almost pause button) that is at the top right corner of the screen. Turn off those two lights at the entrance to save electricity!


The workshop needs to be moved to the first level in a lighted area (builds faster) and avoid wasting time in climbing the ladder. The same can be done for all items (e.g. punching bag) that needs to be used or worked on.

Immediately upgrade that Workshop to level 2!


Get on the radio to broadcast for traders to get materials for the level 3 Workbench! On Day 2, I found the last missing ropes for the upgrade!


The storage boxes and Water Butts need to be moved to the second floor to make space. One more additional room can be built on second floor.

The two adults need to do an expedition right away of the three nearby locations and just remember to send them both equipped with pipe and gas mask.

Hopefully, the level 3 Workbench can be upgraded as soon as possible. Notice the 2 Comfy Beds built on the first floor!


Two beds and one punching bag should be enough because family members will be too busy repairing everything anyways. A fridge should be built right away to start collecting meat from traps.



Note: Beds of the current highest tier should be made to rest faster and work more!

Begin to collect leather and nylon to craft rucksacks for more inventory space, preferably the large ones.


Try to upgrade the Workbench to its last level for larger rucksacks and quality recycling.


Radio should be upgraded afterwards to get more trades and faster scanning frequencies.

After 30 days, the shelter should be getting closer to having a solid foundation.

One recycling plant is needed to get much needed materials.


Only adults can gain perception from reading books. Children are unable to get more perception from toys.


Level 4 Water Filter for more expeditions!

Special schematics contain lifesaving equipment that their blueprints begin to randomly spawn in any large house. The most important ones are the Auto-Water Butts, Auto-Pantry, Luxury Bunk Bed, and the Rebar.

The toilet and shower is not needed once the Luxury Bunk Bed is available because it cures Food Poisoning.

A full home security would be on the left the pet bowl on the first level, along with medium water butt.

On the right of the ladder, there will be a Luxury Bunk Bed, Medium Freezer with small pantry and medicine cabinet on top, and a Luxury Shower (if needed).
On the second level, there will be the Recycling Center, Radio Station, and Ammo Bench.

The rest is used for Auto-Pantry, Auto Water Butt, and Large crates.

The end goal is to focus on obtaining RV parts for the next Relative quest. The first-time completion of the RV will be much longer because of building from scratch.

After have the blueprints of essential schematics, the family is now ready to move to the new shelter!


If more information on Hardcore is still needed , please refer to friend's guide (Mobius).
http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=972332620

This guide was written by Laguna Queen et al. (2016) on Steam, and not to be republished without crediting the authors and gaining their permission. We can be reached through the the guide comment section below.

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