Fire Starting: 101

[Leif189]

Currently in the game there are a few ways to start a fire.

Matches

Fire strikers

And what we from where I'm from, call key chain flint.

In my longest play through I never came across a single key chain flint but I'm going to assume it works like a fire striker in that it loses durability as you use it with no ability to repair.

The problem with all of these, is they're finite. Eventually, in this play through I'll run out of things to start a fire with (unless a wolf, bear, or sickness gets me first). And I have explored every region to its fullest extent. No fire means no cooked meat, and more importantly, no clean water.

This may be possible that it's purposeful, in a game that quite realistically challenges you to survive I find it interesting and sad that I'll eventually die of dehydration after I've ransacked every toilet and basin for water after my fire starting materials run out.

The most simple solution, and the most basic way to start a fire in a survival situation can solve this issue. RUBBING TWO STICKS TOGETHER. I don't care if you have to make a fire bow to do it and it takes 30 minutes. But it should be in a game based on wilderness survival.

Second idea, flint rocks, found like coal in mines/caves. Strike it with a knife or hatchet and you achieve the same effect as key chain flint. Maybe you can even harvest it to turn it into flint based hatchets, knives and arrow heads. (I talked about in a previous post)

Third idea, Quartz. If you find a rock high enough in Quartz (also could be found like coal in mines/caves) when scraped by a metal object it also achieves the same sparky fire making effect flint and steel does, or key chain flint.

But seriously, it does kind of irritate me you can't rub two sticks together to make a fire.

[danicusrex]

cured gut to make the line for a fire bow?

[nicko]

+1 I agree would/should make a great addition to the fire starting. and maybe replace it with the magnify glass.

[Leif189]

+1 I agree would/should make a great addition to the fire starting. and maybe replace it with the magnify glass.

Ohhhh! I forgot all about the magnifying glass!

[LinieBurrito456]

+1 great idea and realistic.

And why not crafting an fire bow on the workbench?

We already have a bow, wood and scrap metal.

[Leif189]

Does the magnifying glass lose durability when you use it? I haven't tried using yet.

And I was originally thinking of making the fire bow on the work bench.

But you can also just use a pointed stick on another piece of wood with tinder, and use your hands for the rotation.

[thinair]

Infinite source exists... its magny lense...just with a downside that you need sunlight. By the way it does not degrade with the use.

Flint is not in the game, been confirmed by devs.

I guess something infinite, easier than magny lense would be nice...but it should be a rare find...but honestly, I'm fine with magny lense...makes game more interesting/harder. There are plenty of matches, firestrikes and magny lenses.

[jackattack]

Or fire plough, which is basically a stick and a log with some carving/shaping.

[Leif189]

Infinite source exists... its magny lense...just with a downside that you need sunlight. By the way it does not degrade with the use.

Flint is not in the game, been confirmed by devs.

I guess something infinite, easier than magny lense would be nice...but it should be a rare find...but honestly, I'm fine with magny lense...makes game more interesting/harder. There are plenty of matches, firestrikes and magny lenses.

Thats cool the magnifying lense doesn't degrade. Infinite fire starter! Yay! Sure it requires sunlight, and if you have luck like mine (just had three solid days of fog/overcast conditions), it certainly adds a challenge.

But my point still stands about not being able to rub two sticks together. It's one of the first things you learn to start a fire in wilderness survival. And it's not easy, but it does work. Even if it takes a half an hour in game or something I believe it should be included in a game based on survival.

[thinair]

But my point still stands about not being able to rub two sticks together. It's one of the first things you learn to start a fire in wilderness survival. And it's not easy, but it does work. Even if it takes a half an hour in game or something I believe it should be included in a game based on survival.

i feel what you saying in my opinion, it could be available later on in the game, when characters starting skill reached certain level, for example 85 or 90... or maybe even a maximum of a 100. Sort of learning curve.. first get good with matches, then firestrikes and magny... then rubbing sticks becomes available. Kind of meet the condition 1. star fire with matches 30 times. 2. start fire with firestrike 5 times or less (if firestrike was found at low condition) 3. start fire with magny glass 5 times or so. Then you have experience and knowledge to star fires with much more advanced methods.

[Leif189]

But my point still stands about not being able to rub two sticks together. It's one of the first things you learn to start a fire in wilderness survival. And it's not easy, but it does work. Even if it takes a half an hour in game or something I believe it should be included in a game based on survival.

i feel what you saying in my opinion, it could be available later on in the game, when characters starting skill reached certain level, for example 85 or 90... or maybe even a maximum of a 100. Sort of learning curve.. first get good with matches, then firestrikes and magny... then rubbing sticks becomes available. Kind of meet the condition 1. star fire with matches 30 times. 2. start fire with firestrike 5 times or less (if firestrike was found at low condition) 3. start fire with magny glass 5 times or so. Then you have experience and knowledge to star fires with much more advanced methods.

Maybe for a fire bow I agree, but with a simple "stick on stick" method you should know it out of the gate. Especially a bush pilot.

I plan on jumping into the skills discussion at a future date. But I think that fire making should start off not only affecting your chance of success, but also, depending on the source/tinder/fuel how long it actually takes to start the fire. Currently, I view the skill as, "every time I make my mini tipi (or teepee depending on where you're from) I construct it a little better the next time." This the skill ranks up, and your percent chance of success increases.

An inexperienced person using a fire striker, and cat tail heads for tinder, and a stick for fuel is going to take atleast 15 minutes with perfect weather and dry materials. I mean first you get an ember, and then blowing air on it til it catches, which can take a bit of time.

So I think it should be adjusted so that, as you gain rank in fire making, not only does your chance of success increase, but the length of time to start a fire with different resources will decrease.