Scavenging Mechanics

Scavenging (gathering) is the primary method for collecting resources from the environment. All gathering is done through the Gather action, which searches nearby resources on the tile map.

Gathering Basics

Requirements

• Must stand next to a resource (tree, rock, plant, or cache) on the tile map
• Cannot gather on lake/river tiles or while standing in water
• Costs 5 fatigue per gather action
• Takes time to complete

Gathering Skill

Your gathering skill (0-100) significantly affects success rates:

• Bait digging: 35% + (skill/150) base success
• Forage amount: 2-3 items at high skill (75+)
• Berry chance: 8%-40% (scales with skill)
• Mushroom chance: 10%-45% (scales with skill)
• Herb chances: Various resources scale with skill
• Enhanced by tool bonuses

Experience Gain

Gain gathering XP with each successful gather action.

Forage Capacity by Biome

Forage resources regenerate over time. Each biome has different capacity and regeneration rates:

Gathering Types

1. Plant Gathering (Bushes)

When gathering from bushes/plants, you can find:

Common Resources:

• Forage: 2-3 pieces (skill-dependent)
• Cordage: 15% chance
• Berries: 8%-40% chance (100+ species based on biome)
• Wild herbs (flavoring): 10%-36% chance
• Medicinal herbs: 6%-28% chance (27+ species)

Biome-Specific Resources:

• Mushrooms: 10%-45% (forest, swamp, mountain)
• Wild onions: 12%-36% (plain, shore)
• Root tubers: 14%-40% (plain, swamp)
• Wild grain: 16%-44% (plain only)
• Bird eggs: 5%-16% (forest, plain)
• River weed: 14%-38% (shore near water)

2. Tree Gathering

Wood Yields:

• Forest: 1-3 wood
• Plain: 1-2 wood
• Mountain: 1 wood
• Other biomes: 1-2 wood

Tree Bonuses:

• Pine resin: 15% (forest/mountain)
• Hardwood: 15% (forest/plain)
• Oak bark: 10% (forest/swamp)
• Wild honey: 4% (all tree biomes)
  • Bee swarm: 2% when finding honey
• Pine nuts: 14% (1-2 pieces)
• Sticks: 25% (1-2 pieces)
• Maple sap: 12% (forest only)
• Driftwood: 16% (shore only)

3. Rock Gathering

Base Yield: 1-3 stones per gather

Biome-Specific Minerals:

Shore:

• Salt: 20% (1-2 pieces)
• Sand: 12%

Mountain:

• Obsidian: 10%
• Coal: 14%
• Silver ore: 6%
• Iron ore: 8%
• Mountain clay: 12%

River:

• River stones: 18% (1-2 pieces)
• River clay: 14%

Swamp:

• Bog iron: 16%

Plain:

• Flint: 16%
• Clay: 14%

Ruins:

• Concrete chunks: 18%
• Bricks: 16%

4. Cache Salvaging (Ruins Only)

Find caches in ruins biome:

• Canned food: 68% chance (1-2 cans)
• Cordage: 30%
• Tinder: 35%

5. Digging for Bait

When not near any resource target, you can dig for bait in certain biomes:

Valid Biomes: Forest, Swamp, Plain, Shore, River

Cost: 4 fatigue

Success Rate: 35% + (gathering skill / 150)

• Shovel bonus: +25% success rate

Bait Types by Biome:

• Plain: 40% crickets, 60% worms
• Forest: 25% grubs, 75% worms
• Swamp: 45% frogs, 55% worms
• Shore: 30% minnows, 70% worms
• River: 100% worms

Detailed Biome Loot Tables

Forest

• Acorns: 18% (1-2)
• Birch bark: 12%
• Tree fungus: 15%
• Moss: 20% (1-2)
• Ferns: 14%
• Hickory nuts: 16%
• Wild peppers: 8%

Mountain

• Crystal shards: 8%
• Mountain herbs: 12%
• Lichen: 22%
• Alpine flowers: 10%
• Quartz: 14%

Swamp

• Cattail roots: 20% (1-2)
• Swamp clay: 16%
• Peat: 14%
• Willow bark: 12%
• Swamp mushrooms: 18%
• Water lily: 15%
• Reed stalks: 16%

Shore/Lake

• Shells: 22% (1-2)
• River glass: 10%
• River weed: 18%
• Crayfish: 14%
• Freshwater mussels: 16%
• River clams: 14%
• Water chestnuts: 10%

River

• Crayfish: 16%
• Freshwater snails: 14%
• River pearls: 4% (rare!)
• Water chestnuts: 16%
• River reeds: 18%
• River gems: 6% (rare!)
• River moss: 12%

Plain

• Wild flowers: 20%
• Sunflower seeds: 16%
• Wild wheat: 18%
• Meadow mushrooms: 14%
• Dandelion: 12%
• Prairie grass: 14%
• Thistle: 12%
• Wild peppers: 10%
• Farm crops/seeds: 5% (random)

Ruins

• Old books: 12%
• Broken glass: 14%
• Ceramic shards: 10%
• Old nails: 16%

Road

• Rubber: 14%
• Reflectors: 12%
• Paint chips: 10%

Bonuses and Modifiers

Companion Bonus

Companions help gather more resources, applying a multiplier to yields.

Strength Attribute Bonus

Higher strength gives a chance for extra resources:

• 15% chance per point above 3 to gain +1 stone or wood

Seasonal Event Bonuses

• Berry bloom: Bonus multiplier to berry yields
• Mushroom season: Bonus multiplier to mushroom yields

Tool Bonuses

• Shovel: +25% bait digging success rate
• Knife: Used during gathering (durability cost)

Difficulty Modifiers

Game difficulty setting affects resource yields.

Tips

• High-value biomes: Forest and Swamp have the highest forage capacity
• Rare resources: River pearls (4%), river gems (6%), and silver ore (6%) are rare finds
• Skill investment: Gathering skill dramatically improves yields and variety
• Companions: Bring companions to multiply resource gains
• Depletion: Tiles can be depleted temporarily; forage regenerates over time
• Seasonal timing: Take advantage of berry bloom and mushroom season events