Home › Core Mechanics › Storage

Storage & Container Mechanics

Overview

Storage containers allow you to store items at specific locations, extending your effective carrying capacity and creating supply caches. Containers can be crafted or found in the world.

Container Types

Craftable Containers

Wooden Chest

Barrel Container

Crate

Clay Pot

Natural/Found Containers

Expedition Caches

Lost supply caches scattered across the world.

Types:

  1. Light Cache - Crowbar required
  2. Sealed Case - Lockpick Set required
  3. Reinforced Vault - Thermite Charge required

Ground Storage

Storage Mechanics

Placing Containers

  1. Craft Container: Use crafting system
  2. Place Container: Use building/placement system
  3. Access Container: Interact at location
  4. Multiple Containers: Can have multiple at same location

Container Access

Storage Strategy

Home Base Storage

Create centralized storage at main camp/house:

Supply Caches

Place storage at strategic locations:

Item Management

Weight Management

Carrying Capacity:

Encumbrance (over 60% capacity):

Storage vs. Carrying

Carry with You:

Store at Base:

Container Crafting Requirements

Wooden Chest

Requirements:
- Wood: Variable
- Fasteners: Required
- Tools: Saw helpful
- Skill: Basic crafting

Output: Wooden chest (durable storage)

Barrel Container

Requirements:
- Wood: More than chest
- Fasteners: Required
- Tar: For waterproofing
- Tools: Saw, hammer helpful
- Skill: Moderate crafting

Output: Barrel (large, waterproof storage)

Crate

Requirements:
- Wood: Less than chest
- Fasteners: Required
- Tools: Basic
- Skill: Low crafting

Output: Crate (quick storage solution)

Clay Pot

Requirements:
- Clay: Primary material
- Fire: For curing
- Tools: Basic shaping
- Skill: Low crafting

Output: Clay pot (food/water storage)

Storage Locations

Safe Storage Locations

House:

Shelter:

Camp:

Ruins:

Risky Storage Locations

Open Ground:

High-Traffic Areas:

Remote Wilderness:

Storage Organization Systems

By Category

Food Storage:

Materials:

Tools & Equipment:

Medical & Consumables:

Seeds & Farming:

Trade Goods:

By Location

Main Base:

Satellite Caches:

Specialty Locations:

Container Security

Protecting Stored Items

  1. Location Secrecy: Don't mark every cache on visible map
  2. Dispersion: Don't store everything in one place
  3. Camouflage: Use natural features to hide containers
  4. Redundancy: Critical supplies in multiple locations
  5. Rotation: Use oldest food first to prevent waste

Risk Factors

Mobile Storage

Carried Containers

Travel Pack:

Backpack Items:

Storage Tips

  1. Label Mentally: Remember container contents
  2. Mark Maps: Note container locations
  3. Rotate Stock: Use First-In-First-Out for consumables
  4. Emergency Caches: Place along common routes
  5. Weight Check: Don't hoard unnecessarily
  6. Consolidate: Merge partial stacks when possible
  7. Seasonal Storage: Store seasonal items when not in use
  8. Tool Backup: Keep backup tools in storage
  9. Trade Prep: Organize trade goods separately
  10. Expansion Planning: Build more containers as needed

Advanced Storage Strategies

Long-Distance Exploration

Before extended trips:

  1. Place supply caches along route
  2. Stock caches with:
    • Water (3-5 days)
    • Food (3-5 days)
    • Tinder and wood
    • Basic medicine
  3. Mark cache locations precisely
  4. Plan return route through caches

Seasonal Preparation

Winter Storage:

Summer Storage:

Base Expansion

As your base grows:

  1. Categorize: More specific containers
  2. Workshop: Tools and materials separated
  3. Pantry: All food in one area
  4. Armory: Weapons and defense
  5. Medical Bay: All healing items
  6. Warehouse: Bulk materials

Expedition Cache Salvaging

Finding and opening lost caches:

Light Caches:

Sealed Cases:

Reinforced Vaults:

Container Maintenance

Durability

Containers may degrade over time and require:

Weather Protection

Storage Capacity Planning

Estimate Needs

Short-term base (1-7 days):

Medium-term base (1-4 weeks):

Long-term base (permanent):

Related Pages

Inventory

Understanding carrying capacity and weight management.

Crafting

How to craft storage containers and building materials.

Expedition Caches

Finding and opening expedition caches for loot.

Perks

Strong Back and Weak Back perks affect carrying capacity.
↑