GUIDE · SURVIVAL & MANAGEMENT
Frozen Ship Resource Gathering
Everything your colony needs comes from the wastes. Knowing what to grab and when to run is the difference between thriving and freezing.
The Core Resources
| Resource | Why it matters | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | Heating fuel — ~600 units/day just to stay warm | Top, always |
| Food | Feeds 20 crew at 3 meals/day | Top, always |
| Cloth | Clothing & insulation — upgraded coats cut cold exposure on scavenge runs | High |
| Scrap Metal | Crafting backbone + main trade good | High |
| Medicine | Counteracts illness spread | Critical when sick |
What Spawns Where (Procedural Logic)
The world is procedurally generated, so layouts vary — but the loot logic is consistent. Target by building type:
| Location | Best for |
|---|---|
| Hospitals | Medicine, cloth |
| Homes & Shops | Cloth, food, occasional wood |
| Industrial & Rail sites | Scrap metal, wood |
| Cities | Dense mixed loot, but guarded by hostiles |
What to Prize Changes Over a Run
Your loot priority should shift as the expedition matures. In the opening days, wood and scrap metal dominate — you're simply staying warm and keeping the boiler fed. Once heat and food are stable, medicine becomes the resource you most regret not hoarding, because an illness outbreak compounds fast. Deeper into a campaign, ammunition can be worth more than almost anything else, since the dangers you can't route around (armed survivors, dangerous wildlife) are best answered with a gun and spare rounds. Grab by need, but let that need evolve.
A Safe Scavenge Run
- Plan the loop at dawn. Pick a target close enough to return before 18:00 with buffer.
- Go in teams. Lone runners get picked off by predators or hostiles.
- Loot by need. Grab what the colony needs next, not everything — weight and time are real.
- Watch the sun. Turn back with margin; the curfew is lethal, not negotiable.
- Note hostile camps. The best prizes are often guarded — decide fight vs avoid before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get the most wood?
Industrial and rail sites, plus homes. Wood is your #1 priority, so bias early runs toward those locations.
Is the map the same every game?
No — it's procedurally generated, so layouts differ. But the loot logic by building type stays consistent, so learn the patterns, not the map.
Should I scavenge alone or in a group?
In a team. Solo scavengers are vulnerable to predators and hostile survivor camps, and a lost solo runner hurts a 20-person roster disproportionately.