Fire Starting

Fire Starting
Release	Penitent Scholar (v0.346)
Date	23 June 2016

Fire Starting is a Survival Skill that is used to start fires.

Fires generate heat to restore and conserve Warmth. Players can cook food, melt snow, and purify water on any fire started through the fire starting skill.

How to start a fire

Fire Starting is one of the easiest skills to train in The Long Dark, as players can increase their skill by lighting a new fire at any time during their playthrough.

To start a fire, players have to "use" an existing Firebox or fire or place a new campfire in an acceptable location. The player must then select an ignition source, tinder (optional at level 3 and higher), fuel, and an optional accelerant. At the top of the screen, the player's current fire starting skill and the chance of success with the currently selected materials are displayed.

Chance of starting

The chance of a fire-starting attempt succeeding is calculated directly by adding the benefits of the character's skill and all materials being used in the attempt. Changing the materials can improve the chance of a successful start. Chances greater than 100% are rounded down to 100% and cannot fail.

Attempting to start

Activating the start button on the bottom right will launch an attempt. A progress wheel will fill as the player character attempts to get the fire started. Normal attempts take 6 in-game minutes to achieve success. Attempts that include an accelerant take only 1 in-game minute. It is also possible to be interrupted in an attempt by aggressive Wildlife. Interrupted attempts count as a failure.

Failing to start

Failure, if it does occur by chance, will consume a random amount of time before canceling the progress bar and removing the campfire (unless the player is relighting an existing fireplace). Failing a starting chance consumes the tinder and any liquid used, but does not consume the fuel. Matches are consumed as ignition sources but torches and flares are not. Firestrikers suffer condition loss on every attempt, while a magnifying lens does not.

Equipment

Players need one starter, one tinder, and one fuel before they can start fire starting. Player can start fires without a tinder after achieving level 3 in their fire starting skill.

Starter

Players can select any starter currently carried in their inventory. They are sequenced alphabetically and further sorted by condition, highest to lowest. The condition of the starter does not affect the chance of success.

Image	Ignition Source	Benefit	Weight	Additional Info
	Cardboard Matches	+0% chance	0.005 kg (0.011 lb)	Consumed in attempt
	Flare (lit)	+5% chance	0.25 kg (0.55 lb)	Attempt may succeed even if item burns out
	Magnifying Lens	+5% chance	0.10 kg (0.22 lb)	Only effective outdoors with sunny weather
	Marine Flare (lit)	+5% chance	0.25 kg (0.55 lb)	Attempt may succeed even if item burns out Beware of very short lifespan
	Torch (lit)	+5% chance	0.30 kg (0.66 lb)	Attempt may succeed even if item burns out
	Wood Matches	+5% chance	0.008 kg (0.018 lb)	Consumed in attempt
	Firestriker	+15% chance	0.10 kg (0.22 lb)	2% condition loss each attempt

Tinder

Players can select any tinder currently carried in their inventory. Currently, all tinders have equal buffs although their weight may vary. Heavier newsprint and newsprint rolls, as well as stacks of papers, can be broken down into Tinder Plugs. Cardboard Boxes are often found as rubbish and can easily be broken down with or without a tool such as a Hunting Knife for quick amounts of Tinder Plugs. Breaking down Fir Limb and Cedar Limb branches often provide a Tinder Plug. Cat Tail plants always provide 1 Cat Tail Head and are quite plentiful.

Player can start fires without a tinder after achieving Fire Starting Level 3 in their fire starting skill.

Image	Tinder	Benefit	Weight
	Birch Bark	+0% chance	0.05 kg (0.11 lb)
	Cash	+0% chance	0.05 kg (0.11 lb)
	Cat Tail Head	+0% chance	0.05 kg (0.11 lb)
	Newsprint	+0% chance	0.10 kg (0.22 lb)
	Newsprint Roll	+0% chance	0.10 kg (0.22 lb)
	Tinder Plug	+0% chance	0.10 kg (0.22 lb)
	Stack of Papers	+0% chance	0.10 kg (0.22 lb)

Fuel

Players can select any fuel currently carried in their inventory. Each type of fuel differs in how much burn time it will add to a fire, how easy it is to light, and how much heat it will produce once burning. Attempting to burn an unfinished Research Book will issue a confirmation warning to the player before it can be burned.

Image	Fuel	Benefit	Burn Time	Heat Bonus	Weight
	Reclaimed Wood	-5% chance	+30 minutes	+3 °C (5.4 °F)	0.25 kg (0.55 lb)
	Torch (unlit)	+5% chance	+0-10 minutes	+1 °C (1.8 °F)	0.30 kg (0.66 lb)
	Fir Firewood	+0% chance	+90 minutes	+3 °C (5.4 °F)	1.00 kg (2.2 lb)
	Coal	+0% chance	+60 minutes	+20 °C (36 °F)	0.30 kg (0.66 lb)
	Firelog	+7% chance	+120 minutes	+3 °C (5.4 °F)	2.00 kg (4.4 lb)
	Cedar Firewood	+15% chance	+60 minutes	+6 °C (10.8 °F)	0.50 kg (1.1 lb)
	Stick	+15% chance	+7.5 minutes	+1 °C (1.8 °F)	0.15 kg (0.33 lb)
	Book	+35% chance	+18 minutes	+2 °C (3.6 °F)	0.50 kg (1.1 lb)
	Research Book	+35% chance	+18 minutes	+2 °C (3.6 °F)	0.50 kg (1.1 lb)

Accelerant

Players can optionally add any accelerant carried in their inventory. Accelerant increases the likelihood of success and shortens the start time for fire-starting to only one minute.

Image	Accelerant	Benefit
	Accelerant	+40% chance	0.10 kg (0.22 lb)
	Jerry Can	+40% chance	3.30 kg (7.26 lb)
	Lantern Fuel	+40% chance	0.50 kg (1.1 lb)
	Can of Gunpowder	+40% chance	0.50 kg (1.1 lb)

Types of Fireboxes

When lit, a firebox will increase nearby Warmth, dry Clothing, and most have Cooking slots.

Image	Firebox	Benefit	Cooking Slots	Additional Use(s)
	Ammunition Forge	Wind proof	0	Can craft Bullets from Scrap Lead.
	Pot Belly Stove	Wind proof	1	Only 1 cooking slot.
	Furnace	Wind proof	1	Heats the Forge.
	Campfire	Can be placed at the player's discretion Deters predators Can be blown out by strong winds	2	Has 2 cooking slots.
	Fire Barrel	Wind proof	2	None.
	Wood Stove	Wind proof	2	None.
	Fireplace	Wind proof	2	None.
	Rim Grill	Wind proof	2	None.
	Stove	Wind proof	6	Has 6 cooking slots.

Feats

Players who have unlocked the Fire Master Feat are able to activate it to start a new game with a Level 3 Fire-Starting skill.

Image	Feat	Requirement	Effect
	Fire Master	Start 1000 fires	Survivors start with a Level 3 Fire Starting skill

Skill levels

Players can increase their fire starting skill by starting any fire. It is possible to increase fire starting skill by lighting a torch, then using the torch to start new fires, which allows for many skill points to be gained with a single match.

A limited increase can be obtained from the Research Book Survive the Outdoors!, which allows players to increase their fire starting skill by 10 skill points with 5 hours of research.

Once players have reached a new skill level, they unlock a new bonus/bonuses get better.

Level	Skill points	Effects	Flavor Text
1	0	40% chance to start fires	You have no special knowledge or skill at starting fires, yet.
2	20	55% chance to start fires Fires last 10% longer	You're quite good at starting fires now. Your fires start better and last longer.
3	50	65% chance to start fires Fires last 10% longer Can start fires without tinder.	You have well above-average experience in starting fires now. You're becoming very capable.
4	100	75% chance to start fires Fires last 25% longer Can start fires without tinder.	Very few can match your skill. Your fires burn faster and for longer. You have woodsmoke in your veins.
5	200	90% chance to start fires Fires start 50% faster Fires last 50% longer Can start fires without tinder.	You have a spark at your fingertips. Your skills are legendary. You're the fire whisperer.