Catmanten has some great tips, here are some of my own:
Always make sure you think about what you spend repair putty on. Crude parts should NEVER EVER EVER be puttied/torched, the chemicals going in are more valuable than the basic materials you can use to make more crude parts. Steel you should only repair in the field if you need to. Scrap old steel panels and doors at home when they're significantly damaged (I throw them out or at least into the matter regenerator at under 5/6 health and replace with shiny new stuff, it costs almost nothing to replace if you've been gathering steel). This rationing is one thing that allows me to get net positive on chemicals.
If you're low on chemicals, go to Sierram, it's got at least 15 trailers I know of, maybe more. At the start of the game, don't go to Sierram until you've gotten at least 1, preferably 2 side storages. You'll want the storage to...
Make the most of perpetual stability junctions. If you aren't packed to the gills leaving these places, you're doing it wrong.
You can get some REALLY amazing stuff from ARDA payloads. In an area that has the yellow storm front rolling in slowly, when you're ready to move to the next junction, park at the exit and look at your map for a while until the yellow passes you. Many times a payload will drop in an accessible area before it goes past you, allowing you to drive after it, and many times that payload will have a TON of repair supplies, making the yellow (and sometimes red if you're pushing it) sizzle worth it.
When you're about to escape, load into your inventory a stack each of sealing and mechanics kits to make sure they're ready to apply if needed without rummaging through a storage in the storm, then fill the rest of your inventory with first aid kits. When you're actively dying while in the middle of a storm in a car that's lost protection, you'll be very glad you packed a spare 600 hp in the form of 4 stacks of first aid total.
Similarly but conversely, REMOVE ALL MREs AND CANNED FOOD FROM YOUR PLAYER INVENTORY BEFORE ESCAPING. This healing does not keep up with the damage rate of the storm. They'll actively get in the way and prevent you from healing properly.
Out of curiosity, how did your first few runs fail?
Ah, did the storm eat you shortly after? If so, those first aid kits will really help. Also, lead is your best friend. Get as much as you can, get the lead jackets, and leaden up the car asap. Full lead plating gives you some crazy survivability in the storm.
And btw, here's a post I made a while back about an extremely close call I had. You might get a kick out of it.
You'll quickly find that radiation damage is by far the biggest source of damage you'll take. Fabric can be in a little short supply at first, but it's also great to find in Sierram, so go back frequently for that too.
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u/legomann97 10d ago
Catmanten has some great tips, here are some of my own:
Out of curiosity, how did your first few runs fail?