imported>Ghurcb: Corrected the tinder plug weight

2026-02-16T15:15:22Z

Corrected the tinder plug weight

New page

{{Infobox/Skill
| image=Fire Starting background.png
| name=Fire Starting
| release=[[The_Long_Dark/Early Access Changelog#0.346|Penitent Scholar (v0.346)]]
| date= 23 June 2016
}}

[[File:Fire Starting.png|left|alt=Fire Starting|80px]]

'''Fire Starting''' is a Survival [[Skills|Skill]] that is used to start fires.

[[Fire]]s 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 [[Fire#Types of fires|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.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Image
! Ignition Source
! Benefit
!Weight
! Additional Info
|-
| [[File:Cardboard Matches icon.png|64px]]
| [[Cardboard Matches]]
| +0% chance
|{{Weight|0.005}}
| Consumed in attempt
|-
| [[File:Firestriker icon.png|64px]]
| [[Firestriker]]
| +15% chance
|{{Weight|0.10}}
| 2% condition loss each attempt
|-
| [[File:Flare icon.png|64px]]
| [[Flare]] (lit)
| +5% chance
|{{Weight|0.25}}
| Attempt may succeed even if item burns out
|-
| [[File:Magnifying Lens icon.png|64px]]
| [[Magnifying Lens]]
| +5% chance
|{{Weight|0.10}}
| Only effective outdoors with sunny weather <ref group="1.">Magnifying lens does not require direct exposure to sun. For instance, can be used to start fires in the stove inside fishing huts or underneath thick tree cover as long as the day is at least partly sunny.</ref>
|-
|[[File:Marine Flare icon.png|64x64px]]
|[[Marine Flare]] (lit)
| +5% chance
|{{Weight|0.25}}
|Attempt may succeed even if item burns out
Beware of very short lifespan
|-
| [[File:Torch icon.png|64px]]
| [[Torch]] (lit)
| +5% chance
|{{Weight|0.30}}
| Attempt may succeed even if item burns out
|-
| [[File:Wood Matches icon.png|64px]]
| [[Wood Matches]]
| +5% chance
|{{Weight|0.008}}
| Consumed in attempt
|}

<references group="1." />

===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 Box|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.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Image
! Tinder
! Benefit
! Weight
|-
| [[File:Birch Bark icon.png|64px]]
| [[Birch Bark]]
| +0% chance
| {{Weight|0.05}}
|-
| [[File:Cash icon.png|64px]]
| [[Cash]]
| +0% chance
| {{Weight|0.05}}
|-
| [[File:Cat Tail Head icon.png|64px]]
| [[Cat Tail Head]]
| +0% chance
| {{Weight|0.05}}
|-
| [[File:Newsprint icon.png|64px]]
| [[Newsprint]]
| +0% chance
| {{Weight|0.10}}
|-
| [[File:Newsprint Roll icon.png|64px]]
| [[Newsprint Roll]]
| +0% chance
| {{Weight|0.10}}
|-
| [[File:Stack of Papers icon.png|64px]]
| [[Stack of Papers]]
| +0% chance
| {{Weight|0.10}}
|-
| [[File:Tinder Plug icon.png|64px]]
| [[Tinder Plug]]
| +0% chance
| {{Weight|0.05}}
|}

===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.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
!Image
! Fuel
! Benefit
!Burn Time
! Heat Bonus
!Weight
|-
|[[File:Book icon.png|64px]]
| [[Book]]
| +35% chance
| +18 minutes
| {{Temp|+2}}
|{{Weight|0.50}}
|-
|[[File:Cedar Firewood icon.png|64px]]
| [[Cedar Firewood]]
| +15% chance
| +60 minutes
| {{Temp|+6}}
|{{Weight|0.50}}
|-
|[[File:Coal icon.png|64px]]
| [[Coal]]
| +0% chance
| +60 minutes
| {{Temp|+20}}
|{{Weight|0.30}}
|-
|[[File:Fir Firewood icon.png|64px]]
| [[Fir Firewood]]
| +0% chance
| +90 minutes
| {{Temp|+8}}
|{{Weight|1.00}}
|-
|[[File:Firelog icon.png|64px]]
| [[Firelog]]
| +7% chance
| +120 minutes
| {{Temp|+3}}
|{{Weight|2.00}}
|-
|[[File:Reclaimed Wood icon.png|64px]]
| [[Reclaimed Wood]]
| -5% chance
| +30 minutes
| {{Temp|+3}}
|{{Weight|0.25}}
|-
|[[File:Research Book icon.png|64x64px]]
| [[Research Book]]
| +35% chance
| +18 minutes
| {{Temp|+2}}
|{{Weight|0.50}}
|-
|[[File:Stick icon.png|64px]]
| [[Stick]]
| +15% chance
| +7.5 minutes
| {{Temp|+1}}
|{{Weight|0.15}}
|-
|[[File:Torch icon.png|64px]]
| [[Torch]] (unlit)
| +5% chance
| +0-10 minutes
| {{Temp|+1}}
|{{Weight|0.30}}
|}

=== Cut Fuel ===

Present in the game V1.00 for Wintermute but cut after V1.41 of the Redux update.

{| class="fandom-table"
!Image
! Fuel
! Benefit
!Burn Time
! Heat Bonus
!Weight
|-
|-
|[[File:Jeremiah's Papers icon.png|64x64px]]
|[[Jeremiah's Papers]]
| +35% chance
| +6 minutes
| {{Temp|+2}}
|{{Weight|0}}
|}

===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.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Image
! Accelerant
! Benefit
!
|-
| [[File:Accelerant icon.png|64px]]
| [[Accelerant]]
| +40% chance
|{{Weight|0.10}}
|-
|[[File:Can of Gunpowder icon.png|64x64px]]
|[[Can of Gunpowder]]
| +40% chance
|{{Weight|0.50}}
|-
|[[File:Jerry Can icon.png|64x64px]]
|[[Jerry Can]]
| +40% chance
|{{Weight|3.30}}
|-
| [[File:Lantern Fuel icon.png|64px]]
| [[Lantern Fuel]]
| +40% chance
|{{Weight|0.50}}
|}

==Types of Fireboxes==
When lit, a firebox will increase nearby Warmth, dry [[Clothing]], and most have [[Cooking]] slots.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
!Image
! Firebox
! Benefit
!Cooking Slots
! Additional Use(s)
|-
|[[File:Ammunition Forge.png|64x64px]]
| [[Ammunition Forge]]
| Wind proof
|0
| Can craft [[Bullet]]s from [[Scrap Lead]].
|-
|[[File:Fire radial icon.png|64x64px]]
| [[Campfire]]
| Can be placed at the player's discretion
Deters predators

Can be blown out by strong winds
|2
| Has 2 cooking slots.
|-
|[[File:Fire barrel.png|64x64px]]
| [[Fire Barrel]]
| Wind proof
|2
| None.
|-
|[[File:Fire place.png|64x64px]]
| [[Fireplace]]
| Wind proof
|2
| None.
|-
|[[File:Forge.png|114x114px]]
| [[Furnace]]
| Wind proof
|1
| Heats the [[Forge]].
|-
|[[File:Pot belly stove.png|64x64px]]
| [[Pot Belly Stove]]
| Wind proof
|1
| Only 1 cooking slot.
|-
|[[File:Screen ab2c5b97-8817-4398-a5b1-fb4b96024b93 hi.png|64x64px]]
| [[Rim Grill]]
| Wind proof
|2
| None.
|-
|[[File:Stove.png|114x114px]]
| [[Stove]]
| Wind proof
|6
| Has 6 cooking slots.
|-
|[[File:Wood stove.png|64x64px]]
| [[Wood stove|Wood Stove]]
| Wind proof
|2
| None.
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! Image
! Feat
! Requirement
! Effect
|-
| [[File:Badge feat firemaster.png|50px]]
| 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.

{| class="wikitable smalllistmargin" style="text-align:center;"
! Level
! Skill points
! class="unsortable" Style="width:40%" | Effects
!Flavor Text
|-
|1
|0
| style="text-align:left;" |
* 40% chance to start fires
|You have no special knowledge or skill at starting fires, yet.
|-
|2
|20
| style="text-align:left;" |
* 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
| style="text-align:left;" |
* 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
| style="text-align:left;" |
* 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
| style="text-align:left;" |
* 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.
|}

{{Skills}}{{Fire Starting}}
[[es:Hacer_fuego]]
[[ru:Разведение огня]]
[[fr:Allumage de feu]]

Fire Starting - Revision history

imported>Ghurcb: Corrected the tinder plug weight