You’ve probably seen the memes by now. While others are off raiding shopping malls, Zomboid players will know to settle down with a skillbook and a spot of Life and Living once the apocalypse dawns. But you’re going to need to schedule your life around it.
This guide covers Build 42. With B42, Television is now an early boost, but default settings limit how far it can raise your skills.
What Time Are the Skill Shows?
The main slots are:
- 06:00: The Cook Show, teaching Cooking.
- 12:00: Woodcraft, usually teaching Carpentry.
- 18:00: Exposure Survival, covering skills such as Fishing, Agriculture, Foraging and Trapping.
Not every slot contains a lesson every day. One useful exception is day eight, when the Carpentry lesson appears at 18:00, rather than midday. The final Cooking lesson is on the morning of day nine.
With the default start date, that schedule runs from 9–17 July. Make sure you’re cramming reading skillbooks as well.
How Do You Watch Television?
Find a television in a house you can safely occupy, then:
- Open its device controls (right click).
- Switch it on.
- Select Life and Living.
- Keep the volume above zero.
- Stay nearby while the programme plays.
Keep the sound low: loud televisions can attract nearby zombies. You’re also definitely going to need a watch of some kind, and setting an alarm wouldn’t hurt either.
Check the room and surrounding windows before settling down. Free Carpentry XP becomes considerably less useful once somebody starts eating the carpenter.
Why Has the TV Stopped Giving XP?
Build 42 normally caps television skill gains at level 3. If you already have level 3 or higher in the skill being taught, that lesson won’t advance it further.
Custom sandbox settings can change the media XP limit, so check your world’s settings if its behaviour differs. Television also needs electricity; a powerless set won’t help regardless of the schedule. Once the TVs stop transmitting, you can find some VHS to catch up on episodes you missed.
Is It Worth Planning Your Day Around TV?
Yes, when you have a safe place to watch. Use the gaps between broadcasts to gather food, water and basic equipment nearby.
Prioritise lessons for skills your character hasn’t already developed. Once you reach the media XP cap, move on to practical training rather than spending another afternoon waiting for Woodcraft to perform miracles.
This all being said, planning your entire day around getting home to watch Life and Living three times is a bit dull. Live a little. Go into that basement without a flashlight. Eat the unlabelled food. It’s all part of living.
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