Doctor
| Doctor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Occupations |
| Type | Occupation |
| Points | 0 |
| Skill Boosts |
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The Doctor brings the strongest medical start in the game. It suits a survivor who expects injuries and wants to treat them well from the first day.
The occupation costs no points from the trait budget. It starts with six levels of First Aid and one level of Short Blade. The Doctor also spawns with a Pager in the inventory.
First Aid is one of the slowest skills to train, because it only grows from treating real wounds. The Doctor skips most of that climb. The start pays off in every scratch, cut and fracture across a long run. In a group, the Doctor becomes the one every other survivor turns to after a bad fight.
Doctor Skills
Six levels of First Aid make a huge difference to healing. Medical actions go much faster than for a beginner. Bandages and poultices last far longer before they need changing. Broken bones heal several times faster than at level 0, and a splinted limb slows the character less.
At level 0, a broken bone heals at half the normal speed. Each level adds a large boost, so the Doctor's fractures mend far sooner than an untrained survivor's. Splints also work better with more skill. A splinted fracture slows combat and running less at higher levels.
The skill also shows more about each wound. The health panel gives a clearer picture of how serious an injury is and whether it is infected.
First Aid is slow to train, because experience only comes from treating real injuries. Starting at level 6 skips most of that slow climb. The First Aid tapes only help in the first three levels. The higher First Aid skill books matter far more to a Doctor.
One level of Short Blade makes knife fighting a little faster and stronger. A scalpel or kitchen knife makes a fitting first weapon. Jaw stabs also come slightly more often.
A new Doctor starts with these skill levels.
| Skill | Levels | Skill Group |
|---|---|---|
| First Aid | +6 | Survival |
| Short Blade | +1 | Combat - Melee |
How to Play Doctor
A Doctor shines in a long run where injuries pile up. Every scratch, laceration and fracture heals with less downtime. In multiplayer, a Doctor can treat the whole group, and every treatment adds to the skill.
The occupation costs nothing, so the full trait budget stays free. Traits that help in combat or survival fill the gaps left by the medical focus. The Doctor's only combat start is a single level of Short Blade. Hunter adds another level of Short Blade along with other outdoor skills.
The Doctor can spawn in medium or rich housing. In some towns, the Doctor can also start at a medical building. Muldraugh offers Cortman Medical, and Riverside offers the Riverside Children's Medical Center. West Point offers a private doctor's house. Starting near medical supplies gives a head start on bandages and pills.
A Doctor also has a strong foraging bonus for medical items and a smaller one for medicinal plants. Searching in the right places turns up bandages, pills and herbs more readily.
Early goals include gathering bandages, disinfectant, a needle and thread and splints. Tweezers or forceps make removing glass and bullets less painful.
Good habits make the skill count. Bandage scratches and lacerations at once, since untreated wounds stay open. Remove glass and bullets before stitching a deep wound. Disinfect wounds with disinfectant, bourbon or alcohol wipes to prevent infection. Splint a broken limb, then add a comfrey poultice to speed up healing.
Food matters for healing too. Being well fed adds its own boost to the healing of injuries. A Doctor who eats well recovers faster from the same wound.
First Aid still grows during play. Removing a bullet gives the most experience of any treatment. Removing glass, stitching a wound and applying a splint each give a good amount. Cleaning a burn gives more than a simple bandage. Treating other players counts as well, which makes a busy group the best training ground.
The First Aider trait adds one more level of First Aid for 2 points. On a Doctor, it pushes the start to level 7. Former Scout also adds a level of First Aid, along with Foraging and Fishing.
The Doctor's clothing options include a tie, a formal shirt, a surgical mask, surgical gloves and suit pants. These are choices at character creation rather than guaranteed starting items.
Zombie scratches and lacerations can still carry the infection. Watching those wounds for a day after a fight shows whether the worst has happened.
Notes
- Six levels of First Aid skip most of the slow medical training.
- Fractures heal much faster under a Doctor's care.
- Medical buildings in some towns are possible starting points.
- The occupation leaves the full trait budget free.
- Medical items are easier to spot while foraging.
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