Masonry Skill Books
| Masonry Skill Books | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Skill Book |
| Trains | Masonry |
| Volumes | 5 |
| XP Bonus |
|
| Read Time, All Volumes | 50 h |
| Weight | 1 |
| Location | Containers |
| Spawn ID | /additem Base.BookMasonry1and 5 more, see Volumes |
The Masonry Skill Books are a series of five volumes that speed up training in the Masonry skill. Masonry is the craft of building with stone and brick. The series runs from Masonry I: "A Bricklayer's Life" for a beginner to Masonry V: "Statistical Analysis of Historic Masonry Constructions" for the last steps to mastery.
Each volume works as an experience multiplier. Once read, the Masonry experience earned in its two levels counts extra. The boost is strong, starting at three times for the first volume and rising to sixteen times for the last. For a survivor building a lasting base, the books make each wall and floor count for more.
The whole series takes about fifty hours of reading in game time. A Set of Masonry Books holds all five volumes in one bundle.
Book stores and garden stores are the likeliest places to find them.
Reading
The volumes are read in order, and each one helps only while its own levels are being trained. Masonry I: "A Bricklayer's Life" covers levels 1 and 2, so it is worth reading before the first brick is laid. Masonry II: "Flooring: Do It Yourself" covers levels 3 and 4. Masonry III: "Dibnah's Guide to Bricks" and Masonry IV: "Secrets of a Professional Mason" carry on from there.
A volume picked up too early does not help yet. The character says "I don't get it" and makes no progress until the earlier levels are done. A volume read after its levels are passed only gives the mood effect. The best habit is to finish each volume just before reaching its levels.
The bonus grows with each volume. Volume I gives three times the experience, Volume II five times, Volume III eight times, Volume IV twelve times and Volume V sixteen times. The Knapping and Maintenance books share the same steps.
Longer volumes take longer to read. Volume I takes a little over seven hours of game time, and Volume V takes close to thirteen. Sitting down and wearing Reading Glasses each cut the time by a tenth. The Fast Reader trait cuts it by about a third, and Slow Reader adds a third.
A read can stop at any time. Progress is kept, so the book can wait while zombies need attention.
Volumes
The five volumes, the levels each one speeds up, the XP bonus while those levels are trained, and how long each takes to read. Reading times are game time at the default two minutes a page. Sitting down and wearing Reading Glasses each cut the time by a tenth, the Fast Reader trait cuts it by about a third, and Slow Reader adds a third.
| Volume | Image | Levels | XP Bonus | Pages | Read Time | Spawn ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masonry I: "A Bricklayer's Life" | 
|
1 to 2 | x3 | 220 | 7 h 20 min | /additem Base.BookMasonry1
|
| Masonry II: "Flooring: Do It Yourself" |
|
3 to 4 | x5 | 260 | 8 h 40 min | /additem Base.BookMasonry2
|
| Masonry III: "Dibnah's Guide to Bricks" |
|
5 to 6 | x8 | 300 | 10 h | /additem Base.BookMasonry3
|
| Masonry IV: "Secrets of a Professional Mason" |
|
7 to 8 | x12 | 340 | 11 h 20 min | /additem Base.BookMasonry4
|
| Masonry V: "Statistical Analysis of Historic Masonry Constructions" |
|
9 to 10 | x16 | 380 | 12 h 40 min | /additem Base.BookMasonry5
|
Set of Masonry Books bundles all five volumes in one item and unpacks into them.
| Item | Image | Spawn ID |
|---|---|---|
| Set of Masonry Books | 
|
/additem Base.BookMasonrySet
|
Using
The Set of Masonry Books packs the five volumes into one item. A set is a little easier to carry than five loose books and keeps the series together. Unpacking the set gives back the five volumes for reading.
Locations
Book store shelves are the best bet, holding one about one time in six. Garden store counters come next, at about one time in seven. University storage holds one about one time in nine. Pawn shops turn one up now and then. Bedrooms, closets, post offices, attics and living rooms hold one more rarely. Classroom counters and shelves are worth a look in schools. It is a fairly common find across town.
The places where it spawns, with the rough chance per container. Each tab shows one kind of place.
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Book store | Shelves | 18.1% |
| Garden store | Counter | 13.8% |
| Garden store | Other | 13.8% |
| Book store | Other | 8.1% |
| Pawn shop | Other | 8.1% |
| Pawn shop | Shelves | 8.1% |
| Bedroom | Small box | 6.2% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| University storage | Other | 11.4% |
| Post office | Other | 4.6% |
| Post office storage | Other | 4.6% |
| Classroom | Counter | 3.5% |
| Elementary classroom | Counter | 3.5% |
| Secondary classroom | Metal shelves | 3.3% |
| Secondary classroom | Shelves | 3.3% |
| Classroom | Metal shelves | 3.2% |
| Classroom | Shelves | 3.2% |
| Elementary classroom | Metal shelves | 3.2% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Closet | Other | 6.2% |
| Kid's bedroom | Other | 6.2% |
| Bedroom | Cardboard box | 5% |
| Attic | Cardboard box | 3.7% |
| Attic | Crate | 3.7% |
| Attic | Other | 3.7% |
| Bedroom | Crate | 3.7% |
| Hall | Other | 3.7% |
| Living room | Other | 3.7% |
| Bathroom | Other | 2.5% |
| Location | Container | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor safehouse | Fireplace | 0.4% |
| Survivor safehouse | Shelves | 0.4% |
| Survivor safehouse (late game) | Fireplace | 0.4% |
| Survivor safehouse (late game) | Shelves | 0.4% |
| Survivor safehouse (mid game) | Fireplace | 0.4% |
| Survivor safehouse (mid game) | Shelves | 0.4% |
Notes
- Read each volume before reaching its first level, not after.
- Garden stores are a good place to look after the book stores.
- School classrooms hold the odd volume.
- Reading progress is kept if the read is stopped partway.
- A spare volume burns for about fifteen minutes as fire fuel.
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All Skill Books