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Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

A practical guide to what matters across CDDA’s scavenging, crafting, equipment, and specialist systems.

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Introduction history determines newest order. Undated objects follow dated additions; download dates do not make an object new.

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acetic acid

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Concentrated acetic acid, typically used as a chemical reagent and antifungal agent. Despite its horrid smell, it was used to prepare several types of perfumes, but would making perfume not be too fancy for post-apocalyptic New England?

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acetic anhydride

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A colorless liquid that smells strongly of vinegar. If you have enough chemical knowledge, you could use it to easily convert morphine into heroin.

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acetone

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Acetone, best known as the primary constituent of most nail polish removers. Flammable, and can be easily used for potent homemade explosives, as demonstrated by the terrorist attacks of 2016.

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acidic electrolyte paste

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A moisturized mixture of zinc chloride and manganese dioxide, slightly acidic. It can be used in the production of zinc-carbon batteries.

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aluminum powder

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A handful of finely-ground aluminum powder. This strong reducing agent was used in combination with various oxidants for chemical welding and explosives alike. Just before the Cataclysm, however, it was the basis of virtually all commercial metallic-hued paints and anti-corrosive coatings.

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aluminum sulfate

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Several crystals of aluminum sulfate. Historically, an agent for purifying water and as molluscicide, due to the fact that it degenerates their slime. Just before the Cataclysm, its main uses were for adjusting the acidity of soil and as an additive to baking powder. If mixed with a strong acid, it could be used to saturate soil with aluminum, causing all but the most resistant of plants to wither and die.

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ammonium nitrate

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A handful of ammonium nitrate. This white, crystalline powder is commonly used as a component of fertilizers and explosives. Could also be dissolved in water to sharply lower its temperature, but is there any use for this quality in this new world?

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ammonium nitrate pellets

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A handful of ammonium nitrate pellets. These pellets are commonly used as a component of fertilizers and explosives. Could also be dissolved in water to sharply lower its temperature, but is there any use for this quality in this new world?

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anesthetic

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A variety of powerful hypnotic, analgesic, and stimulative drugs. It's intended for use in specialized medical equipment, and can't be administered manually. You can reload an anesthesia kit with it.

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ANFO

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A handful of brownish pellets, made by allowing ammonium nitrate to absorb an organic fuel. This ammonium nitrate/fuel oil mixture, or ANFO, is a common industrial explosive due to its stability and low price. Burns fast, but needs an explosive primer to detonate.

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APEX

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Acetone peroxide: this fine, white crystalline powder is a powerful primary explosive, used to initiate detonation of more stable explosives, such as RDX. Relatively stable, with a fruit-like smell when pure.

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bleach

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Sodium hypochlorite, a common household cleaning agent.

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calcium carbide

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A handful of calcium carbide, giving off a faint, garlic-like smell. Commercially, calcium carbide was used for on-the-spot manufacture of acetylene and historically to power acetylene lamps. If mixed with water and sealed, it will explode with little strength, but with a relatively loud noise that might be useful as a distraction.

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calcium carbide premix

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A powdered mixture of coke and lime ready to be smelted into usable calcium carbide in an arc furnace.

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calcium carbonate

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A handful of calcium carbonate powder, typically derived from lime or shells. Useful for a number of roles, such as sugar production, fracking, construction, paint additives and antacid medicine.

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calcium chloride

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A handful of white, odorless, strongly hygroscopic powder with an extremely salty taste. Often used as a de-icing agent or as dessicant.

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camphine

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A blend of turpentine and ethanol, historically used as the successor to whale oil for lamps before kerosene.

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chloroform

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Famous for its properties as an illicit sedative, this substance is also a very good solvent. In particular, it's used a lot in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

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citric acid

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A manufactured form of citric acid that is commonly used as an additive in food, cleaning agents, and nutritional supplements.

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commercial fertilizer

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Nutrient-rich granules for plants.

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concentrated paralytic

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A concentrated paralytic agent, originally from a triffid. Given your experience with its effects (chiefly gathered while sourcing this batch) and their striking similarity to earthly flora, you figure it's related to curarines. Might come in handy in crafting more useful things.

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concentrated venom

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A transparent, lightly greenish liquid, refined from the venom of bees and wasps. Active ingredients include (nor-)adrenaline, dopamine, histamine, and protein toxins. It is now relatively stable, but will require further separation to be useful for anything other than killing you.

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fermentable liquid mixture

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A mixture of various organic wastes and water. Wait about two months for them to be fermented in a tank. Also, biogas production will start after one month.

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ferric chloride

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A handful of dark green crystalline powder, with a weak pungent smell similar to that of hydrochloric acid. Commonly used as a Lewis acid for catalyzing various chemical reactions.

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formaldehyde

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Formaldehyde, here dissolved in water, was widely used before the Cataclysm as a precursor to production of many chemicals and materials and as an embalming agent. Easily identifiable by its pungent odor. Terribly toxic, carcinogenic, and volatile.

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fungicide

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Agricultural-grade chemical anti-fungal powder designed to destroy infections in plants.

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hexamine

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A handful of waxy hexamine tablets which could be broken up into smaller crumbs if needed. This ubiquitous fuel was used to start up almost every garden grill, and no 'real' camping trip could do its cooking without it, until the Cataclysm. Nowadays, it is even more valuable than before, being the key component in the preparation of several military-grade explosives.

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HMTD

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Hexamine peroxide: this fine, yellowish powder is a powerful primary explosive, used to initiate detonation of more stable explosives, such as RDX. Relatively stable, but best not store it for too long.

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hydrochloric acid

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Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid. It is a strong acid that has a distinctive smell, important and frequently used ever since its discovery. It still has a vast multitude of uses.

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hydrogen peroxide (concentrated)

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Concentrated hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidant, violently decomposing in contact with most reducing agents. Can be used as rocket fuel or to make high explosives. Causes severe burns to any organic matter and may ignite it on contact.

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improvised rocket fuel

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A chunk of a zinc powder-and-sulfur mixture, bound together by superglue, that can be used as an impromptu rocket fuel.

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incendiary

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Material from an incendiary round, useful in constructing incendiary ammunition.

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insecticide

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Agricultural-grade chemical insecticide powder designed to eradicate insect pests.

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iodine crystals

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A handful of resublimed crystals of the element iodine, they can be used as an antiseptic, but are also used in the making of methamphetamine.

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lead azide

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A handful of white powder that is used in detonators to detonate secondary explosives. It replaced mercury fulminate in modern ammunition primers.

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liquid ammonia

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Anhydrous ammonia, a useful chemical compound. It must be stored under pressure or refrigerated. Don't even think about drinking it.

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liquid fertilizer

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A nutrient-rich elixir for plants.

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liquid soap

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Standard skin-safe liquid soap, the type you might see on a kitchen sink, shower shelf, or bathroom soap dispenser, but it should work reasonably well for cleaning anything that's filthy.

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lye

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A liquid form of sodium hydroxide. It is highly corrosive; handle with care.

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manganese dioxide

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A handful of manganese dioxide powder. Occurring naturally in the mineral pyrolusite, it is used commercially in the production of alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries.

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mercury fulminate

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A handful of gray powder that is highly sensitive to friction, heat, and shock. Often used as a primary explosive, and historically in percussion caps and primers for self-contained firearm ammunition.

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methanol

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High-purity methanol suitable for use in chemical reactions. Could also be used as fuel in an alcohol-burning stove. Very toxic.

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mixed smokeless gunpowder

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Firearm-quality gunpowder, mixed without concern for composition, burn rate, or shape, making it thoroughly useless for reloading ammunition. It has been slightly ground to make its properties more uniform.

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nitric acid

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Nitric acid, a strong oxidant and an extremely corrosive material. Mainly used in the production of synthetic fertilizers, for the etching of circuit boards, and in woodworking. Remains quite useful both for making a vast array of pyrotechnic and explosive agents and as a direct weapon: not many beings enjoy being doused in nitric acid.

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oxidizer powder

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Volatile powdered chemical oxidizer.

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potassium

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A chunk of potassium, a highly reactive soft gray metal, immersed in anhydrous mineral oil to prevent it from oxidizing in the air during storage.

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potassium chloride

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A handful of potassium chloride. Although it occurs naturally in the mineral sylvite, it can be produced as a byproduct of the reaction of saltpeter and hydrochloric acid. It can be used for making fertilizer, or potassium hydroxide by way of electrolysis.

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potassium hydroxide

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A handful of potassium hydroxide. Commonly called caustic potash, it was mainly used industrially for its caustic nature. It can be used as an electrolyte in alkaline batteries, among other applications.

1 recipe