Project Zomboid B42 Desensitized: Veteran Still Panics? Fix It

 PZ B42 Desensitized Triage
Wizard + guide
Filter
Desensitized Troubleshooter

            
            
          
Fill this out while hovering your moodles in-game. Output updates automatically.
Your inputs
GoalBuild / branchVersion text (optional)When does the spike happen?Moodle name you seePaste the tooltip text (optional)
Environment (common causes)

              
                
                My main save/server uses mods
              
              
                
                This save was converted (B41 or older B42)
              
              
                
                Multiplayer/server is involved
              
            
Clean test baseline

              
                
                Reproduced with all mods disabled (even UI-only)
              
              
                
                Reproduced on a brand-new B42 save
              
              
                
                Test character was Veteran (Desensitized)
              
              
                
                Daylight test vs a small group (watch moodles)
              
              
                
                Hovered the moodle and confirmed what it is
              
            
Traits that can still cause Panic

              
                
                Agoraphobic (outdoors panic)
              
              
                
                Claustrophobic (indoors panic)
              
              
                
                Hemophobic / Fear of Blood (blood panic)
              
              
                
                Cowardly (higher panic)
              
            
Diagnosis
Next actions
Shareable report
Guide Notes
# Quick-Start (5 minutes, no excuses)

You’re trying to answer one question: **is Desensitized not working, or is your save/mod stack lying to you?**

1. ![icon:mods off](/static/images/pz-icons/UI_Cross.png) Disable **all mods** (yes, even “UI-only”).
2. ![icon:new run](/static/images/pz-icons/Map_arroweast.png) Start a **new B42** run (don’t reuse a converted save).
3. ![icon:desensitized](/static/images/pz-icons/trait_desensitized.png) Pick **Veteran** (Desensitized).
4. ![icon:panic check](/static/images/pz-icons/Mood_Panicked.png) Walk toward a **small group** of zombies in **daylight**.
5. ![icon:hover](/static/images/pz-icons/Mouse.png) **Hover the moodle** and confirm its name (Panic vs Stress/Anxiety).

If things are working as intended, Veteran should not spiral into panic just from seeing/fighting zombies — but **night terrors** and other moodles can still mess with you.

## What Desensitized does (and doesn’t)

Desensitized (Veteran) is meant to handle **zombie-exposure panic**. It does not mean “your character never has fear.”

- ![icon:panic](/static/images/pz-icons/Mood_Panicked.png) Designed to stop panic gain from **being around zombies while awake**.
- ![icon:sleep](/static/images/pz-icons/Sleep.png) Still allows panic spikes from **nightmares / night terrors** (sleep).
- ![icon:other sources](/static/images/pz-icons/AlarmClock.png) Panic can still be generated by **other sources** (traits, situations, modded mechanics).

## Panic vs Stress vs Anxiety (moodle translation kit)

| What you say is happening | What’s often actually happening | Common trigger players describe | Why Desensitized doesn’t “fix” it |
|---|---|---|---|
| “I’m panicking near zombies” | Stress/Anxiety (not Panic) | Zombies banging on fences/walls | Desensitized targets panic from zombie exposure; stress is a different system |
| “I wake up terrified” | Night terror (panic + stress spike) | Sleep interruption / waking moodles | Desensitized explicitly doesn’t block nightmares/night terrors |
| “My aim is trash in hordes” | Panic penalties + fatigue/strain/positioning | Big fights + movement + noise | Desensitized helps if it’s Panic, not if you’re tired, stressed, or overextending |
| “It used to be better” | Version drift + description changes | Early B42 patches | Confirm your exact build; Unstable changes fast |

## The troubleshooting flow (that actually finishes)

```txt
START
  |
  v
Confirm build: are you on Build 42 Unstable?
  |
  v
Disable all mods -> NEW save -> Veteran -> daylight test vs small group
  |
  +--> No panic from zombies?
  |       Working as intended. Look for:
  |       - Night terrors (sleep)
  |       - Stress/anxiety moodles
  |       - Traits that cause panic
  |       - Mods on your main save
  |
  +--> Still getting Panic from zombie exposure?
          |
          v
      Confirm the moodle name (Panic vs Stress/Anxiety)
          |
          +--> Not Panic -> treat the real moodle
          |
          +--> Panic -> check:
                  - Nightmares?
                  - Agoraphobic / Claustrophobic / Hemophobic?
                  - Old/conversion save?
                  - Mod conflicts?
END
```

## Night terrors: the sleep tax

Two philosophies:

- Roleplay it: daytime you’re functional; at night your brain collects the debt.
- Fix it: if your sandbox/server setup has a nightmare toggle, use it; or run a build that doesn’t invite sleep interruptions.

Bedtime toolbox (practical):
- Sleep behind **two layers** (barricade + furniture + a door you can hear).
- Keep a weapon **within reach** (not in a bag).
- Treat night terrors like **weather**: plan for it, don’t argue with it mid-run.

## Want Desensitized without Veteran?

Vanilla: you won’t unlock the trait, but panic can become less sticky over time as your survivor lives longer.

Mod lane: “Become Desensitized [B42]” turns it into a kill-based progression reward (thresholds are configurable).

## Multiplayer sanity checks (B42 Unstable)

- Confirm server build matches your client build.
- Confirm server settings match what you think “default” means.
- Reproduce the issue in a **vanilla local** save before declaring it a trait bug.

## Patch history highlights

| Date | Change note | Why you care |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-12 | Build 42 Unstable launch; save/mod incompatibility warnings | Expect breakage; don’t trust converted saves for mechanic testing |
| 2025-01-21 | 42.1 notes: Veteran/Desensitized intended to be completely immune to panic | If you “panic” while awake, double-check moodle + test conditions |
| 2025-12-11 | 42.13 MP arrives in Unstable; strong “disable mods” messaging | MP + mods multiplies “is it vanilla?” confusion |

## Useful links

- PZwiki: Desensitized — https://pzwiki.net/wiki/Desensitized
- PZwiki: Panic — https://pzwiki.net/wiki/Panic
- Official: Build 42 Unstable — https://projectzomboid.com/blog/news/2024/12/build-42-unstable/
- Official: Unstable 42 MP — https://projectzomboid.com/blog/news/2025/12/unstable-42-mp-released/
- Become Desensitized [B42] mod — https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3388017161
- PZfans B42 map — https://pzfans.com/en/B42/
Project Zomboid B42 Desensitized: Veteran Still Panics? Fix It

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