Getting Started

Getting Started

PandaWorks AutoLoot is designed to cut down repetitive looting while still letting you control what gets looted and where different types of loot go.

It does not magically know how you want your inventory organized. You need to set it up first.

PWAL can handle supported ground loot, containers, corpses, scanner-based loot sources, and supported space salvage. Space salvage includes supported asteroid deposits, space cargo, and destroyed hostile ship debris.

Ground looting and space salvage are handled together under one player-facing framework, but some systems use separate backend paths for safety, stability, and Starfield nonsense containment.

Basic Setup

Do this first:

1. Open your inventory.
2. Go to the Weapons section.
3. Use the PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal.
4. Open the loot category settings.
5. Turn on the loot categories you actually want PWAL to loot.
6. Set where each loot category should go.
7. Enable looting.
8. Close the terminal.
9. Let PWAL collect nearby supported loot.

That is the core loop.

If categories are turned off, PWAL will not loot them.

If looting is disabled, PWAL will not loot.

If you never set your destinations, items will use the default behavior.

Destinations

PWAL can route supported loot to:

• Player
• PandaWorks Inventory
• Player Ship Cargo
• Lodge Safe

Some item groups are forced to specific destinations for safety, gameplay, or engine reasons.

For example, credits, keycards, skill magazines, and landmark books are meant to go to the player. Contraband is handled specially because Starfield’s contraband scan system is obnoxious little space-lawyer nonsense.

Supported space salvage is sent to Player Ship Cargo.

Utility Device

PWAL also gives you a portable utility device.

Use it from your inventory to open the utility terminal. This is where you can access storage and transfer tools without digging through the full main terminal every time.

The utility device is for convenience. The main configuration is still handled through the PandaWorks AutoLoot Terminal.

First Ground Test

After setting up PWAL, test it with a small amount of loot first.

Do not walk into a massive loot pile, turn everything on, and then act shocked when your inventory explodes into organized chaos.

Recommended first ground test:

1. Enable one or two loot categories.
2. Set their destinations.
3. Enable looting.
4. Stand near a few loose items or containers.
5. Confirm items go where expected.
6. Open PandaWorks Inventory, ship cargo, or Lodge Safe to verify routing.

Once that works, turn on more categories.

First Space Salvage Test

After confirming normal looting works, test space salvage separately.

Supported space salvage in version 1.1.2 includes:

• Asteroid deposits
• Space cargo
• Destroyed hostile ship debris

Recommended first space test:

1. Make sure looting is enabled.
2. Enter space with a valid home ship.
3. Mine one asteroid deposit, collect one supported space cargo source, or destroy one hostile ship.
4. Wait briefly for PWAL to process the salvage.
5. Open Player Ship Cargo.
6. Confirm the salvage was transferred there.

Space salvage does not go to player inventory by default. Check ship cargo.

PWAL does not delete, disable, or mutate ship debris refs. It only transfers supported inventory.

Important

PWAL is powerful, but it is not psychic.

If something is not being looted, check:

• Is looting enabled?
• Is that category enabled?
• Is the item actually part of a supported category?
• Is the destination configured?
• Are you checking the correct destination?
• For space salvage, are you checking Player Ship Cargo?
• Are you using version 1.1.2 or newer for space salvage?
• Are you in a restricted location?
• Are you expecting PWAL to loot something the game engine does not expose cleanly?

Most issues come down to settings, categories, destinations, or Starfield being Starfield.

Do Not Stack Similar Looters Blindly

PWAL is now a broader looting framework, not just a small ground-loot helper.

If you use another auto-looter, asteroid looter, or ship debris looter at the same time, both mods may try to process the same inventory source. Whichever mod gets there first may drain the loot before the other one sees it.

If something acts weird, test PWAL by itself before reporting a bug.

One framework. One setup. Less overlap. Less space trash.