I put up a thread way back about my steamed stuffed peppers recipe…found here: http://forums.dayzgame.com/index.php?/topic/181517-recipe-steamed-stuffed-peppers/   One idea leads to another and here is what I'm thinking...   Seeing as there are a ton of books in DayZ, why not get folks using them? Learning is a cool thing and in RL these kids aren't reading (enough) books anyway. If there is no film, not interested.   This could be great for potential medics (and later on mechanics) as well as those looking to live off the land effectively in an interesting fashion.   Alas, as it stands, books are junk loot for most of the player base. Sure there are guys and gals who live off the land and like a nice book to pass the lonely nights…but lets be honest, they are the vast minority.   My idea is that a recipe book, medical journal, and mechanics manual should be rather rare and there should be a pay off for having it. Maybe even like a farmers almanac type thing to grow bigger and better crops.   Certain recipes might heal you faster over a short period of time. Maybe some recipes for healing that you would need certain herbs like Athelas for mending serious wounds.  http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Athelas   Or a recipe for a Lembas type product for long lasting energy. http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Lembas   Later on medical journals will help medics find cures for certain ailments and diseases.   For mechanics and those that cry delicious tears about helicopters, lets get specific manuals for specific helo models that are absolutely necessary for repair and maintenance.   I know what your thinking: Wiki and all of the internets will just post the recipes and etc and the entire idea will be exploited.   Easily fixed: To beat the potential exploitation, one must have the book in question, in their possession, for the recipes to work. Also, tearing a page out of the book with a certain recipe, cure, etc on it will basically delete that element from that book.   I remember a very old interview with Dean Hall (maybe pre-alpha 2013ish) where he said he doesn't want skills/perks in DayZ but moreso proficiencies for medics and mechanics in the sense that the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Honestly, I think thats rather empty as how could you ever learn that profiency in the first place?   A lot of potential here imho.