The Reality of Zombie Survival: Power is a Problem... [Archive]

rm_you

01-16-2007, 11:54 AM

You've probably realized that in most zombie scenarios, electricity can be a problem. You probably haven't thought about it THIS much, however:

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mzombiepower.html

This is the most highly informative and awesome zombie article I've read in a while... Also, the site it is from is totally awesome, and I ended up reading various articles on it for several hours last night. >_>

Walrii

01-16-2007, 12:14 PM

lol Wow. I guess that is a reasonable question. The site's pretty neat as well.

Zombies basically are awesome.

rm_you

01-16-2007, 12:21 PM

Zombies basically are awesome.

Unless, of course, you're talking about the one that's currently trying to bite you and rip out your internal organs. Those belong on the INSIDE, darnit!

BrokenTripod

01-16-2007, 06:06 PM

Zombies! Yay.

Anyways, interesting article, I'll read it now..Or some time after finals..

On an unrelated note: IRC IS DOWN =O!!!! I'll go prod the offtopic thread soon..

General_Flaw

01-16-2007, 06:11 PM

Zombies! Yay.

Anyways, interesting article, I'll read it now..Or some time after finals..

On an unrelated note: IRC IS DOWN =O!!!! I'll go prod the offtopic thread soon..

Zombies FTW.

/Off-topic: I dunno about you, BT, but IRC is working fine for me.

Pythagora

01-16-2007, 10:06 PM

Haha! Wow, sweet article. I didn't get through it all, but I'm tired, and I'll read it tomorrow.
It's great what people think about when they have a lot of free time. :P

Amnistar

01-16-2007, 10:06 PM

So...what would your plans be in the even of a Zombie uprising?

ElyCyan

01-16-2007, 10:32 PM

The Zombie Survival Guide (http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Survival-Guide-Complete-Protection/dp/1400049628) by Max Brooks.

Read it. Love it. Survive.

Amnistar

01-17-2007, 12:05 AM

read it and loved it...I was hoping to get some broad sketches of people's ideas though

Shadowfox

01-17-2007, 10:14 AM

I ended up reading various articles on it for several hours last night. >_>

Tells us how much of a life you have :p I tried reading that article a few mins ago, but got bored and stopped lol, wasn't trying to hard though, im in class.

Walrii

01-17-2007, 02:38 PM

My plans would be to basically get away from civilization, in other words, where the bodies/zombies are. I'd stock up on food, ammunition, and useful tools / books and then just head into the mountains. Once I've gotten far enough away from civilization, I can just live off the land and not worry about zombies ever again.

This is of course assuming that zombies don't have some telepathic life seeking sense, that they could use to track me from MILES away.

Pythagora

01-17-2007, 02:50 PM

This is of course assuming that zombies don't have some telepathic life seeking sense, that they could use to track me from MILES away.

They can, of course, smell living brain... so... just be aware. :P

rm_you

01-17-2007, 03:51 PM

Yeah... In the case of magical zombies, you'd be pretty screwed unless you could find the source of the zombies' power and destroy it in time. In the case of science zombies, waiting it out in the mountains is probably a good bet since eventually the zombies should run out of energy as they deplete their main source of nutrients (brains). After a few months to a year (depending on how careful you want to be) you could probably just stroll back into town to find the rotting corpses of a bunch of (re?)dead zombies.

Amnistar

01-17-2007, 04:34 PM

and if you were asked by someone for help on your way out...what would you say?

Pythagora

01-17-2007, 04:47 PM

Well, y'know how these things always go...

The other person is secretly concealing their own zombie bite wound, and in time, you will have to destroy them.

I suggest checking all potential allies for bites. :P

ElyCyan

01-17-2007, 06:52 PM

After reading the Zombie Survival Guide, I would make for the closest oil rig I could get to, after amassing my girlfriend and all available (read: alive) friends I could gather, along with weapons, but mostly gardening supplies.

Amnistar

01-17-2007, 08:18 PM

So...weapons of choice for survival? I personally favor the sawed off shotgun, because it's wide spread can be used to immobilize massed zombies. Combine that with some kind of melee weapon, possibly a shovel because it can be used for so many different purposes...and since it's bludgeoning i can hit allies turned evil without feeling too bad.

ElyCyan

01-17-2007, 09:44 PM

Machete. Useful, and deadly.

rm_you

01-17-2007, 10:54 PM

In the case of science zombies, machete might not be too good of an idea, mostly because of all the blood. You would have to slash very carefully. Bludgeoning weapons seem like a better idea, since you could possibly crush a skull without tons of infected blood spraying at you. In the case of magic zombies, I guess it doesn't really matter.

Pythagora

01-18-2007, 03:02 PM

So...weapons of choice for survival?

A Hummer with spikes all over it.

Simple and effective.

Amnistar

01-18-2007, 03:29 PM

The problem with any weapon that impales is that there is the possibility of it getting stuck. The reason I chose a shovel is that it's blunt force trauma, allowing me to not have to worry about getting stuck inside a victim...also, as RM state, if the zombie-ness is transmited via blood, then the spray would cause problems as well.

The advantage to a blunt item continues into other things as well, as the item can be used to break doors and/or windows, open locks, etc. Alternative to a shovel, take a sledgehammer, or perhaps a lead pipe...these are all things to consider.

ElyCyan

01-18-2007, 07:39 PM

Hummers eat up too much gas to be effective.

Motorcycles, specifically dirtbikes, are the best transportation.

Amnistar

01-18-2007, 07:49 PM

Well, I'd say forget about motorized transport and use a BMX racing bike...light enough to carry over obstacles, but powerful enough (with training) to outrun even a speeding person, and more efficent then walking, quieter than any gas powered vehicle, etc.

General_Flaw

01-18-2007, 08:07 PM

As far as transport, the BMX bike is a good idea; light, relatively quiet, all that. However, if you know of a military outpost nearby...

For weaponry, definitely go with the sawed-off shotgun; not only does it take out large numbers of zombies, but it keeps them (and their possibly infected blood) away from you and your group. As an added bonus, you can turn it around and use that as your melee weapon. Alternatively, if you must have your melee weapon separate from your long-range weapon, I wouldn't suggest the shovel; it's too big and awkward to carry around. Instead, I would suggest some sporting equipment, like a bat (baseball, cricket, whatever) or a golf club.

Amnistar

01-18-2007, 08:40 PM

The advantage to the shovel and sledgehammer though is that....they work both as weaponry and...hammers/shovels. Shovel probably isn't all that useful, but a sledgehammer would be...with a nice long handle :). As far as the military base idea...that works as long as you've got a supply of gas...or electricity...but so much of the military weaponry require training...and do you really think the military will let you have them? any military that's alive will be using their equipment to fight the menace.

The key is that you're not trying to be a hero and destroy all the zombies, but just survive the attack.

Pythagora

01-18-2007, 08:45 PM

The key is that you're not trying to be a hero and destroy all the zombies, but just survive the attack.

That's why I would just get a Hummer, and stock up on gas... I mean, seriously, gas is $1.79 a gallon... it hasn't been that cheap in so long...
Anyway, gas > Hummer > drive away from civilization for a while.

Amnistar

01-18-2007, 09:28 PM

Assuming the gas pipes are still pumping...they're controlled by electricity you know, hard to stock up on gas if the pumps don't work...Also, what happens when you hit a dead end?

Walrii

01-18-2007, 09:48 PM

I have to agree with those who say bludgeoning weapons. An ax might be one of the most useful items. It can cut down trees (shelter?) and doors and what not, and if you turn it around, you can hit zombies with the blunt end of the axe head. ... or the sharp end if you want to cause carnage and blood spray.

Why go with a BMX bike? Why not a mountain bike? It might have a way to carry stuff that you can't fit on your back, and the gears would have you climb up hills and speed past zombies much more easily and quickly than a gearless bike.

I contemplated the possibility of heading out into the desert. The right area (oasis?) would have water and animal life, and you could sleep during the day and go out at night when you won't burn alive. Any zombies who travel towards you (such as the dreaded magical zombie) will quickly dry out (and re-die?) becoming basically a big piece of beef jerky.

rm_you

01-18-2007, 11:08 PM

We make the base assumption in all of these scenarios that zombies are entirely unintelligent... Is there any zombie lore with regards to even semi-intelligent zombies?

Pythagora

01-19-2007, 12:14 AM

The article mentioned that electricity would remain on for a little while after the zombification process began. As soon as I find out that there are zombies wandering around, I'm going to go fill up on gas, and other supplies... I'd probably steal them, but it wouldn't matter if I bought them anyway, because I doubt money would be a worry of mine after the zombies disappear.

... I might as well grab a Wii while I'm at it... even if I can't use it right away. :P

ElyCyan

01-19-2007, 06:53 AM

We make the base assumption in all of these scenarios that zombies are entirely unintelligent... Is there any zombie lore with regards to even semi-intelligent zombies?

Voodoo zombies usually are controlled by witch doctors, so they might be half-way intelligent.

Walrii

01-19-2007, 01:11 PM

The latest land of the dead movie (I think that was its title) had somewhat intelligent, learning zombies. I thought that part of the movie was stupid, but, even so, there is some precedent for intelligent zombies.

Amnistar

01-19-2007, 01:28 PM

Well, in the event of intelligent zombies, stealth becomes even more important. After all, if you leave noticeably and then leave huge tracks (say with a hummer...) you then have an army of undead that'll never stop following you.

Pythagora

01-19-2007, 02:39 PM

Dang... shot down again... I guess I'll easily become one of those zombies... hopefully a semi-intelligent one.

Good luck surviving... :P

Travis

01-19-2007, 07:15 PM

I can't wait for this thread to die, so some hapless individual bumbling through the Archive's forums' archives can ressurect it. I mean... would that be fitting or would it be fitting?

Sim9

01-19-2007, 08:41 PM

That's why I would just get a Hummer, and stock up on gas... I mean, seriously, gas is $1.79 a gallon... it hasn't been that cheap in so long...
Anyway, gas > Hummer > drive away from civilization for a while.

How about a blimp or a zeppelin? No zombies could ever get you in the air! :P

rm_you

01-19-2007, 09:37 PM

Pyth: Also, Gas + Cars will probably be exactly what the masses think too, meaning the roads will be clogged and the gas stations will be packed :( Same as my Walmart idea got shot down, because everyone and their mother (and their mother's mother) will probably go to Walmart :/

BrokenTripod

01-19-2007, 11:05 PM

Ooh, we're talking about Zombie survival things!?

Well, I'd gather up people who I knew and like could somewhat trust not to be a complete idiot...

Then I'd go to a Walmart or somewhere and pick up a BUNCH of those weeding tools that are like...wire on a motor that spins around at flesh-cutting speed.

And along with that...I'd grab food and stuff. Beef Jerky and like other non-perishables...And like, clothing, if needed. And then we'd drive into the sunset with the gardening tools hanging out the windows and attached to the car...Or something.

Yeah, I really don't know after that. Perhaps we'd get together in an area and like...

Vote each other off the island one by one, then try to get along with the natives. Perhaps we could be classified as an endangered species by the Zombies and be preserved. =D

neozf

01-20-2007, 04:07 AM

I think I got a Zombie suvival Guide somewhere, I got it off 4chan, it tells you things like differnt types of zombies, what weapons are good on them etc etc.

Amnistar

01-20-2007, 04:57 PM

The problem with the Walmart idea is, as RM stated, that it would be a beacon for survivors. The masses of people who all care (almost solely) about their own survival results in more problems and possibly more deaths than from the zombies themselves...or the large number of people could attract zombies (both noise, and possibly lightforce).

Walrii

01-20-2007, 05:51 PM

How about a blimp or a zeppelin? No zombies could ever get you in the air! :P

Good idea! At first, I thought Sim was just being silly but I think he has a point. Many areas of the country are very flat and very open. If you have enough survival skills to live off of the land (pick berries and leaves, hunt food, etc) then a blimp is perfect.

You hold it down with an anchor at night (zombies can't climb ropes!) and sail during the day. If you happen to come across an area of interest (farm, walmart, mall) then you anchor her down and use a rope ladder to get down and up (with someone staying on the blimp).

If you get attacked by zombies, you just lift off and float away. If humans attack you (which is quite possible if they think you have supplies) then you lift off and float. Guns would put small holes in the blimp, but presumably not very big ones, so you might be able to get away in time. (You would then land and patch the holes later).

The only trouble is keeping the blimp filled with helium, but, I'm sure there's some automated way to do that.

rm_you

01-20-2007, 10:01 PM

Yeah, or use some sort of hot air powered device, but that requires fuel as well, so probably wouldn't be the best. I'm not sure at what rate the helium in blimps deteriorates/escapes... I don't even know where I would look that up >_>

Pythagora

01-21-2007, 01:40 AM

Perhaps we could be classified as an endangered species by the Zombies and be preserved. =D

Best idea yet.

I'm not sure at what rate the helium in blimps deteriorates/escapes... I don't even know where I would look that up >_>

I read somewhere that as long as you don't release the helium from zeppelins, they won't deflate for a very long time. Most of the time, the helium is only released in order to fit the zeppelin into a garage/storage.

rm_you

01-21-2007, 02:41 AM

Sweet, then even just a few cannisters of helium would probably do just fine! I'm totally on-board for the zeppelin thing. Sim, any word on aquiring one for The Archive so in case of mass zombification you can swoop across the country picking us up and saving Archive members from the evil zombie hordes? :P

Also: A thought... Evil, or just hungry? You decide! :P

Pythagora

01-21-2007, 09:08 AM

We could even get zeppelin flying licenses so that we are actually helpful! Y'know, so there is actually a reason to pick us up... besides the reason that we're all awesome.

Amnistar

01-21-2007, 10:52 AM

ElyCyan

01-21-2007, 07:25 PM

Walrii

01-21-2007, 08:34 PM

Zepplin? Good luck with that guys. With the problem of helium, how many of you are rated to repair those things? And if you are relying on luck to land, how long do you think it'll be before you spring a leak in those things? Not to meantion that any zombie can see that thing in the air and follow you till you land...

As for me, I'll be keeping my fuel efficient dirtbikes around with a group of skilled individuals. Who's with me?

The average zombie isn't that intelligent though. I mean, yes, they see a big floating thing. They also see birds up in the sky and they don't follow those. I also don't think zombies have very good depth perception. If they saw you walk onto a zeppelin, then yeah, I think you're screwed, assuming a zeppelin can't outrun / out manuever a zombie.

Assuming we FIND a zeppelin somewhere, I'm sure there'll be operating manuals nearby :)

rm_you

01-22-2007, 06:56 PM

... Is there like... A class you can take? On piloting a zeppelin? Also, are Zeppelins even sold/operated in the US?! >_>

I did a preliminary Google search for zeppelin pilot training courses... Didn't really find anything :/
It couldn't be THAT hard though, right? I mean, we're not talking about modern commercial aircraft, we're talking about something that was flown in WWII. I mean, it probably has something resembling a steering wheel / post, and some controls (hopefully marked, and I read *some* German, the most probable non-English language for such markings) for altitude control. Calculating routes and dealing with wind induced drift would be hard, but we aren't REALLY trying to get anywhere specific (or in any particular length of time), we would just be staying in the air. Heck, a large hot air balloon would almost be good enough for The Archive, and I'm confident I could pilot one of those, as I've been in a couple of them and it doesn't seem especially difficult once they're airborne. Fuel would be more of a problem though (did I talk about this before?)... >_>

Sim9

01-22-2007, 09:53 PM

And if we get our hands on a full-sized zepplin (and keep it airborne so it's always filled with helium) we could actually create a small society that lives on the zepplin. The cabin could be the size of a small hotel...we'd be pretty set for some time...weather depending.

I'm totally up for making a small society living off an airborne base. That would be awesome. Too bad the only vehicular zeppelin I found on eBay was this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NICE-28FT-ZEPPELIN-ALL-SEASONS-TRAILER-LOW-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ230080662770QQihZ013QQcategoryZ50 063QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)... and I don't think it'll float.

Pythagora

01-22-2007, 10:32 PM

... Is there like... A class you can take? On piloting a zeppelin? Also, are Zeppelins even sold/operated in the US?! >_>

I'm sure there are people we could ask... I know a pilot in Alaska who might know something about zeppelins.

I'm totally up for making a small society living off an airborne base. That would be awesome. Too bad the only vehicular zeppelin I found on eBay was this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NICE-28FT-ZEPPELIN-ALL-SEASONS-TRAILER-LOW-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ230080662770QQihZ013QQcategoryZ50 063QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)... and I don't think it'll float.

We could try and rig something with that zeppelin... :P And like Amni said, if we could somehow get a zeppelin (a nice one) it would definitely be big enough. Plus, I'm sure zeppelins have progressed some from WWII, so if we did get our hands on one, it shouldn't be too bad.

Amnistar

01-22-2007, 11:02 PM

We could try and rig something with that zeppelin... :P And like Amni said, if we could somehow get a zeppelin (a nice one) it would definitely be big enough. Plus, I'm sure zeppelins have progressed some from WWII, so if we did get our hands on one, it shouldn't be too bad.

Unfortunately for us, Lighter than Air Travel Research (which is what Zeppelins were) faltered and died after the crash...I don't know how to spell it... "Hiedleberg"??. The loss of life made it impossible for people to do research and testing because of the political backlash.

Walrii

01-22-2007, 11:06 PM

The way I figure it, there's a Good Year blimp at nearly every major sporting event in the U.S. I doubt one blimp flies across country constantly. So, this leads me to believe that many major U.S. cities have one nearby.

Instant high-tech blimp source (with awesome high zoom capability cameras)!

Amnistar

01-22-2007, 11:08 PM

My biggest potential issue with this is that non-zombie humans might frown upon this air-base...and if any one of them gets missles of any kind... bad things happen.

Pythagora

01-23-2007, 03:03 PM

Unfortunately for us, Lighter than Air Travel Research (which is what Zeppelins were) faltered and died after the crash...I don't know how to spell it... "Hiedleberg"??. The loss of life made it impossible for people to do research and testing because of the political backlash.

It was the Hindenburg, and luckily for us, they stopped using hydrogen gas in these types of vehicles, whether it's a zeppelin or a blimp.

Amnistar

01-23-2007, 04:06 PM

Walrii

01-23-2007, 04:30 PM

Actually...the accident with the Hindenburg was an incredibly unlikely set of circumstances, as well as bad decision making and overconfidence on the part of the pilots. The Hindenburg accident WAS NOT because of the hydrogen in the blimp...we don't stop using planes because we've had plane crashes when the engines failed do we? It's the same thing with the lighter than air travel...except that the negative publicity from the accident, and from the stigma of blimps being attached to the old German government, caused us to abandon research into a mode of travel that was, potentially, much much cheaper than airplanes. Not as fast, because the speed wasn't necessary to keep the blimp afloat, but a very cheap means of transportation.

So... in this case, we can actually blame the Nazis and be correct! I mean, I love blaming Nazis for the world's trouble, they're the generic bad guy everyone hates, but this time, it's actually correct to do so.

(If the Germans had discovered this technology and not become Nazis, then I'm sure we would have adopted it more)

Pythagora

01-23-2007, 08:57 PM

Actually...the accident with the Hindenburg was an incredibly unlikely set of circumstances, as well as bad decision making and overconfidence on the part of the pilots. The Hindenburg accident WAS NOT because of the hydrogen in the blimp...

What?! First, isn't what brought down the Hindenburg still a mystery??
Second, the blimp went up in flames. With helium instead of hydrogen, this would not have happened. A big part of the problem was the hydrogen.

Sim9

01-23-2007, 09:09 PM

My biggest potential issue with this is that non-zombie humans might frown upon this air-base...and if any one of them gets missles of any kind... bad things happen.

The chances of any of them getting smart missiles (http://tomahawk-pi.ytmnd.com/) during a zombie attack is pretty low.

Amnistar

01-23-2007, 10:08 PM

What?! First, isn't what brought down the Hindenburg still a mystery??
Second, the blimp went up in flames. With helium instead of hydrogen, this would not have happened. A big part of the problem was the hydrogen.

Right, but that doesn't mean we should abandon lighter than Air flight all together. The problem is that the crash was incredibly public and thus everyone fears any lighter than air travel...at all.

The chances of any of them getting smart missiles (http://tomahawk-pi.ytmnd.com/) during a zombie attack is pretty low.

pft...who needs smart missles? With a targetr as large and slow moving as a blimp you only need a propelled explosive of any kind. Heck, a home-made explosive could esily be made to puncture and explode in the blimp itself...and that means that the blimp go boom.

Pythagora

01-23-2007, 10:34 PM

Right, but that doesn't mean we should abandon lighter than Air flight all together. The problem is that the crash was incredibly public and thus everyone fears any lighter than air travel...at all.

I am for the use of lighter-than-air transportation... and I think I was confused earlier. :confused:

pft...who needs smart missles? With a targetr as large and slow moving as a blimp you only need a propelled explosive of any kind. Heck, a home-made explosive could esily be made to puncture and explode in the blimp itself...and that means that the blimp go boom.

There are even some higher-grade fireworks that could take out a blimp or zeppelin. Some of those mortar shells could probably take one down... still, zombies hate fire.

rm_you

01-23-2007, 11:51 PM

Oh right, I forgot that "Zeppelins" basically became "Blimps" after WWII-ish... That would explain why I couldn't find any information on them! :P

Pythagora

01-23-2007, 11:55 PM

I'm not too sure about the cabin size on blimps though.
Honestly though, it'll probably be enough anyway.

Sim9

01-25-2007, 09:41 PM

Zeppelins can have a maximum altitude of 3,000 to 20,000 feet (source (http://sped2work.tripod.com/zeppelins.html)). I doubt aim or projectiles are that good. :P

And I doubt most will have access to mortar shells :lol:

Amnistar

01-25-2007, 10:18 PM

The issue isn't the height though sim...I mean, yes, if we're floating at highest point, then we won't have to worry to much about human interference...but when we come down to land and collect supplies we'd be at risk. The speed on blimps is not fast...in a plane you can get moving several hundreds MPH in a few minutes...in a blimp you can end up going a fraction of that speed...

Jarclogen

02-03-2007, 12:10 PM

I am for the use of lighter-than-air transportation... and I think I was confused earlier. :confused:

There are even some higher-grade fireworks that could take out a blimp or zeppelin. Some of those mortar shells could probably take one down... still, zombies hate fire.
Zombies are dead how can they hate fire?

ElyCyan

02-03-2007, 12:47 PM

Zombies are dead how can they hate fire?

Umm... have you ever had a piece of your flesh on fire? I have had it on my hand. It ******* HURTS.

But the reason I have flesh on my hand is because it is living tissue. It is moist and grows back. Zombie flesh is decayed and dry. They'll go up like a pile of dead leaves.

Jarclogen

02-03-2007, 01:06 PM

But they're dead so they wouldn't feel any pain.

Pythagora

02-03-2007, 01:58 PM

How many zombie movies have you seen where a torch scares a mob of zombies back? It's a fact: Zombies hate fire.

Walrii

02-03-2007, 03:57 PM

Regarding the vulnerability of taking off / landing in a zeppelin there are some advantages over planes.

Planes are noisy, and require huge open landing strips. You can be inside a building and still be aware of an airplane. This would alert both zombies and other humans to the plane's presence.

A zeppelin however is much quieter (if not perfectly quiet?). You could land and take off during the night and no humans would be aware of it (and then you don't need to worry about mortars / fireworks). Zombies do have a habit of sneaking up on you at night though...

Pythagora

02-03-2007, 06:02 PM

A zeppelin however is much quieter (if not perfectly quiet?).

They have large fans. They're more quiet than airplanes, but to what degree, I don't know.

Amnistar

02-03-2007, 10:02 PM

Significantly. Large fan vs. Jet enigine....Jet engine wins in the noisy. Hands down.

Jarclogen

02-03-2007, 10:09 PM

Would you rather be quiet or get away as fast as possible?

Amnistar

02-03-2007, 10:13 PM

Ah, but if you're quiet...you don't have to get away. They don't know you're there.

Walrii

02-04-2007, 01:00 PM

I didn't know about the fans :(

Hmm, supposing there's a way to turn them off perhaps.

Or if you can't, and it is noticable (perhaps the sound of chaos in the cities would mask the sound) you could always land just outside of a city.

Pythagora

02-04-2007, 03:01 PM

That's true.
The fans are only there to propel the vehicle forward. I supposed you could turn them off...

rm_you

02-07-2007, 01:01 PM

We're also assuming an amount of intelligence on the part of the zombies that is fairly unprecedented. How many times have you seen a zombie able to operate something as simple as a handgun, or even a simple lever to open a door or something? That's not even taking into consideration the manual dexterity it would take to reload a weapon! Even in movies where zombies are crazy fast and smart (See: 28 Days Later) they still don't use weapons (at least that I recall). I seriously doubt we'd have to worry about anything but pure melee zombie attackers, which means we would probably be safe as little as 20 feet off the ground. :P

Amnistar

02-07-2007, 01:11 PM

Oh no, I'm not worried about the zombies. If I've got a flying machine, I'm pretty safe from them. I'm worried about the other survivors. The ones that want my flying machine.

waiforpie7

02-07-2007, 03:46 PM

Panicked survivors just might be slightly scarier than zombies in that aspect. Unless your aircraft has the capacity to hold quite a few people, you have the desperate to worry about.

ElyCyan

02-07-2007, 04:46 PM

Panicked survivors just might be slightly scarier than zombies in that aspect. Unless your aircraft has the capacity to hold quite a few people, you have the desperate to worry about.

Quoted for truth.

Pythagora

02-07-2007, 07:34 PM

...but (I may have mentioned this earlier) we all know that there will be some jerk with his posse who doesn't approve of your leadership. He'll try to take over, and kill some people in the process, and eventually, indirectly result in your best friend being bitten by a zombie... it always happens.

waiforpie7

02-07-2007, 07:50 PM

I always though it wound up with the jerk face getting bitten rather than the best friend.

Pythagora

02-07-2007, 07:56 PM

Well probably both... or your best friend ends up killing him, but in the process somehow gets bitten on the shoulder from behind.

Amnistar

02-07-2007, 09:10 PM

Yea, so I've put some more thought into this. Here's the basic game plan.

Upon landing in a city you send down any and all members of the blimp that want to go down to the city. However each person is a member of a small group (3-4 people) with a clear leader in charge, and any disputes result in groups being split up.
Each group will contain:
1 Leader with some kind of tool/melee weapon (axe, shovel, crowbar, etc)
1-2 Marksmen with guns, fully loaded, responsible for both protecting members of the group from zombies, and shooting people that are bitten.
1 Pack Horse who has no equipment, but instead has a large backpack (like hikers wear) and will be transporting the goods you are retrieving from the city.

Each group will also be outfitted with a mode of transportation,
such as bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, etc. Something that gives them a significant bonus of speed and requires less physical effort to move quickly on (but can easily be removed if the party needs to climb stairs or a ladder)

Now the groups will be sent down with general ideas of what to get, no specific goals, and sent in with a time limit (say...2 hours) before the blimp leaves (with or without them). While they are out the groups are responsible for saving anyone they come across, but if they find new people they are to immediately return to the ship, forgetting about foraging.

New Members will start out by spending a set amount of time (longer than the known incubation period of the change) in a room by themselves with the door locked and a means of observing them. Also, all members that go foraging will be treated the same. In this way anyone that is bitten will be discovered without them turning on someone else and they will be killed via ranged weaponry of some sort.

Also, at least one person will remain behind on the blimp to be the guard who will use a riffle to shoot any zombies that group below the blimp, or attempt to climb up to the blimp and foil the plans.

waiforpie7

02-07-2007, 11:58 PM

Really nice plan there Amni. My only complaint is the lack of mentions of flame throwers in as arsenal. :P

Amnistar

02-08-2007, 08:18 AM

Flame Throwers don't work as well as you'd think. They require a bit more training than most weaponry and the potential for problems with fire aboard a zepplin is just...not good.

Walrii

02-08-2007, 04:58 PM

Yeah, good idea actually. It's sounding like our ideas would make a great video game.

But back on topic! I disagree with picking up strangers. This is basically the end of the world, and though I would love to save everyone, unless absolutely necessary, I say we leave new comers behind.

Now, if they have some sort of skill (technology? firearms? strength? medical skills?) then maybe we could consider. Or if they are old/pregnant/orphaned then we could let them on. But Joe Schmoe or Jane Schmoe should have to defend for themselves. Besides, resources are too limited perhaps to feed everyone all the time.

Picking up new people might create chaos if they try to take over (either through political or physical means).

Amnistar

02-08-2007, 06:51 PM

See, I disagree because I don't think it's the end of the world, I think it's a huge challenge that must be overcome.

Look at it like this, every person you leave behind for the zombies will either survive and take resources you could use, or die and become a zombie themselves. By taking them with you the potential number of zombies decreases, the dnager during missions decreases, because you don't have to worry about strangers trying to kill you when you reject them, and a larger supply of troops to use to perform missions.

If you keep your group to small than every loss is significant and the potential for rebuilding is low. By having a larger group of like-minded individuals you create a better chance of survival for the whole.

Every person has a skill that can be used in an end of the world situation, even if that skill is merely they can carry stuff. If you have enough people to send 2 carriers with each group then do it. A larger number of backpacks results in more goods per trip.

As for the problem of take-over, remember that you've got a rather strictly controlled loading back on the ship. Each member is welcome to stay on the ship if they want, and we request that they participate in raids to the surface. We can't (and shouldn't) force anyone to go to the surface, so no one should feel resentment about that, and in an end of the world scenario, once control is set up people are very willing to listen to it, especially if it's explained in a collected manner.