Zombie path finding?

[Umbra Animo]

will zombies just focus on getting as close as they can to me or will they try going through a open path way to me

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198138307338/screenshot/2524912417374791671/

[Umbra Animo]

thats by killway. and the broken glass is a window behind where I plan to fight from

[Khissi]

Well, I can't see your picture, but some things are going to be true no matter your base. Zombies will take the path to you that's easiest for them, including to go through walls if they determine that it will take less effort/time. They will calculate height first (so be sure to get above them and then they'll try to get to your level), then they'll calculate which path to take.

Now, be aware that they will also go into 'destroy everything' mode if they are damaged by a fall or something similar, but the mode doesn't last forever before they will try pathing to you once again. For me, I find that building my base at least 5 blocks high, or setting up in a POI on the second floor works well, though you MUST be certain to destroy any other path to you such as stairs or tables they can climb on. This is very, very important. You can also block the way they're coming if you don't overdo it, giving you time to whack them or shoot them by putting a hatch or bars up in front of you. Remember they'll determine an easier path to you if that one is just too strong so don't make steel bars in front of you if you've left wooden blocks just down the way. They can and will smash those wooden blocks and make their own stairway up.

Just remember that this game is meant to be learned over time... time and experience. Every failure is a learning process! Watch what the zombies do, how they move, where they go! Watch and learn the way their AI determines pathways and pay attention if part of your base gets destroyed. You'll know what may need work, what might make it better, and learn more about defense.

A successful horde night is one where you learned at least one new thing about the zombies you're fighting. Survive or don't... doesn't matter. Because either way, you will have found a better way to do it next time.

[Umbra Animo]

Turns out I forgot to set the pic to public

[Bio[redacted]]

Originally posted by Khissi:

Well, I can't see your picture, but some things are going to be true no matter your base. Zombies will take the path to you that's easiest for them, including to go through walls if they determine that it will take less effort/time. They will calculate height first (so be sure to get above them and then they'll try to get to your level), then they'll calculate which path to take.

Now, be aware that they will also go into 'destroy everything' mode if they are damaged by a fall or something similar, but the mode doesn't last forever before they will try pathing to you once again. For me, I find that building my base at least 5 blocks high, or setting up in a POI on the second floor works well, though you MUST be certain to destroy any other path to you such as stairs or tables they can climb on. This is very, very important. You can also block the way they're coming if you don't overdo it, giving you time to whack them or shoot them by putting a hatch or bars up in front of you. Remember they'll determine an easier path to you if that one is just too strong so don't make steel bars in front of you if you've left wooden blocks just down the way. They can and will smash those wooden blocks and make their own stairway up.

Just remember that this game is meant to be learned over time... time and experience. Every failure is a learning process! Watch what the zombies do, how they move, where they go! Watch and learn the way their AI determines pathways and pay attention if part of your base gets destroyed. You'll know what may need work, what might make it better, and learn more about defense.

A successful horde night is one where you learned at least one new thing about the zombies you're fighting. Survive or don't... doesn't matter. Because either way, you will have found a better way to do it next time.

well it does matter specifically 'cause you learned

[Khissi]

You have a decent corridor set up as long as they feel they can reach you in that direction rather than just bashing in the wall beside or behind you. Zombies don't like climbing over traps but they will. Better to set them into the floor so they see them as something they will walk over rather than climb on. I would block off the top part of that doorway leaving a much smaller area for them to go through giving you time to pop heads. Hatches work great for this, both on the floor and above. Poles turned sideways will work, as well, since you can shoot through and they think they can reach you. You'll just need to keep them repaired.

Your traps won't last long, though, just be aware of that. They will chew through even the iron spikes very quickly. It will kill them, but then the spikes will be gone. Be SURE you have a way of escape, best to be able to get out onto the roof. At least, once they break through, you'll be above them and can shoot down on them. You could even build a walkway up over that room made of bars turned sideways that you can shoot through.

Just always have a backup plan and way of escape. Hope it works out!

[Umbra Animo]

Originally posted by Khissi:

You have a decent corridor set up as long as they feel they can reach you in that direction rather than just bashing in the wall beside or behind you. Zombies don't like climbing over traps but they will. Better to set them into the floor so they see them as something they will walk over rather than climb on. I would block off the top part of that doorway leaving a much smaller area for them to go through giving you time to pop heads. Hatches work great for this, both on the floor and above. Poles turned sideways will work, as well, since you can shoot through and they think they can reach you. You'll just need to keep them repaired.

Your traps won't last long, though, just be aware of that. They will chew through even the iron spikes very quickly. It will kill them, but then the spikes will be gone. Be SURE you have a way of escape, best to be able to get out onto the roof. At least, once they break through, you'll be above them and can shoot down on them. You could even build a walkway up over that room made of bars turned sideways that you can shoot through.

Just always have a backup plan and way of escape. Hope it works out!

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198138307338/screenshot/2524912417379718542/

this is a in progress build what should I do with this?

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198138307338/screenshot/2524912417379837854/
is this what you ment with the pole?

[Bigc]

Built our horde base at the end of one of the broken bridges over water. Spikes fill to the end of the road, whole bridge covered 2 deep wooden spikes. Zombies just bob in the water below, dont even attack the pillars. Cops and vultures are the only concern. We are at day 28 now.

[Umbra Animo]

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198138307338/screenshot/2524912417379970946/
so this is a work in progress defense. how does it look

yes I plan to improve the blocks I wanted to keep them removable in case I had to make changes

[Umbra Animo]

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198138307338/screenshot/2524912417383892811/

does this look good?

[Khissi]

Looks pretty good but they will crawl through that gap. You can make it harder for them by turning a pole to fit either the top or bottom making the gap a little smaller than a full voxel. You'll understand better after the horde. Being able to see how they move and the ways they'll want to pathfind will make a huge difference. As you watch them, you'll know what needs to be changed to make it work better.

Do NOT neglect giving yourself at least two backup areas and ways of escape. Being able to shoot down on them from above will help. You just may have to fight off a few vultures while doing so.

[Umbra Animo]

Originally posted by Khissi:

Looks pretty good but they will crawl through that gap. You can make it harder for them by turning a pole to fit either the top or bottom making the gap a little smaller than a full voxel. You'll understand better after the horde. Being able to see how they move and the ways they'll want to pathfind will make a huge difference. As you watch them, you'll know what needs to be changed to make it work better.

Do NOT neglect giving yourself at least two backup areas and ways of escape. Being able to shoot down on them from above will help. You just may have to fight off a few vultures while doing so.

oh yeah there is a two Iron doors behind me and a ladder with a hatch that leads to my personal room in a shipping container stack that includes a escape route from the base entirely

[Umbra Animo]

ok either something is wrong with my plans or the zombie AI is stupid as all hell but they keep going Anywhere BUT the path build for them

[Khissi]

Remember what I said... WATCH... they know the easiest route to you. You have made the path you WANT them to take harder than the path they are choosing. Rethink what you've made using your new knowledge. Give them a clear path. They will calculate altitude first... so lots of people, me included, always build higher so they go where I want them to go. Don't give them traps to climb over.. they don't like those. Instead, dig a trench one space deep, drop the spike traps into the trench. They will see it as a surface to walk on, not as something to avoid, and the damage will still get them.

Keep in mind that this game is all about replay-ability, NOT about playing it once then putting it away. Every lesson is a good one! Every death is a lesson. Successful Blood Moon will happen! Be patient with yourself and with the learning process. If an old lady like me (I'm 68 by the way) can do this, YOU CAN TOO!

[Umbra Animo]

Originally posted by Khissi:

Remember what I said... WATCH... they know the easiest route to you. You have made the path you WANT them to take harder than the path they are choosing. Rethink what you've made using your new knowledge. Give them a clear path. They will calculate altitude first... so lots of people, me included, always build higher so they go where I want them to go. Don't give them traps to climb over.. they don't like those. Instead, dig a trench one space deep, drop the spike traps into the trench. They will see it as a surface to walk on, not as something to avoid, and the damage will still get them.

Keep in mind that this game is all about replay-ability, NOT about playing it once then putting it away. Every lesson is a good one! Every death is a lesson. Successful Blood Moon will happen! Be patient with yourself and with the learning process. If an old lady like me (I'm 68 by the way) can do this, YOU CAN TOO!

I had this image of me doing that dug few small pits filled them with spikes in a pattern to give me walk space but that world bugged and removed all the trees and I couldn't in the recent attempt since I was in a city so the ground was to hard to dig out


would stacked spikes do anything? had a thought os using a double door as a sudo drawbridge

[Khissi]

First things first... in your settings, turn PLAYER damage up to 300% This only affects damage to blocks like the ground, stone, wood, etc. This will save you tons of boredom but doesn't affect damage to zombies, okay? Just BLOCKS.

Spikes will not last long no matter how you stack them. They do damage the zombies, cause bleeding, etc, but you cannot depend on them for keeping you alive during a Blood Moon. You will want to actually kill the zombies yourself to get the xp. So, that means, you need to find a way to get them to you ONE AT A TIME! Narrow pathway, raised off the ground so you can knock them off works very well. A good place for spikes is down below the narrow walkway you make. They'll try stacking up at your fighting window and will crawl up each other as well as through one block voids. So, be sure the overhead is blocked off and upgraded. They will beat on whatever is between them and you so be sure you have what's needed to repair, and repair a LOT.

The drawbridge idea is a good one and will work if implemented well. Again, that will take experimenting. So, don't be afraid to build a thing and see how it works. If you fail, you know more about it and will have better ideas. Death is not something to fear and if things go completely sideways, you can always just start over. You don't even have to make a new map if you like the one you already made.