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Project Zomboid >  Workshop > Slayer's Workshop > [B42] Week One NPC > Discussions
[B42] Week One NPC
Description Discussions542 Comments3695 Change Notes
BeastQuake7437 Jan 20 @ 10:04pm
What strategies/game plans have people been using to survive the full week?
What strategies/game plans have people been using to survive the full week?

This is purely out of curiosity and to invite useful tips to players.

I want to add, I'm not referring to the Nuke with this post. Mainly just surviving the bandits that start to come halfway through the week.

I keep waking up to 2-3 groups of 4 bandits trying to break in and kill me when I wake up. I'm having trouble fighting them all off without: 1. Getting filled shot 4 times and bleeding out before having a chance to heal or 2. Getting injured a little which caused my next fight to end me.

My current strategy is to spawn as a police officer in Rosewood at the house at the bottom right down the dirt road (I keep spawning there every new run by pure chance so it's growing on me), secure the building with sheets on windows and doors, kill spouse, move the fridge, sofa chair, small book shelve, microwave, and TV down to the basement while rearranging basement furniture (I find it to be quite safe as bandits seem to struggle to find me there). Then find a few lone military dudes to kill (I know so horrible) and take their gear, walk to the police station while searching for a key on the ground in fire station and police station parking lot, search police station for car key and police station key, loot all medical, food, ammo, and anything else I need into car, and return to base. Look for materials to board up my house and then just try to survive bandits. So far I've made it to day 4 but, I keep getting too many injures and eventually succumb to the waves of bandits.

Any tips? What works? What doesn't work? Pistols, shotguns, or rifles? My character can't seem to hit anyone unless they are targeting my character.
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Showing 1-15 of 20 comments
jesterbrown Jan 20 @ 11:51pm 
i use a mod to start as a veteran in louisville and rob the Military surplus store in the mall. Usually it's dark and there's either nobody or 1 person there. i get a military backpack, multiple guns and more ammo than i'll even need.

I also use More Traits to get my Aim to level 8.
#1
Penumbra Jan 21 @ 12:27am 
I spawn as a police officer in Rosewood or Muldraugh and head for the police station in Muldraugh ASAP. In the basement there is tons of money in the evidence lockers, plus I get good gear from the locker room. If i can't find everything I need there I will head for Guns Unlimited in Echo Creek where I'm pretty sure to find all the guns, attachments and ammo I need. Sometimes the police at the station will attack me but if you kill them you don't get a SWAT team response for some reason.
#2
DeRossa Jan 21 @ 2:15am 
stock on ammo and food and wait the ♥♥♥♥ to hit the fan,(inside any basement you can find) then i moved outside the nuekd town, you pretty muich play it like normal zomboid and only engage bandits when you feel comfortable to do so, you dont go toe to toe with them, the best way to kill the hazmat guys which are the strongest type of raiders, is to lure them in to zombie blobs, you dont need to be eager to engage them or you get kileld by theyr M14.

The first days you have to play like a hyenas, wait things to play out, there will be plenty of dead military corpses to loot so you you have a basic self defense, the first group of hazmat guys i dispatched them by camping them in the furthest corner in the basement, as they popped up on the staiors i blasted them full auto one by one with stolen M16 from dead military.

Im in 1 month 7 days of surviving now, the icons really help you to be on alert, always keep a watch on them, also it is very profitable to raid survivors bases, theres alot of good supplies you can keep going on forever.
Last edited by DeRossa; Jan 21 @ 2:16am
#3
nec0arc Jan 21 @ 2:17am 
I've made the most immersive character with my 'traits' from irl. And asking myself a question - "Can I survive the outbreak?" The answer is - no. mostly- no. But, i have a pretty simple strategy. Step 1 - Choose West-point as a spawn location.
Step 2 - Get lucky, so your starter house will have a basement (to survive week one without following the objectives and lore)
Step 3 - Rip the sheets and make a bag.
Step 4 - Take your time and don't risk if there's no need to risk.
Step 5 - Arm yourself, but not with the startng pistol. Turns out the police will arrive a lot faster, if you fire a gun.
Step 6 - Search for houses with cars near them (they have a lot of stuff inside)
Step 7 - When you'll find one, slowly and surely sneak inside and steal the most important things for survival. Mostly food, soda cans, literature and melee weapons, just deal with the npcs inside first (and don't forget to steal their money!)
Step 8 - Bring all the stuff into your basement (npcs can't get inside basements, for some reason) also bring your fridge into the basement, so expirable food will be safe and fresh. Don't forget to bring the armchair to not fall asleep on the cold floor.
Step 9 - Go to the hardware store, buy hammer, screwdriwer, and the respirator with some fiters
Step 10 - Go to the West-point Police Department building, dissasemble the door to the armory and load yourself with GUNS and ammunition!!
Step 11 - Live your life happily inside your own underground kingdom.
:spiffo:
#4
DeRossa Jan 21 @ 2:21am 
And if you want to avoid raiders just sprint away from the map cell and wait few minutes, they dont follow you outside the game cell unless they keep vision on you.
Last edited by DeRossa; Jan 21 @ 2:27am
#5
DeRossa Jan 21 @ 2:25am 
Originally posted by airline:
I've made the most immersive character with my 'traits' from irl. And asking myself a question - "Can I survive the outbreak?" The answer is - no. mostly- no. But, i have a pretty simple strategy. Step 1 - Choose West-point as a spawn location.
Step 2 - Get lucky, so your starter house will have a basement (to survive week one without following the objectives and lore)
Step 3 - Rip the sheets and make a bag.
Step 4 - Take your time and don't risk if there's no need to risk.
Step 5 - Arm yourself, but not with the startng pistol. Turns out the police will arrive a lot faster, if you fire a gun.
Step 6 - Search for houses with cars near them (they have a lot of stuff inside)
Step 7 - When you'll find one, slowly and surely sneak inside and steal the most important things for survival. Mostly food, soda cans, literature and melee weapons, just deal with the npcs inside first (and don't forget to steal their money!)
Step 8 - Bring all the stuff into your basement (npcs can't get inside basements, for some reason) also bring your fridge into the basement, so expirable food will be safe and fresh. Don't forget to bring the armchair to not fall asleep on the cold floor.
Step 9 - Go to the hardware store, buy hammer, screwdriwer, and the respirator with some fiters
Step 10 - Go to the West-point Police Department building, dissasemble the door to the armory and load yourself with GUNS and ammunition!!
Step 11 - Live your life happily inside your own underground kingdom.
:spiffo:

I think the manor house by the west point lake is better than the police station, i moved there, but it is getting too boring and cozy (when you get the gist of it this mod become easy) i think i will move to Louisville when the canned food supplies i have will run out and gamble my life there lol.
Last edited by DeRossa; Jan 21 @ 2:26am
#6
lancratot59 Jan 21 @ 2:59am 
Originally posted by airline:
I've made the most immersive character with my 'traits' from irl. And asking myself a question - "Can I survive the outbreak?" The answer is - no. mostly- no. But, i have a pretty simple strategy. Step 1 - Choose West-point as a spawn location.
Step 2 - Get lucky, so your starter house will have a basement (to survive week one without following the objectives and lore)
Step 3 - Rip the sheets and make a bag.
Step 4 - Take your time and don't risk if there's no need to risk.
Step 5 - Arm yourself, but not with the startng pistol. Turns out the police will arrive a lot faster, if you fire a gun.
Step 6 - Search for houses with cars near them (they have a lot of stuff inside)
Step 7 - When you'll find one, slowly and surely sneak inside and steal the most important things for survival. Mostly food, soda cans, literature and melee weapons, just deal with the npcs inside first (and don't forget to steal their money!)
Step 8 - Bring all the stuff into your basement (npcs can't get inside basements, for some reason) also bring your fridge into the basement, so expirable food will be safe and fresh. Don't forget to bring the armchair to not fall asleep on the cold floor.
Step 9 - Go to the hardware store, buy hammer, screwdriwer, and the respirator with some fiters
Step 10 - Go to the West-point Police Department building, dissasemble the door to the armory and load yourself with GUNS and ammunition!!
Step 11 - Live your life happily inside your own underground kingdom.
:spiffo:
Playing as myself isn't a bad idea actually! I might do that actually but in more RP way
#7
BeastQuake7437 Jan 21 @ 4:40am 
Originally posted by airline:
I've made the most immersive character with my 'traits' from irl. And asking myself a question - "Can I survive the outbreak?" The answer is - no. mostly- no. But, i have a pretty simple strategy. Step 1 - Choose West-point as a spawn location.
Step 2 - Get lucky, so your starter house will have a basement (to survive week one without following the objectives and lore)
Step 3 - Rip the sheets and make a bag.
Step 4 - Take your time and don't risk if there's no need to risk.
Step 5 - Arm yourself, but not with the startng pistol. Turns out the police will arrive a lot faster, if you fire a gun.
Step 6 - Search for houses with cars near them (they have a lot of stuff inside)
Step 7 - When you'll find one, slowly and surely sneak inside and steal the most important things for survival. Mostly food, soda cans, literature and melee weapons, just deal with the npcs inside first (and don't forget to steal their money!)
Step 8 - Bring all the stuff into your basement (npcs can't get inside basements, for some reason) also bring your fridge into the basement, so expirable food will be safe and fresh. Don't forget to bring the armchair to not fall asleep on the cold floor.
Step 9 - Go to the hardware store, buy hammer, screwdriwer, and the respirator with some fiters
Step 10 - Go to the West-point Police Department building, dissasemble the door to the armory and load yourself with GUNS and ammunition!!
Step 11 - Live your life happily inside your own underground kingdom.
:spiffo:
This did not work, I had a basement, all doors and windows boarded up, and about 20+ broke down the garage and rushed me in the basement. I was using a shotgun, but even with a rifle, then moment I need to reload, I would get annihilated.
Last edited by BeastQuake7437; Jan 21 @ 4:41am
#8
lancratot59 Jan 21 @ 6:31am 
Originally posted by BeastQuake7437:
Originally posted by airline:
I've made the most immersive character with my 'traits' from irl. And asking myself a question - "Can I survive the outbreak?" The answer is - no. mostly- no. But, i have a pretty simple strategy. Step 1 - Choose West-point as a spawn location.
Step 2 - Get lucky, so your starter house will have a basement (to survive week one without following the objectives and lore)
Step 3 - Rip the sheets and make a bag.
Step 4 - Take your time and don't risk if there's no need to risk.
Step 5 - Arm yourself, but not with the startng pistol. Turns out the police will arrive a lot faster, if you fire a gun.
Step 6 - Search for houses with cars near them (they have a lot of stuff inside)
Step 7 - When you'll find one, slowly and surely sneak inside and steal the most important things for survival. Mostly food, soda cans, literature and melee weapons, just deal with the npcs inside first (and don't forget to steal their money!)
Step 8 - Bring all the stuff into your basement (npcs can't get inside basements, for some reason) also bring your fridge into the basement, so expirable food will be safe and fresh. Don't forget to bring the armchair to not fall asleep on the cold floor.
Step 9 - Go to the hardware store, buy hammer, screwdriwer, and the respirator with some fiters
Step 10 - Go to the West-point Police Department building, dissasemble the door to the armory and load yourself with GUNS and ammunition!!
Step 11 - Live your life happily inside your own underground kingdom.
:spiffo:
This did not work, I had a basement, all doors and windows boarded up, and about 20+ broke down the garage and rushed me in the basement. I was using a shotgun, but even with a rifle, then moment I need to reload, I would get annihilated.
Must be pretty unlucky to have NPCs somehow pathfind you in a basement they suck at this. I'd disable bandits being able to unbarricade windows and doors
#9
Chromium Jan 21 @ 7:09am 
Start aim 0 , car go vroom
#10
solenoid Jan 21 @ 9:18am 
Live out of your car since it can't catch fire.
When the bombing starts drive around in a circle in a field so you don't destroy the whole town.
It's pretty lame once you figure out how it works.
#11
BeastQuake7437 Jan 21 @ 10:21am 
Originally posted by lancratot59:
Originally posted by BeastQuake7437:
This did not work, I had a basement, all doors and windows boarded up, and about 20+ broke down the garage and rushed me in the basement. I was using a shotgun, but even with a rifle, then moment I need to reload, I would get annihilated.
Must be pretty unlucky to have NPCs somehow pathfind you in a basement they suck at this. I'd disable bandits being able to unbarricade windows and doors
Oh I did do that. The Basement is located in the garage so they just broke it down and ran in.
#12
BeastQuake7437 Jan 21 @ 10:35am 
Originally posted by solenoid:
Live out of your car since it can't catch fire.
When the bombing starts drive around in a circle in a field so you don't destroy the whole town.
It's pretty lame once you figure out how it works.
Yeah, I want to try and avoid the strategy of using a car to unload cells and despawn bandits. If I am going to use a car to escape, I'd rather not return to that location until after the last day. Kinda RP that it was taken over and returning after the nuke hits or zombies arrive seems like the only reasonable solution to why they would be gone. Either way, I really want to see if it's possible to survive by just camping out in one location.
#13
Coffee Dragon Jan 21 @ 2:11pm 
I have so many other QoL mods running in the background that I don't think the way I play will help others, but in general... don't play the game like you normally would.

Zomboid vanilla is about base building. You survive by finding a place you can easily defend, scavenge for resources to build up that base until it becomes self sustaining.

Day One and Week One is the opposite. Any base you build in week one is temporary. Looters will try to break in by day 2 and by day 5 or 6 your base is most likely going to get bombed.

So Stay mobile. I don't THINK bandits can loot your car, or at least I haven't seen them try yet.

I also like the way the mod forces you to just not take everything you want, at least in the beginning. Money is important for the first few days as stealing can be dangerous. There are ways to kind of 'cheese' the game by telling npcs to 'join me' and they will suddenly be ok with you robbing their home but... up to you if you want to do that.
#14
BeastQuake7437 Jan 21 @ 2:52pm 
Originally posted by Coffee Dragon:
I have so many other QoL mods running in the background that I don't think the way I play will help others, but in general... don't play the game like you normally would.

Zomboid vanilla is about base building. You survive by finding a place you can easily defend, scavenge for resources to build up that base until it becomes self sustaining.

Day One and Week One is the opposite. Any base you build in week one is temporary. Looters will try to break in by day 2 and by day 5 or 6 your base is most likely going to get bombed.

So Stay mobile. I don't THINK bandits can loot your car, or at least I haven't seen them try yet.

I also like the way the mod forces you to just not take everything you want, at least in the beginning. Money is important for the first few days as stealing can be dangerous. There are ways to kind of 'cheese' the game by telling npcs to 'join me' and they will suddenly be ok with you robbing their home but... up to you if you want to do that.
I haven't found money to be an issue at all. I rarely even use it. I can get good gear off of the military, the Rosewood police station seems to be full of medkits and lunch bags/boxes in the lockers, and I can usually find a key to the armory. Even without the key, I can just break the door down so that's ammo solved. Otherwise, Rosewood has no hardware store. Honestly, I'm not sure what I need to buy that I can't get in other methods. Sure I don't have long-time survival items, but if the plan is to be mobile, I can't really take those items anyway.
#15
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