Steve -- did you see Pirates of the Caribbean? They can't swim, but they can walk... under water. That's cool.

JP

no molotov cocktails. in those scary panic situations, you could set one off in the building and light your ass on fire.

Re: Re: Re: Zombie Invasion
 

Wakizashi. About 12" to 24" of blade length (1 to 2 shaku, if you want to get technical). Any bigger and it's a katana or tachi. Any smaller and it's a tanto.

You'd want a katana anyway, for lopping off zombie heads, arms, legs, etc. Katana can easily be employed within arms' length of your enemy.

You'd save the wakizashi for tight-quarters indoor work where you don't have room to draw the katana, then for gutting yourself (seppuku) when all hope is lost or you've commited a dishonorable act like soiling your jeans.

Vash -
That's a good point, but I was thinking more for use as modern form of "boiling oil" from above when they're storming the gates of my redoubt.

On the move, they might make good barriers b/c if I could put up a wall of flame between me and oncoming zombies, I might be able to protect a flank for a while. It'd obviously be a "see-what-works" approach. :D

JP

a sword? are you crazy? that is toooo close. doesnt zombie juice make you into a zombie?

http://www.zombiejuice.com/zsurvival/index.html

Zombie survival guide...

Umm, not to mention the smell.

You'd need some kind of contact-triggered explosive, I suppose, but failing that (and in really close quarters), a shotgun does a pretty good job of disassembly.

Boats no good. You have to consider weather, restocking and probably pirates. I don't think an m16 would be the preferable weapon it's a small caliber round and probably not enough to stop a zombie. Although I would probably carry one along with a shotgun, a .50cal sniper rifle(for long range targets and some fun), some type of semi-auto 30-06 rifle, a handgun and a katana. I would pick the humvee also preferably one with a mounted rocket launcher (it would help to clear out roads and large groups of zombies). I don't know where i'd stay the country club sounds like a good idea.

so what's an easily defendable structure? A bank? Probably but not very efficient for anything else.

A hangar? Large, you can stockpile well. In a pinch, you could even use it as a trap for a large number of them, AND not even destroy it. Simple, not too many nooks and crannies so you can surevey it w/ a glance. The perimeter is easy to secure b/c of simple doors.

An old church? Almost like a castle, big, strong, and it has a tower (sniping fun bonus, not to mention its early warning usefulness). The Gothic churches that have funnel shaped doors which narrow down were designed for defense. They *look* grand, but the actual entrance is quite narrow, giving you a chance to pick off the intruders. Large staircase approach gives another advantage. The minuses are it's interior complexity and darkness. The pews could be great barriers though.

I'd take something about three stories tall and rubbelize the first or possibly the first two floors, cut out any stairs. It should be made of concrete or stone, or the least flammable material you can find. Roof access is a must. If you're going to survive, you have to keep the zombies outside at all costs. You have to sleep sometime.

- Ladder in/out
- Loading of supplies from the top of a panel van or truck (easy access to story 2)

If you're going the urban warfare route with a strong-hold (at least as described above) to defend, the MVP is going to be the .22 rifle. Ammo is everywhere, light, will do if you have any skill with a head shot, and fun for the whole family.

JCM

If you set up in a tower or tall building you're trapped, man. Don't forget that the humans in zombie flicks can't move very fast and don't make good decisions. Don't fool yourself into thinking you will be any different. We must assume the worst, i.e., ammo problems, guns jamming, inability to run without tripping - all scary stuff. I want to be in a wide open area with a 360 degree view. I like having a vehicle to run around in and squash zombies but you know that one of those suckers is gonna grab on to the chassis and sneak up behind me. Freaks me out thinking about it. . .

This is no joke, son. Wake up and smell the coffee . . .

Right there with you , brother.

in a way, any building that you use as a dwelling will be a trap

No, no you want a hardened bunker with a SINGLE entrance just wide enough to admit one human-sized entity.

Give them a place to come at you ONE AT A TIME. That way you can't be flanked (this is a hardened location, remember) and you can sleep in shifts. Two people man the weapons and guard the door while the rest sleep in shifts or go about their business.

Remember Horatio at the bridge.

I'm not talking downtown LA here. I'd rather be in a location that is safe than constantly try to be mobile, that's a recipe for disaster as you can never tell how many zombies you're driving in to. I don't want to be dragging my ass all over looking for a loaf of moldy bread in an area I don't know, not to mention that other people could be a significant problem as well.

Life in the country is not going to work as you can't conveniently resupply. In the cities and the suburbs are the survivor's cornucopia.

The downside to the city thing is that the zombie population would be greater. I'd take that as a challenge.

I think I would get a certain *satisfaction* from pumping rounds into human-looking creatures...

you mean, wake up and smell the ashes.

Con,

I see your point but a city has too many corners for my liking; too many opportunities to be suprised (scared). Walmarts and Targets are everywhere and, assuming a lawless society, I would rely on them for supplies. BSJ has a good point, but how many zombies are there? how long will we be trapped in a bunker? So many unknowns. The best we can do is prepare as well as possible. Screw work, I need to go home and start getting supplies together. Does anybody know when the invasion will begin?

I think any reasonably built and stocked fallout shelter would suffice. You could hole up in one of those for a year and just wait it out. And if the zombies manage to get the door open, well, just open up the can o' whupass until they back off and you can get the door closed and braced again.

First order of business, though, is finding the paranoiac who already built the fallout shelter and becoming good friends with him. :D