Survivors for Dummies

[lordgoober]

So, you want to join the world of the survivor, eh? Look no further, I will share my secrets to success.

You are eager to play the game, and you want to sign up for it. You know your character's name, and what class of survivor he's going to be.

STOP.

There's a few things that need checking before you start. You should have either a group to join or some friends. He who is alone in UD will die easily. Trust me. Getting into a group or playing with some friends is essential to fast leveling.

If you have a good set of friends, or a group, go ahead and leap into the world of UD.


Now, the secret to getting high levels, is mostly have your friends do the work of keeping your safehouse barricaded and defended while you get yourself up to speed.

Normally, since the cop class gets us everything we are striving for, I'm going to suggest against it and go Fireman. Why? Because if you run that first clip out, and you have no Police station nearby, you are pretty much screwed. Firemen have Fire Axes and 25% to hit from the get-go.

Now, once you've found yourself a safe place, go find a place with some zombies (For the love of god, not in a revive point). Hack some up, gain bits of EXP. Once you hit 100XP, it's time for the first skill purchase you'll make.

Now, think back to the place you are currently staying. Is it Very Strongly Barricaded, and does it stay that way? If so, nab the basic firearms training. If not, I'd grab freerunning.

Now, repeat said process until you reach another 100XP. If you grabbed freerunning already, grab pistol training. If not, repeat above question. If it is still VSB, grab pistol training.

Some may debate that decision. Why pistol training? Because Pistols tend to be more common, and you get 6 shots per clip, as opposed to 1 shot per shell with the shotgun.

At this point, you may consider switching off to the Pistol instead of the Axe, as your pistol should have 50% to hit, with your axe being at 25%. That's double. While you could have grabbed H2H combat, I don't think it's necessary. It would have boosted you to 45% to hit with the axe...but meh.

If you are anywhere near a PD, start using your pistol. If not, we are about to get to that. Continue using your axe, and hack up zombies to gain another 100XP. Those near PDs should buy Free running now if you haven't already (Buy Advanced pistol training if you have), and those not near PD's should buy H2H combat. If you do not have freerunning this time, buy it on the next Level up.

At this point, you should have if near a PD:

-Basic Firearms Training
--Pistol Training
---Advanced Pistol Training

-Hand to Hand combat (Not bought)
--Axe Proficiency

-Free Running

If not:

-Basic Firearms Training
--Pistol Training

-Hand To Hand Combat
--Axe Proficiency

-Free Running

Correct me if I'm wrong with the skill lists. I'm a tad dull right now

Now you should have the basic skills to level up. I'd grab Barricading, and then finish up with your offensive skills. Then I'd buy Shopping and Bargain Hunting.

[1984]

Looks good, darn near what I did when I began the game.....although freerunning is more important in my book than getting weapon skills right off the bat. Only because it allows you to fade into the surrounding buildings during heavy zombie attacks. I went about 8 months without dying when I first started. Then I killed myself, just to gain zed skills for the level boost. Shopping and bargin hunting are only good if near a mall though, generators make it possible to fill up 8 pistols or more on average and still be left with AP.

[King Jager III]

When I first played, I had a fireman. I joined the LXM (now GBM), bought hand-to-hand combat training, then free running, then body building, then First Aid.

After that, it didn't matter. If I was outnumbered, I ran. If I could win, I fought. But I got bored, so I changed to having a doctor, a private, and a zombie.

[lordgoober]

1984 said:

Looks good, darn near what I did when I began the game.....although freerunning is more important in my book than getting weapon skills right off the bat. Only because it allows you to fade into the surrounding buildings during heavy zombie attacks. I went about 8 months without dying when I first started. Then I killed myself, just to gain zed skills for the level boost. Shopping and bargin hunting are only good if near a mall though, generators make it possible to fill up 8 pistols or more on average and still be left with AP.

I put weapon skills first because once you have those, getting any other skill is a breeze. You'll gain a level a day, given the right conditions.

[King Jager III]

lordgoober said:

I put weapon skills first because once you have those, getting any other skill is a breeze. You'll gain a level a day, given the right conditions.

Agreed.

[1984]

True, I was in a bad area at the time and freerunning was simply more of an advantage....sorta depends where the game dumps you.

[manliestman]

I grabbed shotgun training first

For some reason I had like 10 loaded shotguns and shells to spare...gained about 4 more levels right after that before I ran outta bullets...that's an odd exception though.

[swiers]

The science classes offer a whole different (and I think faster) route.

Starting as a NT Lab assistant, you get 4 xp for each "fresh" zombie you scan. That can earn you XP pretty fast- just rmember to scan in one area, then run 10 blocks away to kill scent trails. Once you get the first 150xps, buy Free Running, and you are good to start REALLY acing the XPs. That's when you move to near one of the forts and start scanning the massive hordes of un-scanned zombies that are always inside those walls. 100XP a day, day after day after day, is easy at that point. And if that gets boring / dangerous, the "diagnoses" skill only costs 75 Xps for scientists, and lets you net 5 xp healing for the cost of a FAK, which is also a very fast XP source. Both methods beat out searching for ammo and using guns, IMO, and they require fewer skills to boot.

[grigori]

UNlockinated. It's stickied, man, it's supposed to be ok to respomd to these AT ANY TIME.