The Human Playbook

Zombies vs. Humans

The difference?

There are several key factors which play into the success of either side.

Humans have a much greater range - they can throw in order to stun, while Zombies must get in close to tag a human. Humans, additionally, are fighting for their lives - not just one of dozens of stun tags. This means there is an inherent desperation in the actions of the human which allows the Zombies to take greater risks - somewhat negating the "range" factor.

The most important difference, however, is cohesiveness. Humans in general don't need to work together, so to speak. One human can take out many many zombies if they are smart and think on their feet. Why? Because the zombies suck at working together. Since there's no formal training, and each person individually has their own ideas about how to attack, they can't perform any complex maneuvers - they resort to the basics. Surround and attack. There are few pre-arranged signals, if any. This gives you, a human, a huge advantage.

What's more, if you learn to fight well alongside other humans, your advantages are multiplied exponentially.

Don't work on the assumption that all zombies you encounter will be terrible - you should be able to tell pretty quickly.

General

Common sense, we hope

Welcome to the Human Playbook. Below you will find advice from veteran players, compiled in a (hopefully) easy-to-digest format for your benefit. We guarantee that if you take the time to read this, you will learn new things. It is always to your benefit to learn from others who may be thinking of things which never would have occurred to you. Please feel free to add, but try to stick to the appropriate sections.

Note that this is written with the assumption that you have already read and understand most of the rules for the game. If you haven't, you may want to do so first - otherwise most of the information below will be useless and confusing to you.

All this being said, here are a few things that didn't necessarily fit in anywhere else, but are important nonetheless.

• PAY ATTENTION! If you don't check your back at regular intervals, listen to music, talk on the cell phone, and generally are unaware of your surroundings, you will die, and it won't take long. When leaving a safe zone, make sure nobody follows you out or is lying in ambush as you exit. Be paranoid! It's healthy!
• Safe Zones - the Catch 22: Many players have different opinions on this matter. Some believe that safe zones are a great way to get around campus - which they are. They will allow you to cross great distances with little to no trouble. However, they are also spaces with limited exit options and you never know who else might be waiting when you leave (or enter while you are inside). This issue is similar, and compounded, when it comes to buses. There's no easy answer - largely it will have to do with how good you personally are at jumping out of the way quickly and socking fast.
• Know the safe zone rules: Don't try to go into locked doors, but take advantage of the rule that lets humans throw out of safe zones! Always be aware that both of your feet need to be inside, and don't let your 30 seconds of door-handle safety run out.
• Don't trust your eyes: Just because you can't see a Zombie doesn't mean they aren't there. It's best to always assume there are more rotting bodies present than those you can see, and stay away from underbrush/corners/places where somebody could be hiding.
• If Z0s haven't been revealed… Sock everyone. Just do it. I don't care how much you trust them.

Avoidance

If you don't run into any Zombies, they can't eat you.

Your absolute best line of defense is simply to not run into any Zombies. ZvH is a game of control. Whoever knows more can generally be assumed to have the upper hand - which is why you don't want to put yourself in the middle of a Zombie ambush, because you never know how many there are or where they could be hiding. There are plenty of ways to get past Zombies, although it is inevitable that you will not always succeed.

• Locked doors: Be aware that these are not safe (unless you have the key). If you're trying to sneak past a Zombie and you are counting on being able to quickly get into a safe zone and out of sight, always expect the worst. Don't let yourself get cornered.
• If spotted… don't linger: Often, particularly later in the game, single Zombies may spot humans from afar and instead of attacking, they will immediately begin to organize the horde for capture. Don't give them time to do this - if you know they've seen you (or think there's even a chance - they might act as if they haven't) you should leave as soon as possible - and be careful that they don't follow you out.
• Zombies have class, too: If you can afford to wait the extra 10 minutes (or lose 10 minutes of sleep), do it! You are far better off walking back to the dorms when there are 5 people within 100 feet than when there are 50 people within 10 feet. Bad times to be outside of a safe zone: Immediately before 8:40, 9:55-10:10, 11:00-11:15, 12:05-12:20, 1:10-1:25, 2:15-3:20… etc.
• If you can, walk on the grass. If you're staying off paths/sidewalks and crossing big stretches of grass, it's going to be much more obvious if someone (read: a zombie) breaks off from the path and starts going after you. While there are advantage to hiding in the crowd, don't forget that zombies can do that one too. This being said, be discreet. Somebody sprinting across an empty stretch of grass is totally obvious and will draw attention from miles around.
• Use shortcuts and longcuts. Carry around a campus map, and be aware of alternate routes at all times. Sometimes its better to cut through some places, and sometimes its better to take a long way around.
• Be mindful of ambushes: Convenient detours can also be dangerous. In particular, bridges and other bottleneck areas where Zombies anticipate that many humans will be crossing are very dangerous and easily ambushed. This is most important for those on North and in Collegetown, where there are only a few places to cross the gorges.

Deception

An honest human is a dead human.

Zombies are not psychic and they are certainly not all knowing. While generally they won't take one word of what you say seriously, there are plenty of ways to fake them out.

• Plant false information: If you are discussing plans out loud within hearing range of a Zombie, anticipate having to say false information over the phone (or in person) and then privately discussing the actual plans over AIM or text messaging.
• Take a tour. It's a great way to avoid zombie attacks. They're a little out of the way, but entire hordes of zombies will pass right by you without blinking an eye. After all, they're only prefrosh. If a tour happens to be going in the general direction you'd like to head, hop on!
• Be VERY VERY careful who you tell what. Sure it's cool to see another fellow human and have a chat about awesome this game is but remember, the next time you see this person they could be a zombie, so unless you're banding together as some of the last humans left, don't go telling them where you live and where you are going. Also, non-players can be easily manipulated by their zombie friends and should not be trusted any more than a zombie.

Weapons

Your last line of defense.

If you really can't avoid fighting Zombies and you need to use your socks, do so (or if you're trying to hunt). Be careful, though, because while you're standing still / moving more slowly and concentrating on aiming, somebody can get you from behind.

((This section is focused mainly on the maintenance and carrying of socks/other weapons. For fighting methods, see further down.))

You may want to make use of these slightly less conventional tricks:

• He who has the brightest flashlight, wins: While this isn't technically "deception", it will have the same effect - the Horde will have no idea what's going on. During night ambushes, bright lights are blinding and disorienting - this will have a detrimental effect on your marksmanship, or a Zombie's ability to dodge socks. But be aware both sides can use this tactic! Your best bet, if you see any lights or suspicious activity… RUN!
• Aiming in wind: Wind, even just a moderate wind or gusts, can really affect the range and accuracy of your socks. Get some practice.
• Rainy day alert! Bandanas are MUCH harder to spot when they are under an umbrella. Don't trust anyone that you can't clearly identify as non-zombie.
• Hide your socks! Conceal your weapons in pockets, or covered by a jacket (which, for easy access, can be left open), or in your backpacks — somewhere you can reach them on short notice, but they aren't too visible.
• Get ready while you can. You're most likely to get eaten when you're least expecting it — so do something to be ready. Are your hands full? Unless you're holding socks, put it away and start paying attention.
• Buy extra ammo. Socks are cheap, make sure you don't care about losing them. If you want to differentiate them from your friends', you may want to mark them or put your name on them.

Adapting situations to your advantage

This is your most useful tactic. You MUST know these fundamental concepts or, no matter how fast you are and how good your aim, you will eventually be zombified.

• It is almost always possible to alter the circumstances of an attack to give you, if not an advantage, then at least a better shot at staying alive. This is contingent on your ability to analyze the situation, think clearly and be creative. Zombies, when ambushing you, will generally have a plan of attack, which almost always involves forcing your hand by anticipating your most likely reaction. A common example is two or more zombies funneling you into a narrow pathway where lo and behold, there is another zombie lying in wait. But what happens when you don't take the bait? How will the zombies react if instead of heading down the path of least resistance, you rush one of the sides and run in a completely random direction? More than likely a few will follow you, but you may be able to ditch the slower ones and face a smaller number on your own terms.
• So what are "advantages"? This is extremely specific to each situation. There is no way we can list every possible example and what to do - but often, common sense will answer this question for you. Is the number of zombies low enough that you can break through their lines? If so, consider keeping a wall at your back to avoid nasty surprises, and then force your way out when the time is right. However, if the numbers are larger, getting cornered will be a fatal mistake. Higher ground is almost always good, and areas where there is no cover and there are few corners or ledges for zombies to hide behind. Are you a good runner? Tire them out. Getting to better ground and exhausting their energy will always help you — but try to conserve your own energy as well.
• Crowded areas are complicated. It can be an advantage to try to get lost in a crowd or look for another human to help you, but you always run the risk of encountering additional zombies, which becomes greater as the game progresses.
• Above all, expect the worst. A zombie around every corner and in every bush
• The bottom line is, even if you can't avoid battle, staying unpredictable makes it impossible for them to anticipate your next move. If they can't plan, they will make mistakes which you can exploit to your advantage. Every little bit counts!

Fighting (Single)

When you are alone

While the best way to learn effective fighting is trial and error, this isn't the kind of game in which that method is necessarily practical. So instead we have outlined a few helpful strategies to keep in mind. Most importantly, though, you need to know your own strengths and weaknesses. If you suck at aiming, don't waste socks trying to hit a zombie 10 feet away. If you're not a fast runner, don't turn your back on them and try to get away - and so on.

Outlined further down are different strategies for dealing with zombies based on the numbers you are facing. However, no matter the numbers, here are a few things which will help you in almost every situation

• Stay unpredictable: As mentioned in the previous section, this remains your most important advantage. Make the Zombies think, hesitate, and make mistakes. Most importantly, try to learn how to recognize and exploit these mistakes. What are mistakes? Leaving escape routes, coming close enough to be hit with socks, turning to look away from you… the examples are endless.
• Faking throws: Particularly if you are low on socks, this will keep Zombies on their toes and at a distance without wasting throws which have no chance of hitting them. Make it believable…and while they're unbalanced from dodging the fake throw, hit them with a real one. The fake throw is also a great way to test the zombie you are facing, and helping you predict a reaction and adjust your throw accordingly. Take note of whether they jump/duck/dodge (which direction? how high?), how quickly they react, and how easily deceived they are. Be careful of Zombies which don't fall for this. They're either really awful or really good.
• Watch out for the dive: Particularly athletic Zombies will often do acrobatic things in order to dodge your socks and tag you. This may include jumping, diving for your feet, tackling you, or landing on you from above. If a Zombie has that wild look in his/her eye, be ready for anything. Aim for their waist or stomach when throwing - this prevents them from being able to duck or jump the sock, forcing them to sidestep it.

Fighting (Groups)

Strategies become very different when there are others to help you

If you can find even one other person heading in your direction, you'll double both your firepower and perception. If you're attacked, you'll be able to take turns reloading/ pulling out socks and protect each other. In a real pinch, you can even split up; if the group of zombies after you splits too, at least you've got less to deal with.

Group fighting allows you to stand back to back to one another (or in a circle) - it even allows surrounding of the attackers, given enough numbers. When traveling in a group, always assign different people to concentrate on watching different sides - one person to the back, one watching the left, one on the right, one to the front (for example).

Dividing tasks is critical. Instead of having everybody work individually, try to split them up so that more attention can be paid to each thing. Learn to trust each other. If you encounter a zombie (or several), have some people watch for more, while one or two people concentrate on stunning them. Particularly effective in this situation is the "sock grenade" tactic. While one person tosses socks with a high arc, forcing the Zombie to look up and dodge them as they land, another person can quite easily toss one directly at them - done.

• Walkie-talkies can be bought at Walmart for $20 a pair. They claim 6-mile range, but may require line-of-sight to get long-range reception. 2-mile range walkie-talkies can be bought at Target for like $17. They're actually quite handy, especially when trying to coordinate positioning when surrounding a building, or when you and your buddies get separated on the run

Hunting

New this round…

This section will have to be updated as the game progresses and we learn how well this is going to work. But here's a few tips.

First - make sure you bring enough ammo/friends with you to be successful. You almost certainly don't want to go alone. It won't do you any good to stun one zombie and have to run away from six others, because then you won't get stun tags. However, if you have multiple humans and you are able to stun all the Zombies, more tags for you guys!

Try not to get too wrapped up in those you are trying to stun, and forget about the possibility of other Zombies. Always have someone cover the group - and watch your own back.

Defense against zombies by the numbers

The Zombie strategy

Depending on the numbers of humans and zombies involved, there may be different outcomes - but the general Zombie strategy tends to be the same, simple concept: surround and overwhelm. Before addressing this, however, we must look at the exception to the rule - the lone Zombie.

Facing a single Zombie: If you are carrying enough socks to make sure you get them granted that you miss a few, go for it. Better to stun the zombie now than let him stalk you and call friends which you'll have to fight later. The zombie will probably backpedal or run away because it isn't worth it for them to get stunned. Watch out though, don't let the zombie lead you anywhere that you can't see very well or don't know if there could be somebody hiding around a corner. Just because you only see one does not mean there aren't others.

When you encounter multiple zombies, they will do one of two things (or both): they will try to surround you, so that you cannot pay attention to all of them at once, and they will try to rush you, giving you too little time to sock them all before one of them gets you. Your best move is to not let them surround you in the first place. If they look like they are attempting this, rush one of the ends of the line and keep them all on one side of your field of vision. If they start to rush, back up and sock them quickly, but don't let them back you into another Zombie.

There comes a time when the number of Zombies you are facing is simply too large for you to deal with by socking them all. If this is the case you need to get away from them and get to a safe zone - one with as many exits as possible.

Once you've picked your location, don't give away your intentions until the last second, or they will block you. Rush that side and make a break for it, but remember to watch your back, and be careful of Zombies who are faster than you. Many a good human has died at the last second trying to outsprint the undead. Also, look ahead, and don't run close to corners and bushes. Hopefully you surprised them with your move, but if they anticipated it, they may have a Zombie lying in wait ready to jump you as you run past.

Locations

Advice from players who have successfully escaped from these places around campus

• Footbridge: Because of all the bushes surrounding either end of the bridge, this is a highly dangerous area. Act as though there is a zombie behind EVERY tree/bush/hill/trailer and you will be safest. Paranoia is key! Zombies will probably try to corner you on the bridge itself — so don't assume there were none at the entrance if you make it on safely, they may just have waited for you to pass. Either walk sideways along the length of the bridge or check your back frequently — you don't want to get rushed from behind.
• Stone Bridge: Because it's so far out of the way, both humans and zombies are rare sightings on this bridge; this being the case, you can assume that unless it's a particularly important night, zombies aren't going to waste their time coming up to this bridge if they haven't got the forces necessary. Still, as with any other bridge, be extra careful.
• Suspension Bridge: The suspension bridge can be a very dangerous place IF the zombies are stalking it. On the bridge itself it is extremely hard to see if anyone is waiting at either end, especially at night. If coming from the west/central side it might be better to take the footpath rather then the metal stairs and sneak along to see if any are waiting on that side. If coming from north it might be better to take a sidestreet and find a spot where you can observe the bridge for several minutes, chances are one or or more zombies will stand up/move bushes/talk etc to give away their presence. Always check your back, and if you get caught on the bridge try to charge one group of zombies and run.
• Olin Hall: Olin Hall has a lot of exits, so any camping effort by the zombies will have to involve a significant number of them. If you get pinned down in Olin, the zombs will likely have someone posted inside with you, but remember, zombies cannot tag out of safe zones, so if you clear an exit by socking from in the safe zone, run out of the door, turn around and sock the zombie who was inside with you once they step out of the door. Backup is recommended if you get pinned down in large numbers at Olin. Of course you can always wait out the horde, a player in round 3 survived Olin Hall by waiting 4 hours. Hint: snack machines in the basement.
• Cornell Store: Become friends with the employees so that you can hide somewhere the zombies can't find you.