Project Zomboid is a role-playing game set in an apocalyptic world filled with zombies and more. Its fun and exciting to play, and has proven to be one of the most popular early releases on Steam this year. With tens of thousands of very positive reviews, Project Zomboid is set to be the big Zombie survival game to play, with its isometric style and the ability to play either solo or on a map with other players on Scalacube Project
online Project Zomboid server hosting or other platforms.
However, Project Zomboid can be a challenge when you are just starting out, after all surviving a zombie apocalypse is not going to be easy, so we’ve put together a starting guide to help you make the most of the game as soon as you get going and give you the best chance at surviving long enough to enjoy playing with friends on Scalacube Project Zomboid server hosting.
Building a character
Project Zomboid may be a survival game, but it is built around role-playing game ideas, and as a result, character creation is really important. The skills and traits your character has can transform how they play and shape the whole gaming experience, so careful choices here can make all the difference.
Choose your name and gender, then pick your occupation, appearance and so on, and then it is time to choose your traits.
Traits
Traits are essentially skill modifiers that affect how good your character is at certain actions. For instance, Fast Learner gives you 130% XP gains for most activities, so you advance quicker in game, so have a negative consequence, such as week stomach, which means you are more likely to get ill from eating bad food. In the game, this means you move slower and so on.
So, choosing traits is a key part of how your character will play in the game, take some time during character creation to choose the traits that make sense for how you want to play the game.
Your first steps
As you load into a new game it is always exciting, you never really know what to expect, and Project Zomboid is not different. Whether playing solo or multiplayer using Scalacube Project Zomboid server hosting, you will begin inside a house or trailer.
The first thing to remember when plating project Zomboid is that the zombies are everywhere, and they are looking and listening for you. So, keep quiet, avoid windows (you can usually block them off with curtains or other equipment), and search your location for everything useful before thinking about heading outside.
Once you are sure you can search this first environment without being spotted, your priority should be:
- A weapon
- Food
- A Backpack to carry it all
In that order.
After that, you want to start thinking about building your base. That should be in a building that you can defend, so you want to make sure you can block windows, look for bedsheets in drawers to keep everything covered, and so on.
Noise matters
The key to surviving is first not being found, and in Project Zomboid, that is all about noise. It is one of the most important things in the game, and being noisy is sure to attract the zombie horde. Avoiding actions that make a lot of noise is essential. This includes running, hitting things, shouting, breaking boxes or desks and other items, all make noise, and all will bring the zombies to your yard.
Remember the rule: stay quiet, stay alive!
Loot
Apart from avoiding all the zombies, whether you are playing on a Scalacube Project Zomboid
game server or playing solo, loot is key. The loot mechanics in Project Zomboid are different to most games, because there is more to think about.
Your inventory has limited space, so you can’t just pick everything up and carry it around hoping that it will eventually become useful, you have to plan. There is also the fact that the actual process of looting takes time too, and leaves you vulnerable to attack in game as you do it.
Having said that, there are some things you must have, water and food for example. After that, there are some things to prioritize, equipment for carpentry and farming should be high on your list. You will need them for base building, and eventually growing your own food.
After that, weapons are crucial for survival. Medicine and books are useful too, but should probably be less of a priority than the things that keep you alive and help you build a base for protection. Finally, loot is permanent in Project Zomboid, if you find something it will be there when you come back. So, to overcome some of the limitations of looting, make sure you keep a note of where some useful stuff is, and go back to pick it up when you eventually need it.
Staying alive
It’s a survival game, so staying alive is kind of important. The tips about noise, weapons and having food etc all help with that, but there are other things you need to know. Bandages are really useful, if you get injured, and eventually you will, they stop bleeding. You can loot proper medical bandages, but sheets, which can be found in most buildings, can be ripped up to make them too.
Water dispensers are found all over too, but you should always carry water with you, as your character will automatically take a drink when they need it. When you find perishable foods such as pizza, pie or cake, eat it straight away, keep cans of food for later, as they don’t go off.
Building Skills
Finally, once you have the basics mastered, its time to think about boosting your skills and getting on with the game. Use TV and radio broadcasts to increase skills, with Life and Living Tv channel having cooking, outdoor living and carpentry shows that are really useful.
Reading books gives new skills too, and combining reading a book then watching the broadcast boosts skills even faster. Just don’t forget to use headphones when listening or watching, else the zombies will hear!
Get started and enjoy the journey
Now you have the basics, you can head out and start learning the game. Don’t forget, whether solo or playing with others using Scalacube Project Zomboid server hosting, have fun!