Forums of the Megaverse®

You and your scouting group has been cornered by a large group of slouchers. One person notices a manhole right below your feet. Another sees a fire escape up the building next to you. Which way do you go?

Depends on how far the fire escape is and what might be in the way.

Fire escape.

There could be merit to either escape although something tells me that going into the sewers will offer more danger but also more opportunities for movement. Using the fire escape to go up may get me out of immediate danger but it could also leave me stranded on a roof to die of exposure, thirst, etc.

I vote sewer.

Do I have a light source?

--flatline

flatline wrote:Do I have a light source?

--flatline

You have your standard zombie kit. So you should have som sort of light source.

I shine the flashlight into the water at the bottom of the sewer. How clear is the water?

I push Tor into the sewer to see if he gets eaten, then I will make my decision.

Just kidding, since I have no idea where the sewers lead (or if they are infest with Zeds, not to mention disease) I would choose the fire escape.

I figure at least being on top of a building I can see my surroundings, I could try and break into the building from the roof, or window beside the fire escape or try and cross to another building, etc.

Depends on how well I know the area. However, if I'm running blind up is my first choice.

Sewers are rife with sickness and disease and should be avoided. Sewers also have areas that barred off and if trying to escape while being followed by the creeps could get you killed. I vote going up the fire escape. It's easier to find a way around through buildings then getting lost in sewers.

Hello...

To add my decision, I would go for the fire escape. Some of the reasons I have for choosing the above-ground route have been outlined by similarly-thinking posters. Of course there are several other reasons as well. First, even if you have to vacate the building you climbed into, the fire escape will likely not be the only route into and out of the building, because there may be doors on the other side of the building, where the zombies chasing you won't see unless they turn a corner or two. Being that you are above-ground, your limited supply of handheld light (e.g. flashlights, lightsticks, lanterns, etc.) can be preserved through the daytime by using natural light. In addition, there may be useful supplies to scavenge, such as food, water, medical supplies, and common items that can be used as improvised weapons inside the building whereas any scavenged goods (Not limited to the goods already in your possession) in a sewer would likely be useless due to contamination by raw sewage. Even so, a building is much easier to use as as a safe house than a sewer, because of many reasons - and you can mark the building on a map for future missions if necessary where mapping a sewer is much more difficult. And finally, you can likely use the windows and/or roof to keep an eye on everything street-level to plan your next move. Mentioning all that, I would definitely have a solid chance to lose a bunch of zombies by taking the above-ground approach.

Right now, I have to go, so please take care; thanks a bunch for listening, and have a good night everyone.