The 'Lone Wolf vs Community' Survivor Paradigm

[Nokando]

This has always interested me, and the Walking Dead is a perfect study in the question " If the shit hits the fan, am I better off surviving alone or as part of a community?", both from the perspective of the story itself and the player community response to the decisions they have to make.

Most gamers seem to lean towards the 'Lone Survivor' paradigm - not that surprising given that in RL gamers spend a lot of time on their own staring at screens.

On the face of it, the Lone Wolf Survivor route offers many advantages, like:

• Easier to hide
• No-one to slow you down - mobility
• Whatever you find & scavenge is yours
• You make all the decisions - you're in charge

And the Community Survivor route offers many disadvantages, like:

• Many mouths to feed
• Disagreements & community politics
• Having to put up with people you can't stand
• Attracting attention & lack of mobility

On the face of it, the Community Survivor route is a pain in the proverbials - why bother? You have to go along with decisions you don't agree with to preserve community harmony.

But look at human history. The success of our species has depended utterly on the effectiveness of communities, not individuals. Many anthropologists argue that it is our social cohesion that has resulted in our success even more than our intelligence. What do you gain from the Community Survivor route?

• Pooling of skills and ingenuity - you might be an expert in something but you're going to hit a brick wall in most things.
• Mutual defence and protection
• Care when you are injured/ill
• Defence, care & education for the next generation
• Effective food gathering & production

et cetera. The majority of us are social animals, and psychologically we could not cope in the Lone Survivor role for very long. Survival alone would be futile and pointless.

It's an inexaustable topic, but what's your perspective on the 'Lone Wolf vs Community' Survivor Paradigm? Would you head out alone? Stick with immediate family or a few friends in a hideout? Or participate in community 'all in it together' defence and cooperation? My first instinct is for B, but history shows that 'C' is the route to take...

[Zombies are Awesome!]

i would go with the community. It would just really increase your chances of survival, as opposed to being alone.

[Acadias]

Either is fine for me, both has pros and cons.

I would start in a community but if things go south I wouldn't be above jumping ship but if I saw someone from the group in need while getting away I would save them and bring em along O:.

[skepticalguy90]

If the community is a small group (like 3-4 people that are relatively like-minded) then community. The problem with having a large group is that everyone is going to want to have a say in what happens. You spend more time discussing the issues (ie Killing Randall) than you do actually doing what needs to be done.

[Xarne]

Originally Posted by Nokando

But look at human history. The success of our species has depended utterly on the effectiveness of communities, not individuals. Many anthropologists argue that it is our social cohesion that has resulted in our success even more than our intelligence. What do you gain from the Community Survivor route?

• Salt Lick Murderers
• Face Shooters
• Pitchfork Impalers
• Sociopaths
• Ben

Ya, totally going very small group 2, 3 max...cuts down on the foolishness

[Cornson]

If possible I would go with the "community" route, but if it's my survival at stake I would ditch the group, heck I would even pull a Shane and knee cap a a close by "community mate" if that makes me get out of a situation I would otherwise have died from.

If the group can help me survive then sure I'll go along, but it's always my own ass I am protecting, even when I give you food, first aid or helping you in what ever way you need help (politics or whatever) (by making you want to help me later in return)

[DreadMagus]

The problem with this line of thought, is trying to apply real world survival to a ZA.

Let's look at TWD's zombie rules... you die, and your brain is intact, you zombify.

That means anyone in your group with a health problem, a suicide wish, or mental breakdown potential has the personal potential to wipe out the whole group in their sleep.

[Kiel555]

I think you're most definately better off in a group/community. But in a ZA, you should go with what your personality is like now. Since your life is at risk.

If right now you work well with others, have tact, can reason, can speak and persuade well, and really only do one thing well (Let's say you fix planes for a living) then a group is for you and likely your best chance at surviving in a ZA.

On the other hand, I've met people who don't live in a neighborhood. They have a ranch and are self sufficient for the most part. They have livestock, a water well, a leach field for their septic system, weapons, generators, above ground/elevated fuel storage. I think other than a way to produce electricity they don't need anyone. This kind of person would be an asset to any community of survivors but would probably survive longer on their own.

[YamiRaziel]

Originally Posted by DreadMagus

The problem with this line of thought, is trying to apply real world survival to a ZA.

Let's look at TWD's zombie rules... you die, and your brain is intact, you zombify.

That means anyone in your group with a health problem, a suicide wish, or mental breakdown potential has the personal potential to wipe out the whole group in their sleep.

In a community there will be always somebody on watch. If you are the lone wolf you'll eventually fall asleep that will be the time when that walker is gonna chew your face off.

I don't think anybody stand a chance alone. Why, because there will be organized crime like Bandits/Hunters/Negan and there's absolutely now way to protect yourself on your own. It's not the dead you should be afraid of, it's the living.
I would run a small group at the beginning. Once we get a leader/s (me) we would try to make a working system. Then we will expand as much as we can.
Plus community is more fun you know. People, discussions, arguments... what would I do as a lone wolf? I might get eaten walkers but I'll surely die out of boredom...

[Weili]

If I'm forced to pick and take my chances, I would choose community. However, whether I'd be successful or not depends highly on WHO is actually in my group. If you have 8 Ducks then I'm screwed.

[Ismokeherb]

There TWD avatars now? OMG. *Goes to get*

Lonewolf survivor is the best choice imo only because you can never account for another persons actions when things go pear shaped.

Edit*
Nvm there isn't.

[UndeadDollface]

Originally Posted by YamiRaziel

In a community there will be always somebody on watch. If you are the lone wolf you'll eventually fall asleep that will be the time when that walker is gonna chew your face off.

I think you hit it dead center (no pun intended). It's tempting to think a person can survive on their own in a zombie apocalypse, after all people survive on their own in the wilderness all the time when they go camping or whatever. But those people don't have to contend with an ever growing army of dimwitted and relentless monster tirelessly searching for things to kill.

I imagine the fate of most 'lone wolves' would be waking up to a walker barring down on them. And even if you slept in a place where they couldn't get to you, you could still wake up surrounded and then you're pretty much doomed. Throw in the organized crime element and it seems like a pretty hopeless strategy.