Add Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) to 7 Days to Die

[Querti]

I would like to see the developers add an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) to the game, as the world of 7 Days to Die lacks powerful and immersive vehicles. An APC would fit perfectly into the post-apocalyptic environment, serving as both a vehicle and a mobile shelter. It could help defend against zombies, transport loot, and, to maintain balance, be rare and require fuel and repairs. Such an addition would add more depth to the gameplay and give players more incentive to explore the world. Thank you for considering this idea!


P.S. I've attached a PDF file for anyone who wants to review, add to, or correct my suggestions.

 

[Javabean867]

There are mods that do add a bunch of extra vehicles, including a mod that is an RV. If you are on PC they are pretty easy to download and install. But if you are on console, i doubt you will be seeing any new vehicles being added to the game.

Although in the files there used to be a small blimp lol, so that might be possible?

 

[Querti]

Thanks for the reply! Yes, I know about mods - indeed, there are a lot of cool mods in the community, including those that add transportation. I have a PC, and I use mods sometimes.

But still I would like to see something like this in the official version of the game, so that it would be elaborated, balanced and available to all players - and those who don't use mods. I think APC could be an interesting element in the late stage of the game: transportation, shelter and defense.

And about the airship - that sounds very atmospheric! Maybe the developers will get to that someday

 

[Riamus]

Unfortunately, until the game is finished and they start to consider DLC for it, I doubt we'll see any new vehicles in vanilla. The only one that could possibly get added is the raft that faatal has made, but he said he'd only add that if they did something to make swimming more dangerous and to make water a bigger part of RWG, so it's also not very likely. I just use Vehicle Madness, which has an APC.

 

[zztong]

I would like to see the developers add an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) to the game, as the world of 7 Days to Die lacks powerful and immersive vehicles.

I wouldn't say I'm opposed to the idea, but don't military vehicles challenge the "game" part of the game? I think to have a chance to sell this suggestion you would have to sell the Devs on where the game goes once those vehicles are added.

What I mean is, what hurts them? Maybe the Demo zombie, perhaps Bandits, and...? What does it take to "make" one? Or, do they switch vehicle crafting from "creation" to "repair one out in the world?"

Towards that effort I could add that two classic problems with them are:

1. The level of maintenance required to keep one running.

2. If used for "fun" like driving through a building, or to knock down trees, they risk getting immobilized. Nothing sucks like getting your tank stuck in a basement.

The PvP community would point out there are rocket launchers and the presence of opposed military vehicles. Personally, I'd be cool with people strapping rocket launcher ammo to the drone and having it kamikaze itself against one.

 

[Querti]

I wouldn't say I'm opposed to the idea, but don't military vehicles challenge the "game" part of the game? I think to have a chance to sell this suggestion you would have to sell the Devs on where the game goes once those vehicles are added.

What I mean is, what hurts them? Maybe the Demo zombie, perhaps Bandits, and...? What does it take to "make" one? Or, do they switch vehicle crafting from "creation" to "repair one out in the world?"

Towards that effort I could add that two classic problems with them are:

1. The level of maintenance required to keep one running.

2. If used for "fun" like driving through a building, or to knock down trees, they risk getting immobilized. Nothing sucks like getting your tank stuck in a basement.

The PvP community would point out there are rocket launchers and the presence of opposed military vehicles. Personally, I'd be cool with people strapping rocket launcher ammo to the drone and having it kamikaze itself against one.

That's a great point, and I totally agree that just adding military vehicles without thinking about the balance and gameplay consequences would feel off. My idea wasn’t just to drop tanks into the game for power fantasy — it’s more about creating a late-game goal or faction mechanic, where vehicles aren't just power tools, but also carry major trade-offs.


For example:

1. Acquisition – Instead of crafting them, they could be found in military POIs and require extensive repair (missing engine parts, tracks, armor plating, etc.). Maybe only one or two even exist per map.
2. Maintenance – As you mentioned, fuel usage, mechanical failures, and limited replacement parts could force players to really think about when and how they use them.
3. Counterbalance – You're absolutely right: Demo zombies could damage or disable them, or maybe vehicle-specific traps exist. Bandits or other factions could have RPGs, or even just swarms of enemies that overwhelm a vehicle.
4. Risks – And yeah, driving a tank into a house sounds cool until it gets stuck or collapses the structure. That's part of the strategy — risk vs reward.

The idea isn’t to make them invincible or dominate the game — more like a fragile, high-maintenance endgame tool that feels earned. Drones as kamikaze weapons? That’s brilliant. Would love to see vehicle-on-vehicle tactics like that.

 

[Querti]

Unfortunately, until the game is finished and they start to consider DLC for it, I doubt we'll see any new vehicles in vanilla. The only one that could possibly get added is the raft that faatal has made, but he said he'd only add that if they did something to make swimming more dangerous and to make water a bigger part of RWG, so it's also not very likely. I just use Vehicle Madness, which has an APC.

Mods like Vehicle Madness are awesome, but it’s something special when devs listen to players and add content that fits the game’s vibe without going overboard. I really hope the devs see this thread and consider adding an APC or even the raft. A raft could be amazing if they polish it and make water a bigger part of the game!

 

[zztong]

A raft could be amazing if they polish it and make water a bigger part of the game!

I believe raft has been suggested before. Again, I can support the idea. If I had a concern it would be that RWG currently doesn't really have any major sources of water unless the map happens to have a coast, so I'd think an RWG change would have to come with the introduction of a raft. Otherwise, why craft a raft if you can swim across the river in a fraction of the time?

 

[Querti]

I believe raft has been suggested before. Again, I can support the idea. If I had a concern it would be that RWG currently doesn't really have any major sources of water unless the map happens to have a coast, so I'd think an RWG change would have to come with the introduction of a raft. Otherwise, why craft a raft if you can swim across the river in a fraction of the time?

Thank you for suggesting rafts! I fully support adding them to 7 Days to Die, as they could bring exciting new gameplay opportunities. My only concern is that (RWG) currently lacks large bodies of water unless the map includes a coast. To make rafts truly valuable, modders or developers could create maps with significant water areas, like vast lakes or flooded regions. This could introduce new mechanics such as diving zombies, looting sunken ships, and other water-based challenges. Additionally, since armored personnel carriers (APCs) can float, incorporating them as amphibious vehicles could complement rafts perfectly, allowing players to navigate both land and water effectively. With these additions, water-based content would feel immersive and purposeful. What are your thoughts on combining rafts and floating APCs with expanded water features?

 

[zztong]

Thank you for suggesting rafts!

I have not made that suggestion. I'm just saying I believe others have.

What are your thoughts on combining rafts and floating APCs with expanded water features?

Mixed. It rounds out support for APCs but increases the work involved. Just trying to read the tea leaves, I suspect small, quickly-implemented features have a shot at being implemented by TFP in the next couple of major versions as they have an established roadmap. With current development pace and practice, that's 2-3 years.

You could perhaps see it happen in a different order. That is, a number of people have suggested changes to RWG's rivers away from using the "S" stamp to something more dynamic. Then, perhaps if there's a navigable waterway then rafts get implemented. Then, if rafts were implemented some 4.0 APC feature can involve being used to ford a river.

On the other hand, limiting the APC's abilities also make it more of a game. That is, if your APC doesn't float then you have to go around. And, if you need to invest in a vehicle mod to get a vehicle to be able to ford water (like a snorkel) then it's something more to craft AND the snorkel could also be a 4x4 mod. A fully-sealed APC could be a mod beyond that and maybe that fits into NBC protection (nuclear, biological, and chemical) features, which would shine if TFP makes a truly hostile environment out of the wasteland.

The realm of possibilities is infinite, but there's always the axes of (1) business, (2) development, (3) game to address beyond (4) cool.

 

[Querti]

I have not made that suggestion. I'm just saying I believe others have.



Mixed. It rounds out support for APCs but increases the work involved. Just trying to read the tea leaves, I suspect small, quickly-implemented features have a shot at being implemented by TFP in the next couple of major versions as they have an established roadmap. With current development pace and practice, that's 2-3 years.

You could perhaps see it happen in a different order. That is, a number of people have suggested changes to RWG's rivers away from using the "S" stamp to something more dynamic. Then, perhaps if there's a navigable waterway then rafts get implemented. Then, if rafts were implemented some 4.0 APC feature can involve being used to ford a river.

On the other hand, limiting the APC's abilities also make it more of a game. That is, if your APC doesn't float then you have to go around. And, if you need to invest in a vehicle mod to get a vehicle to be able to ford water (like a snorkel) then it's something more to craft AND the snorkel could also be a 4x4 mod. A fully-sealed APC could be a mod beyond that and maybe that fits into NBC protection (nuclear, biological, and chemical) features, which would shine if TFP makes a truly hostile environment out of the wasteland.

The realm of possibilities is infinite, but there's always the axes of (1) business, (2) development, (3) game to address beyond (4) cool.

Thanks for the detailed take! I agree that adding support for rafts and floating APCs could round out the game but does increase the workload, especially with the current TFP roadmap and pace—2-3 years feels realistic for such features. I like your idea of a phased approach, starting with dynamic RWG rivers, then rafts, and later integrating APC water-crossing abilities. It makes sense to build on each step naturally.


I can see the appeal of limiting APC capabilities too—adding challenges like needing to go around or craft mods (e.g., a snorkel or sealed APC for NBC protection) could make the game more engaging, especially in a hostile wasteland setting. It’d definitely add crafting depth and strategic choices. Balancing the "cool" factor with business, development, and gameplay priorities is key, as you mentioned. Maybe a small-scale river update could be a starting point to test the waters (pun intended)? What do you think about prioritizing a lightweight feature to kick things off?

 

[zztong]

What do you think about prioritizing a lightweight feature to kick things off?

I think our role is "sales." That is to get what you want, TFP has to want it too. Once that happens, they'll prioritize. I could be wrong, but I think a least one Dev has already expressed sympathy and appeal for working on RWG's rivers, but it probably falls into a "spare time" priority. I want to think the same Dev mentioned having done something with a raft but shelved it, but I could be mis-remembering that and fear I might be spreading misinformation. You could search the forum history for conversations about rafts and confirm/refute my memory.

The APC I think is probably a big stretch. I don't know that I've seen Devs bite, or kick around, advanced military equipment, but I'm not some Dev-whisperer with a track record of accurate predictions. I've got no inside information. I'm just a dude.

I think APC is more likely to been seen as a mod.

 

[Querti]

I think our role is "sales." That is to get what you want, TFP has to want it too. Once that happens, they'll prioritize. I could be wrong, but I think a least one Dev has already expressed sympathy and appeal for working on RWG's rivers, but it probably falls into a "spare time" priority. I want to think the same Dev mentioned having done something with a raft but shelved it, but I could be mis-remembering that and fear I might be spreading misinformation. You could search the forum history for conversations about rafts and confirm/refute my memory.

The APC I think is probably a big stretch. I don't know that I've seen Devs bite, or kick around, advanced military equipment, but I'm not some Dev-whisperer with a track record of accurate predictions. I've got no inside information. I'm just a dude.

I think APC is more likely to been seen as a mod.

Thanks for the great input! I agree that getting features like rafts or an APC added means aligning with TFP’s priorities. I think I recall a Dev mentioning something about rafts on the forums, but I’d need to double-check to avoid spreading wrong info.

An APC might be a tougher sell, like you said, since advanced military gear doesn’t seem to be TFP’s focus, but I’d love to see it as a mod or maybe get some Dev interest eventually. Thanks for sharing your thoughts—I’ll keep an eye on the thread and chime in with others to keep the discussion going! I’d appreciate it if you’d help push the ideas for an APC and rafts to get more attention!

 

[TWORDY]

To keep things balanced, I believe APC should be slower than 4x4, very loud, attract a lot of zombies attention, have better armor overall, can possibly be only damaged and even slowed down by top tier zombies. Perhaps some amphibious capability. Modular aspects like modifications, huge storage inside and outside, additional armor, mounted LMG. Strong radiation and weathering resistance. Up to 8 players inside. Something more or like a travel van perhaps might find its place in 7DTD by default. This vehicle does not have to be a militaristic armored vehicle but some sort of mad-maxed version of armored mini-bus.