PC The engineer screamer and the suspended pit base

[DEADication]

For a while there I was experimenting with suspended pit bases, basically a small tower suspended half in half out of a pit by fins connecting to the pit walls.

These designs can capture a large number of zeds that are then no longer a threat, but it is a totally active defence design, the points of suspension are a vulnerability one way or the other.

Early gamestage hordes were easy to deal with, but higher GS hordes would still breach my tower at times.

To minimise points of contact, I had the top of the fins 3m below ground level in the pit and I had found that placing campfires on them was somewhat helpful.

Now one of the problems with these designs is that they can push SI past the limit and you get a catastrophic collapse.

To try and add strength, I decided to do a build with the fins coming up to ground level, and as a matter of practice put campfires on them.

That's when I discovered that the screamer is also the zombie campfire engineer.

Every time that she showed up, the very first thing she would do would be to run around and crouch down and destroy every campfire she could see... then she would scream

She was quick and efficient, the most humanly attributed behaviour from a zombie I have seen yet.

 

[Morloc]

-Morloc

 

[theFlu]

Lol, that should be an interesting sight.

That reminds me, as I was testing some wall designs, I noticed that the zombies have a hatred for half blocks when set, well, anywhere in general, but especially when elevated by a full block below. So, just the simplest 1,5 meter wall you can imagine, they'll make sure to destroy the half block, even if you give them routes to walk up on it.

 

[LuckyStar]

Oooooooh interesting.

So we've got some new cool AI tricks going on.

That's great!

It's going to make things harder but way more fun and challenging.

 

[Red Eagle LXIX]

Interesting. I had been thinking about a suspended above/in pit design as well. What type of blocks were you using from the wall to the base as a support fins? Any screenshots.

 

[DEADication]

Interesting. I had been thinking about a suspended above/in pit design as well. What type of blocks were you using from the wall to the base as a support fins? Any screenshots.

I used brick for the supports and lower towers and flagstone\cobblestone\wood for the upper, In some builds the lower tower was cobblestone and only the supports brick.

I don't think I've retained those saves, I play dead is dead and also do a lot of build testing, so I end up with a large number of saves that I houseclean regularly. Give me a couple of hours for RL stuff, then I'll build one in CM for some screenshots.

 

[stasis78]

I do a similar design. This is from a 17.1 map I wiped a while ago. The pit kills most zombies and just have to mop up a few greens usually.

 

[DEADication]

This is a (as best I can) faithful recreation of the first suspended base I built

 

[stasis78]

So you didn’t have any pillars to bedrock? Interesting. You are ballsey as fack lol

 

[DEADication]

So you didn’t have any pillars to bedrock? Interesting.

Yeah without support columns to attack the AI doesn't know what to do.

They don't do much digging, just running around and groaning and moaning.

I've had up to 60 zeds captured at times.

In an MP setting, any one digging into such a setup could be in for a nice surprise. :smile-new:

 

[Jedo]

Going back to the screamer: What does it take for her to show up? My buddy and I always have stuff cooking in our campfires and the forge running. We are not really in our chunk though, and we don’t usually play for more than an hour at a time. Are those sufficient to keep the screamer away? (That’s not my goal, but I’m also not complaining.)

 

[DEADication]

Going back to the screamer: What does it take for her to show up? My buddy and I always have stuff cooking in our campfires and the forge running. We are not really in our chunk though, and we don’t usually play for more than an hour at a time. Are those sufficient to keep the screamer away? (That’s not my goal, but I’m also not complaining.)

Idk why she isn't showing?

If I have 10 torches, 2 forges and 2 campfires going, her turning up is a sure bet... never fails.

 

[Ringkeeper]

Idk why she isn't showing?If I have 10 torches, 2 forges and 2 campfires going, her turning up is a sure bet... never fails.

Torches and Campfires also add to the heatmap.

What i was thinking... would your pillars also work with 1/4 blocks or not enough stability ? then the Zombies would fall easier through and can't accidental land on the pillars.

 

[DEADication]

What i was thinking... would your pillars also work with 1/4 blocks or not enough stability ? then the Zombies would fall easier through and can't accidental land on the pillars.

That is an excellent suggestion. I don't know if it is possible, would be awesome if it is.

Will try that in the near future, probably not for a day or two though.

Feel completely free to beat me to it.

 

[DEADication]

What i was thinking... would your pillars also work with 1/4 blocks or not enough stability ? then the Zombies would fall easier through and can't accidental land on the pillars.

I can confirm that the above design is stable when built with half block supports, but is unstable with 2 brick wide brick plate supports.

Zombies will still fall onto the half block supports but most will then either fall or jump off.

Keeping the half block supports clear is a relatively easy job.

 

[seagas]

I use plates on their side, one against the wall of the pit and the other against the tower wall giving almost two spaces between tower wall and pit. Pit is at least 25 blocks deep to add fall damage. I have ladders in each corner as well as a spiral ramp coming back to the surface were they can fall again and take damage again.

 

[DEADication]

I use plates on their side, one against the wall of the pit and the other against the tower wall giving almost two spaces between tower wall and pit.

Wow, I'll have to try plates again.

You would be close to invulnerable.

When I tried them, rather than do a new build, I replaced the half blocks one at a time with plates.

Was going great until the last column when the horizontal bars at the top of the fort started falling off. Replaced them, stood on one and fell straight into the pit. (It was still full of zeds... wasn't pleasant)

I have ladders in each corner as well as a spiral ramp coming back to the surface were they can fall again and take damage again.

At least you've set up something for them to amuse themselves with.

To be honest, when I first started planning this type of structure my motivation wasn't defence, it was to capture zeds.

The problem then became... well I've captured all these zombies... wtf do I do with them?

 

[DEADication]

I had been thinking of things like the zombie rack, the zombie cross of crucifixion, the zombie electric chair, the zombie iron maiden and such like... but then I thought don't be silly... people will think that you're a real psycho sicko...

...err, I sorta blew that didn't I?

 

[LuckyStar]

I had been thinking of things like the zombie rack, the zombie cross of crucifixion, the zombie electric chair, the zombie iron maiden and such like... but then I thought don't be silly... people will think that you're a real psycho sicko...

...err, I sorta blew that didn't I?

No go on..... I'm liking what I'm hearing.