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[Dustan Hache]

Yeah I have heard about some unusual cults out there among the sub threads.  Hopefully most of those are tall tales.

As for a weapon a war pick or war hammer or mace is often the best for someone untrained.

Get a light weight but sturdy metal pipe and duct tape something heavy on the end, something spiked on one side and flat on the other.  The weight at the end is important not the weight of the pole as long as it will not bend or break.  Make sure it is light weight enough to swing around without tiring yourself out. 

Then practice hitting some boxes off shelves as hard as you can.  Remember to follow through if you have played baseball or golf or something, you do not stop the swing at the head but keep going through it.  This will give you a good idea about how much you can swing it around before tiring out and some muscle memory practice so when the real thing happens you'll be... well you wont really be prepared but as best you can be.

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

most of what he said is sound, but a few things arn’t okay:
DON’T practice here. the reason is that it will make a TON of noise, especially if you hit the wrong box or send it flying. Noise is one of the things you wanna avoid, remember?
DON’T use duct tape as the binding for the head of your weapon under ANY circumstance. if the tape gives way, that spiked and/or heavy object might strike you as it comes off.

[VoidSlayer]

Oh yeah listen to MTZS about those two things.  Sorry, howlers have been keeping me up for too long, not thinking all that well.

A unlooted hardware store would be great for someone more handy but it sounds like you aren't so stick with the supplies and a metal pipe.

[Stirk]

Fashion gangs aren’t a thing. People are focused on survival, not fashion. You said there are gardening supplies? What types? Scythes? Sickles? Stakes? Sharp items are handy.

Uh, yes to everything but the scythe? At least it looks like it. And like rakes and those scissor things, shovels, pickaxes, dirt, wheelbarrows, all that kinda stuff. A couple of plants and seeds and things too. Also a couple of pocket knives and a couple of machetes, lawnmower blades, and barbed wire if we're talking sharp things in general.

So use ducttape for handles but not heads...Ok. It looks like we got both pipes and rebar here, I could go either way if I'm not picking up something else. We got a bunch of duct tape here, I could probably cover the whole weapon if I wanted to.

[Dustan Hache]

”I’d still argue for picking rebar, but pipe will work too as long as it’s steel and not copper. Rebar will bend less than pipe when you’re hitting stuff with it, but if you’re really sure you can’t handle solid metal, 1/2-3/4 inch pipe does decently too.  remember, the ideal length is 4-5 feet, so you have reach as well as power. that extra length translates into a stronger swing if you keep your distance and hit them with or near the tip of your makeshift bludgeon. 4-5 feet allows you to still swing it in tight quarters while maximizing the force of your strike when in the open.

I am surprised that the trope of using machetes as a weapon against zombies has been ignored. Yes, they’re not the best weapon due to the fact it’s meant for things softer than a zombie skull, but a good machete has far more utility against animals (provided they’re not also zombies somehow) and hostile survivors.”

[Naturegirl1999]

How big are the shovels? Pickaxes can possibly stab into the skull and help break through rock. Though you would have to pick either the shovel or the pickaxe depending on whether you want a blunt weapon or a stabbing weapon. Take some plants and seeds too for farming at some point and food

[King Zultan]

How big are the shovels? Pickaxes can possibly stab into the skull and help break through rock. Though you would have to pick either the shovel or the pickaxe depending on whether you want a blunt weapon or a stabbing weapon. Take some plants and seeds too for farming at some point and food

I doubt he's gonna be sticking out in the wilds long enough to need to farm anything, also a pickaxe isn't going to be a good thing to fight with because it might get stuck the zombies and leave you with out a weapon.


Also I think you should grab one of the machetes and some of the duck tape because tape is always useful.

[Naturegirl1999]

How big are the shovels? Pickaxes can possibly stab into the skull and help break through rock. Though you would have to pick either the shovel or the pickaxe depending on whether you want a blunt weapon or a stabbing weapon. Take some plants and seeds too for farming at some point and food

I doubt he's gonna be sticking out in the wilds long enough to need to farm anything, also a pickaxe isn't going to be a good thing to fight with because it might get stuck the zombies and leave you with out a weapon.


Also I think you should grab one of the machetes and some of the duck tape because tape is always useful.

Fair points. Would a shovel still work as a blunt weapon?

[King Zultan]

How big are the shovels? Pickaxes can possibly stab into the skull and help break through rock. Though you would have to pick either the shovel or the pickaxe depending on whether you want a blunt weapon or a stabbing weapon. Take some plants and seeds too for farming at some point and food

I doubt he's gonna be sticking out in the wilds long enough to need to farm anything, also a pickaxe isn't going to be a good thing to fight with because it might get stuck the zombies and leave you with out a weapon.


Also I think you should grab one of the machetes and some of the duck tape because tape is always useful.

Fair points. Would a shovel still work as a blunt weapon?

A shovel will work, not as good as somethings but better than nothing.

[Superdorf]

I am surprised that the trope of using machetes as a weapon against zombies has been ignored. Yes, they’re not the best weapon due to the fact it’s meant for things softer than a zombie skull, but a good machete has far more utility against animals (provided they’re not also zombies somehow) and hostile survivors.”

Ya know why we're ignoring that trope? We're ignoring that trope 'cos it's really really hard to cut flesh with a machete. Sure, the thing can be done with a real sharp machete and a ton of practice-- but a blade fresh out of the hardware store and a kid who's never struck to kill in his life? It'd never work.

Grab a pickaxe, like anonymoushuman said. Nice little geologist's pick, the one-handed kind. They're fairly light, and you don't need much training to drive a spike like that through somebody's skull!

Also, maybe check... does this place have a section for hunting gear? If so, you're golden.

[King Zultan]

Also, maybe check... does this place have a section for hunting gear? If so, you're golden.

I doubt it, sounds like he's in Home Depot or something like that, they don't usually have anything like that.


Actually I just thought of a item that will work, a crowbar its similar to rebar but it can also pry open doors and other things.

[Kashyyk]

Depending on the kind of hardware store this is, they may be carrying some heavy duty satchels or rucksacks, the kind workmen might keep their tools in. Would be much more useful for you than carting your stuff around in a plastic bin bag.

[Naturegirl1999]

Depending on the kind of hardware store this is, they may be carrying some heavy duty satchels or rucksacks, the kind workmen might keep their tools in. Would be much more useful for you than carting your stuff around in a plastic bin bag.

+1

[Dustan Hache]

”Don’t get cross with me Rifledorf, i’m not saying it’s a bad thing for that trope to be avoided. What i am saying however, is that a machete is more useful when the enemy being fought is not undead. it’s down to his judgement if he thinks bandits or wild animals are likely to be a problem.”

[Superdorf]

No crossness intended! It's just... those things are made for chopping wood not limbs. They're not actually all that sharp; you'd need a lot of practice and a good sharpening stone to really hurt anything with one, living or no. It's much easier to just hit things with a pick, yes?

[Dustan Hache]

No crossness intended! It's just... those things are made for chopping wood not limbs. They're not actually all that sharp; you'd need a lot of practice and a good sharpening stone to really hurt anything with one, living or no. It's much easier to just hit things with a pick, yes?

”It’s not so much a matter of sharpness as it is the usage. arguably a pick like what you are suggesting is harder to use even if it is more effective against the undead, because you’re having to close the distance a little further to get a good strike in.
when it comes to zombies, distance is your friend because depending on the infection type, all it really takes is a bite at best, and a scratch at worst. Getting up close and personal for any reason is basically suicide, hence why i suggested the rebar.

Machetes are not a good choice of weapon in these circumstances because while they can inflict wounds to bleed someone out quite easily, blood is a vector for most diseases and zombies arn't likely to feel the effects of blood loss until they’ve already taken a chunk out of your arm. this limits their combat usage to the living, and special circumstances where the zombies need blood to survive in the very short term. and no, i’m not talking about vampires, those are an entirely different breed of bloodsucker.”