The 'Lone Wolf vs Community' Survivor Paradigm
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:
And the Community Survivor route offers many disadvantages, like:
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?
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...
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...
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Comments
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:.
Ya, totally going very small group 2, 3 max...cuts down on the foolishness
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)
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.
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.
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)
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...
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.
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.