I’d been saving the skill points I’d earned from leveling for just such an occasion as this. I don’t have time to practice this skill like I usually would, so I’ll have to level it with the skill points. I have 50 saved skill points and decide to invest ten skill points into Trap Making bringing the skill up to level 4. Yeah, I forgot how expensive it is to raise a skill level this way too. Each level costs that many skill points. So, level 1 costs one skill point; level 2 costs two skill points, etc. I could raise the skill higher, but I’d rather save my remaining 40 skill points in case of another emergency.
Learning and raising Trap Making to level 4 greatly increases my chance of successfully making traps. Not only that, but new types of traps are unlocked. In addition to floor traps, I can now make traps that I can attach to walls. One, in particular, is cool. It uses springs and gears to shoot a wall full of nails when someone steps on a pressure plate. When I test it on one of the random zombie Shamblers outside the walls, it kills it instantly. The only downside to this trap is that it takes a while to reset itself.
I’m having such a good time playing around with traps that I decide to put a point into other crafting skills just to see what happens. The Gadgets skill lets me make personal use items out of scavenged parts. At level 1 I can make a small flash grenade out of flashlight parts or glasses with a magnifying glass attachment. The first level in Weapon Design lets me make some simple weapons out of everyday materials. I can turn a broom handle into a spear, make a knife out of metal, and a baseball bat into a spiked mace by adding nails to it. Armor design, at the starter level, lets me modify existing clothing and add extra protective elements. I take a spare jacket from one of the empty houses and add layers of extra cloth and small squares of metal to increase its defense rating by 5. It looks like something Mad Max would wear, but it’s better than the regular clothes I have on now.
Having made four flash grenades and a full set of Mad Max armor, I get back to making more traps.
It’s not until mid-afternoon that I take a break to eat. As I step outside the workshop, a stiff breeze cools the sweat on my skin, and I take a deep relaxing breath.
“Taking a break?” a voice asks with a southern drawl.
Turning towards the sound of the voice, I see a smiling Suzie with a plate of food and a glass of water. The ceramic plate feels cool in my hand, and the food on the plate makes my stomach growl. There’s no place to sit down nearby, so I sit on the ground and start to eat. On the plate is a selection of greens and vegetables mixed with pink cubes. I Inspect the plate and get a notification.
Spam Salad
This salad, made from a combination of locally sourced lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and a can of classic Spam. While some may scoff at the canned meat option, you’ll notice there aren’t a lot of free-range cows around here. So, it’s this or nothing!
I can’t help but laugh at the description.
Suzie frowns a little at me, and I quickly explain, “Sorry, Suzie. I wasn’t laughing at the food. I just realized that it had Spam in it. I haven’t had that since I was a kid and it brought back some happy memories.” I quickly eat a forkful of the Spam Salad and tell her, “It tastes wonderful. Thank you for bringing it.”
It’s true too. The salty canned ham mixes well with the juicy tomatoes and other crunchy vegetables. I guess what they say is true: hunger is the best spice. I quickly finish the salad.
Suzie hands me a glass of water to wash down the meal. “I’m glad you enjoyed the meal. It’s the least I can do since you seem to be working hard to help build up our little community.”
The cold water is refreshing, and I’m a little sad when I finish drinking it. Handing the now empty dish and cup back to Susie, I tell her, “You folks are making a stand. I can respect that.” Privately, I think, ‘Besides, the XP is too good not to help out.’ Suzie nods in appreciation of the statement, and a small blue window pops up.
Reputation increased with Suzie.
Well, I didn’t realize I even had a reputation with the NPCs.
Trying to continue the conversation and hopefully increase my reputation more, I ask, “So, how’s the defense effort going?”
“The little boy, Joe, found a bunch of weapons and ammunition in one of the buildings. There’s enough to arm everyone. Nancy and Frank are showing everyone how to use them in small groups, so the building doesn’t slow down.”
I look past Suzie towards the repaired wall, and see shooting platforms being built along the wall. There’s still lots of work to get done, but it should be finished by nightfall.
The conversation about training the survivors to shoot gets me thinking, and I pull up my skill and ability list.
SkillsLevel
Inventory Management3
Inspect5
Deception1
Dungeon Scan3
Dungeon Inspect1
Dungeon Mapping3
Mapping2
Bludgeoning Weapons3
Guilt Trip1
Cooking 1
Speed Reading4
Mental Math4
Analysis3
Piercing Weapons1
Throw3
Trap Making4
Abilities
Roll
Hammer Time
Flying Kick
Smash
Stab
Fireball
Now maybe it’s my Analysis skill kicking in, but when I think about how I’m planning to fight the zombies, I realize that I don’t have any ranged skills. Sure, I could use Hammer Time, but I only have 20 hammers that I’ve collected. Fireball doesn’t work in this dungeon because of the magic restrictions. I’m ok with a one-on-one fight since I have the abilities Smash, Stab, and Flying Kick. But trying to fight off a horde of zombies up close has never ended well in any zombie movie I’ve ever seen.
I thank Suzie for the food again and excuse myself. I walk around until I find Nancy and Frank. They’re showing a few of the survivors how to use handguns and rifles. I watch and listen as they go over basic firearm safety, how to load ammo, hold the firearms, and give them tips on shooting.
Nancy notices me watching and waves me over. I approach, careful not to walk in front of anyone pointing a gun. When I’m close enough that she can talk over the sounds of gunshots. Nancy asks, with only the smallest of smirks, “Did you want to join the class, Anthony?”
I nod. Admitting to myself at least that Nancy is helping me out by teaching me how to shoot. Otherwise, I’d be spending skill points on unlocking and learning the skill.
Nancy goes over the basics of using both a handgun and rifle with me. She emphasizes firearm safety above all else. I’m shaky and uncomfortable holding the weapons at first, but her calm instruction helps me focus on holding the weapons correctly.