Metagame

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Gameplay > Metagame

Metagame consists of the off-screen simulation of events and interactions of NPCs and Zombie between themselves and their environment. The metagame becomes concrete when the simulated characters and events come "on-screen."

For example, the gunshots heard and the helicopter passing overhead are metagame events. Currently however, the player can't find who fired the gun or where the helicopter went. The dead will still follow the sounds, sometimes passing (or eating) the player, originating from somewhere off-screen. Metagame events' frequency can be changed in the sandbox settings.

Sleeping Event

The sleeping event occurs randomly when the player is asleep. The player will wake up in a panic when not fully rested and a zombie can also spawn in the room.

Power and Water Shutoff

The power and water will shut off at some point during the game. The power shutoff is announced on the radio on the Automated Emergency Broadcast System (AEBS) two days before it occurs as "Knox Power Grid: Power fluctuations detected". The channel for the AEBS is randomized, unlike other pre-set channels. The shutoff will require the player to utilise generators for electricity. gas must be collected with gas cans from gas stations. It is also important to note that, once the electricity shuts off, the gas station must be connected to a functioning generator for the player to be able to collect the gas. A way to work around this is by siphoning gas from left over vehicles. The player must also remember that they will need to read 'How To Use Generators' or be an electrician to work the generator. The generator will also poison the player if it is running inside.

The water shutoff is not announced on the AEBS. The player can construct rain collector barrels outside to gather water. Alternatively, there will be water left in basins of sinks, baths, toilets etc. Naturally, a river or well can be used to collect water, In addition to the objects such as mugs, saucepans or cooking pots that could be left outside to gather water when it rains. Remember to check whether the water you have collected is tainted or not as, if it is, it must be boiled over a heat source.

Helicopter Event

As of build 33, the Helicopter Event was added to the game as a physical object that is unable to be seen but can be heard. The helicopter can be heard overhead and, if the player is outside, will follow the player around leading hordes of zombies towards the player. If the player is inside or in a forest when the helicopter arrives and does not leave, the helicopter will not follow the player. However, if the player is spotted outside and the player hides from the helicopter by moving indoors (or into a forest), the helicopter will still hover overhead thus still attracting zombies. After approximately one hour of the helicopter being unable to find the player, it may leave and come back approximately one hour later.

Newer players are advised to stay indoors for the entire day of the helicopter event, as it can be unclear if the helicopter is returning and the large numbers of zombies that the helicopter attracts can be difficult to deal with. The event can be detrimental to players with secluded bases as it can very quickly lead large hordes to locations they wouldn't usually go to. Even if the player avoids being spotted by the helicopter, the helicopter will still cause zombies to migrate slightly, so beware.

The player can determine if the helicopter is coming on a given day by listening to the AEBS which can be tuned to on a radio and listening for the phrase "Air activity detected".

The helicopter can arrive on Day 6-9, from 9 AM to 7 PM. Once the helicopter arrives, it will attempt to find the player for 1-4 hours. On default settings, the helicopter will only come on one day, however it can come more than once a day. Sandbox settings can be adjusted to make the helicopter come every 6-9 days or every 10-15 days, at randomized times of day, for added challenge.

In multiplayer, the helicopter can switch between hunting various players, however in singleplayer mode the helicopter only has one target (you).

Gun Fire and Screams

Up to once a day, the player may hear gunfire or screams in the distance. It is not currently possible to locate the source of these "meta sounds", but they will cause zombies to migrate. The developers have indicated that in the future, these events may also trigger physical events on the map such as loot spawns.

Maps

The player can find annotated maps on zombie corpses that can indicate bits of lore about what the NPCs have experienced as well as tell the player what they might find in certain areas. Additionally, these can indicate a "Survivor House" which will have boarded windows and stockpiles of items such as canned goods and weapons. Be careful as these houses might still have the survivors (now zombies) inside. Sometimes these can also tell a story, such as a non-zombie corpse surrounded by weapons or alcohol and pills that they used to prematurely end their life so as to not succumb to the Knox Infection.

Future Metagame

In the future, the metagame could involve complex interactive storylines, influenced by the environment, random events, NPCs, or the player. Most NPCs, however, would just be random survivors just trying to make their way. But certain NPCs would have storylines in which they make AI decisions and have scripts; the decisions and scripts would change depending on random chance or input from other NPCs, the environment, or even the player. For example, in the Kate and Bob story, the player could take the position of the raider. Presumably, the raider-player could threaten Kate, kill Bob (or do something else). In other words the player takes part in the storyline, becoming a participant in the script and thus changing the script, NPCs, and the metagame.

See also

• NPC
• Survivor

External links

• "Everyone’s Infected" update Mon, October 5, 2015
• Tales from the metaverse
• Sheet ropes & old friends
• A metagame forum post
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