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Left 4 Dead Survivor’s Handbook
Need a little help in Left 4 Dead? Tony Mitera's handbook of zombie survival is required reading.
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Author: Tony Mitera

• Don’t be afraid to use your melee attack. You won’t be getting any spectacular knockouts when fighting the infected as it takes many hits to down even a common infected, but it’s a great way to push them back or beat down any that are trying to climb up. Beating dazed hunters to death or knocking a smoker’s victim free are also great reasons to get personal using the butt of your gun.

• Of course, bashing an infected from behind with a melee attack gives them no time to react or tense up, severing their spine and dropping them with one hit.

• Setting off a car alarm is bad news, as it will attract any infected within earshot of the loud noise it will make. If you see a car with oddly flashing lights take care not to shoot it or touch it, and this includes shooting that boomer standing right next to it.

• Always make sure you have all weapons reloaded and have full ammo before you leave a safe room. Also grab any medkits or other items before you vacate it. If there are leftover kits use them up on the members in your group with the poorest health; you may as well use them and the likelihood you’ll be back to get them later is slim to none.

• Stick together, at all costs. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve had gung-ho idiots run off only to get lashed onto by a smoker and never seen again.

• Checking side rooms and pathways may expose you to more infected, but you also might find much needed supplies. If your group already is carrying all that they need however don’t waste any time in checking out areas past clearing out any infected and moving on.

(The owner of the notebook helped numerous groups find their way to safety, judging by the notes taken about four different infected zones. Though the notebook had a few crudely drawn maps, most of its information comes in the form of notes taken on specific areas in each zone.)

1) No Mercy

a) General information – Many of the survivors that were trapped in the city when the infection hit were able to escape via helicopter from the roof of the Mercy Hospital building. Though the route is dangerous and winds through many alleyways and the sewers there is a functional radio on the hospital roof that can be used to call for a helicopter to take your group to safety.

b) Part One

  • In the apartment building, keep an eye out for infected breaking through the walls. Its close-quarters environment means you’ll need to check your corners and clear rooms before continuing on.
  • When you reach the streets there is a building on the corner that has many rooms and potentially many supplies. Avoid setting off the car alarm in any of the parked cars as you make your way down the steps to the subway safe room.
  • c) Part Two

  • The subway is full of dark spots and things that will obstruct your view of the tunnels ahead. Move carefully.
  • Tanks seem to love the tracks themselves, and on many occasions I’ve encountered witches near the generator room past them.
  • Though you will need the fire up the generators to open the door in that room, the sudden noise and lighting will attract all types of infected and in great numbers. Use the mounted turret to help cover that room, with the rest of your group either blasting anything that crawls up the hole in the floor in the room or helping cover the person on the turret.
  • Once through the door make your way through the building and back onto the streets. Avoid the car alarm as you move down the street and into the safe room, located in the pawn shop at the end of the road.
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