Hello, survivors! Through the many updates to Zelter one thing remains true. It’s very easy to die. Of hunger, of thirst, of zombies, of more zombies, and also of becoming a zombie. Luckily there are ways to overcome the challenge. Our friend Nine Days Playing was certainly up to it and showed some really great Zelter skills in a new video. [previewyoutube=SNbh_6wZSzY;full][/previewyoutube] Strategy and foresight are key, and aside from sharing his outstanding gameplay, we will try to provide hints & tips that should help you stay alive. [list] [*] [h3]Stay sneaky early on[/h3] [/list] You won’t immediately find reliable weapons to kill the zombies. Luckily they’ll only become aggressive if they see or hear you. Be ready to sneak around and conserve your ammo and your health. [list] [*] [h3]Eat, drink and be wary[/h3] [/list] Getting eaten by a zombie is of course the biggest danger in Zelter. But far from the only one. You may well starve to death or perish of thirst. Ensure you have the resources to prevent that. Both for yourself and for your NPC companions. [list] [*] [h3]Don’t always eat things raw[/h3] [/list] You may be tempted to wolf down a potato spud immediately, but ultimately it’s better to plant it. You might also feel the same way about apples, but roast it and it’ll be 3x times as efficient! Hunger’s a dangerous foe and you’ll want to make the most of what supplies you gather. [h3][list] [*] Break things! [/list][/h3] Chopping a tree or hitting a rock with a pickaxe are perfectly natural things to do (in a game), but don’t forget to dismantle furniture and vehicles if you need resources! Cars and couches can give you leather for instance. [h3][list] [*] The right tool for the right job [/list][/h3] You can attack any resource deposit with any weapon, but the most effective yields are obtained by using the right resource for each type. Axes for trees, pickaxes for stones, hammers for garbage & destructible items, sickle for crops. Otherwise you’re in for a loooong day of stabbing a tree with a spear. A tool’s materials are pretty important too. Stone tools will give you resources after hitting the right item four times. Iron tools will do the same in just three hits! [h3][list] [*] DEX helps hit hard and fast [/list][/h3] Dexterity affects your attack speed, which doesn’t only relate to hitting zombies. You’ll also strike faster with your harvesting tools, so you’ll gather resources faster! [h3][list] [*] A dead NPC = a deadly zombie [/list][/h3] NPCs have their own hunger and thirst. If they drop too low, they’ll go so far as to scavenge for supplies themselves. They might have good intentions, but they may well die on their own. And if (or when) they do, they become a deadly new kind of zombie. Intelligent, resilient and retaining enough memory to use tools. [h3][list] [*] Guns are strong, but expensive [/list][/h3] Over the years of video-games we all have the instinct to shoot the zombie. But bullets are rare and expensive. Consider using cheaper alternatives. Ammunition for the slingshot & crossbow is easier to come by and can be crafted in greater quantities. In fact if your aim is true, the slingshot is a good friend to have. You can fire and roll in quick succession and a zombie gets stunned on the second hit! Plus if you manage to sneak past the enemy - you save all your resources from a potential dangerous encounter! [h3][list] [*] Build! Especially barricades and turrets! [/list][/h3] When you’re being assaulted by an entire horde, it helps to have extra guns firing at them. If those guns are mounted on reinforced turrets - that’s even better! More advanced barricades actually damage the zombies who try to attack them. Pair those with turrets and you’ll whittle down the horde much faster and without loss of life. Zombies will attack your structures, so bear that in mind when placing your fortifications. [h3][list] [*] Don’t feed the boars [/list][/h3] Some animals in the world of Zelter are more scared of you than you are of them. Boars, however, are a lot more bold. They’ll try to eat your crops and if they’re attacked, they’ll retaliate with lethal force. Be sure to keep them away but don’t push your luck if you’re low on health. You may need to confront them eventually to get tough leather! [h3][list] [*] Helicopter attracts a lot of attention [/list][/h3] The helicopter is the only way out, but it’s also the single loudest thing in the world of Zelter. As a result, when it shows up it rings the dinner bell for a huge wave of zombies. This is the part where you’ll have to remember all you’ve learned about turrets, barricades and conserving resources. ***** There are many ways to play Zelter. Did you discover any strategies or hints that we haven’t covered here? Share for the good of your fellow survivors. And as always, stay tuned for more from Zelter!