The Rise of Apocalyptic and Survival Fiction

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

Oddly enough, that rule pretty much applies anywhere survival is involved. :P "If it ain't nailed down, grab it." lol.

Oddly enough, I have found by talking with real war vets that some of the tactics I have come up with and used in games matches what we do in real war. I wonder if post apoplectic earth will be best survived by gamers

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Oddly enough, I have found by talking with real war vets that some of the tactics I have come up with and used in games matches what we do in real war. I wonder if post apoplectic earth will be best survived by gamers

The ones who don't panic and collapse at the awareness of OMG REAL DANGER NOT JUST ALL IN MY HEAD will probably do well--they're used to assessing resources and options and re-evaluating a situation when the details change. They're also used to at least the idea of cooperating in groups of near-strangers for the common goal of survival, and know that it's not unlikely that someone will get greedy or stupid. And they know that "but he's greedy and stupid and will bring DOOOOM upon us all" is not always enough of a reason to kick someone out of the group.

However, the percentage that turn into basket cases at the first hint of *real* risk and problems is likely fairly high.

My real vote for survivors? The SCA. "World's largest standing private army," with a government (of sorts), at least enough to establish hierarchy and a reward system quickly, a lot of experience in turning high-tech resources into low-tech equipment, and a large collection of people who understand how governmental structures play out in large and small scale. They've got people who know how to make clothing starting from raw wool, how to make paper and ink from rags and candles, and how to wield pikes in formation.

[bjones6416]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

The ones who don't panic and collapse at the awareness of OMG REAL DANGER NOT JUST ALL IN MY HEAD will probably do well--they're used to assessing resources and options and re-evaluating a situation when the details change. They're also used to at least the idea of cooperating in groups of near-strangers for the common goal of survival, and know that it's not unlikely that someone will get greedy or stupid. And they know that "but he's greedy and stupid and will bring DOOOOM upon us all" is not always enough of a reason to kick someone out of the group.

However, the percentage that turn into basket cases at the first hint of *real* risk and problems is likely fairly high.

My real vote for survivors? The SCA. "World's largest standing private army," with a government (of sorts), at least enough to establish hierarchy and a reward system quickly, a lot of experience in turning high-tech resources into low-tech equipment, and a large collection of people who understand how governmental structures play out in large and small scale. They've got people who know how to make clothing starting from raw wool, how to make paper and ink from rags and candles, and how to wield pikes in formation.

I can spin, weave, knit, sew, make paper, make felt, and a few other things that might help our MR group survive. Somebody else is gonna have to do the food stuff, though, or we'll starve.

[Steven Lake]

Actually, I'm a certified (but not practicing) chef, so I think that area is covered. I even know how to hunt and trap, although it's been decades since I've done that.

[Steven Lake]

Ah, new little tidbit for you guys to chew on. During one of the scenes in the book I'm currently developing, one of the topics that came up was food preparation. Most people these days typically will just toss something in a pot on the stove, or even toss a frozen dinner into the microwave. What if they suddenly found themselves in a situation where they had a knife, the cloths on their backs, and *maybe* some string. That now presents some issues on how to make a variety of different foods out of the available local fauna, including bread.

The idea of "toss it in a dutch oven", or "pitch it into the hearth/brick oven/range" doesn't exactly work in those kind of situations. In my case the guys are being forced to build up from nothing and literally have to MacGyver everything they need, which at first limits what kinds of foods they can prepare. I mean, you're not going to just throw together a stone oven you can cook in right away, or create a cast iron cook stove within a day or two. Well, not at least until you can solve a number of problems, including making the concrete or plaster to hold the stones together, build the doors, figure out the heating logistics, etc.

You also have to acquire metals, materials, build the facilities needed to process them (forges, smelters, kilns for producing lime and mortar, etc) and go through each of the stages required to build them. This also includes steadily improving storage, processing (ie, mills, grinders, etc), and harvesting systems. That's assuming you are starting out with nothing but the cloths on your back, a pocket knife, and maybe a ball of string in your pocket.

Anyhow, just some food for thought....er, no pun intended. lol.

[VydorScope]

Where did the string come from?

[kennyc]

and how long is it?

[gmw]

and how do I make bread out of fauna?

(Sorry, couldn't resist. ... I know, I should have tried harder.)

[gmw]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Where did the string come from?

If nowhere else, "the clothes on their backs". String seems a lot more likely than a knife ... or maybe it depends on where you live. When I was growing up on the farm I usually had a knife of some sort with me, but in the years I spent living in the city I never did.

Maybe it turns out not to be the meek that inherit the Earth, but the Boy Scouts (and Girl Guides).

[kennyc]

If there is anything left to inherit.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by gmw

and how do I make bread out of fauna?

(Sorry, couldn't resist. ... I know, I should have tried harder.)

That might be fowl.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by gmw

If nowhere else, "the clothes on their backs". String seems a lot more likely than a knife ... or maybe it depends on where you live. When I was growing up on the farm I usually had a knife of some sort with me, but in the years I spent living in the city I never did.

Maybe it turns out not to be the meek that inherit the Earth, but the Boy Scouts (and Girl Guides).

Must be a southern thing, because I do not know a single man in my town that does not have at least one pocket knife on them.

[kennyc]

I'd feel naked without my pocket knife.

[Steven Lake]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I'd feel naked without my pocket knife.

Same here. Having at least a basic pocket knife is important, because you'd be surprised how often you need it and don't even realize it. IE, situations where a good knife would have solved a lot, but had to be dealt with in other ways because you didn't have one. If you live on a farm and go outside without your knife, you may as well leave your pants behind as well, because you'll be no more useful around the farm without your knife than you would be without your pants. (although going knifeless won't scare the neighbors. lol.) Anyhow, any well prepared person is going to always have a knife on their person.

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Where did the string come from?

The string comes from the fact that any well trained outdoorsman is going to always have at least a small spool of string in their pockets, or a paracord bracelet for those situations where string is needed in an emergency, or just as part of your normal day. Farmers always have at least a little string tucked in their pants pockets at all times because quite often they'll have need of it and no way to go get any. So having some in your pocket is important.

[WillAdams]

This is why every child should have to visit a farm and a slaughterhouse as a part of their very basic education.

Carrying a knife is a basic part of the human toolset and I'm wouldn't live anywhere that that is restricted to a ridiculous degree.