State of Decay 2: Understanding the Maximum Survivor Limit
The burning question on many survivors’ minds in the zombie-infested world of State of Decay 2 is: How many people can I have in my community? The answer is that while the game has a hard cap of 12 survivors, getting to that number and managing it comes with its own set of unique mechanics and challenges. It’s not just about hoarding as many people as possible; careful community management is key to thriving in this dangerous world.
Understanding the Survivor Cap
The Soft Cap of 9
State of Decay 2 is designed around the concept of a core group. Initially, the game sets a soft cap at 9 survivors. Once you reach this number, the game significantly reduces the frequency with which you encounter opportunities to recruit new members. This isn’t a hard barrier, but rather a deliberate design choice meant to make players consider the value of each individual member. The game’s base facilities are generally designed to efficiently manage up to 9 survivors, leading players to build a well-rounded and highly functional community within this limit. This allows the game to be more about the individual stories of the characters and the development of a tight-knit group rather than just amassing a huge horde of people.
Pushing Past the Soft Cap
While opportunities to recruit become rarer, it isn’t impossible to push beyond the soft cap. You can often recruit groups of survivors from enclaves, even when you are near the 9-member limit. A helpful strategy is to be selective about accepting or recruiting survivors until you reach 8 members. At this point, you can look for opportunities to recruit full enclaves. For example, if you are at 8 members you may be able to add an enclave with 2 or more members, thus exceeding the 9 member soft limit. This can be risky though, as managing a larger group comes with greater risks to the community’s morale and resources.
The Hard Cap of 12
The absolute maximum number of survivors you can have in your community is 12. After reaching this limit, you will not be able to recruit any more survivors into your community through any means. This makes every decision about recruitment even more critical. Are you going to recruit that special someone? Will you be forced to exile another survivor to make room? These are the tough questions you will be forced to make in order to maintain your community.
FAQs about Survivor Limits in State of Decay 2
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to delve deeper into the mechanics of managing your community size in State of Decay 2:
1. How do I recruit new survivors?
The primary way to recruit new survivors is by completing quests for enclaves. As you complete tasks for them, they will become more friendly towards you. They might eventually request to join your community, sometimes even as a group.
2. What happens if my community reaches 12 members?
Once you reach the hard cap of 12 survivors, you cannot recruit any more members under any circumstances. You’ll have to be more focused on maintaining your existing community, building up your base, and dealing with the various dangers the zombie apocalypse throws your way.
3. Can I recruit all the members of an enclave at once?
Yes, it is possible. Certain enclaves, like the medics, mechanics, drunks, and soldiers, can be recruited in their entirety by completing their quest lines. This often happens after you’ve refused a final request that they make, showing them that they cannot survive on their own.
4. What are the consequences of a large community?
While a larger community means more hands to help, it also increases the strain on your resources and the risk of morale issues. A larger community requires more food, medicine, and living space. The increased risk comes from more potential members to be sick, injured, or even killed.
5. Does the game ever offer opportunities to have more than 12 survivors?
No, 12 is the absolute hard limit. There are no in-game mechanics, exploits or mods that will bypass this limit.
6. Can I exile community members to make room for new ones?
Yes, you can exile community members that are unwanted. This will immediately make room for a new potential recruit, assuming you are not at the hard cap of 12. This decision can have significant impacts on the rest of the community.
7. Is it better to have a smaller or larger community?
There is no one correct answer as both options have their advantages and disadvantages. A smaller community is easier to manage and requires fewer resources, but you may have fewer people to defend your base. A larger community can handle more complex tasks but can be prone to morale issues, resource strains, and the potential for conflict.
8. What is the significance of the “soft cap” of 9 survivors?
The soft cap at 9 is designed to make players more selective about who they recruit. After 9 members, the game decreases recruitment opportunities, which forces players to be more deliberate about their community building decisions.
9. Does my choice of base impact the size of my community?
No, your choice of base does not impact the size of your community. You can have a maximum of 12 survivors, no matter which base you use. However, your base can impact how well you can manage your community, such as space for beds, gardens, and workshops.
10. Can I lose members of my community?
Yes, survivors can die during combat, from diseases, or through other in-game events. Losing members is a natural part of the game and forces you to make decisions on who to keep, who to recruit, and how to best protect your community.
11. How do I maintain a positive morale in a larger community?
Keeping a larger community’s morale high can be difficult. Morale boosters can come from base upgrades, completing quests, and having survivors with strong morale-boosting traits like “Volunteer Coordinator” or “Officer Material”. Be sure to take care of the communities needs to prevent them from suffering from low morale.
12. Can I recruit the cannibals?
Yes, it is possible to recruit one cannibal into your community by completing their quest line and then taking part in a Trader legacy mission. This is a unique situation that will allow you to add an unusual character to your community.
13. Do Enclaves respawn?
Yes, Enclaves do respawn after being cleared out. This means there will be constant opportunities to complete quests for them and potentially recruit their members.
14. What are the best traits for survivors to have?
Some of the best traits include “Volunteer Coordinator,” “Officer Material,” “Indefatigable,” “Diehard Veteran,” and “Immortal,” as these directly impact the efficiency and resilience of your community.
15. What is the largest base in the game?
The largest base is in the Heartland DLC, called the Trumbull Valley Base. While this base is very large it has no impact on the number of survivors you can have.
Conclusion
In conclusion, State of Decay 2 allows players to build a community of up to 12 survivors. While managing a smaller community comes with different challenges, so does managing a larger one. Carefully consider your choices on who to recruit, when to recruit, and how to build your base in order to survive in the harsh, zombie-filled world. Understanding the limitations and mechanics surrounding community size can greatly improve your gameplay and overall experience with State of Decay 2. Good luck survivor, you’ll need it.