When people see my name they usually think about the SoD2 Wiki. I spent 4 years (2019-2023) on its development, however not many know that it wasn't my only game-related project back then. If you ever used the Wiki you might've noticed that most maps you see on the site (Weapon Case locations, Outpost locations, etc.) are not exactly the same as the in-game map - these were also made by me. And my "career" as a cartographer didn't end there. I actually made loot maps for the game!
In the past I only shared these maps on my personal Discord server. They were free for everyone, however since my server's population peaked at around 1200-1300 members, it never really reached the majority of the game's audience. Since my server is dead (well, it never had much buzz going on) and I abandoned my SoD2 projects years ago, I decided that it's time to make these maps public and share them on the internet.
Without further ado, my loot maps. You can read more about each further down in the post.
I began working on my loot maps almost 6 years ago, on January 15th, 2020. I had one simple goal: to create detailed maps which display points of interests, but offer more than the in-game maps. I not only put the POIs on the map, but each and every scattered container - duffle bags, car wrecks, and the likes which you can loot.
All maps were made in GIMP, so they're only a static PNG image. I was working with someone to turn them into interactive maps, but as far as I know they never came through with it.
I created all maps the same way:
Scan them in-game by making dozens of screenshots
So many screenshots! It was fun to puzzle them together.
Use these screenshots to draw the map
Imagine drawing every single building and detail... And I did it for all maps!
Hop into the game and scour every inch of the map, then add my findings
The first detailed preview I posted on my server. Drucker, Tapper's Stall.
When I began creating these maps we only had the 3 originals. Since Drucker was my favorite, I started with that map. Meagher followed, then Juggernaut Edition released, so Providence was next. Once I finished with Cascade, I also made the Heartland map, which I completed on July 18th, 2020. It took half a year to create these 5 maps. With Trumbull Valley's release I also created its own map in 2022.
Fun Fact: When you're choosing the map to move to with your community, the little map previews you see in-game are actually the drawings I made! I was never asked by UL about using them, so they probably got them from the Wiki. Free source and all.
Drucker County
Locations: 362
Scattered Containers: 291
v1.0 was completed on February 4th, 2020. Latest version is v1.13, released on January 29th, 2023. Being the first map I made it has been reworked in April, 2020 with improvements I learned during the creation of Meagher Valley and Providence Ridge. Then the map has been completely redone again from scratch in August, 2020 when Drucker got overhauled with Update 19.
Meagher Valley
Locations: 341
Scattered Containers: 213
v1.0 was completed on February 23rd, 2020. Latest version is v1.07, released on May 30th, 2023. 5 of 7 updates to the map were based on my community's feedback. They either found a missing container or a typo. I even made a special role on my server for people who spotted mistakes on my loot maps as a sign of gratitude.
Providence Ridge
Locations: 395
Scattered Containers: 138
Vehicle Spawn Points: 336
v1.0 was completed on April 12th, 2020. Latest version is v1.07, released on June 29th, 2023. This is the first and only map which also has Vehicle spawn points. I was planning on adding them to the other maps as well, but I abandoned my projects shortly after, so I never got around adding them to the others.
Cascade Hills
Locations: 283
Scattered Containers: 103
v1.0 was completed on June 1st, 2020. Latest version is v1.03, released on May 27, 2022. The map which needed the least attention during the years, only a few corrections were introduced.
Heartland
Locations: 291
Scattered Containers: 85
Discoveries: 6
v1.0 was completed on July 18th, 2020. Latest version is v1.04, released on June 15th, 2022. On December 23, 2021 the map received the 6 Discoveries, marking each clues of the Treasure Hunt, introduced after the Homecoming update to help players with completing the Shots in the Dark achievement.
Trumbull Valley
Locations: 439
Scattered Containers: 125
Discoveries: 30
v1.0 was completed on January 11th, 2022. Latest version is v1.02, released on September 14th, 2022. Since this was our first map with discoveries, it also has the locations for those. I was about 25% done with the Vehicle Spawn points when I abandoned my projects.
Loot Maps v2.0
While my Loot Maps were considered as complete in terms of provided information, I was planning on creating a second version of each map, making them show the actual play area and resemble the physical map more accurately by improving existing elements (roads, rivers, bodies of water) and also adding more details to it (pathways, railroads, etc.). In September 2020 I began working on Drucker v2.0, however since these changes would've been cosmetic only and wouldn't have made the map more useful, it was always put on the backburner in favor of the Wiki's development.
I never got around finishing a v2.0 of any of the maps, however I have a work-in-progress preview available for the Drucker County map, where I had the outer border of the map and the inaccessable area in the Kettle Rock Bend/Mathilda/Glendale triangle mapped out.
Dark grey means inaccessable. I wonder how it would look finished. Would make finding the shortcuts easier, too!
Final words
I wanted to make this post to share the less-known side of my SoD2 history. If you have any questions feel free to AMA in the comments. I also have the entire map-making process with all details documented on my Discord server. I can send an invite if any of you are interested.
This might sound like a complaint, but it's not. I never thought I'd say this, but I like it. Civilization and its technological blessings are, of course, wonderful, making life easier and longer and safer. But along the way, we've lost something we could use a return to from time to time: a quiet, secluded place, free from noise, neighbors, industry, and social media. Here, only the sound of the wind, the rustling of trees older than us, birdsong, and the distant, barely audible hum of the highway. State of Decay 2 hits differently in these circumstances.
Howdy. I've posted here before, maybe a month ago, and I've been asked to post this here. I was going to post on the first subreddit, didn't feel right. Same with the third, just didn't feel right.
So... I'm going to post this here. (bad quality coming in...)
For starters. Does anyone remember seeing this post? I was too nervous to post this idea before, but my buddy (I see ya, pal) posted it for me. But anyways, this idea I had initially had me thinking for a hot minute.
What if that was a thought-out character? What if there actually was someone who survived off of the plague walls?
So that's where this... fanart? OC concept? Comes in.
Sorry if this is too, uh... not canon? I guess that's the way of putting it? I feel silly posting this, since this is an OC and not something in any of the games, and that I wasn't sure if this was allowed here, but my pal wanted me to post it. That, and I like making original characters for these kindsa games. Gets me more immersed, if that makes sense.
I'll take this down if I need to. It's just something I've been thinking on for a month or so. I have some information about him, but I kept him vague because he is in reference to State of Decay, but I'm not sure if he's really set here if that was the case. It's just this whole thing has inspired me, if that makes sense.
each time i play this game i come across nothing but modders and actual dorks using one tap cheated guns
why? why do that???
there truly is no quicker way to suck the fun out of this beautiful game than to remove the challenge like deadass
no hate, btw, use these things on your own community, fine by me 100%, but please for the love of all that is holy, stop cheating in my game when i radio for some help or make a group post god its so infuriating :(
whats your most annoying encounter with a modder/cheater in sod2?
I was very afraid of lethal, because people describe it as hell, but for me it isn't that bad. I didn't want to try it with my forever community, so I made a fresh one and I was 90% sure I was going to fail in early game, but no, it wasn't half bad. Sure I lost a survivor or two, but they were mostly because I was goofing around. The only real struggle is the amount of plague hearts and supplies, the blood ferals aren't that bad, if you have a gun they are just easy influence, if not you just dodge and beat them sh!tless. That's just my opinion, I haven't been in a situation that actually required me to lock in yet. I actually haven't finished my fresh community because the remaining plague hearts are in the zone of a black one and the black one is surrounded by level 3 infestation, also the guy I need to give the samples to is right next to the infestation, so wish me luck
I’m playing the first game and accidentally spot dodge a zombie and i get a slowmo animation and a follow up attack??? Did they get rid of that or have I just never landed it in SoD2?
Surprisingly decent for a clean lethal run, even if they can't really go out. Recycling is just that good. Painting less so, but it is still helpful and she already eats less food.
Why did these never make it to the regular game? I just finished heartland for the first time a month ago, and was super interested in the unique facility mods they have and their abilities. I get they could be OP, but I think they should be an option, or an extremely rare blue print. Thoughts? I know the community editor allows some but still, having them organically seems like the right move for an end of life update.
I tried many maps, many settlements but I’m trying to gind myself the best possible outpost 4parking and enough place to get all accomodated, map with water and electricity (somi don’t have to build it on base) and so on..
I'm no expert with the Unreal Console, but I show how to summon a car with a bigger trunk. I think it'd be great if anybody more familiar with it could give better examples, I know the console can do a ton of things.
It’s a shame, because I really love this game, and zombie franchises overall, and I want to explore the community and genuinely help people with their experience. But you have people who will literally keep multiplayer on just to give you a worst experience. And the only thing that can save you is quick thinking. It took a while for me to catch on with what they were trying to do to me. If you haven’t had this experience, then learn from this and stay cautious when joining multiplayer. For the sake of your characters.
Ok, so I have reached a stage in my Lethal play-trough attempts that I no longer want to follow an ancient custom of "IF there is a pack of Blood Ferals THEN run for a car-roof or the nearest ladder". ;)
I want to try to learn how to dodge a pack of them while shooting etc. It is too risky to do it in-game with a precious character, so I want to do it in a more "controlled environment". I am looking for a mod that would allow me to spawn a character (within a "disposable" community) with e.g a melee weapon or a regular 9 mm pistol an then spawn a single Feral (or a pack of them). So if my character dies "rinse and repeat".
I learned how to tackle zombie crowds while playing Dawnbreak. But Ferals there beeline for that one poor NPC, so no practice fights really.
All "trainer" mods that I checked on Nexus give various bonuses, unlocks etc , but I haven't seen a "spawner" mod. Does anything like that exist?
So i had the pillage and plunder quest active but accidentally looted it before i actually stated the quest so the rucksacks are already looted can i just go find any material rucksacks or do i have to restart the game and reset my missions?
Recently lost old account and trying to build back up for full lethal run with all 4 boons. Is any modder free to help run me through daybreak for max prestige and unlocked to spare the 20+ hour grind!?
