# \[experimental build\] deadliness of electric zombie

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532>\
**Category:** The Garage\
**Created:** [August 3, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532 "2013-08-03T20:28:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 19\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rorudo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/rorudo/32/987_2.png) [@Rorudo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rorudo)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/1 "2013-08-03T20:28:16Z")

</div>

Electric zombie is able to kill any (even absolutely healthy) survivalist with one ranged hit.  
Its electric arcs do not fade and if you are paralyzed - you will instantly die.  
Don’t you think this is imbalance?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Zarthull](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/zarthull/32/18_2.png) [@Zarthull](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Zarthull)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/2 "2013-08-06T02:26:25Z")

</div>

I don’t know what you talking about, in all my runs I have never had a shocker zombie 1 shot me, honestly I find them the weakest of special zombies if you have some walls to block there line of sight

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Whitelight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whitelight](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Whitelight)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/3 "2013-08-06T04:23:15Z")

</div>

I am confused as well. I routinely punch shockers to death with my fists (krav) now a days with very few problems. Was something affecting your speed at the time? Most of my deaths to things like that are caused by low speed from pain or accidentally wielding heavy objects and trying to melee something.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![1942rob](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/1942rob/32/979_2.png) [@1942rob](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/1942rob)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/4 "2013-08-06T17:47:35Z")

</div>

Actually, their shockbeam has a chance to paralyze you for x turns, and then you’re f\*\*\*'d.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rivet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/rivet/32/11_2.png) [@Rivet](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rivet)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/5 "2013-08-06T19:13:45Z")

</div>

I’m guessing OP got paralyzed and then killed before the paralysis wore off.

It sucks, but it’s not terribly common.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rorudo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/rorudo/32/987_2.png) [@Rorudo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rorudo)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/6 "2013-08-06T19:22:19Z")

</div>

Zarthull, Whitelight

1. Are you playing v0.7.1 or experimetal builds based on current git state?
2. Do electlic zombie’s electric clouds fade with time in your version of the game?
3. Have you ever been paralyzed?

[quote=“Rivet, post:5, topic:2532”]I’m guessing OP got paralyzed and then killed before the paralysis wore off.

It sucks, but it’s not terribly common.[/quote]  
I lost such a way two promising characters in a row, so I wonder if it’s just my bad luck.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![i2amroy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/i2amroy/32/909_2.png) [@i2amroy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/i2amroy)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/7 "2013-08-06T19:44:07Z")

</div>

Yeah, just tested the current version. Electric clouds disappear like they are supposed to (and so does paralysis).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Whitelight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whitelight](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Whitelight)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/8 "2013-08-07T00:44:45Z")

</div>

I typically play with the latest experimental build (i check for updates daily). The clouds do fade, typically within a few turns of the zombie firing it. I have had characters paralyzed before and I have even died once during paralysis BUT I was low on health at the time and had a lot of pain reducing my stats significantly. If I am not really close to death when I do get paralyzed then I come out of it just fine and finish off the shocker. An important thing to note is when you get hit by a shocker blast there may be an electric arc underneath your character on subsequent turns so if you are not paralyzed by the initial hit then it is a good idea to move to avoid taking additional damage. Prior to realizing this, I died a lot more often to shockers because I would tend to stand in place until the arcs faded instead of looking for gaps and trying to escape. On its own, a shocker doesn’t seem to do all that much damage so I think the primary danger when being paralyzed is if you are surrounded by other enemies with no/damaged/weak armor.

Edit: Although I have died very rapidly (between 1 and 2 turns from full) on several occasions from other things. Particularly enemies with burst fire weapons (turrets, securebots, npcs…). Staying at range helps with that but sometimes you just get unlucky when opening a door right next to one.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![drake1storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/54ee81/32.png) [@drake1storm](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/drake1storm)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/9 "2013-08-07T01:19:51Z")

</div>

Honestly, the deadliest special zombie (for me) is the damned smoker. Killing them is no problem, but the damn smoke absolutely destroys torso health.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/cataclysmdda/original/1X/21b5d044e8473b25d0bf905d60477e25f6fbe0cf.png) [@system](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 7:41am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/10 "2013-08-07T07:41:40Z")

</div>

Electric Zombies aren’t too bad if you see them coming and get ready but one time they truly gave me a one of a kind “OH @$#%!!!” moment that is the hallmark of any great survival horror game.

I was cruising through a new town, mulching zombies, looking for pickles to add to my hoard and I rounded a blind corner -

BOOM! Electric blast, am paralyzed immediately, car is going about 35 mph hour, immediately spins out/fumbles out of control and careens into gas pump which explodes catastrophically. I am somehow not immediately killed but between the shrapnel, the fire, and the smoke inhalation I am no match for the shocker which proceeds to telsa coil me to death. By far my best death…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![prytoclasm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@prytoclasm](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/prytoclasm)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 11:02am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/11 "2013-08-07T11:02:01Z")

</div>

> [@drake1storm](#):
>
> Honestly, the deadliest special zombie (for me) is the damned smoker. Killing them is no problem, but the damn smoke absolutely destroys torso health.

There’s no ‘deadliness’ in ‘Smoker’ as soon as you have a gas mask or anything else with “4” (I think it was four) or more environmental protection over your mouth.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Morrigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Morrigi](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Morrigi)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/12 "2013-08-07T15:34:47Z")

</div>

Molotovs work wonders on Smokers. Just chuck one or two into the cloud and you should kill it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Whitelight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whitelight](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Whitelight)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/13 "2013-08-08T02:16:01Z")

</div>

Yeah, even a filter mask will stop the smoker’s smoke from harming you so its not too bad. I would say the zombie that has given me the most problems is probably a zombie hulk… then again I don’t see them that often so all I really know about them comes from those two times they murdered the crap out of me.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![i2amroy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/i2amroy/32/909_2.png) [@i2amroy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/i2amroy)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/14 "2013-08-10T16:25:42Z")

</div>

> [@Rorudo](#):
>
> [quote=“i2amroy, post:7, topic:2532”]Yeah, just tested the current version. Electric clouds disappear like they are supposed to (and so does paralysis).

No, they don’t. And they will not disappear until someone of developers will make initialization sm-\>field\_count = 0; before map fields load, for example at mapbuffer.cpp:255 before ‘do {’[/quote]  
Are you playing with the latest experimental version? Because that’s what I’m playing on and they disappeared just fine.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rorudo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/rorudo/32/987_2.png) [@Rorudo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rorudo)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/15 "2013-08-10T16:47:38Z")

</div>

> [@i2amroy](#):
>
> Are you playing with the latest experimental version?

Yup.

(Sorry for russian date labels, here you can see the hash of the latest commit: 6fc622e938caf2391fe4e6d04d148fab4ee3cbba)

* * *

![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/cataclysmdda/original/1X/4278dc072f4c574bd8f686389ab374082fe29239.gif)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![i2amroy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/i2amroy/32/909_2.png) [@i2amroy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/i2amroy)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/16 "2013-08-12T04:22:03Z")

</div>

Ok, that’s strange then. Just tested it once more with the latest experimental and they disappear just fine. Anybody else still having this problem in the current experimental build?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Whitelight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whitelight](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Whitelight)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/17 "2013-08-12T21:50:34Z")

</div>

Like I have said before, I update daily and since this problem was initially reported I have gone through several experimental versions and not experienced this problem. I am not saying that I do not believe that the OP is having a problem, but I am not, however, currently experiencing that problem myself.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rorudo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/rorudo/32/987_2.png) [@Rorudo](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rorudo)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/18 "2013-08-13T12:21:14Z")

</div>

Guys, do you know that C++ does not clear the allocated memory? All fields of new allocated structs are dirty by default. They will contain 0’s if this block of memory was never used, but it is not guaranteed. Look at the sources, at least this variable is definitely dirty.  
Sure, you may not clear variables in the heap, if the stability is not your goal.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevin.granade](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kevin.granade/32/1316_2.png) [@kevin.granade](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kevin.granade)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/experimental-build-deadliness-of-electric-zombie/2532/19 "2013-08-13T17:44:59Z")

</div>

Rorudo: You are absolutely correct, will fix this ASAP.  
Submaps are getting initialized properly-ish when generated, but not when loaded.  
Need to pull the initialization out into a helper (or constructor, we’ll see) to make sure this happens automatically.