If they are alive they can survive. If not they can t.
Whether they should be labeled as alive is controversial.
^^^ it could be argued that they are a biological machine in a self replication loop.
Defining life is hard.
That would be a definition of life that i have heard.
But viruses can not selfreplicate . They tell living things to do so.
Imagine this:
I find a rock in a beautiful shape.
I am capable of crafting stones in the same shape and because people like it and i can sell them i actually do so.
The stone kinda made me multplicate it.
Is it alive?
I know how they replicate. Not sure your example was the best.
kind of interesting how they are parasitic without actually being a living thing though 
I was just pointing out that they are not actually in a self replicating loop.
I am sure that my example was not the best.
“self” replicating true they are not. Parasitic replication loop.
Something that cuts. I find myself completely debilitated if I don’t have something with the cutting flag.
so very true. which is why rock is most important. If it comes down to it you can make something with cutting by using rock to make/smash something so you do.
A solar-powered stereo system at the home crafting base. Always being at elated morale saves so much learning time it’s borderline overpowered
The power of high moral should never be discounted.
The will to live
not material. Tempted to say irrelevant to this conversation about most important ITEM to have… but it IS the apocalypse.
PINK TABLETS, for a constant hallucinations and jitters.
Hmm. Does an NPC companion count? Because having extra food is always handy. o3o
The power of high moral should never be discounted.[/quote]
i like to turn on stereo and go outside fight a horde (skills quickly go up!)
Unified Power Supply(UPS) Bionic. For those UPS tools.
Honestly, I’d have to say the first thing I set my sights on when I start out is a backpack, or some form of storage.
Nothing. Your hands are enough.
A container for clean water.
Though drinking from your hands is always !!FUN!!