Swimming and climbing involve active cognition. These are beyond the ability of zombies. Staying on the surface of the water (when not just floating limply) requires deliberate body positioning and movements that do not come naturally.
Getting over a fence requires an inspection of the obstacle, consideration of what can be grasped reliably and be load-bearing, and a plan for the whole climb from start to finish. It is much more than just going from point A to point B.
The key here is the type of thought required. Zombies couldn't even walk if they had to think about it. Walking involves muscle memory ingrained into the zombie's residual form (as an ambulatory human corpses). The ability is derived from a lifetime of walking before zombification, which makes the act instinctual. That is the only reason they can get around on dry land instead of just flopping about uselessly.
If you're talking the shambling undead type, then no. They're easily stopped by simple barriers, but may eventually wear the barrier down by simply throwing themselves against it consistently for a long enough time.
If you're talking the crazed, genetically engineered or super-virused humans, then maybe yes. Humans with viruses may still have the cognition enough to swim and to overcome barriers, though they may be reduced to an animal-like instinct and cunning (like finding a better spot to jump over the fence rather than opening the lock).
THe second kind is a bit worrisome but Johnny says that they have many men with lots of guns at his work and there aren't any zombies. Bad dreams are tough to shake.
1. Zombies cannot swim, but they don't particularly need to breathe. As a result they can sometimes walk along the bottom and get where they're going eventually. Sometimes though the bottom is too deep, in which case the pressure crushes them, or the sediment isn't solid enough, in which case they sink into the mud and are stuck forever.
2. Most zombies cannot climb, although in the case illustrated by obake, perhaps. I tend to classify those as "revenants" rather than traditional "zombies" though. simple barriers tend to confuse or block most zombies. men with guns can assist in the zombie deterrent process.
I don't think so on either count. As everything I have seen or read about, tells me they just mostly do that forward shuffle thing. I asked Mouse and a few other peeps, they can't remember seeing them climb or swim.
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Getting over a fence requires an inspection of the obstacle, consideration of what can be grasped reliably and be load-bearing, and a plan for the whole climb from start to finish. It is much more than just going from point A to point B.
The key here is the type of thought required. Zombies couldn't even walk if they had to think about it. Walking involves muscle memory ingrained into the zombie's residual form (as an ambulatory human corpses). The ability is derived from a lifetime of walking before zombification, which makes the act instinctual. That is the only reason they can get around on dry land instead of just flopping about uselessly.
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If you're talking the shambling undead type, then no. They're easily stopped by simple barriers, but may eventually wear the barrier down by simply throwing themselves against it consistently for a long enough time.
If you're talking the crazed, genetically engineered or super-virused humans, then maybe yes. Humans with viruses may still have the cognition enough to swim and to overcome barriers, though they may be reduced to an animal-like instinct and cunning (like finding a better spot to jump over the fence rather than opening the lock).
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2. Most zombies cannot climb, although in the case illustrated by obake, perhaps. I tend to classify those as "revenants" rather than traditional "zombies" though. simple barriers tend to confuse or block most zombies. men with guns can assist in the zombie deterrent process.
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Bright Blessings!!
Isadora
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