the old realy old .

[oger333]

safe havens ... what would the do about old people if they served? around 80.90maybe even 60. 70 who knows?

[Thinyser]

safe havens ... what would the do about old people if they served? around 80.90maybe even 60. 70 who knows?

very slim chance many would survive but if they did I would assume that witout their proper medicines and more limited post wave diet they wouldn't do very well for very long.

Sure some of the more healthy ones might be able to pull their own weight or could perform tasks like weapon cleaning and maintaince, fishing for food, some gardening tasks, etc.

Overall the larger the group the more likely they could support/would contain elderly survivors.

I'd say 1-2 elderly person in every 15-25 survivors would be about right.

In my campaign we have a group of 3 dozen survivors in addition to our 6 person group.
There are 5 kids (under age 14)
2 elderly people (old farming couple in their early 70's)
20 men (ages 14 to 60)
9 women (age 14 to 60)

[dhorn]

The 'oldies' are important because they (in theory) have the most life experience. And if we're talking contemporary time, they've lived the hard life - perhaps during the Great Depression. They may have a better handle on self sufficiency than today's 20 and 30 somethings.

But, for my money it's the children that are most important - next generation to carry on the species and all that. So if I had to choose, I'd leave behind the elderly and help the younins.

Sorry Granny!

[johnkretzer]

Just thinking about this in a different way....alot of zombies would be of old people, fat people, children, handicap and other not phjysicaly fit people who would have immense trouble in escaping the zombie hoards.

So I am wondering if that would effect the zombie stats at all?

[Grell]

Doubtful aside from physical considerations that lead to being a varient (like a crawler vs. a sloucher). I agree with dhorn that it would be a low ratio of old folks to the young(ish). Would definitely make the role of village elder take on a meaningful role again.

[Roscoe Del'Tane]

I have to say that unless the children came from a military/survivalist family, I would have to pick my grandfather before them, simply because he's a tough old cuss who knows how to do everyhting from build a house by himself, to weld, to mine for gold, and all without any training. Oh, and he did his own dentistry when he was an oilfield worker. ANybody who can do all those things, would be well worth keeping around, just for the advice if nothing else.

If neither of those choices were available, I'd have to take anybody I could take, because as pointed out in another thread, I don't have to outrun the zed's, just my partners. Cold and uncaring, I know, but also practical.

[dhorn]

I totally agree Roscoe - the 'oldies' can have real value in terms of survival skills and the knowledge to rebuild (if you make it that far).

[johnkretzer]

Depends on the oldies. Also those are of poor health? You have to get them special medicine. Some are not as all wise.

I would probably not discriminate due to age if the person has useful skills....if they don't then it doesn't matter what their age is. (With the exception of young women and children of course.).

[Grell]

Old people are like seasoning. Too little makes the community bland and unappealing and too many make it overpowering, but have just enough old fart and....presto!