FILE 001: EQUIPMENT

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THANK YOU.

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for taking an interest in your survival.
THIS GUIDE HAS BEEN CREATED WITH THE INTENTION OF KEEPING YOU ALIVE. EDUCATION IS YOUR GREATEST WEAPON AGAINST THE RANKS OF THE UNDEAD (although hey, a shot to the head is decidedly pretty damned effective, too.) YOUR WILLINGNESS TO USE YOUR GREY MATTER IS WHAT SEPARATES YOU FROM THE LUMBERING RANKS OF THE RE-ANIMATED, SO LET'S GET YOU INTO SHAPE.[/color][/size][/center]

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Here is where we will discuss necessary equipment to slay the undead and survive this crisis in the hopes that you can better serve your purposes: protecting yourself and your loved ones.

1. SHORT HAIR AND TIGHT CLOTHING. The most effective armor against the undead. You want nothing on your person that can easily be grabbed, because the reach of the undead is their most reliable weapon. Unnecessary chains and accessories are the reason gothic kids were among the first to go during a zombie infection. Armor--chain mail, plate mail, or hell, maybe even a scuba suit--has been proven clunky and ineffective, rendering the individual within little more than canned food. Even if you were able to find functioning armor, you would likely fall victim to dehydration, reduce your range of motion, or simply give away your position with your cumbersome movements.

2. GAS MASK. Hopefully you've already covered File 000--if not, one crucial piece of information must be taken from it: that the virus can survive for a short time in the air. Luckily for you, the virus that turns you into a humaneatingmachine can only survive outside of the body for so long--but wearing a gas mask outside will protect you from the possibility of inhaling some serious zombie germs. Yes, this may obscure your vision a tad but it's a handicap that you'll have to accept if you want to stay alive.

3. WEAPONRY--yes, this is a matter of personal preference, but the truth is that some weapons are just more effective than others. Take the military-grade flamethrower: while it would be awesome to turn the walking dead into a mobile funeral pyre--carrying a seventy-pound piece of equipment on your back, and the fuel necessary to keep the flamethrower functional is exhausting and impractical. Tearing through the ranks of the undead with a chainsaw is a tempting idea, but fuel is finite and safety is a huge issue. Fire is widely accepted as the most effective means of destroying the undead--especially because it will dispose of the remains of the virus in its wake--but it has no loyalty and therefore, it is advised to be used only as a means of defense or for ridding the world of the undead carnage. Things to keep in mind while selecting weaponry:

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4. "DO I NEED THIS?" This question must be asked constantly. Traveling light is a necessity (but by no means do we support grabbing some beef jerky and a water bottle, holstering a .45 and tralalaing down the road.) But mobility is as important as balance--thus we suggest that you effectively carry your hospital, storeroom, and armory on your back. And be sure that all of your equipment is functional--in a life or death situation, you will be depending on it.
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BE ON YOUR GUARD, AND REMEMBER:
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "SAFE", ONLY "SAFER".

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