Z-Day Survivor Signals SystemThis is a featured page


In a post apocalyptic world, there are no cellphones, and likely no radio communication. Few people will have the power for the transmitters. Communication will be set back by over a hundred years. But wandering groups and occupied bases will still need to communicate with friendly forces and strangers. Whilst semaphore and morse code are viable options, few people have the skills to read them anymore. So here are a few systems that could be used and adopted by everyone on the ZSDW.

Travelling groups

6 simple flags that will convey the most common meanings. The basic colours are common clothing colours, so can be as simple as waving a T-shirt. For scouting parties, they can be equipped with 6 proper flags with the borders included.

RED - with orange border
We are in danger

BLUE - with white border
Affirmative

YELLOW - with grey border
Uninfected

ORANGE - with black border
Negative

WHITE - with red border
Medic needed

GREY - with blue border
Shelter needed

BLACK - with yellow border
Infected

The borders are so that the main colours will stand out even if the surrounding area is that colour. You could still spot a white flag in the snow, for example, because it would have a red border.

Green is absent because it would blend too easily with trees and grass.

White and grey are used for "Help me" signals because of the convention to use white as a surrender flag.

Maritime / Zombitime base flags

The current system has 26 flags labelled A-Z, and 10 from 0-9.

Each of the lettered flags has a current meaning that I have slightly modified to relate to Z-Day circumstances. I have kept them as close to the original meaning as possible so that anyone who knows the maritime system will have a good chance at guessing the new meanings. These are intended to be flown from a base, not carried around.


Letter Picture Current Meaning Z-Day Meaning
A Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Diver down. Keep clear and slow speed. Scout in field. Aproach with caution.
B Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Taking in, carrying or discharging dangerous goods. Currently disposing of corpses.
C Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Affirmative. Yes, Affirmative.
D Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Keep clear. Keep clear.
E Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Altering course to starboard. Safe passage to the left side of base. (Left facing out of base)
F Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki I am disabled. Communicate with me. Perimeter breached, requesting assistance.
G Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki I require a pilot. Local guide needed.
H Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki I have a pilot on board. Camp has local guide.
I Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Altering course to port. Safe passage to the right side of base. (Right facing out of base)
J Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki I am on fire and/or have dangerous cargo. Keep clear. Dangerous situation in base. Keep clear. (Uncontrolled fire, etc)
K Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki I wish to communicate. I wish to communicate.
L Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Under quarantine. Camp infected. (Non-Z diseases such as influenza, etc.)
M Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki My vessel is stopped. We have ceased fire.
N Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Negative. No, Negative.
O Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Man overboard. Lost communication with scouting party. Report in.
P Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki All crew should return to the ship. Return signal for scouting party.
Q Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Crew uninfected. Camp uninfected. (Non-Z diseases such as influenza, etc.)
R Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Used to denote distance. Used to denote distance.
S Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Engine working. We have power. (Generator, etc)
T Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Used to denote time. Used to denote time.
U Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki You are running into danger. You are in danger. (Zack nearby, booby trapped area, etc)
V Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki I require assistance. Survivors wanted.
W Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki I require medical assistance. Medic needed.
X Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Stop and watch for signals. Stop and watch for signals.
Y Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Dragging anchor. Base secure.
Z Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Require towing. Request transportation.



Number Square Pennant
0 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki
1 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki
2 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki
3 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki
4 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki
5 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki
6 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki
7 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki
8 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki
9 Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki


Some of these are direct translations from the maritime system. Others have been modified for Z-Day situations. B is used to explain a controlled fire (corpse burning to prevent infection) whilst J would be used for an uncontrolled fire. Yes, if you were running a sizable base, you would need a flag for that. If your base is on fire, why would you not just cut and run? One building on fire is no reason to leave a well fortified compund. However, you might need to explain the smoke to your scouting party, and tell them to hang back until the situation is under control.

E and I may seem counter-intuitive, but not if you think about the original use. Two ships on a head-on collision course. One responds, I am turning to port (my left). The other responds with the same message. They pass each other safely. This is why the Z-Day meanings are the way they are. Any survivors that you send to your left are turning to their right.

Using this system a base can communicate detailed instructions to both scouts and survivors. For example, P T 1 6 0 0 means "Scouts return to base at 4pm." And V H S Y K means "Survivors wanted. We have a local guide, power and a secure base. Signal us."

One member suggested a date system so that you can tell if the signal is old, and on an abandoned base. I would recommend using the Pennant numbers for the day of the month, and the Square numbers for the month. This will eliminate confusion as to which date system is in use if just square flags are used. (dd/mm or mm/dd. You aproach a base flying X, with a date marker using all square flags, 14. Is that January 4th, 1st of April, 14th of something because the other flags blew away weeks ago? If it is Pennant 1, Square 4, then its a safe bet that it was set on 1st of April.)

Don't forget that common symbols can and will still be in use:

Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki

Z-Day Survivor Signals System - Zombie Survival & Defense Wiki

Radiation, Biohazard and Chemical Weapon symbols.



John_234
John_234
Latest page update: made by John_234 , Jul 17 2010, 6:37 PM EDT (about this update About This Update John_234 Moved from: Digging In - John_234

No content added or deleted.

- complete history)
More Info: links to this page
Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
hayden0103 Dawn of the Dead Remake: Whiteboards 1 Nov 7 2011, 2:25 AM EST by dameon692002
Thread started: Jul 13 2010, 11:54 PM EDT  Watch
For those of you who watched the Dawn of the Dead remake (a remake of what is arguably one of the best zombie movies ever, and is quite good in its own merit), the black policeman (can't remember his name) communicated with the gun shop owner with a whiteboard and binoculars. I think the BEST option would be to use a black marker to write these messages in as few words as possible on canvas, a whiteboard, or a T-shirt slice in the front (opening sort of like a book).
6  out of 6 found this valuable. Do you?    
Show Last Reply
butcherofscotland Flags 4 May 20 2010, 11:50 AM EDT by JPTank
Thread started: May 20 2010, 8:41 AM EDT  Watch
This could work. However, bright colours and movement, i.e. the coloured flags blowing in the wind, may attract raiders or zombies. a raider would know how many people you have, how much supplies you have et al from the flags. Zombies may just be attracted to colour or movement.
Also, maritime flags require material that could be used for clothing, bedding etc.
1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Show Last Reply
Demonica13 Smart Z's 6 Apr 18 2010, 9:08 PM EDT by FracturedCell
Thread started: Mar 25 2010, 9:19 PM EDT  Watch
What if they retain inteligence (not morals) from former life and know what the flags mean?
1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Show Last Reply
Showing 3 of 8 threads for this page - view all

Related Content

  (what's this?Related ContentThanks to keyword tags, links to related pages and threads are added to the bottom of your pages. Up to 15 links are shown, determined by matching tags and by how recently the content was updated; keeping the most current at the top. Share your feedback on Wetpaint Central.)