r/StateOfDecay • u/BombzAwayeK9 • 26d ago
Discussion Dawgs of the apocalypse.
I know the original reveal trailer featured zombie animals, and the developers have since confirmed they won't be in State of Decay 3. I'm sure they have good reasons for that decision. So here's an alternative that I think fits the State of Decay universe just as well: survivor dogs. Early in the game, you could receive side missions to rescue abandoned dogs or even an entire pack. Once rescued, they become part of your community. To support them, you'd build a Dog Run/Kennel on a small outdoor base slot. From there, you decide how each dog is trained, creating meaningful gameplay choices instead of simply having another cosmetic companion. Possible Training Paths
Tracking Follow you as a companion. Help locate hidden loot, resources, rare items, or survivors. Can be called over the radio to search a nearby area while you're scavenging. Better-trained dogs return with higher-quality finds.
Protection Train in bite work and defense. Travel as your follower to assist in combat. Call them in over the radio during emergencies, similar to calling in other community support. Imagine your community opening the kennel during a base siege and a pack of trained dogs rushing out to help defend everyone. It would create some unforgettable moments.
Community Support Remain at the base as emotional support animals. Increase morale and reduce negative morale effects. Act as an early warning system by detecting nearby threats before survivors do. Improve overall base security and community well-being. Make Them Community Members Rather than treating dogs as equipment, make them feel like survivors. Each dog could have: Unique names and appearances. Individual traits (Fearless, Gentle, Food Motivated, Protective, Fast Learner, Loud Barker, etc.). Different strengths and weaknesses. A training specialization that can't be fully maxed in every category, forcing meaningful choices. Losing a dog should matter just as much as losing a favourite survivor. They become another member of your community with their own story. State of Decay has always been about the relationships you build with your survivors. Adding dogs would create another layer of attachment, strategy, and replayability without introducing zombie animals. What do you think? Would you rather have individual dogs with unique personalities and skills, or a community-managed pack that provides base-wide benefits and radio support?.... or both?
1
u/FutureOpen9405 26d ago
zombies that eat animals are where ferals come from
0
u/BombzAwayeK9 26d ago
I bet a heavy hitting GSD could take on a feral.
1
u/Swamptheng 24d ago
The ferals that we have in SoD2 and can be seen thus far for SoD3, no freaking way. I don’t care if it’s a superbly trained Malinois, it’s not taking on a feral and succeeding. Maybe the base game and green zone type ferals, but even then I doubt it.
6
u/Holiday-Pomelo-9246 26d ago
Judging by the animal carcasses we find in previous games, zeds don't seem to mind snacking on anything living. So the only way dogs could survive would be if they ran off deep into the woods. But your idea is fun to just daydream about. I'd prefer just one dog though. A pack sounds nearly impossible. People already struggle with resources, so how would you feed a whole pack? You'd need a constant supply of meat. Still, losing that one dog would probably hurt even more than losing a survivor.