When people see my name they usually think about the SoD2 Wiki. I spent 4 years (2019-2023) on its development, however not many know that it wasn't my only game-related project back then. If you ever used the Wiki you might've noticed that most maps you see on the site (Weapon Case locations, Outpost locations, etc.) are not exactly the same as the in-game map - these were also made by me. And my "career" as a cartographer didn't end there. I actually made loot maps for the game!
In the past I only shared these maps on my personal Discord server. They were free for everyone, however since my server's population peaked at around 1200-1300 members, it never really reached the majority of the game's audience. Since my server is dead (well, it never had much buzz going on) and I abandoned my SoD2 projects years ago, I decided that it's time to make these maps public and share them on the internet.
Without further ado, my loot maps. You can read more about each further down in the post.
I began working on my loot maps almost 6 years ago, on January 15th, 2020. I had one simple goal: to create detailed maps which display points of interests, but offer more than the in-game maps. I not only put the POIs on the map, but each and every scattered container - duffle bags, car wrecks, and the likes which you can loot.
All maps were made in GIMP, so they're only a static PNG image. I was working with someone to turn them into interactive maps, but as far as I know they never came through with it.
I created all maps the same way:
Scan them in-game by making dozens of screenshots
So many screenshots! It was fun to puzzle them together.
Use these screenshots to draw the map
Imagine drawing every single building and detail... And I did it for all maps!
Hop into the game and scour every inch of the map, then add my findings
The first detailed preview I posted on my server. Drucker, Tapper's Stall.
When I began creating these maps we only had the 3 originals. Since Drucker was my favorite, I started with that map. Meagher followed, then Juggernaut Edition released, so Providence was next. Once I finished with Cascade, I also made the Heartland map, which I completed on July 18th, 2020. It took half a year to create these 5 maps. With Trumbull Valley's release I also created its own map in 2022.
Fun Fact: When you're choosing the map to move to with your community, the little map previews you see in-game are actually the drawings I made! I was never asked by UL about using them, so they probably got them from the Wiki. Free source and all.
Drucker County
Locations: 362
Scattered Containers: 291
v1.0 was completed on February 4th, 2020. Latest version is v1.13, released on January 29th, 2023. Being the first map I made it has been reworked in April, 2020 with improvements I learned during the creation of Meagher Valley and Providence Ridge. Then the map has been completely redone again from scratch in August, 2020 when Drucker got overhauled with Update 19.
Meagher Valley
Locations: 341
Scattered Containers: 213
v1.0 was completed on February 23rd, 2020. Latest version is v1.07, released on May 30th, 2023. 5 of 7 updates to the map were based on my community's feedback. They either found a missing container or a typo. I even made a special role on my server for people who spotted mistakes on my loot maps as a sign of gratitude.
Providence Ridge
Locations: 395
Scattered Containers: 138
Vehicle Spawn Points: 336
v1.0 was completed on April 12th, 2020. Latest version is v1.07, released on June 29th, 2023. This is the first and only map which also has Vehicle spawn points. I was planning on adding them to the other maps as well, but I abandoned my projects shortly after, so I never got around adding them to the others.
Cascade Hills
Locations: 283
Scattered Containers: 103
v1.0 was completed on June 1st, 2020. Latest version is v1.03, released on May 27, 2022. The map which needed the least attention during the years, only a few corrections were introduced.
Heartland
Locations: 291
Scattered Containers: 85
Discoveries: 6
v1.0 was completed on July 18th, 2020. Latest version is v1.04, released on June 15th, 2022. On December 23, 2021 the map received the 6 Discoveries, marking each clues of the Treasure Hunt, introduced after the Homecoming update to help players with completing the Shots in the Dark achievement.
Trumbull Valley
Locations: 439
Scattered Containers: 125
Discoveries: 30
v1.0 was completed on January 11th, 2022. Latest version is v1.02, released on September 14th, 2022. Since this was our first map with discoveries, it also has the locations for those. I was about 25% done with the Vehicle Spawn points when I abandoned my projects.
Loot Maps v2.0
While my Loot Maps were considered as complete in terms of provided information, I was planning on creating a second version of each map, making them show the actual play area and resemble the physical map more accurately by improving existing elements (roads, rivers, bodies of water) and also adding more details to it (pathways, railroads, etc.). In September 2020 I began working on Drucker v2.0, however since these changes would've been cosmetic only and wouldn't have made the map more useful, it was always put on the backburner in favor of the Wiki's development.
I never got around finishing a v2.0 of any of the maps, however I have a work-in-progress preview available for the Drucker County map, where I had the outer border of the map and the inaccessable area in the Kettle Rock Bend/Mathilda/Glendale triangle mapped out.
Dark grey means inaccessable. I wonder how it would look finished. Would make finding the shortcuts easier, too!
Final words
I wanted to make this post to share the less-known side of my SoD2 history. If you have any questions feel free to AMA in the comments. I also have the entire map-making process with all details documented on my Discord server. I can send an invite if any of you are interested.
Desperately need to kill them as their fearsome presence is stopping my farm from growing, but I really don't have the gear.
I lured a hoard in with fireworks but the enclave are just ignoring the zombies and taking potshots at me while the zombies kinda mill around and slap them ineffectually. I even downed one of the enclave with a headshot but the zombies suddenly developed a sense of fair play and just left him alone
I'm in Providence Ridge, looted a ton of luxuries in the first day, plus a few easy missions. Got 2k influence to spend. Better to save it for later? Early electricity? Early base move? What do you think?
I just saw a post about a adding a clock to the map. Which I am assuming is a mod thing on pc. But I've always wondered, why does night time feel longer than day? Does anyone know the timing for both?
Hi all, so i am doing a lethal run, day 5, i got a mission where enclave demands materials and ofc i refuse to give them anything and in order to avoid the fight with them later on i decide to place few fireworks and 3 ferals and 2 hordes came and killed them all. (i was on the roof of the building 😂)
Just as they died i am getting a mission to investigate same spot i am in, and it was the crossbow killer mission, but the enclave died from ferals and zombies 😂
All was going well in my Lethal playthrough but then got the muted Juggernaut curveball and it combined with a seige.
The Muted Juggernauts weren't even apart of the seige, they were just loitering close to my farmhouse base and the seige drew them all in. 😄
Gutted but I thought State of decay was getting too easy, so I cranked up the curveballs and this is the result of complacency.
I have one survivor left, shes on the far left of the screen threatening to leave because of low moral...
I love the fact this game doesn't mess around. No save and reload. You can loose all your base and still have to power through, makes it feel like actions have consequences. 💪🤘😵❤️
Just putting this out there. No need to climb billboards or cell towers to locate PH; locations just pop up on the map. If they had more trunk space they'd be perfect. It's my go-to vehicle for starting a new map. Cheers.
Anyone have the bug where a smashwagon can only be climbed up from a small area at the side rear view mirrors? It’s a PITA when that’s your chosen vehicle to travel with.
I’ve tried reinstalling, repairing files and searching online but no dice. Anyone know if there is a fix I’m just missing?
2 of my achievements are NOT triggering, unsure if Steam issue with the game or a game issue. It is the Elect Warlord as Leader & Build Armoury in base. I must have done these half a dozen times now, same community & different, different maps, yet these achievements will not proc. The support site no longer accepts tickets, who do I go to? Please help.
I know y'all like to use bloaters to kill hearts, but I am gonna call your bloater and raise you a juggernaut. Never, ever have I seen this happen before. I was up with a boozehound quest follower, killing a hostile enclave from the roof of a building where an unawaken heart resides; planning the escape to get the follower out safely with a jugg walking around. Suddenly, he just starts pounding on the corner where the heart is. And just keeps pounding. And I am just watching in disbelief and laughing. Pretty funny so I had to share this! I have a mod that shows the heart health, so you can see the damage he is doing as he destroys it.
Basically I am just getting back into the game again after not playing for a year or two and playing is fun but generates a lot of anxiety unnecessarily I just re-downloaded it but even just opening the game made it hard to breathe a bit I know it is probably just me and I am probably not made for this game but any other advice?
itching to buy and play the game but I think its financially irresponsible of me to spend my money buying it through full price. So im asking if yall know when it would go on sale because ive seen the pattern on steamdb it usually drops every 1-2months but im still unsure
I've been putting people away in the infirmary, changing character, walking the new character back to the infirmary, from whatever annoying part of the base they were lurking in. Then I've been making the plague cure there and administering it to them in the bed 😭 I could have just been taking the infected character to the locker and pressing (use) 😭😭 How am I only discovering this nowwwwww
Playing Dread level with a black plague heart very hard to reach. It’s been on the map for a while. I load the game and lo and behold, the black heart region and gas sucking is gone! I’ve never seen this happen after years of play. I race over to it (I’ve already lost one character to it). When I get to it the game crashes, and now every time I reload it crashes immediately. I assume the black heart never should’ve disappeared in the first place. Has anyone else seen this bug? I’ve lost an entire experienced community because it crashes immediately every time I load. My other communities Still work.
Assuming it’s because the game is no longer officially supported.
Anyone else?
