Comments on: Zombies and the science of siege warfare http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/ Kicking ass in the name of science! Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:32:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Nakita http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-17532 Nakita Sat, 31 May 2008 20:12:09 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-17532 Isn't the movie called '28 Weeks Later'? Isn’t the movie called ‘28 Weeks Later’?

]]> By: steve http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-9964 steve Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:10:48 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-9964 "have to argue against your city streets and canyons theory though - these are exactly the kind of place you want to take on zombies, because you can’t be outflanked and their main advantage (weight of numbers) is reduced because only the front line can attack. The Greeks used that tactic to great success at the Battle of Thermopylae" yes, but the Greeks did eventually fall. the immense numbers of the Persians, and one mistake, caused the entire line to fall. in an urban area, you would no doubt be faced with a huge amount of zombies. if anyone in your group made a single mistake, you would be . but, yes, you could make a cinematic last stand. “have to argue against your city streets and canyons theory though - these are exactly the kind of place you want to take on zombies, because you can’t be outflanked and their main advantage (weight of numbers) is reduced because only the front line can attack. The Greeks used that tactic to great success at the Battle of Thermopylae”

yes, but the Greeks did eventually fall. the immense numbers of the Persians, and one mistake, caused the entire line to fall. in an urban area, you would no doubt be faced with a huge amount of zombies. if anyone in your group made a single mistake, you would be . but, yes, you could make a cinematic last stand.

]]> By: Frank the SciencePunk http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1267 Frank the SciencePunk Sat, 26 May 2007 18:31:51 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1267 Although herd behaviour of zombies is well documented, I don't think there's any evidence to suggest distributed knowledge. I have to argue against your city streets and canyons theory though - these are <i>exactly</i> the kind of place you want to take on zombies, because you can't be outflanked and their main advantage (weight of numbers) is reduced because only the front line can attack. The Greeks used that tactic to great success at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae" rel="nofollow">the Battle of Thermopylae</a>, and Queen Boudicca fell foul of it at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Watling_Street" rel="nofollow">Battle of Watling Street</a>. Although herd behaviour of zombies is well documented, I don’t think there’s any evidence to suggest distributed knowledge.

I have to argue against your city streets and canyons theory though - these are exactly the kind of place you want to take on zombies, because you can’t be outflanked and their main advantage (weight of numbers) is reduced because only the front line can attack. The Greeks used that tactic to great success at the Battle of Thermopylae, and Queen Boudicca fell foul of it at the Battle of Watling Street.

]]> By: alistair http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1248 alistair Fri, 25 May 2007 15:17:20 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1248 I wonder though if we have a full understanding of the effects of zonies' additional senses. for example the 'one zombie knows where you are, they all do' and perhaps heightened senses smell / night vision etc. these might decrease the odds of success in open battle.. in some terrains at least. cities with narrow streets for instance where you could be easily trapped in a dead end, or in terrains where there are limited escape routes (canyons/ hills/cliffs) oh and i'm pretty sure circumnavigate means 'to travel around something' rather than to 'get past'... but it's clear what you meant I wonder though if we have a full understanding of the effects of zonies’ additional senses. for example the ‘one zombie knows where you are, they all do’ and perhaps heightened senses smell / night vision etc. these might decrease the odds of success in open battle.. in some terrains at least.

cities with narrow streets for instance where you could be easily trapped in a dead end, or in terrains where there are limited escape routes (canyons/ hills/cliffs)

oh and i’m pretty sure circumnavigate means ‘to travel around something’ rather than to ‘get past’… but it’s clear what you meant

]]> By: Keith http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1209 Keith Thu, 17 May 2007 13:54:12 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1209 Unfortunately I feel no matter how impenetrable ones fortress or how advanced levels of preparation may be, any attempt to sit the siege out are futile. Various films have shown us that there's always at least one dumb ass that momentarily forgets just how serious events have got, and does something inexplicably stupid. This inevitably ends up with someone ending up on the zombie side of said fortress walls and the loosely cobbled together rescue plan results in both loss of life and a critically compromised fortress. A panicked retreat follows with more loss of life along the way, ending up with the remaining survivors locking themselves in the attic or small room on the top floor. Thus when the now inevitable final battle occurs the surviving army is somewhat diminished. You may as well fight from the off... Unfortunately I feel no matter how impenetrable ones fortress or how advanced levels of preparation may be, any attempt to sit the siege out are futile.
Various films have shown us that there’s always at least one dumb ass that momentarily forgets just how serious events have got, and does something inexplicably stupid.
This inevitably ends up with someone ending up on the zombie side of said fortress walls and the loosely cobbled together rescue plan results in both loss of life and a critically compromised fortress. A panicked retreat follows with more loss of life along the way, ending up with the remaining survivors locking themselves in the attic or small room on the top floor.
Thus when the now inevitable final battle occurs the surviving army is somewhat diminished.
You may as well fight from the off…

]]> By: Frank the SciencePunk http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1200 Frank the SciencePunk Tue, 15 May 2007 10:34:54 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1200 We could definitely learn a few things from <a href="http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1168470616997&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815" rel="nofollow">Troy Hurtubise</a>, who built a suit capable of withstanding a grizzly bear attack. We could definitely learn a few things from Troy Hurtubise, who built a suit capable of withstanding a grizzly bear attack.

]]> By: Les http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1198 Les Tue, 15 May 2007 09:17:05 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1198 Well done Frank we'll have our group sorted soon. No siege warfare for us. We'll take them all on! Well done Frank we’ll have our group sorted soon. No siege warfare for us. We’ll take them all on!

]]> By: Frank the SciencePunk http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1167 Frank the SciencePunk Fri, 11 May 2007 13:37:16 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1167 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=define%3A+circumnavigate&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a" rel="nofollow">Circumnavigate</a>: <em>"to avoid by going around"</em> Circumnavigate: “to avoid by going around”

]]> By: Ithika http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1166 Ithika Fri, 11 May 2007 13:07:14 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1166 Excellent response. I think the technique of serious scientific enquiry through film analysis is under-used, but must surely become more popular. We do have the physics of superheroes, after all. Excellent response. I think the technique of serious scientific enquiry through film analysis is under-used, but must surely become more popular. We do have the physics of superheroes, after all.

]]> By: John http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1165 John Fri, 11 May 2007 13:02:50 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2007/05/zombies-and-the-science-of-siege-warfare/#comment-1165 <blockquote>"Traditionally, the attacking army will attempt to <b>circumnavigate</b> their target’s defences.."</blockquote> I do not think that word means what you think it means.... Perhaps <b>circumvent</b>?

“Traditionally, the attacking army will attempt to circumnavigate their target’s defences..”

I do not think that word means what you think it means….

Perhaps circumvent?

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