Base fortifications

Lets say you are very lucky, you found a suitable base, you and your fellow survivors happily move in and settle in. But remember one thing, a base without proper fortifications are just asking to be invaded or raided.

A few aspects to take note when setting up defenses

1. Will this be a long term base? A short term base does not need very sophisticated and long term defenses because you are probably leaving it after a short time.
2. How big is your base? Remember to take measurements and do planning before doing fortifications.
3. The surroundings of your base. You don't want to burst a gas pipe when digging a trench, accidents might happen.
4. Any place you should look out for. For examples, high altitude places such as other buildings or mountains that can be use to easily break into your base
5. Leave one or more escape routes. Never think that your base is impenetrable, cutting off your escape routes is basically nailing your own coffin.

Defenses (traps)

With all the aspects out of the way, its time to focus on the things you can make.

Stakes/hedgehogs/barbed wires

Probably the most primitive, and easiest way to make defenses. not very useful against humans as they will simply walk around it but will slow them down and buy you some time for the snipers to take them out. on the other hand its quite effective for zombs as they will simply walk into it, geting impaled and stuck and you can simply finish them with a long reach melee ( but they are still dangerous ). Stakes are easy to prepare , just sharpen a thick log/bamboo and dig them into the ground with the tip about 45 degrees from the ground facing away your base. These work best in large numbers.

Moats /Trenches

Another very primitive yet effective way of defenses, simply dig a big, deep drain around your base. A moat can provide some obstacle for enemies to cross and form a barrier between your base and the outside world. You can add on some stakes/punji sticks in the moat to do damage incase if something or someone fell down it. You can also pour mud, quick sand or liquids that will slow the offensive side down. However digging a moat is almost impossible on urban areas because of the hard surfaces (concrete, roads etc) and the surrounding structures (other buildings etc). Also make sure your moat isn't flooded with water because invaders side may hide under it , or simply float across its , rendering your punji sticks useless.

Punji sticks

Punji sticks are a double edge sword while a vicious and dangerous trap to enemies it also poses a great threat to one self too. Punji sticks originate from the Vietnam war (although some evidence might say it existed since prehistoric era). A punji stick trap is simply a hole with several sharpened stick pointing upwards covered with a canopy (made of leaves, branches etc). When stepped on, the victim breaks the canopy and falls into the hole, impaling his/her leg with the sticks underneath. The main dangers of punji sticks is it is well camouflaged, meaning the person who setup it had an equal chance of falling into the trap as the enemy. Unless you chill inside your base all year and never came out , DO NOT employ this trap in large numbers or at all.

Walls/fences

Walls and fences are utterly useless against humans as they will simply climb over it or destroy it . However it is a cheap and useful tactic to employ against the zombies (unless you are facing those zombies in WWZ movie or Call me a Hero if then may god bless you). Walls can be made with a lot of materials, sandbags, logs, bamboos all can make walls and fences. You can also make some small holes on the walls to provide snipers a good shot or use long weapons to attack the undeads.

Rope traps

Traditionally used against animals, The rope trap is a trap that when triggered ties the legs of the victim and hangs it on a tree. There are various ways to make a rope trap. Rope traps can be useful cuz they do not immediately kill the victim but rather disarms it. But if you are feeling evil you can put some bells or objects that make loud noise to offer the zombies free dinner.

Structures

These are not traps nor defenses, but rather require manpower to keep it useful.

machine-gun/sniper nests

You can setups small huts/towers on some points in some high areas on your base. this gives you a pretty good vantage point for your men. Typically, such nests are setup on flat areas where you will expect a full scale invasion or at the four corners of the base. Even if you do not have guns they still provide a good sight to inform you what is going on around your base.

Ballistas

this will be your main source of heavy weapons (unless you have a 88 mil artillery gun or otherwise). Ballistas are easy to craft provide with a little bit of trial and error, ammo can be made easily (same way you will make stakes but shorter) and you can attach several different types of ammunition . For example , attach a sealed pot with chlorine gas inside on the front of the bolt and when launched becomes a chemical weapon. Ballistas can be used with your machine gun/sniper nests.

Poison gas tanks

A hefty nod to ww1. Poison gas can be very effective on countering large raids, just some barrels filled with chlorine and when the wind blows the right direction open the tank. Now watch as the invading side flee in terror. However be very careful when using this , as a single change of wind can kill your whole group , that situation will be comedic to your enemies , but devastating to you own.

The list goes on and on

As long as you use your brain and think creatively the possibilities of new traps are endless. If you have any good idea on traps , make sure to share it .