Those zombies won't know what hit 'em. Killing makes up a big part of Project Zomboid, and with these lovingly-created mods from various forum members, the murdering just got more exciting. Is it murder when they're undead? We'll leave that moral quandary up for debate.
When it comes to installing weapon mods, there's a slight variation between mods. Some will just be a single .txt file, others will have new sprites and/or new sounds. Each of the mods featured below comes with its own handy install guide, so it's best to follow that. In general your starting point on PC will be c:\installdirectory\mods\ or for Desura users, c:\Program Files\Desura\Common\Project Zomboid\mods. If you're on a Mac, it's best to place the files in their respective directory within the Media folder, rather than the Mods folder, which can be found by viewing the Project Zomboid package contents and heading to Contents\Resources\Java\Media
First up we have Aftermath_FIN's mod, which adds a bunch of new guns into the game. There are two handguns; a 9mm and a revolver, as well as an M1 Garand, an M14, and for the especially gung-ho survivor there's an AK47 and an M16. Rather than simply serving as a boost to your firepower, however, Aftermath's mod also requires weapons to be reloaded manually. This adds an element of tactical play to the shooting, making great use of the PZ crafting mechanic. Getting caught short as the horde descends on you is a terrifying experience.
Which is where InnocentSam's SOW mod comes in. When you absolutely, positively got to kill every mothershuffler in the room, accept no substitutes. And, well, you really will kill every zombie in the whole of Knox County. Not only does it contain a new Heavy Axe, an even more lethal variant of the regular axe, it also contains a Boomstick. Evil Dead fans will recognise the name already, but what the Boomstick is here is a ridiculously overpowered shotgun with a screen-filling spread and infinite ammo. Simply point, shoot, and the dead get deader. There's also a Sound Gun, if you fancy luring zombies to their Boomstick-based doom. For science. You monster. As with all the best infinite-ammo shotguns, the Boomstick can be crafted with a shoe. There are also a few other surprises in the SOW mod, which incidentally stands for Stupidly Overpowered Weapons. Just the thing for taking out the day's frustrations.
For those after a slightly more up-close-and-personal experience, we have two melee mods. The first, SpeCter's golf club mod, is exactly what you might expect. Who doesn't love a bit of sports-based violence? And they say golf's a relaxing game. Don't swing it around too much though, it's quite a heavy weapon. If you've already gone five under by the 18th and are after more melee goodness, then reinhart's pack is for you. Consisting of reworked mods by forum members jux and jet, this mod contains a wrench, a tire iron, a cleaver, a crowbar (for the budding Gordon Freeman enthusiast) and a katana. Handy when you're looking to conserve ammo, then. Although quite who in Knox County had a katana lying around is anyone's guess. I'd bet on Kate, she seems the samurai type.
If you're tired of getting blood on your pink tank top, then zombaxx's selection of new weapons is for you. Although it adds saws, aluminium bats and broken bottles, the focus here is on some new guns. There's a sawed-off shotgun, a molotov launcher, a rifle and a sniper rifle. The rifle's particularly great if you're one for running shirtless through the park, screaming like Stallone in Rambo. And let's face it, who isn't? There are silenced variants of the rifles too, so if there's a particular zombie you want to pick off stealthily, perhaps a former nemesis or an annoying neighbour-turned-undead, then you can get away with it scot free.
Finally, not content to simply collect weapons, and inspired by the TV show Macgyver, uno_da_cat has created a series of weapon crafting recipes. There's a plated plank, a polearm, a broken bottle knife, a terrifying baseball bat/doorknob combo, but perhaps best of all there's the means to craft a gun that uses biros as ammo. They do say the pen is mightier than the sword, especially when being used as a high-velocity projectile. uno_da_cat's mod also adds a lever-action rifle, a kitchen knife and a rusty pipe, as well as a few other crafting items. A perfect mod for the DIY enthusiast.
If you're looking for even more ways to kill, then be sure to head over to the Project Zomboid forums, where there are numerous additional mods created by our many talented members. In the meantime, keep an eye out for an imminent new developer blog for more news on how the update is progressing, and join me next time on Stinky Mods when I'll be talking about one of my favourite subjects; food. In the meantime, keep killing those zombies and remember; there's no shame in whipping out a Boomstick when the going gets really tough.
