Ch 5: The Ambush

Ambushes are murder and murder is fun. (Rumor of War)

The key to an ambush is timing. Hiding is easy, and springing from hiding is even easier. However, it takes a sixth sense to execute an ambush. After you've taken part in multiple ambushes, you'll start to simply know when the time to strike is. Hesitating or attacking prematurely will typically end in failure. Wait for the instinct in your head and in your gut to tell you when to make your move if you have experience. If you don't, evaluate your situation and make note of a few things:

1. What is the enemy focused on?
2. What is the enemy doing?
3. What is the purpose of your ambush?

1. Your enemy should be focused on something else to draw attention away from you. The Zeds could be in combat, in a discussion, or merely lost in their own thoughts. The sudden shift of attention required to adjust to your ambush will cause temporary confusion. A bout of laughter or a reaction to a nearby loud noise (which can be staged if you've prepared well) often present ideal windows to strike in.
2. If the enemy is moving, do not seek to cut off their path. Instead, seek to be along the path. Watch the enemy, wait, and do not strike until the enemy is well within your trap. If the enemy is walking, do not reveal yourself until half of the group has passed you. If the enemy is stationary, do not attack unless its focus is entirely allocated to something else. An ambush should never be rushed, and is unique in that you can typically call off the strike without risking casualties as the enemy won't see your position.
3. Typically, an ambush is meant to inflict as many casualties on the enemy as possible. Strike silently, swiftly, and surely. By waiting until the enemy has partially passed by you, you're maximizing the number of Zeds within your range when you engage. If you were to spring too early or too late, you run the risk of most enemies escaping. However, ambushes are sometimes useful tools for confusion. An enemy that finds itself in an ambush will often panic and break rank. This will give you time to relieve trapped allies or carry out movements without the enemy noticing. It is in these specific cases that tactics such as war cries, excessive fire, and other chaotic tactics are useful to employ.

Guerilla tactics are used by weaker powers to confront stronger forces because the attackers suffer minimal casualties. As survivors, this is always our goal. Our rules say that we must never hunt the Zed, but if combat is necessary, then effort should be made to ensure that the combat takes place on our own terms and ideally via an ambush. Once your strike is complete, do not linger. Vanish again like a ghost and elude retaliation.

Ambushes require a good deal of coordination and discipline to effectively utilize. Your team must be capable of communicating details such as positioning and when to strike without the enemy ever knowing. If you desire to spread out and get on multiple sides of the enemy, you will need some sort of special communication method.