Looking 4 Guidance?

Welcome to the zombie apocalypse. From the roof of the Vannah Hotel to the military helipad and every hellhole in between, the bulk of this book is a step-by-step Walkthrough of each of the five campaigns. Here is a quick explanation of what the Walkthrough contains:

There are five different campaigns to attempt in Left 4 Dead 2 . Within each campaign, there either four or five sections, known as “stages.” Here is a complete list of all five campaigns and 23 stages:

For the purposes of this guide, we have further subdivided most stages into subsections we call “areas,” each having its own number. Areas are self-contained portions of a stage, such as a group of settlements or an area of land, divided so that you can easily find a particular chokepoint and read tactical information about that locale, which we call “locations.”

Campaign: One of the five large-scale undertakings you and your team play, for example, Dead Center.

Stage : A large subsection of a campaign that you can also pick from the in-game menu. An example of a stage is Plank Country.

Area: A fully labeled (and found only in this guide) subsection of a stage, divided and numbered to give clarity to the tactics shown.

Location : One of between six and ten waypoints, chokepoints, or problem zones within an area that are labeled for this guide. Each location provides specific tactics. An example is Location 1A.

A Small Sampling

The sample page elements shown here list the various elements contained within this Walkthrough, so you can understand exactly what you’re reading. Here’s how all the information breaks down:

1. Campaign Introdcution

After the campaign poster, brief explanations of the four or five stages within the campaign are detailed. After this you’ll find a picture and notes on the Uncommon Infected that appears only in this campaign. Then comes a list of Achievements that are unique to the campaign, so that you’re aware of what unlocks, when, and how.

2. Stage Introduction and Overview

Next comes the start of the campaign itself—an overview section; in this case, a fiery, zombie-filled hotel called, appropriately enough, “Hotel.” This is the first stage of the Dead Center Campaign. The campaign logo appears in one corner. On the map are the areas, optimal (thick) and optional (thin) routes, and possible item locations. Finally, the Walkthrough provides a list of thr advantages the stage has for your team, along with three possible problems.

Walkthrough: Area Tactics

The bulk of the Walkthrough showcases the multiple pathways, problems, and solutions when trekking through every area. They are presented chronologically. If necessary, a detailed Area Map is shown. Next is information on the A.I. Director, which illustrates what random or dynamic changes there may be for this area. Then comes the Walkthrough:

• This gives step-by-step instructions for navigating each location within an area.
• The exact part of an area is known as a “location,” for example “Location Start” or “Location 1A.”
• In the top corner of many pictures is a location label. This means the picture corresponds to the location on the map, so you can see the environment that has already been pinpointed.
• Additional pictures may also be shown to give credence and extra visual guidance in a particular location.
• The guide also presents Notes (informational boxes), Tips (handy mini-tactics for you to try), and Cautions (problems or dangers to be aware of).
• Once a the area locations have been detailed, an additional box called “Effective Infected” is shown. This text gives tactics you can use when playing as Special Infected in this area during Versus mode.
• Then the Walkthrough moves to the next area.