A bandit from "The Walking Dead" video game by Telltale
Bandits or Raiders are humans who will attack other survivors. Their motives can include theft, murder, or general harassment. Bandits come in various forms, ranging from loose groups of violent, wandering thieves to highly organized groups and syndicates. Their backgrounds can also vary - they could be civilians who are desperate for supplies or rogue military units who feel entitled to take whatever they want due to their military status and superior firepower. The relationships between members of these groups can differ, ranging from family to close friends, mere acquaintances, or even to survivors who despise each other but must stick together to survive.
Survival is the main objective. As they may outnumber and out-gun you, one should use discretion and pick battles wisely.
Encountering[]
Bandits are armed with various weapons, such as blades and firearms, and typically operate in groups. As a result, avoidance is the recommended course of action. However, if one is compelled to engage with bandits, it is advisable to remain hidden for as long as possible. Bandits target locations that display signs requesting aid or exhibit valuable supplies. Surprise attacks and traps can be employed to defend against them, but initiating an attack should only be considered an option of last resort. It is important to note that bandits generally work in groups and possess significant experience in fighting humans. If lethal force is necessary, the bodies should be moved a considerable distance away and the scene is staged to appear as if it were a zombie attack to prevent any further retaliation. One must be prepared to defend their base or evacuate at a moment's notice. The admission of new members to the base should be approached cautiously, as potential infiltrators may be bandits waiting for an opportune moment to strike.
Your base or traveling group should at least look intimidating. Keep psychological weapons such as rocket launchers, machine guns and armed vehicles and make them clearly visible in locations where they cannot be stolen. This technique does generally work, but may attract bandits. Any bandit, no matter how large their group may be, will seriously reconsider attacking you if there is the possibility of having to face down a tank. But be careful, for you placing such items where bandits can see them might attract them. Also beware, for bandits can travel in great numbers.
However, if you are outnumbered, outgunned, and outmatched, it is a good decision to avoid the bandits.
Travel in groups and go heavily armed into unfamiliar or unsafe territory. Areas that are not thick in zombie activity are good candidates for bandits (the most vulnerable groups would likely move through these "safer" areas to avoid attacks from zombies) so do not drop your guard. A raid on a group or base is an activity that can use up precious resources, so most bandits would not commit to an attack if they think the reward is not worth the risk.
When analyzing a group of survivors from afar, it is possible to discern several key characteristics and traits that could be useful in determining whether or not to approach them. Notably, bandit groups are often led by alpha males and are heavily armed, possessing both melee and ranged weaponry. Furthermore, these groups may suffer from a lack of organization, leading to disagreements over supplies and other minor matters among members. They may also engage in questionable anti-social behavior such as cannibalism, torture, involuntary euthanasia, using drugs, keeping the zombies for non-scientific purposes, e.g., "as pets," and other unethical practices due to the lawless aftermath of the zombie apocalypse.
You should avoid such survivor groups if they meet some or all of the characteristics mentioned above.