Leading
Leading is the highest-impact role in ZE. A good leader turns a confused group into a coordinated team. This page is for players ready to step into that role.
What leaders do
Section titled “What leaders do”- Call when to hold and when to push
- Designate item holders
- Manage the team’s position during complex map events
- Maintain composure when the round goes wrong
The basics
Section titled “The basics”Be clear and early
Section titled “Be clear and early”Call before you need people to act, not at the same moment. “Hold here” needs to be said as the team is arriving, not when zombies are already in contact.
Use short callouts
Section titled “Use short callouts”- “Hold” / “Defend”: stop and defend
- “Push” / “Move”: advance now
- “Teleport” / specific trigger name: activate a map event
- “Use [item name]”: tell the item holder to activate
Long explanations during a hold are noise. Be brief.
Don’t over-call
Section titled “Don’t over-call”Constant callouts for obvious actions desensitize the team. Save your voice for critical moments.
Item management
Section titled “Item management”Assign items to trusted, experienced players before the map starts if possible. Know what each item does and when to use it. See Items & EntWatch.
When the hold breaks
Section titled “When the hold breaks”Holds break. Don’t panic:
- Immediately call the push, or designate a back up location
- Move with the group, don’t stay back
- Reset at the next viable hold point
- Avoid blaming individual players in the moment, unless someone is actively doing something that will jeopardize the run
Building trust
Section titled “Building trust”New leaders are often ignored until they prove themselves. Start by making correct calls consistently on easy maps. Trust is earned round by round.