IMPORTANT: Due to a flux of updates for b42, and computer issues on my end I haven't been able to update the collection. I'm working on it slowly though, have removed most problematic mods but sandbox settings and modlist are not up to date or usable.


A WIP collection of sandbox settings and curated mods designed to create a realistic and immersive "10 years later" experience in Knox Country for Build 42. This collection includes fixes for the latest build, quality-of-life improvements, and mods that breathe life into the desolate world with dynamic NPCs, overgrown nature, and a challenging yet realistic zombie presence. While difficult with new threats (Bandits and Horde Night) and lack of resources, this is not a Hardcore Difficulty mod.


Ten years on, Knox Country is a no man's Land, a place no one enters by choice. There’s no government, no communities, no hope. Just the hollow shells of towns where raiders roam the streets and the woods where cannibal clans carve out their feasts. The undead are still there, of course, stumbling through the ruins like forgotten remnants of a worse time, but they’re hardly the biggest threat. The real monsters are the ones who’ve learned to live here, the ones who’ve stripped away every shred of humanity to survive.

The people who remain in Knox are ghosts of humanity, bound only by their shared exile into this purgatory. Escaped slaves, drifters, and criminals eke out brutal lives, choosing the endless gauntlet of undead and psychopaths over the tyranny and chaos of the outside world. At night, the air fills with the distant crackle of gunfire, guttural screams, and the moans of the undead. You either make peace with the fact that you’ll die here, or you don’t, but the outcome’s the same.

• Water and Power: Utilities are completely out. There's some water left in the pipes, but you'll need to scavenge it and boil it to make it safe. Generators barely function as most gas has gone stale. If you’re lucky enough to find a full gas can, don’t count on it lasting long. Your primary food sources will be foraging, trapping, and fishing once the initial looting dries up.
  
  
• Vehicles: Cars are in rough shape—most are wrecked and run poorly on whatever gas you manage to find. This challenge encourages staying on foot, as vehicles are unreliable at best.
  
  
• Looting: Many buildings have already been picked clean. While resources are scarce, there’s still enough to find what you need to survive.
  
  
• Quality of Life: Several new recipes have been added to ease survival, reducing your dependency on looting alone. These should help balance out the grind.
  
  
• Threats: This mod includes both Horde Nights and Bandits, but they’ve been scaled down for a more manageable experience. Horde Nights bring small packs of zombies every two weeks, simulating wandering groups from Louisville or the woods around Knox County. Zombies won’t zone in on your location, so if you’re out looting during a Horde Night, you can avoid them and return to base safely.
  
  Bandits operate solo rather than in groups. Some may rarely carry ranged weapons, so proceed with caution. Most will charge at you immediately or as soon as they spot you, typically armed with melee weapons. Use doors and fences to create space and control the encounter. Longer melee weapons or ranged options give you an advantage in these fights. While they’re a threat, bandits can also be a valuable source of weapons, food, and water.
  
  
• Skill Training: Until better systems for skill development are introduced, books now grant experience directly, similar to watching TV. This lets you gain skills comfortably without relying on multipliers.
  
  
• Zombie Behavior: Wandering zombies and reactive sound events ensure the undead remain a constant threat. Even if you clear your surroundings, zeds will gradually trickle in, keeping you on edge. Stay vigilant!

Download Link [drive.google.com]

1. Open the shared link.
   
2. Click Download, located between the three dots and printer icon in the top right corner.
   
3. Save in an easy to find area, or directly to the file path listed in step one of uploading.
   
4. If you didn't save directly to the Sandbox Presets folder, than re-open file path: C:\Users\**YourUsername**\Zomboid\Sandbox Presets, then drag and drop.
   
5. Open project Zomboid, it should now be listed in the Presets tab when you start a new Sandbox Playthrough.
   
   You can also manually adjust the sandbox settings, changes are noted here.
   
   
   
   NOTE: Some mods offer different options, it is recommended to start from a clean install and follow Modlist instructions here.
   
   Use Craft Simple Weapons Without Needing Recipe - No Skill Required.
   Use 10 Years Later - Low Vegetation
   Use Durable Tools and Weapons - Normal.
   Use Noir's Rifle Slings, not the version with Multiple Slings.
   Very important, Do not use Wandering Zombies (WIP), use the other version.

While some errors are normal, they shouldn't crash your game. If suffering from game crashes please take a screenshot of the error log and post it here.. Please note any other mods or sandbox settings you have changed. Higher populations may mess up with Bandits.