Plank Country

Plank Country is the first chapter of the campaign Swamp Fever in Left 4 Dead 2. The map begins with the Survivors leaving a derailed train that fell in front of a small town, which they had been using as a temporary safe room. The townspeople, who had been resisting both help and refugees, believed that they could barricade themselves in, seeing as it bordered a swamp. Unfortunately, judging by the lack of other Survivors, the plan failed, and everyone has either been killed, infected, or simply left.

The box car has basic starting supplies; four first-aid kits and tier 1 weapons. Considering the fact that the train hinders progress further down the highway, the only way to go is through the abandoned town. The Survivors head through a village of shacks, and eventually reach an old cable-ferry where the crescendo event kicks in. Not only are the Infected attracted to the sound as it moves toward the Survivors, but they keep coming while the ferry goes back. In addition the survivors can fall into the river to their deaths. After the event is over, the group wanders through the swamp until they find the safe room at the end of the chapter.

Note: Do not try to jump to the raft, especially if it is close, you will either fall in the water, or be hanging from the edge, and be crushed to death by the float as it arrives

Trivia

 * At the beginning of the level, Ellis complains to Nick about why he shot the helicopter pilot. Then they argue that the pilot was a zombie and that "he wouldn't help us very much" during that time. This seems to be a running joke with the Survivors.
 * Ellis apparently thinks that the infected pilot could still have flown the helicopter judging from what he says during the argument.
 * The helicopter can be seen behind the train.
 * There is a jukebox easter egg in this level.
 * Near the ferry Crescendo event, there is a Charger strung up by all limbs. It is also interesting to note that the Charger is hung in the shape of a Lambda, the logo of Valve's Half-Life series.
 * A glitch can happen near the ferry Crescendo event where a charger can push a survivor into the water and cause them to get stuck only to eventually die once the other survivors move across on the ferry
 * The PC version of Plank Country has a glitch in Versus mode that gives the survivors 500 points upon activation of the crank that calls over the river boat. The glitch also temporarily prevents the infected players from spawning.
 * The gas station at the beginning of the level has prices over seven dollars. This, needless to say, is outrageous. It is worth noting, however, that there was gas price gouging in the immediate wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the impending zombie apocalypse would have easily caused a panic and created a high demand for gasoline.
 * During a Versus match the Charger can easily charge a survivor straight to the lake, killing him instantly.
 * The scenario at the beginning of the level is almost exactly the same as the one for Crash Course which involves one of the Survivors shooting the pilot of the rescue vehicle because of pilot being infected.
 * It should be pointed out that in Versus, if an Infected player jumps into the lake in Spawn mode, it will still kill them.