Plank Country

"Nick, What the hell, you shot the pilot!"

- Ellis

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.

Campaign
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 road the survivors travel down winds its way past several shacks. It is wise to check these for supplies as the director often shows its rarely seen benevolent side. In fact, it is common to reach the cable-ferry crescendo event with all four survivors brimming with pills and pipe bombs. Once the Survivors eventually reach the old cable-ferry, they should prepare to fend off the infected once the crescendo event is triggered. A common place to defend is the second floor of the nearby general store, as there are often molotovs, incendiary/explosive ammo, and pills/adrenaline. Defending next to the river is suicide as Survivors are easily knocked into the river by all manner of special infected. 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. The other side of the river provides no safety. As noted, tanks often spawn here, so survivors are well-advised to heal during the ferry ride across. After following a wooden walkway for a short while, a cabin appears on the left. It often holds valuable supplies, from rare weapons like the chainsaw and grenade launcher and the laser sight, to common accessories like pills/adrenaline and ammo. The Survivors are presented with a choice, to either go left or right. Both paths often hold tier 1 weapons like the SMG and pump shotgun, as well as other goodies. If you hear a witch, don't worry about which path you choose, the director has likely spawned her directly where the two paths meet. Shortly after the walkways meet, they descend into a swamp and end. However, a much humbler path of wooden planks lies to the right, and is much faster the charging directly forward into the swamp. Soon the Survivors will see a light on in the distance. It is the entrance to a sewer pipe, and as good a safe room as any.
 *  This is one of the few most likely times for a Tank appear. If you hear either before this, get ready as you will, and try to spare a Molotov or a Bile Bomb for the Tank. 

The Survivors
Now that humans are controlling the Special Infected, things can only get harder. However, they can't spawn until you leave the campsite area. That doesn't mean that you should let them have a good chance to find just the right spot, though! Hurry up and get your supplies, and get running!

This level can be very tricky for the human controlled Survivors, since the Infected are not bots anymore. There are some "instant kill" spots in the crescendo event area. Also, Tanks may spawn after leaving the ferry.

The Infected
Chargers: You can make instant kills here. For you to finish off unlucky Survivors, you must charge them into the water, making them fall to their death. This applies on both sides of the water.

Smokers:
 * Since there are many houses in the plank country, you can try ensnaring them from the rooftops. Be sure to not be a the highest spot as the survivors may spot you easily and kill you.
 * If a witch spawns in the village try to drag survivors to her, they will all be equipped with tier 1 weapons so they will have troubles killing her fast. If he is not dead but incapacitated you comrades can take their chances to finish them off.

Hunters:
 * Pouncing survivors during horde attacks will weaken them even more.
 * Silence is your friend, do not crouch unless survivors are in position ideal for your pouncing.
 * The swamp has many hiding spots, use them to your advantage!

Spitters:
 * Spitting on the boat while the survivors are in it will cause the survivors to take damage without any escapes.
 * Spit on campers, they will flee and expose themselves to the swamp's danger or to your comrades.

Jockey:
 * The farther you ride the survivors the more chance they have to die.
 * Ride a survivor and use him as a bait for the others so you comrades finish them off quickly.

Boomers:
 * Wait for the survivors in the houses, ambush them by spreading bile on them.
 * The swamp is your ally! Bile on them there and they will have no chance of survival.

Tank:
 * If you spawn as a tank in the village you can try tossing some of the cars at the survivors to instantly incapacitate them.
 * The swamp is full of trees, so your rock throws will fail most of the times. Try to punch the survivor near the water to instantly kill them.