If done wrong, yeah it would be dull. But a good way to fight off other groups is to be the group that has their act together, not just the most violent one. If they had butter and cheese, they could get more groups on their side by offering to trade.
Build a canal between the kingdom and Alexandria. When the fuel runs out, they can still trade with horse drawn barges. Set up another community on Chesapeake Bay, which is not far from Alexandria. There they can learn how to sail, and trade along the coast. Build towers to send morse code signals to the different settlements.
The interesting thing is that it would be sort of a re-boot of the history of the American colonies.
What kills me is that apparently, there are no Walmarts or KMarts in all of GA or VA.
KMart employees actually wear shirts that say “Your One-Stop Zombie Apocalypse Store”.
No one has thought to run a skidder through a herd of walkers, ever?
A snow plow?
A honkin’ big construction dozer?
There are no chainsaws left, anywhere?
Actually you are right but when I read it I envisioned Michonne, Daryl and Rick huddled in a circle, rhythmically pumping the butter churns while the others shelled corn(by hand). Then the announcer description of next week’s episode: Neegan plots a basket weaving while Rick contemplates a sowing Bees.
HeeHeeHee!
It would be all beseen, done in the background or as goals to be accomplished but to dramatize it have the group gather the needed items to accomplish it.
And you’re right, in the real world libraries would be more important than guns as the basics of rebuilding a civilization, even a pared back one with limited goals, starts with a scavenger hunt of knowledge. I could see whole battles depending on who is in control of the last remaining/ best libraries. The National library and the Patent office would be key sources.
To your point of digging a canal. I’d rather relocate to a river or existing canals(Erie?) There are plenty still serviceable even today.
And gas would be used up or gone “stale”
Horses may not be an option as zombies would eat then when harnassed to the barge.
But even if they weren’t, why re-invent the wheel?
Use steam!(Steam was King back in the industrial age) And most average intelligence people(once educated) can understand and used steam powered engines.
Lots of boilers around heating homes and buildings that can be repurposed to use wood or even coal(West Virginia)
Metal workers would be in demand as they were back in the 19th century and recreate riverboats and river traffic between communities.
That’s how I would set about my community if I were Neegan/Rick.
It would not be that hard to create solar or other kinds of renewable energy. Not enough to start manufacturing, but certainly enough for some lights and telephone systems. There are still books and hardware most places.
Although, aside from them driving diesel there would be very little usable gasoline left. Unless you wanted to try your hand at distilling it again.
And why no molotov cocktails? A little fire would take care of most of their problems.