(Not OP) You are gonna die, a lot :). Don’t worry about that too much, you can spawn your new char in the same world, and use your built up safehouse just the same. On your second char, you already might have skillbooks (like farming 101)and skill-VHS tapes ( like woodcraft episode 3) that help you level faster waiting for you at the old safehouse. So while progression is also character based, it’s not JUST character based.

Zombies are nothing 1 on 1, but scary in groups. Instead of fighting 50 zombies at once, try and herd them into a forest or quiet part nearby, and then make the old Irish Goodbye, just sprint out of sight, take the long way back. It’ll take days for them to find their way back.

Also, it’s a sandbox. Basically every setting is changeable. Dont like something ? Change it. Good luck, have fun!