zombies, zombies every where

[jdthor]

ok here is my delema, or mabey just a brain dump on my part. The world I have created is a DnD setting but post appocoliptic earth. Think Dawn of the Dead, Living Dead, Walking dead ect... a zombie plague wiped out earth as we know it. 500 years later tech is dead, magic is coming back and the dead still roam the earth.

I'm figuring on sevral diff types of zombies but have drawn a blank on design maybe you con help fill in the blanks.

zombie types:
1. ?

2. monster manual zombie

3. ?

4. pc class zombie (these are smart and use charactor classes and hd they have there own society and hate the living) last mutation of the virus

5. vampires (are hunted with a vengence, they were proved to exist around 2007 and a war began. To cull the population of humans they released a virus that turned humans into zombies, it got out of control and caused more damage to the vamps from starvation than the human war ever would have, the humans and the new races know this and no vamp is safe if found out, well that is if the ones who find out live to tell about it.) not virus created.

6. litch (not created in the traditional way, they are from the second last mutation of the virus and posably the worst other wise the same as the monster manual litch)

I unfortunatly don't have any of the d-20 zombie games so refrences to them will not help. This is not by the way a zombie game, it is DnD zombies just happen to be a prevelant part of the landscape but are on the decline as all who were not immune to the disease are now dead or undead so it no longer spreads.

Curent date 2515, old tech, while for the most part useless and hard to find quality peaces, is coveted by magic uses who can enchant them to work, more often then not it is not as intended but they make usefull thing with them. The party has been hired on a pay by the peace basis by a gnome bussness man to collect the junk for him to sell to his clients. the central part of the once USA is inhabited buy "good races" the rest is inhabited by evil, the party is going to head to NYC, ground center for the good stuff and the plague start point.

[lithuse]

I may need help from some one else here, but wasn't there an undead race in the librus mortis, a kind of undead people that had no lvl adjustment, but took one lvl from you as if you had died. that might be a good template to build your various zombies on, as the undead i mentionsed had their own society and city.

[Smilin_Bandit]

Don't forget to add the affects the virus had on the wildlife and livestock. Unusual mutations in the viral strain could create some nifty little zombified beasties that were once nice and cuddly, rabid rabbits and the like.

Oh, and lets not forget the adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies. No matter what condition our world is in, there will always be those folks who thrive on the danger that something in the world poses. Perhaps there could be adrenaline zombie killing gangs that take pleasure in the thrill of getting into the thick of some zombies and having to fight their way out. Unknown to them, they have also drawn the attention of the hated vampires, who have begun dominating them to make them think that the living are actually zombified. Good family fun!

Hope this helps.

~Smilin_Bandit~ :top:

[Barrok]

I think they are the Necropolitans.... *goes off to check* Yup I was right - pg 114 Libris Mortis.

Most zombies though are unintelligent monsters - would players want to plat that?

[lithuse]

Thanks Mr. B. I appreciate the info, and the "not hurting me to death" thing you did for me too, that was very nice of you.....What the left side of my brain you say, He put it where? oh.

Well thanks Mr. Barrok, for the info. I appreciate info, and the "not hurting me to death" thing you did for me too, that was very nice of you..........

[Barrok]

lol

If you were going along with this idea - I would make something like 6-8 different tempalytes for people to adjust their sheets with relecting differing undead subtypes and castes with a world setting.. you could also use moster levels as suggested inthe front of Libris Mortis (Savage Species wiould help you set that one up - if you have the book)

At leats with the template idea ytyou have a load more choice over undead people can play - and you cab keep soeciufic undead ie wights etc as monsters which people would not want to play.... perhaps even create some PrCs for each template which could further the inherent powers of each.

[jdthor]

The players are living and built on DnD 3e.

The zombies are what will end up hunting them as they adventure around looking for salvage to sell.

I wanted multiple types of zombies, so I'm not just tossing the same thing at them all the time and to keep them on their toes, most of the zombies will not look very different from any other type. Thinking around a dc 20 to tell them apart unless they are from opposite ends of the spectrum then dc 10 to 15.

PS. sounds like I need to get a copy of Libris Mortis

[Lapis Lazuli]

:spew: Zombies! Well I love this game!Let me see...zombie kinds;

1. Living dead girl!

That's right,you're man or girl has been infescted [geesh infescted,who am I?I'm Popeye the sailor toot toot...infescted whata word,mutter,mutter].That's right the I'm almost a zombie and at the worst time I'm gonna try to eat your brains!These people are doomed but you love them so you don't blow their brains out right away because you're retarded [hmm makes an interesting point,do retard brains taste better to zombies?].Maybe you could make a zombie template for those who become infected?Or just make a half-zombie monster type.

[/color]

<span style="font-family:Comic">2. he's not undead,he's my brother zombies!

I see you plan to use other undead,why not resident evil the other undead into zombies [you know,just say the word zombie instead of undead].Whose to say in this setting Ghouls aren't just another mutant zombie type.they could run in packs like dogs and other ghoul behavior.maybe they are the bloodhounds of zombie kind.See where this is going?You could look at all the already existing undead types and just for the sake of the campeign lump them into the zombie race!In such an original setting the characters won't know otherwise.Hey I never saw one before...must be a zombie!mummy...no it's a really old zombie!ghoul,no it's a zombie!and well sometimes a zombie is just a zombie [thanks froyd!]

obviously,skeletons would be something else,since the virus would have to have flesh to effect i suppose...



3. Skeletons may be the vampires necromantic counter-measure to the overwhelming numbers of zombies.they could be the vampire foot soldiers.



4. frankenstieners!

Flesh golems,made of zombies,or even more disgustingly...people with zombie parts like cyberlimbs.lame and gross but it just popped into my head as one of the worst ideas ever,but it's out there.No sane reason to do it,maybe the recipient lost a limb,or was slowly replacing his own parts on purpose because...HE IS CRAZY!but in doing so he gains the strength of one man and dead like reflexes [maybe some gang green too,less the sorcery involved actually made these nuts like pale masters or something].you would eventually turn all zombie I would think attaching an infected part to you,so I guess this could fall into 1. [see above]



5. the 24 hour flu zombie;

you contract a much weaker version of the virus but think your a goner!24 hours later you're all better,if you havent blown your own brains out or eaten a friend...



6. i wish i was an oscar myer zombie;

not a zombie at all but a madman or cannible gang that think they are zombies?



7. I was thinking [i know hard to read and not laugh...];

I was thinking about that whole create a zombie creature sub-type that can be added to any monster,then just say oh a zombie hook horror is just a really big and ugly zombie.This allows you to use all the other monsters and just say they were simply wild manifestations of the mutation.the virus causes a chaotic mutation that isn't identical in everything [cept for the becoming a zombie -something]



[color="#3333ff"]well I have to go get ready for work now,so this is all I got so far.hope it helped.</span>

[jdthor]

thank you for your support, ideas, and a good laugh.

think that just about wraps it up, was supposed to start the game tonight but unfortunatly one of my players came down sick and so the game is now on hold, the other players, who have been watching Heroes, are now talking that they would rather play a super hero game with sort of the look and feel of the show.

Oh well back to the drawing board.

[Lapis Lazuli]

;) No need to let that all go to waste my friend!Star you're heroes game,just have the day of the dead be this resident evil thing they have to avert.Maybe even let them Hiro into the future and do an adv.or two there to see what could be if not averted just like the show.every season they do the this is what could be less you stop it!

:spew: Zombies are people too! Support the Zombies right movement,or we'll eat you.

[CountFalchiezVander]

Well, how about the idea of a new template to add to base creatures? a Living Dead template, reducing con to nil, a minus to intelligence (represents tissue damage and no blood flow to the brain, though the synapses already there stay and continue to fire somewhat) pending on what you want them to look like a drop to charisma or dexterity, a decent boost to strength, some natural armor, certain immunities, certain automatic feats (such as Toughness or Improved Toughness). It can play out really well and allow the players to see themselves as shadows of their former selves, and must avenge this sickness on them and the world. You can even have a prestige class built specifically for the campaign designed to hunt down zombies. Never fear, when it involves zombies, or really any undead, I am always tying to keep on top of things, they are my favourite part of D&D! Could be because I am a horror movie fanatic.

[jdthor]

Don't worry, I never let any thing go to waist it may take some time to pop up but it will again.

right now the team consists of a bionic woman/cia agent, a matter manipulator with some minor Psy powers/night club owner, an electric blaster/kid, and a human calculator/gambler/thief. There is one more know mutant (npc, Dr who was partialy responsable for the mutation to begin with), who has molecular dispersal, only he has lost partial control and is having difficulty keeping him self together.

Time shifting is not out of the question, they have just not found the right person yet.

[MindForge]

I got tired of using zombies all the time and I devised a new random ability chart. I sat and thought of 20 things that zombies could have that would really make them different; some mutation but also something that would translate really easy into d20. So, I came up with basically 20 feats that would emulate some effects. Like 1d6 negative energy damage on touch. Now, I also gave many of them a physical description. I remember this one because he was almost completely skeletal with dried out paper like skin. He gave off a shriveling aura of death and I remember explaining how the plants were literally dying in his foot prints behind him and a couple zombie hands crawled on his body as if they were some symbiote creature (the hands were attracted to the healing nature of negative energy). So, after that one I was like - zombies just need to have a good descriptor and a single thing that sets them apart.

I don't do this for every single zombie - just 1 in 2 or 3. I had one with a limb three times its normal size and it had a +10 to strength with that limb as long as it could bring it to bear. The limb had a -5 penalty to strike though. This was due to the slowness of the limb. I also had a single spot for festering with a disease, one for a poison rolled on another short random list, I also had permanent spells for one of the 20 abilities. There were 20 solid different things. It worked out well.


Ok. One more thing with zombies. You can add elemental descriptors to them for a quick change to them. Ice zombies or water logged zombies would be pretty cool and it would add a little flavor.

[Lapis Lazuli]

Oh I like the elemental thing...didn't think I'd ever hear the words zombie and flavor used together tho!