Do zombies decay? Can they run?

[Emirikol]

Can zombies run?

How long before zombies decay? Do they become skeletons?


How long before ghoul's decay? Do they become ghoul-skeletons?


Emirikol

 

[Voadam]

zombies are limited to partial actions only so I believe if they do nothing else they can run.

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

Since zombies are limited to partial actions, i'd say they can only move as much as they can during a partial charge (since there is no such thing as a partial run). Edit: There IS such a thing as a partial run, and its base speed X2. Which is the same as charging. Which is weird, because a normal character can charge twice his speed, and run 4 times, but a monster limited to partial charges isnt limited in his charge (relative to his reduced running speed).

As for decay, i'd say the decaying stops when the undead is animated.

Maitre D

 

[drnuncheon]

Zombies can only take partial actions. "Partial run" is a partial action that allows you to move twice your Base Speed in a straight line, provoking Attacks of Opportunity. Thus, zombies can perform Partial Run actions (also known as 'lurch swiftly').

There are currently no rules for undead decay.

If pressed, I would rule that zombies do indeed continue to decay normally and wind up as skeletons, but one could certainly rule that the necromantic magic that powers them also preserves the corpse to some extent.

I have never seen any indication or had the impression that ghouls, wights, or other corporeal undead continue to decay.

J

 

[AuraSeer]

Can zombies run?

Zombies can take only partial actions. A zombie may Partial Run as its only action in a round; that lets it move 2x its base speed, though it loses any Dex bonus to AC (ha!) and provokes AoO.

How long before zombies decay? Do they become skeletons?
How long before ghoul's decay? Do they become ghoul-skeletons?

AFAICT zombies do not degrade into skeletons. I recall something (a house rule?) from 2e that allowed that, but nothing in 3E. Ghouls definitely never turn into skeletons, and never have.

Undead also don't ever decay completely. They don't age, and stick around until destroyed.

[Edited 'cuz I forgot about Partial Run]

 

[CRGreathouse]

AuraSeer and Maitre Du Donjon, listen to drnuncheon -- the partial run (x2 movement) is available to zombies.

 

[Emirikol]

Pretending that they don't decay because of the animation process..does that mean that they don't stink? Maggots can only eat dead flesh..does that mean that there are no maggots?

Em

 

[Black Knight Irios]

I don't know, where is your point?!?
If you like having stinking zombies with maggots in their wounds then make them like this if you don't like that idea do as you please.
I don't think there is any need to discuss this problem, i don't even think that it is a problem.
I would say make zombies as stinky as you like them.
It's all just for flair, go for it.

 

[dcollins]

Edit: There IS such a thing as a partial run, and its base speed X2. Which is the same as charging. Which is weird, because a normal character can charge twice his speed, and run 4 times, but a monster limited to partial charges isnt limited in his charge (relative to his reduced running speed).

PHB p. 127, Table 8-3:
"Partial run... Move: x2" -- that is, move speed x2.
"Partial charge... Move: Yes" -- that is, move speed x1.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

You can let them rot if you want - make it take a real long time, however. (You don't want armies of zombies that lasts only 3 weeks, for instance.)