Ever want to pull a "Dawn of the Dead?"

[GwydapLlew]

In my long-running FR campaign, one of my parties finished City of the Spider Queen but didn't stop the greater revenance from ocurring. Because of this, the cult of Kiaransalee animated all the dead in Maerimydra and they marched from the Underdark, conquering large swaths of Myth Drannor and the Dalelands.

It's not quite zombies; it's more The Black Cauldron, but it's fun giving out that nugget of information to new players.

Hrm. Maybe I should run a PbP where the PCs are low-level Dalesfolk caught up in the impending invasion.

 

[The Grackle]

The problem is that a Dawn-of-the-Dead scenerio has to happen to a normal/peaceful world for maximum impact. In a FRPG, it's already a fantastic setting and PCs are already heroic and capable. Zombies aren't particularly scary to guys who fight trolls and dragons.

Usually the world-changing event in a fantasy setting involves gods dying or going AWOL or magic breaking down. It actually delivers a shock by making the world LESS fantastic than expected.

 

[phindar]

I ran two such games, one based on Night of the Living Dead for 1st level characters, and one based on Dawn of the Dead for 3rd level characters. Being my zombie games, I also included things from the Revenge of the Living Dead series, Night of the Comet, and anything else with a zombie in it. I would have liked to run some higher level versions, but the group burned out quickly on such high lethality games.

I started out by telling my players that it was Survival Horror rather than Heroic Fantasy, but D&D brings with it a lot of baggage, and thats a hard chasm to jump. They kept seeing zombies and going into defensive formations, but when its five 1st level characters and 118 zombies, the war by attrition model of combat goes out the window. My zombie game was a case study in asymetrical fantasy warfare.

There's a lot I could have done as a GM to "sell" the idea better, but hindsight's 20/20. Both games followed the same model, one good session and one bad, usually ending with a TPK and a general call to return to the sanity of the CR system. Still, I had fun piecing it together, and I'd like to run the Day of the Dead for higher level guys, maybe 10th level. (There are a lot of higher level undead I'd like to use.)

But really, it comes back to my theory that every GM runs the game they'd most like to play in. I'd love to play in a 1st-3rd zombie horror survival D&D game, if I could only find someone to run it.

 

[BOZ]

i imagine that Savage Tide could create a scenario like Dawn of the Dead.

 

[megamania]

I had an over lapping story of something like this in three seperate campaigns.

Creation Schema: The group wash up on the shore of Starvos island which is having problems within their Khyber mines. PCs arrive and encounter a green mist. FORT 13 or gain the Corpse Creature template from Book of Vile Deeds. Lost a PC to it.

Khyber Crawler: Game run for my kids. The folks behind the experiments on Starvos Island come to Sharn and release it in the sewers. Many zombie types that were once homeless or hermits rise from below to attack the city. My kids were hired by a noble to protect them and their property from the undead.

Siberys Seven: Seven unlikely adventurers from across the world of Eberron happen to be in the same night club as the green mists rise. They do their best to quell the undead invasion then stop it by working with the Dark Lanterns, The Trust, House Jorassco and others to find an antidote. The saviors are the Paladin and the 1/2 Vampire whom are immune to the mists.

The villians are still out there.

 

[Nyeshet]

Have you ever had the PCs, seemingly midway along in a campaign, go to bed only to wake up and see that EVERYTHING has changed, for no apparent reason.

I've had a couple DMs - each with a very different style of DMing - pull this on me. The first DM was a story-telling type. We eventually realized we were in fact travelling back and forth in time. Same town - just the present time and the days before its destruction. We ended up succeeding in preventing its destruction, but the temporal paradox this caused tossed us a few thousand years back in time. It was an odd but fun story.

I envision having my PCs settle in at the inn, only to wake up to a scene ala Dawn of the Dead, and have ghouls and other such cannibalistic monsters just start taking apart the campaign world I've labored so hard to construct.

Is this crazy talk?

Not at all. While I have never been in or run such a campaign, I have thought about it several times. I mostly keep from going this route due to not wishing to perhaps permanently alter my world (if they do anything less than perfectly succeed).

As for how I would set it up: ghouls, each with fast movement and rage as if having a level of barbarian - and a life sense that caused them to rage if they came within a certain distance of a living creature. The disease would require Remove Curse to first be cast, and it would have a ridiculously high DC to resist. Becoming ill would be a slow death, perhaps 1d2 Con damage per day until death occurred. Presuming a nights rest heals 1 Con, it could easily take weeks to die from this. 1d4 minutes after death the corpse would arise as this mindless super ghoul. Anyone bit would have to make the save vs infection.

As for head shots, I would rule that the 'zombies' have DR unless a critical hit is made, in which case it is presumed a head shot occurred and normal damage occurs (not doubled, etc). Considering their vulnerability to fire, I might also grant them a weakness in having fire deal double damage - and a resistance to some other energies.

This could work at low levels, and mid levels as well (if enough zombies are present to wear down the party, and occasionally non-zombie undead show up to confuse the situation), but at high levels I'm not sure this would work as well.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Age of Worms. 1000 Kyuss Zombies. Small secluded town.


Yeah it worked out great!

 

[Shades of Green]

I am intending to pull of something similar to the Old Quarter of the Thief computer game - a quarter of the town (actually of the dwarven mine) walled off because of a zombie plague. The town is a remote Dwarven colony and does not have enough resources to crush the zombies; a plea of help would be sent to the homeland, but it will take several months to get troops (if any would be sent - the war against the kobold nation isn't going too well). So the PCs will have an opportunity to try to sneak in and see what causes the plague - and, later on, clear it out.

My zombies are going to be similar to the Thief ones - damage reduction (or, better yet, Troll-style regeneration - they'll seem dead, but then rise again) but vulnerable to bright sunlight-like lights (Daylight?), to magic weapons and to fire/explosives.

 

[ChimericDream]

As for how I would set it up: ghouls, each with fast movement and rage as if having a level of barbarian - and a life sense that caused them to rage if they came within a certain distance of a living creature. The disease would require Remove Curse to first be cast, and it would have a ridiculously high DC to resist. Becoming ill would be a slow death, perhaps 1d2 Con damage per day until death occurred. Presuming a nights rest heals 1 Con, it could easily take weeks to die from this. 1d4 minutes after death the corpse would arise as this mindless super ghoul. Anyone bit would have to make the save vs infection.

As for head shots, I would rule that the 'zombies' have DR unless a critical hit is made, in which case it is presumed a head shot occurred and normal damage occurs (not doubled, etc). Considering their vulnerability to fire, I might also grant them a weakness in having fire deal double damage - and a resistance to some other energies.

This could work at low levels, and mid levels as well (if enough zombies are present to wear down the party, and occasionally non-zombie undead show up to confuse the situation), but at high levels I'm not sure this would work as well.

I like this idea a lot. In fact, even without running a whole campaign or adventure centered around these guys, I think I may take this and whip up some stats to throw at one of my parties in the next couple of weeks. At the very least, it'll scare the crap out of them when they realize these aren't "normal" zombies.

 

[Nyeshet]

How about these?

I like this idea a lot. In fact, even without running a whole campaign or adventure centered around these guys, I think I may take this and whip up some stats to throw at one of my parties in the next couple of weeks. At the very least, it'll scare the crap out of them when they realize these aren't "normal" zombies.

I made these a bit tougher than I previously suggested, so that they might last a bit longer against a typical mid-level party and more fully horrify a low(er) level party. There is nothing quite like seeing your attack have little or no effect against a relentless foe. Their hp is not that great, but their protection is enough that I think they are at least a CR 2 foe and maybe even a CR 3 foe.


Horror Zombie

Size / Type: Medium Undead (Cold)
HD: 2d12 (13 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40 ft (8 squares)
Base Atk/Grpl: +1/+3
Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d8+2 + Withering Infection), 2 Claws +1 melee (1d3+1)
Full Attack: Bite +3 melee and 2 Claws +1 melee
Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Special Attacks: Craving Rage, Horrific Rend, Sudden Lunge, Terrifying Presence, Withering Infection
Special Qualities: Brief Respite, Cold Subtype, Critical Vulnerability, Dark Vision 90 ft, DR 10 / magic, Life Sense 45 ft, Resistance 5 (acid), Resistance 10 (electric, sonic), SR 3, +4 Turn Resistance, Undead Traits
Saves: Fort +0, Refl +1, Will +5
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 13, Con --, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 8
Skills (2 ranks): Balance +1, Climb +2, Escape Artist +1, Hide +1, Jump +2, Listen +3 [1r], Move Silently +1, Spot +3 [1r], Swim +2.
Feats: Multiattack
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary, Gang (2d4, 5), Pack (6d6, 21), Wave (20d10, 110)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: none
Alignment: Always Neutral Evil
Advancement: none (?)


Brief Respite (Su): A Horror Zombie that successfully deals a Bite attack gains temporary hit points equal to half those dealt the victim. These points last for one minute (10 rounds). Should the Horror Zombie manage to consume enough to double its maximum possible hit points (to 24, for a standard 2d12 Horror Zombie) it experiences a brief ending of its hunger. If it is in a Craving Rage it must immediately make a Will save or calm out of the rage for 1d4 rounds or until its hit points are less than double its normal maximum - whichever comes first. The Horror Zombie may still choose to attack and feast while its hp is doubled, but it will not be able to (re-)enter a Craving Rage until the hit points start to fade or it takes damage. Note that a Horror Zombie no longer gains temporary hit points for bite attacks once its total of hit points and temporary hit points reaches double its normal maximum (24, usually).

Cold Sub-type: Horror Zombies are immune to Cold and take double damage from Fire.

Craving Rage (Su): Horror Zombies are ever filled with a continuous, never satiated hunger for living flesh. Should a Horror Zombie notice a living creature - either through its sight, its hearing, or its Life Sense, it will immediately enter a Craving Rage if it is not already enraged. It immediately seeks out the straightest, most direct route towards the living creature - usually Charging, followed by Sudden Lunge.

While in a Craving Rage the Horror Zombie receives a +4 bonus to its Strength, a +2 bonus to its Will saves and Turn Resistance, and a +5 bonus to its base speed (to 45 ft, 9 squares). However, its rush into combat grants it a -1 AC penalty.

Critical Vulnerability: Unlike most undead, Horror Zombies do have a location where they can be critically harmed - their head. As such, any successful critical strike against a Horror Zombies deals more than typical damage. Successful critical attacks with non-magic weaponry by-pass their Damage Reduction as if the strike had been made with a magical weapon. Critical strikes with a magical weapon, a spell, or similarly magical form of attack deal twice as much damage - irregardless of the actual critical multiplier.

Damage Reduction 10 / magic: Horror Zombies ignore the first 10 points of damage from any non-magical weapon. This can be by-passed by their Critical Vulnerability, however.

Resistance (Electric and Sonic) 10, Resistance (Acid) 5: Horror Zombies ignore the first 10 points of Electric and Sonic damage they receive and the first 5 points of Acid damage they receive.

Horrific Rend (Ex): Should a Horror Zombie strike with both claws, and should at least one of the claw attacks roll a critical hit, the Horror Zombie can immediately make an additional rend attack dealing 2d8 damage. Those that witness this horrific act or the splatter of blood that results must immediately make a Will save (DC 13: 10 + half HD + Cha) or be shaken for 1d4 rounds.

Life Sense 45 ft (Su): Horror Zombies can sense the positive energy that fills and surrounds living creatures. This special form of Blindsense allows a Horror Zombie to automatically detect the presence and direction towards any living creature that comes with 45 ft of the Horror Zombie. It cannot determine the distance towards the living creature.

Spell Resistance 3 (Su): Horror Zombies are slightly resistant to magic, perhaps due to the nature of the curse that animates them. Whenever a magical effect is used against them, there is a small chance that it will fail. (3 = HD + Cha)

Sudden Lunge (Ex): A Horror Zombie can make a full attack at the end of a charge. (Based on Pounce)

Terrifying Presence (Su): One Horror Zombie is dreadful enough, but when they attack in numbers their horrific presence can inspire fear. Whenever more than one attacking Horror Zombie is within 30 ft of a N/PC the character must make a Will save (DC 5 + half HD of Horror Zombies present) or become Shaken. Should they fail by 10 or more, they instead become Frightened. Should they fail by 20 or more they become Panicked.

Withering Infection (Su): Horror Zombies are the result of a horrific cursed disease. Should a Horror Zombie succeed in a Bite attack the victim must immediately make a Fortitude save (DC 24 = 20 + HD + Cha). Should they fail they are cursed. They immediately take 1d2 Con drain, and every morning thereafter they must make a Fort save or take another 1d2 Con drain. Remove Disease will not remove Withering Infection until after the curse is broken. The victim is considered to have SR 20 + half their own HD + their own Cha to resist Remove Curse or similar spells that typically remove or negate curses. Upon death due to Con drain they arise 1d4 minutes later as a Horror Zombie. Should they die by any other means, they make an immediate Fort save as if it were the next morn. Should they fail, they arise 4d4 minutes later as a Horror Zombie.


A Few Notes

Horror Zombies typically react instinctively. They possess only enough intellect to dodge around obvious traps. If they detect a living creature nearby, they will rush around an open unhidden pit between themselves and their victim rather than rush forward and fall. They cannot speak, nor do they think beyond an animal level, nor can they recall their former lives.

Horror Zombies are occasionally mistaken for wights or certain types of (unwrapped) mummies, but most often they are mistaken for zombies. Horror zombies resemble typical zombies in most respects, save that their flesh may not as readily rot as is the case with zombies. Rotting does occur, but at a slower pace, seeming to become ever slower until it halts with the Horror Zombie in a partially mummified state.

Lastly, while typical Horror Zombies are of a Cold subtype and vulnerable against fire, in deserts and some tropical locations a variant Horror Zombie exists that is quite the opposite - having immunity to fire and vulnerability to cold. Unlike normal Horror Zombies, who seem to catch fire rather easily, these Fire subtype Horror Zombies instead seem to crumble as the chill energies stiffen and crackle their bodies.