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Table of contents Zombie-World (into) Stats, Etc Moves – The Guts of The Game Basic Moves Secondary Moves Playing Zombie-World Fleshing Out Your Survivor The Scout The Runner The Scrapper The Shooter The Hero The Fixer The Hunter The Life-Saver The Loose Cannon The Scavenger Stuff Stuff Cards Vehicles Moves for Vehicles Vehicle Cards Running Zombie-World ZM Moves Custom Moves Outbreak vs, Apocalypse Your First Session Fronts & Threats Connecting Fronts & Threats Supplies & Stuff In A Front Front Worksheet The Dead & The Damned Zombies Bad Guys Good Guys Reading A Stat Block Basic Zombies Basic Bad Guys Basic Good Guys Re-Skinning
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Re-skinned Zombies Re-skinned Bad Guys Tools Thanks Inspirations
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49-50 50 51 51 51
ZOMBIE-WORLD Zombie-World is a hack of Apocalypse World which was created by D. Vincent Barker. It also borrows from Dungeon-World, another hack written by Sage LaTorra and Adam Koebel. Before you play Zombie-World, you should probably take the time to familiarize yourself with either one of these fine games in order have a better understanding of how this one works. In Zombie-World, players assume the role Survivors who find themselves caught in the middle of an undead outbreak. How and why everything went to hell isn't important. Once the dead start walking, all that matters is arming yourself, finding a safe place to hunker down, and having enough supplies on hand to make through this thing. First of all, Zombie-World isn't meant to be an ultra-realistic, hardcore, survival sim. Rather, it's a rules-lite role-playing game that tries to capture the spirit of zombie-themed movies, television and comic books. Stuff like 'Shaun of the Dead', 'Army of Darkness', 'Zombieland' and 'The Walking Dead'. This is a game that should be more about campy gore, cheesy melo-drama and bad dialogue than it is about game mechanics and table-top strategy.
FLESHWOUNDS Your Survivor's capacity for sustaining damage. When you take damage, your sustain fleshwounds, 1-for-1. When you first create your Survivor, you start out with a maximum fleshwound threshold of 9+grit. Once you exceed this threshold, you are knocked unconscious and you start to die. See the “Dying Breath” move below.
INFECTION Your Survivor's level of exposure to the strain/virus/microbe or whatever the hell it is that causes people to turn into zombies. This is usually passed to your Survivor, via zombie bite. When you flesh out your Survivor, you start off with a maximum infection threshold of 3. As long as you don't exceed this threshold, you are fine. The moment you do, however, you become feverish, disoriented and ill. There's no coming back. It's only a matter of time before you succumb to the infection and die. You will most certainly come back as a zombie.
In addition to this PDF document, all you need to play Zombie-World is a couple of players, the ZM, some pencils and paper and eye for what makes for good theater . . .
FEAR
STATS, Etc.
Your Survivor's ability to resist the urge to panic and do something stupid or reckless. When you flesh out your Survivor, you start out with a maximum fear threshold of 3.
BRAINS - Your Survivor's smarts, senses, and. ingenuity. BODY - Your Survivor's strength, agility, and athleticism GUTS - Your Survivor's drive, determination and courage. GRIT - Your Survivor's overall combat prowess.
As long as you don't exceed this threshold, you are fine and can act normally. The moment you do, however, your Survivor loses it. You must immediately do something in the interest of self preservation, preferably something that puts the rest of the group in some sort of jeopardy. Maybe you abandon them in a vulnerable moment, or steal all the supplies. Eventually (the ZM will tell you when), you will manage to
When you flesh out your Survivor, the type of Survivor you choose determines your starting array when it comes to your stats. See the Survivor playbooks later on in this document.
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regroup. Your fear recedes to 3.
LOAD How much your Survivor can carry. Guns, weapons and items all have a load number that counts towards this limit. See the “Lighten Load” move below. When you flesh out your Survivor, you start off with a load of 8+body.
SUPPLIES Your Survivor's resources.
Moves – The Guts of the game At the heart of Zombie-World are something called moves. A move is the basic unit of rules in Zombie-World. It is a set of instructions that tells the ZM and the players what happens when a certain event or development occurs. Both players and the ZM have moves at their disposal and they each work a bit differently from each other. For now, we'll focus on how moves work for the players. Typically, the ZM will describe a situation and ask the players “What do you do?” The players respond by narrating what their Survivor's intended course of action will be. Sometimes, the ZM will just go ahead and tell the player the outcome of their action based on common sense and an eye for good theater.
This number is an abstraction meant to represent everything from food and water, ammo, bandages, medicine, clothes, tools, matches, and just about anything a person might need to survive. Supplies are a resource that can be used in a variety of different circumstances.
Other times, when your Survivor tries to do something risky or something that is opposed by someone or something, they are probably making a move. In this case, the ZM will call for the player to roll 2d6, add them together and apply the relevant stat or modifiers. Here is what it looks like . . .
Depending on what type of starting scenario the ZM has set up, you may or not start out with any supplies when you flesh out your Survivor.
MAKE A MOVE When you make a move . . .
TIES
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Your Survivor's bonds with his or her fellow Survivors. When your Survivor saves a fellow Survivor's life, makes some sort of meaningful sacrifice on their behalf, or when another Survivor confides in you, write their name down in your ties box and add +1 ties next to it. When you ties with someone reach +4, mark XP and reset ties to 0. Depending on what type of starting scenario the ZM has set up, you may or not start out with any ties when you flesh out your Survivor based on whether or not your Survivor knows or shares history with anyone else in your group.
If you are using your smarts, senses, and ingenuity, roll+brains If you are using your strength, agility, and athleticism, roll+body If you are using your aim and fighting ability, roll+grit If you are using your drive, determination and courage, roll+guts
*A result of 10+ is a success. *A result of 7-9 is a success, but one that comes with a compromise, cost or some unexpected outcome. *A 6- is a failure and chances are that something else bad may happen as well.
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BASIC MOVES There are some specific instances or types of moves that tend to come up over and over again in the game, the kind of stuff you always see the Survivors do in zombie films, literature and graphic novels. Stuff like sneaking around, running away, shooting and fighting, and risking their own life to help an ally. We call these basic moves. Because they tend to come up so frequently, we have taken the liberty to fully flesh them out and detail what happens on a success, a compromised success and a failure.
RUN FOR IT When you flee or escape from danger, you are making a run for it. Roll+body . . . *On a 10+, you getaway clean. *On a 7-9, you getaway, but one of the following happens . . . • You have to leave something important behind. • You expose yourself to an attack. • You can be followed or they know where you have gone. • You have to go in a different direction than you had hoped, possibly becoming separated from your group. *On a 6-, you can't get away. The ZM gets to make a move. Get ready . . .
Every Survivor is capable of making any of these basic moves.
In the movies and the comic books, when a Survivor is hopelessly outnumbered by zombies or bad guys, they usually turn tail and haul ass. Run for it, therefore, is a basic move.
SNEAK When you try and move from one place to another without being seen or heard, you are sneaking. Roll+brains . . . *On a 10+, you get from point A to point B without being discovered. *On a 7-9, you get from point A to point B, but you make noise or draw attention to yourself in some way. You haven't been discovered yet, but your enemies know something is up. *On a 6-, you are discovered before you can make it to point B. The ZM will make a move. Get ready . . .
You see it all the time in zombie movies . . . A handful of Survivors trying to sneak past a mob flesh-eating freaks without giving themselves away and getting themselves eaten alive. Or maybe they're trying to slip away from the group of bad guys who just arrived on the scene without having to shoot and fight their way out. Either way, you can see why sneak is one of Zombie World's basic moves. In order to trigger this move, there must be someone or something nearby or in the general vicinity that could actually discover the Survivor. In other words, a player only rolls when there is a chance that their Survivor could be seen or heard.
You only trigger this move when there is actually someone chasing you or something you need to get away from. Sprinting down the street just to cover ground quickly isn't the same.
FIGHT When you get into a scrum or a shoot-out with zombies or bad guys, you are fighting. Roll+grit . . . *On a 10+, you inflict damage on your opponent. *On a 7-9, it depends . . . • If you are in melee, shooting point-blank at someone, or exchanging fire with enemy, you inflict damage, but your opponent gets in an attack on you. • If you are using a reach weapon or protecting yourself with a shield, you manage keep your opponent at bay, avoiding their attack, but the damage you inflict is reduced by 1. • If you are shooting at a someone beyond point blank range who can't attack you, your shot grazes them and you reduce the damage you inflict by 1. *On a 6-, you miss. The ZM will make a move. Get ready . . . It's inevitable. It happens in every zombie flick ever made. Sooner or
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later, there is no where left to run, no where left to hide, and the zombies or bad guys finally catch up with the Survivors. At this point, the Survivors probably have a fight on their hands. This move is triggered when you engage a zombie or bad guy in melee, exchange fire with someone, or shoot at a moving target. Attacking a helpless, restrained or otherwise oblivious target is not the same. The ZM will probably just have you deal damage outright.
SAVE THE DAY
Every Survivor can do any of the secondary moves. LIGHTEN LOAD When you make a move (basic or otherwise) at equal or less than your load, you suffer no penalty. When you make a move at your load +1, you take -1 ongoing until you lighten your load (drop something). When you make a move at your load +2 or more, you must drop at least 1 load and take -1 to your roll or you fail automatically.
When you try a defend or protect an ally from harm or danger, you are trying to save the day. Roll+guts . . . You can't carry everything under the sun. You're human. You have *On a 10+, you somehow nullify the threat, attack or danger, even if only limits. temporarily. *On a 7-9, choose 1 . . . • You redirect the threat or attack to yourself MAKE A GUT-CHECK • You reduce any damage inflicted by 1 • You give the person an advantage. They take +1 forward. When you make a make a gut-check, roll+guts *On a 6-, you can't do anything to help them. The ZM may make a move. Get *On a 10+, you shake it off. ready . . . *On a 7-9, you hesitate or flinch. You take -1 forward. *On a 6-, you are rattled. You take +1 fear. Zombie flicks and horror movies in general often showcase moments of self-sacrifice, where one Survivor risks their life for the sake of another. Horror and zombies go hand in hand. Your Survivor is bound to be Save their ass is a basic move that encapsulates this. confronted with a variety of gruesome, terrifying and traumatizing events. Will you panic? Or will they persevere in face of terror? You make this move when one of your fellow Survivors is being threatened, attacked or in imminent danger. It's like when one of your This move is triggered by certain situations. The ZM will always tell you allies is grabbed by a zombie and about to bitten and you try and rush when it's time to make a gut check. That said, the situations that apply to their aid. Maybe you somehow free them at the last second, maybe are fairly predictable and cliche; the first time you encounter a zombie, you free them but take the bite in their place. any time you are outnumbered, whenever you witness something particularly gory or disturbing, etc, etc.
SECONDARY MOVES
DYING BREATH
The following is a list of the secondary moves featured in Zombie-World. When run out of life and are left for dead, take your dying breath. Roll. Like the basic moves, these will frequently come into play during the course of *On a 10+, you regain consciousness and are at your fleshwounds threshold. a session and are based on situations familiar to the zombie/horror genre. You can't do much but pull yourself to your feet and stagger about until someone can help you
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*On a 7-9, you regain consciousness and are at your fleshwounds threshold. but you can barely move and speak. You’re probably stuck here until you heal up or someone comes to help you. *On a 6-, you die. If you have any infection at all at the time, you will probably reanimate as a zombie. Whether or not you even get to make this move depends a lot on the fiction. If you are surrounded by zombies and they are feasting on you, it's probably a moot point. If you go down, and take any more damage once you've fallen, chances are that you aren't getting back up.
TREAT FLESHWOUNDS When you are safe and have the time, you can use up supplies (1) to treat fleshwounds, roll+brains. *On a 10+, you heal 3 fleshwounds *On a 7-9. you heal 2 fleshwounds *On a 6-, you heal1 fleshwound
A barricaded location won't keep zombies at bay forever, but it should buy you enough time to gather up your supplies and sneak off and/or make a run for it. Otherwise, the dead will just force their way in. As a rule of thumb, it takes at least 1 supply to barricade an entry point to a location.
FIX SOMETHING When you have the time, you can use up supplies (the ZM will tell you how much) to try fix something such as a broken item, weapon, firearm or vehicle, etc. Roll+brains . . . *On a 10+, you do it, but you choose 1 . . . *On a 7-9+, you do it, but the ZM chooses 1 . . . • It takes more supplies than you had hoped • It takes longer than you expected • The repair may not last very long *On a 6-, repairing this item is beyond your ability.
This is your basic healing move. Anyone can do it, provided there are supplies on hand. Otherwise, you'll need to rest. It helps to be in a relatively safe place to do this. In other words, you can't do it in the middle of a scrum or shoot-out.
TREAT INFECTION When you are safe and have the time, you can use up supplies (1) to treat infection, roll+brains. *On a 10+, your treatment is exceptionally successful. Remove 2 infection. *On a 7-9, your treatment is successful. Remove 1 infection. *On a 6-, your treatment is unsuccessful. The infection lingers So you want to play doctor? Good luck.
BARRICADE
You see this the movies all the time. The Survivors have to try and jerry rig something to get it to work again. Why does everything seem to break down at the worst possible time?
SCROUNGE When you scrounge a place or location for supplies and stuff, roll. If someone is helping you scrounge, you add +1 to your roll. If more than one person is helping you, you add +2. *On a 10+, you do a thorough job and make good time doing it. If there's anything to be found, you get all of it. If there's nothing, you know it. *On a 7-9, you have to choose . . . • You can do a thorough job, but it'll take some time. Longer than you hoped. • You can rush it, but you won't be able to scrounge every last nook and cranny. You can't be certain that you'll find everything or that there is nothing there. *On a 6-, it takes you a while and the ZM gets to make a move. Get ready . . .
When you are safe and have the time, you can use up supplies (the ZM will tell you how much) to barricade a location.
In just about every zombie flick ever made, the Survivors eventually
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start to run out of supplies and are forced to go looking for resources, usually in creepy, previously unexplored places. In honor of that, scrounge is a basic move. This move doesn't tell you what you find. That's up to the ZM. This move is more about how efficient you are about searching a location. The longer it take, the better the chance that zombies or bad guys might show up.
CONFIDE Once per session, w hen you are in a safe place and have a few private moments with another Survivor, you may confide in them. Share some new or previously unknown detail or secret about yourself with them. They add your name to their ties box and add +1 ties to it. You should recognize this from the TV shows and comic books. You take a few minutes to open your heart to a fellow survivor and shed some light on your character. Hopefully, it doesn't mean you're the next in line to bite the dust.
HUNT & FORAGE When you send about an hour so to hunt and forage at dusk or dawn, roll . . . If you spend 2 hours or so, you add +1 to your roll. If you spend 3+ hours, you add +2 to your roll. *On a 10+, roll 1d6. That's how many people you can feed thanks to your effort. They do not need to make the end the day move for the day. *On a 7-9, roll 2d6 and keep the lowest. That's how many people you can feed thanks to your effort. They do not need to make the end the day move for the day. *On a 6-, you don't find anything. The ZM will make a move. Get ready . . . Let me get this straight. You are going to go into the those dark, creepy woods and try and catch yourself a squirrel or a rabbit? Nice knowing' ya. Like scrounge, the hunt and forage move doesn't tell you what you catch or find. That is up to the ZM. This move is about how efficient your hunting and foraging foray is.
END THE DAY
REST When you lay low in a safe place and do nothing strenuous, you are resting. For each day you spend resting, you heal up to 4 fleshwounds and remove 1 fear. If you spend at least 48 hours or so resting, you remove 1 infection. You don't always need to use up supplies to get better. Sometimes all you need is time.
END A SESSION When you end a session . . . • If your Survivor is still alive, mark XP. • If the group you started out with at the beginning of these session is intact (no one died, went missing or left on bad terms), mark XP. • If your group made some sort of meaningful progress during the session (you claimed shelter, added a new member, helped a stranger, etc.), mark XP
When you end the day, you must use up 1 supply in order to feed yourself. If you choose not to, you take -1 ongoing until you do. Congratulations. You've lived through another day. Hope you have some food and water. Otherwise, you'll wake up hungry . . .
The longer your stay alive, the better you get at surviving. This reflected in terms of accumulating experience points or XP.
ADVANCE When your XP reaches 6, you advance. Reset your XP to 0 and choose a new move. You may choose your remaining optional move or any one of the
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advanced moves. •
Zombies are driven by an insatiable urge to feed on the flesh of the living. Of course, they'll just as soon devour your brains or gorge on your innards. They don’t discriminate. Fresh meat is fresh meat.
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Zombies are mindless. They are incapable of complex problem solving and are pretty much limited to brute force and swarm tactics. They’ll almost always take the most direct path to their objective, regardless of what lies in the way.
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Zombies retain the use of their primary senses. They can see, although its suspected they can't make out much detail beyond several dozen yards, and particularly sensitive to movement and bright light. They can hear, and are especially drawn to loud noises. They can smell the scent of the living within a few feet or so.
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A zombie is probably no more powerful or strong than it was during it’s life. However, the fact that it feels no pain is immune to exhaustion can make it come off as inhumanly tough.
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Zombies are slow . . . but relentless. In general, the dead are clumsy and uncoordinated and it can take them a while to build up a good head of steam. For the most part, you should be able stay one step ahead of them, provided they don’t manage to overwhelm you or steer you into a corner. Just remember, you may be able to outrun the dead, but you’ll never outlast them. Zombies don’t have to stop an catch their breath. You do . .
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The dead come out at night. While zombies don’t necessarily avoid direct sunlight, for whatever reason, they are usually more active and aggressive at night. Even worse, there always seems to be a lot more of them after dark. First rule of survival in the zombie apocalypse is to stay inside after sundown.
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The head shot thing is sort of a myth. Sure, brainin’ a zombie is the quickest and most efficient way to
When you gain enough experience you advance, which means you become better at making a go of it in the zombie-apocalypse. Choose a new move to reflect this.
Playing ZOMBIE-world The moves section details the basic unit of rules in Zombie-World. It explains the game engine and how moves work on a mechanical level. Moves are the guts of the game, so before coming here to look over the rest of the rules, go back and make sure you understand all of the basic and secondary moves. This section deals with the peripheral rules and other crunchy bits that come into play. BASIC ASSUMPTIONS This is a game about survival in the face of a zombie-outbreak. And, ultimately, it should be your game about survival in the face of the zombieoutbreak! To that end, Zombie-World leaves a lot of things up to the ZM and his or her players. Things like where exactly your game takes place, what started the whole undead pandemic, whether you start out on Z-day or whether it's six months into the aftermath is entirely up to you. No two doomsdays are alike, right? That said, Zombie-World was designed around some rather familiar tropes. The game makes a few basic assumptions that any one familiar with the genre will be quick to recognize. Here are the core conceits of Zombie-World . . .
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Zombies are dead. They might have been living, breathing human beings at one time, but not any more. They aren't sick people stricken by some terrible disease that has turned them into raging, maniacal cannibals. They are walking corpses, plain and simple.
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take it out, but it isn’t the only way to kill it. A zombie is basically a automation . . . you just have to do enough damage to it for it to break down and cease functioning.
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If you are killed by a zombie, you’ll come back as a zombie . . . assuming you aren’t completely devoured, of course.
3 Damage • A baseball bat, golf club or wrecking bar • A shovel, spade or rake • A machete, hatchet or short sword (ignores protection) • A sledgehammer, or heavy iron pipe (ignores protection) • A pitchfork (armor piercing) • A wood axe, pick axe or large sword (armor piercing) • A shotgun or hunting rifle (armor piercing) • An assault weapon (armor piercing) • A high-powered sniper rifle (armor piercing) • A fall from several stories (ignores armor) • Being engulfed in flames (ignores armor)
DAMAGE In Zombie-World, Survivors, zombies and bad guys all deal damage. The amount of damage is typically determined by the weapon used or type of attack being made. The type of attack determines the basic damage. Here's general guideline . . . 0 Damage • Grappling, dragging, grabbing, holding, etc. • A slap 1 Damage • Punches, kicks, headbutts and the like • Sticks and stones • A small household object or tool • A pistol-whipping • Falling out of a tree or tumbling over a fence fence and the like • A spill down a normal couple of stairs, etc • A weak zombies claws • A sling shot • A steak knife or box-cutter (ignores protection) • A ricochet (ignores protection) • Brief exposure to flames (ignores armor) 2 Damage • A tire iron, crow bar or wooden table leg • A large household object or tool • The butt-end of a rifle or shotgun • Tumbling down a full set of stairs • A fall off a roof (ignores protection) • A buck knife or cleaver (ignores protection) • A small caliber pistol or revolver (ignores protection) • A small caliber vermin rifle (ignores protection) • A sub-machine gun (ignores protection)
A large caliber pistol or revolver (armor piercing) Brief exposure to intense flames (ignores armor) Brief exposure to toxic vapor or thick smoke (ignores armor) Being clipped by a moving vehicle (ignores armor)
4 Damage • A direct hit from a moving vehicle (ignores protection) • Being caught in the blast radius of a hand-grenade or similar type of explosion (armor piercing) • A heavy caliber machine gun (armor piercing) GANGING UP ON AN ENEMY While there is no mechanical advantage to ganging up on a single enemy, a ZM is encouraged to take the unfolding action into account when things like this happen in game. Lets say two Survivors are trying to brain an undead freak. The ZM may declare that the zombie is so preoccupied with trying to latch on to the first Survivor that the second can just go ahead and and put her revolver to it's head and blow it's skull open. No move required. Just deal damage. Conversely, when two Survivors gang up on a lone bad guy, the ZM may rule that the bad guy is savvy enough to defend herself against both Survivors simultaneously. In this case, it's gonna be fight for both players.
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DAMAGE FROM MULTIPLE ENEMIES
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If multiple creatures attack a single Survivor at once, use highest damage among them and add +1 damage for each enemy beyond the first.
Attacks that ignore protection penetrate protection, rendering it ineffective.
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Armor piercing attacks penetrate both protection and light armor (but not heavy armor), rending both ineffective.
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Attacks that ignore armor penetrate everything, rendering protection, and both light and heavy armor ineffective.
As a general rule of thumb, you are probably looking at no more than 4-5 attackers ganging up on a single target at once. In a firefight, however, there is no limit to how many people attack a single target, provided they all have a clear shot and are within range.
GRIEVOUS INJURY In the most unfortunate of instances, a Survivor may suffer some sort of grievous injury that just isn't covered by damage alone. Dealing with this kind of stuff is rather simple . . . just follow the fiction. If a Survivor falls off a roof and, in addition to sustaining damage, breaks an ankle . . . then they have a broken ankle moving forward. The ZM should impose whatever conditions or consequences they feel are appropriate given the circumstances. The player controlling that Survivor is encouraged to role-play the situation accordingly.
ARMOR & PROTECTION Armor & Protection is stuff you wear to mitigate any damage or harm you might suffer. It supposed to guard against teeth, claws, weapons and in some cases, bullets. •
Protection includes stuff like heavy coats, riding leathers, padding, sports equipment and any sort of makeshift armor. .
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Light Armor is stuff like a bullet-proof vest, a military-grade tactical combat vest, or any sort of 'soft' Kevlar armor.
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Heavy Armor is stuff like a full riot gear or a bomb squad suit.
No matter what the type or armor or protection you or your enemy is wearing, you reduce the amount of damage you sustain or inflict by 1.
STARVATION If the zombies don't get you, thirst and starvation will. If you can't make the End the Day move, either by choice or out of necessity, you are hungry and thirsty, and take -1 ongoing (stacks with everything) until you can eat and drink (by making the End the Day move). After 4 consecutive pass without making the End the Day move, your Survivor dies. MANAGING THE SUPPLY POOL By design, supplies are abstract, generic and universal in nature. In essence, they are really nothing more than a currency of sorts that allow to make certain moves or do things within the game. For that reason, it's not necessary to inventory your supplies by type. It's more or less assumed that any supplies being used conform to whatever the needs of the moment happen to be. If you need ammo, then 1 supply gets you bullets or arrows. If you need food or water, 1 supply gets you a bottle of soda and a can of beans. If you need aspirin, ibuprofen, bandages or painkillers, then 1 supply gets you whatever medical stuff you need. You always have what you need, provided you have access to at least 1 supply. There is, of course an exception to the above rule. If the ZM makes a move in accordance to the unfolding fiction and declares that you have run out of or
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require a specific resource, then that is what is established moving forward. COME UP WITH A BACKGROUND For example, the ZM may tell you that you have run out of diesel for the generator, despite the fact that you still have a fairly large supply pool on hand. If you want to continue using the generator, you are going to have to find a new source of diesel . . .
You don't need a novel here. Just a sentence or two describing who you were and where you came from before the zombie outbreak begins. We encourage you be as creative and original as possible when it comes to your Survivor's background. Try and avoid the vanilla. Interesting is always better than bland.
TAKE 'N' FORWARD VS. TAKE 'N' ONGOING
For example, “Police Officer” is kinda boring and doesn't really give the audience (your fellow players) much to go on. “Ex-Detective Busted Down to Patrol Cop” is a story in of itself and could possibly lead to some interesting character interaction as the game unfolds
In some cases, you may make a move and end up with a result that tells you something like "take +1 forward" or "take -1 ongoing". This is a fancy way of saying that you need to apply a modifier to an upcoming roll. In the case of take +1 forward, it means you apply +1 to your next roll. Take -1 ongoing means that you apply -1 to ALL your rolls from this point on.
DESCRIBE YOUR LOOK Here's where you add a few words that give everyone a clear picture of what your Survivor looks like.
Fleshing out Your survivor
Again, be creative. Be sure to include any distinguishing features like scars or signature apparel like a dew-rag.
If you watch enough zombie movies, you've probably going to pick up on the fact the Survivors tend to come in some pretty familiar flavors. Almost every group of Survivors you see in the TV shows, video games and comic books is comprised of the same old familiar, overused archetypes.
Alternatively, you may prefer to go with a snap-shot of the actor or actress you imagine would cast to play the role of your Survivor if Zombie-World were an actual movie and not an rpg.
Typically, each one them is an exaggerated, one-dimensional survivor-type defined by a "signature move". So the question is, which one of these survivor- ASSIGN YOUR STATS, ETC. types are you? The line next to the stats entry on your Survivor playbook explains how to assign your stats to your Brains, Body, Lungs, Grit and Guts. Fill in the remaining boxes, Life, Fear, Infection, and Load accordingly. CHOOSE A SURVIVOR TYPE Take a look a the survivor playbooks and see which one appeals to you the most. Remember, that with the exception of the Follower, there are almost never two of the same type of Survivor in the same group.
When it comes to your Supplies, the ZM will probably tell you how many you have, or make you roll randomly, based on the current in-game situation. This is pretty straightforward. Choose wisely.
You can find the Survivor Playbooks at the end of this PDF. Check 'em out.
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CHOSE YOUR STARTING MOVES You automatically get your Signature Move and your choice of one of the two listed Optional Moves. When you advance, you may take your remaining Optional Move or choose any 1 of the Advanced Moves. Again, this is rather straightforward. Make smart decisions. EQUIP YOUR SURVIVIOR WITH STUFF The ZM will go over with you what sort of Stuff your Survivor starts out with based on the current in-game circumstances. Chances are, you probably wont be starting off with very much. Bank on being under-equipped at the start.
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stuff Stuff is what the Survivors arm and equip themselves with in their struggle to stay alive in the face of a zombie outbreak. Without this stuff, their chances of making it out alive take a huge hit. This section features several pages worth of stuff that you can print out on card stock and cut for ease of use. It also includes a couple of blank stuff templates that you can use if you want to create your own weapons, firearms and items, etc. STUFF CATEGORIES
tucked away. Two-Handed - It requires two hands to be used effectively and is therefore somewhat difficult to manage and can't be stored or concealed. Heavy – It's very difficult to manage, impossible to conceal, and you can't move it very easily Hand - It's only useful against targets within arm's reach. Close - It's useful against targets within your reach plus a couple of feet or so. Reach - It's useful against targets beyond your reach, perhaps up to several feet away. Area/Blast – It effects an area and all zombies or people in it. Targets that take a direct hit suffer the brunt of the damage, everyone else takes reduced damage (-1)
Near - It's useful against targets close enough that you can see the whites of their eyes Far - It's useful against targets within a few hundred yards of you. Weapon – It can be used used as weapon or is actually designed to be one. Distant - It's useful against targets beyond a few hundred yards away from Weapons are for hand-to-hand, melee-type attacks. In a pinch, some weapons you. can be thrown at a target. Although the may be less effective when used this way. The ZM will adjust any damage it inflicts accordingly. Automatic - You can burn through extra ammo with this, use up 1 supply to get +1 to your roll when you let 'em have it with this. Firearm – It's a gun. It shoots bullets. It can be used against targets at point Carried – You usually have to lug this around in one hand, so you can't really blank range or farther. In a pinch, you can pistol-whip or butt-end someone with use a two-handed item unless you put it down first. it, but it's less effective when used this way. Dangerous – You can get into trouble with this if you aren't careful. If you are reckless with it, there will be consequences. Projectile Weapon – It fires projectiles, like arrows or flares. Limited – There are only so many times it can be used before it needs to be refueled, reloaded, etc. Protection, Light Armor, Heavy Armor – Stuff you wear to mitigate damage. Loud - Using it generates a lot of noise. Special – It has some special function or property. Gear – Stuff you wear, like a gas mask, or stuff you carry, like a duffle bag. Stuff comes in the following categories . . .
Items – Devices and gadgets and the like. STUFF TAGS Stuff tags help explain how an item can used and any special properties something might have.
Worn – You have to wear it for it to be effective. Accessory – It must be used or combined with another item to be effective. damage – How much damage it inflicts. load – How much it counts against your load limit uses – It can be used this many times before it is useless.
Small - It''s easy to carry and/or conceal, and isn't difficult to manage. Light - It's easy to manage, but can't be easily stored or concealed unless it's
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repair or becomes in-operational.
Vehicles
Armored: People inside this vehicle are totally protected from small arms fire.
Sooner or later, the Survivors will probably want to leave wherever it is that that they have been hunkered down. They may choose to go on foot, or, they might try and commandeer a vehicle.
Efficient: This vehicle is great on gas.
The availability and condition of vehicles in Zombie-World depends largely on the setting. If it's early on in the zombie outbreak, they are probably rather plentiful and easy to come by. In the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse, however, a working vehicle, let alone a dependable one, is something of a rarity in the wake of the zombie apocalypse. While derelict automobiles are commonplace and can be found almost everywhere . . . nearly every single last car or truck a survivor comes across is either broken down and need of repair, sitting on flat tires, out of gas or cursed with a dead battery. Even if a Survivor happens to come across a vehicle that is relatively intact and blessed with something more than fumes in the gas tank, chances are it's keys will be no where to be found. In either case, having a vehicle doesn't always guarantee easy travel. Many roads and highways are impassable . . . clogged by traffic snarls, roadblocks and overrun military checkpoints. Others are in such a state of disrepair that they simply can't be driven on any longer.
Dependable: This vehicle is in great shape. You can count on it to fire up every time. Fast: It's quick. You can easily outdistance any vehicle without the fast tag. Add +1 to your roll in a car chase. Gas Guzzler: This vehicle is hard on gas. Noisy: This vehicle runs loud. It'll will draw attention. Rugged: It has off-road capability and can handle rough terrain. You can easily outmaneuver any vehicle without this tag in said environment. Add +1 to your roll in a car chase. Responsive: It is highly maneuverable and can navigate tight alleys & narrow streets, and the like. You can easily outmaneuver any vehicle without this tag in said environment. Add +1 to your roll in a car chase. Slow -– This vehicle isn't very quick. It can't outdistance any pursuing vehicles through sheer speed alone. -1 to your roll in a car chase. Undependable: This vehicle is not very dependable. It doesn't start up or it stalls out half the time.
VEHICLE BASICS Treat anyone inside a car, pick-up, SUVs or minivan as having light armor vs. firearms and other attacks. For tanks and other armored vehicles, see below. When it comes to damaging vehicles, in general only armor piercing attacks or attacks that ignore armor have any hope of doing any harm to them. For collisions and intentional ramming, see custom moves below. VEHICLE TAGS Vehicle tags help you get a better understanding of a vehicles qualities. Durability: How much damage a vehicle can sustain before it needs
MOVES FOR Vehicles Here are some custom moves for use with vehicles. They are based off the sort of stuff that you might see in the movies and on TV. CAR CHASE When you get into a car chase, roll+tags *On a 10+, you catch up to whoever you are pursing, or pull away from anyone who is following you. *On a 7-9, you don't gain or lose any ground. At your option, you may burn fuel to catch up to whoever you are pursing, or pull away from anyone who is following you. You use up supplies. *On a 6-, you lose whoever you are pursuing or they manage to catch up to
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you. Car chases are a staple of action films, but they do have a place in zombie movies. Be sure to compare vehicle tags to determine what the modifier would be. If your car is fast, and your pursuer's isn't, you get a +1 for example.
RAM 'EM When you ram 'em, roll+guts *On a 10+, the other vehicle takes the brunt of the damage, and you come out unscathed. *On a 7-9, choose 1 . . . • Both vehicles take damage. • You vehicle is unscathed, but the damage your vehicle inflicts to the other is reduced by 2. *On a 6-, your vehicle takes the brunt of the damage.
Plowing through the dead with a car is something straight off the the silver screen. Depending on the scene and the size of your grill, you could take out multiple targets with one drive by.
DRIVE When you drive a vehicle, you use up fuel. For every trip you take, you must reduce your supplies accordingly. • Efficient vehicles use up 1 supplies • Gas-Guzzlers use up 3 supplies • All others, use up 2 supplies A 'trip' is equal to 1 hour of steady travel at moderate speed, give or take. Adjust accordingly.
Another classic bit of theater is when one vehicle rams another. Usually both end up worse for wear, but you never know for sure who will end up driving away. Base damage is determined by vehicle type: Dirt bikes and motorcycles do 2, most cars do 3, pick-ups and minivans do 4, larger trucks 5 or more.
RUN 'EM DOWN When you run 'em down, roll+grit *On a 10+, you hit someone dead on and inflict base damage +1 *On a 7-9, choose 1 . . . • You hit someone dead on and inflict base damage +1, but your vehicle takes 1 damage. • You vehicle is unscathed, but your just glance the target. You inflict reduced damage (base-1) *On a 6-, you miss altogether. The ZM gets to make a move. Watch out.
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Running ZOMBIE-world
• • •
Running a game of Zombie-World (or playing the part of the Zombie-Master, or ZM) is pretty easy. Just . . .
Whenever you make a move, always ask the players "What do you do?"
• • •
Stick to your agenda Remember your principles Make your moves
ZM AGENDA Your agenda is pretty straightforward: • • •
Breathe life into a world overrun with the living dead Fill the survivor's lives with dread and horror Play to find out what happens
ZM PRINCIPLES Think of your principles as guidelines to help you run the game . . . • • • • • • • • • • •
Begin and end with the fiction Describe everything to death Use maps, floor plans and other images to help players visualize things Create interesting situations, not defined plots Challenge the players, but let them decide how they will overcome Make moves according to the fiction Never speak the name of your move Address the Survivors, not the players Give every living person a name Make your zombies and your enemies memorable Pull for the Survivors, but don't cheat for them
WHEN TO MAKE A MOVE ZM's get to make moves under different circumstances than the players. Here's when you should make your move:
When the players look to you to find out what happens next When a player tempts fate When a player rolls a 7-9, or a 6-
ZM MOves Here are some basic ZM moves. This isn't meant to be a complete list, just something to point you in the right direction . . . SHOWS SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING THREAT • A mob of zombies shambles towards them • The sound of vehicles approaching • A line of storm clouds bearing down on them BRING A THREAT TO BEAR • Zombies surround their shelter • Bad guys show up looking for easy pickings • The supply pool is contaminated ESCALATE A THREAT • More zombies show up • The bad guys call in reinforcements • The bad guys break out the heavy artillery CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT THE LOCATION • They discover a secret room • The floor gives way • A fire breaks out REVEAL SOMETHING • Someone in their group has been hiding the fact they are infected • There's a hole in the gas tank • Someone on the two-way radio is begging for help
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INFLICT DAMAGE ON THEM • They fall down the stairs and take 2 damage • Their car rolls over into the ditch, they take 4 damage
MAKE THEM REQUIRE SOMETHING SPECIFIC • They need insulin or glycerin pills • They need a new radiator for the RV
IMPEDE OR HAMPER THEM • They dislocate a shoulder and can't use two-handed weapons • They roll and ankle and can't run for it, • They are overwhelmed with nausea and take -1 ongoing for a while
SEPARATE THEM • One of them falls behind • Some of them are captured by bad guys • They flee, but in different directions
MAKE THEM BURN DAYLIGHT • They have to backtrack or get lost • It's takes longer to search a location than expected • The repair doesn't go as quickly as expected
OFFER THEM AN OPPORTUNITY, WITH OR WITHOUT STRINGS ATTACHED • A n abandoned delivery truck sits in the middle of the street, full of supplies • An old church would make a perfect place ti hunker down . . . once it is cleared of zombies.
USE AN ENEMY MOVE OR ATTACK • The zombie grabs hold of them • The zombie bites them • A bad guy shoots them • A group of good guys offers to join them
PUT THE PLAYERS IN A TOUGH SPOT • A helpless stranger is surrounded by zombies, do they help or ignore? • They can help an ally, but it means exposing themselves to harm.
GIVE THE PLAYER'S A HARD CHOICE COUNTER THEIR ACTION • They can grab the bag full of supplies or the shotgun, but not both • They try and push a zombie over the railing and the zombie pulls them • They can save the kid or they can save the doctor, it's one or the with it other . . . • They try and run the bad guys off the road so the bad guys ram them back THREATEN SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO THEM • Bad guys capture an ally USE A CUSTOM MOVE • Make up a custom move, create a fictional trigger and a fictional • Someone in the group falls gravely ill outcome You'll notice that the player's basic and secondary moves already spell out what happens when a player rolls a 7-9. In effect, the decision as to what the appropriate ZM move to put in play in those situations has been made for you.
USE UP THEIR SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES • The batteries in the flashlight go dead • The car runs out of gas • Their ammo gets wet
You can stick to the script or if there are any ZM moves that would seem to make more sense, you can go with those instead. Just keep in mind that any time you make a ZM move, the severity of the move should reflect the unfolding fiction.
BREAK SOMETHING • Their baseball bat breaks in half • Their makeshift armor is ruined • They axle breaks
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custom moves One of your ZM moves is to use a custom move. Custom moves allow to you get creative and put your own personal stamp on Zombie-World. Often times, your custom moves might be tied to particular place or location in your game setting, a threat, or to a significant event of development. Usually, you make custom moves between sessions when you have some down time. Most custom moves tend to look very similar to basic or special moves in that they follow the same structure. They start with a fictional trigger (when this happens . . . ) and end with a fictional effect (then this occurs . . . ). In many cases, your custom moves will call for a roll modified by the appropriate stat or circumstance. Custom moves that require a roll follow the exact same formula as a basic move. *a result of 10+ is a success. *a result of 7-9 is a success, but one that comes with a compromise, cost or some unexpected outcome. *a 6- is a failure and chances are that something else bad may happen as well.
Outbreak vs. Apocalypse Before you sit down and start prepping for your first session, it's probably a good idea to take a moment or two and consider the differences between an undead outbreak and a zombie apocalypse. Outbreaks are typically limited to a particular area or locale. It might be a small town, or big city. In some cases it could be a portion of the state or even part of the entire country. The point is, it's probably not going to last forever. Whether the Survivors hunker down and wait it out, or seize the day and try and fight their way out of the zombie-infested quarantine zone, sooner or later, there is going to be an end to all the horror. As you might expect, this type of scenario lends itself more to a one-shot session or a short,mini-campaign. The zombie-apocalypse, on the other hand, is obviously much more vast in scope, perhaps even global. It's hell on earth with no escape in sight. Sure, the Survivors can hope for some sort of government-controlled safe zone waiting for them, or maybe an untouched, island sanctuary somewhere, but the odds are that there isn't going to be a happy ending anytime soon. It probably doesn't take a brain-surgeon to figure out that this approach is probably better suited for an ongoing, open-ended multi-session campaign. As the ZM, you need to decide which way you want to go with your doomsday. This decision is pretty important because it will ultimately determine how much work you will need to commit to to run ZombieWorld.
Here is an example of a custom move. When the someone tries to leap from rooftop to rooftop, roll+body . . . *On a 10+, they make it, no problem *On a 7-9, they make it, but . . . • They drop something important • They land hard and roll an ankle. They can't run for it for a while. *On a 6-, they don't make it and fall. The hit the ground hard and take 5 damage, which ignores armor.
One-shots and mini-campaigns typically require less effort and commitment while campaigns are a little more challenging. Either way, Zombie-World can support either approach.
Your first session You should treat your first Zombie-World session like its a pilot for a TV series or the first act of a full-length feature film. A lot of what you do is going to go
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towards character development and establishing your setting.
have chosen. Do they work there? Are they just passing through the area? Are they meeting someone here? If so, who? Do they know any of the other Survivors there? How so?
The first thing you need to do is figure out the when and where of your zombie outbreak.
By answering these questions, not only should the players feel a little more invested in the setting, but you as the ZM may be able to build off what they have to say. Use their answers for inspiration. Take what they give and build off of it. Look for things that you can bring back into play at a later time.
The when is pretty easy. Is tonight the night the dead start to rise and the world goes to hell? Are the Survivors already several days into the zombie outbreak? Or, does your story start well into the aftermath of the apocalypse, like 28 weeks after the shit hits the fan?
At this point it's probably a good idea to establish some more details and about the place to give everyone a better idea of where they are and who else might be there with them.
This decision is important because it could impact what sort of stuff the Survivors start out with, as well as the general availability of supplies, not to mention the overall state of the world around them.
You don't need much, maybe just a few notes or impressions. If you are feeling particularly creative, you could work up a small thumbnail sketch showing the layout and maybe scour the Internet for image to represent it.
After that comes the where. You'll need to decide on a place or location where the Survivors are for the opening scene. It could a Greyhound bus on the interstate. Maybe a seedy, downtown bar. Or, perhaps the waiting room in a small town urgent care clinic.
Once you get this far, you have the players go back and help them equip themselves according to what's been established so far.
Any place will do, so long as puts all of the Survivors together (or at least in the very close vicinity of each other) in a way that is believable and makes sense.
If it's early on in the zombie outbreak, then the Survivor's probably won't have much a supply pool or extensive arsenal of weapons and firearms. If it's later int the game, and they have been hunkered down for some time, then they may be hoarding a stockpile of resources.
Although you are starting out by zooming into a specific place or location, you can also zoom out a bit and start thinking about the greater, overall setting as a whole. In what country does the outbreak take place? In what city state or town is the action happening? Is it fictional, or a real-world? That sort of stuff. Now that you have the when and where down, you are ready for the game table.
There is no official formula for equipping a Survivor. The players and the ZM are encouraged to simply discuss what sort of stuff might make sense for a Survivor to have given the circumstances. So now it's time for a commercial break. Everyone stretch your legs and have a snack. Act I is done. Now it's time for the real action to begin.
Start the session by having players flesh out their Survivors. Help them out as Now you need to figure out what sort of hell you are going to throw at the best you can and answer any questions they might have. Have them fill out Survivors. What is going to happen that places them in danger or puts them in everything except for their supplies and stuff. You can come back to those a jeopardy? What events or developments will unfold that will push the little later. Survivors into taking action? Now tell them about the when and where.
Obviously, your go-to move here might be to bring on the dead!
Ask each player how their Survivor is connected to the place or location you
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It's just fine to start out with the Survivors being completely surrounded by a horde of brain-craving freaks! Will they stay barricaded in their shelter until their supplies run out, or will they try and sneak out and make a run for it? Will they make a stand stand and try and slay every last zombie? Who will survive and what will be left of them? (Remember your agenda: Play to find out what happens!) Or, if starting out with a bang isn't really your style, you can opt to go for the slow burn instead. Maybe the Survivors witness some ominous signs of what is to come before the dead actually show up up. You know, grainy broadcasts, frenzied news bulletins, frantic cell phone calls from loved ones. And then finally, an army of shambling corpses descending upon their location! (These are both examples of ZM moves: Show signs of an impending threat and Bring a threat to bear!) And that's pretty the beginning of the end. Just remember, that as the ZM, your goals for the first session are . . . • • • •
Make things exciting right off the bat Establish and develop the setting Familiarize the players with the moves and how they work Look for stuff that could spell danger or peril for the survivors later This first session is all about laying a foundation for what is to come. Use this session as fuel for future trouble. Keep a eye for unresolved dangers or potential events and developments that can be put into play at a later time. Pay close attention to the relationships between survivors and the group dynamics as a whole. Use what the players give you for inspiration down the road.
FRONTS & THREATS
player-characters and their survival. Zombie-World uses a boiled down version of these fronts and threats to help ZM's run their game. In Zombie-World, a front is typically a place or location and a threat is something linked to said place or location that could spell trouble for the Survivors or put them in danger. YOUR FIRST FRONT Creating your first front is easy . . . in fact, you've already done it. It's where the Survivors happen to be at the start of the first session . . . it's wherever they are when the shit hits the fan or it's where they have been hunkered down since things went south. You've also already created your first threat. It's the zombies or whatever else you are planning on throwing at them in your first session. If you were considering running Zombie-World as a one-shot, stand-alone session, then you may very well not need any additional fronts or threats. That may very well be all you need for a couple hours of bloody fun. If the Survivors happen make it through what you have in store for them, then they live to see the final credits roll. If you are planning a sequel, or perhaps a mini-series or even returning TV show, then you are undoubtedly going to to have to develop new fronts and new threats in order to propel the story along and keep things interesting moving forward. NEW FRONTS & THREATS If you are planning on playing multiple sessions or an ongoing campaign, once you've finished the first session, you should start thinking about new fronts and threats.
Should you decide on something more than a one-shot, you are probably going Start with a blank front work sheet. You can find it a little later on. to develop your setting a little more. The first place you are going to start in Choose a new place or location that you find interesting or significant in order to do that is with something called fronts and threats. some way, like a gas station, hardware store, a forest, a stretch of interstate highway, etc. This is your new front. Write it's name down in the space Fronts and threats are nifty little tools that Apocalypse-World uses to provided. organize all the things, people, places and events that could jeopardize the
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And while zombies and bad guys will probably be your go-to threats, remember that a threat can be just about anything – any event, development or action – that puts the Survivors in jeopardy or places them in danger. Even something as simple as the supply pool becoming compromised is a threat.
Next, take a couple of minutes to describe it in a few words and maybe work up a small sketch or map, or maybe steal an image from the internet to represent it. Now ask yourself, why is it important? It's okay if there might be more than one reason. • It's where the Survivors have taken shelter. • Someone else has taken shelter here. Who and why? • It could be used as a shelter or place of refuge. • It could have supplies or items. What & how many? • It could have some specific resource the Survivors (or someone else. Who?) need. What is it? • Other.
Connecting fronts & threats When creating fronts, you can link them together based on context or proximity, and organize them by placing smaller, specific of fronts within larger, broader fronts. As your game-setting grows and expands, this can help you keep things organized and consistent.
In the space provided elaborate on your answer. Try and be as specific as possible in your explanation, especially when it comes to the who's why's and what's.
For example, let's say your undead outbreak takes place in a quaint, little town somewhere in mid-west America. This town, is one of these the broad front we are talking about.
Then ask yourself, what threats connected or related to it? • None. Its safe . . . for now. • It's infested with zombies. What type & how many? • Zombies are nearby. What type & how many? • It's occupied by someone else. Who? • Someone else is nearby. Who? • Someone else knows about it. Who? • The place or location itself is unsafe in some way. How? • There is some event or development that is due to occur here. What is it? • Other. Once again, use the space provided elaborate on your answer. Try and be as specific as possible in your explanation, especially when it comes to the who's why's and what's. Keep in mind that not every place or location in your game needs to be a front. Some will exist just to provide context. It's the one's that have some real significance to the unfolding fiction, or those that you feel would be particularly cool for the Survivors to explore and experience that rise to level of a being worthy of being deemed a front.
Nestled inside of the town are probably dozens of places or locations, from the local flower/gift shop to the mom-and-pop hardware store on main street. Many of these will turn out to be specific fronts of their own. Some of these smaller fronts will have supplies the Survivors will want to acquire, others could serve as a shelter or refuge and some might be a place where some bad guys have hunkered down. They are all related to and connected to each-other simply because of proximity. Also, keep in mind that threats are not necessarily static. A threat that starts off connected to one particular front that goes unresolved could move on to endanger another front. For instance, let's say the Survivors are hunkered down in the flower/gift of the small town in the above example. A whole horde of zombies has pretty much surrounded the place on three sides and the Survivor's supply pool is dwindling fast.
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The Survivors create a distraction and manage to sneak past the dead and make it to the mom-and-pop hardware store down the street.
Now if this feels a little too arbitrary to you, you can always break out some dice just to add a bit of a random element to things.
Unfortunately, about half of zombies end up following the them to their new shelter. The threat which began linked to one front has moved on to another.
If you think there ought to be supplies somewhere, you can say something like "Roll 2 dice and keep the lower result. That's how many supplies you scrounge." You can use the dice when it comes to stuff as well. You might say something like "Roll a d6. If it's 5 or higher, you find a crow bar and a shotgun. If it's a 4 or less, it's just the crow bar."
Supplies & stuff in a front
When the Survivors go scouring through on of your fronts looking for supplies Obviously, you are encouraged to adjust these rolls according to how resourcerich of an environment the Survivors happen to be in. and stuff, it's up to you as the ZM to tell them what they find. Zombie-World doesn't have anything in the way of "loot tables" so you may be wondering how exactly to determine what resources will be found where. It's easy. Just make it up! That's right, just use a little common sense and go with what you think ought to be there. If you feel that a broken car on the side of the road should have a few supplies in the back seat, a tire iron in the trunk and revolver in the glove box, then that's what it'll have when the Survivors come along and rummage through it. If you think that a corner store might have a baseball bat under the counter, about a dozen supplies up front and another dozen or so in the back store room, then tell them that's what they find. You can make a note of what type of supplies and stuff can be found in a given location when you are filling out your front worksheet. The only caveat is that you really should try and keep it believable when it comes to what you put where. For example, you probably aren't going to find a bunch of hand grenades, .50 cal machine guns and military body armor in a small, mom-and-pop drug store. You are probably just looking at basic supplies.
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• • • • •
The Dead & The Damned In Zombie-World, although the Survivors are clearly the stars of the show, it is the living dead that end up stealing a lot of the spotlight. And thanks to Hollywood, we know that while zombies can be extremely dangerous, it's the living that you really need to be afraid of. This section deals with the basic types of zombies, bad guys and good guys in the game, and how to "re-skin" them to suit your own specific, personal preferences.
Zombies Flesheaters, Shamblers, Ghouls, Roamers, Walkers, Zekes . . . whatever you call them, zombies are your go-to threat. The great thing about zombies is that they are pretty simple. It's usually just brute force and swarm tactics. Just throw them at the Survivors and see what happens!
roam aimlessly surround and attempt to breach a refuge converge on a source of sound, light or activity g row in numbers separate into smaller mobs or individuals
ZOMBIES & SHELTER The dead don't require shelter. All they need is flesh. That said, the dead will linger just about anywhere and everywhere. In the woods, in the streets, under the overpass, inside homes and buildings or out in the open. And always seems like there's even more of them after dark. ZOMBIES & SUPPLIES They dead don't need supplies. Again, zombies only need brains and guts.
Zombies come in three basic strains: the Rotter, the Brute, and the Mobber.
Still, some zombies still carry on them what they did before they turned. A beat cop zombie might might have a pistol in it's holster or a heavy duty flashlight on it's belt. A paramedic zombie might have a morphine injector or some medicine in it's pack. That big ol' Fatty from the construction site? That zombie could have have a tools on it.
ZOMBIES & NUMBERS
The point is, just because a zombie has no use for a supplies or items doesn't always mean they don't have any on hand.
Zombies are pretty much mindless, soulless automations who don't need anyone's company. That said, while the dead are sometimes encountered alone, more often than not, the dead seem to assemble in packs and mobs. Hordes numbering in the hundreds aren't as uncommon as Survivors would prefer, especially in highinfestation zones like the city or the suburbs. A pack, mob or horde of zombies has but one, never-changing goal, and it is always the same as each individual zombie's motivation: to feed! However, a pack or mob may gain some special moves. Here are a few ideas: • surround and separate a survivor from their group • overwhelm a survivor and drag them to the ground • linger in place
Bad guys Not everyone in the zombie outbreak are like the Survivors. Some of the people out there are just plain bad . . . whether they were born that way or because they let their humanity slip away into desperation and depravity, bad guys are every much a threat to the survivors and their people as the walking dead . . . perhaps even more so. While bad guys are diverse and come from all walks of life, they all share one thing in common: there's just no telling how far they will in order to survive . . . including looting, robbing, kidnapping, torture and even-cold blooded murder!
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Bag guys come in three basic varieties: the Scum Bag, the Bad Ass and the Goon.
will suffice until then. Which means that bad guys can be found just about anywhere. If they haven't claimed refuge, then it's a good bet they are looking to. Survivors should be aware that any refuge they find can be found just as easily by the bad guys.
BAG GUYS & NUMBERS Most bad guys are smart enough to realize that there is strength in numbers. BAD GUYS & SUPPLIES Therefore, they tend to run in groups, just like the Survivors. Most groups are small, consisting of less than a dozen. Larger groups probably do exist, but are When it comes to supply pools, it should come as no surprise that bad guys rare. It's simply too many people to manage and too many mouths to feed. tend to go heavy on ammo, firearms and weapons. They rely on these when it comes time to take food, medicine and resources from those they prey upon. In addition to each motivation an individual bad guy might have, a group of They aren't picky when it comes to the vehicles they drive, either. Anything that bad guys usually has a collective goal of some sort. Goals may be achieved will get them from point A to point B will do the job. or abandoned over time and replaced with new ones over time and as the unfolding story demands. Here are a few examples . . . • seize new territory • establish a stronghold • hoard resources The Survivors are not alone in the wake of the zombie-outbreak. There are • pursue a enemy into a new front other people out there as well. While many of them have grown desperate and A groups of bad guys working together can have some special moves, as well. depraved enough to cross the line and go bad, there are plenty of others who still cling to the last shreds of their humanity. They are the good guys . . . Here are a few: • confront or threaten an enemy and make demands Good guys, much like the Survivors, are drawn from all walks of life. Some • launch a bold and brazen attack were everyday, ordinary people before it went to hell. Others had a skill-set or • plan a careful attack, holding back reserves occupation that is particularly well-suited to life in the aftermath of the zombie • capture someone to use a leverage apocalypse. Either way, they desperately trying to make a go of it . . . • offer to negotiate in good faith or otherwise scavenging for resources, searching for refuge and fending off bad guys and • claim a location, fortify it, defend it and expand it. the living dead! • besiege a an enemies refuge • observe and evaluate an enemy Good guys come in two varieties: the Companion, and the Follower. • learn an enemy's routine, discover their vulnerabilities • set up a diversion to create an opportunity • offer a truce GOOD GUYS & NUMBERS
Good guys
Most good guys are quick to realize that there is safety in numbers. Consequently, good guys seldom go it alone, preferring the company and companionship of others. They usually form small groups of perhaps a dozen Bad guys aren't fussy when it comes time to hunker down. Practically anything or less. will do . . . a derelict automobile, a run-down cabin, an abandoned tavern, whatever works. Sure, if they had a choice, a bad guy would probably prefer to In addition to each motivation an individual good guy might have, a group of claim some other person's refuge and take their stuff, but just about anything good guys usually has a goal of some sort. Goals may be achieved or BAD GUYS & SHELTER
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abandoned over time and replaced with new ones over time and as the unfolding story demands. Here are a few examples . . . • escape a pursuing enemy • establish a new refuge • scrounge for supplies • search for a specific resource • find a group a good guys to join • look for a missing ally • rendezvous with another group
Reading a stat block When you look at a zombie, bad guy, or good guy, they are presented in a format called a stat block. The first part of the stat block shows how much life the zombie, bad guy or good guy has at full strength.
Groups of good guys can have moves as well. Here are a few examples: • move to a new front • clear a location of zombies or enemies • gather supplies and resources • establish a refuge • leave a message or a warning for the living • offer a truce negotiate with another group • surrender to a superior adversary • make a stand against a threat or enemy
Under that are a few entries that cover what sort of armor or protection they have (if any at all) and what their main forms of attack are (be them claws and teeth, as in the case of the dead, or weapons and firearms, in the case of the living). The next section is a few paragraphs of text offering a quick description, an explanation of what sort of things you can expect from them and how dangerous they are to a Survivor. Finally, what kind of numbers they can expect to be encountered in. After that comes their motivation. In the case of the living dead, this never changes. It is always . . . to feed. Because the living are a little more complex, their motivations will vary, depending on the situation.
GOOD GUYS & SHELTER
When it comes to claiming refuge, good guys aren't all that particular. In most cases, they abide by the 'any port in a storm' mentality. As long as it protects Lastly, each zombie, bad guy and good guy has a few special moves from the elements and can keep the dead at bay, even if only long enough to allow them to escape, it will do. Consequently, good guys can be found taking associated with them that the ZM can use when appropriate. refuge almost anywhere, from inside a broken vehicle, to a tent in the woods, to any sort of reasonably sturdy house or structure. GOOD GUYS & SUPPLIES If and when a good guy or group of good guys has a supply pool, chances are the bulk of their stockpile will be food and medicine. Most good guys will have a fair selection of weapons, firearms and ammo, but it's unlikely that they would maintain a full-on arsenal. While these are indeed necessary to ensure survival, most good guys place a priority on the basic, life-sustaining resources. When it comes to vehicles, god guys can't afford to be choosy. They'll use whatever runs and has gas in the tank.
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Re-SKINNING Re-skinning is a term we use for taking any of the basic good guys, bad guys and zombies and changing them up or customizing them according to your own tastes. When you re-skin something, you are making cosmetic changes to it or mechanical ones, or both. You may be changing its attacks or swapping out some of its stuff. You could be giving it a new motivations or different moves. There are really no hard and fast rules for re-skinning. It's all about what feels right to you based on your game. The simplest re-skin you can do is to just give your good guy, bad guy or zombie a name. Harley sounds a little better than Scum Bag #3. You can even nick name your zombies, too. Think Bicycle Girl from The Walking Dead. Another easy change is to make someone just a little bit tougher or weaker by adjusting their life. You can add few extra life or take some away, but probably no more than 2 either way You can give someone different stuff as well. Instead of makeshift armor and a crow bar, Harley (aka Scum Bag #6) might be wearing biker leathers and carrying around a motorcycle chain. A Rotter re-skinned as a beat cop might be equipped with some standard issue police gear, like a pistol or a two-way radio or maybe a Kevlar vest. You can change up a good guy or bad guy's motivation as well. Harley's motivation might be something different than to take from others. He might have a bit of a cruel streak, so his motivation might be to make others suffer. A zombie's motivation, however, never changes. It is always simply to feed. Lastly, you can give a good guy, bad guy or zombie a new move. Let's say you picture Harley as a bit of a gear-head. A good move for him would be to fix something. A zombie in clown make-up? A perfect move for it would be to force someone to make a gut-check.
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Tools
Inspirations
The Walking Dead (Comic book) The Walking Dead (Television series) The Walking Dead (Video game) Zombieland (Film) The Survivor playbooks were creating using a combination of Microsoft Paint Shaun of the Dead (Film) Evil Dead 1&2 (Films) (pretty high tech, huh?) and Photoscape. The Army of Darkness (Film) Return of the Living Dead (Film) Blooger.com and Blogspot.ca are where we host the Zombie-World blog. Stakeland (Film) 28 Days Later (Film) All download content is hosted on Google docs. World War Z (Novel) World War Z (Film) Fleshwounds (Skirmish Game) Shotgun Diaries (Role-playing game) All Flesh Must Be Eaten (Role-playing game) Day Z: The Zombie Simulator (Mobile game) Shelter (Mobile game) Of course, Zombie-Wolrd wouldn't be Zombie-World without the work and The Dead Linger (Video game) effort of D. Vincent Barker, creator of Apocalypse-World and Sage Latorra State of Decay (Video game) and Adam Koebel, the developers of Dungeon-World. Also, we'd like to thank The Last of Us (Video game) Joe Mcdaldno, creator of Simple World for his suggestions on organizing Dead State (Video game) 'dangers and the bigger picture'. Also, Eon Fontes-May and Sean M. Dunstan Lollipop Chainsaw (Video game) for their work in the Dungeon World Guide, especially the stuff on the game The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror (Novel) conversation and how combat works. This blood's for you! Feed (Novel) Apocalypse of the Dead (Novel) City of the Dead (Novel) Flesheaters (Novel Zombie-World was authored using Openoffice Writer, a free, opens source productivity suite. +All images in this document were originally found through royalty-free Google image searches and then edited using PhotoScape.
THANKS
Play-Testers & Contributors
AJ Ferguson, Shaun, Dave, J. Hebert, B. Dinunzio, C. Macdonald, J.E. Coulter, J.O. Coulter, The Moose, K. Coulter, J. Coulter and everyone who helped with the original Shotguns & Zombies project.
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