Encounters are the lifeblood
of Zombiepocalypse; they are what make the game “go”. Because,
let's face it, Zombiepocalypse is not a game suited for long
story-lines and quests. How can it be? Because of the constant
pressure of frequent zombie attacks, the vast imbalance in numbers
and the lack of any guaranteed safe zones or resupply, Player
Characters will be constantly on the run, focused more on surviving
the next ten minutes than achieving any long term goals. They have no
time for exploring or solving puzzles; they are more worried about
the horde of zombies chasing after them (there is always a horde of
zombies chasing after the player characters in Zombiepocalypse!) or
where they are going to find more ammunition for the nearly empty
guns. Plus, it doesn't help that Player Characters are so quick to
die; what may have been an imperative for one PC may be unimportant
to the next.
Rather than use pre-written
adventures, it is strongly recommended that GameMasters let the story
develop naturally, with Players bouncing from one encounter to the
next. Of course, the majority of encounters in Zombiepocalypse are
fairly easy to set up; the Player Characters visit a new location and
zombies jump them; the Players can choose to fight, hide or run away.
Quick, easy and versatile, this sort of encounter should form the
bulk of the adventures.
But at the same time, there
needs to be some variety; if all the encounters are essentially the
same, it won't be too long before both Players and GameMaster will
start to become bored. A good GM knows to add some spice to the
adventure; not every encounter has to use zombies, and not all the
choices need to be fight, run or hide.
To aid the harried GM, below
are a selection of encounters that can further developed and fit into
almost any adventure. These include a variety of situations; some are
merely quiet moments or discoveries for ambiance. Others allow the
Player Characters to stretch their role-playing skills in encounters
with other Living survivors; perhaps they will try to talk their way
into the NPC's good graces (or out of their bad graces, as the case
may be). Other situations may offer the Players an opportunity to
explore or restock dwindling supplies. And yes, some involve zombies
too.
While the Random Adventure
generator helps GMs create the start and overall setting of the
adventure, the Adventure hooks below are there to help GMs fill in
everything that happens once the adventure actually starts. They are
intentionally brief and generic so that they can more easily be
worked into any adventure. These should not be considered the only
possible encounters; they are merely a sampling provided to aid
GameMasters.
Using
Encounter Hooks
GameMaster's should
familiarize themselves with the list below. As a general rule, the
Player Character's should have an encounter every thirty minutes or
half mile of travel (if walking). Scroll through the list and select
any encounter that seems interesting or appropriate to the situation
(alternately, but strongly not recommended, you could roll 24 dice, add them
altogether, subtract 23 from the total and use the result to select
from the numbered list below). Many encounter hooks offer suggestions
on how to vary the encounters even further. For added diversity, use
the Random Encounter Generator to add even more variance to each
situation.
RANDOM ENCOUNTER MODIFIER
Determine which encounter hook you want to use, then roll a die to determine which modifiers to add. Additional survivors or modifiers will either be visible at the start of the encounter or will appear shortly after the PCs begin to interact with the encounter.
1-2 Zombies: Aware of the characters and heading towards them3-4 Zombies: Unaware of characters5 Survivors: May be hostile or helpful6: Environmental Effect1 Nearby Explosion or other loud noise that may attract the undead2 Thunder or lightning flash which may attract undead and highlight the player's position3 Nearby crash (automobile, plane, building collapse, etc)4 Animals running by5 Distant Sounds of survivors (car driving by, gunfire, yelling, slamming door, etc)6 Change of weather (rain, sunshine, fog, dawn/dusk, etc)
1) Their Twilight Years -
an elderly couple are found sitting hand-in-hand on a park bench.
They are dead, having gone out of the world together rather than face
the undead hordes.
2) Homeless - A
vagabond walks down the middle of the street, pushing a shopping
trolley with a squeaky wheel containing all his worldly goods. For
whatever reason, the undead have not (yet) descended upon him
3) Childlike Innocence -
The screech of children at play can be heard from afar. Several
kids are screaming and chasing one another in play. They either don't
know about the Zombiepocalypse or have chosen to ignore it for a few
hours of fun
4) The Jogger - Ever
since his last heart-attack, he's taken to jogging six miles every
day and no damn Zombiepocalypse is going to stop him. Dressed in
sweatpants, he may be a slightly crazed health-nut or an undead still
following his old routine. Either way, he ignores the PCs unless they
actively draw attention to themselves.
5) Biker Gang - These
boys barely noticed the Zombiepocalypse has started. Hard-drinking
and fast driving, they aren't actively hostile but don't take no shit
from no one. Even the undead seem to leave them alone. May be
encountered as they roar by on the road or by stumbling upon their
camp.
6) Suicide - He just
can't take it anymore. The PCs encounter this lost soul just moments
before he snuffs it (method varies depending on situation). PCs can
try to save him or watch him do himself in. He comes back as a zombie
if they allow the latter.
7) Man of God - A
priest wanders the land, blessing the dead and reconciling the
living. He does not know why God allowed the Zombiepocalypse to
happen but he still has faith that the Word will prevail.
8) The Doctor - A
harried, sad-eyed doctor wanders the land, offering what care he can
to the survivors. He's seen too much death but refuses to give up. He
has the equivalent of two medkits on him, and he will use it on the
party's behalf if they ask.
9) The Last Open Store - A
well-fortified convenience store is manned by an equally well-armed
shopkeep. The Zombiepocalypse won't keep him from making an honest
buck. Is willing to sell or trade his goods to well-behaved patrons
10) The Party Boat - Facing
the end of the world, a bunch of Bros got together, scavenged up a
boat fullof booze, and took to the water to celebrate the fall of
civilization. More nihilistic than anything, they have no plans on
what to do after the beer runs out.
11) The Raft - A small
but deep pond with a swim raft anchored in the middle; a lone
survivor is trapped on the raft. Zombies prowl the edge (and bottom)
of the pond. He yells for help as soon as he sees the PCs.
12) Deer Hunter - A man
- either alive or dead - sits on a perch up in a tree. He was deer
hunting and got caught up there when the undead came a'calling. He
has a nice rifle.
13) Crashed Helicopter -
Might be a news copter, or military or private. Not repairable,
there may be survivors. PCs may encounter this on the ground or may
witness the crash.
14) Crashed Small Plane -
Small private plane. Not repairable, there may be survivors. PCs
may encounter this on the ground or may witness the crash.
15) Crashed Airliner -
Large airliner. Definitely not repairable, there may be survivors
and almost certainly are undead in the area (possibly from the plane
itself or attracted by the impact). PCs may encounter this on the
ground or may witness the crash.
16) Sheriff - Just
because the undead are wandering the world and eating people is no
reason to break the law! Probably nuts, he definitely looks down on
vagabonds carrying guns and shooting his "citizens", alive
or dead. He demands they give up their weapons and possibly wants to
arrest them for their crimes
17) Talking Dumpster -
A frightened survivor has taken shelter in a dumpster. As they get
near, he tells them (through the closed lid) to "Go away!"
He has no desire to join them.
18) Machine-gun Nest - A
military checkpoint consisting of a ring of sandbags and a mounted
machine-gun. May still be manned by soldiers, or may have been
abandoned or overrun.
19) Man Trapped On Roof -
He fled to his roof when the undead invade his home, and now he
can't get down. He has no supplies, no weapons and no hope. He may or
may not call for help when he sees the PCs
20) Lone Rider - He may
be riding a horse, bicycle or motorcycle. He zooms past the player
characters with no intention of stopping.
21) Crying Child - A
small child walks down the street, crying. He's lost his mommy and is
scared.
22) Crying baby - The
sound of a baby crying is heard coming from a nearby house
23) Sports Fans - Two
survivors wander the world. They are armed with sports gear from
their favorite sport (tennis, football, baseball, horseshoes,
whatever) that has proven to be surprisingly effective.
24) Burnt-out Car - A
burnt out car in the middle of the street. May still be on fire. No
survivors, although zombies may be attracted to the wreck
25) Tremendous Crash -
A five or six car pile-up blocks the road. If there are any
survivors, they are badly injured. The interiors of the cars are all
bloody and the cars are a wreck. There may be useful gear to be
scavenged, but the area is swarming with undead.
26) Out-of-control Car -
The PCs witness a car swerve out of control, flip over and crash.
The cause of the crash can be anything from a zombie in the road, a
zombie in the car, a bumblebee in the car, a drunk driver or anything
else you can think of. The driver has survived the crash but is
Injured, and zombies are approaching
27) Slaver - He's a man
with Needs but no Morals, and now there's no law to stop him! Leading
a coffle of women behind him, he leads his "harem" to his
hideout where he can do unspeakable things to his prisoners.
28) Bandit Roadblock -
They've blocked the road and nobody is getting by without paying
a toll. Well armed and viscous, they may demand anything from money,
to ammo, to one of the PCs as their slave.
29) Military Roadblock -
The army ordered these soldiers to keep people from going down
this road and these privates intend on keeping to their mission. Well
armed and scared, but willing to listen to reason
30) On-The-Go Survivors - A
small band of survivors pass by on a mission of their own, whether
that is finding a safe place, looking for supplies, or out to rescue
a comrade. Not too well armed, they are not actively hostile to the
PCs. Although willing to accept - and offer - help, they do not wish
to abandon their mission.
31) Dead Death-mobile -
After watching too much A-Team(tm), some canny survivors
welded some aluminum sheeting and barbed wire to their van, then
weaponized it with spikes and a snow-plow. This was their
Death-mobile and their ticket out of this hell-hole. The PCs find it
wrecked and empty, having failed at its mission.
32) Fast Car - Street
value: $270,000. Color: cherry red. Gas tank: full. It's in perfect
condition, and it's sitting there in the middle of the road. The keys
are even in the ignition. Who left it there, and why?
33) Trap - Perhaps a
claymore, or a pit-trap, or bear-trap or any sort of IED or similar.
The Player Characters can either trip the trap, see it beforehand, or
see someone else trigger the trap. Who left it, and was it intended
to protect against the living or the dead?
34) The Living Dead - A
mad man has come to the conclusion that if you can't beat them, join
them. Although still living himself, he has taken on the attributes
of the undead; he moans and staggers about, attacks the living and
eats their flesh. The other undead are usually not fooled but that
doesn't stop him.
35) Scavenger - He's
looking for stuff that will help him to survive. He may be on his own
or be working for a larger group. He knows all the hidden ways to get
past the zombies, and knows where to find some good loot. He prefers
to run rather than fight, but may be convinced to trade gear or
information.
36) Hero - Just when
things look bleakest for the Player Characters, he arrives and saves
the day. He gets them out of their bind and then takes off to help
somebody else. Well armed, there doesn't seem to be anything he can't
handle. He has no desire to join the Player Characters, prefering to
continue his crusade on his own. For added pathos, have him rescue
the PCs on multiple occassions, only for the Player Characters to
later find his corpse.
37) Fortified Survivors -
This small band has found a place to hole up and they are making
the best of it. The windows are boarded up, they have scavenged
supplies from the surrounding area, they may even have set up some
traps. Wary of strangers, they may offer help to the Player
Characters but are unlikely to want to join forces.
38) Tree-house - An
impressively large and well-built tree-house in somebody's backyard.
It may be occupied by a survivor, or perhaps it is just waiting for
the Player characters. While not large enough to serve as a real
base, it makes a terrific outpost or hidey-hole.
39) Wild Dogs - A pack
of ten+ dogs wanders the streets. Perhaps they are house-pets gone
feral, or strays looking for something to eat. They may confront the
Player Characters, or perhaps the PCs see them in an epic battle with
a bunch of zombies.
40) Animal Trainer - Some
men use guns to survive; this guy has five big dogs. They'll rip
apart anyone he tells them to, and even zombies seem to give way to
him. Alternately, the trainer might use bears, big cats or other
exotic animals.
41) Wrong Way Zombies - A
big horde of zombies, all headed away from the player characters. Can
the PCs get by without being noticed, and where are they headed
anyway?
42) "Sleeping"
Zombies - A small horde of zombies stand out in the open.
Although their eyes are open, they seem unaware of their
surroundings. Unless the PCs draw undue attention to themselves, it
is possible to walk right through the horde without waking them up.
43)PETZ (People for the
Ethical Treatment of Zombies) - "They're still people, man!
Don't kill your brothers and sisters!" Despite the horrors the
zombies have inflicted upon the world, this pair still insist it is
wrong to "kill" the undead, and will do everything they can
to prevent the PCs from "murdering" these innocent victims.
44) Confused Undead - Two
small hordes of zombies have for some unknown reason taken it into
their heads that the other horde are living, and are battling it out.
The PCs can watch as they tear themselves limb from limb, but they'd
better hope that they don't attract the notice of the undead or both
hordes will immediately forget their conflict and descend on the
Player Characters.
45) Good Samaritan - Chased
by zombies, a helpful voice yells to the PCs "This way!" as
he covers their retreat with gunfire and molotov cocktails. He offers
shelter and supplies to the Player Characters and may even join them
if they offer up a convincing argument
46) Undead Driver - A
zombie is stuck in its car, unable to escape its seatbelt. It will
try to attack anyone walking by the car by smashing through the
window and grabbing a nearby victim. Just be glad it can't actually
drive.
47) Scientists - They
know what caused the Zombiepocalypse, they say. Maybe they can even
cure it, if only the players help them. Are they right, or are they
just madmen?
48) Flying Helicopter - A
helicopter whizzes overhead. Where did it come from and where is it
going? The players can try to backtrack its flightpath or follow it.
49) Sniper - A bullet
zips by just inches away from a Player Character's ear. There is a
sniper nearby, perched somewhere high up (a cliff, a tree, a church).
That may have been a warning shot not to get any closer, or perhaps
it was aimed to kill and the PCs just lucked out. Is the sniper a
potential ally or some sort of bandit or madman?
50) The Pyro - He likes
fire and explosions, but until the Zombiepocalypse he was unable to
act on his desires. Well, now there is nobody to stop him and he
wants to see the world burn! Although not actively hostile to the
Player Characters, he will wander the world and set fires to
buildings, forests, anything. The PCs may get caught in his blazes at
any time.
51) Looter - Unlike
scavengers, who search for useful equipment, looters are on the look
out for luxury items like big-screen TVs and jewelry, even though
these things don't really hold much value in the Zombiepocalypse. Not
too bright and usually suspicious of strangers, they have little to
offer the Player Characters.
52) Beached Ship - A
large boat or small ship, now occupied by survivors and used as their
offshore fortress. Relatively secure against both zombies and
bandits, it can be an imposing target or a safe fortress.
53) Gorge/Ravine - A
narrow ravine or gorge cuts across the PCs path. It is just wide
enough - barely - to jump; do the Player Character's risk the
dangerous leap or go out of their way to find a safer route?
54) Pit with Zombies - A
large hole or basement filled with zombies. The undead can't get out
without assistance, but neither can anyone else unlucky enough to
fall into the hole. The PCs can safely bypass it, although perhaps it
could be used as a trap against other survivors.
55) Abandoned Fortified
House - Once survivors lived here and did everything they could
to make it safe. The walls and doors were boarded up and supplies
were stockpiled. But now the house is empty. Perhaps they were driven
out and the house shows signs of forced entry (albeit still
repairable) or perhaps they left for other reasons, leaving a
perfectly good base behind.
56) Firemen - Once they
were a group of volunteer firemen but when the Zombiepocalypse rolled
around, they stuck together in hopes of bettering their odds of
survival. Used to working together in adverse conditions, they are
not heavily armed but have big fire axes and the strength to use it.
They also have a giant firetruck too. They might just be survivors
trying to make a go of things, or bandits, or perhaps they are still
in the rescue business, except now they put down zombies instead of
putting out fires.
57) The Crying Indian - A
cliche Native American, he sadly wanders the land after watching the
undead kill his family. With the end of "the white man's world"
he has returned to his roots, and lives off the land. The zombies
don't bother him much.
58) Shaolin Monk - He
knows kung-fu, and it shows! A survivor wandering the world, he is
armed only with his fists of steel, but those are more than enough to
keep him safe. Zombies do bother him... just not for long.
59) Homemade Tank - Take
one bulldozer, and cover it with sheet metal and barbed wire. It's a
homemade tank, and the players find it abandoned but in perfect
working order. Unfortunately, it isn't quite the windfall it at first
appears to be; it is slow, noisy, uses a lot of gasoline, only can
carry one or two people in safety, and doesn't offer quite as much
protection as you might expect.
60) Real Tank - It's a
battle-tank or armored fighting vehicle! Just what every survivor
wants! Except this one doesn't work; it doesn't have gas, or its
engine is broken, or it is stuck in some hole and can't get out.
61) Fighter Planes - Far
overhead, a pair of military fighter planes zooms past. Is this a
sign that there is still a functioning military prescence somewhere?
The players can try to follow them back to their base.
62) Man Dying on Side of
Road - He's on the ground, moaning and near death. Perhaps he is
severely injured, or maybe just starving; in any case, it is obvious
he won't be long for this world without assistance. Do the PCs help
him or just walk on by?
63) Somebody Else For Once
- A man is being attacked and dragged down by some zombies. The
undead have not yet noticed the Player Characters. They can try to
help the victim or just try to sneak past.
64) Gunshots in Distance -
The PCs hear gunfire in the near distance. They can follow the
sound if they choose, but at most all they will find is some
bloodstains and spent bullet casings. Who was shooting at whom, and
why, will forever remain a mystery.
65) Old Farmer Bob - An
old, ornery farmer, he has no time for strangers no matter how much
in need. Don't mess with his property or his daughters or you'll be
face-to-face with his trusty double-barreled shotgun.
66) Military Base - A
small military outpost. The soldiers might still be trying to keep
order, or perhaps they have gone rogue. Either way, they are likely
to look upon armed survivors with anything like trust.
67) Dizzy Zombie - Around
and around he goes, forever in a circle. Why is this zombie on this
endless cycle? Nobody knows, but it pays no attention to anything,
even passing survivors.
68) Dead Livestock - A
small group of undead are clustered around the gory remains of a pig,
sheep or cow. They'll move to tastier meat if the PCs attract undue
attention to themselves.
69) Bandits on the Road - A
wandering gang of thugs, well armed and ruthless. They are looking
for victims, and the Player Characters may be just what they hoped to
find. The bandits may have a base nearby or may be wanderers just
looking to snatch whatever they can get their hands on.
70) Cannibals - They
look at first as if they are a well-equipped (and fed) band of
survivors, but they have a deep, dark secret. They may be villains
who try to trick any strangers into their larder, or they may be
ashamed of what they have to do to survive and just want the PCs to
go away before they learn the truth.
71) Circus Is In Town -
Nothing says the end of civilization more than lions, zebras,
giraffes or monkeys wandering through the urban jungle. Whether the
PCs actually interact with these animals or not, they are sure to
remind the Players that all is not right with the world.
72) Survivalists - These
people were prepared for the Zombiepocalypse. Well, maybe not the
Zombiepocalypse in particular, but any disaster. They have guns,
ammo, fuel, food, medical supplies and a well-fortified home. They
also have a serious lack of compassion for anyone who did not
similarly prepare themselves, and great distrust of any strangers.
Rich and arrogant as they are, they make a great target but is it
worth the risk?
73) The Animals Know - A
sudden quiet falls as all the animals and birds go silent; something
is up. Then, all of a sudden, flocks of birds or a horde of rats run
in the opposite direction that the PCs are travelling. They take no
notice of the PCs unless the Player Characters try to stop their
flight. What has frightened these animals? This encounter may lead to
another one, or it just may be an eerie moment.
74) Soldiers On The March -
The Player Characters come across a small squad of soldiers.
These warriors may be on a mission or patrol and can lead the PCs
back to the base, or perhaps the soldiers are in need of aid
themselves. Alternately, the soldiers may have recently gone AWOL and
just want to be left alone, or have left the service and turned
bandit.
75) Survivor Caravan
Passing By - Three or four cars drive by; fairly well equipped
and armed, these survivors are on the road and are looking for a
place of relative safety. Not actively hostile to the PCs, they may
be willing to trade supplies and information but are unlikely to join
forces. The Player Characters may be able to get them to stop for
awhile, but these guys will want to get back on the road soon enough
76) Attacked Survivor
Caravan - This small group of survivors thought they were
prepared for the worst, but when the PCs come across them, the
Zombiepocalypse will show them how wrong they were. The attack may
still be in progress - and the PCs can choose to offer their
assistance or wait it out - or the Player Characters may come across
the wreckage.
77) Boat by the shore - The
PCs come across a body of water and - either beached or floating near
the shore - is a small rowboat or canoe. Inside the boat is a man
(either dead or undead) and possibly some supplies.
78) Fortified Mansion -
He was rich and powerful before the Zombiepocalypse and even though
his money might not be worth anything now, this land owner is still a
force to be reckoned with. He has well-armed bodyguards and a walled
estate; he might not have been actively preparing for the End of
Civilization, but now that it's here he's not going to let it ruin
his day. Perhaps he was a corporate raider or a drug dealer but
either way he's ruthless and isn't averse to the idea of creating his
own little feudal kingdom.
79) The Knight Errant - He
might not be "all there", but at least his heart is in the
right place. With a costume sword and scavenged armor, he wanders the
land and brings "justice" to the "monsters" and
the "evil-doers" who cross his path, while striving to
"bring succor" to the "helpless". In which
category he places the PCs is entirely up to them and their actions.
80) The Vixen - She's a
lady in distress, and she's looking to the PCs for aid. Beautiful and
seemingly helpless, she will follow the PCs begging for their
assistance. But watch out, because as soon as their backs are turned
she will steal their stuff and make a run for it. She might even be a
spy for some bandits!
81) Con-Artist - He
says he has what the Player Characters need - food, guns, medicine,
information - but he's all talk and no action. His gear will be
shoddy or his information will be outdated or outright lies
82) Car Chased By Zombies -
A car zips by, followed shortly thereafter by a small horde of
zombies. The PCs can try to flag down the car (and risk getting
overrun). Whether the undead notice the PCs depends on how close they
are to the road. You may wish to have the PCs discover the wreckage
of the car in a later encounter.
83) Starving Man - He
hasn't eaten for days, and now he's found food! He's cramming it into
his mouth as fast as he can, and is paying no attention to the world
around him. This means he doesn't see those zombies approaching from
behind. The PCs can intervene or not; if they do save the man he will
be friendly and helpful and may possibly even join the Player
Characters... but not before he eats some more food first.
84) Signs of Struggle - The
PCs come across evidence of a fight, although the actual participants
are long gone. Blood-stains, spent bullet casings, maybe even some
bodies are all signs of some sort of conflict. There may be a few
undead lingering about but nobody living.
85) Dead Friend - He
and his friends fought the good fight, and he paid the ultimate
price. His friends gave him whatever honor they could - even if it
was just putting a cloth over his face - and then moved on. A
poignant scene to remind the Player Characters of their own
mortality.
86) Graffiti - Some
post-Zombipocalypse graffiti scrawled on a wall. It may be a scathing
indictment of how the government handled the disaster, a warning
about nearby dangers, or a message to lost loved ones.
87) Burning House - A
nearby building is on fire and screams of desperation can be heard
from within. Do the PCs risk their lives trying to rescue the victims
or walk on by? Either way, the Undead are likely to be attracted to
the area.
88) Abandoned Weapon or
Gear - The PCs make a lucky find; a usable weapon, a medkit, some
food or other useful equipment has been tossed aside by some other
survivor. Why the stranger abandoned such valuable gear nobody knows,
but it is the Player Character's gear now, if they want it. Of
course, the original owner may show up later to reclaim his
property...
89) Field of Bodies - This
large field, playground, plaza, etc. is strewn with dead bodies. The
corpses are just lying there, rotting in the sun. They may have been
killed by undead, the army, or bandits but now it is just a gruesome
scene. A few of the bodies may be undead, but it is impossible to
tell which are which.
90) Circling Birds - In
the near distance, scavenger birds (crows, vultures, etc.) are
circling overhead, cawing and screeching. Perhaps they have been
driven out of their nests by something or someone, or maybe they are
waiting for somebody to die so they can feast.
91) Bloody Stream - A
small stream, rivulet or outflow dribbles past. It would be quite
prosaic if the water wasn't tinged with red; somewhere upstream
something is bleeding into the water.
92) Distant Explosion - A
loud explosion can be heard in the distance, although the PCs can't
actually see it. Perhaps a car exploded, or somebody threw a grenade,
or even triggered an explosive trap. The Player Characters may be
able to follow the noise to its source.
93) Nearby Scream -
Suddenly, somebody is heard screaming nearby. It could be
somebody calling for help, or being attacked.
94) Howling Dogs - Either
the mournful howl of the wolf or the yipping or baying of dogs, it
indicates that there are canines nearby. Should the PCs investigate,
the dogs may be hungry and hostile, or they might be guard dogs of a
survivor encampment, or it could just be some lonely pooch glad to
find a new master
95) Distant Battle - In
the distance, the PCs can see a battle between two groups. It could
be between the living and the undead, or between the living. If they
hurry, the PCs can get there in time to help one side or the other
(although they may attract notice of wandering undead), or they could
just wait it out and scavenge the remains.
96) Stoner - Dude!
Whatever this guy is on, it is strong stuff; he doesn't even know
that the dead are walking and civilization has collapsed. How he has
survived is a mystery.
97) Bitten Man - Although
not badly hurt, this man has taken a nasty bite from the Undead.
Already the infection rages through his body and soon he will join
the ranks of the Unliving. When the PCs come across him, he may try
to hide his injury so he can join them, or try to drive them away for
their own good.
98) The Hanging /
Retribution - The Player Characters run across some poor sod that
has met a gruesome fate at the hands of the living. Perhaps they have
hanged him, or crucified him, or just chopped off his hands and feet
and left him to die. Whatever his crime was, it died with him.
99) Sobbing Man - The
horrors of the Zombiepocalypse has suddenly caught up with him, and
this man is quietly crying to himself.
100) Blood and Gore -
Whatever happened here, it was messy. Blood is splattered all
over the walls and street, as are far too many body parts. It may
have been an explosion, or a horde of ravenous zombies, but whatever
it was it left a red streak on the terrain that is impossible to
miss. The gore may attract undead, or the PCs may be blamed for the
attrocity by other survivors.
101) Old Camp - Other
survivors have stayed the night here a day or two ago. A dead
campfire, litter and other signs indicate that several people spent
some hours resting here. This may indicate this is a safe area, or
perhaps even now the undead are homing in on the camp. The survivors
may also return to the area.
102) Signs of Passage -
There are clear signs that somebody passed through the area
recently. It may have been survivors or undead. The trail can be
followed or avoided, whatever the Player Characters chose.
103) Official Signs - "Safe
Area 2 Miles" or "Do Not Cross - Quarantine Zone".
These are some of the signs the PCs may encounter; the last official
notices by a government struggling to control the Zombiepocalypse.
The signs may still have meaning, or perhaps they are just vestiges
of the collapse.
104) Saying Goodbye - A
Survivor says farewell to a badly Injured or recently deceased
friend. Said friend may come back from the dead if he is taken care
of beforehand. PCs may need to intervene, or may just want to loot
the corpse. Depending on how they approach the situation, the
surviving Survivor may join them or may see them as enemies.
105) Struggling Family - A
mother (or father) is leading two small children through the undead
wasteland; obviously ill-prepared for the disaster, they are unlikely
to survive for long on their own. Do the PCs let them walk on by or
offer their help?
106) Fenced In Enclosure -
A handful of survivors are holed up in a fenced in area. With no
real supplies and no easy way out, all that stands between them and
death is the chain-link fence.
107) Teasing Zombies -
Several zombies are trapped in a pit or fenced in enclosure; the
undead cannot escape from the trap. Several none-too-smart Survivors
are poking and teasing the zombies. If the Player Characters watch
long enough, the aggravated undead manage a final revenge when one of
the Survivors gets too close.
108) Broken Bridge - A
bridge crosses a narrow river or gorge. Unfortunately, the bridge is
broken. On the other side is a Survivor being chased by the undead;
he begs the PCs for help in getting across. Alternately, it could be
the Player Characters who are being chased by enemies and need to
convince the Survivor on the other side to help them!
109) Survivor Trapped In
Car - A Survivor has been somehow been trapped in his car and
needs the assistance of the PCs to get out of that prediciment. Add
approaching zombies for added flavor.
110) The Saviors - The
Player Characters find themselves in a deadly predicament but - just
in the nick of time - a gang of well-armed Survivors rides to their
rescue. However, the PCs soon discover that this assistance does not
come for free when the gang demands payment for services rendered.
111) Suicide By Zombie - In
the near distance a man is heard shouting epithets at the undead; if
they approach, the PC discover a Survivor, driven to grief by the
Zombiepocalypse, trying to end his life with a fight to the death
with an approaching zombie horde. If rescued, he may or may not be
grateful for the intervention.
112) The Innocent - The
Player Characters run into a hermit or shut-in who has somehow not
heard about the Zombiepocalypse.
113) The Victim - A
recently mugged Survivor stumbles down the road, having just lost all
his weapons and equipment to bandits. He may try to get the PCs to
help him reclaim his property; alternately, he may be a ringer
working for the bandits to lure others into a trap.
114) Lights In The Distance
- In the distance, lights - be it in a far off building or a
campfire in the woods - indicate the presence of other Survivors.
115) Broken Radio - A
barely functioning radio is found. Although it cannot transmit and
can barely receive, the static-filled message seems to indicate the
presence of other survivors. Alternately, it could be an automated
message leading the unwary to aid that no longer exists.
116) Joyride - A
slightly manic Survivor has discovered a piece of heavy equipment (a
garbage truck, bulldozer, street-sweeper, etc) and is taking it for a
joyride down the street. Although the machine easily runs over any
zombies in front of it, many other undead hang off of it or are
following it behind and the driver's ultimate fate seems certain
unless the PCs intervene.
117) Abandoned Loot -
Valuable or luxury items such as money, jewelry or big-screen
televisions are scattered across the road. Although once symbols of
wealth, they are now useless.
118) Unlooted Store -
Bonanza! The Player Characters come across a store, warehouse or
business that - for whatever reason - has not yet been looted.
Inside, they can find more supplies than they could possibly carry.
The building itself is not easily defensible, leaving the Player
Characters with the choice of grabbing what they can and moving on,
or trying to protect an easy target.
119) Pastoral Scene - It
looks calm and peaceful, but does this little pastoral scene hide
dark secrets or is it as safe as it first appears?
120) Besieged Survivors - A
band of survivors has holed up and fortified their base, but now they
are under assault by zombies or bandits. Do the PCs offer assistance
or do they just wait until it is all over so they can pick over the
remains?
Notice 1
Notice 1
ZOMBIEPOCALYPSE is still in development. Although playable, the system is not complete. Not all the rules have been written and those that have been are subject to change at any time. And editing for clarity and readability is low priority. Despite being made available to the public on this website, ZOMBIEPOCALYPSE is still considered to be in beta form. You have been warned.Notice 2
The Roleplaying Game System currently known as ZOMBIEPOCALYPSE is being made available to the public for free for their enjoyment and use. However, the author maintains all rights towards its distribution and development. You are free to view or download the rules and make use of them in any game sessions for the personal use of you and your friends. You are not free to redistribute the rules in any way, nor are you allowed to make any derivative works from it.
In English, this means you are free to download this game and play it amongst friends. You are not allowed to give the rules away to anyone else (redirect them to this website instead), nor can you take these rules and create a derivative work from them.
For more complete licensing information, please see our License page.
(c) 2013 Spalls Hurgenson
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