Watching Planet Terror last night, I thought to myself, "Self, a ridiculous, over the top, ultra-violent, tongue-in-cheek, blast-and-slash zombie setting could be fun." But then I thought why stop there. Take a classic post-apocalyptic world, throw in zombies and some alien mystery too. Because, hey, why not? Back story...
Asteroid: An asteroid hits Earth. Let's say California. Drops the west coast into the Ocean, tidal waves wreck the Pacific and a subsequent dust cloud chokes up Earth for a while. Shock-waves short out most electronic stuff on the planet, for at least a short while. The USA is screwed, Japan's half under the Ocean, and Hawaii is wiped off the map, but humanity continues, Europe is OK, Asia is OK, Africa is no worse off. People begin to rebuilt. But then come the...
Zombies: In the asteroid was a dormant alien bacteria that started off as what seemed to be an epidemic of the common cold, but soon became a plague of global proportions. The infected went nuts, entering a zombie-like state and hungering for human flesh. No cure was discovered, and only those that managed to fight off the original cold were safe. Things went from bad to worse, but that was before the...
Apocalypse: As the zombie-flu spread, entire countries were over-run. Soon, most nations were pushed back to their fortified capitals, military bases, and island resorts. In light of that, some less-than prudent choices were made to try to nuke the zombies, burn them out and let them starve. That really didn't work. So that's where we are now. Generation Zero after the A.Z.A.
So, like I said, tongue-in-cheek, over the top. Like driving around the burnt-out Mid-West in a 1970 Dodge challenger decked out with a mini-gun and a M2 turret on the passenger's side. Holding off a zombie-horde in Detroit to the last shotgun shell. Fighting off zombies only to run into drugged-up raiders. Like the bastard love-child of Fallout, Planet Terror, The Road Warrior, and Left 4 Dead.
Would probably make a better campaign/adventure than a real setting, but who knows.
first question when i come to zombies (i love zombies) fast zombie or slow? Holds on to some skills/memories? like turning a door nob, or flicking a light switch?
To mirror Lath: Are the zombies fast or slow, dumb or smart, tortured souls or creatures of the night?
This sounds like a great OTT setting that wreaks of fun!
Why didnt the nukes work?
how long does the break down in civilization take?
What year is the start-date for the setting?
I was reading up on your other thread about how you wanted to create a non typical dnd setting. Why not take this and make it into a setting? Paizo did something about a meteorite infused with necromantic energy crashing onto a world which did crazy things to the ecology.
You all are missing the most important question...
Can I replace my hand with a chainsaw?
Quote from: NomadicYou all are missing the most important question...
Can I replace my hand with a chainsaw?
Perhaps the most pressing question to humankind.
Is the Pope Catholic?
But than that means someone else has to drive the 70' Charger, because Uncle Sam didn't make those in automatic.
Quote from: LeetzIs the Pope Catholic?
But than that means someone else has to drive the 70' Charger, because Uncle Sam didn't make those in automatic.
I've seen women drive on the freeway while applying makeup AND talking on the cell phone... So unless you're right hand was lobbed off, I think you can pull it off x. x(
Haha, fair enough E_E.
also, on the fast/slow zombie things. I personally think fast zombies are way more frightening, except in a PnP-style setting, I think having fast ones would be a little over-whelming and annoying for the players, as all of a sudden they are surrounded by 20 zombies, who have X times as many spaces to move as the players. But if there is a huge horde of slow ones, who every round get 1 space closer and closer as the ammo runs low and the players can't back away any more, dice rolls getting more and more frantic, I think that's the way to go. And you could totally do the Special Zombie treatment that Left 4 Dead did.
do both, recent zombies are quick, but as a rigour starts over a long period of time the zombies slow, but harder to kill? if your all about zombies then maybe more than one type without making it complicated?
Could the asteroid be a biological weapon paving the way for full-scale alien colonization? Maybe the aliens drop one of these things onto a planet, let the disease run its course, allow the zombies to starve, and then land their ships?
Will animals be affected, or only humans?
Is the disease airborne? Does everyone have to wear a gas-mask?
Do zombies, in fact, starve at all?
And, like Steer, what about the animals? Has PETA already been devoured by zombie animals, or zombie sharks roaming freely through any and all waterways, devouring anything unlucky enough to be in the water?
Otherwise, I love the idea. It's simple, it's funny, it sounds absurdly fun. It's certainly not in the vein of most other games, and who doesn't love a good zombie apocalypse? Especially one where you can go all Mad Max on 'em.
Quote from: SteerpikeCould the asteroid be a biological weapon paving the way for full-scale alien colonization? Maybe the aliens drop one of these things onto a planet, let the disease run its course, allow the zombies to starve, and then land their ships?
Will animals be affected, or only humans?
Is the disease airborne? Does everyone have to wear a gas-mask?
Wait wait, are you suggesting
Alien Asteroid Zombie Apocalypse?
It's so crazy, it just might work...
I shall ponder further.
What if it wasent some random chunk of rock that fell but a huge space ship crashed on the planed... a science vessal/ark, it carries to earth, the zombie disease, a small group of alien survivors (escape pods all over the earth?) and some freakish alien monsters/specimens that survive the crash. Oh and the odd blaster, nutrino grenades, personal forcefield, ect. Maybe some other disease released from the arkship gives "mystical" special powers if you want those too...
Was thinking of ideas to expand your concept but it may take you farther from your original idea that you wanted.
Rereading my post gives me the idea of a low tech Rifts with zombies...
It could be both an asteroid and a ship...
Quote from: SteerpikeIt could be both an asteroid and a ship...
Covered in Red paint. Because everyone knows that the red ones go the fastest.
Quote from: CoyoteCamouflageQuote from: SteerpikeIt could be both an asteroid and a ship...
Covered in Red paint. Because everyone knows that the red ones go the fastest.
...Reavers... :o
Quote from: Light DragonQuote from: CoyoteCamouflageQuote from: SteerpikeIt could be both an asteroid and a ship...
Covered in Red paint. Because everyone knows that the red ones go the fastest.
...Reavers... :o
If you mean reavers that ride around in asteroids and bellow "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!", then you
might be right. >.>
Great thread on this so far. Not bad for a quick idea.
Ok, thoughts.
-What about instead of a nuclear fallout to kill the zombies, the zombie-virus has the same cliched, outward effects as radiation fallout: water dries up, green things shrivel and die, the soil starts to crack and bake, animals die, things get brown and dusty, etc. Same post-apocalyptic feel, different way to get there. Also, having a asteroid storm (which sounds like an awful SyFy movie) hit all over the earth would also make more sense pertaining to global-scale apocalypse.
-Having aliens is the best idea ever. They could be related to the zombie-plague, or it could just be happenstance they find us after the Asteroid Zombie Apocalypse. Lath's idea of alien guns and hardware would be great. I think the only thing more rad than taking a chainsaw to a zombie, is taking a laser-chainsaw to an alien zombie.
But what should the aliens look like and how should they act? Classic greys? I think giant cockroach aliens could be cool, rocking huge plasma guns and giant walking tanks. Maybe go the 'Perfect Dark' route and have two competing aliens (good vs. bad). The good guys could be... fish aliens?
-Having most of the animals die off would work, with those that remain being zombies. Zombie sharks FTW. (zombie shark also sounds like a SyFy movie) Also, either the setting has to be shortly after the AZA, or we could just say that zombies never die unless you "attack the brain."
-Gas-masks would be a great look for the setting. Maybe to fight off the dust and ash of the world more than the zombie-virus, as I was thinking that the survivors (and their off-spring and so-on) would be genetically immune to it.
hmmm. that's all I have so far. the sky really is the limit.
"What about instead of a nuclear fallout to kill the zombies, the zombie-virus has the same cliched, outward effects as radiation fallout: water dries up, green things shrivel and die, the soil starts to crack and bake, animals die, things get brown and dusty, etc. Same post-apocalyptic feel, different way to get there."
I think humanity using the nuclear option (if it started in the states, Russia nukes America while it is in chaos) just makes too much damn sence...
Making the aliens aquadic is different and keeps them separate, or in the background. Aliens should have tenticals, just ask Japan. ;)
Alien tech... that really depends on how available it is. the more available it is, the more available the aliens would be. What year did earth get messed up, now or a little in the future... hovercars would be cool...
Gas-Masks... yessss
If we really want to hit every cliche and trope under the sun, why don't we add in NATIVE life-forms that have been living underwater for millenia? You know, the super-advanced race that is too advanced to even feel concerned about the land-dwelling simians? (Or make them good Eldritch Abominations? It's always fun to turn tropes on their heads like that)
So you have this... alien invasion versus the 'true' powers in charge of the earth, while humanity clearly recognizes that it's place on the world is just plain screwed. And covered with zombies. And radiation. And in between two warring high-tech races. Kinda like Grimdark mixed with Toon.
...I think the idea of that comparison has just caused physical damage to my brain. >.<
you know, this could be really fun with Sarissa's Lexicon idea...