So here I am happily generating zombies for an up coming YotZ product (87 generated tonight), and I’m looking at the stat blocks when I realise something I hadn’t thought of before. We often make reference to how quickly stores and warehouses are looted in the rising and how scarce supplies and ammo become. But we overlook one of the richest, if a little unreliable, sources of loot. The risen themselves.
For example, taking Marshall Tucker from Fleshmongers 2, at zero hour his stats are as follows:
Marshal Tucker (Tough Hero 3): CR 3; Medium-size humanoid; HD 3d10+9 plus 3; HP 29; Mas 17; Init +2;Spd 30 ft; Defense 17, touch 14, flatfooted 15 (+0 size,+2 Dex, +2 class, +3 equipment); BAB +2; Grap +4;Atk +4 melee (1d4+2, Brass Knuckles), or +4 ranged (2d6+0, 10mm Glock); FS 5 ft by 5 ft; Reach 5 ft; SQ; AL Tuckers Band; SV Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +2; AP 1; Rep +1; Str 14, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 12.
Occupation: Slaver (Drive, Knowledge [Tactics])
Skills: Drive +7, Intimidate +5, Knowledge (Streetwise) +3, Knowledge (Tactics) +5, Listen +3, Read/Write Language +1 (English, Spanish), Speak Language +1 (English, Spanish), Spot +7, Survival +5
Feats: Alertness, Armor Proficiency (light), Brawl, Personal Firearms Proficiency, Point Blank Shot, Simple Weapons Proficiency
Talents (Tough Hero): Robust, Remain Conscious
Possessions: Undercover Vest, Brass Knuckles, 10mm Glock with 6 magazines, handcuffs, meth, cocaine, bottle of alcohol, 2002 Ford F-150 extended cab with cab over camper.
Looking at these stats, ignoring the usual elements, we see that Marshall at this point is reasonably well provisioned for the zero hour slot. But what if Marshall had been unlucky at zero hour. He would have risen, as per normal. But a lot of his equipment would have stayed about his person. Clearly, the vehicle is unlikely to be with him as a zombie (unless he was unfortunate enough to die locked inside), but the rest would still be on his shambling corpse.
There is a chance that he will have been shooting the Glock at the time of death, and this will have a high chance of being lost. The bottle of alcohol has a good chance of being dropped too. But the undercover vest will certainly still be on his body, the brass knuckles, extra magazines, handcuffs and drugs will be in his pockets. Clearly even at this stage Marshall is a walking post rising gold mine.
There is a thought that says we will have to be careful in what we put on our zombies in the future, as to not unbalance the game. But as Tim has proven, even parties with armoured vehicles can be beaten. They have to get out of the tank to pee sometime 😉
Laters
John
UKG Publishing 