mmm, brains

So I'm in that mood where I don't feel like doing anything. I'm uninspired, bored, and lazy. There is only way out that I know of and have available to me. Forced creativity.

So here we go with a little adventure/campaign design. For the subject I've chosen a subject close to my heart: zombies. For our setting and system we will stick for the moment to vanilla World of Darkness (the new version for those who care). So we have modern day world, presumably with all sorts of creepy things lurking in the shadows. And zombies.

So first a little brain(ha ha)-storming of what options for zombies I have already spelled out for me. For sources of zombies we have Mages (nice little Death 3 spell), Prometheans (using a Zeta bestowment), Spirits (either animating a single corpse or a small army), and a Vampire bloodline. There is also the Bokor Legacy from Mage and "normal" voodoo traditions (possibly using the rules from Second Sight). The basic building blocks are outlined in Antagonists and covers the subject pretty well. Noncannon ideas include the idea of Wights, weak vampire-like creatures created from mortals slain by vampires (like in the anime Helsing). There a few other permutations but this enough for now.

With these possibilities in mind, I next consider the themes and events I would want in the game. First off I decide I do want this to be a multisession adventure perhaps a short (<10 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">NPCs for extra paranoia).

But we need some motivation for the cover up and outbreaks. Where did they come from? Why did THEY make them? Well lets give this a little twist. What if the Men in Black (MIBs) are just covering things up but have no other connection to the zombies? Maybe they are Guardians of the Veil or Masquerade obsessed vampires (actually I like the latter idea). And perhaps the PCs are the source (or at least the connecting factor) for the zombies. Obviously the MIBs are going to be a tad upset with the PCs after a few incidents though likely not for the reasons they (the PCs) might think.

So the zombies are after them. Why? There is option of vengeance (by whatever made the zombies). Or perhaps the zombies are driving the PCs towards some goal (Awakening and/or insanity). That could work but I'm leaning toward a less rational reason. Perhaps one (or more) of the PCs was exposed to some occult corruption (a Paradox, an evil Spirit, or some dark rite gone wrong) that made them a carrier for a supernatural disease. The disease is purely supernatural, spread by touch but with no other traces. The exposed sicken and are transformed in the hungry dead. Ironically they are driven to destroy the carriers in preference to other targets, thus containing the infection to some extent.

So now we just need some adventure ideas. Obviously there will be the seas of undead (a la Night of Living Movie and its sequels). Probably a late adventure in the Chronicle. Early games will focus on minor outbreaks of zombies: a few dozen in the wilderness, several while on a cruise, and so on. Building toward the citywide outbreak and presumably a resolution to the problem (whatever that might be). For encounters, there are the classics: zombie dog, a zombie of a best friend, zombie kids, survivors surrounded by a swarm of zombies, a dying survivor, the MIB clean up crew, and so on.

So for fun I'll use the zombie rules from Antagonists to make our default zombie. I think about 15 points would work well. The PCs will be relatively weak being either Mortals or starting supernaturals. My zombies are diseased humans so they should be relatively dexterous though likely mentally addled.

Attributes: Power 3, Finesse 2, Resilience 2
Health: 7 Physical Integrity: 10
Initiative: 2 Speed: 5
Weakness: Residual Memories (reflecting the disease addled mind)
Aspects: Contagious (spread through blood or saliva, only carriers infect via touch), Quick Movement, Special Attack (Bite), Tough

This leaves 5 points to spend to give slightly variant zombies. Perhaps some are faster or stronger. Perhaps others are skilled at grabbing their meals or are smarter than normal.

So now for the first session. This would likely depend on my players, but I think I'd start off with a limited number of zombies in a small area. This first session would include the hint of the cause of the infection plus the first brief encounter with the MIBs. I'm thinking an infection on ocean liner. The session would start with the PCs going on a cruise. Early on the occult event would occur that starts the infection but subplots would be used to distract them until the first victims fell ill. After that the zombies and deaths ensue until the PCs escape the ship. After the fact the events are covered up. No one knows about the disaster, other survivors vanish or forget.

Well that's it for now.