Taking the Zombie RV out for a test drive (Halloween game 10/29/24)

[mikedemana]

Looks like a good set of rules and a lot of fun. Will have to look for it.

Thank you! Here’s the link:
https://www.wargamevault.com/product/481744/Zombie-RV

Mike Demana

[Rick]

That's great, I'll be looking at that after Christmas. As a point of interest, how many zombies would I need for a game?

[mikedemana]

If you do a standard 4-survivor game, I would say 25-30 should easily be enough. I have just over 70 zombies and it was more than enough for a game three times the normal size…

Mike Demana

[Rick]

That's fine - I'm thinking of doing it in 20mm rather than the usual 28mm - and for an odd sort of reason. Obviously the figures are a bit cheaper but there's still good detail on the modern 20mm figures; the reason is, have you tried looking for a halfway decent cheap rv in 28mm? I can find 1/72 ones, also 1/87, 1/43, 1/32, 1/28, even 1/112, but nothing that sits around that 1/56-1/48 area. Unless I want to do an mdf model which I'm reluctant to do for vehicles just at the moment.
But I've got a suitable starter van that will work (with some post-apoc modifications), I've looked at a few companies that do zombies and survivor types in 20mm so I think I might be going for it as a New Year/New Game approach!

[mikedemana]

Thanks for the comments everyone!

The costs are high for 28mm RVs, unless you modify one like I did:
https://leadlegionaries.blogspot.com/2024/10/rv-scratch-build-forwell-zombie-rv.html

Good luck on your 20mm project. I do my modern Wars of Insurgency in 20mm.

Mike Demana

[Rick]

Thanks Mike - I've dug out a few of my old Dark Future figures (and cursing that I sold the rest off a few years ago), I've converted a 1/72 (or 1/76) Dodge B-series van into a Zombus! RV and I just have to buy some zeds and a few more survivors in the New Year! Looking good!

[Cat]

20mm has long been my zeds scale thanks hundreds of 1/72 plastics from Twilight Creation's Zombies!!! game.
 
Yeah, DF are super survivors, as well as various other 20s, an assortment of 1/72 types, and I've thrown in some 15s for armed teens to round out the family groups of survivors and the not-so-survived.

[Rick]

Cat - brilliant idea, I hadn't thought to use 15's. I will have to dig through my figures to find some suitable figures, thanks for that.

[Doug ex-em4]

I was about to hit the Buy button on a set of County Road Z rules then I remembered seeing this topic last year. A read through and I realised that maybe I don’t need the County Road set after all. Seems to me these will do the job just as well so thanks, Mike, for all your input.

Two questions. 1 - I couldn’t find where I could make my donation to the download and 2, how did the rules work on a bigger table than 2’x2’ ?

I’m going to check your blog now and may find the answer to 2 there anyway.

Doug

[mikedemana]

On my purchase, I was able to pay more than the recommended $1. If it doesn't let you, try it with the "A Place to Chillax" scenario mini-book and pick that up, too.

Here's what I did with a larger board (5'x3') in my games. Each player controls 1/2 of a group, i.e., two survivors. I typically have six players, so three vehicles worth of survivors. One spawn point per 4 survivors. I make the first two on board spawn points on the centerline of the table, two feet apart (so each is 18" in from the sides). The third spawn point, if you have a big group like me, is "random." Roll the number of zombies and types as normal, but each one comes in on a random board edge at a random spot along it.

To make mine work, I roll 1d6 for the edge ("1" first short edge, "2,3" long edge, "4" other short edge, "5-6" other long edge). Then randomize where on that edge it comes in using the proper combination of d6's, d12's, or whatever. So, if the players roll well and only 3 zombies come in on the random spot, those three will likely come in at three very different spots.

I had purchased and read County Road Z, but then heard about Zombie RV. I tried it out, liked its fast-play style, and haven't ever gotten around to starting County Road Z. I am creating a campaign system for Zombie RV, with the author's blessing (but no guarantee of publication). PM me if you want  a Word doc of what I have so far...

Welcome to the Zombie RV -- glad to have you aboard!! 

Mike Demana

[Doug ex-em4]

Mile - thanks for your reply. I’m thinking of playing this solo but with a bigger board (eventually). I’ll experiment with numbers of survivors, spawn points, vehicles etc but first, I’ll try some standard 2x2 games as per the rules.

I’ve downloaded nozza_uk’s random encounters and I’d be very interested in what you’re producing so I’ll pm you.

Like you, I don’t happen to have a model of a motorhome (RV) or camper van, so my survivors will start in some style in a Range Rover .

Looking forward to some zombie action.

Doug

[nozza_uk]

Before I pivoted to 1970s UK background, I was planning on using the Sarissa RV as my gangs motorhome. Should I ever decide to a US based game of ZombieRV, mine is all painted up and ready to go.

https://sarissa-precision.com/products/recreational-vehicle-rv?variant=13320409382956

[mikedemana]

That’s a nice-looking RV! Not boxy like some MDF kits trying to do vehicles…

Mike Demana