Zombie Apocalypse Game System

[fanfavorite]

Hey all- new on the Future Wars boards

I'll jump right into it then- with a wealth of modern zombie miniatures and survivors I really would like some recommendations (if there are any) of a tabletop rule system for a zombie survivor game. Hopefully one with a campaign system where you can further upgrade your survivors with experience as you escalate the danger. Any help would be stellar! I'm sure there has to be some games out there as I know of a plethora of zombie miniatures, and I can only assume people do more than just collect them.

Looking forward to your replies,

fanfav

[infelix]

We use All Things Zombie for our Z gaming. The reaction system is not everyone's cup of tea but it's definitely worth checking out.

[The Breaker]

Two Hour Games have a ruleset. I can't recal it's name, played one demo it was pretty fun.

[Storm Wolf]

We use "No more room in hell!" by Iron Ivan games, it has trading, character development and a campaign system plus my kids love it

SW

[zizi666]

Here too, All Things Zombie.

[Ulu Elsomalien]

Here too, All Things Zombie.

That.

First book (Better dead than Zed): basic rules (nothing more needed to have fun)
2nd book (Haven campaign) : scenarios (from different point of view) for the outbreak timeline
3rd book (I, zombie) : rules added/changed + how to play the outbreak (on your point of view)
(IIRC) Next book planned (After the Horsemen) : how to live in a Post Apoc world

[Eldorf.Dragonsbane]

I have to throw in my vote for the Two Hour Wargames gamke, All Things Zombie.

It does have a system in place for character development, your Rep (Rep is roughly similar to character level) can either drop, stay the same, or go up after an encounter, all based on your actions during the encounter and a die roll at the end.

The All Things Zombie: Better Dead then Zed book (the core rule book, also known as ATZ2, ATZ 2nd ed, ATZ:BSTZ, and even ATZ Trilogy Book 1 by some) does get you started on a possible campaign (starting with Day 1 of the outbreak).

If you want more scenarios that take place in the first few days to month of the outbreak you can get All Things Zombie: Haven (Book 2 of the ATZ Trilogy), this book has scenarios for the Law Enforcement, Military, Gangers and Civilian/Survivors, along with a small Survivor community that one can use as a base of operations for an extended campaign, and recruit group members from as needed (though most will only work with you one encounter before you need to re-recruit them for another one).

All Things Zombie: I, Zombie (Book 3 of the ATZ Trilogy) adds new rules for initial set up, instead of rolling for the initial zombie placement you can now use PEFs (Possible Enemy/Encountered Forces),the PEFs can be anything from Zombies, to Hostile NPCs to Friendly (as in willing to talk to you instead of shooting first) to a false alarm (nothing). It also adds sleep deprivation rules, water craft movement rules, alternate rule for fast moving, a set of ruels for handling building interiors (for those building such as a model railroad building that doesnt have a detailed interior), quirks and phobias (that may either give you a benefit or a penalty to your die rolls and interactions with NPCs),etc... (The watercraft, PEF, and sleep deprivation rules were originally released for ATZ in the Giving up the Goat scenario, that costs $3 from THW). I, Zombie also introduces the fail Lazarus Project, a project that was hoped to be the cure for the Zombieism, that had disastrous results, now giving you Ragers (living humans that due to the Lazarus project and the Z-Virus, have degenerated into mindless rage filled killing machines, if attacked by one in melee there is a chance of them infecting you with the rage), Smarties (semi-intelligent Zombies that know how to use weapons, so if you have zombie figures carrying a gun, crowbar, kitchen knife, ect... that you here holding off using because zombies don't use weapons, now you have a use for them as Smarties), and Psys (also known as Psyckers regular humans that the Lazarus Project brought out latent psychic abilities such as Telekenesis, though most Psyckers try to keep their abilities hidden out of fear that they will be hunted down, killed, studied or used as slaves for their powers), finally you have a final baddie the B.A. Worm (think the graboids from Tremors, these know one knows if they are a result of the Lazarus Project, a naturally occurring species that has lain dormant for years, an alien species or a lab experiment that got loose during the outbreak, luckily though when encountered there is only one that will be encountered). You also in I, Zombie have Lake Havasu City, a larger community of survivors, where theoretically one could be able to obtain anything they want from drugs and booze, to toilet paper to new recruits, though be warmed if you piss of someone here or in the wastes they might not forget your face and try to take their revenge if they encounter you again. Lake Havasu City also has gambling, you cna bet on the Zombie races or the Pit fights, or if you are feeling super lucky, compete as either a baiter in the races or a fighter in the pits.

I, Zombie also takes the character advancement idea further by introducing Fame and Fortune system. This system is basically how others see you, your reputation (not the same as the characters Rep/Level, but what others have heard of you from rumors, or how they see you based on witnessed actions) in the post outbreak world. This system is similar to the one used in the Fallout Games (think Fallout New Vegas where you have a reputation with each faction, and how they react to your presence is based on that reputation). You also are able to gain (and lose), based on certain actions, Fame & Fortune points (FFP) for boosting your characters Rep (level), by spending them once you have at least 5 times your current Rep, you can use them (say you are a Rep 3 you would use 15 Fame & Fortune Points) the die you would roll for a Rep increase by 1 (so if you rolled a 3 then the roll would be increased by 1 to 4, giving you a Rep increase since the die roll, with the modifier, was above your current Rep of 3, so in order to improve to Rep 4 you woul dhave had to roll a 3, 4, 5, or 6, since you had the + one modifier from the FFP useage).

The ATZ rules can be purchased directly from Two Hour Wargames via their site http://www.angelfire.com/az3/twohourwargames/wargames.htm, If you order a printed copy it also comes with a PDF copy that will be emailed to you so you can read the rules before the printed copy arrives by mail.  I believe the prices are ATZ- $25 for a printed/PDF combo or $20 for just the PDF alone, Haven-$20 for Printed/PDF combo or $17 PDF, and I, Zombie- $25 Printed/PDF or $20 PDF. I do have a more fully detailed post of what is available for ATZ, including the scenarios, tokens, etc... over a BGGs on the ATZ Better Dead then Zed page, here's the link to the post http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/664475/want-to-know-where-to-purcahse-atz-please-read-if

[Digitarii]

I'm also going to put my two cents in for THW's ATZ system. I agree with everything else said about it, but I'm also going to throw in that since everything in the THW catalog uses the same system, you can take things from the other games to mix in for flavor.

[fanfavorite]

Thanks all for the hasty replies, and especially to those lengthy reviews! I will for sure do a little more research but I have heard good things about other Two Hour War Games is it?- games already and am defiantly leaning in that direction.

[Commander Vyper]

AKULA's ARSE rules, (with some personal in house additions) quick, bloody, intuative and brutal.

[CptJake]

You can try Two Hour Wargames mechanisms with their free rules, Chain Reaction 3.0:  http://www.angelfire.com/az3/twohourwargames/pages/cr3.htm

Jake

[Crudeboy]

I have to cast my lot in with All Things Zombie as well, and I really can't add anything; it's been explained very thoroughly.

I've actually been reading over the books again this past week, trying to figure out how I can play it online via MapTool. I don't think it'd be that difficult at all.

We use "No more room in hell!" by Iron Ivan games, it has trading, character development and a campaign system plus my kids love it

I've reeeally been looking at this one and am considering ordering a copy, but I'm afraid I haven't found much about it. The main things I've been wondering, is if it allows solo/cooperative play like in ATZ, and how extensive is the character creation/development? I'll admit, I like being able to build characters instead of copying down a stat block. If it's anything like what I've seen of Where Heroes Dare! (which is another I've been eyeballing), then I think I'd be satisfied. 

[snitcythedog]

Another vote for ATZ.  Arse works too.
Snitchy sends.

[warrenss2]

ARSE voter here too!

[Sheerluck Holmes]

I have to cast my lot in with All Things Zombie as well, and I really can't add anything; it's been explained very thoroughly.

I've actually been reading over the books again this past week, trying to figure out how I can play it online via MapTool. I don't think it'd be that difficult at all.

I've reeeally been looking at this one and am considering ordering a copy, but I'm afraid I haven't found much about it. The main things I've been wondering, is if it allows solo/cooperative play like in ATZ, and how extensive is the character creation/development? I'll admit, I like being able to build characters instead of copying down a stat block. If it's anything like what I've seen of Where Heroes Dare! (which is another I've been eyeballing), then I think I'd be satisfied. 

 I have moved over to playing No More Room In Hell after buying ATZ and Ambush Z.  The core rules are just like Where Heroes Dare! (which I also have) and other Iron Ivan rules.
 The zombies can be controlled by a player, but the game is designed for the rules to control the zombies instead of a player.
 Character development is similar to Where Heroes Dare!, and it has campaign rules included too.