ZombiesRules variant and Game world for Twilight:2000 v2.2/Traveller New EraBy Matt Geisler INTRODUCTION Fans of science fiction B movies have enjoyed (and endured) many attempts to expand George Romero’s famous “Night of the Living Dead”, a film which captures the collapse and rebirth of a world torn apart when the dead rise from their graves. A popular alternative to the traditional nuclear holocaust, or meteor impact/plague/solar flare survivalist literature, this scenario makes one simple assumption. A virus or parasite invades the human brain, and reactivates it when the body begins to die. Only a portion of the lower or hindbrain remains intact, and most reactivated brains are so heavily damaged that they are only capable of operating their bodies in slow or spasmodic motions. With little or no higher brain functions, these diseased humans become carnivorous, even cannibalistic animals, and attack other living humans, incidentally spreading the infection. These “living dead” have been called Zombies. The primary reason role playing games will never be replaced by computer adventures or duke nukem it that they have the capacity for deeper insights into the world and the human condition. Although it's perhaps a pompous statement to make, all role playing games are simulations in which players and GM simulate how people and a world react to a hypothetical scenario. How do you live? What are your goals? Just survival, or something more? More importantly, role playing games force the players to consider the minute and mundane details which bridge the gap from pure fiction to stark reality. I would even go as far as to say that a well played game can be educational, both from the perspective of teaching people how technology functions (i.e. how does a gun really work, where does alcohol come from?), and from a social/psychological standpoint (how do people react to my actions?). It is for these reasons I have constructed the zombie scenario. This scenario is best played by having all players read this introduction, and having the GM become familiar with the initial events and reactions at least, along with the habits and statistics of the zombies. Introductory modules are designed to allow the GM to reveal bits and pieces of information to the players gradually, as radio broadcasts, rumors, or from other sources. The rest of the work is designed to expand the game into a campaign, in which the world collapses and then slowly rebuilds over the next 40 YEAR s. THE INFECTION The zombie contagion is released (evolved naturally?) on purpose (accidentally?) by radical terrorists who obtained it from a Russian (Iraqi?) germ warfare laboratory in 1998. By October 19, the contagion spread throughout the US Midwest and eastern seaboard, but remained in it's incubation phases. The first zombies appear on a small island off the coast of new York city Oct 20th. A few zombies begin to appear in small isolated Midwestern towns a day later. On Oct 22, an epidemic is declared in new York as thousands fall ill, the first few zombies appear. Not realizing the scope of the problem about to happen, there is little or no media blackout, and medical, rather than military, resources are mobilized. In reality the infection is spreading down the eastern seaboard, and planes loaded with infected people constantly fly out of JFK airport. On Oct 23, the first cases appear in Toronto, and in many other cities with major airports. Emergency meetings of the medical community have determined the basic pathology of the infection, but only now begin to realize the scope of the problem, JFK airport is closed causing riots from panicked flyers. Two days later the infection blooms all over New York, City police and national guard attempt to control the problem, beginning by sealing off the city with tanks, hoping in vain to contain the infection. Other cities are slow to react, but eventually try to have public collection of bodies to prevent them from reviving. Police are overwhelmed trying to respond to zombie attacks. Only 30% of the national guard responds to summons (the rest are sick or dying), and they are powerless anyway. Zombies are not a concentrated invading army, but are difficult to detect at long range, and dispersed throughout the nation. With law enforcement stretched to the limit, looting and bandit gangs quickly form and begin raiding the terrified population. This drives local governments to making increasingly rash and incoherent declarations, but their influence rarely extends beyond city hall. By October 26th, almost one third of the population of New York city (over 2 million) have been terminally infected and have become zombies. Barricades within the city no longer hold, Manhattan island bridges and tunnels are demolished in desperation, but it's far too late. Worldwide panic ensues when the first cases are reported in Berlin and London. On October 27, the US army has finally mobilized at 40% strength, and has moved into the eastern states, for a moment restoring order. Toronto lapses into chaos as police can no longer deal with zombies, many reported cases of weary police officers shooting innocent civilians, Looters are everywhere. Zombies are growing geometrically, and by oct 30, they begin to appear in all remaining cities within the USA. Mexican and Canadian cities are similarly infected. By October 31 martial law is declared throughout the US, and soldiers are given permission to shoot at anyone not responding or obeying them fully. An extremely bad decision is made by the US president in an effort to quell looting, he repeals the private ownership of weapons, and demands that all civilians turn over whatever weapons they have to the army. Anyone caught with a weapon will be shot on sight. Almost nobody complies with this order, but the army begins to shoot civilians freely. By November 5th, there is no organized body of people beyond gangs in Toronto and Manhattan. US army units move into southern Ontario to prevent the chaos from spreading, and are briefly engaged by surviving elements of the Canadian army by mistake. Several small wars break out in eastern Europe as the western nations search vainly for a cure from the suspected contagion manufacturers, none is found. Mexican government collapses into anarchy as rival factions try to take advantage of the current crisis. Winter sets in with a vengeance in Canada, trapping a US infantry division in southern Ontario. More than half of US soldiers are now hastily deployed draftees and on-the-spot deputized citizens. Desertion ranks only second to disease amongst the US army. By Christmas, over half of the US population is now zombies, a 3-1 ratio is estimated for zombies to living people on the east coast. Nuclear bombs are considered briefly to eliminate zombie clusters in large cities, most large cities on the east coast are now abandoned by the army. By January, the army becomes totally cantonized, holding a few precarious refugee safe havens, and leaving the remaining population on their own. The last national effort is to gather as many doctors and scientists as the army can find and fly them to a secret military base in florida in an effort to develop a cure. The US government collapses two months later. Rumors persist that the Chinese have used nuclear weapons on their own cities to prevent the infection from spreading. The time line for the players entry depends largely on where they begin. A good avatar game (playing a normal person) would begin in new york or toronto and would begin very early, with little or no preparation on the players part. A Survivalist game set in the midwest or west coast would allow the players a few weeks to stock up on food and supplies, dealing with quickly depreciating currency, and the occasional violence (riots, mobs, gangs, police). An Army game similar to twilight 2000 could be set in the eastern seaboard as the US army begins to break up from desertion and disease. THE ZOMBIE PROFILE The zombies described in the basic game are the slow, lumbering, stupid, flesh eating monsters of Romero. They are the final phase of an infection which begins slowly with mild anemia. During Phase I of the disease, it is highly contagious, but gives little outward sign (although many supposed tests have been used by various groups to support mass extermination campaigns). Phase II follows after a few weeks of phase I, in which the patient enters a deep coma, often giving the appearance of death. The heart stops, and bloodflow to the body and brain is cut off for up to 1 hour. During this time, much of the brain dies. The patient then revives, but is now in zombie form, parts of the brain responsible for animal behavior (killing, eating) are stimulated by pseudo-neurotransmitters secreted by the contagion, causing erratic and violent behavior. Phase II is no longer directly contagious, except through open wounds and saliva. Depending on the eating habits of a Phase II patient (zombie), they can survive up to 10 years, but will usually die of starvation within 2-3 years.
Many other films have depicted a similar kind of bio/chem/nuke agent which instead of creating a lumbering zombie, turns people into maniacs bent on killing. I have broken this into two versions; A: the insanity plague, and B: the cultist plague. Both of these are caused by infections similar to those described by the zombie plague. Instead of destroying the mind however, the delicate neurochemical balance of the brain is disrupted. Insanity plague Inspired by films such as Jacob’s ladder, In the mouth of madness, and Defcon 4, the insanity plague virus infects and destroys much of the higher function of the brain, and secretes neurotransmitter homologs which turn the patient into a homicidal maniacal killer. Strength and constitution are enhanced, and like zombies, plague victims do not suffer from shock or trauma, but can be driven unconscious (+2 con vs unc rolls). They have some higher faculties, but are unable to use any but the most primitive weapons, such as clubs, axes or knives. Some insane victims can use firearms, but are too far gone to be able to load or care for them, and will usually expend all ammunition within a few hours of finding the weapon. Plague victims can (at referees discretion) function individually or in small groups (calling upon primitive tribalistic instincts). They are clever, and will often organize ambushes, perhaps even setting primitive traps (deadfalls, and debris showers). Cultist plague Much of human psychology, mythology and sociology is based on instinct. Primitive societies are though to have formed through the interplay of basic drives, while our later refined societies are the result of rational thinking. The cultist plague attacks and destroys the rational mind, leaving the instinctual mind alive. As a disease it is far more subtle, and difficult to identify. The players represent the last rational thinkers in an increasingly irrational world. They experience the collapse of society from bad decisions and lack of rational thought from leaders and people alike. Cults emerge from the social decay, and begin gobbling up the mainstream population, several of them turn apocalyptic, demonic, violent, or otherwise disturbed as the darker side of human psychology is released. This is the realm inspired by the television series Millennium, and real figures such as David Koresh, various other fanatical american movements, and ironically, the collapse of the Roman Empire. THE LIVING PEOPLE As society decays, several new groups appear, and begin incorporating the majority of people. I have simplified these groups into five groups: militias, the army, gangs, ethnic groups, and religious groups. Each of these emerges as a source of power, organization and influence as the government and main population are destroyed. Militias These begin to appear around 4-6 months after the initial devastation. They usually occur in small rural areas where the zombie infestation is widely scattered. It these regions it is easier to defend a household, especially when several families join together to defend their farms and villages. In the US, many of these groups were formed prior to the plague, as militia movements in the face of big government, these groups tend to be the largest, best organized and most heavily armed groups. Many of the more violently anti-government militias have violently resisted the army's order to disarm and draft all civilians. Many short shooting wars have erupted, mostly one sided, but the army could not possibly hope to eradicate all militias, and gave up trying after a few months. This has left many militias very upset however, and unlikely to assist government forces. Early militias resemble criminal gangs, but are usually sedentary, perhaps raiding the local area, or settling a grudge with the local police. Later, they begin to incorporate more reasonable policies as their ranks swell. Militias have a wide range of internal governments, most are despotic, but several attempts at oligarchal, patriarchal or even elected republics have been made. The Army Initially deployed to quell rioting and widespread violence in the east coast, the army was the last vestige of the government to fall to anarchy. Initially the army was disbursed at the brigade or regimental level, and assigned to regions, sent on patrols, or in a military police capacity. Several army units were used to demolish bridges, establish checkpoints to prevent the movement of people (and thus the plague), and enforce martial law. By the first winter however, individual army units began to coalesce into larger units (division sized) creating safe havens for refugees, and several army units began to “forage” for food and supplies. With their numbers dwindling due to desertion and disease, these safe havens quickly become cantonments, and later city-states. Civilians within the boarders are expected to follow orders without question, and work hard to support the war machine. Army cantonments are almost universally despotic. Criminal Gangs Gangs of criminals began to appear almost immediately after the first few zombies were spotted. The early gangs are pre-existing, and now taking advantage of the distraction to conduct some extra “business”. Later as it became apparent that the police were ineffective, larger numbers of people began looting, rapidly forming into amateur gangs. Most of these centered around a charismatic leader, and a bunch of frightened, desperate civilians with a handful of small arms. Unlike normal looters (just after a bit of property), gangs generally distinguish themselves for their murder, rape, torture, and total human depravity. These represent the worst human qualities which can easily be found in all people. Examples include the recent wars in Rwanda, Yugoslavia, and Somalia. Unlike what most people want to believe, this is not the action of a handful of war-criminals, but the savage heart of humanity gone feral. Ethnic Groups Many modern militias are in fact ethnic (Aryan?) groups, motivated by racial hatred, or some pseudo-scientific (B.S.) ethnic cleansing dogma. Other groups are simply collections of people based on some visible ethnic origin. In times of crisis most populations divide along racial lines, and America is no exception. Some groups will take in outsiders, but give them second class status, other groups will seek to exterminate either broad or specific races of people. These groups form 2-4 months after the violence (some of them in response to the violence) and organize into small fortified strongpoints. Within cities, they depend on the last reserves of canned food and scavenging, others migrate out into the rural countryside and make somewhat futile attempts to start agricultural communities. These stand out from normal groups of refugees, as they are organized, have clear leaders and some purpose. If the players are lucky, helping out an ethnic community in the formative stages can earn them a safe haven later on. Religious Groups Again, the distinction between militia, ethnic and religious groups are somewhat blurry, but here I have defined religious groups as those to which the higher religious purpose is placed above all other priorities. These are mostly the fanatical groups which form in any calamity. They explain the calamity in the most biblical terms, declare this to be judgement day, or the equivalent. These arguments in the face of such horror tend to hold a lot of weight. The cults begin organizing late however, and are not a serious threat until about a YEAR after the governmental collapse. More and more refugees begin to swell the ranks of cults. Rival cults frequently skirmish with each other, some organize mass suicides, others practice genocide, even human sacrifice among the extreme cultists. As these become a focus for the weak-minded living population seeking spiritual relief, they become quite powerful. However their power is finite, and the hardships of extreme belief will eventually undo them. Demographics After first year, 70% of the human population of north America is infected or killed. Zombies outnumber humans 4-1 in built up areas, and 2-1 in rural areas. Zombies in rural areas are scattered and found individually or in groups of 2-20. Large urban centers become milling throngs of zombies, tens of thousands prowl the streets of the suburbs, hundreds of thousands in the city core. A few fortress communities make up the remaining human inhabitations, becoming increasingly untenable as supplies are exhausted and foraging parties turn up less material with increasing casualties. Gangs are widespread, preying on refugee humans, raiding the communities, and scavenging for whatever they can find. Rural gangs tend to be motorized, on trucks or motorcycles. They raid villages and small communities for food, fuel, and kicks. Many of them include x-military personal with some military hardware, and lots of civilian weapons. The army is deployed to attack the gangs, and often succeeds in eliminating them, but there are too many. Local government still remains in many areas, especially where shored up by army units. Federal government is nowhere to be found. The Future 40 year projection Simply put, the government slowly ceases to exist, communities spring up from religious, ethnic, or rural origins, and slowly replace the army. Criminal activity, initially very high, dies down after a few years as communities are better armed, and everything else is already looted. Zombies disappear as they are slain or starve. After 10 years, warlords forcibly unite several smaller communities into city-states. Through political means or by conquest, city-states form into tiny kingdoms, and later small empires. By year 40, a few state sized organizations boasting up to a million citizens now exist. Many of these are despotic, practicing slavery, cruel and unjust laws, corruption, and terror to keep the population in line. There are a few shining examples where a fragile democracy or enlightened monarch hold sway, but these are rare. And everyone dreams of reuniting the american empire. After 40 years, finally the population begins to increase past the initial losses of the first year. The killing has finally subsided to a lower number than the birthrate (or is it that the birthrate has finally caught up with the killing?). Demographics table showing relative influence and other factors
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