So, I am wanting to learn Savage Worlds, and I was thinking of doing so through a relatively easy and fun setting: a zombie apocalypse. This is something I always enjoy, especially when the game focuses on "survival" as much as "horror" in the "survival horror."

However, I have a couple of variant ideas and timeline things to figure out if I am to do this. What interests players the most?

• Day 1
The game starts when the apocalypse does. First few news stories about outbreaks, then the clouds break open, a vast storm engulfs the world for a time, and the dead rise. Dark things emerge from the shadows of the world. The Plague sweeps across the world even as you scramble in those early days, weeks, months, to survive. Resources are more plentiful because society is collapsing around you, but that also makes the initial conflicts that much bloodier.

• Year 1
The game begins some time after the apocalypse has happened. People are still fighting, and there are enclaves of survivors throughout the cities, but the urban landscapes are scarred. Some cities are complete wastelands, sepulchers of undead and lawless survivors who will do anything to wake up tomorrow. Resources are more scarce because some food has spoiled, a lot of fuel is spoiled, and no one's maintaining the infrastructure.

Another consideration is the nature of the setting. For this I have two different ideas:

• "Mortal" Zombie Apocalypse
In this scenario, the Plague may be some virus gone wrong, or something wholly supernatural infesting our world. Either way, there are zombies. Human zombies, animals, and some freakish aberrant zombies that defy either classification. Player characters are all too human, struggling to survive in an inhuman world. They persevere through wits, gear (much of it scavenged, salvaged, and jury-rigged), and luck in a world as savage as the primeval wilderness of old.

• "Urban Fantasy" Zombie Apocalypse"
This scenario is as above, but takes place in an "urban fantasy" world. The Plague swept in from realms unknown, bringing with it terrible dark things. Magic once coursed through the world's veins. Witches, vampires, werewolves, psychics, and more were caught up in the apocalypse just the same as humans were. Now they must fight to survive as well.

This scenario hammers on the "horrors" button a little harder. Ghosts are a thing already. Imagine ghosts created by the horrific demise of people in the dark, at the stinking jaws of the undead? What other supernatural entities, terrors as old as the world's bones, awakened when the Plague invaded our world? This one breaks the rules a bit more. Zombies die to headshots...usually. Anywhere someone dies, they rise up as a zombie. Monstrous "mutant" zombies appear more often, and some exhibit truly terrifying powers. Death gods may rule kingdoms of the dead, or necromancers may style themselves as lords of this new world. Vampires need people to feed on, as do the zombies, but they have to protect the dwindling human population.

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So, these are my ideas. If you, dear reader and potential player, were to join such a game, what of these options would interest you most?

Personally, I'd be into a Day 1 Mortal Apocalypse game. I'm into the idea of converting some of the Broken Earth community building rules to rebuilding after the rise of the dead.

I think even a Year 1-style game, I would do something I have neglected to do in the past, and definitely have a prelude scene or two of how the characters were before it all went bad.

I also like the idea of using the community-building rules. The thing is, are the Broken Earth ones better or different than the ones in the Apocalypse Campaign Guide?

I'd be open to a Day 1 or even a Year 1 game to be honest as either would be fun. And a Mortal game would be okay as well though I am not against the idea of an Urban Fantasy game. I know that is kind of non-committal but I truly am open to either of the ideas and would play in either.

Don't know much about Broken Earth but what little I have read but don't have access to the books. That meaning both Broken Earth or Apocalypse Campaign, so would need help with anything of over interest there.

Hello, how about Reinassance times zombie apocalypse? Maybe you can join your forces with Leonardo da Vinci against the walking dead...
It is all done and ready to play as Ultima Forsan setting for Savage Worlds. Do you know it?

I've never actually heard of the Apocalypse Campaign Guide, didn't know it was a thing! I'd be happy to use any such rules, as they're probably better suited to a zombie apocalypse as opposed to a more Fallouty-kinda thing like Broken Earth.

I have it now and it's pretty helpful. I have a lot of good ideas so far, but haven't been able to nail down just what might catch the most player interest. I do like the idea of a Renaissance zombie apocalypse, but I think I will stick with modern day for these purposes (because it makes certain things easier). Also, either way, urban fantasy or mortal, we'll do stuff like the community-building stuff. It's just how much supernatural stuff we want in our game.

I've never heard of Ultima Forsan. Sounds cool.

Whether or not you plan to use it in the short term, I suggest you check it out (there is quite a lot of introductory stuff freely available on line), as I think it is really worth it and it may turn out to be useful in the future.

EDIT: for example here https://heroengine.wordpress.com/ultima-forsan/ you should be able to find more info and quite a lot of free material.
This message was last edited by the user at 22:47, Sun 12 Aug 2018.

I don’t know they system but the game sounds like a lot of fun.

I would be fine with either the day 1 or year 1 games would be great. I would like the urban fantasy setting a little more then the mortal style.

This sounds good. I'd opt for Day 1 (Shaun of the dead?) and hope for a gradual ramp up of the zombies, first one, then a couple, then a bunch, then the horde. A jump to Week 2 would be cool after a while.

If Year 1, I'd prefer rebuilding to be more or lessin the background. Maybe the PCs have found a haven and are tasked with finding/scavenging some important bit of infrastructure.

Anyway, sounds like fun!

What do you think of urban fantasy versus purely mortal stuff?

Since there's a fair bit of interest, what I'll likely do is start setting up a forum before long. The discussion here is helpful, though, although there's hardly any kind of consensus.

Would fantasy 'races' be available as Player Characters? If yes, that would seem to make mortal humans much less equal and kind of push players to fantasy types.

Yes. Werewolves, witches, etc. But there are a couple of balancing factors here. One is that those creatures have their own weaknesses and special considerations—werewolves, for instance, have powerful life-forces and emotions that can rage out of control. Zombies target them first and foremost. Vampires need blood which they can't get from zombies, they have sunlight, etc.

Human characters would get more XP and Edges and such to help balance things out. They don't have the powers necessarily, but they'd get more breadth of ability because of it. Some people enjoy that. I have before (even if I do love werewolves and dhampirs).

What about the urban fantasy setting where three worlds come together.
One being a dark world where undead, shape-changers, demon are commonplace.
The second being a standard fantasy world full of orc, dwarves and dragons.
The final being a earth like world. (Medieval, Victorian or Modern)

At first the link is weak and only allows lesser creatures through like zombie and elves. As the time passes the link strengthens and stronger creatures cross over.

I don’t know, was thinking about this on the drive home...

I deemed there to be enough interest that I created a game. Here is the Players Wanted thread. Still haven't figured out Day 1/Year 1 or Mortal/Urban Fantasy, so please, stop by and chip in if you're interested. This thread will probably be locked after this post, so go ahead and come on by if you wanna continue the discussion.