In another thread, someone was asking about rules for modern-day zombie gaming for use with Urban Mayhem terrain. As I have a little experience with this, I thought I'd create a thread just for zombie gaming, and get things started with my own list of rules and thoughts.

All Things Zombie
(by Two Hour Wargames)
http://www.angelfire.com/az3/twohourwargames/
Printed $20, PDF $17
Winner 2006 ORIGINS AWARD for Best Miniatures Game or Expansion of the Year

Full-blown skirmish rules in a post-apocalypse setting, specifically geared towards survivors and zombies. Gangs are made up of stars and grunts. The rules are quite detailed and cover 63 pages (many pages of tables and charts and examples of play). Detailed scenario generation system, designed for one-off as well as campaign play. Rules support vehicles and fighting inside buildings. Actively supported by THW and their own yahoo group.

Combat Zone
(by EM4)
UK: http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/C ... ducts.html
US: http://tindictator.com/tindic.html
Gamer’s Edition (just rules, counters and charts): Printed $12.
Also available as a boxed version with minis.

Simple skirmish rules designed for near-future and sci-fi gang warfare. Rules are well illustrated and formatted, and cover 32 pages. Comes with a 4-page Beginners Guide and various counters, templates and quick reference sheets. Rules for mechs are included, but there are no rules for fighting inside buildings. Actively supported by EM4 (they produce a free Combat Zone Chronicles online web-zine loaded with tons of rules variants, terrain articles, scenarios, etc). Two of these articles are mods/enhancements to the core rules to support zombie gaming:

Night of the Living Dead
(Free rules supplement for Combat Zone rules set)
http://www.combatzonechronicles.net/cozo4/xzombi4.htm

Zombies
(Free rules supplement for Combat Zone rules set)
http://www.combatzonechronicles.net/cozo5/5zom.htm

Dead Things
(various versions and sources for these rules)
Radioactive Press: http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php? ... s_id=7576&
PDF $5

The history of this rule set is rather muddled. It appears to have started out life as a 17-page set of rules from Mystic Eye Games called Zombie Dawn. Ronin Arts have since acquired the rights to that version (and they are still available on RPGNow). They were revised at some point by another author and offered for free as a 23-page Word document download (I did not note nor can I find the download source). Those rules were revised once again and are now offered for sale as a 31-page pdf by Radioactive Press.

These rules pit Survivors against a mob of Zombies. Like an RPG players spend points to “build” their character (the Zombie player also gets points to build their Zombies)! Includes a good list of weapons and equipment for outfitting. and special abilities which can be learned. Unlike the other games listed here, the Zombies come in several varieties, including humans, birds, dogs, fish, flaming, monstrosity, and the ever-popular radioactive. The Zombies themselves can have special abilities, which can make for some very surprising and unexpected encounters! There are rules for fighting indoors and vehicles.

Note: I have the free Word document version and the Radioactive Press pdf version of these rules. The additional 8 pages in the pdf include a cover and credits page with table of contents, 3 pages of vehicle rules, and a smattering of rule revisions (clarifications) and enhancements (new weapons, new zombie types, etc).

Final Days
(by Kenzer & Company)
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php? ... _id=14502&
PDF $5 (current sale price - normal price is $12)

These rules were originally part of a boxed game from Kenzer, but are now available separately as a pdf download. They are 36 pages from cover to cover, and handle skirmish games between the Fallen (evil) and Forsaken (those left behind after the rapture). Includes rules for evil and divine supernatural powers, and fighting indoors. No vehicle rules.

Occult Wars
(by Stealthy Spider Publishing)
http://www.occultwars.com/
Printed $28 US, PDF $15 US (based on current currency conversions)

Simple yet detailed rules covering all things occult. Rules are 80 pages long and support human, werewolf, vampire, demon and angel characters. Zombies are supported as a faction run by the system (although a player can run them if desired). Rules for character advancement, movement and fighting within buildings (including special Zombie encounter tables), and vehicles included. Easily playable solo. Actively supported by their own Yahoo group. Lots of fun. (For a detailed review of the rules by me, check out their site or join their yahoo group to access the downloadable pdf).

Xtreme Zombie Hunter
(by Grimey Games)
http://xtremezombiehunter.com/
PDF $12

A tongue-in-cheek modern-day rules set where zombie hunting is an international sport, covered live on tv (think Running Man with zombies). Rules are 51 pages long (30 pages of rules, the rest are character sheets and appendices covering minis and terrain). Players run hunters who are dropped into a “set” to fight zombies, plug their sponsors and earn victory points. Players also run the zombies facing other players. Currently no rules for vehicles or indoor fighting (a supplement is in development however). Easily playable solo. Lots of fun. (Bias note: I had a hand in revising these rules to their current v1.5 edition).

Zombie Apocalypse
(by GameWerks)
http://www.game-werks.com/games.asp#ZA
PDF $5.95 (rpgnow.com)
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php? ... s_id=3337&

Though 22 pages long, the rules only take 9 pages. The rest cover a sample scenario and lots of equipment cards and zombie tokens. This is a stripped-down version of their New World Disorder rules, modified specifically for a simple zombie gaming experience. No rules for vehicles or fighting in buildings.

From the list above, I've been very happy with Occult Wars (when I want a straight-up survivors versus zombies game) and Xtreme Zombie Hunter (when I want something out of the ordinary). Both are easy to get a handle on and provide for fun gaming.

All Things Zombie are very detailed, with more charts and tables than you can shake a stick at. Many of them are not used in a typical game, but they can appear overwhelming. The unique "reaction" system takes some time to get used to - I'm still fumbling with it myself.

I only just picked up Final Days so have yet to play a trial game. I've played Combat Zone a couple of times, but not either of the zombie supplements.

There are some free zombie rules available, but I'll save that list for a separate post. There is also the Savage Worlds RPG which has several adventure supplements that cover zombie hunting, but as that is an RPG and not a tabletop minis game per-se I've not included them above.

Steve

Not exactly a wargame-type game but I thought I'd point out

http://boardgamegeek.com/game/7514

It's simple, it's fun and it's free! Some dedicated (read: insane) kitbasher could probably jury-rig existing Mayhem sets to create a fully 3D ZP board (I'd have done it myself by now if I had the time...)

Well done... a very good compilation... I've to add (it's not a rules...as it works with D20...but I liked it for the information (kinds of zombies/ways of make the campaing) the Year of the zombie

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php? ... s_id=5009&

I've it and the "Independence day massacre" and hope someday use it to make a SW-Zombie Run campaing...

Then we have to add maybe the sources for miniatures ! I know that there is out there a good page for it with all but maybe we could make ours - I've bought a few of the Zombies of herroclix (at last the miniatures weren't as bad as they seem in picture and waiting for the next Lab expansion) and a box of Gw zombies (that someday will glue and paint...damm !!)

I see that the boxed, board game, by Twilight Creations wasn't listed. Since the game tiles are 4" by 4", some modification to SOM would be necessary. Modification that I've been playing around with off and on for the better part of 3 months.

Think I've just about got it down to where I like it, so I'm going to be kit bashing the original boxed set then post pictures once I'm done.

Skunk

Check out my fantasy campaign, Wizard Quest, a world using Wizards of the Coast’s 3.5 DnD system by visiting .

Check out the NEW IMPROVED flash teaser for my sci-fi campaign, , coming Jan 2007. I’ll be using D20 Future for the rules.

Check out what games I’m working on and their status by visiting .

The new and improved Tampa Bay Game Players Forum is here! So see you in the game! .

Okay, here are a few rule sets for gaming modern-day zombies that are FREE! As always, I'm perfectly willing to share my opinions

Brains: The Hunger
(by Pictors Studio)
http://www.pictorsstudio.com/Brainsmain.htm

Very simple rules, not well organized or explained. Comes to 4 pages if you copy the text from the web page to a Word document. Could serve as the basis for your own home-grown rules – but IMHO these would need a LOT of work. Much better stuff further down the list.

Darkest Day of Horror
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/zombiegaming/

A simple 9-page pdf which covers your basic Survivors versus Zombies situation. Nothing fancy. Way too simple for my tastes. Note: the rules are only available if you join the Yahoo group.

Dead Things
I've got some good news and some bad news. The GOOD NEWS is, IMHO these were the best of the FREE zombie gaming rules. I discovered these quite some time back; the 23-page Word document is nicely laid out, and the rules gel together quite nicely. The BAD NEWS is, these are no longer free (I cannot find the download source after several hours of trying).

However, all is not lost. These rules were revised and offered for sale rather cheaply. I just purchased my own copy a few moments ago and gave them a quick compare to the older Word version. For details, check out the post above where I discuss rules for sale - I just added this set to that list.

Dead Walk Again
Planned Movement Production
http://www.pm-production.nu/products/de ... -again.php

A nice 12-page set of rules (in pdf format), designed for SWAT versus Zombies action (they took their inspiration from the start of the original Dawn of the Dead movie). No rules for vehicles, and no special rules for fighting indoors (although indoor combat is supported). There are several nice downloads to go along with the rules (various cards and templates, and a Quick Reference Sheet). Nicely done.

Send More Brains
http://geocities.com/arnoljos/smb_index.html

A 14-page pdf, designed for Survivors versus Zombies. I don’t much care for the layout, but there are some nice concepts here (the Zombies are managed in groups rather than individually). There are a number of nice downloads to go along with the rules (various cards and color templates). Worth a look.

Twilight
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/zp3/

A 23-page Word document, these rules were designed for survivor versus Zombie action (with each player controlling a single Survivor or the mob of Zombies). Plenty of detail here – including rules for using explosives, and finding keys and/or hot-wiring vehicles. Note that vehicle rules are covered in a separate 3-page document, and detailed campaign rules (scenarios, character advancement, finding loot, etc) are covered in a separate 14-page document. If you want your games to have more detail, this may be the way to go. Note: the rules are only available if you join the Yahoo group.

Next up for your consideration, here are some board games that involve zombies that may inspire you into a terrain-building frenzy.

Dawn of the Dead
(SPI – Out Of Print)
http://www.homepageofthedead.com/

Now available as a FREE download. Reviews are mixed about this game, some say the humans cannot win, some say it’s too easy for them to win. Originally released back in the early 1980's, the counters are drab and the board too busy. Still, worth a look, if for no other reason that to check out the map of the mall (and possibly inspire some WWG terrain ideas).

After you follow the link above, you will need to click on Games along the top, and then scroll down to see the boardgames section, and click on that link (you cannot link directly to that page).

Mall of Horror
Asmodee
http://www.asmodee-us.com/

Not your typical zombie board game, in this one every player controls three characters, and your objective is to survive by getting the zombies to attack the other players.

Maul of America
Jolly Roger Games
http://jollyrogergames.com/

Not a well liked game when it was initially released (the map tiles are quite dull), it's fans will tell you that the game only became fun to play after the Raid on the Maul expansion came out (rules and cards were revised). A second expansion call Chopping Maul was poorly executed (cards of varying sizes, expansion boards – although better - didn’t match the original boards). This game would be MUCH more appealing if minis were used and the terrain tiles were revamped (recreated) using some gorgeous textures. Wonder where those could be found?

Zombie Plague
Hackwerks
(available from several sources)
http://boardgamegeek.com/game/7514
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/ZOM ... d=84103178

A well designed FREE board game with full color map tiles and cardstock figures. The action takes place in and around a single home (and garage). The main rules and components (and some expansions) can be found on Boardgamegeek. More expansions and fan support can be had by joining the Yahoo group.

Zombies!!!
Twilight Creations
http://twilightcreationsinc.com/

A cool little game probably more famous for the inexpensive bags of zombies that can be purchased as extras. The “map” varies with each game and consists of board tiles of various streets and buildings. Players are survivors racing to find the helipad so they can hitch a rid on the last chopper leaving the area. Players handle their own character and move the zombies to attack other players. The base game has a number of expansions which add new rules, more cards, more city tiles, shopping mall tiles, military base tiles, wilderness tiles, and zombie dogs.

You can download all of the rules to all of Zombies!!! games and expansions from the Twilight Creations site.

While I own Dawn of the Dead, Zombie Plague and Zombies (and all the expansions), I prefer my zombie gaming more as a tabletop minis game instead of a boardgame.

Can you give us a few more details on Occult Wars here? I really don't want to have to join another Yahoo group

Zombies never get old. The undead equivalent of blastable Nazi's. Thanks for the rules breakdown!

Where then does that put zombie nazis?

On the East Riding Miniatures Website!

http://www.eastridingminiatures.co.uk/erm/25aw.htm

Just saw these on the Two Hour Wargames yahoo group...

And those are very cool minis too (I recently acquired a set). And you can add to them by picking up some Brigade Games zombie nazis too:

http://www.brigadegames.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

They are located in the WW2 Brigade Games Adventurers section under the WW2 Pulp Horror - 28mm category (two 3-figure packs currently, plus a bunch of other WWII Horror figures). You can't link directly to them or I would do so.

I have those as well.

I'm not really sure what I'll do with them - gaming WWII with Zombies is not something I ever thought about doing. But they were 28mm zombie figures, so I had to get my hands on them

Steve

Thanks to Matt and SeattleGamer for the links to Zombie Plague. I had never heard of that one before (at least I think I hadn't) and it looks like a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Arabin

I just got ATZ the other day from . They are running a combo special to get the rules with their new zombies. I really like Alpha Forge for the same reason I purchase from WWG. I want to see the companies succeed. I'd also like to see WWG and Alpha Forge Games do a combo deal or have WWG do some Star Mogul terrain.

Check their zombies and Star Mogul stuff, I think you'll be impressed.

(Oh and one of the forum members over there bought some WWG terrain on my recommendation and so far, he's impressed.)

Regards,

CCotD

*edit: stupid blackberry and irs crappy key board*