Okay folks, I'm looking for some recommendations.

I've been a fantasy gamer for...well let's just say for some time now. Recent events (my son being hooked on zombies and SeattleGamer's zombie game thread ) have conspired to expand my horizons into the modern areana. Working with a limited budget, I know I'll be getting UM:SoM and one other Mayhem release this time around. My question is should I go with UM:MA or UM:BoM?

For now, I would say BOM. A bit more bang for your buck, especially if you're thinking about zombie gaming. I would suggest BOM + downtown if that's affordable, but even alone, BOM is a great buy.

Not to trash on MA. MA is SWEET, but it won't fill your table or keep you interested as a sole piece for many games in a row.

Sacretis

The parts, in order of usefulness (in mine own arrogant opinion):
SoM - Streets are often where the action is, and there is enough here to produce entertaining firefights. The closest to a 'stand alone' set.
BoM - Can be added to SoM, to add just a bit more variety to the combats. Cars, 'flats', fences, and the all important 'wall o' fire!'
Mayhem Rail - Nothing makes people jump off of an elevated rail faster than an oncoming train.
BoM: DT - I do not yet have, but more varety fot the flats is a good thing.
MI - Again, not yet purchased, but this set seems to have a fair amount of flexibility. And what modern game doesn't need the PCs sneaking into a 'deserted' warehouse or factory?

The Auld Grump, planning to buy BoM: DT and MI together.

I seem to recall you played quite a bit of ATZ as well... does that one not stand up well against the others?

Arabin

I thought Occult Wars had a pretty good rules layout actually, but it could certainly use a game walkthrough. My intent with the review I did was to first do a cold review of just the rules, and then a step-by-step using them. I finished the review, and have most of the walk-through done (with turn by turn what to do and results). Just haven't gone back to finish it. You are reminding me that I should.

I have always had trouble wrapping my brain around the Two Hour Wargame rules. I don't find those rules well laid out at all. I think Ed should consider using white space, and adding some topic titles to break up the string of subtopics. The core is the reaction test, but there appear to be a TON of other tables to roll on. Most don't come into play, but if you've never played before (or only a few times) you keep thumbing back through the rules to see if you missed something you "should" have done.

My first use ot THW rules was NUTS! which is for WWII. I played a small game solo and eventually figured it out. I rather liked the end-result (just because I want to run some guys out into the open in front of a machinegun nest doesn't mean the troops are going to obey me). But it was "work" figuring out the rules. I know they are good and I will use them again, but it would be better if I used those when playing with an opponent. Two sets of eyes, two brains figuring things out, and it will all probably fall into place easier.

Since most of my gaming now is solo, when I feel like a quick game of something zombie I reach for Occult Wars or Xtreme Zombie Hunter because the rules flow easily, and I spend my time playing, not looking things up trying to figure them out.

All Things Zombies should play easier than NUTS! because there is less for the opposing side to do. But I struggled with that just like I struggled with NUTS! I've not given up on it though.

OW is about having some straight up fights. There are advancements so campaign play is supported. But the "setting" is basically a modern-day city (think any number of modern horror movies where vampires walk among us). You need a new weapon, head to the gun shop and hope they have what you need in stock. It isn't designed for post-apocalypse survivors versus zombie hordes. There are no tables that let you search for survivors and equipment in the ruins of cities for instance. ATZ on the other hand covers that very well.

So OW will serve my zombie hunting without the apocalypse angle, and ATZ will serve as my world gone to hell zombie campaigning system. I have high hopes for ATZ.

Ed (of THW) just uploaded a 1-page ATZ summary sheet, and I'm going to give that a look and see if it makes things easier. I have actually been working on a summary myself, but it's not going to fit on one page (my goal was a single double-sided page). But being a software developer for many years, mine is a rules flowchart (literally, with lines and arrows directing you from one box/test to the next). To write it I'm finding myself flipping back and forth through the rules. The best thing about writing your own rules summary is that you tend to get a better grasp of the rules by the time you are done. When it's done I intend to offer it up to Ed for placement in the yahoo group.

Steve