decay and undead [Archive] - Wizards Community

decay and undead [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MessiahOmega
02-25-07, 01:09 AM at what point do zombies stop being zombies and start being skeletons? the create undead spell says nothing stoping rot, so at some stage this is bound to come up.
Slagger the Chuul
02-25-07, 03:29 AM at what point do zombies stop being zombies and start being skeletons? the create undead spell says nothing stoping rot, so at some stage this is bound to come up.

I think you mean animate dead, if you're talking about skeletons and zombies. As far as I know, there are no official rules for the decay of zombies into skeletons.

For ease of use, I personally assume that the negative energy powering zombies slows down decay, and that the effect gets stronger the longer a zombies exists. So a zombie initially decays at about the same rate as a normal body, but quickly becomes almost entirely stable so that even the most ancient corpse in that long-forgotten crypt retains some of its withered flesh.

Maybe negative energy is as bad for maggots and microbes as it is for other living creatures. :)
Dracomortis
02-25-07, 11:29 AM Alas, zombies have such horribly short lifespans thanks to meddling "good" clerics seeking to destroy them and so-called "adventurers" that us necromancers rarely see them last more than a week or so - not nearly long enough for serious decay to set in. Of course, a simple gentle repose spell can ensure not only that your undead creation retains its flesh, but helps to control its stench as well.
MessiahOmega
02-25-07, 08:21 PM Of course, a simple gentle repose spell can ensure not only that your undead creation retains its flesh, but helps to control its stench as well.

exactly. the animate undead spell says nothing about preserving the corpse.

another question, how much flesh does a corpse need to have on it to be a zombie? does a corpse need to be completly clean of meat to become a skeleton?
Dracomortis
02-26-07, 04:10 PM As stated under the animate dead description, if a skeleton is made from a corpse, the flesh falls from its bones, so it's irrelevant how much is left. As for a zombie, it only specifies that the body must be "mostly intact". My interpretation is that it doesn't really matter, so long as it does, in fact, have flesh. Truthfully, I don't see why it matters; if you're the DM, just decide whether or not the body is reasonablly intact. If you're a player, it's up to your DM. There are no rules for decomposition in D&D, so just estimate.
Sylvaroth
02-26-07, 04:28 PM Never read Discworld, eh?

There is the last adventure of Cohen the Barbarian meeting with an old friend/arch-nemesis and his minion (a skeletal zombie) :D
MessiahOmega
02-28-07, 04:04 AM As stated under the animate dead description, if a skeleton is made from a corpse, the flesh falls from its bones, so it's irrelevant how much is left. As for a zombie, it only specifies that the body must be "mostly intact". My interpretation is that it doesn't really matter, so long as it does, in fact, have flesh. Truthfully, I don't see why it matters; if you're the DM, just decide whether or not the body is reasonablly intact. If you're a player, it's up to your DM. There are no rules for decomposition in D&D, so just estimate.

yeah, i know it doesn't really matter, but then isn't that what these boards are for? :D

i was just thinking about what would happen to a zombie when all its bits fell off.........i suppose i would just make it fall to the ground, cause its got no muscle or ligiment.

he'd have "nobody" to something something.................blergh.
Bawitda
02-28-07, 04:09 AM Yes, but by that logic, the same would happen to the skeleton.

It's a horrible mockery of all that lives, not an experiment in biology and physics.
Ebonyte
02-28-07, 02:00 PM I actualy prefer the "negatve energy kills magots and microbes" theory, though that eliminates a great deal of atmosphere and the "stench of the undead".

A few settings have described ancient zombies as mumifying. No, not adding the mummy template, but their skin drying and stretching out. The same can eaasily happen in desert settings.

I'm not sure about 3rd ed, but 2nd edition's Necromancer's Handbook had a potion that made a zombie a "juju zombie" basically preserving the corpse so that you got a perfectly human-seming zombie, no undeath appearance at all. For all intents and purposes, a zombie, but physically, a human frozen in time. For my own zombies, that's how I prefer it. That or perfectly flensed skeletons. Really, all that decay is offensive, to me and my herd.
bloodtalon
02-28-07, 06:38 PM a person in my groups asked a question about the same as this one. the way i explained to her was to have her watch the living dead series by George A. Romero. in the movie he said the undead stopped rotting and stuff cause of thier state they were in and would last decades before they would no longer be able to move due to lack of muscels. i took that as a way to help explain to her how my zombies never turned in skeletons.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MessiahOmega 02-25-07, 01:09 AM	at what point do zombies stop being zombies and start being skeletons? the create undead spell says nothing stoping rot, so at some stage this is bound to come up.
Slagger the Chuul 02-25-07, 03:29 AM	at what point do zombies stop being zombies and start being skeletons? the create undead spell says nothing stoping rot, so at some stage this is bound to come up. I think you mean animate dead, if you're talking about skeletons and zombies. As far as I know, there are no official rules for the decay of zombies into skeletons. For ease of use, I personally assume that the negative energy powering zombies slows down decay, and that the effect gets stronger the longer a zombies exists. So a zombie initially decays at about the same rate as a normal body, but quickly becomes almost entirely stable so that even the most ancient corpse in that long-forgotten crypt retains some of its withered flesh. Maybe negative energy is as bad for maggots and microbes as it is for other living creatures. :)
Dracomortis 02-25-07, 11:29 AM	Alas, zombies have such horribly short lifespans thanks to meddling "good" clerics seeking to destroy them and so-called "adventurers" that us necromancers rarely see them last more than a week or so - not nearly long enough for serious decay to set in. Of course, a simple gentle repose spell can ensure not only that your undead creation retains its flesh, but helps to control its stench as well.
MessiahOmega 02-25-07, 08:21 PM	Of course, a simple gentle repose spell can ensure not only that your undead creation retains its flesh, but helps to control its stench as well. exactly. the animate undead spell says nothing about preserving the corpse. another question, how much flesh does a corpse need to have on it to be a zombie? does a corpse need to be completly clean of meat to become a skeleton?
Dracomortis 02-26-07, 04:10 PM	As stated under the animate dead description, if a skeleton is made from a corpse, the flesh falls from its bones, so it's irrelevant how much is left. As for a zombie, it only specifies that the body must be "mostly intact". My interpretation is that it doesn't really matter, so long as it does, in fact, have flesh. Truthfully, I don't see why it matters; if you're the DM, just decide whether or not the body is reasonablly intact. If you're a player, it's up to your DM. There are no rules for decomposition in D&D, so just estimate.
Sylvaroth 02-26-07, 04:28 PM	Never read Discworld, eh? There is the last adventure of Cohen the Barbarian meeting with an old friend/arch-nemesis and his minion (a skeletal zombie) :D
MessiahOmega 02-28-07, 04:04 AM	As stated under the animate dead description, if a skeleton is made from a corpse, the flesh falls from its bones, so it's irrelevant how much is left. As for a zombie, it only specifies that the body must be "mostly intact". My interpretation is that it doesn't really matter, so long as it does, in fact, have flesh. Truthfully, I don't see why it matters; if you're the DM, just decide whether or not the body is reasonablly intact. If you're a player, it's up to your DM. There are no rules for decomposition in D&D, so just estimate. yeah, i know it doesn't really matter, but then isn't that what these boards are for? :D i was just thinking about what would happen to a zombie when all its bits fell off.........i suppose i would just make it fall to the ground, cause its got no muscle or ligiment. he'd have "nobody" to something something.................blergh.
Bawitda 02-28-07, 04:09 AM	Yes, but by that logic, the same would happen to the skeleton. It's a horrible mockery of all that lives, not an experiment in biology and physics.
Ebonyte 02-28-07, 02:00 PM	I actualy prefer the "negatve energy kills magots and microbes" theory, though that eliminates a great deal of atmosphere and the "stench of the undead". A few settings have described ancient zombies as mumifying. No, not adding the mummy template, but their skin drying and stretching out. The same can eaasily happen in desert settings. I'm not sure about 3rd ed, but 2nd edition's Necromancer's Handbook had a potion that made a zombie a "juju zombie" basically preserving the corpse so that you got a perfectly human-seming zombie, no undeath appearance at all. For all intents and purposes, a zombie, but physically, a human frozen in time. For my own zombies, that's how I prefer it. That or perfectly flensed skeletons. Really, all that decay is offensive, to me and my herd.
bloodtalon 02-28-07, 06:38 PM	a person in my groups asked a question about the same as this one. the way i explained to her was to have her watch the living dead series by George A. Romero. in the movie he said the undead stopped rotting and stuff cause of thier state they were in and would last decades before they would no longer be able to move due to lack of muscels. i took that as a way to help explain to her how my zombies never turned in skeletons.