Halloween Campaign - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Halloween Campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
rhojin
Sep 22, 2008 15:00:27 This Halloween my D&D group is going to get together for a special Halloween game. I am thinking of doing some form of Zombie Apocalypse, not just zombies mind you I will be using other forms of undead in the game. I am trying to figure out how I want to do things for the campaign. I have decided that in true fashion the items and gear will be obtained solely by looting bodies, finding them in buildings/chests and so on. I want to weed out the ability to buy items to give it a little extra feel on the need to survive. I am also thinking about placing small groups of people who are fighting to survive in the city that the players can either befriend or kill for supplies. What I am stuck on is, do I make everyone start off at level one? Or since I am taking out shops and what not, do I start them off as seasoned adventurers (level 5-10) tossed into a world of survival horror?

My brother mentioned using something like a virus that would turn people into zombies/other undead if they were bitten. I am trying to think of a way to do this where it would not screw over the group. Lets face it, there is no way in the world none of them are not going to walk out without a bite mark or two.....dozen. I would appreciate any help or ideas anyone can give .
#2
mccarnage
Sep 22, 2008 15:21:09 Well, since it's the special occasion I would recommand you to go with at least 7th level, make it 10 if you like but keep in mind to make your players feel vulnerable in the world around them, that is- the fact that they play 10lv. characters ain't gonna change anything. Give them all the necessary stuff they need to survive, and make them fight and kill for any other thing they would find useful.

The virus is always good way to start. To even the things out, you culd give the players some anti-virus potions that would increase their save throws for a certain period in the case any of them gets bitten. Also, make sure to mention that there is a local pharmacy which is supposed to hold greater amount of the medicine and make them fight their way to get there. In fact, not only them; make it a whole bunch of survivors is heading there and only through coop can they success. Later, when they realize that there wouldn't be enough medicine for all of them, make them fight each other. :D
#3
doomsought
Sep 22, 2008 19:48:35 d20 modern has a whole book on the apocalypse, and it is basically D&D 3.5++
just download the pdfs and if it will be a one shot, you can just make the characters yourself.
#4
nephster
Sep 23, 2008 2:22:12 One thing that worked for me once was to pick up a bag of Zombies from the "Zombies!" board game, and just throw a whole freaking horde of zombies at them on the map.

I had a situation where the players were at a mine site, and were trapped in a box canyon by a horde of undead. They had to climb up a slippery shale pile as the zombies got closer and closer. Each round, I'd add 10 or so zombies at the far end of the valley which would slowly toward the players. This was 3.5e, but I treated the zombies like minions, but made sure there were enough to keep the pressure on.

In this scenario, it's clear that there's no way to fight it out - the DM has a *whole bag* of zombies, which he keeps pulling from each round. The players *have* to find a way up that shale pile and get out of the reach of the zombies or else they'll be overwhelmed eventually.

(Edit: Also, it's a good idea to throw in a fair number of NPC's for a scenario like this. Generally, you will want to use them to give "examples" of what happens to people who don't do smart things in the face of a zombie apocalypse. Plan ahead for how to make each one have a big impact. The tough brute of a guy can get pulled down for covering your escape or trying to fight when he should run. The sarcastic guy can get chomped right in the middle of one of his snide remarks. Etc. Take cues from horror movies to see what works and what doesn't.)

Maybe you could set up a similar situation. It doesn't matter if you are 7th level or 10th level or 1st level, really, if your opponent is an endless horde of zombies. You can't fight that. You have to be smart and get away.

Another recommendation: pick up a Midnight Syndicate CD to put on while you play. They do atmospheric horror-ish music, which would fit right in with a horror-themed game. (They actually wrote the "official" D&D soundtrack, but one of their other CD's would be more appropriate for the venue you describe.)
#5
Tahjn2007
Sep 23, 2008 11:18:35 I have something similar to this set up to go off in our next session. The PCs will be at an Inn when it starts, with all of their normal items and powers(this is 4e) They will have a small chance to shore up the defenses before the undead hit the town. If you haven't checked it out already Dragon issue 364 has some adventure hooks in the Ashen Covenant article that might help you.

I have figured on using at least 30 minions (zombies and skeletons) some regular zombies, chillborns, blazing skeletons, deathlock wights, a modified Boneclaw, modified Devourers and maybe some Wraiths. This is basically the end of part 1 of my Halloween adventure(which I hope to wrap up on November 1st with an encounter with a vampire lord and his harem in the catacombs below a church that once belonged to the clergy of Pelor but has been turned into the center of a cult of Orcus.)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 rhojin Sep 22, 2008 15:00:27	This Halloween my D&D group is going to get together for a special Halloween game. I am thinking of doing some form of Zombie Apocalypse, not just zombies mind you I will be using other forms of undead in the game. I am trying to figure out how I want to do things for the campaign. I have decided that in true fashion the items and gear will be obtained solely by looting bodies, finding them in buildings/chests and so on. I want to weed out the ability to buy items to give it a little extra feel on the need to survive. I am also thinking about placing small groups of people who are fighting to survive in the city that the players can either befriend or kill for supplies. What I am stuck on is, do I make everyone start off at level one? Or since I am taking out shops and what not, do I start them off as seasoned adventurers (level 5-10) tossed into a world of survival horror? My brother mentioned using something like a virus that would turn people into zombies/other undead if they were bitten. I am trying to think of a way to do this where it would not screw over the group. Lets face it, there is no way in the world none of them are not going to walk out without a bite mark or two.....dozen. I would appreciate any help or ideas anyone can give .
#2 mccarnage Sep 22, 2008 15:21:09	Well, since it's the special occasion I would recommand you to go with at least 7th level, make it 10 if you like but keep in mind to make your players feel vulnerable in the world around them, that is- the fact that they play 10lv. characters ain't gonna change anything. Give them all the necessary stuff they need to survive, and make them fight and kill for any other thing they would find useful. The virus is always good way to start. To even the things out, you culd give the players some anti-virus potions that would increase their save throws for a certain period in the case any of them gets bitten. Also, make sure to mention that there is a local pharmacy which is supposed to hold greater amount of the medicine and make them fight their way to get there. In fact, not only them; make it a whole bunch of survivors is heading there and only through coop can they success. Later, when they realize that there wouldn't be enough medicine for all of them, make them fight each other. :D
#3 doomsought Sep 22, 2008 19:48:35	d20 modern has a whole book on the apocalypse, and it is basically D&D 3.5++ just download the pdfs and if it will be a one shot, you can just make the characters yourself.
#4 nephster Sep 23, 2008 2:22:12	One thing that worked for me once was to pick up a bag of Zombies from the "Zombies!" board game, and just throw a whole freaking horde of zombies at them on the map. I had a situation where the players were at a mine site, and were trapped in a box canyon by a horde of undead. They had to climb up a slippery shale pile as the zombies got closer and closer. Each round, I'd add 10 or so zombies at the far end of the valley which would slowly toward the players. This was 3.5e, but I treated the zombies like minions, but made sure there were enough to keep the pressure on. In this scenario, it's clear that there's no way to fight it out - the DM has a whole bag of zombies, which he keeps pulling from each round. The players have to find a way up that shale pile and get out of the reach of the zombies or else they'll be overwhelmed eventually. (Edit: Also, it's a good idea to throw in a fair number of NPC's for a scenario like this. Generally, you will want to use them to give "examples" of what happens to people who don't do smart things in the face of a zombie apocalypse. Plan ahead for how to make each one have a big impact. The tough brute of a guy can get pulled down for covering your escape or trying to fight when he should run. The sarcastic guy can get chomped right in the middle of one of his snide remarks. Etc. Take cues from horror movies to see what works and what doesn't.) Maybe you could set up a similar situation. It doesn't matter if you are 7th level or 10th level or 1st level, really, if your opponent is an endless horde of zombies. You can't fight that. You have to be smart and get away. Another recommendation: pick up a Midnight Syndicate CD to put on while you play. They do atmospheric horror-ish music, which would fit right in with a horror-themed game. (They actually wrote the "official" D&D soundtrack, but one of their other CD's would be more appropriate for the venue you describe.)
#5 Tahjn2007 Sep 23, 2008 11:18:35	I have something similar to this set up to go off in our next session. The PCs will be at an Inn when it starts, with all of their normal items and powers(this is 4e) They will have a small chance to shore up the defenses before the undead hit the town. If you haven't checked it out already Dragon issue 364 has some adventure hooks in the Ashen Covenant article that might help you. I have figured on using at least 30 minions (zombies and skeletons) some regular zombies, chillborns, blazing skeletons, deathlock wights, a modified Boneclaw, modified Devourers and maybe some Wraiths. This is basically the end of part 1 of my Halloween adventure(which I hope to wrap up on November 1st with an encounter with a vampire lord and his harem in the catacombs below a church that once belonged to the clergy of Pelor but has been turned into the center of a cult of Orcus.)