Every year I like to set myself an overall project, just something ticking away in the background that I can return to when I have some downtime.I'm so far batting 0.500 for success. Two years ago, in a time before HeroPress, it was supposed to be the Year Of Stargate, but my enthusiasm got the better of me and I sank my funds into a 20mm line of miniatures that promptly disappeared from the marketplace never to be seen again.
This year I did better, declaring in January my desire to explore The Crusades, and while I may not have broadened my intellectual horizons or my knowledge base, what digging I did inspired me to really pull my finger out on my Castles & Crusades campaign - which kicked off in earnest in August; becoming the first RPG I've run for over a decade.
Tekralh (my homebrew campaign) has proved a big hit with my players - three-quarters of whom were old school gamers like myself returning to this updated, but streamlined, version of the game we all cut our gaming teeth on: Dungeons & Dragons.
At a time when I thought, maybe, I might have actually outgrown roleplaying games and resigned myself to a lifetime of fruitless schemes and pipedreams, this campaign has been the virtual kick in the butt I needed.
So, while I was on a roll, I thought it was time to start hatching next years' project. It's taken about a month to settle on an idea and really it shouldn't have taken that long, as Nick said to me the other day (without even knowing what I had been thinking about), words to the effect of: "Well, you've always had a thing for zombies."
And so, 2009 is going to be the HeroPress Year Of The Zombie.I've already begun my research, collected all my zombie DVDs and books together, and ordered a few miniatures from companies as diverse as Hasslefree and Musketeer Miniatures, which will be winging their way to my painter (Neil) soon.
This will mean that, even if I don't have time to squeeze in a second roleplaying campaign (and the ever-helpful crew at the Midnight's Lair boards have been suggesting a variety of zombie RPGs for me to try) I will, at least, have a chance to put the numerous, random pieces of near-future/post-apocalyptic terrain scenery I've accumuilated over the years to some use... and finally get to actually play a wargame on my games table!
More news as Project Z takes shape...






3 persons have something to say about this!:
You could combine the two and do Zombie Stargate. :)
Perhaps some SG team travelled to a planet, found it was inhabited by zombies, came back but brought the zombie virus/disease/whatever with them. Cue SG members (i.e. soldiers) fighting a war against the zombie hoards.
A timely motivational poster for your players is at The Lair of the Evil DM in his Sunday Lazy Photo Dump, third image down. A contrary opinion to it comes from the survival guide you pictured, "blades don't need reloading."
I would think a zombie game of the Romero genre would be hard to control. Lots of baddies to move around. Maybe a Land of the Dead type game where you get in and out, looking for food and supplies. A Resident Evil type might be easier, though the monsters get more complicated. I'm eager to see how things go for you.
Oh, Nimbus! Genius idea :-D
And thanks for your comments, Darius (I'd spotted the poster over on The Evil DM's blog) and I shall take on board your points about the different styles of zombie games.
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