Free League is back at it with the Walking Dead rpg

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I assume that towns and cites were considered too dangerous to remain in so everybody had to get out to the countryside?
 
My thoughts on this...

10 years ago this would have been an instant purchase as I loved the first seasons of the show. Tapped out back in... I can't remember... when all the "W" stuff started up?

The show was relentlessly bleak. Everytime the characters got a break something or some one would come along and force them to leave their safe place. Like every season had the reset button pushed. Not sure if players would find that enjoyable in the long term. That was one of the reasons I stopped watching.

Fear the Walking Dead has one season (5?) which was almost setup like a sandbox campaign. It was an area of the country they could only get to by plane because the mountain passes were blocked, and swollen rivers had washed the bridges out. They went there looking for the source of a radio broadcast but ended up stranded as well. Could be a good way to get PCs into an area they know nothing about and have to explore.

I just hope they don't do what they did with the Alien corebook - make it all arty and fancy and have so much wasted space which bloats the book out.
 
The other thing that always got me about TWD (tv series) was peoples reliance on camping gear. Staying in an RV or camper, fine. There's no walker that's chewing their way through a car door. Sleeping with only a couple of layers of nylon between you and the outside world? Why not just cover yourself in BBQ sauce and run naked into a horde of zombies - it'll be quicker and save them the trouble of unwrapping you.

And there are still bears. The zombie apocalypse didn't kill off bears. That's why I don't camp
 
Which was pretty well established right from the start with Night of the Living Dead... those people (mostly) could have made it through if they had just cooperated.
If Johnny hadn't died in the first ten minutes, his sense of humor could have been the social glue that kept the group from descending into conflict.
 
As an aside, what is it about post-apocalyptic settings that the biggest threat is really other survivors?
About the only one I've seen where the survivors weren't necessarily pitted against each other was the (excellent) War of the Worlds and I don't know if that's a difference in the national psyche between Americans and Europeans or something to do with the nature of the apocalypse.

Zombies - turn on each other. Aliens - band together. If it's Zombie aliens we're buggered!

Yeah, people are always the biggest problem, because people are problems. Most of the problems in the real world are also other people, Idi Amen, Stalin, Pol Pot, that guy with the funny moustache and the comb over... then there is the whole host of lesser known turds. The Human species has some real beauties.

My wife and I are very selective on who we would let into our survivor group.

The other thing that always got me about TWD (tv series) was peoples reliance on camping gear. Staying in an RV or camper, fine. There's no walker that's chewing their way through a car door. Sleeping with only a couple of layers of nylon between you and the outside world? Why not just cover yourself in BBQ sauce and run naked into a horde of zombies - it'll be quicker and save them the trouble of unwrapping you.

I've got your camping gear right here.

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As an aside, what is it about post-apocalyptic settings that the biggest threat is really other survivors?
About the only one I've seen where the survivors weren't necessarily pitted against each other was the (excellent) War of the Worlds and I don't know if that's a difference in the national psyche between Americans and Europeans or something to do with the nature of the apocalypse.

Zombies - turn on each other. Aliens - band together. If it's Zombie aliens we're buggered!
The level of threat determines how small the tribe becomes.
Disaster that hits and is over - most people pitch in to help
Big Power Outage - have a big BBQ with the neighbors and watch out for each others houses from strangers.
Without Rule of Law - castle up with friends and family (rooftop Koreans)
End of the World as We Know It - Anyone not immediate family or Best Friend* is a potential enemy.

*Not Best Friend as in someone who will help you move, but Best Friend as in someone who will help you move…a body.
 
Yeah, people are always the biggest problem, because people are problems. Most of the problems in the real world are also other people, Idi Amen, Stalin, Pol Pot, that guy with the funny moustache and the comb over... then there is the whole host of lesser known turds. The Human species has some real beauties.

My wife and I are very selective on who we would let into our survivor group.



I've got your camping gear right here.

View attachment 51871
Ok, now THAT’S what I’m doing with Crazy Lotto money. Getting an MI-26 helicopter with a 56,000kg takeoff weight and deck it out as the ultimate survival chopper. Plop down somewhere on a lake in the middle of nowhere and enjoy the apocalypse in style.
 
I think it'll be great, but I still may not buy it. I already have more Zombie games than is practical, and all the other YZE games. Perhaps if there some extra in the budget...

Yeah, that's also where I'm at. Free League will probably do a great job with the source material, but I don't really need another zombie game.

And there are still bears. The zombie apocalypse didn't kill off bears. That's why I don't camp

One of my coworkers has this cartoon on his office door:

PjiMLPu1ccXKvdiVlGVt8y78gCE5gs9OrcG5EC4rekQ.jpg
 
The problem with zombies is, they usually come in hordes and they keep coming. Even the most favourable of mook rules won't save you, eventually.
Thing about TWD zombies is that you could hook a cable to two vehicles and drive along and clothes line a thousand easily. They really are not much of a threat, Return of the Living Dead zombies now that would be different.
 
I skipped BR for their handling of the police and I’ll skip this one. I already have zombie rules I authored for T2K and honestly the Walking Dead, as opposed to zombies themselves, as a premise got super tired. Seasons of repeatedly finding sanctuary, losing sanctuary… wore me down.

what I worry about is the longevity.
Tales from the Loop is abandoned. Things from the Flood never got any love. What’s going to happen to Aliens, TOR, with BR and TWD taking up resources. People are already moaning about how long the second supplement for TOR is taking.

I’m itching to do something new for Things though. Feel sad it never got love.
 
What I worry about is the longevity. Tales from the Loop is abandoned. Things from the Flood never got any love. What’s going to happen to Aliens, TOR, with BR and TWD taking up resources.
It does seem like FL's model is more about the profitable core books than follow-on adventures or supplements. I don't know to what extent they are relying on 3PPs to fulfil that need, though I'm not aware of much product along those lines. Perhaps I'm out of that loop, having only become interested in FL since Blade Runner and now Dragonbane.

It's a fine balance, and if sales of the core books wane when there is no new product for a long time the core games, as you say, will likely be abandoned as licenses cost money. Dragonbane should be okay as I understand they own the brand now, but I and many people I know were really hoping for more setting exploration for Blade Runner (especially off-world).
 
I skipped BR for their handling of the police and I’ll skip this one. I already have zombie rules I authored for T2K and honestly the Walking Dead, as opposed to zombies themselves, as a premise got super tired. Seasons of repeatedly finding sanctuary, losing sanctuary… wore me down.

what I worry about is the longevity.
Tales from the Loop is abandoned. Things from the Flood never got any love. What’s going to happen to Aliens, TOR, with BR and TWD taking up resources. People are already moaning about how long the second supplement for TOR is taking.

I’m itching to do something new for Things though. Feel sad it never got love.
I knew someone here did some zombie action for T2K, but I could only find the other on drivethru that I posted. Thanks for posting this link!
 
It does seem like FL's model is more about the profitable core books than follow-on adventures or supplements. I don't know to what extent they are relying on 3PPs to fulfil that need, though I'm not aware of much product along those lines. Perhaps I'm out of that loop, having only become interested in FL since Blade Runner and now Dragonbane.

It's a fine balance, and if sales of the core books wane when there is no new product for a long time the core games, as you say, will likely be abandoned as licenses cost money. Dragonbane should be okay as I understand they own the brand now, but I and many people I know were really hoping for more setting exploration for Blade Runner (especially off-world).

Not unusual, core books is where most of the money is. It will be interesting a few years down the road to see how FL and Modifius deals with their licences, as it seems like the typical practice is to milk the license for all its worth then move on. Can't really blame companies for doing this as once you have sold x number of core rules I imagine sales begin to dry up, but they are still paying for the license.

Some things like Conan and Lord of the Rings there is a ton of material to keep churning out supplements with broad appeal, but Blade Runner, Alien, The Walking Dead there is only so much material to mine.
 
I backed T2K, bought TFTL and Alien. Coriolis is a very cool setting/ruleset. I didn't feel like BR had enough meat on the bone, setting-wise. Just my opinion. Alien was an edge case for me in that regard, but tbh everyone I know digs those movies and I think they'd make for great one-shots. I like Zombies, personally, but will probably give this a pass since I already have Rotworld and All Flesh Must Be Eaten.
 
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I backed T2K, bought TFTL and Alien. Coriolis is a very cool setting/ruleset. I didn't feel like BR had enough meat on the bone, setting-wise. Just my opinion. Alien was an edge case for me in that regard, but tbh everyone I know digs those movies and I think they'd make for great one-shots. I like Zombies, personally, but will probably give this a pass since I already have Rotworld and All Flesh Must Be Eaten.
I'm not sure what TWD does setting wise that any zombie game couldn't do. I've seen 3 or 4 seasons and I read the comic up until right after the prison. I guess I am asking what sets it apart from other zombie media?
 
I'm not sure what TWD does setting wise that any zombie game couldn't do. I've seen 3 or 4 seasons and I read the comic up until right after the prison. I guess I am asking what sets it apart from other zombie media?
Not much.

So if you have a zombie game you already like, you're probably set.

If you don't, then you might be interested in this.

Way I figure it, anyway.
 
I'm not sure what TWD does setting wise that any zombie game couldn't do. I've seen 3 or 4 seasons and I read the comic up until right after the prison. I guess I am asking what sets it apart from other zombie media?

Especially since many other games allow for different types of Zombie. Fast, slow, intelligent, animal, etc.
 
I'm not sure what TWD does setting wise that any zombie game couldn't do. I've seen 3 or 4 seasons and I read the comic up until right after the prison. I guess I am asking what sets it apart from other zombie media?

Really its just the way it handles the premise I think, so you could probably do it with any RPG that has a zombie entry in it. I am guessing though there will be people who want stuff like the character's stat blocks so Michonne can show up in the game. It is also possible they could feature mechanics to make the game flow like a Walking Dead story line.
 
Really its just the way it handles the premise I think, so you could probably do it with any RPG that has a zombie entry in it. I am guessing though there will be people who want stuff like the character's stat blocks so Michonne can show up in the game. It is also possible they could feature mechanics to make the game flow like a Walking Dead story line.
Based on what I've gotten from watching the show, to emulate the flow of the series you need some mechanic to kill off an important character from time to time and some random "safe haven compromised" chart. And
some mechanism to generate the drama of your wife and best friend hooking up while you were in a coma.
 
Really its just the way it handles the premise I think, so you could probably do it with any RPG that has a zombie entry in it. I am guessing though there will be people who want stuff like the character's stat blocks so Michonne can show up in the game. It is also possible they could feature mechanics to make the game flow like a Walking Dead story line.
Well, that's the difference between what this book will do system wise versus what The Walking Dead will do setting wise, which was Picaroon Jack's question.

Outside of the characters, there's nothing unique about The Walking Dead. It could have fit anywhere in the Romeroverse (by design). Slow zombies, human drama, it's paint by numbers.
 
Based on what I've gotten from watching the show, to emulate the flow of the series you need some mechanic to kill off an important character from time to time and some random "safe haven compromised" chart. And
some mechanism to generate the drama of your wife and best friend hooking up while you were in a coma.
I mean, to kill off main characters all you need is a lack of plot armor.
 
I'd like a zombie campaign where some PCs are expected to die anyway. Love, friendship, companionship, camaraderie, these are resources that will dwindle and degrade over time, as everything else does. How do the characters ensure that their lives - and deaths - have meaning, in a world where death has become commonplace, pervasive. What does a character's death mean, when they may end up returning as the very thing they fought against? And what legacy can a character leave in a world that has a vastly reduced capacity for recording history and events? The PCs are, in a sense, "walking dead" themselves. How do they hold onto their humanity as civilization crumbles, knowing the fate that awaits them is death or reanimation as a flesh-hungry ghoul?
 
I'd like a zombie campaign where some PCs are expected to die anyway. Love, friendship, companionship, camaraderie, these are resources that will dwindle and degrade over time, as everything else does. How do the characters ensure that their lives - and deaths - have meaning, in a world where death has become commonplace, pervasive. What does a character's death mean, when they may end up returning as the very thing they fought against? And what legacy can a character leave in a world that has a vastly reduced capacity for recording history and events? The PCs are, in a sense, "walking dead" themselves. How do they hold onto their humanity as civilization crumbles, knowing the fate that awaits them is death or reanimation as a flesh-hungry ghoul?

One thing I do remember from the show is when a character died, they usually seemed to have a lot of spotlight an episode or two before it happened.

But I think the point about losing their humanity is something that could work mechanics wise. There was this sort of theme of the more willing you were to cross certain lines, the more survivable you were. You could get bennies every time you do something that loses your humanity
 
Well, that's the difference between what this book will do system wise versus what The Walking Dead will do setting wise, which was Picaroon Jack's question.

Outside of the characters, there's nothing unique about The Walking Dead. It could have fit anywhere in the Romeroverse (by design). Slow zombies, human drama, it's paint by numbers.

I would agree it is very firmly Romero. I liked how the comic and show handled the rebuilding with pockets of survivors but its all built on stuff you've seen in living dead films
 
Based on what I've gotten from watching the show, to emulate the flow of the series you need some mechanic to kill off an important character from time to time and some random "safe haven compromised" chart. And
some mechanism to generate the drama of your wife and best friend hooking up while you were in a coma.
I haven't watched the show or read the comic in recent years, but where I left off they had some established communities that were at least less temporary than places like the prison. Maybe things have gone to hell again since I watched but I think the story was most interesting to me when they had time to build and other communities around them starting forming a primitive network of relationships.
 
One thing I do remember from the show is when a character died, they usually seemed to have a lot of spotlight an episode or two before it happened.
I remember thinking, "Wow, this character has finally found some happiness or purpose!" and then they were doomed.
 
There was this sort of theme of the more willing you were to cross certain lines, the more survivable you were. You could get bennies every time you do something that loses your humanity.
That sounds like something in the Blade Runner rules IIRC.

As for the Walking Dead zombies, they are probably the most generic, uninteresting zombies I've come across in any franchise, so certainly nothing unique there.
 
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Nobody shoot me…but that kinda paradigm is perfect for Powered by the Apocalypse.

it’s built to end a character’s story after they hit some story benchmark, usually tracked with a meter on the sheet.

I can see something like that working. That is pretty much how it worked on the show.
 
It does seem like FL's model is more about the profitable core books than follow-on adventures or supplements.

The extremely profitable and now zero-risk Kickstarters.

I don't know to what extent they are relying on 3PPs to fulfil that need, though I'm not aware of much product along those lines.

Most of the cinematic licensed materials do not include a license for 3PPs. You can produce stuff for their home grown games and for Twilight 2000. But not Alien, TOR etc.
 
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