[RPG]: Blood and Brains: The Zombie Hunter’s Guide, reviewed by Kester Pelagius (5/4)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10464.phtml

C. Demetrius Morgan's Summary:

Looking for a D20 Modern splatbook that will knock the horror aficionados in your gaming group’s socks off? Looking for something that might make for a good Halloween campaign? Then look no further than this, for here is proof you don't have to be a drooling fanboy to appreciate a D20 product.

Go to the full review for more information.

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2004-07-12 07:00:00
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Can you give some examples of the zombies included in the book?

Thanks!

--
Dan Davenport

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2004-07-12 10:53:09
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Greetings,

>>Can you give some examples of the zombies included in the book?<<

With pleasure.

The ones that should be immediately recognizable are the:

Zombie, Astro (Astro Zombies! )
Zombie, Creep (Night of the Creeps)
Zombie, Fog (The Fog)
Zombie, Nazi (Zombie Lake, Shock Waves)
Zombie, Templar (Tomb of the Blind Dead, et al)

And there are many standard archetypes of the genre like the "Zombie, Bloodsucking" and "Zombie, Revenant" mixed in with rare beasties like the "Zombie, Cryonoid" and "Zombie, Kyoshi Spawn". But the cinematic zombies listed above are really the cream of the crop, IMHO.

You also get the "Zombie" template and rules for creating all manner of new zombified critters. If I forgot to mention that in my initial zeal I apologize. In addition there are a few other stock Zombies and critters that aren't as immediately recognizable, such as the:

Creep - s small worm, creates the Creep Zombies! (Yes, it's right out of the aforementioned movie. )

Hsing-Sing - think Abominable Snow man on acid with a mean on!

Kyoshi - Nasty critter that zombiefies people, and looks for all the world like a Chupacabras!

Sumatran Rat Monkey - You could easily import this half-rat half-monkey critter into a post-apocalypse campaign. Oh, yeah, they also spread Rat-Monkey fever. . Which zombifies those who die from it!


Kind Regards,

Kester Pelagius

Post originally by committed hero at 2004-07-12 12:33:26
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So the book is just B-movie archetype character classes, feats, and one type of monster? No fear or insanity mechanic? No spells (for "modern necromancers" or others). No alternate uses of Skills? No rituals to create your own undead?

Post originally by zomben at 2004-07-12 13:25:32
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"Sumatran Rat Monkey" is from Peter Jackson's "Dead Alive"... FYI...

Post originally by NCRPC Employee at 2004-07-12 14:54:31
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We're glad you asked!

Blood and Brains: The Zombie Hunter's Guide contains rules on madness and trust -- especially when you're not sure if your best friend might have just transformed into a zombie.

It has over 35 new spells for modern necromancers and others. These include spells to create all the zombies in the book.

There are also a series of combat techniques for blowing up zombies.

We at the NCRPC pride ourselves on the ability to educate the community as part of our national outreach program. Remember, the youngsters of today are the zombie hunters of tomorrow. So go ahead, give your kid a shotgun...you won't regret it!*

*The NCRPC takes no responsibility for mutilation or injury of any non-zombie fatalities.

Post originally by flyingmice at 2004-07-12 20:28:40
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Excellent review, Kester, but I'm not sure about one thing... You liked it, right?





-mice

Post originally by Chris Gunning at 2004-07-12 23:25:55
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This sounds a lot like All Flesh Must be Eaten- from the archetypes, to the list of zombies to the general premise. What makes this a better buy than AFMBE- or better yet, what makes it different than a D20 style AFMBE?

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2004-07-13 10:30:14
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>>This sounds a lot like All Flesh Must be Eaten- from the archetypes, to the list of zombies to the general premise. What makes this a better buy than AFMBE- or better yet, what makes it different than a D20 style AFMBE?<<

Good question.

Alas, I do not have a copy of AFMBE from which to compare. All I can say, based on what I have seen, is that B&B does a very nice, and humorous, send-up of the cinematic horror sub-genre that are Zombie flicks.

Anyone reading this with AFMBE care to chime in?

Post originally by unodiablo at 2004-07-13 11:34:21
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So does this do away with both the D&D and d20 modern classes (i.e. Rogue in 3E and Strong Hero in d20M) and replace them with leveled Occupations? So you can be a 10th level Monster Hunter or a 4th level Stoner? If so, neat!