12-09-2009, 12:03 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston
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Left 4 Dead Zombies
Im currently running a Zombie Game (World War Z:Alpha Missions) and since Ive just recently picked up a copy of Left 4 Dead, I wanted to throw a few of the 'Special' zombies in the mix. I winged it for the boomer and the Smoker in the last game, but Id like something a little more rigorous.
There are some rough ideas in this thread: http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=62801 but I was looking for something a bit more rigorous. Specifically Im looking for stats/answers for General Infected Brain is the only vital. (Unliving 20, Has a Brain -5 = 15 sound about right?) Boomer http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...3&postcount=66 Hunter http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.php?p=895544&postcount=37 Jockey Not sure how to model the 'steering' ability or what mechanics to apply. Smoker Last game I used Quick Contest of Strength with margin of victory moving the looser in the winner's desired direction. Is there a RAW way to handle this tug of war? Tank http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...5&postcount=68 Witch http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...1&postcount=72 Has anyone done this yet or have any answers? Keep in mind, as these are NPCs Im not really worried about point costs. Im also not worried about skill levels (I'll balance those to suit my players), but skill suggestions are of course welcome! My main concern is that I use the skills/abilities in accordance with the mechanics of the RAW. Thanks in advance Nymdok p.s. Because I think its creepier, Ive changed the smoker to where its not its tongue that shoots out, but its entrails. Last edited by Nymdok; 12-15-2009 at 10:22 PM. |
12-09-2009, 12:13 PM | #2 | |
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Re: Left 4 Dead Zombies
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EDIT: Also, regarding the Boomer, if you haven't checked already I recall someone making a thread a bit back asking 'how to stat an enemy that pukes on you and draws nearby enemies.' Sounds like something relevant. |
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12-09-2009, 12:27 PM | #3 | |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston
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Re: Left 4 Dead Zombies
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Yes, but by what mechanic do I decide who is 'driving' the jockey-charachter totem pole? Riding vs Strength? vs DX? Nymdok |
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12-09-2009, 12:38 PM | #4 | ||||
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Re: Left 4 Dead Zombies
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In fact, I'd probably stay away from IT: Undead in general. The Left 4 Dead "zombies" seem to be more of the "crazy contagion" rather than "undead" variety. The fact firearms are extremely effective against them adds validity to this. If you do make your zombies undead, expect either a lot of high-caliber weapons or melee... or just a whole heck of a lot of headshots (assuming you don't give them IT: No Brain). Quote:
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For the others, the Witch and Tank definately have Injury Tolerance (Damage Reduction).
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12-09-2009, 12:40 PM | #5 | ||
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
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Re: Left 4 Dead Zombies
I play too much L4D and L4D2.
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I'd treat common infected like humans with reduced IQ and, to tell the truth, the Wild Animal meta-trait (p. B263). They also have the Doesn't Breathe and Injury Tolerance (No Vitals) advantages, and the Fragile (Unnatural) disadvantage. We're not given enough information to know about vulnerability to poison and disease, but Immunity to Metabolic Hazards could fit. As far as I can tell, they have to eat (people) and sleep (well, stand around stunned), they do feel pain (or at least recoil when hit), and they're entirely vulnerable to blunt trauma, bullets, decapitation, explosions, flame, etc. They would not have special abilities there. Also, note that they aren't slow, but they are weak. Even someone as slight as Rochelle can slam three or four of them away at once. I'd lower their ST (and HP to go with it, since they blow apart easily), but leave Move alone. Finally, they climb stupidly well. Give them all Climbing at 16+. Even Clinging, really. Standing broad jump is around 30 feet, so you'll want Super Jump. A good Versus player can jump up a lot farther with double-jumps and by jumping from high places. You should add Acrobatics and Jumping skills at 16+, and probably tack on the Catfall advantage. Quote:
We had a thread about this somewhere already. My search fu is failing me. It would be simple enough to treat it as an Affliction that grants Enemy, or simply a horrid way to use Allies with Summonable It isn't wrestling. How would wrestling explain forcing someone to walk, even if he wants to stand still, whilst controlling only his head and neck by sitting on his shoulders? I'd call it Mind Control with a big limitation, like "Only to control movement."
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Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
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12-09-2009, 12:49 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston
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Re: Left 4 Dead Zombies
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Agreed on Flying tackle. Now just to stat it up. The boomers I think Ive got. As GM its alwyas up to me to decide who the infected attack anyway :) About the only questions I have with the boomers is how long do the effects last? Whats the SIze modifier, and do you think Fragile(Explosive) covers it (With damaged scaled down of course)? The Tank Ill definately use, but the Witch is one I cant get my head around. I honestly cant figure out a reason for her to be in that game so I probably wont use her at all. Nymdok |
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12-09-2009, 01:00 PM | #7 | |
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
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Re: Left 4 Dead Zombies
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What's hard to model about the witch in GURPS terms is that a high-powered rifle hit to the head can't kill her in one shot, while a shotgun blast can. That requires sort of the opposite of an armor divisor, something that makes big attacks less likely to kill her than lots of small ones. Leaky IT (Damage Reduction) might do it . . . give her IT (DR) at some huge level and a rifle bullet will do 1 point while 9 shotgun pellets will do 9 points, which becomes 4 vs. 36 with the ×4 for the skull.
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Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
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12-09-2009, 01:03 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
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Re: Left 4 Dead Zombies
Leaky IT? What is that?
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12-09-2009, 01:05 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston
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Re: Left 4 Dead Zombies
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Climbing at some suitable level for the commons and Im thinking Clinging for the Hunters/Smokers that seem to be able to climb ANYWHERE. Acrobatics and Catfall are good ideas! For the Jockeys, Im actually thinking its just a shift the center of gravity in one direection to make the opponent keep his balance. Ill allow the opponent to CHOOSE to fall instead of the contest. I'm still just not sure of whether it should be Zombie Sumo/Wrestling etc vs Opponent Strength (strong back means that the Zombie must move himself WAY off center while keeping human grappled to force the opponent off balance) or Zombie skill vs Opponent DX (Good reaction time and nimble foot work help keep human balanced without moving hexes.) Nymdok |
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12-09-2009, 01:10 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston
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Re: Left 4 Dead Zombies
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I see your point about her utility as a tactical device. I may have to reconsider her for this reason. That and the fact that the Guy trying to unleash the zombie virus in my game needs to be evil. Undead waif teenage children turned into zombies sure fits the bill! Nymdok p.s. 57 hours in the last 2 weeks! Thats a part time job! :) Last edited by Nymdok; 12-09-2009 at 01:15 PM. |
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Tags |
left 4 dead, zombie, zombies |
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