State of Decay: Alternate Campaign Setting & Rules for Dead Reign

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

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[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Development Log
06/19/2024: This thread set up and reserved on the forum; initial thoughts and ideas posted.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

STATE OF DECAY
An alternate campaign setting and rules for Dead Reign

General Notes
A modern Earth setting that is facing a zombie apocalypse.  There will be pockets of civilization gathered in various places.  There are many rumors about how the zombies came to be and what is happening around the world in response to them.

Rules
I will use the standard Dead Reign rules with some modifications.
[1] I believe you need to roll a natural 17 to score a hit to the head.  After verifying this, I'm going to look at changing to a result of 17 or more.  I do agree that it should be difficult to score head hits, I think if you get a bonus from marksmanship training then you should get the full benefit.
[2] New Rule: zombie bites DO turn victims into zombies.
[3] Rule Mod: taking a look at condensing/altering the classes available.

Zombie Notes
Zombies will be traditional zombies based on new zombies created by the bite of a zombie.  How long does it take to turn? Can a limb be sacrificed to stop the turn? Is anybody immune?  Is there any form of antidote? What made the zombies show up?

Zombie Theories
What caused the zombies?  Many theories are hinted at and could be explored through game play.
Are they a curse from God?
Are they the result of some magical curse?
Are they the result of a lab leak somewhere?
Is this all a government experiment?

Setting Stuff
The plan right now is to showcase some setting details by including diary entries, newspaper clippings, lab reports, and other short fiction.

Sanctuaries
Not all remnants of civilization will be the same.  Some will have good intentions and others bad.  Some will be heavily fortified, and some will barely be holding out. Have any of them been overran? Like any city, town, or large gathering of people there will be rules, laws, governing bodies, customs, etc.  How do they enforce order? Do they trade and barter with others? Do they allow visitors? Do they take in potential new members of their community? How do they defend their area?

Scavenging and Survival
There will be no supermarkets and grocery stores so how do communities feed their people? I won't go into great detail but there should be notes about growing food, finding guns, ammo, medical supplies, vehicles, vehicle upkeep, etc.  Some of this will be in the form of something similar to treasure tables and some of it will just be explained in paragraph form.

Encounters
There should be all sorts of possibilities when it comes to encounters.  
Other Survivors.
Ex-military groups.
Gangs.
Cultists/Religious Zealots.
Animals such as dogs, alligators (swampy areas), etc.