rotten odds

author
Richard Woolcock
system
Tricube Tales <
background

Several weeks ago, the dead rose from their graves, hungering for human flesh. Those they infected Figu Design

died within hours—and all deceased victims returned within minutes as new zombies. The city fell story symbols
Delapouite, Lorc, Skoll
to the undead in a matter of days, with the survivors ruthlessly hunted down by shambling hordes. Game-icons.net <
Those who escaped the initial viral outbreak went into hiding, banding together for safety. But with illustrations
dwindling resources and no sign of outside help, the city is rapidly becoming a mausoleum. Worse still, Peter Szabo Gabor,
there are rumors of new viral strains, zombies that have mutated into even more dangerous forms. Publisher’s Choice
Quality Stock Art
You are a small band of survivors, attempting to escape the city before it’s too late. But the journey is © Rick Hershey /
fraught with danger, and the odds are stacked heavily against you... Fat Goblin Games <

character creation resolving challenges surviving another day

Each player creates a character as follows: If a player attempts something risky, they roll 1-3 Roll on the following tables to generate the latest
1. Choose a trait: Agile (used for reflexes, dexterity, six-sided dice and must equal or beat a difficulty scenario (see the next page for examples):
stealth, and ranged combat), brawny (covers strength, of 4-6 on at least one die. Succeed on multiple dice The survivors must...
vitality, athletics, and melee combat), or crafty (covers for an exceptional success (narrate an additional A Rescue someone D Investigate a lead
smarts, charm, alertness, courage, and social combat). benefit). Rolling “1” on all dice is a critical failure B Gather supplies E Search a location
2. Select a concept: Doctor, mechanic, firefighter, (introduce a complication to the scene). C Secure an area F Repair something
street kid, drifter, cop, or trucker. The GM chooses a trait and difficulty for each From or within...
3. Select a perk: Charismatic, traceur, survivalist, challenge. Most are difficulty 5, but a particularly A A shopping mall D An amusement park
dog companion, bold, scavenger, or marksman. easy or hard task might be difficulty 4 or 6. Some B A high-rise hotel E A supermax prison
4. Pick a quirk: Squeamish, sense of duty, selfish, challenges (e.g., combat) require multiple rolls. C A cruise ship F A research facility
paranoid, heroic, glutton, or hysterical. Players usually roll 2 dice, but roll 3 dice if the While dealing with...
5. Grab 3 karma tokens and 3 resolve tokens. challenge matches their trait. If a challenge falls A Hardened criminals D Rival survivors
6. Make up a name, and introduce yourself to the completely outside the scope of their concept (e.g., B Evolved zombies E Wild animals
group (e.g., “I’m Frankie Turner, an agile street kid a doctor repairing a vehicle), they lose 1 die. C A paramilitary group F Urban hazards
who has a dog companion and is squeamish”).
7. Describe how you met the other survivors.
karma and resolve running the game
Each player has 3 karma and 3 resolve. Spend 1 The GM should describe the opening scene, react
karma after rolling to reduce the difficulty by 1, if to the players’ decisions, and assign the traits and
you can justify how your perk helps you. Recover difficulties for challenges. Offer players karma in
1 karma if you increase the difficulty by 1 before return for complications based on their quirks!
rolling, narrating how your quirk hinders you. The players should make all the rolls, narrate
If you use a quirk and succeed at the challenge, the outcome of their actions, and drive the story
you may recover 1 resolve instead of 1 karma. forward whenever possible. They can also spend
For dangerous actions (such as combat), failure 1 karma to influence the story or discover a clue
costs 1 resolve (or 2 on a critical failure). If a PC through their perk, at the GM’s discretion.
runs out of resolve, they are eliminated from the If a challenge is potentially deadly (i.e., running
scene—but death is primarily a narrative conceit, out of resolve results in death or infection), then
and the PC usually returns later at full resolve. the player should be warned before they roll.
 objectives locations complications
Described here are examples of objectives for the Described here are examples of locations for the Described here are example complications for the
scenario generator (first table): scenario generator (second table): scenario generator (third table):

1. trapped on a rooftop 1. mall rats 1. biker gang

The characters spot another survivor trapped on A group of survivors has barricaded themselves A gang of bikers drives through the city, enjoying
a nearby roof. Unfortunately, zombies surround inside a shopping mall. They seem quite friendly, the freedom to do whatever they wish.
the entire building, hungering for living flesh. but one of them has been bitten by a zombie, and
the victim is keeping their injury secret. 2. apex predator
2. shopping trip One of the zombies has started devouring others
Food is running low, and the group will need to 2. horror hotel of its kind, although it still prefers living flesh. It
stock up soon if they’re hoping to survive. One of The minibars in this 5-star hotel are well-stocked has become stronger, smarter, and faster, and it is
the characters also needs some more prescription with drinks and snacks. But many guests are now also sporting sharpened teeth and claws.
drugs, as they only have enough left for a week. zombies, and they are trapped in their rooms!
3. operation dark sky
3. shelter in a storm 3. ghost ship Military helicopters patrol the city, searching for
A large zombie horde is passing through this city A cruise ship has dropped anchor near the port, someone. Their purpose is unclear, but they don’t
district, and the survivors will need to find a safe but there is no obvious sign of life on board. Did seem interested in helping survivors. Regardless,
place to lay low for a few days. the passengers and crew abandon the ship? their presence seems to suggest that some form
of government is still active.
4. once bitten, twice shy 4. zombie park
The characters have heard a rumor that someone Many of the rides at this amusement park are still 4. the enemy within
survived a zombie bite! If this rumor is true, then operating, and thousands of shambling zombies Another group of survivors is fleeing the city, and
they might be the key to a vaccine or cure. have been attracted by the lights and noise. they wish to join forces with the characters—but
one of them is secretly a serial killer.
5. hidden treasure 5. the prison
One of the group recalls the location of a hidden A prison riot during the initial outbreak resulted 5. feral dogs
stash of weapons and ammo. However, the area is in a group of inmates taking over the facility, and A pack of feral dogs is prowling the city streets,
crawling with zombies. they have turned it into a fortified base. hunting for food. They are hungry and vicious.

6. fortress on wheels 6. biotech lab 6. calamitous cacophony

The survivors recently spotted an abandoned RV. This medical research facility could have valuable A major gas pipeline explodes, causing a blackout
With some modifications, they could convert this information about the virus—or at the very least, and setting off hundreds of car alarms. The noise
vehicle into a mobile fortress! it should be well-stocked with medicine. attracts a massive horde of zombies.

adding a twist to the story

For further inspiration, roll two dice on the table below and use the symbol as an improvisational prompt (you don’t need to interpret it literally). For example,
E C might represent a map, a compass, or another survivor offering directions, while rolling F A could indicate a barricade or trap, and A F might symbolize
medicine, drugs, or even some valuable information about a potential vaccine or cure for the zombie virus.
AA AB AC AD AE AF BA BB BC BD BE BF CA CB CC CD CE CF DA DB DC DD DE DF EA EB EC ED EE EF FA FB FC FD FE FF