Bristol City Council have drawn up emergency procedures for dealing with a zombie outbreak:
I like the comments:
Under health and safety the document urges staff to remember the correct zombie-killing procedure: "Fully disconnect the brain-stem from the body through either blunt force or full head removal."
In the procurement section the document claims "cuffs, stun guns, protection suits etc" are available on the staff intranet.
An annual training schedule for designated officers is in place, the document reveals. "To avoid public panic, this is billed as a gaming festival," the report says and adds that staff "fully qualified in zombie handling may qualify for partial exemption and accreditation in the training for handling pirate outbreaks and for spotting the difference between genuine hot air balloons and evil, giant, floaty space aliens."
I hate to flag ya but this belongs in Gamer Life not the general PFRPG forum. Flagged for move.
That said one reason zombie outbreak scenarios are interesting for real life training is it represents some of the worst possible conditions for emergency response. Not only does it cover epidemic but riot & looting, large displaced or moving populations (people on the run), breakdowns in infrastructure, and does so in an interesting (thus memorable) way.
Besides the keeping head removing melee weapons there are many other items that are equally if not more important to both surviving and keeping society from being totally borked in one or all of the related sub-sets. If you leave the melee weapon behind your covered for most other non-instant-kill-you disasters or events.
The downside to wandering around with weapons is that you might become a target yourself if the police haven't realised there's a zombie threat going on... Martial arts training is what's called for, assuming there's a special move for decapitating dead people.
(I've no idea what forum this belongs in as I don't venture outside the PFS reservation very often...) :-)
The downside to wandering around with weapons is that you might become a target yourself if the police haven't realised there's a zombie threat going on... Martial arts training is what's called for, assuming there's a special move for decapitating dead people.
(I've no idea what forum this belongs in as I don't venture outside the PFS reservation very often...) :-)
Well time ya got around the forums more :P. First rule of using any forum is to lurk and check out each area.
I disagree that martial arts would be the holy grail when fighting zombies. For one, many of the better take down moves involve crippling pain and limb damage. Zombies do not go into shock and bone breaks are only a partial hindrance to movement. Would snapping a zombies neck work? I'd think not as there is still some contact between the tissue.
Also you really don't want to get that close. If your in grabbing or biting range it's done. Even if you have a bite or rip resistant suite you may not be turned but eventually you'll be crushed beneath the mass of bodies and either suffocate or starve.
Melee weapons can be defined for zombies as anything capable of removing the head from the body. Various legitimate gardening instruments should be sufficient. A standard shovel should work in most case. Although a reenforced haft is recommend. This is not a weapon in most instances of law. Especially if it is not being brandished in a threatening manner. Although I would check with your city law enforcement during the drill, a good time to ask those kinds of questions.
Zombie outbreaks make no sense. Remember that time a dog got rabies and then a few weeks later every dog in the city had rabies? Biting is a horrible way to spread an epidemic, even when it doesn't make you retarded. They don't even need to figure out how it's being spread; it's the guy biting people. Shoot him in the head.
Zombie outbreaks make no sense. Remember that time a dog got rabies and then a few weeks later every dog in the city had rabies? Biting is a horrible way to spread an epidemic, even when it doesn't make you retarded. They don't even need to figure out how it's being spread; it's the guy biting people. Shoot him in the head.
aim for the brainstem
Zombie outbreaks make no sense. Remember that time a dog got rabies and then a few weeks later every dog in the city had rabies? Biting is a horrible way to spread an epidemic, even when it doesn't make you retarded. They don't even need to figure out how it's being spread; it's the guy biting people. Shoot him in the head.
You also have to consider population density and the initial behavior of people towards the infected. A rabid dog is put down immediately. A person acting irrationally and even aggresively would first be attempted to be dealt with in non lethal and possible medical means. If a person is running around the town square biting people, the first instinct of law enforcement and paramedics is not shoot that person in the head and quarintine all those who are bitten. This leaves the opportunity for the disease to spread initially. And once more then a handful have it, if the population is dense enough, it will be difficult to curb.
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Another note on popularion density...even Hollywood got it right. At the end of Night of the Living Dead, the rural area was pretty well cleansed of it's zombies, and the last few stragglers didn't have much chance to pass on the infection. Compare this to Dawn and Day, where the urban area makes it pretty clear that it's an extinction even for humanity.
Rules for fighting Zombies are the same as for a Gunfight
1. Bring a Gun
2. Better to bring 2 guns
3. Bring all your friends who have guns
4. Remember- Friendly fire- Ain't!
Personally, given an unlimited selection In prepping for a Zombie Attack I'd want a house at the top of a high hill, good fields of fire, plenty of water and ammo.
A Barret 98Bravo, Auto Assault 12, 7.62FN Scar, and any 1911 action sidearm in 45 calibre...
And Machete and Michelle Rodriguez to hang with.
Zombie outbreaks make no sense. Remember that time a dog got rabies and then a few weeks later every dog in the city had rabies? Biting is a horrible way to spread an epidemic, even when it doesn't make you retarded. They don't even need to figure out how it's being spread; it's the guy biting people. Shoot him in the head.You also have to consider population density and the initial behavior of people towards the infected. A rabid dog is put down immediately. A person acting irrationally and even aggresively would first be attempted to be dealt with in non lethal and possible medical means. If a person is running around the town square biting people, the first instinct of law enforcement and paramedics is not shoot that person in the head and quarintine all those who are bitten. This leaves the opportunity for the disease to spread initially. And once more then a handful have it, if the population is dense enough, it will be difficult to curb.
The problem is that by now, thanks to this stupid fad, everyone is genre savvy regarding zombies. Patient Zero might be written off as a crazy, but all the others will be shot.
Another note on popularion density...even Hollywood got it right. At the end of Night of the Living Dead, the rural area was pretty well cleansed of it's zombies, and the last few stragglers didn't have much chance to pass on the infection. Compare this to Dawn and Day, where the urban area makes it pretty clear that it's an extinction even for humanity.
I live in new york, and I can tell you at rush hour there are some areas where there are literally walls of humanity. The scale of the problem if there was an outbreak in new york, london, tokyo etc would be incomparable to that of an outbreak in a small town. On my way to work, if i started biting people with no concern for self preservation, I could easily bite hundreds of people before someone was able to stop me, if they even were (considering the advantages of being a zombie).
Also, being immune to tasers and mace, the first one that went after a cop would be revealed as a zombie when a shot to the chest did not slow him down.
People seriously overestimate the panic effect of a zombie by itself. It is a slow smelly mentally retarded hobo with rabies and leprosy who you can kill without penalty. A gun or a crowbar are all you will need. People in zombie movies have never seen zombie movies. That is the flaw of all hollywood comparisons.
Also, Max Brooks was just using zombies to make a political commentary. Nothing about his zombie mechanism makes any scientific sense.
People seriously overestimate the panic effect of a zombie by itself. It is a slow smelly mentally retarded hobo with rabies and leprosy who you can kill without penalty. A gun or a crowbar are all you will need. People in zombie movies have never seen zombie movies. That is the flaw of all hollywood comparisons.
I dunno about that. I've seen some prison hardened folks absolutely freak at the sight of a harmless black rat snake,praying mantis raccoon, or black bear. Its not the actual danger itself per say its the unknown thats feared.. and a zombie combines physical danger with the threat of a disease.
I think the big factors would be
1) is it a human specific disease? I
f flies and mosquitoes can transmit this stuff, we're all dead. A big shambling rotting corpse would gather flies like... well the big rotting pile of meat it is.
2) Bite or any body fluid?
If its bite only then melee weapons may be an option. Severing a head completely with a shovel on something thats trying to kill you isn't really a good idea. I mean, shovels HURT, but getting through a thick neck bone on a moving target or crushing a skull to destroy (not injure) the brain is going to take at least an axe or a sledge hammer.
If its any body fluid... melee weapons simply won't do. Killing a mostly liquid human being with a blunt or bladed objecy is messy business. Unless you have some sort of combination haz mat suit/ full body armor you're going to absolutely get covered in infected zombie goo.
I dunno about that. I've seen some prison hardened folks absolutely freak at the sight of a harmless black rat snake,praying mantis raccoon, or black bear. Its not the actual danger itself per say its the unknown thats feared.. and a zombie combines physical danger with the threat of a disease.
I think the big factors would be
1) is it a human specific disease? I
f flies and mosquitoes can transmit this stuff, we're all dead. A big shambling rotting corpse would gather flies like... well the big rotting pile of meat it is.
2) Bite or any body fluid?
If its bite only then melee weapons may be an option. Severing a head completely with a shovel on something thats trying to kill you isn't really a good idea. I mean, shovels HURT, but getting through a thick neck bone on a moving target or crushing a skull to destroy (not injure) the brain is going to take at least an axe or a sledge hammer.
If its any body fluid... melee weapons simply won't do. Killing a mostly liquid human being with a blunt or bladed objecy is messy business. Unless you have some sort of combination haz mat suit/ full body armor you're going to absolutely get covered in infected zombie goo.
Zombies don't have blood because being dead tends to dry you out pretty quickly. All of the blood collects in the lower part of the body and clots.
If its any body fluid... melee weapons simply won't do. Killing a mostly liquid human being with a blunt or bladed objecy is messy business. Unless you have some sort of combination haz mat suit/ full body armor you're going to absolutely get covered in infected zombie goo.
So a chainsaw attached to a 10' pole then?
And Machete and Michelle Rodriguez to hang with.
If I was hanging out with Michelle Rodriguez I wouldn't want Machete around to steal my thunder! Or rather, my pathetic whimper, to be precise...
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Shock paddles for all!! restart the heart!AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH.....
Leave me be you crimson bastard!!! I don't want my heart re-started!!!!
You know deep inside you have always had a fixation with Frankenstein's Monster.(that's Fruankinsteen) This little love tap will get you, your wish. Now hold still.
~ZAP~
...Now hold still.
~ZAP~
{shuffles feet across the carpet, touches the Jester}
that's Fruankinsteen
[Spelling/Punctuation Nazi]Nein, es ist Frankenstein ausgeprägt![/Spelling/Punctuation Nazi]
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Shock paddles for all!! restart the heart!AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH.....
Leave me be you crimson bastard!!! I don't want my heart re-started!!!!
You know deep inside you have always had a fixation with Frankenstein's Monster.(that's Fruankinsteen) This little love tap will get you, your wish. Now hold still.
~ZAP~
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...................
Shock paddles for all!! restart the heart!
Do you have any idea how much that stings?
Zombie outbreaks make no sense. Remember that time a dog got rabies and then a few weeks later every dog in the city had rabies? Biting is a horrible way to spread an epidemic, even when it doesn't make you retarded. They don't even need to figure out how it's being spread; it's the guy biting people. Shoot him in the head.
Zombie outbreaks make no sense. Remember that time a dog got rabies and then a few weeks later every dog in the city had rabies? Biting is a horrible way to spread an epidemic, even when it doesn't make you retarded. They don't even need to figure out how it's being spread; it's the guy biting people. Shoot him in the head.This seems apt.
YES! Cracked is easily the pinnacle of investigative scientific reporting. You should trust them 100%. We poor, nearly harmless heartbeat-challenged clearly pose no danger to any of you 98.6 degree-conformists. No threat, just ignore us.
YES! Cracked is easily the pinnacle of investigative scientific reporting. You should trust them 100%. We poor, nearly harmless heartbeat-challenged clearly pose no danger to any of you 98.6 degree-conformists. No threat, just ignore us.Zombie outbreaks make no sense. Remember that time a dog got rabies and then a few weeks later every dog in the city had rabies? Biting is a horrible way to spread an epidemic, even when it doesn't make you retarded. They don't even need to figure out how it's being spread; it's the guy biting people. Shoot him in the head.This seems apt.
[zombie]Yeah, it's not like we're magic or anything. Explain us away with your "science."[/zombie]
It's apt that someone quoted the CDC, since a fair number of fictional zombie epidemics stem from CDC experiments gone bad. If nothing else, that plot device illustrates a way the disease could spread to epidemic proportions before anyone could do anything about it.
On the other hand, even if there is only a single "patient zero" there are certainly other ways it could still get out of control.
Patient Zero is a Hermit
This PZ would be zombified before anyone noticed. The first person to visit him would become dinner, and an investigation would ensue to find the missing person. This would probably involve a pair of officers tracking down PZ and possibly taking him out, as well as his potential sidekick. However, the officers are somewhat likely to become infected, as the zombies will wait for close range to engage in melee combat. The first instinct of the officers would be to shoot for the legs or chests of their unarmed assailants, and aim for the head later, putting them at greater risk. The infected officers then, exhibiting typical human denial, ignore their injuries and symptoms. They begin infecting other officers, family members, and the general public. A short incubation period would compound the spread rate.
Patient Zero is Homeless
After what would likely be an extended period of infecting other homeless people, PZ either bites a random person on the street, or is picked up by the police and infects them. The problem escalates from there as more zombie hobos go searching for food. People will be inclined to write off the problem before it gets out of hand because no one wants to hear about homeless people or their problems. It will be ignored until it starts affecting the rest of society, by which time, a considerable amount of people are already infected.
Patient Zero is Average Jane
Average Jane is a typical middle or working class gal. She works at a grocery store, a restaurant, a call center or an office. Somewhere someone without much of a work history or specialized education can get a start, or at least a paycheck. Being young, she ignores her health until it becomes obvious even to her that she needs medical attention. By that point, it is too late for her, and possibly too late for containment. She's already bitten a fellow employee or two, possibly a customer, and has certainly been fired, but her victims will write her off as a "freak" and try not to think about her. Their wounds are too minor to justify the expenditure of a doctor's visit on their deductible. Meanwhile, they are incubating, and probably finding victims of their own--family, friends, strangers at the bar or club, etc. Depending on the incubation period, things could go on like this for weeks, putting who knows how many people at risk.
Patient Zero is Wealthy
Wealthy people like to hide from the rest of society, keeping their own company and the company of politicians. They live very sheltered yet privileged lives. Even so, they have a certain penchant for buying whatever they want, and for holding themselves apart from the laws and ethics of the land. The key word here is prostitution, and lots of it. This PZ could infect dozens of people before anyone would even notice or care enough to say anything. If the incubation period was even just a few days, he might travel to two or more destinations across the country, infecting friends, hookers, and politicians, before anyone stopped him. In his zombie fever, he might even come to think of himself as a vampire, a superior being taking his due from the rest of society. He might even suggest this in so many words to his friends, and his friends might believe him, and might ask to join him. Self-proclaimed great minds think alike. The infection would trickle down through the cracks before anyone could do anything to stop it.
Patient Zero is a Public Figure
This PZ would do everything in her power to keep her condition under wraps, so to speak. In fact, such a PZ might become incensed by zombie fever to achieve higher and higher status. Onset could be slow and gradual (especially considering her exceptional medical plan), making it difficult for the public to pick up on the symptoms over time, and allowing the PZ to infect quite a number of her staff, doctors, fellow senators and candidates, and loyal following before anyone were the wiser. Frequent national and international travel might turn this into a hot world before you could say "have you been hypnotized?"
Remember that we in the UK need to plan ahead a bit more as we don't have as many guns as you do.
You probably have more swords though, and swords don't need to be reloaded.
Patient Zero is a Child
It is fairly common for preschoolers to bite one another. They are not quite civilized yet, after all. So when it happens to little Billy, no one really thinks to much of it beyond taking him to the doctor (where he gets two stitches and a lollipop). The next day, after recess, the kids all vacantly shuffle into class and as a group stoically refuse to answer the teacher's questions. After a gratuitous scene of bewildered hysteria, the teacher is swarmed, and then out the door they go...
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After a camping trip recently with Liz, Chris Self, Gary and me, i have decided to fold Chris Self into my Zombie Apocalypse plan.
This is due to his style of camping which is:
Step One: stop by costco and fill up car with food.
Step Two: go camping.
I feel this kind of resource gathering and management would be a very valuable asset during the zombie apocalypse.
Patient Zero goes camping with her work buddies
Ever since that hitchhiker Sarah (name changed to protect her identity) picked up from a few days ago tried to get "fresh" with her, she hasn't been feeling so great. He took a tumble from a moving vehicle though, so at least he got his. She was getting tired of wearing a scarf every day to hide the bite mark he left behind. It was starting to interfere with her phone voice. (*Ring!* "Huuuuuh?" Um, hi. Do you need toner? "Huh-uh." *click*)
She decided she'd better try to liven up for tonight's weekend camping trip. TGI-something-something. A Coke should do the trick. The one she brought from home exploded when she bit into it (Strange, I don't remember that happening before), so she needed one from the machine. After getting one in the usual way (throwing the machine through the second-story window onto the pavement below), she sat in the parking lot for the rest of the afternoon trying to find a "good can" until her friends found her there. (Bad day, Sarah? "Uh-huh.")
After filling up the car with enough cheetos to stuff a bean bag chair, Sarah and her three friends were off. During their campfire PF session, Sarah's friends thought her roleplaying was a bit off (or spot on, it really depends on her character). Later they fell asleep, leaving Sarah staring into the fire, wondering why everything smelled like BBQ ribs.
The next morning, three of the four campers awoke a pound lighter but none the wiser, as they'd been zombified.
A few weeks later, Paizo had an exciting announcement: the next PaizoCon is being moved up, and it's going to be a lock-in! Bring your friends!