It can be quite irritating when you know that something is going to hell and there's nothing you can do about it... :P
Some of the disaster in here might actually be the result of the GM misreading a statblock... I didn't bother confirming with a knowledge check what were actually fighting anyway.
I might use some NPC names in this post that might not match with those in the official book, this is because I play in Swedish, and our GM translates NPC names and location names to Swedish. I'll try my best and translate them back without having a clue if I'm accurate or not.
The PCs
Ricardo: Human Inquisitor
Jonjon: Gnome Witch (originally human, but was reincarnated)
Doyfur: Dwarf Cleric
Ondes: Elf Wizard
So we have some alcohol that belongs to the bandit lord, Red Deer. The plan, and our inquisitor INSISTS on it, is that we poison this alcohol and deliver it to his hideout. The plan is that Ricardo and Doyfur (the cleric) infiltrate the hideout this way, deliver the poisoned alcohol and wait for it to be consumed whereafter Ondes' raven familiar (which followed them in) flies back out to signal us. Ondes (me) and Jonjon are supposed to approach the wall and wait for a rope to be tossed over so that we can climb inside.
I objected to this plan many times on account of splitting the party not being a very good idea in most circumstances. Nevertheless, this is what we have to do so we do it.
Ricardo and Doyfur enter the castle and encounter the bandits. Some diplomacy and bluff checks later, and they're inside as missionaries. They hand over the alcohol and feign sleep after being shown a quiet corner. My familiar is sent back to me and we head for the castle walls.
On the way, we're attacked by a squad of zombies and the witch, Jonjon, not being equipped for handling it, is critted and killed. I'm quickly knocked unconscious as well by an attack of opportunity. My spells are not right for this occasion (nor are the witch's).
Nevertheless, the death cry of the witch alerts both the guards of the castle and Doyfur and Ricardo both recognize it. Some diplomacy checks later they're let out and rush to our aid. The cleric (who has VERY low charisma and thus can't use channel positive energy more than once) rushes to my aid while the inquisitor is mobbed another bunch of zombies. The inquisitor is quickly slain. Note that neither cleric nor inquisitor are wearing armour on account of them just getting out of bed.
With the inquisitor knocked down and killed only Doyfur and Ondes remain. The cleric, realizing that escape is impossible (on account of GM misreading), decides to make a last stand. The wizard decides not to and runs like crazy.
Result:
Three party members killed.
We had to spend 2000 gp on reincarnation (one player refused reincarnation and made a new character)
We lost craploads of loot that we had to just run away from.
The GM had to fudge a bit to reunite the party.
Note: Unless I'm entirely mistaken about the encounter as I don't read AP guides I'm currently a player of, we fought zombies and not some other form of undead. I just remembered while writing this that zombies cannot attack and move on the same turn so things would have gone VERY differently...
Just a heads up, standard zombies CAN attack and move via a partial charge and a 5'step +attack. But you are correct that they cannot normally move and then attack.
If I remember correctly though there are other breeds of zombies. Fast Zombies lose the staggered condition and can make an extra attack on a full-round action. I am not saying your GM was running these, just saying they exist.
- Gauss
A partial charge? Isn't charging a full round action and staggered creatures can't take full round actions?
If you are able to take only a standard action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed) and you cannot draw a weapon unless you possess the Quick Draw feat. You can't use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action on your turn.
Oh. Good to know. Thanks.
I apologize for calling it a Partial Charge, I really need to edit old terms out of my lexicon. Partial Charge is what 3.0 called a charge action when you only had a standard action available to you. 3.5 did away with the term.
Anyhow, Concerro explained what it is.
- Gauss