I've pretty well decided how bodies are animated and brough into the horde, but I'm tossing around ideas for how the typical zombie in the horde operates and why it does things, like eat living beings.
A typical Zombie in the Horde will be 2 HD and based off a a humanoid formerly sentient being. It will be a shambler with either a move or standard action but not both as the standard Staggered zombie condition. This is not unusual. Unlike Zombies from some popualr TV shows, Zombie-ism will not be contagious. Zombie have the Scent special ability. What I want to have different is that they are nearly unstoppable without giving extreme attention to detail for stopping each one.
Here are my thoughts on Zombie Mechanics:
Mechanic #1 Why Zombies don't die:
Zombies have a DR of 2/- (not dr 5/slashing)
Zombies regenerate to 1 HP (zombie rapid heal 1) by themselves unless an attacker performs a coup de grace Full Round Action on them.
Attacking a zombie and knocking it to negatives inflicts a permanent deformity to a zombie which is not restored via it's normal rapid healing. Examples:
-10' to movement, minimum of 5'
Loss of attack mode (either bite or slam or grapple)
Damage to sensory mode (scent or vision or hearing) at -5
Loss of a MUTATION
Mechanic #2 Why Zombies are hungry:
Zombies cannot regenerate beyond 1 HP without eating non-Zombie flesh.
Feasting on non-Zombie flesh regenerates HP to a wounded Zombie on a 1 for 1 basis allowing up to 8 temporary HP.
Once a Zombie has exceded it's max HP by 8, the Zombie gains one of three benefits in the following order:
1. The Zombie removes one damaged condition regarding it's movement, attack mode (grapple or slam only, losing the bite attack renders them unrecoverable except by magical means), sensory mode
2. Removes the Staggered condition
3. The Zombie gains one HD and gains a mutation based on the Eidolon creation tables (gains claws, reach, improved bite, tentacles, etc)
What do you think and what other mechanics would you add?