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Message no. 1
From: "Jason Carter, Nightstalker" <CARTER@***.EDU>
Subject: Zombies
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 12:13:39 -0700
Yeahhhhhh!!!!!!!

Somebody finally did something involving magic to which I can't find a flaw in.
And to think it was Quicktek, the techmonger who wrote it. I'm duly impressed.

See Ya in Shadows,
Jason J Carter
The Nightstalker
Message no. 2
From: Andrew Jackson <BESAJACK@***.LIVERPOOL-JOHN-MOORES.AC.UK>
Subject: zombies
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1993 16:02:47 GMT
about your zombies a while back .... there was a bilieve in the white wolf
stuff for new orleans a spell about creating zombies in the vodoo stuff ...

can't remember it off the top of my head but it was a spell cast upon corpses
to reanimate them and they had stats related to those they had in life...

PreacherMan - Toxic Shaman....
Message no. 3
From: Todd Montgomery <tmont@****.WVU.EDU>
Subject: zombies
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1993 11:23:42 -0400
From PreacherMan:
> about your zombies a while back .... there was a bilieve in the white wolf
> stuff for new orleans a spell about creating zombies in the vodoo stuff ...
>
> can't remember it off the top of my head but it was a spell cast upon corpses
> to reanimate them and they had stats related to those they had in life...
>

Correct. That is what was the inspiration for the zombie post. The stuff
in the White Wolf is very munchkin IMO. I scanned it in and posted it last
spring. It was written for SRI. Someday I want to, if I get the time
and desire, convert it into SRII material.

One reason why I thought it was munchkin was the mention of the Vampiric,
Free Spirit Loa. The next issue of White Wolf had this creatures stats and
the adventure contained in it was just too munchkin. ALso some of the combat
spells should be actually damaging manipulations. Also the zombie spell
itself I thought was porly done. (Guess that is why I changed it)

-- Quiktek
-- Todd Montgomery
tmont@****.wvu.edu
tmont@***.wvu.edu
un032507@*******.wvnet.edu
Message no. 4
From: Dennis E Watson <dew6171@****.ACNS.FSU.EDU>
Subject: Zombies
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 17:34:02 EST
Greetings, all.

I am to date dissapointed in FASA's treatment of zombies and other like
phenomenon. So I decided to do my own. Here it is, so enjoy.

Zombies

A zombie is the common name for an animated corpse. Like many legends
from the Fifth world, this one has proven to have a basis in fact.
A zombie is actually a spirit which is summoned and takes up residence
in a corpse. The corpse needs to be somewhat fresh, as decayed cadavers
are somehow lacking for purposes of summoning these spirits. Zombie
spirits can exist only in a corpse host, and are never found in manifest
or astral form.
Zombies are simple and unambitious spirits. They will dedicatedly
carry out the last command given them. The zombie spirit preserves the
corpse somewhat, making the corpse last a number of months equal to the
spirits force rating. At the end of this time, the corpse collapses, and
the spirit returns to wherever they come from. Conjecture locates this
"place" as a metaplane otherwise inaccessable to (sane) mages.
Getting rid of a zombie is difficult, perhaps because of their
single-minded nature. A zombie doubles it's effective force in a
banishing test, owing to it's possession of a host and some intrensic
quality of determination. Summoners get the traditional bonus to banish
their own zombies. This is important, as the only way to get rid of a
zombie is to wait until it drops, destroy it's host corpse, or banish it.
Even the summoner cannot dismis a zombie spirit. Should the summoner die,
the zombie(s) summoned will continue to carry out the summoners last command.

Summoning a zombie

Summoning a zombie requires a number of hours equal to the zombies force.
Special compounds costing 500 nuyen/force point are also required. The
making of these compounds is a closely guarded secret, available only to
Voodoo practicioners and those they trust. A mage or shaman may have a
number of zombies summoned equal to double their magic attribute. Toxics
of any kind add their magical threat to their magic attribute to determine
the number of summoned zombies they can have. Foci also contribute,
either power foci or spirit foci for zombies. Drain is the same as that
for summoning other, more normal, spirits.

Zombie
Body; * Quickness; Force/2 x2 Strength; *
Charisma; 1 Intelligence; 1 Willpower; Force/2
Essence; Force(dual natured)
Reaction; Force/2 + 1d6
Powers; Immunity to pathogens, Immunity to poisons, Possession(special,
corpses only)
Weaknesses; Allergy (Sunlight, Severe)

The zombie is a great mimic. At any time, the zombie has a skill equal to
it's force at any one activity. This skill is determined by the GM, based
on the last command given to the zombie. This skill cannot exceed the
skill of whoever showed the zombie how to perform the action. Zombies are
mimics, and will dedicatedly perform as shown any action until the command
changes or the zombie's host corpse rots to collapse.

*Body and strength are 1 point less than the hosts stat when alive.
Zombies do not suffer damage modifiers, but collapse after recieving
deadly damage. Stun damage is ignored.



Tell me what you think. Comments welcome.

Dennis E. Watson, watson@*******.fsu.edu
Message no. 5
From: Dennis E Watson <dew6171@****.ACNS.FSU.EDU>
Subject: Zombies
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 15:18:25 EST
Greetings all.
Thank you, Fearless leader, for putting the foot down on the aircraft
thread. It was getting old.
I recently posted a writeup on zombies. Is there truly no interest in
the subject whatsoever, or did I mess up and not get the post to the list?
I'm not all that familiar with this mailer, so I may have messed up.
Someone please just let me know if it got to the list, and if so, if the
subject just wasn't well recieved.
My thanks in advance,

Dennis E. Watson watson@*******.fsu.edu
Message no. 6
From: "C. Paul Douglas" <granite@********.CLARK.NET>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 15:15:30 -0500
On Wed, 8 Dec 1993, Dennis E Watson wrote:
> I am to date dissapointed in FASA's treatment of zombies and other like
> phenomenon. So I decided to do my own. Here it is, so enjoy.

ANOther source of zombie type stuff and voodoo magic rules is white wolf
magazine i think it was issues 31-35 they did a four part series which
included a module and the whole nine yards
-----------------------------------GRANITE
Message no. 7
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 14:27:07 -0600
It went to the list.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> Veteran of the Bermuda Triangle
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> Expeditionary Force -- 1993-1951
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)
Message no. 8
From: Thomas Frost <frost@******.UMD.EDU>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 15:30:31 -0500
In message <199312092021.PAA27344@******.umiacs.UMD.EDU>,
dew6171@****.acns.fsu.edu writes:

> I recently posted a writeup on zombies. Is there truly no
> interest in the subject whatsoever, or did I mess up and not get the
> post to the list?

No, I at least saw it. It's interesting, but to me it seemed a
little too, er, AD&D-ish.

I'd rather see something closer to the true spirit of vodoun. Maybe
zombis are the victims of various possession or control spells by
houangan. In the present day such things are explained in terms of
cultural context; maybe in the post-Awakening world things like this
"really" work. (Makes living in the Caribbean League a trifle more
interesting!)

See "The Serpent and the Rainbow" by Wade Davis -- not to be taken as
an authoritative reference, but it's a good read. Not to be mistaken
with the movie of the same name -- also good, but less accurate.

With the effort put into Shadowrun to make the magic semi-accurate,
I'd rather other religions/faith systems didn't get treated lightly.

--
Spoken: Thomas (Frost) | "The rats eat the cats,
Smart: frost@******.umd.edu | the cats eat the rats,
Not smart: umiacs!frost | and we get the skins for free!"
Message no. 9
From: BLUE THE WANDERER <KNEBELR@******.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 16:56:27 -0500
Dennis,
I received your little excerpt on zombies, add I agree with it. I
just didn't see any need to discuss it. I will use it in future games,
with a few changes.
For example, I might be tempted to make the intelligence at least
2. It is, after all, a spirit; the intelligence might be warped
considerably, but intelligence is the capacity to learn. The zombie
could learn things, but it might not remember them.
Also, for their quickness: Isn't force/2 x2 the same as its force?
Just a thought.
But yes, you're post was received and appreciated...

**********************************************************************
"Reality is but a cruel mix of cat-and-mouse and dog-eat-dog, but we
are just lost souls in a fishbowl..."----quote by the Blue Frog
Be free, and be original, or we are all damned...forever...to Hell.
Rob Knebel...the Blue Frog...Wabash College...knebelr@******.bitnet...
Message no. 10
From: Todd Montgomery <tmont@****.WVU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 09:27:25 -0500
Greetings all,

I am back from the near dead after my weeks of running around trying to
make up for my bosses behindedness.

I did an article for NERPS: ShadowLore called "Waking the Dead". It was
my own zombie material taken from White Wolf and other sources. Basically
a magical threat for Mages. (Why should shamans have all the nuts?).

-- Quiktek
-- Todd Montgomery
tmont@****.wvu.edu
tmont@***.wvu.edu
tmont@**.com
un032507@*******.wvnet.edu
Message no. 11
From: steven mancini <mancinis@******.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1993 01:55:39 EST
I know this is a little late...
and a little of the subject....
but your folks know me and my tangent questions...

What would happen if your cast a Healthy Glow at a Zombie?
Since the spell destroys dead skills cells, etc... ? :)

Da Minotaur
Message no. 12
From: Dave Sherohman <esper@*****.IMA.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1993 13:07:04 -0600
>Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1993 01:55:39 -0500 (EST)
>From: steven mancini <mancinis@******.CC.PURDUE.EDU>

> What would happen if your cast a Healthy Glow at a Zombie?
> Since the spell destroys dead skills cells, etc... ? :)

I doubt that it would have any ill effects upon the zombie, but it would
likely change its appearance. Depending on the GM, it might make the zombie
look less decayed, or it might turn the zombie into a skeleton...

esper@***.umn.edu
Message no. 13
From: Gary Carroll <gary@****.COM>
Subject: Zombies
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 09:13:51 -0700
Well I'm play testing the Voodoo Mage next weekend
and would like any insight on the character.
I'll be busy enough that I won't be able to devote
alot of play time to the character, so I would like
to come up with some, predefined actions.
like spells, conjuring, etc...
if you have any ideas I would like to hear them.

Also I currently have created a Greater Zombie
but I'm not sure how to run him. I always
considered zombies slow (well I guess the weak ones
are), but would he look like a zombie or just like
another person (until you get up close).

Thanks in advance.

Gary C.
Message no. 14
From: Justin Elliott <justin.elliott@*******.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 13:09:04 +1200
>Well I'm play testing the Voodoo Mage next weekend
>and would like any insight on the character.
>I'll be busy enough that I won't be able to devote
>alot of play time to the character, so I would like
>to come up with some, predefined actions.
>like spells, conjuring, etc...
>if you have any ideas I would like to hear them.
>
If you can get hold of a copy, take a look at the article "Magic Over
Bourbon Street" in White Wolf Magazine #35 (Jan/Feb 1993). That goes into
Voodoo in SR. Talking about voodoo rituals, sumoning of Loa, using dolls
for ritual sorcery, and some particularly dark spells (eg Full Stomach that
fills the victems stomach with insects. The victem must make a Body Test(7)
each turn the spell is sustained or spend the turn throwinup insects.
Yuch!).


Justin Elliott
Message no. 15
From: Cukoo <cukoo@*****.NET>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 19:49:23 -0700
>If you can get hold of a copy, take a look at the article "Magic Over
>Bourbon Street" in White Wolf Magazine #35 (Jan/Feb 1993). That goes into
>Voodoo in SR. Talking about voodoo rituals, sumoning of Loa, using dolls
>for ritual sorcery, and some particularly dark spells (eg Full Stomach that
>fills the victems stomach with insects. The victem must make a Body Test(7)
>each turn the spell is sustained or spend the turn throwinup insects.
>Yuch!).
>
>
>Justin Elliott
>
I don't personally recommend using those spells right out of the book, and I
have chosen to use the SRII spirits with a different flavor. The rules from
that book are written for first edition, but are very good source material.

I just sent some mail to ShadowGM about this, but for those who
aren't on there, I'll repeat the related stuff. One of the characters in my
game is a practitioner of VooDoo, and to give him flavor, we (together)
designed the character to be very reliant on fetishes, mostly expendable.
For flavor, we felt that it was very important to emphasize each fetish,
what it was, and what he did with it. For example, his fetish for his flame
bomb spell is a hand made match (enchanted of course) that he strikes and
blows out, when it goes out, the spell goes off. He also does a lot of
interesting non-numbers related things. He keeps a small jar of dry peas
and beans on the table and a wide mouth glass of water. When he feels its
appropriate, he chants, and dips his fingers in the water, flicking it on
the other players, who are mercifully good natured. Sometimes he go to town
with his jar 'o' beans, dancing around the living room and using it as a rattle.
We also decided to capitolize on ritual magic, which is a great
opportunity to role play during his preparations. He has to find a live
chicken to sacrifice, using the blood to draw mystical diagrams and shit all
over the place.
One of the things we were tinkering with is taking ritual samples of
the party members and cating spells like heal, clairvoyance, and
clairaudience through the link. I haven't skimmed the text on this one yet,
but I don't see why not.

Comments are welcome.
Message no. 16
From: Stefan Struck <struck@******.INFORMATIK.UNI-BONN.DE>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 14:25:51 +0100
Chukoo wrote:
> For flavor, we felt that it was very important to emphasize each fetish,
> what it was, and what he did with it. For example, his fetish for his flame
> bomb spell is a hand made match (enchanted of course) that he strikes and
> blows out, when it goes out, the spell goes off. He also does a lot of
> interesting non-numbers related things. He keeps a small jar of dry peas
> and beans on the table and a wide mouth glass of water. When he feels its
> appropriate, he chants, and dips his fingers in the water, flicking it on
> the other players, who are mercifully good natured. Sometimes he go to town
> with his jar 'o' beans, dancing around the living room and using it as a rattle.
> We also decided to capitolize on ritual magic, which is a great
> opportunity to role play during his preparations. He has to find a live
> chicken to sacrifice, using the blood to draw mystical diagrams and shit all
> over the place.
> One of the things we were tinkering with is taking ritual samples of
> the party members and cating spells like heal, clairvoyance, and
> clairaudience through the link. I haven't skimmed the text on this one yet,
> but I don't see why not.
>
Sounds ok to me but I have to stress one importan point here:
A houngan gets his power from the loas. He can do spell all allone withouth
this help, but the REAL power was given to him. He has to listen to the loas
to do things right and help the community. There are version of "evil
sorcerers" (bocors). This are the ones doing sorcery without the knowing of
the loas. Therefor conjuring has to be the major point and not ritual sorcery
(but this is better than "normal" sorcery). This ritual stuff with piercing
dolls etc. is straight (sp?) out of Hollywood.
A good book to read about voodoo is Wade Davis "The serpent and the rainbow"
(important note: I mean the book and NOT the movie). Good background
information 'bout voodoo and the role of houngans in the society.
bye,
Stefan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail: struck@****.informatik.uni-bonn.de
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
...but there's nothing like having your friends show up with lots of guns.
-Frank Miller, The Big Fat Kill
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 17
From: Cukoo <cukoo@*****.NET>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 16:45:42 -0700
>Sounds ok to me but I have to stress one importan point here:
>A houngan gets his power from the loas. He can do spell all allone withouth
>this help, but the REAL power was given to him. He has to listen to the loas
>to do things right and help the community. There are version of "evil
>sorcerers" (bocors). This are the ones doing sorcery without the knowing of
>the loas. Therefor conjuring has to be the major point and not ritual sorcery
>(but this is better than "normal" sorcery). This ritual stuff with piercing
>dolls etc. is straight (sp?) out of Hollywood.
>A good book to read about voodoo is Wade Davis "The serpent and the rainbow"
>(important note: I mean the book and NOT the movie). Good background
>information 'bout voodoo and the role of houngans in the society.
>bye,
>Stefan

Interesting, but we weren't really trying for authentic VooDoo as
much as a really strong flavor to the character (perhaps an aftertaste). I
do encourage him to use spirits though.
Admittedly, none of us know ka-ka about real VooDoo.
Message no. 18
From: Stefan Struck <struck@******.INFORMATIK.UNI-BONN.DE>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 1995 19:36:31 +0100
>
> Interesting, but we weren't really trying for authentic VooDoo as
> much as a really strong flavor to the character (perhaps an aftertaste). I
> do encourage him to use spirits though.
> Admittedly, none of us know ka-ka about real VooDoo.
>
that's true for me, too. Just saying something I read in a book. But it's
quiet an interesting topic.
bye,
Stefan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail: struck@****.informatik.uni-bonn.de
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
...but there's nothing like having your friends show up with lots of guns.
-Frank Miller, The Big Fat Kill
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 19
From: Technomancer <arvanit@***.uch.gr>
Subject: Zombies
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 13:45:11 +0300 (EET DST)
I have just bought Awakenings and, since I don't have the Paranormal
Animals of Europe (or North America for that matter), could someone tell
me what are the stats for corps cadavre (sp?)?

*********************************************************************
* Technomancer * Modesty is one of my countless virtues *
* arvanit@***.uch.gr *
* http://www.csd.uch.gr/~arvanit/ *
*********************************************************************
Message no. 20
From: Alexander HJ Ruis <mtg@******.nl>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 12:48:28 +0200 (MET DST)
At 13:45 25-07-96 +0300, you wrote:
>I have just bought Awakenings and, since I don't have the Paranormal
>Animals of Europe (or North America for that matter), could someone tell
>me what are the stats for corps cadavre (sp?)?
>
Corps Cadavre

B * * same as original owner of body minus 1 (minimum of 1)
Q 1x2
S * * as above
C -
I 1
W 6
E 0
R 1
Attacks Humanoids

Powers: Immunity to pathogens/poison/all mana spells and similar powers
(incl. empathy,hypnotic song,illusion etc.)
Weaknesses: Allergy (Sunlight, Severe)
Notes: The CC doesn't get the TN penalty when it is injured. So it just
keeps making normal succes tests untill it drops.

Alexander Ruis

Internet: mtg@******.nl
101460.3523@**********.com
Compuserve: 101460,3523

"Kill the human race, the world would be a better place" (De Heideroosjes)
Message no. 21
From: acsehi@*****.ecol.klte.hu
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 12:47:30 +0000
> At 13:45 25-07-96 +0300, you wrote:
> >I have just bought Awakenings and, since I don't have the Paranormal
> >Animals of Europe (or North America for that matter), could someone tell
> >me what are the stats for corps cadavre (sp?)?
> >
> Corps Cadavre
>
> B * * same as original owner of body minus 1 (minimum of 1)
> Q 1x2
> S * * as above
> C -
> I 1
> W 6
> E 0
> R 1
> Attacks Humanoids
>
> Powers: Immunity to pathogens/poison/all mana spells and similar powers
> (incl. empathy,hypnotic song,illusion etc.)
> Weaknesses: Allergy (Sunlight, Severe)
> Notes: The CC doesn't get the TN penalty when it is injured. So it just
> keeps making normal succes tests untill it drops.
>
> Alexander Ruis
>
I'm playing AD&D since '90 and I begin to play SR in the last
year. I haven't met the frequently used spell, the ANIMATE DEAD in SR
for this time. Is Anyone knowing a similar one?
Andras.
Message no. 22
From: "Terry L. Amburgey" <xanth@********.uky.edu>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Thu, 01 Aug 1996 10:57:57 -0400
At 12:47 PM 7/29/96 +0000, you wrote:

> I'm playing AD&D since '90 and I begin to play SR in the last
>year. I haven't met the frequently used spell, the ANIMATE DEAD in SR
>for this time. Is Anyone knowing a similar one?
> Andras.

Check the material on immortal elves; they can do everything else :)
Terry

Terry L. Amburgey Email: xanth@***.uky.edu
Associate Professor Phone: (606) 257-7726
College of Business and Economics Fax: (606) 257-3577
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0034
Message no. 23
From: "Mark Steedman" <M.J.Steedman@***.rgu.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Zombies
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 08:48:10 GMT
Terry L. Amburgey

> At 12:47 PM 7/29/96 +0000, you wrote:
>
> > I'm playing AD&D since '90 and I begin to play SR in the last
> >year. I haven't met the frequently used spell, the ANIMATE DEAD in SR
> >for this time. Is Anyone knowing a similar one?
> > Andras.
>
there are 3 version of varing similarity for zombie creation in the
Voodoo rules in awakenings, i gives the PAE corpse cadavar.

> Check the material on immortal elves; they can do everything else :)
> Terry
>
Yeah i have seen a pile of bones turned into a living elf in ED. Even
the immortas would probably need a power site to do that one in SR
though and it might not be a standard ability (ExED companion, i've
not read)

Mark

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Zombies, you may also be interested in:

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Thwap!