Essence

I think it was GURPSStar Wars RPG Revised Core Rulebook, yeah - GURPSStar Wars RPG Revised Core Rulebook it was

UPDATE THE MAIN CAST HAS BEEN SELECTED!!! For those that were selected, you've received an invite to join the game - but I would like to thank each and every one of you all who applied and took an interest in this game! Our resident Walking Dead are: - Emily "Emms" Riley, the Reformed - Deano "Dino" Alexander, the Paramedic - Fleur LeBlanc, the Street-Scientist - James Havel, the Clerk - Dr. Hyori Lee, the Surgeon - Shepherd Sierra, The Eco-Visionary Added a topic for NPC's and keeping track of Factions. Will be populated in conjunction with the players over the next few days. Added a topic for the dead, this is a space for both PC's and NPC's we've lost along the way. PC's can write dearly departed monologues here "There's your chance, take it." "I'm grateful." "...The day will come when you won't be." - Edwin Jenner and Rick Grimes, TWD 1x06.

Going to be overlooking applications for the final time and decisions in a few hours! If you have last minute changes or want to update your characters, or heaven's betsy submit one before that time comes, please do so!

Mechanically everything looks good, though don't forget you get a free scavenged item in addition to your three archetype items (which is decided by a 3d6)! Got a few applicants already that are very Empathy focused, I wonder how group dynamics would go with a whole swathe of people with strong personalities and mannerisms. Perhaps everyone can inspire everyone else to work together and solve the apocalypse by talking about our feelings and good bedside medical mannerisms, or maybe even find a cure?! 🤣 More seriously though, Hyori seems to define herself largely based on who she was, or I guess she'd probably argue still is, that being a physician and trauma surgeon. She's portrayed in her backstory as a very compassionate and generous doctor, sacrificing a lot of time and patience for her patients and fulfilling the eidoform of what a doctor should be to their patients... but she has the Doctor/Patient Hierarchy talent. So clearly, sometime or frequently during her career, she used patients for own ends and agendas regardless if the means to do so were ethical or not, hinting some moral complexity for her character on whether or not she would partake in unethical means to get what she wants. Could you explain more on to her backstory as to how she qualifies for this talent and expand more on how Hyori used the Doctor/Patient power imbalance to get things from her patients? How did Hyori's upbringing and cultural heritage influence her approach to medicine and ultimately pursuing a career in patient care? Did she always want to be a physician or is that more a result of familial pressure and expectation while she had other goals for her future in mind, but ultimately gave up on them? Did she have any hobbies or other talents outside of medicine and spending time with her family? Did she have any siblings, close relatives or a spouse? Does she miss her family greatly since the apocalypse or is she simply trying to focus on surviving one day at a time? It's likely that, since she was devoted to her job and working in a hospital continuously, that Hyori was 'requested' to help the Army and National Guard as one of their physicians near one of the Safe Zones, correct? What was her opinion on how the military conducted themselves and handled the outbreak during those first initial weeks if she was ultimately conscripted to serve in a makeshift hospital inside a Safe Zone? What theories or ideas does Hyori have on the overall nature of the dead, how corpses reanimate and go into feeding frenzies on living beings? How did she survive the Sunset Protocol, when the Air Force bombed major cities like Denver and the Marines were in the streets executing everything that moved, liquidating the Safe Zones in the process?

Shepherd certainly appears like a pretty distinctive and noteworthy character to keep tabs on even if he were alive, though I imagine he's maintained a lot of efforts to conceal himself from those who'd certainly like to silence or apprehend him to prevent further intrusion. So both as a doomsday prepper and activist, Shepherd definitely was better off than most during the fall. Mechanically he looks good, though I do have some questions on his background. Despite seeing the opportunity for his ideals, what were his opinions on how the end of the world started - did it fall in line with how he believed the apocalypse would come about, as I imagine that almost everyone in this universe would laugh at your face if you told them that the dead would rise back and eat the living? Did he keep up to date on what was happening in Denver from word of mouth or radio? How did Shepherd's upbringing and early experiences shape his perspective on environmental issues and activism? Were there specific events or influences in his childhood that sparked his interest in environmentalism? What finally catalyzed him to act with environmental activism and, perhaps, terrorism? You mentioned in the physical description that he was a deckhand, was it for a commercial fishing line or something more organized like oil hauling for companies partaking in offshore fracking? How did his ideals and vision of an ideal society evolve or adapt in response to the harsh realities of post-apocalyptic life? Did he face any internal conflicts or moral dilemmas along the way?

Faith-oriented characters have always interested me in post-apocalyptic settings, and in most media I never see it really done much justice or explored in depth aside from some novels or popular movie media like The Book of Eli or otherwise. Just based off your background, it sounds like Rachel is just a peach of a lady - living a pretty privileged life and devoting herself to being a figurehead for a higher power. From reading it as well, you'd think that she's the immaculate conception all over again as most everything is pretty positive 🤣 so in a group setting I could see her filling in as an anchor or moral compass for the group itself, if a bit sanctimonious intentionally or not. With her Drive, her belief and strength overall in her faith with God isn't something that would say is a sham or that she tries to use as leverage over other people, getting the impression that she's a true believer, but I'd like to know more about her relationship with Him and how that faith has influenced her life socially? What's her reaction to people who don't believe in what she does? Is she judgmental on them or try to guide and convert others? Based on some of the virtues displayed in the backstory and her equipment and overall demeanour, I wouldn't be wrong to say that Rachel is Christian, correct? Does she practice and preach within the bounds of a specific protestant denomination, or does she belong to a more 'generalized' universal Christian church? Does she take more fundamentalist views on the infallibility of the bible or is she more of a contextualist, and does that view conflict with the practices and common beliefs of her parishioners / denomination? What were her years in seminary like, and was she tempted by anything during that time majorly or elsewhere in her life that particularly stick out to her? I moreso definitely want to hear more about these highs and lows, twists and turns that you mentioned regarding her journey and transformation as a leader within a church. What was her initial reaction upon witnessing the reanimated dead, only to assault and begin consuming the living, and how has she survived these initial first few weeks? How does she feel about the fact that the world around her and the existence she lives in is marked and tainted with continuous violence and death? Did her and her congregation go to the Safe Zones? What did happen to her Congregation, and did she bear witness to a few member's eventual death and demise? How does the dead challenge her faith and her belief on the afterlife?

Sent you a DM! Let's talk

Not that it doesn't fit, but that it mechanically will not see any use in this game because there's no 'action economy' per se when it comes to violence and combat. Actions like blocking or dodging aren't mechanically outlined, being assumed as actions you would have already taken when you make your Close Combat or Ranged Combat rolls. Human on human violence tends to be an opposed roll with damage correlating to base damage from weapon + extra successes over their opponent (- number of successes the opponent makes on their armor roll). For walkers, even if you fail the roll there's still a good chance you'll kill the walker anyways, but you'll just suffer a complication ranging from just taking damage, to even worse fates like getting bitten or just instantly dying. Dice bonuses for TWD Talents, when corresponding to skills, are always situational. Certain conditions have to be met in order for you to receive that bonus. I'm more than happy to help out with what kind of Talent you'd like for your character, just shoot me what ideas you have!

While some of the elements in the Year Zero SRD are worth looking for to get inspiration, the SRD covers a generalized engine which applies to a wide range of games with various different systems and styles of how to handle combat. For example, Mutant: Year Zero and Twilight: 2000 handle combat a bit differently from one another despite sharing the same engine. The Walking Dead is very different from those former games as it abstracts combats with a Duel and Brawl system as I outline in the Violence thread, consisting of just one opposed roll most of the time; there aren't any minutiae details on combat like fast actions, blocking, or an action economy. Talents like Flyweight or Hard Hitter wouldn't work in the Walking Dead system as intended or written, and would likely need to be modified further to make it work, which I'm happy to help with! Regarding equipment, I'm fine with the current list as it is now since you're essentially just taking bits and pieces from other Archetypes' gear list. Overall I'm fine with it as long as it conforms to a generalized theme of your Archetype. Speaking of, I like your excerpt on the Nomad... but, truth be told, all that it really told me about the narrator is that they're an athlete hoping to escape with football as their ticket out of their hometown. I think everything gets explained a bit more in an indirect manner in the last few sentences of the monologue, but it's pretty vague - which I appreciate and the subtlety if that's what you were going for! I know you said you aren't done, but I did notice some things already mechanically and for your issues. Your Empathy is 1, and no stat should be below 2 at character creation or above 4 EXCEPT for your Key Attribute, which can be 5. Dealt a bad hand... doesn't really tell me much in regards to how it can be an Issue that affects other people in your group or would cause complications or gives me good hooks in game to present mechanical challenges, unlike your first one - since there's gonna be plenty of times where killing living people will probably be in your best interests. Bad hand because he had a pretty crappy life before the outbreak and that affects his behaviours or mannerisms? Just want a bit more explanation on how that applies to Rand in particular. I'll likely have more questions once the backstory and rest of the mechanics are fleshed out, but so far decent start!

James strikes me as a person with a strong sense of purpose and an energy that definitely gives off 'self-made', or, well, 'self-made' in the making, being no stranger to hard work or time management. He comes from humble roots and has been a victim of the injustice of poverty for a significant part of his life, but resentment and emotional turmoil aside - does he possess a strong sense of 'justice' because of his family's experiences; or, really, is it a ideology of 'just us', and he's focused primarily on himself / those around him and getting them a better life or one step ahead of the game, the world be damned? Is his past a point of shame for him, in how he wants to separate himself from his father and family as much as he could for his own individual status, or is a point of pride for him - telling himself how far he's gotten and using that as a basis to build some sort of legacy in the future? Does he even care or thought about a generational legacy? How has James' networking skills and influence earned him significant advantages as he was building his career or even at the start when he was graduating college. Were any of these advantages gained through borderline (or just straight up) unethical means - and if so, does James care? If he had aspirations to run for office or any sort of bureaucratic position, does (or did) he have a spouse given how much of a 'social' requirement it is in the government sphere, or was he confident that his own 'character' and charisma could get him those seats? Has he ever been the Clerk and Recorder by election, or was he always a member of staff? Why did he decide to take a more 'comptroller' route in breaking into government bureaucracy compared to other ways of getting into county legislature or executive positions? During the first few weeks of the outbreak, how did James' networking majorly assist and help him regarding his survival. Did he have access and were placed into the Safe Zones in the Denver area? What happened in his point of view, if so? What were his opinions on the National Guard or key figures / commissioned officers and their leadership during that time? Mechanically, things look pretty good! Only question I have is for his Drive, and it relates earlier to James' sense of Justice. Is it more of a 'I will lead them' in trying to make a society again, feeling like he's a good arbiter to handle disputes and to rebuild? Or is it more of a 'I will lead them', wanting to be top-dog in a world where dogs eat each other (and eaten also... well, by the dead)? Perhaps it's a bit of both, but I wanna get more of a sense of direction on James' ego in that aspect.

You can find the tables in the Appendix for TWDU RPG! Just a 3d6 to get your item, since you're not making an actual scavenging roll. Also, thank you again for all the detail and for answering my questions! Definitely gives me a better understanding of Fleur

It's always a funny thing with some people, how certain events can catalyze a person to 'wake up' and become 'alive' again after they've been slowly dying through months or years of self-destructive actions or behaviors - and there's nothing like the rising of dead people to eat on the living to make you think back on who you are, what kind of person you were, and what you need to become. What you wrote for your backstory is amazing, and is one of the things I really appreciate about this app and how you introduce her complexity overall! Emms is a runner and a user, both physically and emotionally given her background, but it sounds like she's come to terms with that and might actually start appreciating that being those things is sometimes good and useful, on both accounts now more than ever it seems. The easiest way I can see with her contributing is through being a trusted scavenger and runner for a group, but what other ways does Emily help out and contribute? Does she have any other thoughts on her 'finally being useful to people' instead of 'being used or using others'? Feels good, but is it also uncomfortable or strange for her? Is the fear of 'being useless and a failure again' prevalent in her mind constantly? Her family and her past, at least seeming from what you wrote and her Issue, is a huge contention point with her. It goes without saying that there's a lot of regret regarding her relationship with her mother and father, so is there anything from that time or words in particular that stick out to her now that she's reflecting? Or, I guess to be more concise, how is her mother and father still influencing her now? If she were to ever find or meet them again, could she look them in the eye? Regarding her gang, what were the group dynamics and relationships she had with people? Did she do questionable or unethical things to other members of her gang to earn her quick fix of escapism, if so - do any stand out in her mind? Does she regret them, or is she content with having done it considering the fact that they 'used' her in similar ways? Aside from the bikes and the awesome tattoo's naturally, were there any other positive things that the gang taught or provided her that she remembers fondly? Mechanically everything else looks good! I'd be alright if you wanted to sacrifice the drugs for the motorbike, say you stole one from your gang or something when you tucked tail. Regarding the Talent, it works but if you have other ideas or thoughts on alternatives let me know!

The Man, the God, the Legend. I have to admit, I didn't know what to think on Serj initially, especially regarding the tone of the Walking Dead in general, but overall I'm pretty entertained on the idea of a social media model flexing his washboard abs and mewing at the undead right before that jawline gets chomped on 🤣. More seriously though, this is a very unique and interesting concept that I honestly didn't expect to see! Backstory wise, Serj definitely does has more than a fair share of traumatic experiences and hell in his life. After being objectified as a commodity and resource for others, he copes with it in a fairly complex way (if portraying himself as a social media male model and child model wasn't a bit too much on the nose regarding that). How else does he reconcile his experiences today with the stresses of surviving day to day? How does he feel about made modeldom and being objectified once again inwardly? Escaping and orchestrating escapes from human trafficking rings is incredibly ballsy and takes a lot of inner courage - how did a lot of the stresses with escape and grim circumstances have an effect on Serj overall? How does it come back to bite (pun not intended) him now given that society has crashed and the dead are walking around? Is he worried (or looking forward to) people recognizing him since he had 10M followers? Mechanically things are okay, I don't know how I feel about Aplomb's mechanical condition or narrative prerequisite (or lack of one generally, since the prerequisite is mechanical) and especially on the Gear. How would he have access to a large portion of these things and what makes them so unique to guarantee those mechanical bonuses? Harpoon guns serving as a weapon AND gear to give bonuses for general use? I'm iffy on both the precedent of and allowing items like that during initial creation. I mean, sure - Harpoon guns or even flamethrowers are easy to buy since they're not regulated in the U.S., and drones were around but they certainly weren't mainstream or mass produced at least until 2015. I'd like a bit more explanation on how the gear fits in to the Archetype?

Deano definitely is carrying that weight and a lot of callouses, both on his hands and likely in his soul; especially with that extensive military career backing up his likely traumatizing experiences during the initial first weeks of the outbreak. Why did Deano pursue a career in the military initially and double-down on specialized schools and opportunities like SF (and passing, which is quite a feat!) and Robin Sage? How does this aspect of his identity meld with other aspirations or frameworks of his self, like his relationship with his family / tribe and working as a first responder? Why medicine and enlisting with an MOS as a 68W (Combat Medic)? With that in mind, I imagine those first couple of days were absolute hell for Dino. What were his thoughts when the military came in and established the safe-zones? Was he in one of them and 'voluntold' to help out in a makeshift hospital (or a real one within the confines of the Safe Zones themselves)? What's his perspective on September 9th, when the Air Force napalmed Denver and Marines were killing people on the streets, with Soldiers attempting to kill them? Mechanically as discussed before, everything looks good so far! I like what I see, though what does his Drive 'There is always a Solution' mean to Dino? Is that medically or moreso something reflecting his personal ideology?

The one thing I've noticed and pondered on a lot when it comes to Fleur is her implied complexity; she definitely comes across to me as the type of Survivor that never believes in pure absolutes given her ingenuity, but constantly makes deals and 'contracts', evidently from both her family business and how she survived them before the outbreak, which I find interesting since she keeps herself firmly more in a 'behind-the-scenes' background player role in the social dynamics that she keeps finding herself in. I imagine she just adopts both a pragmatic and realistic view of things: she's smart, she knows she's smart, she knows that the others know that she's smart, and she believes that she can't (or won't) do much else - so she thinks that her survival is dependent upon people believing that their survival is dependent upon her, at least from what how I understand it so far. If that's the case, I love the dynamic this establishes between others in the group and her ego 😈. I'm interested in hearing on some times in her past (or anxieties that she may have regarding now) on that status of being 'invaluable' being threatened? Out of everyone from her 'backwater' Créole crime family, Fleur seems to have been the only one who's college educated and, based on how she writes on them, is definitely the most 'book-smart' out of everyone. What was her time like at university / community college and what did she study? Chemistry, Engineering / Automotive Technologies? Did she like it and the level of independence she sort of got from her family? Would she ever want to make her way back to Louisiana to find them again? She's clannish, but has she ever felt trapped in her family dynamics and wanted better things for them, or did she appreciate the status quo and her lot in life at that time? How also has she been dealing with the death of her husband in a more internal scope and has this affected her behavior much? What was Patrice like and how does she choose to remember him? Mechanically she looks good! Don't forget you also get one Scavenged item from a 3d6 roll!

UPDATE Refined the example character sheet template to incorporate a table for a detailed backstory, if you choose to use it. Added a section in for how Talents work and a list of General Talents for both inspiration and reference once your survivors gain Experience.

They most definitely wouldn't be trained for Zombies or undead, given that it's implied in universe (and explicitly stated by Robert Kirkman, the author of The Walking Dead comics) that the concept of Zombies or the Undead did not exist or was not a prevalent idea that was mainstream. But the idea of making a hybrid Archetype between two others is something that you can certainly pitch!

The System itself is pretty simple to grasp and understand, as it's definitely one of the lighter Free League games with a more narrative focus as opposed to a lot of crunch. In a separate forum I've attached the Year Zero Engine SRD that goes over the base systems and rules for how a YZ game is structured at baseline, and a lot of other resources in the Game Mechanics forum. If you want something more in depth, you could ask or look through The Walking Dead Universe RPG core. The closest I can think of regarding how similar this system might be is through some of Modiphius's games like Star Trek: Adventures or Fallout. Seems fair to say since at one point they both Modiphius and Free League were strong partners. Not necessarily. The Haven has a base defense rating to give a sort of mechanical value to how your group establishes their security and sense of safety (and also serves to help assist with surviving swarms of certain sizes when they attack your Haven), but there's always going to be Challenges or Issues that I'll introduce that threatens to knock that down or to start projects to make improvements on. So having someone who's handy with maintenance is very valuable.

Walking Dead is a very narrative game, so it makes sense to go for the Narrative route on how we're dealing with the rather undefined pieces of equipment from the core. For a suggestion on what those items give you mechanically, I have these in mind. Feel free to let me know how you feel about them: Survival Kit -> Choice of either +2 Endure or +1 Survival depending on how you're using the kit. You can only use this benefit once per day. Quality: Okay. So far, you've been using it every so often. Either to benefit yourself before (or during, regardless) you found the Haven or to help others survive. The equipment is worn, but there isn't any cause for maintenance concerns or malfunctions. Yet. Slots: 2 Poncho -> +1 Endure. Quality: Okay. Worn, but still serviceable. Slots: 1/2. Collection of Seeds -> Fulfills plant seed Requirement for a Haven Project to Increase Capacity. Treat tech rating as +1 Higher for tech requirement to start project if used. One time use. The Medicine Kit 'EMT Go-Bag' we'll treat as Basic Medical Gear at Okay Quality, though is that a leftover from a previous roll for gear, since you have five gear pieces overall (or, is it just the bag itself without the actual medication in it)? Your medication and drugs will give a +2 to Medicine, but at Bad quality since I imagine the medications possessed in that slot are excluded from typical over-the-counter drugs or what's found in the Go-Bag - so they're likely both in short supply and expiring / becoming useless since there's not much out here in the way of refrigeration, and your cold packs can only do so much.

Halfway through reading The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson and overall it has been a very thought provoking and stimulating read! The narrative jumps and style changes across chapters between 3rd person limited and epistolary accounts can be a bit disconnecting from the narrative and some chapters may seem a bit redundant (though that may just be a consequence of my own knowledge on Climate Change) but it most definitely is a worthwhile read that everyone who's into Hard Sci-Fi / Semi Non-Fiction should pick up!

Post any questions, concerns, or just a greeting to say hi down below! I'll also be posting announcements or updates here as needed.

Alejandra Márquez-García "I won't let anything happen to you, Leja. Absolutely nothing." Alejandra is the youngest of the Márquez-García siblings, a bright-eyed girl that remains the light of the Márquez-García family, somehow maintaining her childlike innocence and indirectly serving as the moral compass and primary motivation for both her mother and her older brother. She is the glue keeping together what remains of the family, especially now more than ever since Juliana's passing. Despite her relatively kind exterior and somewhat naive demeanour, a perceptive glare always permeates her eyes; always watching and noticing her surroundings and absorbing what she sees, hinting to a maturity beyond her years. Despite her young age, being almost fourteen years old, Alejandra possesses a surprising level of emotional intelligence. She has an innate ability to empathize and connect with others, making friends relatively easily as seen with the Márquez-García family's last group. In her private time, however, she enjoys quieter activities to the pass the time - sketching landmarks that she's seen or collecting small trinkets and treasures as they pass from town to town. She, like most others within the Márquez-García family in the past, possesses a strong relationship with her kin; yet her bond with her older brother, Raphael, is unbreakable. Moreso than she does with her mother or her late father, she looks up to Raphael as a sort of idol figure, providing purpose and in-a-sense serving as a confidant to him for certain things. But deep down, something swells within Alejandra. She smiles less, and tries her best to get involved and 'contribute' more in order to take the load off her brother's and mother's plate. SKILLS AND TALENTS TRAINED Endure, Scout, Mobility EXPERT Stealth MASTER - TALENTS A Child of This WorldAlejandra does not take Stress when she see's someone get infected., SensitiveAlejandra can use Scout to learn what other people feel and intend to do, and even their Issues. ISSUES Feels Like a Burden

Diana García "You're colder than how you used to be, a lot more scared too - but maybe you were always this scared. I... I wouldn't blame you. Somedays I wish this was a horrible nightmare. But we need to keep it together. We'll make our way through this, just hang on a little bit longer..." You could say that Diana was the heart and soul of the Márquez-García family, her presence radiating warmth and love in equal measure. But now, with the advent of the rising dead feasting on the living, she's nothing but a shell of her former self. Once a beacon of strength and compassion, Diana now bears the weight of the world on her shoulders on top of the grief that she carries following the death of her first daughter, Juliana - a burden that her son Raphael is attempting to alleviate, but her form is beginning to crack. Diana is a Cuban-American woman in her early forties, serving now as the matriarch for the Márquez-García family as they wander the western Kentucky wetlands. In a previous life, Diana dedicated herself to caring for others as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Whether it was tending to the sick and injured in her professional life or providing comfort and support to her loved ones at home, either in cooking her family's favorite meals, offering a listening ear, or simply being a shoulder to lean on in times of need, despite the demands of her career. Now, the grace and love that Diana possesses dwindles by the week. Her once bright eyes now seem dull and hollow, haunted by the tragedies she has witnessed and the losses she has endured. She speaks less, with bags and shadows forming under her eyes - her smiles fading faster and becoming more forced. Regardless, she perseveres, if only now out of obligation to ensure that her children are safe and sound. MECHANICAL INFORMATION TRAINED Endure, Stealth EXPERT Medicine MASTER TALENTS Emergency MedicineDiana gets a +2 to Medicine when she stabilizes a critical injury that needs basic medical gear., Seen It AllDiana does not take stress from seeing someone get wounded, tormented, or even Broken., Tough As NailsDiana gains +2 to Endure when she starves or works hard. ISSUES Emotionally Shut Off, Depressed

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Dominic Márquez "I could really use your strength right now papá, some days it feels like the whole world is coming down on me..." Dominic was a pillar of strength and resilience, his presence commanding respect and admiration wherever he went. He exhibited a steadfast determination and a tireless work ethic that set him apart from his peers. With his unwavering dedication to providing for his family, Dominic was the epitome example and role-model for his children. As a father, Dominic exuded a quiet strength and a deep sense of responsibility, his love for his children shining through in every action and every word. He took great pride in instilling in his son, Raphael, the value of hard work and perseverance, imparting to him the skills and knowledge that would serve him well in the years to come. He loved and adored his daughters, Juliana and Alejandra, protecting them and nearly spoiling them with the fruits of his labor. Despite the demands of his profession, Dominic always made time for his family, cherishing the moments spent together and creating lasting memories that would be treasured for a lifetime. Whether it was teaching Raphael the intricacies of mechanics or simply sharing a meal around the dinner table, Dominic reveled in the simple joys of family life, his presence bringing warmth and comfort to those around him.