Free Content Friday - June 2019

ZOMBTELLIGENT (Z.I.)
Written By: Graphic Design & Layout:
Dakota Hayes Michal Cross, Christopher J. De La Rosa, Alex Huilman
OPPONENTS
The following is a new opponent type applicable for all scenarios.
Zombtelligent (Z.I.)
These infected are born when death halts the spread of the virus and its
failed to touch the mental functions of the host.The death must be instant
but preserve the body, a rare occurrence to say the least. As a result they will
have a typical rotting body, but a head ghastly discolored and though it
had been left underwater.They cannot survive longer than a year as the
virus does not preserve their decaying brain. During that time, cognitive
function will deteriorate rapidly. Dying like this would cause them to go
braindead and reignite the virus in a festering pus, boiling the body as it
rapidly propagates until only the head remains upon the bare skeleton.
Strength: 25
Perception: 20
Empathy: Special
Willpower: 100
W10-1 for each Infected over 10
Deployment: + ++ or
Base Dice Pool: u n n
Vitality
Health Points: (1)
Viral: 3+OL
Morale: J3
Damage Threshold: T 12
Defense: [ n Bludgeoning, Thermal, Electrical]
Skill Check(s)
{Balance 30%, Dodge 32%, Grapple 35%, Brawl24%,
Spot/Listen 45%, Command 57%, Navigation 38%}
Special
Intelligent Undead: Infected has a base 10% in all Empathy checks and
Training in {Diplomacy, Command%} for use specifically with
basic Infected. As an undead they pass any {Skill Check%} involv-
ing Willpower as a primary attribute and count as having a Wb 10.
Immunity: Immune to [Poison, Radiation]
Flighty: Will attempt to escape an Encounter if half or more of the
Infected that started the encounter have been killed. Makes a {Nav-
igation%} check, clumsily escaping with + and + + or more
making for clean escapes. On any Success, Z.I. loses J1
Resilience ( 2 ): Remove all [ 2 ] or lower at the end of the Round if
not enough damage was inflicted to cause the loss of a Health Point.
Undead Shield: Z.I. can spend - of an Infected within Melee range
to hide behind them. Attacks targeting Z.I. from the front are taken
by the shielding Infected until it dies or the round ends, and prevents
it from moving if it can.
Coordination: The Z.I.’s presence allows Infected to hold + equal to
the current J score of Z.I. for other Infected to use.
Mind Link: Z.I. coordinates without audible sound.
Progress Oriented: Z.I. can make a {Composure 32%} check when
a survivor within line of sight takes a wound, where + allows the
restoration of J1.
Limited Speech: Z.I. are able to string together two or three word
sentences, though avoid revealing this.
Commander Down: If the last Z.I. in an Encounter is killed, unless
the Upgrade “Contingency Plan” is taken, all Infected are stunned
for a round, and Survivors can flee without risk of persistence and
without the GM making an {Encounter%} check. If Z.I. is killed
outside an encounter involving other Infected, Reduce W by an
amount equal to its current J.
Shattered: A Broken Z.I. with J0 will quietly succumb to death,
waiting for a Survivor to kill it or allowing it’s animal companion
to feast upon it.
Lifespan: A single year lifespan, with a loss of cognition starting
as early as 4 months is one of the greatest flaws of these Infected.
Upgrades
Contingency Plan W10
When taking this Upgrade choose a sensible Zeitgeist Formation.
Upon the death of this Z.I. all Infected in the Encounter will attempt
to take this Formation before approaching Survivors, moving in
unison. If not enough Infected are left to form the Formation, they
will still try to group together before attacking. Alternatively GMs
may choose a one word command to give to all Infected in the
Encounter.
Slave Driver W5
Infected within 10 feet of the Z.I. can increase one n assigned to
them by 1, or roll n against themselves to gain a + and addi-
tional n next turn.
W2
The Aggressive Art of Rot
So long as the Z.I. is in the Encounter, Infected can use sensible Zeit-
geist Formations without cost, only using the Z.I.’s J for duration.
Does not lose J for a broken Formation.
The Deceptive Art of Rot W6
Allows the use of Led Formations out of combat without cost, gives
Infected under Z.I.’s command {Stealth 40%} and the point char-
acter does not need to be the Z.I. Still uses the Z.I.’s J.
Stalwart Rot W1
Increase Maximum J by 1. Can be taken multiple times to a
maximum total of J5.
Intact Soul W8
Z.I. gains an empathy score of 35 and a Willpower score of 38,
increasing all Empathy skill efficiencies by 25% and Willpower by
28%. Grants Infected an enduring body, increasing other Infected’s
Health Points by 1. At the end of every unsuccessful Infected attack,
roll a {Composure 20%}; on a + , if J is below half the starting
value, the Z.I. begins to question it’s own motives and becomes truly
sentient. On - , adds W1 for each - , maximum of W3.
Disguise Artist W1 BARTER RESOURCE CATALOG - GENERAL
Each time this Z.I. is deployed, it wears different clothes and some- RES.
ITEM COST
times a mask or makeup to better hide from perceptive eyes, an LEVEL
{Spot/Listen%} with + + + or more can identify the Z.I. 1 Indistinguishable Meat* G10
Hoarder W0 2 Loot (Random) G5
Gathers materials that may be useful to Survivors to prevent them 3 Peace (620) † G10
from obtaining them, and locks them away. Upon death if searched,
yields a single key to the Z.I.’s hoard, but this does not denote the 4 Information ‡ G15
location. For each Encounter the Z.I. survives it adds 3 items of the
GMs choice to the hoard, usually rudimentary or basic supplies. After All G can be paid for half the value in . of Raw Meat other than
obtaining the key, each {Search%} of an abandoned building with the “Indistinguishable Meat” option.
+ + + + + , or if they have learned the Z.I.’s hideout a + + * Composed of 2 parts human, 1 part dog. + on a {Spot/Listen%}
reveals this in advance. Consumption results in loss of J1.
will reveal the hoard. This trait can be added at the beginning or
end of an Encounter.
† Offers to travel with and deter Infected, Doubling the cost of W for
Animal Deviant W1 the GM to deploy Infected until the Survivors cannot pay or part ways.
Z.I. can tame, train and understand a small mammal of GM’s choos-
ing, which it sends into locations ahead of Survivors to snatch and ‡ The Z.I. can tell the Survivors locations that hold fewer Infected at the
hide things. So long as Z.I. with this upgrade is alive, Survivors must time.This limits the number of Infected that can be deployed inside the
add n n to their {Search%} checks in locations. building to 2 per room or hallway.

Conversationalist W4
This Z.I. can communicate in full sentences, and manages to retain
it’s memory through the 1 year lifespan, and can use logic to attack
survivors. It can perform {Barter%, Intimidation%, and Per-
suasion%} checks with a stat of 20% to manipulate the feelings
of Survivors.

The Experimental W7
Reduce to W4 if a Researcher character has been previously intro-
duced. Z.I. has been experimented upon by a rogue scientist, either
created by or enhanced by them. As a result this Z.I. never rots and
can live indefinitely, and suffers no adverse effects of the Alzhiemers.
If a surviving Z.I. with this perk is deployed into a new Encounter,
the GM may spend Wto add new Upgrade Templates to it. e n s e naturies
t
e t o the inf e c t e d i t be
Triggered Effect(s) D u h e s e I n hat they o
Slam: + - [ n Bludgeoning]
o f t mended t n a scenari t
recomsparingly i r the mos
Gouge: + + - [ n Slashing] used mpaign fo
Bite: + + d d d - [ n n n Slashing, 1 Viral] n n or ca t.
impac

NOTES/SPECIAL
When making use of Z.I. with other types
of Infected there are some special consid-
erations to keep in mind as they maintain
a unique relationship with the rest of the
Infected.
nn Feeders attempt to dominate and abuse,
but recognize these infected as valuable
tools for field commanding hordes
nn Regular Infected obey without ques-
tion, receive orders through intent, and
will obey Z.I. over Feeders thrall effect
if Feeder is not Directly present.
nn Gluttons Lack the brainpower to
receive orders from Z.I., but can be
corralled into a few formations; but
usually act on sight against Survivors.
nn Banshees are too unstable to receive
commands directly. Attempts to can
cause a banshee to go berserk, replica-
ble if such an effect is desired. Usually
they can be coaxed to move somewhere
with physical interaction, used for set-
ting up ambush positions but otherwise
prove too difficult to work with.
STORY HOOKS
There are many interesting ways that a GM
can introduce or make use of this particu-
lar opponent type. Provided are but a few
examples to help get them into play quickly.
Appendix
nn If The Deceptive Art of Rot is taken,
Can be introduced during an Ambush,
as it escapes once it sees the survivors
are a better match than anticipated.
nn During a normal encounter, emphasis
on an Infected fleeing can be an unset-
tling and excellent tone setter for this
particular nuisance.
nn Given it’s unique ability to command
Infected, Feeders may be found slaving
and abusing them, possibly an excellent
big bad in an exaggerated Story.
nn An encounter with a Z.I. while it maps
out the city can quickly unnerve a sur-
vivor, and put the group on edge about
their current home
nn If Animal Deviant is taken, then The
small critter, possibly warped by the
Z.I., is seen by the Survivors whilst
hiding things, and this repeats until
they are certain it’s malicious.
nn If a character is a Researcher of some
kind, Z.I. can be treated as aversive or
fearful of humans, killing only when
chased, and possibly revealing the
location of a gruesome laboratory, or
possibly leads Survivors to the Lab
that made or changed it in the hopes
of intelligent friends or simply for gro-
tesque enjoyment.
nn A Z.I. of a Survivors family or friends
can create innumerous heart wrench-
ing or lightening interactions, and
can expand further on the concept of
keeping Infected alive in the hopes of
curing them.
nn A Z.I. has been captured by the govern-
ment, and the Survivors are asked to
transport it to a testing facility under
the hopes that it could be the first step
to a cure, or a defensive soldier immune
to the lethal curse. All the while it calls
Infected to it, making a difficult journey
that much tougher.
nn Adapting a perishing Survivor into a
Z.I. could lead to some interesting play,
either for the player to control or as an
antagonist.
nn A Z.I. being hunted by Feeders runs to
a survivor civilization for safety, offering
to deter Infected in return, at least until
the Alzhiemers kicks in.
nn A Feeder colony has captured a Z.I. and
is using it to organize harassments of
nearby Survivors to then feed upon the
victims themselves.