I was just asking myself...

...if I should keep PEFs for ATZ?

As you may probably know, I am a big fan of the Chain Reaction 3 system by Two Hour Wargames. I like PEFs for most of their settings and I imported them into my ATZ campaign even before ATZ: Better Dead than Zed, BUT I am asking myself if they don't change the tone of my games too much.

My first games (Day One) - without PEFs - had deserted suburbs, some zeds shuffling around and people hiding in buildings. This fits my vision of a zombie apocalypse perfectly. A mission starts with a few number of zeds on the table and the possibility of more zeds in buildings or as a result of gunfire.

My games including PEFs looked more like a game about gang warfare...with zombies. I am not sure if I really want this. My z-apocalyptic world - after the chaos of the first days - is supposed to be lonesome, desolate, bleak etc.

So, what do you think about Possible Enemy Contacts in ATZ? Am I just talking crazy?

Thank you

Whiteface

House Rule: Lazarus Timeline

The following house rule hasn't been important until now. My campaign has just entered month #2, so usually there is a chance for encountering ragers or smarties from now on. I've created this rule with the intention to add some uncertainty.  

The planes carrying the Lazarus Agent discharge their payload on Day 22. This house rule assumes that it takes some weeks or even months for Ragers to become a common sight and even longer for the first smart Zombies to become self-aware.

► No Ragers or smart Zombies appear on Day One or in any scenario in the first month of the zombie outbreak. Ignore all rules for Ragers, Smarties and Psychics until the following conditions are met:

► Starting with the second month roll 1d6 before playing a scenario:

(1-5) There still aren’t a lot of Ragers around. I continue to use a modified NPC Type Table without Ragers to resolve PEFs.

(6) Ragers are now a common problem. From now on I will use an NPC Type Table including Ragers to resolve PEFs. Ragers may also be encountered when you enter a building or when the activation dice total is seven (see How Ragers appear).

► Starting with the first scenario after Ragers have become widespread roll 2d6 before playing a scenario:

(not a double) If the result is not a double you still haven’t heard anything about Smart Zombies or Psychics.

(double) It is possible to encounter Smart Zombies from now on. Anytime a Zombie is generated roll 1d6. If the result is a "1" then it is a Smart Zombie (see How Smart Zombies Appear).

(double 6) It is possible to encounter Smart Zombies (see above) and Psychics from now on.

Recently I have thought about another addition to this rule: Everytime the main activation dice show a result of "double 1" the die roll above is repeated. This would probably create even more uncertainty. I am not sure about this...I guess I will decide this all in good time (month #2 started yesterday evening...).

Any comments?

Whiteface

Commercial Break: Buy more cars! Now!

The fast & the feasting

Comment: I have been asked to tell more details about my 1:43 cars. Without further delay I will now present my whole carpark:

Lynn presents three Humvees. I bought them in a German online shop. They were listed commercial models, but have a"Motor Max" sign at the bottom.

In the next picture we see the late Mrs. Whiteface with two '99 Ford Crown Victoria. Both vehicle kits are from "Welly", have a pull-back motor and require minor work to glue some parts together (I think all my Welly models are multiple parts vehicle kits). I bought them at a German online shop too.
If you happen to live in the USA and are not on a budget I would suggest to take a look at Policecarmodels. They have a great variety of...errr...police car models.

A series of pick-up trucks is presented by my loyal assistant Igor-Bob. The white Ford F-250 is from "New Ray" and comes together with a trailer and a Honda Sportrax 400 E quad. Great Model! The next pick-up is a metallic blue Ford F-150 XLT from "Yat Ming". I have bought both models on Ebay. The last one is a light blue '48 Ford F1 from "Yat Ming" purchased at a German online store.

The next three convertibles are from "New Ray" and have been bought at Ebay. They may be old, but they're kept in perfect condition by my favourite mechanic, Mr. Grease. It's a silver '66 Pontiac GTO, a dark blue '59 Chrysler 300E and a black '66 Oldsmobile 4-4-2.

Be careful when checking those SUVs. There may be someone in there. It's a red Ford Explorer from "Welly" and a metallic green Toyota Land Cruiser VX.R from "Yat Ming". Both are from a German online shop.

More SUVs are brought to you by the Whiteface Family. There is a yellow Hummer H2 from "Cararama". Didn't paint a big "3" on it's doors, yet. The other is a silver '08 Ford Escape from "Motor Max". Both purchased at an online store.

Here we see Lynn with a white Ford Transit, again from an online shop. I think it's a "Cararama" model. The other car is a silver "Welly" Mercedes C-Class from a local flea market. 

 

Be honest, there aren't just American cars or German imports in US towns. The must be some asian cars around. My shooping spree included three Japanese modelcars from "Welly": a white Honda Integra Type-R, a red Toyota Celica and a blue '02 Subaru Impreza WRX with golden wheel rims.
I had a gluing mishap while finishing the Subaru. Now it's windows look like a passenger had a sneezing accident. A serious sneezing accident.

Now we buy American cars again. Presented by my...err...well, by something. Purchased at an online shop, a black Chrysler 300C HEMI from "Motor Max".

 

These zombie couple really loves their cars. They have a dark blue '05 Dodge Magnum RT from "Motor Max" and a red '03 Dodge Viper SRT-10 convertible from "Welly". Both bought at an online shop too.

We needs more power!!! The Whitefaces and Lynn have decided for horse power. Mr. Whiteface snatched a blue ' 68 Ford Shelby GT-500KR from "Yat Ming" (Ebay), Mrs. Whiteface borrowed a red '04 Ford GT from "Motor Max" and Lynn outright stole a red '99 Ford Mustang from "Welly".



'68 Ford Shelby. Even a pile of ten thousand iPhones, iPads and other electronic junk doesn't have that much built-in coolness. 

Finally an import car again. A white Porsche 911 (997) Carrera S from "Welly" (online shop). It is not the car that I had intended to add to my collection - a silver 911 (997) Turbo - but it was a less expensive alternative.

Just in case you are wondering: this miniature, let's call him Mr. Ghost, isn't finished yet. I am still fighting to add some highlights to the straps around his chest and the weapons haven't been painted at all. All the details kill me, but nevertheless he's on a good way to become the best painted miniature I've ever done.

Final comment: If everything had been going according to my plans (financially) I would have purchased some 1:43 trucks from "New Ray" this month. Not pick-ups, but the real thing. Anyway, sooner or later I will add some big trucks to my collection...and maybe, just maybe if I am in a money wasting mood I will have to get these Luxury Die Cast models as well.

By the way, does anyone know where to get a 1:43 Abrams Tank?

Whiteface

Breaking News: It's dead, dead, dead!

These are news about broken things: My PC has ceased working this friday. This was where I had created my previous batreps, have Comic Life installed and stored a lot of the pictures from the 1,5 games I've played recently (and obviously the pictures from all those batreps before).
So apart from not having access to about 50% of the pictures from my latest game I am not able to do any batreps with pictures anymore. I don't see myself buying a new PC in the coming months, so I am not sure how I will solve this situation. A text-only batrep won't do my latest games justice.

I have absolutely no clue what part of my PC isn't working, as the boot process is stopped (and restarted) before even the first messages appear on the screen. Starting, two seconds, first air thingie starts, about two or three more seconds, next noise (rotation of hard disc?)  joins in...and with a clicking noise stops working, waits a bit and everything starts again unless I cut off the power.

Whiteface
Angry, frustrated and with a annyoing cold.

Living the dream

After my first ATZ campaign ended sooner than expected the Whiteface Family is now gearing up for another try. This time the family lives in a suburban area of Whiteville.

pic. #1: Mr. Whiteface, Mrs. Whiteface, little Dotty

Mr. Whiteface starts as a Rep 3 office droid with the "Lucky" attribute again.

He will receive his second attribute at Rep 4. He doesn't have any weapons at hand. His miniature is Harold Smith, white collar survivalist from RAFM. The miniature is painted and varnished, but I intend to give his shoes a coat of shiny 'ardcoat. His base is a generic slotta-base with a selfmade milliput pavement with some shotgun shells lying around.

pic. #2: Mr. Whiteface with better lighting

Mrs. Whiteface is a Rep 3 teacher.

I have not finally decided about her attributes. She starts without any weapons too. Her miniature is the well known Dionne (b) from Hasslefree Miniatures. I have not yet finished painting Mrs. Whiteface. The dark colour scheme may not be clearly vivible on these pictures. The coat is black with grey highlighting, her suit is black with dark blue highlighting and may receive some 'ardcoat. Her hair is - under natural lighting conditions - brown. Mrs. Whiteface's eyes may appear too big or dissimilar, but I can assure you they are not. Hasslefree miniatures are small and their heads are in the right proportions, so these eyes are really, really small. Her base is a round diamond plate from Antenociti's Workshop.

pic. 3: The family again, but from a different angle

Little Dotty is not a real character. She will act like one of the Bleens from the corresponding scenario.

I have chosen Rose from Hasslefree Miniatures. This is a great miniature, but it is incredibly small. Rose has only received a black basecoat and some Tallarn Flesh so far. Rose's base is a round road with large manhole from Antenociti's Workshop.

The Improved Plan (TM) for Day One:

Location #1: Mr. and Mrs. Whiteface will go home, join each other, grab some melee weapons, get into their car and drive away.

Location #2: Both drive to the Kindergarten and get little Dotty.

Location #3: The Whiteface's have to get some money from the ATM.

Location #4: They go into a supermarket and get some food. This may be dangerous...

Location #5: They drive to a military base / military safe zone to have some protection.

Location #5 was decided by the real Mrs. Whiteface. The options were: hiding at home, going to a police station or to a military base. The decision ended with her question if I need some military helicopters now. Well, to be honest...yes!

Final Comment: I am already deep into the first location of Day One but will probably have no time to post a batrep this weekend. It's going to be an exciting fight for survival. Promise!

Whiteface