In the campaign I am putting together I want to turn some townsfolk into zombies but I would like to make them relatively weak. In character sheet generators they are stronger than I would like. How do I go about downgrading a zombie. This may be a dumb question but as I said I am new, as in this is my first campaign. I have played D&D Only once but my son wants me to run a campaign for him and his friends. Any help out there for me?
You can take a mechanic from Pathfinder and give them the equivalent of the staggered condition--that is to say they can either move or take an action on their turn, but not both. This might help you build the dread of the encroaching zombies, but let players keep them at bay on an open map.
EDIT: A few ideas. Take one or more of these as you see fit:
Zombies attack with disadvantage
The above staggered condition
Deny zombies reactions so that players can get away and still use their action to attack from distance
Roll a d4 instead of a d6 for damage the zombie inflicts
These are all good suggestions. I would only add... don't do ALL of these things to weaken the zombies. One or two will significantly hamper them... like, deny reactions and 11 hp. That would be more than enough, I would think.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I would lower HP. This lets players have a chance of killing a zombie every round, and lets you throw hordes at them without combat turning into a slog.
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A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
Hi everyone. New DM here.
In the campaign I am putting together I want to turn some townsfolk into zombies but I would like to make them relatively weak. In character sheet generators they are stronger than I would like. How do I go about downgrading a zombie. This may be a dumb question but as I said I am new, as in this is my first campaign. I have played D&D Only once but my son wants me to run a campaign for him and his friends. Any help out there for me?
Thanks!
You can take a mechanic from Pathfinder and give them the equivalent of the staggered condition--that is to say they can either move or take an action on their turn, but not both. This might help you build the dread of the encroaching zombies, but let players keep them at bay on an open map.
EDIT: A few ideas. Take one or more of these as you see fit:
"Not all those who wander are lost"
These are all good suggestions. I would only add... don't do ALL of these things to weaken the zombies. One or two will significantly hamper them... like, deny reactions and 11 hp. That would be more than enough, I would think.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I would lower HP. This lets players have a chance of killing a zombie every round, and lets you throw hordes at them without combat turning into a slog.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
Perfect. Thanks everyone!