AVBZW campaign

[Matt J]

Last couple of nights I've been working through some of Phil's excellent zombie sculpts and they paint up really nice the detail is fantastic (pics to follow). I thought it would be nice to bung some dice with these as I don't normally play with my toys. Having read a lot of peoples (SteveJ, Sunjester, Nik et al) excellent ideas and batreps on the AVBCW I thought I could use the same ideas but with Zombies - A Very British Zombie War. I've always loved the idea of simulating a zombie attack on my own locality and playing out a small scale campaign (I live in a rural area so a lot of the scenery I'll need can double up for Normandy and other projects I'm working on). So I've come up with a bit of background and I'll start putting little forces together. I was thinking of single basing everything and maybe digging out my old copy of Rogue Trader with some tweaks for the rules as (IIRC) they offer a good basis for battles and semi RPG that might work for this.

The background is as follows -

It is May 2014, in a subsidiary lab of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Brentford, scientists while researching a new cold and flu medication stumble upon a deadly new toxin linked to the H1N1 virus. When administered to lab rats the toxin produces flu like symptoms then after 3 days the specimen falls into a coma. Multiple organ failure and death follows shortly after. However the specimens remain animated, synapses continue to fire in the brain at reduced levels and nervous system continues to operate. The level of animation depends on the subject but all show high levels of aggression.
GSK try to cover up the research but one employee leaks the information to his local conservative MP Giles Goodwood. Giles sensing a MoD position in the offing convinces the employee to steal a sample and get it to him.
June 6th armed with his sample Giles heads for London. Unfortunately he is found in a first class carriage with only a standard ticket and following an unsuccessful altercation with rail staff he is removed from the carriage. The package with the sample remains on the seat, forgotten, the specimen jar is faulty. The sample leaks into the train carriage. The virus can survive for an unknown period. Over the next few days the train's route covers most of England and parts of Scotland; London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow.
Flu cases start to appear across the country. Hospitals are inundated. Then the dead begin to walk. Major cities fall rapidly. By the 14th June London is a city of 6 million dead. People flee rapidly to the countryside to escape the Zombies. Britain is quarantined by NATO. Three US carrier fleets and French vessels patrol the waters. Any aircraft or vessel fleeing Britain is destroyed. Escaping RAF Typhoons, trying to break through the cordon seriously damage the USS Nimitz before they are shot down. UK forces overseas come under US control.
Pockets of resistance and survival remain in England. FIAZEL (Federation of Islamists Against Zombies in EngLand) take over Bradford City Stadium and turn it into a fortress (the Army of MUFF [Manchester United Football Fans] try the same with Old Trafford but it is overrun when someone left the back door open). The NFU (National Farmers Union) take control of some rural towns and villages and provide their own armed militia and put the WI in charge of rationing.
In Scotland people flee to the highlands and islands. The SNP party flee to Shetland, declare it independent of the UK and claim all UK north sea oil resources. Norwegian marines land in Shetland 3 days later to 'protect' the remaining Scottish population. 
For the most part people run and hide and survive where they can.
The only lightly affected part of the UK is Wales. Surviving armed forces mass outside Newtown and come under the control of WAZOC (Wales Anti Zombie Operations Corps) and begin purging Wales of zombie infection. The Welsh Assembly becomes the centre of government control. Offa's Dyke is rebuilt and defences built and minefields laid. The defences stretch as far North as Caernarfon to Oswestry and down to Newport. Llandudno, Bangor and Rhyl are relinquished without a fight. On the 27th June the Welsh border is closed trapping approx. 2 million surviving English with 45 million Zombies.
The Zombies start to fan out from the dead cities in there thousands looking for fresh meat. Rural populations prepare for the onslaught.
The US won't put boots on the ground but will supply air power and humanitarian aid. Large groups of the undead are bombed from the air. Food, supplies, weapons and ammunition are dropped into Wales and into other identified pockets of resistance in England and Scotland. The US is worried about a worldwide outbreak. Outbreaks are reported in Italy, Pakistan and Romania which are only just kept in check. A cure must be found.
US troops won't go into the UK. The US charges GSK with identifying the virus strain and a possible cure. For this they need scientists on the ground and armed men. Mercenaries are hired to go into England. The Isle of Man is turned into a base for forward operations.
China and Russia want a Nuclear response which the UN oppose. They send covert observers into the UK.
England is a melting pot, armed civilian survivors, trapped armed forces groups, FIAZEL's radical fighters, GSK mercenaries, foreign operatives, WAZOC forces, Welsh Zombie hunters, NFU militia and of course millions of Zombies

Shropshire is the battlefield between Birmingham and the Welsh border. The main Zombie hordes are advancing and are through Wolverhampton.  Shropshire has got off lightly so far. Shrewsbury and Telford fell to the initial outbreak but most villages retain some living population boarded up in houses and barns coming out and dodging the sporadic zombies infestations to get food and water. NFU militia control many villages from Bridgnorth to the Welsh border. Those that can are trying to flee into Wales through the WAZOC patrols and Welsh militia and zombie hunters.
The idea for the campaign is a group of civilians to get across Shropshire and into Wales fleeing the Zombie hordes and being helped/hindered on the way by the various factions. The culmination would be the attack on Offa's dyke by the massed zombie hordes.

Any ideas/thoughts most welcome 

[Steve J]

Really like the sound of this Matt . I'd recommend you have a look at Michael's rules, linked below:

http://angelbarracks.co.uk/Rules/rules.html

They give some nice, quick little games and are easily adaptable.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

You ever been to Craven Arms on a Friday night?
You wouldn't be able to tell the zombies from the locals!

Says a proud son of Bishop's Castle, last fortress before the dyke!

[fsn]

I really, really, really want to get painting now. I've got some zombies and some Falklands British to paint as 1960's infantry, with Land Rovers and ... erm ... armoured support - just like in TV series like Dr Who, the Avengers, and the Saint.


(Do you think the chap on the left is expecting something to happen at the big end?)

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

What you can't see is the fourth squaddie standing out of shot with a tray of sausages, kebabs and marshmallows on sticks!

[Techno]

Very well thought out Matt ! (And I loved some of the acronyms......But I refuse to be a WAZOC... )
Sounds like a terrific scenario !

Also pleased to note that I'm relatively safe in Pembrokeshire.

Can't wait to see some pics !
Cheers - Phil

[Matt J]

Insert Quote

Really like the sound of this Matt Cool. I'd recommend you have a look at Michael's rules, linked below:

Cheers Steve, I'll download these and have a read through.

You ever been to Craven Arms on a Friday night?
You wouldn't be able to tell the zombies from the locals!

funny you should say that. Everytime I pop into Craven arms (kebabs and wotnot) I think someone should film a zombie film there, not just for the people but the whole high street screams zombie ville! The battle for Craven arms is scheduled as is 'last orders at the Castle Hotel!' - Queen on the juke box anyone?

I've nearly finished my survivors and wading through the musty hordes. Most of the zombies will be individual based but I'm going to base mobs on larger bases which are going to be indestructible apart from heavy weapons or a fortunate US airstrike.
I'm going to use Falklands forces for WAZOC troops, fuel in Wales will be short supply so AFV usage will be limited.
GSK mercs will be US Vietnam marines.
Just got to come up with some ideas for Welsh militia and farmers militia and others. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

There are some shot gun toting chaps around in the inter war stuff I believe...

[Matt J]

yeah I was looking at those, as fashions round here haven't changed since 1912 they may well do for gun toting farmers.

[Maenoferren]

Yey Shetland is saved by the Norwegians... I am saved

it will please this chap
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Hill_(Captain_Calamity)
However the crown dependency of Forvik will be free of Norwegian trops as he has prepared beach defences... maybe not up to the level of Normandy but evidently will hole a boat or foul a propeller 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Dependency_of_Forvik

But all that aside looks like a great idea, thanks for sharing 

[barbarian]

Have a look at the Two hours wargames rules, they recently mad a game of "mass" battle in modern day Zombocalypse setting.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

I really, really, really want to get painting now. I've got some zombies and some Falklands British to paint as 1960's infantry, with Land Rovers and ... erm ... armoured support - just like in TV series like Dr Who, the Avengers, and the Saint.


(Do you think the chap on the left is expecting something to happen at the big end?)

Something wrong with this pic, the weapon is a "CONBAT" - upgraded MOBAT - with an LMG as a spotting rifle, not issued until 1975, so crew should be in DPM.......

IanS

[Nosher]

Something wrong with this pic, the weapon is a "CONBAT" - upgraded MOBAT - with an LMG as a spotting rifle, not issued until 1975, so crew should be in DPM.......

IanS

Might be 'Weekend Warriors/STABS'...

[fsn]

Wow! That's military geek! Kudos Mr S.

[Matt J]

first batch of my musty shambling hordes (need to do lots and lots)







the detail Phil has achieved on these is something else, particularly the faces, brilliant sculpting