It is the year 2065 on Earth. The Z-Virus broke out in March 2035, thirty years ago. Its full name is the Zombie-Virus, but most people say Z-Virus. People who die from it rise again as zombies.
About 1 person in 30 is still alive. That is about 300 million people on the whole planet. Most of them live behind walls.
The Z-Virus started at a small research station in northern Norway. It reached the city of Tromso, and from there flights carried it around the world. In 8 months almost every big city fell. Governments stopped answering. In the years after that the power grids failed, and most of the deaths came then.
Strongholds. Big walled places built around dams, islands, mountains, prisons and army bases. They are safe. Hoover Dam in Nevada, Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado, Reykjavik, Bern and Cape Town are strongholds.
Settlements. Small walled towns and farms. They are mostly safe, but zombies and raiders still come.
Dead Cities. The big cities from before 2035. They are full of zombies and full of loot. New York, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo and most other big cities are dead.
Wild Land. Open country with animals, farms and a few zombies. Raiders watch the roads.
Hot Zones. Land around nuclear plants that melted down. There is radiation, no people, few animals and no zombies.
Sea Routes. Oceans and big lakes. Zombies cannot swim, so the sea is the safest place on Earth.
Fourteen factions matter in 2065. Lifeline makes the medicine. The Gate Compact joins the walled strongholds of North America under one law. Continuity Command is what is left of the US military. The Grange grows the food. The Salt Fleet sails between the continents. The Tollmen hold the highways. The Pickers loot the dead cities. The Burners burn the dead. The Marked are Mutated outcasts. The Quiet Dead are Undead who hide under Chicago. Overseas, the Alpine League, the Northern Commonwealth, Cape Wall and the Pacific Islands Union hold the safest land left. Each faction has its own page in the Factions folder.
Human. Never infected. Welcome everywhere.
Mutated. Infected, but did not turn. Grey-tinted skin and black lines along the veins. Most strongholds turn them away or keep them in quarantine.
Undead. Died from the Z-Virus and woke up with their mind. They must eat raw meat. They are banned from every stronghold and often shot on sight.
Nothing new has been built since 2035. What people use is 2035 technology, old and patched. Gasoline went bad years ago, and old batteries are dead. Power comes from solar panels, hand cranks and a few working dams. Radios work where someone keeps them charged. Strongholds have a few solar drones and some electric vehicles. Continuity Command still flies a handful of helicopters.
Deer, elk, wild pigs, feral cattle and horses live in the old suburbs. Wolves, bears and cougars hunt them. Bison herds roam the Great Plains again. Animals cannot catch the Z-Virus, so their meat is safe.
There is no magic in this world and there are no spells. Everything comes from skill, gear, medicine and grit.
Players are survivors. The two big dangers are hordes and infection. Noise brings the dead, and one bite can kill. Food, bullets and medicine are always short. See the How to Play folder for tips.