"Zombies vs. Jersey barrier question." Topic

I prefer slow zombies that form into herds.

My games are based on a 10x4 foot board that the players need to cross to get to safety. All the time dead dead zombies are placed in spawn points ahead of the survivors. Zombies follow any
Survivors that they can see. At the safe end of the board is an airport with a chain link fence and once enough of zombies get to it they will push it over ending the game.

Now that I have more buildings, I will not be using the airport. Perhaps it will be replaced by a river with dock. That said, I plan to replace the chainlink fence with Jersey barriers.

As with the chainlink fence, once enough zombies pile up against the barriers, they will fail – Game over.

I don't believe the zombies should be able to climb over the barriers. What are your thoughts?

They are not quite 4 feet tall. I would think zombies could get over them.

I agree with Nick

Depends on the zombies.

If typical, slow-stumble-shuffle zombies, I would say they can't get over the barrier; all they can do is walk, not climb. They will pool up against it until distracted by a target elsewhere. They might randomly wander along the length of the barrier until they come to an opening wide enough to shuffle through.

If "fast" zombies, they can climb over each other and even possible jump a low barrier. They're smarter than shuffle zombies, so can actively look for ways over a barrier too high for them, though they can't use tools (like ladders) or build anything. They've got predator pack instincts, but that's it.

For "keep moving even if dismembered" magical zombies, yeah, these can get over it… one way or another, eventually… but again, no tools, etc.. (Unless actively commanded by an intelligent necromancer/undead type, in which case it can transmit orders to the zombies to do just about any sort of unskilled labor. These don't seem to be what you are describing.

Finally, for "intelligent zombies" (like Firefly's Reavers— who aren't undead, just absolutely murderous ultra-maniacs with way too much adrenaline— those could indeed climb over a barrier, team up to move it aside, or even use or make tools to do so— including range weaponry, vehicles, etc.. But I don't think these are what you intend.

I think they will try to reach across the jersey barriers and some will fall over to the other side.

Jersey barriers weigh two tons apiece. I don't see zombies pushing one over.

Shuffling zombies would simply be stopped by the barrier, although I could see an occasional zombies falling over it, especially if their was a surge.

I think they couldn't push jersey barriers over but would pile up until zombies would just walk over the pile to get over. Maybe allow a wave over after a couple of turn piling up?

Perhaps have a zombie "fall" over if there are 1, 2, or 3 zombies behind the one next to the barriers. Could make it a random roll?
Agree no amount of zombies could push the barrier over.

I had my zombies basically falling over linear barriers, like low walls and fences. They really wouldn't climb the obstacle, just be motivated to get from one side to the other and blunder around until they did.

Brainz….

I think that people experiencing postmortem reanimation syndrome (PEPRS) have about an even chance of falling over a jersey barrier when they walk into it.

I think that after three or four rows of PEPRS have developed, 3/4 to all of the row in contact with the jersey barrier will be pushed over it.

I do not think that any number of PEPRS will be move a jersey barrier in any way.

Thanks for the ideas.

Pretty much as I thought. The zombies can't climb over them or push them over, however, if enough zombies pile on they will start to fall over them. Fits very well with my rule that once 100 zombie figures come into contact with the barrier it will no longer provide protection and the final ship will sail. Anyone left on the board at that point is lost for the game.

I do not think zombies would go over the barriers UNLESS they had a clear line of sight of living people on the other side. IN that case they would eventually climb over the barrier, but it may take a while, so I'd say they move to the barrier, then can only cross on a dice roll.

The barriers are set up to protect the evacuation point. So, there is a lot of activity to keep the zombies attention.

Given how people have been killed by crowds stampeding, crushing people into walls. Won't a the weight of a bunch of zombies potential "break" the ones up against the barriers, causing torso to flop in?

Funny thing is I have a lot of Zombies and some barriers. I never thought of them as a game mechanic before. Much food for thought. Perhaps they could be a quasi-barrier, with a d6 toss for success in passage(see above). In other word, not impermeable but an obstacle never the less.