Pike and Shot.... and Zombies?

So there I was giving myself a congratulatory slap on the back, for embarking on a wholly genuine 'historical' project (L'Arte Della Guerra), when I read this, which led me to this. Now I have very conservative views towards fantasy games, I think they're rubbish, as is the bulk of science fiction. A personal and very biased view of course, for which I make no apologies. While I enjoy some suspension of disbelief, I have my limits and they are usually limited to the 'believable' or the low key elements.

Ghouls in Fallout, yes, Super Mutants meh! Xenomorphic 'bugs' and a race of alien hunters, yes, plasma rifle wielding bunnies, no. Robotic and android psychopaths and evil computers, also yes. As those of you who have been following my many plans and changes of direction will have seen, I'm not shy of distorting historical facts and events to suit my needs, or of even creating places that don't exist either. Zombies are definitely on my wavelength though.

While scouring WH Smiths and Waterstones (and sadly once upon a time, Borders - how I miss that place!), I've frequently come across the 'Dark Fantasy' section and after swallowing the bile that inevitably rises to the back of my mouth when it catches me unawares, I quickly move on past it. Besides the Twilight crap, there's a variety of  Zombie and other fiction, which takes them out of their normal modern or near future setting and puts them into the realms of the classic novels, or other historical eras. While I'd normally be willing to join a torch wielding mob and hunt down the authors of this drivel, on this occasion I actually find myself thinking "good job!"

I don't own P,S and Z (yet), but on perusing comments and reviews about it, the idea is, in my opinion, a good one. While the setting could easily be transferred to any medieval or early modern setting, particularly where plague is rife and the belief in witchcraft etc is accepted, the authors have chosen the Thirty Years War. This to me was a brilliant idea, as that time conveys to me the idea of a continent wracked by war, disunity, social and religious upheaval and whole areas devastated by famine and disease. Bring on the Zombies! Awesome!

Sad to say these aren't mine, they belong to
Vinlander, who posted details of a game played
on LAF.

Now this isn't some variation of Warhammer's 'Tomb Kings' or 'Undead Counts', it's the real 'Romero' shambling article versus a small group of survivors, although I understand there are a number of zombie types, including 'fast' zombies too, so you'll likely be spoiled for choice. The main rules are $14 US on pdf, with supplements selling for around $5 US, of which there are three. Not to be sniffed at and only slightly more than I'd spend on a McDonald's or a packet of cigarettes. Worth a look at least, I know I will be.  

My immediate thoughts were of sailors returning from voyages to the New World and bringing this 'disease' back with them, in the same way as some people believe syphilis to have been. A zombie outbreak in Italy after 1495 would certainly fit my plans somewhat!