This is definitely his strength. For length, you need depth and creativity. He has both. Not just eye candy. But I find the more I listen to his videos the 2nd and 3rd time there are more ideas in it every time. Sometimes just glimpses. But he took the boring zombie, which has ALWAYS been a sore spot with me in DnD from every era, and put more than grey pictures in it. This got us back to horror, medieval terror. It is terribly hard to swing your sword at the enemy who just dragged you under the ground. And there are 3 of them....

@redfaux74 I agree. Zombies in many RPGs are watered down to minimize the imposing danger they inherently bring. This saddens me. That imposing danger is why they were created in the first place. If you can't tie a feeling to or invoke a reaction from the use of a creature, why are you using that creature? I have always suped up my zombies, specters, skeletons, and other "lowly" undead to fit the theme and threat level of my campaigns. One of my favorites was the use of Oger zombies that had small cages implanted in their chest cavity. The cages were filled with a variety of small dark horror creatures (inspired by Lord Krang from TMNT) in a magical sleep state that would wake up and be released from their cages when the zombies took damage.

I can't say it's necessary to implant living hand grenades in the chests of zombies but the natural danger of DnD monsters and even common sense events sometimes NEEDS to overwhelm a party. I'm never one to make an adventure sterile or fair. If in a campaign the characters hear a hint of a Lich and they immediately go after it instead of looking for information.... then they could likely get killed. They might be warned. If they ignore the warnings they get killed. There were times I told my party "You need to know there are times you might get captured". If they fight to the death instead of surrendering to a greater threat.... they get killed. If they surrender their gear they might live. If they give the enemy resources they might live. But I've never dumbed down a dragon in the spirit of fairness. If you spit in the Kings face... you likely go to prison and end your character in that game. That IS the definition of fairness. If you cannot see in the dark.... you don't go far at night, in dungeons or caves. That's fair. Get smart or get killed. That's fair.

99% of the time I despise videos over 10 minutes. Too much repetition. But not in his videos. The art, background audio, homebrew ideas (especially those), come together perfectly to bind you to the seat with tendrils. I missed the acting in this video with the darker voice in a few locations like he did in the Death Knight. I would've loved to hear Goresoil say something like "Aaaaahhhh.... finally.... someone gave me.... respect. Finally.... I'm first. Now.... I have family."

I love this idea too. 30th level Necromancer, Intel 22 who is ready for his Lich ceremony. He has everything planned. Every "i" dotted. Every "t" crossed. He has been hoarding parchment, pens, potions, books, creating new wands and even has a few willing minions who are dedicated to serve him into the transition. And he has thoroughly charmed them to insure they cannot betray him. When it is all done.... something is terribly wrong. He is awake. His minions are dead. Eaten? Torn apart? His library, most of it is demolished, scattered and things broken everywhere. "Did I do this?" It is months later. That's bad. He's having trouble concentrating. He knows, after looking at his tomes, that he can cast 5th level spells without trouble.... but 6th? He's not sure about. Something is definitely wrong. After 6 months of examining the situation he knows things get better and worse. In the full moon he can cast 8th level spells but only two of them. In Oct he could cast one 9th level spell. But most of the time he is maybe 15th level with a 16 Int. "The cravings.... I'm not supposed to have cravings like this...." Every month roll 1d6 for his level and add 12... and 1d6 for his Int and add 12. "Everything was perfect. Somehow.... some way.... I was betrayed. 😡 I must find out who and how. Until then.... I'm hungry. I need flesh. Hot, fresh flesh and blood. But until then.... I do have those pieces. Servants."

I agree. I love the idea of the Zombie Lord. Not a super powered villian and yet incredibly dangerous if used properly. Just enough intelligence to avoid fights, lingering in the background practically invisible on the edges of his minions. A party who avoids death multiple times might think "Something is wrong. These are Zombies but they almost seem to be working together. Trying to encircle us. Trying to pull us down or.... herd us.... Some of them just stand back and fill the holes in their ranks. I think we're in trouble." And every once in a while, when a party member DOES fall.... the Zombies part and he walks thru the unnatural fog to feed first. After all.... he is a Zombie and he must fulfill that craving. Finally, Goresoil is first in line. "Finally, I get respect." And a Zombie smiles. This is horror restored to the "mere" Zombies. This is what I feel in a good Zombie movie.

I don't think he does 99% of this art himself. Some, yes. The tattooed guy with the beard I'm convinced is him. I think that's his art. He buys the rest from somewhere. I don't think it was cheap either. It's incredible and adds tons to the video.

🤣🤣🤣 He danced around that very well. 😅 But he sure delivered. That's horror. That's medieval. That's an adventure every group can use with adventure hooks for many more. I almost think Decayvus will learn to enjoy the perks of his new career.

;)

That indeed is the terror. Not just combat anymore. But corruption from within. This is an adventure where players find out how much clerics, priests and paladins are worth. You're cursed, contaminated by the bite. You need a remove curse or cure disease or heal today. This wound is spreading quick. I usually regenerate 1hp per hour because of my high Con. It's not happening now. I can't sleep and regain my spells. My potion of healing barely worked (1hp) and the second one did absolutely nothing. Something is wrong.... This takes a 1 to 2 hit dice creature and brings back horror into the game. This is the definition of medieval horror, Halloween terror. This is what undead should be. A poison to the very land itself.

Not if done properly. That's the problem. Turn what you saw into something that craves flesh!?! Horror x's terror. 😢

Damn dude that’s rough I hope you’re doing ok

Jeez man that’s rough

I agree. The bite should be precious. But he didn't cover that. I would also like to see the differences between animated, the contagious (biting), maybe cursed? What caused the Zombies in the first place? Fresh and fast vs old decayed and slow? There are so many options. It is something that is SO popular that it is a cult classic yet no one covers this in DnD. What do Zombies see? Do they see life energy? Can they smell the living? Do those that are simply animated only obey commands? Do they hunger or is that only the biting contagious? So much that isn't covered and yet Zombies movies are SO popular. Good ones are instantly cult classics. This definitely brought back horror into the ¹/⁴ hit dice monster. Everyone should fear being surrounded by 30 Zombies after this.

I do think not having a Paladin, priest or cleric in a Zombie bite situation would or should be incurable. It simply is every single movie terror point. Claw, no. There simply must be a cure disease or 4th level spell like remove curse with some healing of some kind. I can't see a potion of minor healing fixing this. You are infected. That is the terror.

I totally agree.

As per 5E.....I can see why. They're like dumb slow humans who can't do hardly anything. I've always believed if Zombies were done right in DnD that orcs, goblins, ogres would be terrified of them. If a bite was contagious.... 😢 their clans would be wiped out and the realms would be in deep trouble. Talk about a world changing scenario. A necromancers dream.

Especially zombies. It is a cult classic but DnD does them injustice. This brought them into movie horror category finally.

Yeah, don't ever apologize for giving us more. Your videos may be long, but they are never boring. Giving us more inspiration, more creative ideas and more options for our table is never a bad thing. Please keep it up. Ever since you started this channel, it has jumped to the upper tier of D&D content.

I don't require sprinkles on my Sundae but a little hot fudge melted with whip creme so not be rejected. I listen with headphones. The combo is a superb video. I would've loved a little groaning, a little breathing, just faintly in the background of this audio. ❤

You sick-o.... 🤣🤣🤣

These types of comments are so rewarding personally. Thank you for taking the time to comment!

"I smell them. So hungry...." "Wait. Master is first to eat." "Yes. Master IS first. Master causes pain if not first." "Yes, master gives us pieces."

I agree. 😢 They don't tire. And there's no way a normal person could outrun one in the tunnels. Imagine they can smell the living..... 😐

Army?!? 🥴 Start small. Build it up. The Grand Canyon is a huge monster. Start with one area and grasp it bit by bit. You can always grow into more. Falling into the Grand Canyon is only fun visually for 8 seconds tho. 😢 Then it's over....

I'm not sure a Zombie Lord would need to be officially a servant of anything. He's basically just a Zombie with retained intellect and a few powers. His greatest ability would be to be able to command the undead he raises. Just a few tweaks changes the dynamics of the game tremendously. I love the idea that the Zombie Lord might still crave flesh. He might regenerate his dead flesh slowly and even almost look fully living when his hunger is completely satisfied over a week. Of course it would be cold to the touch. But it might look living enough to be able to deceive the adventurers that it is a plantation owner, hiring the party for deeds. But occasionally when the Zombies are about to close in on a victim.... they all mysteriously stop.... back up and part like the pages of a book. This is when the Zombie Lord comes in to eat his chosen, hand picked victim himself. Like a pride of lions, the King eats first. Maybe they hold the victims arms and legs for it.... violently pulling the victims hair back and exposing the victims soft neck and chest. 😬

With a twist... no one will know. But Rich always gives credit. That's good of him.

Yes.... Back to horror basics.

I see what you did there :)

I have a Skeletal "Bonewraith" fusion in the works, along with some interesting Drow, Kobold and Goblin makeovers... plus a Vampire "reverse uno" :) Thanks for the feedback... and YES... always love the suggestions and ideas!

@@RichesandLichesThanks. Will try to make sure to include them in future videos then (moderating to avoid too many of course).

​@@dragonturtle2703 - It's "wight" but, yes, I agree. I like the idea of the Ghoul and Ghast. Like fast Zombies who can paralyze their victims? That's got to be frightening in the extreme. I like the idea they CAN survive on rotting flesh in times of famine. I hate the idea they PREFER dead flesh. I've always thought of undead NEEDING to sustain themselves on the positive, living energies of the living. In my old game Ghouls could cause zombies, killing the living and re-animating them by their bite, contagion. These Zombies would be a little faster than normal Zombies but not runners. The Ghouls were clever also. They didn't run boldly into groups of armed people. They would ambush individuals in the dark. A group in my campaign saw one, not knowing what it was. The pinpricks of blue-ish light in its eyes and the way it quickly moved told them this was no Zombie. It's stomach was grossly bloated, and it quickly came out of the forest shadows to a fallen NPC that was being ignored by Zombies for some bizarre reason. The group was low level so 20 Zombies, especially hungry, faster zombies was scary to them. They seemed to be working together. Occasionally herding the players. Interposing themselves? The Ghoul straddled the NPC who was paralyzed and bleeding but not nearly dead. It grabbed the head of the NPC with its very long, clawed fingers. The Ghoul opened its mouth unnaturally wide and began undulating its stomach and back strangely. The players could see terror in the bulging eyes of the paralyzed NPC as the Ghoul opened the NPCs mouth fully and vomited black putrid ooze into his mouth. It began pushing the stomach of the NPC harshly, continuing to pump vile, thick chunks and ooze into his mouth with its fingers. Forcing the NPC to accept it, choke on it.... for at least one full minute. The Ghoul, smiling, staring at the NPCs face, seemingly satisfied, gets up. The NPC stops choking, his face covered in black, chunky, oil. The group was wide eyed. 😬 In about 10 rounds the NPC screamed loudly, high pitched and piercingly... and stood up. All the Zombies briefly stop, look at it, and continue banging on the doors and windows like nothing happened. But the NPC, now fully another Ghoul, looks around with the same blue-ish pinpricks of negative energy as its creator. It's eyes move into the direction of the Ghoul that ran away and it quickly follows. The Zombies follow in that direction. All but 5 of them. Things have just gotten much more difficult for the party. Now.... there are two of these things. Can they both control and create these Zombies? 😢 How did it know what direction the original Ghoul went? That house next door will not be able to fight the Zombies and two of these things.

@@redfaux74 Thanks for the spelling correction. Interesting idea for Ghouls. And god, that is gross body horror (in a good way). Why would they make zombies and not just more ghouls though? Are they worried about overpopulating, or selective on who they want to be an equal (if junior) to them?

@dragonturtle2703 - In my game Ghouls making Zombies would be a little accidental. Their bite would cause it, being very full of negative contagion. But the only reason a Zombie would be made would be an interruption in their feeding. "Bubba's missing.... Bubba's never late for dinner. He was in the corner of his field hunting up some deer. Let's go see if he's Ok. He would never be out there in this fog in the dark." Since the Ghouls are slightly intelligent, if they sense they are outnumbered or out gunned, they can intentionally make another Ghoul. But they'll make a few Zombies first for strength in numbers. But being intelligent, they're also not sharing. They'll kill a much weaker Ghoul. When a Ghoul kills another Ghoul (consuming it) there's a 25% chance it becomes a Ghast. Add 5% per additional Ghoul killed and consumed. I add 10 to 25% more for intensely evil areas. Only when food is plenteous is there uneasy peace in Ghouls. Ghouls CAN sustain on dead flesh, CAN work together but they don't like to. And their intense negative energies have a bad effect on the area and the dead. They tend to taint things. They LIKE to keep things paralyzed, biting the ankles, wrists and vocal chords so their prey, even if they do awaken, cannot escape. They like a living meal. But they usually don't destroy their Zombies. Those are the front lines, dinner bell ringers, distractions. Ghouls always send a few Zombies in while they wait in the dark.... in the fog.... looking for stragglers... and weak spots in a building Starvation hurts them big time. They don't decay unless they're starving. Starving they are penalty -4 to AC and +2 to all damage dice. Sunlight makes them blind temporarily but doesn't "hurt" them. But they think it burns. They hide in cemeteries as per the book, digging tunnels under stone. They need 1 human sized victim a week to be content and strong. In 13 weeks they die without one.

He buys it. Expensive. Like having rights to something I think.

When they are THIS good.... yes. 😊

Great book! I believe i have nearly every Van Richten's book, they are exceptional!

I love his descriptions and the way he sculpts the mood.... the creativity is off the charts.

When they are this detailed and jam packed full of multiple adventures? Yes! 🎈🥳🎈

Dangit... got me. Old habits learned as a child as STILL hard to break! :)

You must be new to the channel. He has some of that already. Sub and watch his previous stuff. It's really good. ❤

Definiltey on the production radar! The Nine Hells are six volumes deep and then once I wrap on the hells... we will start on the abyss!

Oh boy! Can't wait! :)

I think you can see him in the bearded muscle bound guy with mega tattoos. Usually red, blue and purple highlights. I think that is his personal art. It certainly recurs often. The baby with the beard...

You are not wrong but its also pronounced "officially" two ways: Acererak (pronounced: /ɑːˈsɛrɜːræk/ a-SER-ur-æk or: /ɑːˈsɛərɑːk/ ah-SAIR-ak). I first read the original tomb of horrors as a kid, so it is what I have always called him.

I think what you are talking about (the guy with the beard and tattoos) is HIS actual art. I like them. They're sparse and the subject is always the focus.

I definitely wouldn't say "Don't WORRY about it". Every video is different. I'm one to almost exclusively not even consider a 45 minute video unless I'm specifically looking for something and it fits my exact needs. But this video is like a complete adventure module. This has at minimum 10 adventures in it, not to mention side adventures. You can start this at low levels and immediately jump in. Literally every group, even mid level campaigns can immediately jump into this. Higher level campaigns can jump into this. Add your own tweaks to make it more dangerous for those higher levels? Contagious bites that need a cure disease or cure curse? Freshly turned undead are faster and have 3 attacks per round with +2 to attack and damage each attack. But the grapple idea is awesome. No armor bonus because they're not trying penetrate your armor, just grab, take you down and bite you? That's the danger of the Zombie. Numbers, swarms. This brings back terror with a ¹/⁴ hit dice creature. Add fog and large holes in the ground while being swarmed? Now you're prone with 5 to 7 Zombies looming over you and coming down on top of you!