The game is a 3rd person zombie shooter, set in a GTA3 style city. (no, zombie hookers are not in the game. Stop asking about that, dammit) So yeah, I need an original protagonist - I'm thinking somebody unexpected, who due to their job survived the plague by pure luck; One idea I've had is somebody who was on a boat for some time, or something which is possible but implausibly silly (e.g. a street lamp repair guy who got stuck at the top of the pole, and was stuck there when the apocalypse started). I'm also not certain what they should look like; I've considered having a choice of starting characters, but I want to keep down on the artwork for the time being. I would prefer somebody without implicit combat experience, so no cops, soldiers, or mercenaries.

I've had a good suggestion, from Superpig - an MMO addict who was in his basement for 2 days and missed the apocalypse as it was happening, and only came out because the /pizza command stopped working (no deliveries arrive). He goes outside and finds the pizza van has crashed, and the rest of the game is oriented around finding the last functioning pizza place. Slices of pizza are an in-game resource, like the sausages / bread / tinned food in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Can anybody add to this idea?

p.s. I've also got a side character, the zombie re-enactment troop member who doesn't believe that the situation is real (his troop expected the entire country to dress like zombies), who perhaps does a steve irwin thing with the zombies.

Well, you've got all the classic angles with South American Missionaries, Arctic Scientists, Forest Gurus, Paranoid Paranormal Preternatural Apocalypse Predictors, and so forth. My advice? A hobo. Grab a location with a large underground tram system, and make the character a homeless guy who weathered it out far beneath the city. Could work in a bit more of a stealth base, and create an interesting dynamic between the main character and other survivors; discrimination, elitism, and so forth.

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I'm thinking somebody unexpected, who due to their job survived the plague by pure luck; One idea I've had is somebody who was on a boat for some time, or something which is possible but implausibly silly (e.g. a street lamp repair guy who got stuck at the top of the pole, and was stuck there when the apocalypse started).

A hooker? I think you will have great fun explaining why the demands of the job saved them [grin]

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(no, zombie hookers are not in the game. Stop asking about that, dammit)

I'm playing by the rules!

Perhaps a fat IT guy that's been playing WOW in the server room for way too long finally comes out and is greeted by zombies. You could add character development such that at first it is hard to get around because of lack of exercise, and by the end of the game you get better at running and climbing etc. I'm not saying this to be rude, I'm actually serious, it would be refreshing to play a character that isn't some built ex military guy, or a scantily clad woman.

a sewer worker, someone working at the sewers, could be a contractor, electrician, phone company guy who was doing underground work at the time, bonus points if he was sent there against his will (I am not even supposed to be here today!), it would also be contrasting given the unsanitary conditions of the sewer.

Name: Scott John Lost

Age: 18

Personality: Random. The way he works is based on how everything feels around him. If there are several enemies on screen, he should start to freak out. If he see someones dies, he gets into a rage, so on and so forth. He has never had a girl friend and hopes his crush is alright. Often says something stupid in public and is an extrovert.

Build: Mildly athletic, plays baseball for local high school team.

Hair: Black and messy

Eyes: Brown

Clothing: Blue Hoodie with a zipper (unzipped), T-shirt with city's name on it, Jeans and skate shoes.

Quote: Original post by rethan
Perhaps a fat IT guy that's been playing WOW in the server room for way too long finally comes out and is greeted by zombies. You could add character development such that at first it is hard to get around because of lack of exercise, and by the end of the game you get better at running and climbing etc. I'm not saying this to be rude, I'm actually serious, it would be refreshing to play a character that isn't some built ex military guy, or a scantily clad woman.

It has been said that an unfit character who isn't ex military or police trained makes the monsters feel more threateningm and I agree. IF you can think of a more amusing story for why he finally emerged than that the /pizza command stopped working, this is a good alternative.

hmm, could be that he finally realized that there was no one left playing on the server and that was just too weird. Or something completely different like it's mother's day and he just realized that he spent the whole day playing games at work and forgot to call her. It's late now and she's not picking up the phone, maybe she's mad at him etc so he needs to go home (he still lives with his parents!) Maybe start the game off without the mention of zombies and have the goal to just be that he needs to go home. He get out of the office, sees that no one is there, goes to the garadge to get into his car and have a first encounter there... just some ideas.

The power goes out and he is forced to emerge from the basement. Luckly his odor closely matches the smell of the recenctly deceased so he's able to survive long enough to find weapons and supplies.