SWARM OF RATZ | v4.1
“Zombie ratz are pouring out of the sewers! They’re fast, agile and hungry!”
Custom Rules & Cards for Zombicide Modern Classic
SPREAD OF THE DEAD PART I. This is a fan expansion, please direct all feedback to zombicidediscord@gmail.com, subject “Swarm of Ratz”
VERSION HISTORY:
VERSION 4.0/4.1 (1 Mar 2024)
• Clarified rules and brought them more (but not completely) in line with Zombicide fantasy Ratz.
• Clarified rules and brought them more (but not completely) in line with Zombicide fantasy Ratz.
• Simplified Targeting Priority Chart
• Added 3D printable STL file
VERSION 3.0 (5 Apr 2022)
• Updated/corrected targeting priority chart
• Rebalanced the spawn card matrix to have more variety
• Updated the spawn card rat icon
VERSION 2.0 (2 Nov 2020)
• 3 Dec 2020 – Fixed some typos
• 3 Dec 2020 – Updated targeting priority chart to include all expansions and all Spread of the Dead releases
• 14 Nov 2020 – Reformatted spawn cards to 600ppi and corrected real-world measurements
• 14 Nov 2020 – Changed spawn card number from R# to T# – ‘T’ (Tyfighter77) will now appear on all my spawn cards)
• Updated rulesheet (smaller file size and some minor phrasing edits)
• Amended movement rules so that ratz can no longer ignore walls (they still ignore everything else)
• Added print-at-home PDF card sheets (both US Letter and A4 sizes)
VERSION 1.5b (23 Oct 2020)
• Limited interim release. The card sizes have been updated to match the newest printer template.
VERSION 1.0 (May 2018)
• Initial release
CONTENTS:
• 2 page Ratz Rulesheet
• 12 Ratz Spawn Cards (T1-12)
• Printable PDF sheets for at-home printing
• Spawn Cards sheet
• Card Backs sheet
• 3D Printable Swarm of Ratz STL File
SPAWN MATRIX:
The 12 cards increase in difficulty with the card #s.
NOT INCLUDED:
You will need something to represent the rat swarms on the board. At least 12 models are recommended.
If you have access to a 3D printer, a proxy STL file has been provided. Other quality rat swarm models are available on various websites.
If you do not have access to a 3D printer, Reaper makes several plastic rat models in their Bones line that are very affordable. You can also use the Swarm of Ratz miniatures from the Zombicide: Black Plague expansion No Rest for the Wicked, if you don’t mind the fantasy elements (sword etc) on the models. It doesn’t matter whether your models are single rats or swarms, just your preference.
CARD PRINTING INFO:
This expansion comes with options for printing at home or sending to a print shop.
PRINTING AT HOME
The print-at-home versions are PDF sheets of multiple cards. Both US letter and A4 sizes are provided. A PDF sheet of card backs is also provided. All card sheets have crop (cutting) marks. Official Zombicide cards have 3mm radius corners; difficult to cut by hand. If you have access to a corner-cutter tool it will make your job easier.
USING A PRINTING SERVICE
If you can find a printshop that offers Zombicide-sized cards, you can use the printshop versions of the cards, which are saved in a separate folder as JPGs. Most print shops in the US seem to only provide “US mini” sized cards, which are extremely close to the official Zombicide cards; so the cards provided in this set are prepared for that format. However they will also work fine printed in the official format. The printer will typically request cards in JPG or PNG format, asking you to submit both card front and card back images. Cost depends on the printer/region of course. Typical costs are around $10 US for a 54 card deck.
OFFICIAL CARDS (for reference)
• Size: 41.2 x 64mm (1.62 x 2.51 in)
• Corner Radius: 3mm
• Cardstock: 250-300gsm
• Finish: MPC (matt)
TIP:
• SLEEVE your printed cards! If not you will probably be able to distinguish the slight differences in a mixed deck.
SLEEVES THAT WORK WELL:
• Mayday Games Mini USA Card Sleeves (41x63mm): https://www.maydaygames.com/products/mini-usa-card-sleeves
NOTE: If you want to get custom material professionally printed but live in circumstances or regions that make that difficult, you can sometimes find fan communities offering group orders that you can take part in.
CREDITS & THANKS:
Swarm of Ratz is a Zombicide Discord Server release.
Rules, layout: Tyfighter77
Rulesheet cover art: I think from Pathfinder rat swarm (modified)
Other art & silhouettes: Random clipart (sorry couldn’t find sources)
Rulesheet assets and Zombicide art assets: Guillotine Games
Spawn Matrix: Thels
3D Model: Remixed from “Towering Rat Swarm” by GregTheMed on Thingiverse (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4079845) License: Creative Commons – Attribution – Non-Commercial
Templates used to create this expansion are available for free download on the Zombicide Discord Server. Invite link: https://discord.gg/RPQRB4ZaFP
THANKS:
Guillotine Games, CMON, and the Zombicide team for the great game and customization support, and to the Zombicide Discord #play-testing team. Thanks to Thels for help with the spawn matrix.
DISTRIBUTION:
PLEASE DO NOT SELL ANY OF THE MATERIAL IN THIS EXPANSION!
People trying to make a profit off of other peoples’ work smothers the custom content community and causes creators to remove their creations and stop making more, not to mention forces game companies to crack down on fan made creations like this one.
Otherwise redistribution is fine, but please try to ensure all the material in this expansion is included. Modification for personal use is also fine. Please don’t re-release modified versions of this material without including a list of changes as well as credit to everyone whose work you used, and include a readme like this one.
WANT TO HELP?
If you want to support custom content creators, the best way is to just be part of the community. Multiple forums and platforms for sharing Zombicide content exist, such as Discord, Board Game Geek, Eren Histarion forums (French), Facebook groups, and others.
It says 12+ rat models. What do you consider the optimal number of rat miniatures to have for this expansion?
Personally I always like to play Zombicide with enough models to avoid extra activations, so for me its 18-20, but depending on how big the spawn deck you mix the Ratz into, I’d say around 16 to 18.