BORROWED TIME

QUICK REFERENCE SHEET • PAGE 1: SURVIVOR PHASE & COMBAT

v0.2 Playtest Edition

Game Turn Cycle (3 Phases)

1. Survivor Phase: Survivors choose activation order. Each spends 3 AP. May pass gear.
2. Director Phase: Add Ambient Heat (+2/+3), check Escalation, spend Heat points, activate zombies (Feeding → Move → Attack).
3. End Phase: Advance Doom Tracker +1 space. Trigger scenario events. Verify Heat reset.

Survivor Common Actions (3 AP Total)

Move (1 AP): Move up to Move (M) stat in inches. Difficult terrain costs 2" per 1" moved.
Disengage (1 AP): Break melee, move up to half M. Engaged zombies get Parting Swipe (1D6 each, 5+ deals 1 Wound).
Attack (1 AP): Make 1 Fight melee attack (opposed) or 1 Shoot ranged attack.
Aim (1 AP): Next Shoot attack this turn gains +1 die and ignores Light Cover.
Interact (1 AP): Open/close doors, pick up objective items, repair or jury-rig.
Hunker Down (1 AP): Behind cover, impose additional -1 to hit penalty on ranged attackers.

Hand-Off & Trade

Quick Hand-Off (0 AP): Strictly 1 item per character per turn in base contact (give OR take). Free!
Full Exchange (1 AP): Active survivor swaps any number of additional items with adjacent ally.
Inventory Limit: Max 3 items (+1 with Backpack). Starting weapons do not occupy item slots.

Search Action (1 AP)

Search Limit: Max 1 Search per survivor per turn.
Wits Test (Pool = W):
• Fail (No 4+): Dust/cobwebs. Token stays.
• Standard (4 or 5): Draw Core Scavenge card.
• Critical (Natural 6!): Draw Specialty Deck!
Complications: Any 1 rolled adds +1 Heat!
Trouble! Cards: Resolve immediately & discard.

Reload & Ammo

Reload (1 AP): Mark off 1 Reload token to fully refill firearm ammo capacity to maximum.
No Spent Brass Scrounging: Casings are discarded in combat. Reloads and loose ammo must be scavenged.
Unarmed Melee: If gun empty, fight with fists (Base Fight stat, 0 dice added).

Combat Resolution & The Streamlined Swarm Attack

Opposed Melee & Range Rules:

Starting "To Hit": 4, 5, or 6 is always a success.
Minimum 1 Die Rule: Searches, Melee Defense, and Guts saves ALWAYS roll a minimum of 1 die.
Complications: Every '1' rolled during ANY attack roll immediately adds +1 Heat!
Cover Modifiers: Light Cover (-1 die) | Heavy Cover (-2 dice) | Melee Cover (+1 die to defense).
Melee Resolution: Attacker rolls Fight, Defender rolls Fight. Attacker deals 1 Wound per success over defender. Active model may withdraw 1".

Rule of 3 & Damage Caps:

Maximum Engagement (No Clown Cars): Max 3 zombies in base contact with 1 survivor (drops to 2 against a wall, 1 in doorway). Overflow zombies queue behind or peel off.
Combined Swarm Attack: Lead zombie rolls base Fight dice; each assisting zombie in contact adds +1 die. Single opposed roll!
Tiered Damage Caps:
• Basic Undead (1 Shambler): Max 1 Wound
• The Swarm (2–4 Shamblers): Max 2 Wounds
• Heavy Hitter (Brute / 4-man Horde): Max 2 Wounds
• Apex Boss (Abomination): Max 3 Wounds

QUICK REFERENCE SHEET • PAGE 2: DIRECTOR PHASE & WEAPONS

v0.2 Playtest Edition

Director Phase Sequence & Heat

1. Ambient Heat Inflow: Add scenario baseline (+2 to +3 Heat) to track. The horde never rests.

2. Heat Escalation Check: Roll 1D6 against total Heat. If triggered, advance Doom Tracker +1 immediately:

3. Spend Heat Points: Spend ALL Heat points from the menu below. Track resets to 0. Cannot hoard Heat!
4. Activate Zombies: Feeding Frenzy → Move towards nearest visible survivor → Attack.

Director Actions Spending Menu

Cost	Action	Rules Effect
1	Sudden Lunge	Move 1 Shambler up to 3" towards nearest visible survivor.
2	Spawn Shambler	Place 1 Shambler at designated Spawn Point.
3	Reanimate	Return 1 slain Shambler to board with 1 Wound at Spawn Point.
4	Thematic Event	Trigger minor environmental effect / hazard.
5	Spawn Horde	Place 4-model Horde tray at board edge Spawn Point.
7	Spawn Special	Place Screamer, Brute, Hunter, or Bloater at Spawn Point.
10	All Hell Breaks Loose	All Hordes on table take immediate bonus move & attack.

Downed, Field Triage & Feeding Frenzy

Downed (0 Wounds): Model placed on side; drops carried items. Cannot activate. Rescue window is the subsequent Survivor Phase.
Bleed Out: Start of turn, Downed survivor rolls 1D6. On a roll of 1, survivor dies. On 2–6, clings to life.
Emergency Revive (1 AP): Rescuer in contact must have Medical Skill or Item. Roll Wits 4+. On success, revived to 1 Wound (2 Wounds with Medkit). Untrained ally can Drag 1/2 Move.
Feeding Frenzy (Director Phase): If Downed survivor is still engaged by undead:
• 1 Undead feeding: Lethal on roll of 1 (lives on 2–6)
• 2 Undead feeding: Lethal on roll of 1 or 2 (lives on 3–6)
• 3+ Undead / Brute / Horde: Lethal on roll of 1, 2, or 3 (lives on 4–6)
Swarm Disruption: Each hit/wound scored on feeding undead during survivor phase reduces lethality threshold by -1 (down to 0)!
Cinematic Sacrifice: Feeding undead DO NOT move or attack anyone else this round.

Zombie Profiles & Behaviors

Type	M	F	WND	Behavior & Special Trait
Shambler	4"	2	1	Relentless pursuit. Basic infected.
Horde Tray	3"	4*	4*	*F and WND equal models on tray (4 to 1).
Screamer	4"	2	1	Piercing Shriek: +3 Heat at start of phase.
Brute	4"	4	3	Armor 1 (ignores first wound). Pushes through models.
Hunter	6"	3	2	Fast stalker. Ambush: +3" lunge from cover.
Bloater	3"	1	3	Explosive Demise: 3" blast on death (Guts 4+ or 2 WND).

Standard Weapons & Tactical Noise Table

Weapon	Range	Dice Pool	Shots	Heat	Traits & Tactical Notes
Service Pistol	12"	3 Dice	6	+2	Reliable sidearm; common standard issue.
Suppressed Pistol	12"	3 Dice	5	+0	Silent! Does not generate weapon noise.
Pump Shotgun	12"	5 Dice	2	+2	Devastating at close range; clears choke points.
Hunting Rifle	24"	4 Dice	4	+2	Extreme range precision; ideal for snipers.
Submachine Gun (SMG)	12"	5 Dice	3	+3	Rapid automatic fire; high noise footprint.
Police Baton / Nightstick	Melee	Fight +1	∞	+1	Stun/Push: On hit, may push target 2" away.
Firefighter Axe	Melee	Fight +2	∞	+1	Cleave: Slaying Shambler deals 1 Wound to adjacent zombie.
Combat Knife	Melee	Fight +0	∞	+0	Silent (+0 Heat); Agile: Re-roll 1 failed melee die per round.
Frag Grenade	8" (Thrown)	3" Blast	1	+4	Explosive: All models in 3" take 3 Wounds. Volatile!
Molotov Cocktail	8" (Thrown)	2" Fire	1	+3	Burning: Models entering take 1 Wound. Illuminates zone.