Welcome to the turbulent life of a desperado in the Weird West.
This Wiki is designed as a suplemental resource and guide to Epic style gaming with the Deadlands RPG system. What does that mean? Well, we've tweaked some rules, changed some histories, and sped up the gaming, to make a standard table top roleplaying game explode with action. Using video games and epic films as a base, the gaming storyline makes characters more important than great rolls of the dice (without taking out that precious element of chance). We are currently involved in cultivating the first run through the Deadlands, but if things run as smoothly as they look, most likely there will be sequels.
::UPDATE::
Alright, so here's the deal. My game went into extra innings as I totally misjudged the number of sessions necessary to guide the group to the conclusion, but I feel they had a great time getting there. In total, six game sessions brought my posse from sleepy Martyr Creek, to their deadly encounter with the Dark Shade of Pecos Gulch. That was over a year ago. Now I've dusted off the old notebook, grabbed my Marshall's Guide, and I've started to contemplate a sequel.
Over the next few days I'm gonna bring this website fully up to speed, including filling in the storyline gaps that have been left untouched. Once complete I will begin work on my next tale. Odds are this will be a one or two shot game, over a lazy Sunday afternoon. I'm not even sure if my players will all be on board. If they are, I have already decided one piece of story for my new epic adventure. Gamers beware! Someone's gonna die!
What Makes A Game Epic?
When you sit down to play a table top game, the storyteller (or Marshall, or Dungeon Master, or Game Master) may have a set ending in mind. In fact, hopefully he or she has a set ending in mind. However, most games end up with lengthy and numerous game sessions that have little to do with the plot and many more games fizzle and fall apart before the story ever comes full circle. Epic style gaming takes the story to the forefront and sets a specific and short number of games. Only four or five game sessions are needed to make a good story arc, and its unlikely your gamers will burn out with such a small number of sessions. Keeping the story powerful is done by making combat easier, and leveling characters multiple times throughout a single game session. This, of course, is not for everyone. But when all is said and done, your players will have participated in an epic tale and had a fun time in the making. If the adventure is a success, I encourage game masters to have reprisal Epic Games, involving the same characters at the levels they ended the previous adventure at. While we applied these rules and styles to Deadlands, you can make any table top (or LARP) game Epic if you put your mind to it.
