This message was last edited by the GM at 22:50, Sat 01 May 2021.

Ahoy all (once people start joining)!

Currently I haven't got a specific character in mind, as I'm filled with a variety of ideas in my head.
As such, I'm happy to build around what others want to be.
I wouldn't want to pick a huckster when someone else is desperate to play one, for example, when I would be just as happy doing something else.

I'd most like to play an arcane background or be harrowed, as that way I am more tapped into the weird from the weird west.

As for what story/campaign to play, I'd be equally happy with Blood Drive or Showdown at Sundown, as I haven't done either, and I've started playing in a Horror at Headstone Hill.

Howdy everyone!

I went ahead and closed the Requesting New Players since I already got double what I can support.  So many great submissions, I wish I could run 2 groups.

Going to start trying to pair this down for remaining slots.

Honestly I've learned to take 2 more players than I want, because the attrition is incredible.  Some people just fall off, others just don't fit the game and bow out.

I'm very indifferent to whatever source material/adventure you want to use.

I've played virtually all of the archetypes at one point or another in one edition or the other (though some much less because games give out early), I don't mind picking "around" everyone else rather than get all worked up and have to switch.

Hello everyone! When it comes to the adventure, all three options are fine with me. I have a few character concepts in mind and I am flexible so can work around others. Looking forward to the game and exploring the Weird West with everyone.

Evenin' all, glad to be ridin' with this outfit!

I'd like to play either some sort of gray-hat lawman or some fashion of old-timer prospector that got "touched" by something he dug up...

Any scenario is fine by me. I have the material but have been "saving myself" for an opportunity like this! ;-)

Difficult decisions are done, welcome everyone.  I had no idea there was such an interest in Deadlands; wish there were more games on rpol as there's definitely support for them.

On to the next decision: which of the published adventures to run.  Your choices are:


Horror at Headstone Hill
The Twilight Legion needs a group to investigate the disappearance of Agent George J.A. Reeg, last seen in the town of Heaton Hill, Wyoming.  Agent Reeg was investigating a series of strange happenings and disappearances in the town and may have fallen victim to whatever is responsible for those events.  Will the posse be able to put a stop to it and bring peace to Wyoming or become another in a long list of missing persons?




Showdown at Sundown
Both the Territorial Rangers and the Agency have caught wind of strange happenings in Sundown, Wyoming, and dispatched personnel to investigate.  The Legion recognizes that this may involve the Reckoners and sends a group of their own.  Surely there's nothing that the Rangers, Agency and Twilight Legion together can't handle.....is there?




Blood Drive
Saddle up, pardner!  There's famine threatening out in the Great Maze and that can only cause outbreaks of fear, riots and other violence that gives power to the Reckoners.  The Legion plans to keep that in check by ensuring some of the ranchers in Texas are able to get their steers to the stockyards in Kansas, New Mexico or Colorado for the rail ride West.  A few weeks minding the herd, how hard could it be?


Those are your choices.  Feel free to lobby for any if you've a preference.  Any character type could potentially work for all 3 adventures.

When you're ready post your vote here in the thread
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:41, Wed 05 May 2021.

I vote for Showdown at Sundown

Hey all!

I'd personally love to play Blood Drive, since I'm currently running Horror at Headstone Hill for a group.

I would be interested in Showdown at Sundown, as well, but probably less so than Blood Drive.

I got 3 adventures here, do I hear 1, 1, 1 for Showdown? 

Yeah!

1!  I got 1 for Showdown!  What about Blood Drive do I have 1, 1, 1 for Blood Drive?

Yeah!

I got 1 for Blood Drive!


This message was last edited by the GM at 03:09, Thu 06 May 2021.

Vote for either Blood or Showdown from me.

And now that we are all here (waves), it seems several of us are happy to be flexible when it comes to choosing a concept, but means none of us might do anything and end up with some sort of Mexican standoff.

Hello all!

Well, perhaps if no one is really interested in Horror at Headstone Hill, we take it off the table as someone in the group is already running it?

Yeah, I think there's some merit to giving everyone a little space at first in case someone's particularly motivated, but eventually you have to start making decisions or it goes nowhere.  Since everyone seems to have multiple ideas, I'll put up some posse ideas later.

As a tie breaker vote I'll say Blood Drive.  I don't think any of them are bad or whatever but if I had to pick one I'd say that one.

Blood Drive!

Okay, three ideas I have.  I have more but this is probably enough:

I've been batting around ideas, and I'm thinking of a Harrowed Pugilist, who uses his new unlife to charge into fights, beating people to death with his hands, and he swears he hits harder now than he used to.

So it would clash with your exile Posse Member 4, though the idea of the skull faced wanderer is different and would be fun to see in action.

Personally - I used to love the idea of if I was going to play one, a Harrowed that's fresh and doesn't realize what they are yet, the journey that takes you on.

A concept I have come up with is a gunslinger. He grew up in the swamps of Louisiana. He was exposed to voodoo and the Catholic faith. While he leaned more towards Catholicism, his family was brutally murdered by something unnatural. He began to wonder if voodoo was real and set out to find answers. While he struggles with his faith and sometimes lack of faith, he knows there are unnatural beings in this world and he must do what he can to protect those he can.

Well currently Blood Drive is in the lead and since we're moving on to discussing characters (and Posse Member 1 said they were good with either) I think we can call this settled.  Speak up if any concerns, otherwise plan on long days in the saddle and nights sleeping under the stars....all with the odor of fresh manure.

I'll unlock the Character Creation thread now so we can see who the posse will really be

Full party of Harrowed! whooo! spook them doggies! lol
This message was last edited by the player at 04:40, Thu 06 May 2021.

In reply to Posse Member 6 (msg # 20):

OK, but actually? A party full or almost full of Harrowed would be pretty fun.

My main concept thus far does have a bit of overlap with Posse Members 1 and 4, but only insofar as hand-to-hand combat (and it looks like the overlap is slightly more with PM1), and I think it could be interesting to have them as counterpoints to each other.

The concept relies on some basic tropes from wuxia fiction, since the character is effectively a wandering martial artist helping people out (a la Caine from Kung Fu, I guess). He studied heterodox techniques under a villainous martial artist, and will have defected from his master's tutelage to travel the Weird West (probably after some disaster caused by his master which he was involved in and feels some guilt for).

I imagine him as someone who wants to stop killing, because it was taught to him as a way of life (monsters are, of course, fair game).

(...if he's Harrowed, though, maybe he also died in that disaster, and maybe the heterodox techniques are useful for preserving his body. :) But this character character doesn't need to be Harrowed.)

And if he's coexisting with either of the other two posse members, I've got some ideas:

PM1: He probably would think the pugilist can be better than he is, and would eventually get around to trying to convince him not to go into fights so much, and not to kill people when he does.

PM2: He probably would see the exile as a model to follow, and might try to offer a persuasive voice in support on occasion.

Harrowed - Decay


Hehe, I'm just picturing the rancher now:

"What in the wide, wide world of sports is a-goin' on here?  Lard h'mercy, I never seen a more sorry bunch a drovers in my life!  Git'on after them doggies and join'n up with the herd again.  We'll be lucky to make Kansas City by Christmas at this rate!  It's like they're terrified just bein' near ya.  Maybe it's the pallor y'all got, you sure you're not feelin' poorly....cause ya damn sure look like you're ail'n."

I'm not saying don't do it but think about the headaches to deal with too and how to make it fun :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:21, Thu 06 May 2021.

Since we're going Blood Drive, maybe Harrowed is not such a good idea ;)

I'm guessing Riding will be useful to have?
As having characters who would be suitable/useful make sense, and Riding D6 shouldn't be expensive to fit in.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:54, Sat 08 May 2021.

Hmm. I'm leaning towards either a Huckster, or someone mundane completely and be a cowboy.

Edit: Just saw that Hexslinging is an Edge and you have to be Seasoned for it, so never mind that.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Thu 06 May 2021.

I believe for all the adventures, we start at Seasoned, so being a Hexslinger is viable.

Yep, everyone will be Seasoned.

The jackalopes prefer prefer their meals heavy with thyme.  Who knew?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:56, Thu 06 May 2021.

I'm thinking of going for Mad Scientist, as no-one has expressed an interest.

I'm enjoying playing one in Five's campaign, and this way I can try out some different things.

I'd like to take a peek at the Camp Cook Archetype Marshal, I don't have the card.

Here ya go.  Posting from my phone for the weekend as we're at the NCAA & JR Nationals Sand Volleyball tournaments in Orange Beach, AL.  Sorry if pic are big, will figure out how to edit images on phone




This message was last edited by the GM at 14:02, Fri 07 May 2021.

Heh. Just a cook. Where have I heard that before?


This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Fri 07 May 2021.

Yep, I'll do that one. ;-) Thanx.

Awesome, give me a name and I'll make it official in the Cast


No hurry

For those who had been thinking specific things they wanted to play, who other than the Camp Cook has decided on what they are playing?

I've decided to go with Gunslinger, but I would like to see the archetype card and see if I want to tweek anything.

I've decided to mix my two thoughts together, and I'm going to be a Pugilist-Mad Scientist, with an enhanced ghost-steel brass knuckle that acts more like a power fist, amped up by the smite power.

So I'll be bringing some punching, and some science.

Call me Cooper Grannon, or Coop to my friends.

Can we turn on the char sheets to have some space to work on stuff?

All character sheets should be editable now.  Let me know if you have any issues

Thanks last week got busy.  I need a space to write (well type) to puzzle things out, even though the characters are actually pretty simple to make.

Always happy to hash out ideas with you Four - I've gone on all sorts of journeys coming up with Cooper, and it's been helped by me yelling out on a discord server, and a couple of responses back.

One thought I had, was would the Beast Friend power get time to shine in Blood Drive, compared to most other campaigns? Would it be at risk of being TOO good?

And then I thought, I'll just punch people in the face with this instead:

All right, it took some doing but once I remembered the concept art from Undead Nightmare, I found the character.

Also it's a lot easier to fund pictures of nuns with their faces painted up like skulls for some reason (I won't ask), so meet Sister Deidre.

"Woe unto you who tread your fellow men into the dust!  Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. Repent Sinners! I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

I'm going to end up with 4 spells.

I know what 3 of them are, but undecided on the fourth.

Sister Deidre, are you taking Healing, as that is one I'm debating?

So I got a character description up and my character's name is Thomas Landry. Is there any particular character template we need to use for our character sheet?

Oooh, two faithful! And brings us up to three arcane backgrounds.

Same question to you as well Thomas Landry - Are you taking the Healing power?

There's a Savage World template under the Rpol Character Sheet index here if anyone would like to use it: link to a message in another game

Any tweaks for SWADE should be minor

I should have my character set up soon--I've been light on free time and energy for a few days, but I'll go ahead and use the Chi Master card.

My character has the name Luo "Lou" Jing, who was taught martial arts by Hong Feng, the Heretic of Fujian (then one province with Taiwan, actually). After conflict with a local school of martial arts escalated into a massacre (in which his fellow pupils participated gleefully), Luo Jing fled first to Taiwan and then to the Americas.

(Heavy Louis Cha references up there.)

I have it penciled in, I debated some others but Healing is always good, half of us could take it and it would be used sometime

It's one I find I don't use a ton but it's sooooo good

Oh. Marshal - do we each need to buy on our horses for this cattle drive? Or are they provided by the adventure?

Hmmm might have to speak to the rancher about that.  Possible you could work out a deal.

As Seasoned characters I believe everyone starts with extra funds, right?

Oh do we??

Correct, we start with double money.

You could also buy a horse at half price, but it would have hindrances on it.

Okay. Thanks! Almost done then.

So looking at the archetype (which I'm using only as a baseline and modifying), there's gear listed without price:

Bullet-Making Kit
Adventures of Doc Holliday dime novel

Now, the dime novel, I assume costs a dime? lol. But not sure about the kit's price or weight.

They would be included as part of being a Hexslinger.

The dime novel is what taught you how to carve runes.

Okay. I asked since I'm not using all the gear they started with, but buying different weapons and things like CLOTHES they didn't have, lol. =)

I'm almost done with my character, all I have left is to finalize my gear and I'll be good to go.

How does that work with Poverty Hindrance?

"The end is night and death comes for you soon!  What shall ye do with your bloody gold ye princes of the Earth, bound for the great beyond? Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have!"

I think it would just register as keeping merely enough money to stay alive, and not more. :)

This would be awesome...

What if the Rancher provided us with a Weird Science chuckwagon. It just follows us across the prairie without the need to be pulled by horses...

If not that, then maybe an assistant cook that took care of setup and driving the team...

I'm thinking that my character would need to be freed up from time to time for adventurous distraction.

Something's up with my Hero Lab installation after my last hard drive crash.  Won't let me transfer my license for 3 days...I don't remember this happening last time I had to reinstall.

Weird.

So everyone knows what Cooper (Coop to his friends) can bring, here is a trimmed down version of my sheet:

Cooper Grannon

HINDRANCES
Grim Servant O’ Death (Major)
Impulsive (Major)

EDGES
Arcane Background (Mad Scientist)
New Powers
Power Points
Trademark Weapon (Hydro-Puncher)

TRAITS
Agility D4
Athletics D4
Fighting D8
Riding D4
Stealth D4
Smarts D8
Common Knowledge D4
Notice D4
Occult D4
Repair D6
Science D6
Weird Science D8
Spirit D6
Persuasion D4
Strength D8
Vigor D8

DERIVED STATS
Parry 6 +2 (Shield) +1 (Trademark Weapon)
Toughness 8 (2)
Pace 6 (d6)

POWERS - 20PP
Boost/Lower Trait (aka Coopers Energising Serum)
LIMITATIONS
ASPECT: Can only access Boost (-1 PP cost)
RANGE: Range reduced to Touch (Cost can’t be reduced, +1 to arcane skill roll)
PERSONAL: Range reduced from Touch to Self (Cost can’t be reduced, additional +1 to arcane skill roll, for total of +2)

Smite (aka Hydro-Puncher)
LIMITATIONS
RANGE: Range reduced to Touch (-1 PP cost)
PERSONAL: Range reduced from Touch to Self (Cost can’t be reduced, +1 to arcane skill roll)

Sloth/Speed (aka Electro-Muscular Stimulator)
LIMITATIONS
ASPECT: Can only access Speed (-1 PP cost)
RANGE: Range reduced to Touch (Cost can’t be reduced, +1 to arcane skill roll)
PERSONAL: Range reduced from Touch to Self (Cost can’t be reduced, additional +1 to arcane skill roll, for total of +2)

Warrior’s Gift (aka Fantabulous Kinetic Repeater)
LIMITATIONS
RANGE: Range reduced to Touch (-1 PP cost)
PERSONAL: Range reduced from Touch to Self (-1 PP cost)

Is it different these days, where you only get half of the powerset? IE: You get Boost OR Lower Trait, but not Boost/Lower Trait? Same with Sloth/Speed (which in my day used to be Quickness I think lol)

For some arcane backgrounds, yes - But in my case, I have taken an optional limitation, that helps lower the cost of casting it. And if the cost can't be reduced because it has been modified down to 1, then you get +1 to the casting roll.

As such, all of Coops spells are completely selfish, and can only be cast on himself, but means more like to raise, or succeed if doing multiple actions a turn.

In reply to Cooper Grannon (msg # 61):

Looking forward to getting started before long. :)

Sorry, things got little crazy since Friday.  Got son off to work at summer camp, got my daughter off to Italy for study abroad this morning, and youngest daughter's High School graduation is Saturday, oh and I just remembered tax day was yesterday so had to crank that out...probably going to get audited BUT I'm starting to go through characters today.

I plan to have the initial post for the adventure up Sunday.

Wow, that's a busy week Marshal!

Didn't want anyone to get worried if I was quiet for too long.

Also, looks like at least 1 posse member is still working on their character.  We should be able to start this weekend regardless

Think I've sent my questions or comments to everyone that looks like their character is complete.

1st post is up.

I left it open so everyone could make an introductory post.

In reply to Marshal (msg # 67):

Excited to be getting into it!

Are we all unknown to one another, meeting for the first time?

How do y'all want to play it?

I'm not particular if you want to be familiar with one another prior to the start.  The TL has hand signals and codes and such that you'll all recognize you're part of the same organization soon enough.

You could have grouped up in San Antonio and then made your way southwest

Or maybe you want Sutter's Flat to be your gathering spot
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:35, Sun 23 May 2021.

As it's not been discussed prior, I'd say us all meeting for the first time?

Works for me, the "Sister" would be doing the same thing right now either way haha

Is that a real thing or did you make that up?

Real thing, along with a saying in latin - Lux in tenebris, translating as Light in Darkness.

I know it isn't mentioned in the rulebook, but might be mentioned in one of the scenarios, or an earlier edition?

As I've seen it mentioned in more than one other game on here.

Yep, it does in fact show up in Horror at Headstone Hill. I'm uncertain if this information is repeated in any other modules that feature the Twilight Legion in the framing of the module.

Ah, it's in a module, that's why I couldn't find it. Okay. I looked in the main books and even in the Reloaded books a bit and couldn't find it. =)

Updated my post then.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:16, Thu 27 May 2021.

Hoping to get a post in tonight but tomorrow morning at the latest.  For now seems promising that characters are learning of each other

Hope everyone in the states had a good Memorial Day weekend (though it's not exactly intended as a happy occasion).

Thought I'd have more time over the weekend but regardless next post coming tonight.  Time to head'em up and move'em out

Public holiday yesterday for me on this side of the Atlantic too, though doesn't have any title or associations with it, like Memorial Day does. It's just the other May bank holiday for us.

Where are you at Cooper?

Merry ol' England.

As Snatch (roughly) says:


Though it is gloriously sunny these past few days.

Nice!  Wife and I are empty-nesters in August (yes! Love my kids but yes!!) and started looking at renting an apartment in Edinburgh for a month next April.  Hoping to see a bit of Scotland, England and Ireland while we're there.

We'll see if we stick with this plan or not.

That's what I was thinking as everyone last logged in on Wed.

I just got super busy in the last half of the week, meant to come back before now and didn't.

Sister Deidre takes a little bit of brainpower to play right because I have to think about how to be out of context and still relevant and sound like a lunatic.

Oops Lou I meant the BV railroad (Bayou Vermilion).  Updated my post

Ope, I'll fix it in my post as well when I have a moment!

Boss's daughter in ICU, I'm running ranch for him. Super busy, will try to catch up tonight. Please bear with me.

No worries, please take your time.

Hope she recovers quickly

I apologize. I do not have the time to participate in all the games I am in due to changes in work and rl, so I am having to cut back on some of my newer games, and this is one of them, unfortunately.

The DM is aware of the only other thing that happened in game that bothered me, but I wasn't planning on quitting over that.

I wish you all lots of fun and the game long life.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:28, Wed 09 June 2021.

Sorry to lose Gideon but I've reach out to one of the other applicants and they've agreed to join.

Also Thomas let me know he's on vacation and has had a hard time posting.  Hopefully more from him soon.

And I be that applicant.
Thrown together a barebones background and most of a sheet for the Marshal's perusal, now just sticking my head in to check if there's anything the players are short on. Currently considering using my Edges to add to use Support or Test actions in combat since we seem to have both ranged and melee sorts so there's no specific gaps there. If anyone else is doing that I'll avoid that though.

A support build is something I've considered in a previous game, but never got to enact, so would love to see that Number 7.

It's not going to be optimised support I'm afraid Cooper so don't expect anything impressive but I wanted to be sure I was not stepping on anyone's toes with trying to do that or Tests. Mechanics are last on my list of things to worry about but with a number of PCs already present it's easiest to make sure I'm not treading similar ground. That said if no-one is doing much for either and it comes to a tipping point I'll definitely veer that way with a PC wanting more supportive stuff.

I don't recall anyone saying they have focused on tests.

I self-buff in combat and then punch them with a ghost steel arm ;)

The Sister is built as a support character but I'm more of a "drop buffs on characters who can actually fight" character.  Technically the "nun" could self buff and fight too but she's not really built for it, she's more of a straight up spellcaster who's going to try to focus on having gobs of Power Points so she can cast spells and apply them to multiple allies easily.

She doesn't really do much to harm/hinder/crowd control/Test enemies though, that's the other side of support, and won't be doing much with other support mechanics.

Honestly it doesn't matter even if we duplicated, the way initiative works and the fact power points are always limited it doesn't hurt if character A and character B both have the same widgets so long as they each have more than one widget.

Thanks for the confirmation.

Yeah it's captial S Support as in the Support action not supportive buffs. I'm not taking Arcane Backgrounds or anything like that (despite it being the superior option). Now that I know what some people are at though I'll see if I can strike a middle ground between that and Tests.

Finally back home, and back to better wifi!! Reading up and should get a post in tonight.

lol!  Grubbins we watch the same westerns.   Classic!

His later line to the rustlers:   Best.  Speech.  Ever!

Yeah, been watching that movie since I was a kid. ;-) Couldn't help myself!

Hehe, yep it's my favorite John Wayne movie.  You know Bruce Dern said he couldn't get work for years afterwards because he was known as "the man who killed John Wayne".

Everyone, hoping our last two will be able to get their posts in soon as I plan to move on to Sutter's ranch and get everyone started on the life of a drover.

I'm proud of this one.  I put this in a spoiler who don't want the Sister's weird, cryptic remarks explained.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
So Jael is the woman who killed Sisera,  the Canaanite general of King Jabin, after he escapes from the battle with Deborah’s general, Barak.  The Book of Judges praises Jael for killing Sisera because it was the prophesied will of God that Sisera be killed, although in so doing, Jael broke the tradition of hospitality.  Essentially, she put God's will above her own honor.

Deidre is asking Lou if he's going to do the right thing, or the thing that makes him feel better about himself.

---

I gotta say how impressed I am you put so much thought I to gibberish rambling.  That's just awesome :)

Thanks.  I couldn't play this character in person, it takes a minute to figure out what to say, haha.

Her strangeness and the weird things she says do have meaning.  It's actually very hard to play a character who talks in nonsense, because the character doesn't think it's nonsense.

New post tonight to introduce the characters to life on a cattle ranch.  Working up to the beginning of the drive North.

Curious how bad we will be as ranch hands...

I mean we all have Riding right?

I mean we have it, we're not necessarily good at it lol

Eh, nuns have been used as manual labor in all kinds of ways historically, the Sister will cope.

In reply to Marshal (msg # 100):

Yeah, that was a pretty big deal I guess. That's interesting about not getting another acting gig after that. He was a good bad-guy. I especially liked him in Support Your Local Sheriff.


I've been swamped. The drought in the western US is really ramping up. Hauling water all day to 1200 cows, makes me tired, dirty and sleepy at the keyboard!

And, I suppose, moreover, if he's willing to put that above any personal code of conduct that he has. :)

Unfortunately Thomas has had to bow out due to RL issues with a new job.  Hoping that goes well for him.

I'll plan to post next updates tomorrow evening.  If you haven't had a chance to post for your character's 1st day on the job please try to do so.

Does the Critical Task involve the standard -2 for a Critical Task, so Devil Eyes would actually be a -4?

That's a good question, actually.

None of these are critical tasks. Failing will not stop progress should you wish to continue.

If you have a critical failure (both skill and bonus die roll 1's) you get wound(s) but you can try again tomorrow (or when you're feeling better)
If you fail you get bumps and bruises but can try again tomorrow.
If you succeed, the animal resists but you can try again tomorrow.
If you get a raise the mount is ready to ride.

Devil Eyes is just extra ornery and incurs a penalty to the Riding check but nothing more.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:58, Wed 30 June 2021.

Okay.  So next set of questions - Do we have anyone who is a ringer at this?  The Sister only has a d6 Riding, but more importantly she has the Boost Power.  I'm wondering if my action isn't better spent Supporting the roll of someone who's better at this and maybe giving them a little more oomph to an already good dice pool.

Aw come on now, the Sister can totally do this with a good die roll.

It'd take a really lucky roll for someone without Riding to manage but it's possible, especially for a Ace like y'all.

This is challenge is kind'a why these mares haven't already been broken BUT at least you don't have a strict time limit on it.

Yeah but anyone could with a good die roll.  It's like having a d12 Intimidate and a d4 Shooting, sure you might make a very difficult shot but you're probably better off going with the thing you're actually good at it, if it's beneficial in the situation of course.

Hope everyone in the states is having a great 4th of July weekend a anyone outside the US had a great weekend and a good Monday.

Only 1 bronco bustin' post so far.  Are folks interested in these prep events?  Want to just skim these and jump to the first encounter instead?


It's y'alls game too, speak up if you need some changes to hold your interest.

Meantime I'm gonna go ahead and make a post for progress on the mustangs so far.  I will tell you this event is important as the horse you break will be the horse you get along with it's slightly better stats.

Had some minor kerfuffle with both computer and house roof so that's hindered my posting, I'll get a post in tomorrow. I'm fine to have these things happening, just annoying timing for me to get that post in.

Regarding the Boost power Deidre I don't see as it would apply in this case. Boost lasts for 5 rounds, if we're only making one of these checks a day then Boost would logically be no use for that unless you've the power reserves to make it last for the entire duration between your power points and the recharge. But I'm not a ringer either, I've got the same d6 as you.

See my post for Lou, although these events will play out over the course of hours/day, you can assume the Boost will apply at the time of your "main" ride.

Also decided no need to stretch this out; you make a raise the horse is broke and ready for a rider.  Will try to keep the game moving forward.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:58, Mon 05 July 2021.

Fair enough, did not look at the mechanics of his post too closely. The fact that the Power can both grant a skill someone does not have and make it last for the full duration for checks such as this makes me regret not picking up an Arcane Background since it seems it'll prove very useful for the game throughout.

Should be able to sling a quick post in then.

Yeah I wound up with a very different travel situation over this weekend than I had originally planned, I didn't mean to go that long after posing the question.

Boost has always been a problem since the Critical Task rules and Chase scenes and similar mechanics have gone into the game, because Savage Worlds builds powers around combat durations and doesn't think about the utility of the power elsewhere.

For what it's worth Charles, it's actually hard to really get the intended value out of a character like the Sister in a play by post sometimes because if we were playing this in person I'd say something like "I bless his lasso" every time somebody tried to do something here, it's just really hard to coordinate when it's not the real time.  The Sister herself is garbage, her whole function is to make other people better.  It'll work better when we get into fights though I think.

I admit I'm still learning this edition, but I am a bit concerned they maybe did a little too much in favor of the arcane backgrounds this time.  It's always been a problem in Deadlands and Savage Worlds in general to balance arcane and non arcane characters.  I often wind up playing characters with no arcane abilities.

I foresee a lot of self buffing arcane warriors in this edition, it's much kinder to them.

I've been away as my mental health hasn't been great, and the longer I was away, the guiltier I got about not logging in, and it kept spiralling.

As such, I've decided that I'm going to step away from all my games and RPOL.

I hope you all understand, and wish you all the best of luck in your games.

Take care of yourself, Cooper.

I've reached out to a few of the folks who'd applied originally to see if any are interested in fillin' out our ranks.  No need to wait though; we'll press on in the meantime

Welcome William Eagle Feather!

In reply to Marshal (msg # 125):

 Thanks for the add :)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:32, Tue 13 July 2021.

Welcome William.

Almost forgot to reply to your post Deidre. Yeah I know the feeling of buffing suffering in PBP. That said I'd also feel a bit cheap demanding a Support action every time someone was making a check if I was at the tabletop so it would not make much difference for me as is, though as a caster it might matter more. As regards balance I'm used to Classic so I'm mostly used to imbalances. That said the balances in the older one were often helpfully balanced out by the fact that enough lead in the air stops almost everything. I do admit to noticing that a lot of the Savage Worlds stuff does seem to end with all arcane backgrounds parties in the prior additions too which is a shame because I retain a fondness for how many problems in Deadlands are best solved by people who can just pass their fear checks and apply shotguns to the issue.

Sorry for the long wait, time's been passing too fast for my liking just lately--I'll have a post tomorrow, and following that I should be able to pick up my pace. :)

Had an death in the family to deal with over the weekend & Monday.  Not completely unexpected but kind of.  It's okay.

Will try to have next post up tonight

Sorry for your loss


Take your time we can wait
This message was last edited by the player at 18:13, Wed 21 July 2021.

Condolences to you and your family boss.

My condolences.  I feel the "not unexpected" part in my bones, the last couple of deaths I've been privy to have been of that variety, but it still takes that bite out of you.

We'll keep, take care of everything you need to take care of.

I'm very sorry to read that Marshal, I hope that you and your family have got everything you need to get through this. :(

I've had difficulty focusing for too long but starting to get oriented again.

Please post if you're still here an interested in continuing.

I'm here!

Sorry for your loss Marshal, had one of those lately myself. The world is weird right now.

I'm really sorry for having been awol, I don't usually ghost like I have been. I've been very ill and dealing with difficult issues with work and with my mother undergoing cancer treatment. I'm hoping to get back to the game soon. Sorry for contributing to the slow pace due to my lack of posting.

Still around boss.

I'm always interested in the weird west, Marshal, so I'll be around as long as need be.

Cool, will work to get back on track.

I'm getting 3 kids moved into college between tomorrow and Tuesday.  3rd one might not need any help so might get to skip that 6 hour round trip.

After that madness should get back to regular posting rate.  Still hoping for 2x week.  First confrontation with possible combat coming soon, I plan on using maps in Roll20 and post images here so folks can see the layout.

Best of luck with the movement of the kids Marshal.

In reply to Charles Kennington (msg # 140):

Moving to college is a trip for a lot of young folks, I find. Take your time, Marshal. :)

The Sister's none too good at Survival, going to let someone else take the lead there.

You're still going to be better rolling Sister. At -2 anyone with d6 or lower needs to Ace anyway to succeed.

Is the "Boost" narrative loophole allowed on this roll?  If so I'll try it, otherwise I'll just roll default like everyone else lol

No not for this, sorry

Will try to get next post up tomorrow

Okay, so the Sister has the idea, because these are spiders and while a gunslinging spider is well within possibility in Deadlands, these don't appear to be that, to use Sloth on our arachnid friends as a good, general debuff.

If I put the MBT on it, is her 6" range enough to drop the template and catch them without catching us, since no one has advanced on them yet

Yes let's try this "theater of the mind" style since I don't have a map for this encounter.

The tarantula swarm is also a MBT, so you can choose to affect it or the large tarantula but not both.

So you know the next question, would a LBT do the job lol

Just to keep it interesting, let's say that would catch your group too

I will be on vacation from the 7th - 14th.   Wife and I are officially empty nesters and gonna take a trip to Alaska with some friends.  Not taking a laptop or anything; not sure how much time I'll have to post let alone how easy it will be on my phone for anything substantial.

Have a nice trip.

Getting back on track after trip and wife's 2 surgeries - 1 of which was a surprise, &!@($! kidney stones

If anyone's still here I wanted to ask how you would like to handle imitative: should I draw for everyone or should each draw their own?

OH no!  Hope everything went okay.

I've seen it done both ways.  It can be a little hard to track Quick, Level Headed and other effects that change initiative draws.  On the other hand, if one person draws them all, you get probabilities that are more in line with the rules as written.

Everyone drawing separately does occasionally give two people the same card.

Sorry to hear, hope everyone is okay.

I'd suggest GM handling the draws and we edit anything that affects that into our bios for ease of checking.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Sat 02 Oct 2021.

That's fine if it's an Edge or something permanent, but it doesn't work too well for temporary effects (though I don't think I've seen any yet in SWADE of this type, it looks like they might have gotten rid of that) or something like Tactician.  It also relies on the Marshal to read every Bio Line before pulling the cards.

Like I said it depends, I'm in a long running game on site where the GM has the char sheets all memorized stone cold and is a bit of control freak, and another where the GM has so much to keep track of already he makes us do it for him.

I haven't seen a real difference doing it either way honestly.

It doesn't but we can edit in/out temporary effects there easily. And it's quicker than reading the IC thread for all effects.

No perfect solution but we then at least spread the responsibility for noting all effects for the person drawing in a consistent place.

Another problem is that if you do something to create a temporary effect in your post and then edit the bio line, you won't see it until the character's next post in the thread, so you could have something active that won't be included in the bio line even if the bio line is kept updated.

Initiative is up:

Marshal drew the 8 cards: 2H, KC, 8S, JS, AD, 8C, 6H, 3S using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative (Lou, Deidre, Charlie, Tarantulas).

I don't see that anyone get any extra cards (I drew extra just in case) so I believe order will be as follows:
- Deidre (KC)
- Tarantulas (JS)
- Charlie (8S)
- Lou (2H)

Let me know if I missed anything
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:50, Sat 02 Oct 2021.

Additionally, thanks for the well wishes.  It's been a bit difficult keeping her spirits up but I honestly think she's doing well.  Here knee's still soar from the meniscus surgery, it was feeling better, I think she'd just been overdoing it - either way she's disappointed that she's not walking without pain yet.

The kidney stones, geez, she gets them periodically and suspected that one had gotten stuck on it's way down to her bladder.  Yeah there was actually two or three piled up.  Doc had her scheduled to go get them day after he saw her.   Procedure went well but they had to put a stint in to ensure nothing swelled shut afterwards.  That....that was no fun.  But plus side is that seems to be all over and done with.


It's Hell getting old(er).

Hey gang, I'm powerful sorry, but I reckon I'm gonna cut'n'run on y'all. Enjoyed my time on the trail with all you greenhorns, but real life's gettin' me by the tail-hairs.

Happy Trails,
Grubbins

I will be able to keep on, I just need to get this game back into my rotation, so to speak. :)

Take care Grubbins!  I'm still trying to get a handle on RL too but think I may actually be making progress.

No worries Lou, just glad you're still here

I thought the Tarantulas went before us on the Ace?

Nope, see msg 158.

Tarantulas got Jack of Spades.

You're technically up 1st

Oh I didn't realize that was there, I was going off the IC thread

lol well

Yep I can see now I should have put the inactive order results in the IC thread post.  Will try to do that in the future

It's my fault, but hey, we learned something!

Welcome Jesse Belville!

Welcome new one.

Edit - not that it ended up mattering GM but is the tarantula just immune to Tests or was that post missed?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Mon 11 Oct 2021.

Nope, it doesn't seem to be immune, however, I wanted to resolve Lou's damage.....

Wait a minute, Lou's supposed to go last.

Doh!

I'll revise shortly

Don't worry about it, it makes no difference since it could not wound him. Just wanted to check.

Alright, question for your novice Marshal:

In a Test like Charlie just did, is the Terrantula just Distracted OR did he earn a Raise and the critter is Shaken?

Reading the rules on p108 I'm not clear if the Raise counts against the opponent's roll or the Attribute used for their roll.

Howdy, everyone! I'm finishing up my character, so I hope I should be able to join you soon!

Had to dig in to find that one GM, found it under opposed rolls (I used the core rules not the deadlands one, page 88

Opposed Rolls
Sometimes rolls are “opposed” by an opponent. The attacker gets a Trait total, then the defender attempts to beat it. The exact skills or attributes used in a contest are specified in each circumstance, or the GM can decide what makes the most sense. If two characters try to pull something from each other’s hands, for example, they make opposed Strength rolls. Sneaking up on someone is a Stealth roll opposed by Notice (which is detailed in the Stealth skill description).
The acting character in an opposed roll always gets his Trait total first (including spending any Bennies, see page 89), and must get at least a basic success (TN 4) or he fails. The defender rolls next and must meet or exceed the first character’s result or the attacker wins. The winner also uses his opponent’s total for purposes of determining raise effects.

So the one instigating must hit the min 4 to succeed at all but for raises both go off the opponent's total not the base TN.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:59, Tue 12 Oct 2021.

That's what I figured.  That means you got a raise and the Large Terrantula is Shaken before Lou makes his attack

Charles nailed it.

Though honestly, in practice, I tend to wind up ignoring the "have to make TN 4" rule in some situations.

For example, Notice Vs. Stealth.  If you roll a 3 and they roll a 2, I usually take that as the 3 wins, otherwise the problem isn't resolved.

If it's casting a spell or a Test, I tend to observe it.

Welcome on in!

Hey, Marshal, would it be possible for me to Test the Tarantula Swarm with Fighting at this distance?

Give me a description of how Lou could Test the swarm with Fighting.

Just off the top of my head seems tough to do it at a distance.

I'm basically imagining Lou rushing in and basically trying to appear to be approaching for an attack.

So charge at them up to a range of 3?

Well, I'd say you could try it but you will need to apply a range mod to your roll, say a -2 since Fighting's normally done much closer.

I'd have stayed put GM since I put some distance between me and the still mobile things the prior round.

Sounds good

Dang it I keep forgetting about Fear checks

Didn't do it when the Terrantula's first showed, gonna ask for one now that one of your own's under attack and the danger's "real"

6 on that

Just realized we should be applying the Unstable Platform when folks fire from horseback/stagecoach/etc.

Help me remember startin' now its a -2 when doing so unless you have the Steady Hands Edge.

Charlie, your turn

I don't think Soaking will help versus the Poison, unless it's specifically contingent on rendering the victim Shaken, but even then it'd just make more sense to spend a Bennies to remove the Shaken automatically.

A lot of poison effects are just Touch attacks, it doesn't actually have to do any damage, but it could be delivered via a melee attack.

I could theoretically spend a bennie on the Vigor roll if I fail it, but I am awaiting clarification.

You're correct, the Soak would be to prevent becoming Shaken.

If you are not Shaken, you do not need to roll to avoid the Poison (apparently they didn't get you good enough).  Same situation Lou faced with the Large Terrantula, but the large ones have a slightly stronger poison than the babies

Okay thanks for clarifying!  It can get confusing sometimes!

Deidre the swarms aren't using Fighting at all, they automatically hit.  Per Deadlands SWADE and Blood Drive - Small Terratula Swarm:

Bite: Terrantula swarms inflict hundreds of bites each round, hitting automatically and causing 2d4 damage to everyone in a Medium Blast Template.

Course, they still have to overcome your Toughness to actually do anything

You have seen 2 ways now they can be damaged (you did one and Leo managed another)

Let me know if you'd like to adjust your last post or not
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:26, Wed 03 Nov 2021.

Well.

I'm not sure what to do then, since I can't stomp on or shoot something that's already on me.

They cover a small template

They're not ALL on you.   You can damage them

I picture it like this:

They're all around you and your horse, covering the ground, plus those that have managed to jump/crawl up on you.  You're probably spinning, brushing them off, flicking them away.  You can charge out of their midst, look back at do something, you'll just have to be careful not to include Leo in the area of anything, or you can just start trying to crush them right where you are (probably ways to get that mustang to stomp around or you can leap off and do it yourself).  You won't really carry then with you if you move, sure there's probably some on you but the mass will still need to make a move to reach you before they can legitimately make another attack

Hope that helps

Aight... not sure what the roll is on that, is it just a Fighting attack with Strength damage?

Trying to get next update out tomorrow

Was anyone actually hurt in that scrape?

Lou took 1 Wound when he got bushwhacked by the 2nd Terrantula

I need to get a post in, but it's been hard to make time for a few days now. I'll try to get something in tomorrow.

Sorry for the delay, trying to get a post up soon.  Maybe later tonight but hopefully no later than tomorrow.

Jesse's not really built to be The Outlaw Josey Wales, but I got this mental image of him walking out with the grocery bags...

https://youtu.be/lvmSxfMGldQ?t=24

I always rather liked the scene in High Plains Drifter where the Stranger just gives the elderly Native American the entire stack of blankets and there's a very brief look from Clint Eastwood that just says "Yeah, what are you going to do about it?"

If you've never seen the movie before, the town offers the Stranger anything and everything in the whole town that he wants to the store owner's chagrin, and the store owner doesn't seem to have expected this at all.

I think there's a line in the movie earlier that refers to the fact the local Indian tribe is dying from the cold and actually really needs blankets but I haven't seen it in a while.

Oh, High Plains Drifter is quite good. Disturbing, but good. I read an article once about how High Plains Drifter, Hang 'im High and Pale Rider are all linked together by the same character. Basically Jed Cooper died in Hang 'im High, goes after his killers, then rides off to disappear... then re-appears as the Stranger in HPD, then goes on to the Preacher in Pale Rider.

That actually makes sense in its way, because Eastwood actually regretted the implications of High Plains Drifter, and wanted to basically remake that story in a way that didn't make the townspeople look so mean spirited and cowardly.

But I've always seen High Plains Drifter as a Western Horror movie myself.

Holidays can be rough around my house and this one's been rougher than any I can remember.  Not sure when I'll be in a mind to be able to post again but I will when I can.

No worries boss, hope things go okay (and that everyone has a decent Christmas)

Yeah I'm traveling right now myself it's all good!

Hope everyone's December is going to their liking at the moment.

Cannot complain. Back to work tomorrow but a short week unsurprisingly.

Unfortunately I think I'm going to have to shut the game down.  Have some changes and doesn't appear that I'm going to have much time for rpol in the near future.  I wanted to thank all of you for giving this a shot and helping me start to learn Savage Worlds; I definitely appreciate everyone's patience and entertaining writing.  Sorry we didn't get any farther.

Sorry to hear, best of luck to you GM.

Bes tof luck to you and I hope it all works out for the best!

That's a shame, but like the others say, good luck, Marshal. It's been a good time. :)

Kudos for letting us know, it's 10,000 x better when the plug is actually pulled rather than things just trailing off.  Thanks for the game.

There's be an inquiry regarding transferring the game to someone else.  If anyone would like to take over please let me know

If the group wants to continue, I'll be happy to take over.
I'll just need a couple of weeks to get everything sorted out.

I'm happy to continue under new management if people want to.

Sure, I can try it.

Jesse if you're ready I can transfer ownership to you.

Additionally someone just reached out with interest in joining the game so you might even have a new player

Yes, I can take over!

Well Sister Deidre rides again!

Aaaaand I got GM access!

Give me a few more days to get everything sorted out and we'll be back in the saddle.

Thanks for taking over Jesse

Sorry folks, got a few people at the office out due to Covid so the last few days have been super-busy. Hopefully should be getting easier soon.

Take your time there, new Marshal. Got to let the Marshal's office set before you get to Marshaling things around, anyways. :)

Alright, I'll get us moving again!

One question, though: does anybody want to take on Jesse as a secondary character?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:15, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

I may be willing to take Jesse on, if no one else is interested.

He's yours! :-)

I'm picking up with another RtJ and I was wondering of Eagle Feathers is still around? I see a last post from last year, but seems to have logged on recently?

Chucking the Smarts roll in here boss. It's entirely fair if he can't be talked out of it, Charles just has that silly optimism. Again 5 the high.

Pretty certain Eagle Feather confirmed themselves gone. But that was 6 months ago so things might have changed.

Trying to think of something brilliant... brain not braining...

If we want to get them to back off without serious bloodshed, we may need to simply whoop them and run 'em off ourselves, but this might only incite their rage even more deeply next time we run across them.

Phelps is the one that's in charge here - if he's taken out (one way or another), the others are likely to falter.

Okay, I got one.  Got to sleep since then, my brain brained a little.

Quick check GM are these Support rolls or the same rolls? I assumed Support but given Lou's just rolled straight Spirit that's different.

I wasn't quite sure what to roll, since the post didn't say what I could roll to support the Spirit tests, so I took a shot in the dark.

(Edit: which is to say, yeah, I got the Support rules wrong. It's late and I flubbed a rule, that's all.)
This message was last edited by the player at 09:38, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

It's not an accusation Lou, just wanted to check. It makes a difference for me because I have stuff that influences Support checks but since I also don't have Intimidate there's also the relevance of what I do or don't roll.

GM's already giving us leeway here, I'm not going to rules whine about it either way :)

Sorry, should've been more clear about that: Support rolls can be anything that might be applicable to the situation. Could be a taunt, intimidation, persuasion,...
Depending on the situation, a Strength roll to bend a steel bar might be an appropriate support roll for an Intimidation attempt, for example.

I'll allow the Spirit roll if you can give me some flavor text around them, Lou?

Thanks boss, mostly wanted to be sure it was a Support roll.
Given they've helpfully achieved victory anyway it's moot.

Yeah I seem to recall Support rolls used to be more strict, but I've been improvising for years and allowing any roll I thought made sense to be used, and that's the official rules now, so I feel smrt

Fun getting to post as Jesse, too. :)

Sorry for not moving this along, but the last few days have been very busy at work and the news from Ukraine basically took up all my attention that I had left to spare.

Yep, I can understand that completely.

Understandable distractions

I'm sorry folks, but I won't be able to continue this game. Too much happening right now and I want to focus on the game I started running a while ago.

If anybody is interested in joining a Savage Worlds Weird Wars 2 game, you're more than welcome:
link to another game

Sister Deirdre is already in that game, too!

Indeed!  Thanks for trying Marshal, I of all people appreciate it.

No worries boss, best of luck to you.

Thanks for giving it an honest go, Marshal.