Deadlands Southern Gothic (Inactive)

Game Master kamenhero25

My dear friends,

Sincerely,
Jackson Greendfield
Written on the 23rd of April, in the year of our Lord 1880

Hello and welcome to my Southern Gothic themed Deadlands adventure, set deep within the heart of the Confederacy. As the lovely letter above shows, the only request I have is that all characters be friends, employees, business associates, or otherwise connected to Jackson Greenfield, a wealthy young man from Tennessee who has just inherited a very large, old money estate in the Confederacy.

Jackson is from a line of plantation owners reaching all the way back to the early colonization of the Americas and his family is absolutely rolling in money. When the Ghost Rock Rush went down and the Civil War broke out, his family simply saw it as more opportunities to expand their businesses. However, his grandfather and father both suffered health issues and neither was able to head out west to take advantage of the situation themselves. When Jackson came of age six years ago, he headed out west to expand his family fortunes in land speculation, prospecting, mining, and all manner of business transactions. He even earned the nickname "Gold Touch" due to his ridiculous luck in most of his ventures. However, with his father's passing, he's finally come home to take over the rest family businesses, along with various friends and associates who either have skills that can help him or he trusts to help him through these difficult times.

Jackson got around quite a bit out West, so virtually any kind of character can fit, from Asian immigrants he may have met or hired in California to Voodoo priests from down the river that he may have befriended years ago to Native warriors of all stripes to ordinary (or perhaps extraordinary) gunslingers. Rules for character creation are simply make a Savage Worlds character as listed in the book. We will be using the latest versions of all Arcane Backgrounds (so Blessed use Power Points, Voodoo is a separate background, etc). If anyone has questions, please ask me. And please discuss background and any other ideas or expectations you have. I have a plot outlined, but I'm more than happy to work in character stuff relevant to what you come up with.

I'm up for anything in Savage Worlds, but I don't have the Deadlands book. How much would I be missing out on if I only used the core book to create a PC?

Also, I only ran across this because I search for all campaigns that mention the words "Savage World" every day. You might reach more people if you open a Recruitment thread, many people look thru that every day.

This is a private game that I've already recruited players for. I am not accepting more players right now, and if I do need more, I will send PMs to people.

I set up a thread so that the players have a place to talk together about what they want to do and a place where I can post information about the game for everyone without needing to send an exact copy of the same PM multiple times.

One of the players coming through!

I've been looking into Southern Gothic Horror to get the right idea for possible characters.

Add to that the supernatural themes from Deadlands, and correct me if you are aiming for a different vibe, we'd end with something like a 19th century mystery and horror movie directed by Tarantino, perhaps Guy Ritchie with less comedy, or something of a historical 'episode' of Supernatural set in the 19th's south.

I wanted to put my -possibly wrong- vision of the game to be into words before rapid firing some early concepts and questions:

Questions
-I know the Rangers use hucksters, sorcerers and the like from time to time. Any help against their enemies is appreciated and if they turn against the Rangers, they can always clean the mess... But can a Ranger be a huckster or a sorcerer? I may think about mixing concepts.
-Is the Veteran o' the Wild West edge allowed? For the Ranger concept it sure would fit just right, but I understand it might be a pain in the ass to balance.
-Despite not providing any benefits, would you be okay if I took two Major drawbacks? There are some that bith fit each concept, and a tiny little extra penalty doesn't bother me in the slightest.

That's a pretty good way to look at the themes. The opening concept is of course going to a derelict plantation house, left to rot for decades by his family, with a good natured, but somewhat arrogant friend/acquaintance and slowly uncovering the secrets of his family that have been buried within.

Pretty much all three of those concepts sounds like it would fit in nicely. To answer your other questions:
- Rangers absolutely use Hucksters. They're very heavy on the 'recruit' part of 'shoot it or recruit it'. You probably would have a contact they like you to check in with to make sure you haven't gone totally off the reservation if you're currently inactive.
- Veteran is allowed. Loup and JD have in fact already drawn to see what downside they get if they take it. At this rate, it might end up with a party of all Veterans, depending on what Aloha does. Your Veteran draw is: Eight of Clubs 'Beat with the Ugly Stick'. You've been badly scarred by a monster or fight at some point. You gain the Ugly hindrance if the wound is at all visible.
- I think the book actually mentions this, but you're allowed to take as many drawbacks as you want, you just don't gain benefits beyond the first four hindrance points.

I will start working on it right away!

Couple little questions that popped up as I thought about the other games I'm in:
•Will we use the Guts skill or Spirit in its place?
•And spellcasting? I mean, is it a separate skill or the linked attribute?
•When we level up, if we choose to learn a new skill, do we get to also advance another skill that is below the linked attribute?

In order (and man, I'm glad I was just checking my threads):

- We will be using Guts as a skill. It fits well with the Fear Level and Grit subsystems.
- Spellcasting uses the appropriate arcane skill (Spellcasting for Hucksters, Faith for Blessed, Weird Science for Mad Scientist, Tribal Medicine for Shaman, Voodoo for Voodooists, Thaumatological Diffusion for Metal Mages, Hexslinging for Hexslingers, and individual skills for Chi Mastery).
- Yup. I like Loup's houserule, so I use it for my games as well.

Excellent. I meant to dot in earlier but I'm still waffling a bit about character choice. I kind of like to backfill whatever the party is missing.

Am I correct in assuming that this is going to be a little more roleplay heavy than average, given that it's back East?

Out of the three I've got so far, I'd say a Veteran draw would work for the first two, not so much for the Voodooist. Would you be okay with pulling me a card and letting me write it off and build a Novice if I go for the Voodoo?

Loup here with my character's mechanics (although I just realized, rather embarassingly, that I never actually accounted for taking Veteran of the Weird West...) -- I have a backstory in mind and I'm working on at least how he met Greenfield.

That said, if most or all of us are considering Veteran of the Weird West, would it potentially make sense to just start the game with Seasoned characters? Seems like so far we're all at least somewhat into the idea of playing jaded or experienced types, so it could be interesting. I'd strongly suggest still keeping a card draw on the table, though--it adds some spice to the mix, and can help reflect their past trials more than taking the usual Hindrances.

Just a thought.

I'm actually okay with just having everyone start as a Seasoned character. It's not too hard to just up combat difficulties a little bit. It seems like a lot of people are interested in more experienced characters, so it could be fun to have a bunch of grizzled veterans of the west trying to fit in to 'polite' society with their nobleman friend.

@ Aloha: All three concepts sound solid, and I'm fine with even the Voodooist taking the Veteran set up. It can be explained by saying that he she has been extensively trained so he she has more skill than your average starting character, even if he she is lacking real experience. The knowledge of the supernatural that comes with Veteran is easily explained as simply being part of the training. I'm planning on taking the posse to New Orleans at least once, so a Voodooist certainly fits. Oh, and do know that I'm not trying to influence your choice. I just like people to know when I have things written in to the story so far that could play off a character concept well. Your Veteran draw (if you want to use it) is: Three of Clubs - Hunted. You've managed to anger some nasty beasty and it wants you dead, ruined, or worse.

Here is Emissary's submission!
Once again I completely abandoned my previous concept because I got a new idea I fell in love.
I need to expand and improve on the background as well as explain more thoroughly why he carries a medieval sword and why he doesn't use firearms, but other than that, everything is there.

With that explained, I got a question. I anted to buy a Longsword as it is the sword that I had in mind for the Kingsley's heirloom blade. Thing is the Longsword doesn't have a Deadlands price.
The rapier costs 10$, compared to the 150$ from Savage Worlds Deluxe, so I'm inclined to think the Longsword would be 20$ (since it is 300$ in SW Deluxe) but I'd rather have some GM ruling as well as approval.

I'm alright with the pricing. Longswords certainly aren't a common weapon, but I see where you're going with it, so I think that will work out fine.

And another question that just popped up. Actually two.

1)If we end going for 'Everybody starts at Seasoned' instead of the Veteran Edge, what happens with our hindrance draw? I'm asking because even in that case I'd probably keep it, it adds some depth to our starting level. And freeing that Edge might help getting more options (In my case it would probably mean boosting dome knowledges a bit or getting a couple more)
2)Do you have any suggestion for useful knowledges that a wannabe explorer and archaeooogist might have? I'm fine with keeping those I listed but if you feel some might not ever see the light or there are others more appropiate, tell me. (For example, I was tented to go with 'Knowledge: Southern Folk Myths instead of Indian culture, but wasn't sure it would already be covered by Occult)

1) It seems like everyone starting Seasoned has been a popular idea. I would like to keep the Veteran draws, but dropping the edge would be alright if people want. I'm pretty much okay with running it however you guys would like.

2) Magic and some folk lore stuff would be Occult, but having more specific knowledges will negate penalties or give bonuses when appropriate. Like if someone had Knowledge: Shamanism, it would provide situational bonuses that Knowledge: Occult might not, though it would apply in less situations.

With that in mind I changed the Veteran o'the Wild West to Brawny.
At first I was going to put the hindrance points into two knowledges but then I realised with d6 Strength I would probably end overencumbered.

I've also changed from Kn. Archaeology to Kn. Shamanism, both because he would be really interested in Shamanism amd because his Archaeologist knowledge is pretty much practical and self taught.

At first I was going to put the hindrance points into two knowledges but then I realised with d6 Strength I would probably end overencumbered.

Hah, there you have it, the youth of today. Here I am with a d4 in Strength, can't ever raise it nosir, but I'm getting by alright. And here they come, d6 Strength, already lifting more than me, but is that enough for 'em, nosir it ain't, so they go around Brawny this and 8 times Strength die that. I'll tell it to you truthful, no bush-beating, they have it easy these days. And no respect.

Well, there's only one possible answer, old chap.

Are people still working on things here?

Yeah, apologies. Wild Card Creator kind of ate my character and I had to restat her from the ground up. I'll get everything uploaded tonight. I am gonna go with the Thorn voodooist and I'll be leaning hard on healing and knowledge skills. I think Felix and Roy are our combat wombats. :)

I've still got some general prettification and readability work to do but here is Lyza's crunch and backstory.

Lyza looks pretty good, and I think I will be keeping the Hunted, if you don't mind. The Baron's abomination will make an excellent adversary at some point. And it really drives home how much of an ass he is to other voodoo practitioners when they get in his way.

If I remember correctly, the closest thing to Favored Chual in Reloaded would probably Patron Spirit in Last Sons.

Jackson's character is mostly being a genuinely friendly and open sort of person. He tries to be helpful and kind when he can, as he considers good manners and proper behavior to be the core of a true Southern gentleman. His biggest character flaw is that he's kind of arrogant, especially since his ungodly luck has gotten him out of some tight scrapes that he had no right surviving. Mechanically, the guy's a Wild Card with the Luck, Great Luck, and Noble Edges, but with the Code of Honor and Arrogant Hindrances.

Sounds good! I'll add Hunted back in. Patron Spirit is Shamanistic only from what I remember, so I'm pretty happy just keeping my knack.

Would you mind opening the campaign thread so we can dot in? I'm not sure about the others but I have some difficulty keeping track of this thread since it doesn't update in My Campaigns. :)

Patron Spirit and Totem Spirit are different things, though introduced in the same book. Though Totem Spirit arguably makes sense for a voodooist too. No need to change anything, just making suggestions based on what I know about the system.

And gameplay is open so you can dot.