D&D in the Wild West? [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D in the Wild West? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
quiksilver2814
03-01-07, 04:40 PM I recently decided to craft a D&D campaign set in the Wild West. I'm sure this has been done before, or at least talked about, so I was wondering if anyone could direct me to some resources/threads/websites that might help me with this adaptation. If not, I have some ideas, and would love to hash things out with some more experienced DMs. Thanks!
darth_borehd
03-02-07, 12:29 AM I recently decided to craft a D&D campaign set in the Wild West. I'm sure this has been done before, or at least talked about, so I was wondering if anyone could direct me to some resources/threads/websites that might help me with this adaptation. If not, I have some ideas, and would love to hash things out with some more experienced DMs. Thanks!

It's been done. It's called Deadlands and was released by Pinnacle Entertainment. They have version using their own system and using d20 and GURPS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadlands
http://www.peginc.com/games/
http://www.sonic.net/~dkjedi/deadlands/
quiksilver2814
03-02-07, 12:24 PM While I appreciate this information, I had already found the Deadlands RPG. My goal was not to buy new books and train my players in a whole new game engine, but to adapt the rules and classes of D&D into an Old West world. I should have been more clear.
taradusis
03-02-07, 01:04 PM Now that the dark tower is coming out in graphic novel form there's been a lot of interest in a wild west style campaigning.In my opinion the most basic issues are as follows.1)Who gets to be the indians.2)Are there guns,locomotives and telegraphs(i.e. technology).3)is there a group like the texas rangers or the Gunslingers.4)Is the homebase a fantasy version of tombone arizona or san fransisco.Those questions when answered will pretty much define your wildwest campaign.
The_Apathetic_Despot
03-02-07, 04:33 PM This might not be what you're looking for, but this comic here http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp04032006.shtml
had a few strips with an interesting take on a wild west rpg.
Wyvern76
03-02-07, 04:58 PM While I appreciate this information, I had already found the Deadlands RPG. My goal was not to buy new books and train my players in a whole new game engine, but to adapt the rules and classes of D&D into an Old West world. I should have been more clear.Are you thinking about a real-life Wild West setting, or a Western-flavored setting with D&D races and magic? I have a PDF on my computer (which I haven't got around to reading it yet) called "Cowboys & Dragons". It includes setting details as well as rules. Unfortunately, I no longer remember where I got it from, but if you're interested I can email it to you.

For straight-up Wild West games, the most popular choice is Sidewinder. It comes in two flavors: the original game (http://www.enworld.org/reviews.php?do=product&productid=118295), which was published by Citizen Games, and the d20 Modern version, Sidewinder: Recoiled (http://www.enworld.org/reviews.php?do=product&productid=118994), published by Green Ronin. I haven't seen either of them myself, but I've heard good things about them. I also think (though I've never tried it) that the non-Force users from Star Wars would work well in the Wild West with a little tweaking. (The Noble would become the Gentleman/woman, and the Fringer would become the Settler.)

Wyvern
quiksilver2814
03-02-07, 08:42 PM I would definitely like that PDF file, Wyvern.

And I like the feel of Deadlands' world, I'd just like to change it up a bit. Instead of the standard races, I was planning on using Whites, Indians, Chinese, and maybe Blacks. Racial prejudice would play a huge part in the campaign, but that would be offset by bonuses, or something...haven't decided yet.

Most of the classes work well: Rangers would be great Bounty Hunters, if I took away their animal companion and gave them some other bonus, or maybe limited it to a dog or a horse. Barbarians would translate completely into Savage Braves, as would Wizards into Occultists, Clerics into Preachers, Monks into...Monks, and Druids into Shamans, or Medicine Men. I was thinking that Bards could be Charlatans, traveling salesmen whose spells might come from the various "Miraculous Salves" and such that they had, but I'm iffy on it. Sorcerers, Rogues, and Paladins are also giving me trouble.

Fighters are the hardest so far, because I don't think swords really have a place in this world. At the same time, I don't want to make it all guns (some of the above classes obviously wouldn't use those). I don't know whether to keep Fighters as Brawlers or some such, and make a new class for the Gunslinger, or what. I would appreciate any ideas.
taradusis
03-02-07, 09:09 PM You could get d20 PAST pdf from paizo.I would consider making the indians into a scaled down version of centaurs.The chinese tong could be yuan-ti purebloods or tainted ones?I might consider gnolls as blacks?Now all you need is a good adventure or two.
michaeljpatrick
03-02-07, 10:51 PM You could get d20 PAST pdf from paizo.I would consider making the indians into a scaled down version of centaurs.The chinese tong could be yuan-ti purebloods or tainted ones?I might consider gnolls as blacks?Now all you need is a good adventure or two.

You might be treading on thin ice ethically and socially by portraying real life minorities (Indians, Asians, and African Americans) as evil monsters(gnolls and Yuan-Ti). I understand that the intent is to have a D&D analogue to real-history examples, but it is best to use caution when introducing such concepts.
I'm not saying that such portrayals are always unworkable (in my own campaign I am using Lizardfolk to portray issues of discrimination and culture shock), but it is always best to treat all races within the game as unique and varied cultures rather than as stereotypes in any instance where said races are expected to be stand ins for any real-world counterparts.
quiksilver2814
03-02-07, 11:25 PM My intention was never to portray any race in a stereotypical way, but rather, as you said, to add a real world feel to the demographic element of the game. That being said, I see your point, and that was something I worried about. Maybe it would be better to adapt the existing races into the Wild West?
michaeljpatrick
03-03-07, 12:05 AM Oh, I wasn't trying to accuse anyone of racism. I was just pointing out a pitfall. I play rogues a lot so finding traps is sort of a hobby.

I've tried to incorporate real world ethics into D&D in the past with bad results. I once ran a campaign where good and lawful PCs slaughtered an entire enemy camp including women and children and justified it because the enemies were "evil". I tried to point out that they were just humans from another culture, but that didn't really sink in with the players.
Wyvern76
03-03-07, 12:25 AM I would definitely like that PDF file, Wyvern.PM me your email address and I'll send it to you.

I wrote up a fantasy steampunk (http://www.msu.edu/~reesmatt/Steampunk/) setting which mapped various D&D races onto real-world ethnic groups, but if you're planning on a humans-only game, you probably wouldn't be interested.

For non-spellcasting races, I favor the idea I've seen in several sources of giving bonus feats at each level the ranger would normally gain access to a new level of spells.

Fighters are the hardest so far, because I don't think swords really have a place in this world. At the same time, I don't want to make it all guns (some of the above classes obviously wouldn't use those).Why not? You think an occultist is going to carry around a dagger or a quarterstaff when he could use a six-shooter? Anyway, most Westerns don't feature a lot of melee fighting (outside of fisticuffs, of course, and the occasional frying-pan wielding housewife).

Wyvern
taradusis
03-03-07, 10:32 AM I feel that using the fantasy races of yuanti and gnolls is actually less offensive than playing a gritty and realistic humans-only campaign?It makes sense to turn the tables on the gnolls and enslave them.The yuan-ti can be insiduous as they like without being a strereotypical yellow menace?Still you need to find your own comfort level and handle it at the table,you'll know if your PCs are going to get PC on you.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
quiksilver2814 03-01-07, 04:40 PM	I recently decided to craft a D&D campaign set in the Wild West. I'm sure this has been done before, or at least talked about, so I was wondering if anyone could direct me to some resources/threads/websites that might help me with this adaptation. If not, I have some ideas, and would love to hash things out with some more experienced DMs. Thanks!
darth_borehd 03-02-07, 12:29 AM	I recently decided to craft a D&D campaign set in the Wild West. I'm sure this has been done before, or at least talked about, so I was wondering if anyone could direct me to some resources/threads/websites that might help me with this adaptation. If not, I have some ideas, and would love to hash things out with some more experienced DMs. Thanks! It's been done. It's called Deadlands and was released by Pinnacle Entertainment. They have version using their own system and using d20 and GURPS. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadlands http://www.peginc.com/games/ http://www.sonic.net/~dkjedi/deadlands/
quiksilver2814 03-02-07, 12:24 PM	While I appreciate this information, I had already found the Deadlands RPG. My goal was not to buy new books and train my players in a whole new game engine, but to adapt the rules and classes of D&D into an Old West world. I should have been more clear.
taradusis 03-02-07, 01:04 PM	Now that the dark tower is coming out in graphic novel form there's been a lot of interest in a wild west style campaigning.In my opinion the most basic issues are as follows.1)Who gets to be the indians.2)Are there guns,locomotives and telegraphs(i.e. technology).3)is there a group like the texas rangers or the Gunslingers.4)Is the homebase a fantasy version of tombone arizona or san fransisco.Those questions when answered will pretty much define your wildwest campaign.
The_Apathetic_Despot 03-02-07, 04:33 PM	This might not be what you're looking for, but this comic here http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp04032006.shtml had a few strips with an interesting take on a wild west rpg.
Wyvern76 03-02-07, 04:58 PM	While I appreciate this information, I had already found the Deadlands RPG. My goal was not to buy new books and train my players in a whole new game engine, but to adapt the rules and classes of D&D into an Old West world. I should have been more clear.Are you thinking about a real-life Wild West setting, or a Western-flavored setting with D&D races and magic? I have a PDF on my computer (which I haven't got around to reading it yet) called "Cowboys & Dragons". It includes setting details as well as rules. Unfortunately, I no longer remember where I got it from, but if you're interested I can email it to you. For straight-up Wild West games, the most popular choice is Sidewinder. It comes in two flavors: the original game (http://www.enworld.org/reviews.php?do=product&productid=118295), which was published by Citizen Games, and the d20 Modern version, Sidewinder: Recoiled (http://www.enworld.org/reviews.php?do=product&productid=118994), published by Green Ronin. I haven't seen either of them myself, but I've heard good things about them. I also think (though I've never tried it) that the non-Force users from Star Wars would work well in the Wild West with a little tweaking. (The Noble would become the Gentleman/woman, and the Fringer would become the Settler.) Wyvern
quiksilver2814 03-02-07, 08:42 PM	I would definitely like that PDF file, Wyvern. And I like the feel of Deadlands' world, I'd just like to change it up a bit. Instead of the standard races, I was planning on using Whites, Indians, Chinese, and maybe Blacks. Racial prejudice would play a huge part in the campaign, but that would be offset by bonuses, or something...haven't decided yet. Most of the classes work well: Rangers would be great Bounty Hunters, if I took away their animal companion and gave them some other bonus, or maybe limited it to a dog or a horse. Barbarians would translate completely into Savage Braves, as would Wizards into Occultists, Clerics into Preachers, Monks into...Monks, and Druids into Shamans, or Medicine Men. I was thinking that Bards could be Charlatans, traveling salesmen whose spells might come from the various "Miraculous Salves" and such that they had, but I'm iffy on it. Sorcerers, Rogues, and Paladins are also giving me trouble. Fighters are the hardest so far, because I don't think swords really have a place in this world. At the same time, I don't want to make it all guns (some of the above classes obviously wouldn't use those). I don't know whether to keep Fighters as Brawlers or some such, and make a new class for the Gunslinger, or what. I would appreciate any ideas.
taradusis 03-02-07, 09:09 PM	You could get d20 PAST pdf from paizo.I would consider making the indians into a scaled down version of centaurs.The chinese tong could be yuan-ti purebloods or tainted ones?I might consider gnolls as blacks?Now all you need is a good adventure or two.
michaeljpatrick 03-02-07, 10:51 PM	You could get d20 PAST pdf from paizo.I would consider making the indians into a scaled down version of centaurs.The chinese tong could be yuan-ti purebloods or tainted ones?I might consider gnolls as blacks?Now all you need is a good adventure or two. You might be treading on thin ice ethically and socially by portraying real life minorities (Indians, Asians, and African Americans) as evil monsters(gnolls and Yuan-Ti). I understand that the intent is to have a D&D analogue to real-history examples, but it is best to use caution when introducing such concepts. I'm not saying that such portrayals are always unworkable (in my own campaign I am using Lizardfolk to portray issues of discrimination and culture shock), but it is always best to treat all races within the game as unique and varied cultures rather than as stereotypes in any instance where said races are expected to be stand ins for any real-world counterparts.
quiksilver2814 03-02-07, 11:25 PM	My intention was never to portray any race in a stereotypical way, but rather, as you said, to add a real world feel to the demographic element of the game. That being said, I see your point, and that was something I worried about. Maybe it would be better to adapt the existing races into the Wild West?
michaeljpatrick 03-03-07, 12:05 AM	Oh, I wasn't trying to accuse anyone of racism. I was just pointing out a pitfall. I play rogues a lot so finding traps is sort of a hobby. I've tried to incorporate real world ethics into D&D in the past with bad results. I once ran a campaign where good and lawful PCs slaughtered an entire enemy camp including women and children and justified it because the enemies were "evil". I tried to point out that they were just humans from another culture, but that didn't really sink in with the players.
Wyvern76 03-03-07, 12:25 AM	I would definitely like that PDF file, Wyvern.PM me your email address and I'll send it to you. I wrote up a fantasy steampunk (http://www.msu.edu/~reesmatt/Steampunk/) setting which mapped various D&D races onto real-world ethnic groups, but if you're planning on a humans-only game, you probably wouldn't be interested. For non-spellcasting races, I favor the idea I've seen in several sources of giving bonus feats at each level the ranger would normally gain access to a new level of spells. Fighters are the hardest so far, because I don't think swords really have a place in this world. At the same time, I don't want to make it all guns (some of the above classes obviously wouldn't use those).Why not? You think an occultist is going to carry around a dagger or a quarterstaff when he could use a six-shooter? Anyway, most Westerns don't feature a lot of melee fighting (outside of fisticuffs, of course, and the occasional frying-pan wielding housewife). Wyvern
taradusis 03-03-07, 10:32 AM	I feel that using the fantasy races of yuanti and gnolls is actually less offensive than playing a gritty and realistic humans-only campaign?It makes sense to turn the tables on the gnolls and enslave them.The yuan-ti can be insiduous as they like without being a strereotypical yellow menace?Still you need to find your own comfort level and handle it at the table,you'll know if your PCs are going to get PC on you.