Altered Reality Old West question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Altered Reality Old West question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
abk_calis
May 21, 2010 14:59:42 I'm trying to create an Old West campaign, circa 1876, in an altered reality. It's low magic (just priests and shamans). North America is divided into several nations (The USA and CSA fought to a standstill, California and Texas are republics and the Native Americans control much of the Central and Northern Plains).

My question is more of a plea for advice. I've got a couple of ideas for classes, Bounty Hunter(ranger), Gambler (rogue), Cowboy/Gunslinger (fighter) and the afore mentioned Priest and Shaman (cleric). I was thinking of maybe a Scout/Buffalo Hunter and a War Veteran class.

Anyone have any ideas or experience with this? I'm not looking for a Deadlands type game, more historical than that (except an undead calvary patrol sound tempting).

Also for bullet damage, I didn't quite like the table in the 3E DMG. I thought about going with d8 for under .36 caliber and d10/12 for over. Does that sound about right?

Thanks for the thoughts in advance!
#2
Grimbus
May 21, 2010 17:31:46 I strongly suggest you look out the David Gemmel Waylander series. It is a fantasy western trilogy with six guns -very good.

You may want to have a Native American class (Barbarian - for want of a better word) and an Engineer/technical character who can work/repair/make gattling guns, steam engines and such like.

You could argue that guns are so powerful that they ignore AC altogether apart from DEX/Dodge skill. That will give firearms a (historical) bigger advantage than melee weapons.
#3
abk_calis
May 21, 2010 21:14:57 The Scout and Shaman are specifically for Native American pc's and an Engineer is a good idea. The most armor anyone would have is leather (chapps and vest/duster).

Thanks for the ideas!
#4
skio
May 22, 2010 5:56:46 In my own Campaign Setting (which is in general a typical fantasy world), I have established a region where the feel is very Wild West.

I can definitely see Paladins as a sherrif- or cavalry-like enforcer. Monks could be used to give a David Carantine Kung Fu feel. A reflavoured Artficer could work as a steam engineer.

What about the races? Is it only humans?
#5
abk_calis
May 22, 2010 8:39:33 Humans and dwarves(They control the Rockies) for sure...might add an advanced orc race. The artificer and monk are good ideas. Thanks!
#6
playswithfire
May 23, 2010 10:17:13 For firearms, particularly in a partially magic setting, you might want to look here: www.montecook.com/images/Technology.pdf . I plan to include them in a setting I'm working on and probably have the firearms use the 'Armor as DR' variant while everything else uses the standard rules, to represent bullets being able to pierce armor.

Oh, and that sounds like a very interesting setting.
#7
abk_calis
May 23, 2010 13:44:46 Great article, thanks for the link!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 abk_calis May 21, 2010 14:59:42	I'm trying to create an Old West campaign, circa 1876, in an altered reality. It's low magic (just priests and shamans). North America is divided into several nations (The USA and CSA fought to a standstill, California and Texas are republics and the Native Americans control much of the Central and Northern Plains). My question is more of a plea for advice. I've got a couple of ideas for classes, Bounty Hunter(ranger), Gambler (rogue), Cowboy/Gunslinger (fighter) and the afore mentioned Priest and Shaman (cleric). I was thinking of maybe a Scout/Buffalo Hunter and a War Veteran class. Anyone have any ideas or experience with this? I'm not looking for a Deadlands type game, more historical than that (except an undead calvary patrol sound tempting). Also for bullet damage, I didn't quite like the table in the 3E DMG. I thought about going with d8 for under .36 caliber and d10/12 for over. Does that sound about right? Thanks for the thoughts in advance!
#2 Grimbus May 21, 2010 17:31:46	I strongly suggest you look out the David Gemmel Waylander series. It is a fantasy western trilogy with six guns -very good. You may want to have a Native American class (Barbarian - for want of a better word) and an Engineer/technical character who can work/repair/make gattling guns, steam engines and such like. You could argue that guns are so powerful that they ignore AC altogether apart from DEX/Dodge skill. That will give firearms a (historical) bigger advantage than melee weapons.
#3 abk_calis May 21, 2010 21:14:57	The Scout and Shaman are specifically for Native American pc's and an Engineer is a good idea. The most armor anyone would have is leather (chapps and vest/duster). Thanks for the ideas!
#4 skio May 22, 2010 5:56:46	In my own Campaign Setting (which is in general a typical fantasy world), I have established a region where the feel is very Wild West. I can definitely see Paladins as a sherrif- or cavalry-like enforcer. Monks could be used to give a David Carantine Kung Fu feel. A reflavoured Artficer could work as a steam engineer. What about the races? Is it only humans?
#5 abk_calis May 22, 2010 8:39:33	Humans and dwarves(They control the Rockies) for sure...might add an advanced orc race. The artificer and monk are good ideas. Thanks!
#6 playswithfire May 23, 2010 10:17:13	For firearms, particularly in a partially magic setting, you might want to look here: www.montecook.com/images/Technology.pdf . I plan to include them in a setting I'm working on and probably have the firearms use the 'Armor as DR' variant while everything else uses the standard rules, to represent bullets being able to pierce armor. Oh, and that sounds like a very interesting setting.
#7 abk_calis May 23, 2010 13:44:46	Great article, thanks for the link!