RE: [DL] Which System to Use for a New Game

[Wes Anderson <wes.anderson@lucasfilm.com>]

There is no d20 system.
There is only the classic Deadlands system.

<waves his hand about>


Wes "Using my yearly allotment of Jedi powers bestowed upon me by George."
Anderson


-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Stack [mailto:danielstack@mediaone.net] 
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2001 4:10 PM
To: deadlands
Subject: [DL] Which System to Use for a New Game


Dan bravely delurks...  I realize this is a fairly sensitive topic so I hope
not to start a bitter system argument.

I'm currently mulling over which system to use for my Deadlands campaign
which begins in the fall.

All of the players like and are at least somewhat familiar with the d20
system - we've played both d20 D&D and Star Wars with it. The players have
mixes of preferences - some really like science fiction, some like Victorian
era, some like the fantasy and magic of D&D.  All like action and adventure.
We're currently in a Star Trek game.  Discussing what to do when that winds
down, all players have found something that they find interesting in a
Deadlands game.

As Marshal, I have access to both incarnations of Deadlands.  I certainly
feel that using the d20 system will be easier, at least in the first phases
of the game, given the prior games the players have been in.  However, I
wonder if the flavor of the game would be better served by using the
original rules engine. As a caveat, I've never actually used the Deadlands
system, though I have used similar systems.  However, I have heard some
indicate that it can get quite complicated rather quickly. My biggest worry
is that I, as gamemaster/Marshal/etc., tend to be the only owner of the
rules - we tend to run rules-lite and I'm curious if others have run
Deadlands campaigns in a similar manner. (i.e. the Marshal is teacher).

It looks like it'd be a lot of fun, dealing out cards, playing chips, etc.
Also, I rather like the deadliness of the combat system and the less
ablative approach to damage.  So far the players seem neutral to
enthusiastic in trying out the Deadlands rules.

If I do go with the d20 version, I'll certainly not run it like a D&D game -
for example I plan on being somewhat restrictive with hucksters and other
arcane characters - characters who behave like D&D wizards will quickly find
themselves being accused of being in league with Lucifer...  However, I do
worry that higher level characters will be very, very tough to threaten.

Honest, non-flammable opinions sought.

-Dan



To unsubscribe, send a message to esquire@gamerz.net with
	unsubscribe deadlands
as the BODY of the message.  The SUBJECT is ignored.