Your Favorite Savage Worlds (Deluxe) Setting?

Nefaro · June 02, 2015, 05:38:03 PM

So ... I recently picked up the Savage Worlds Deluxe book, along with some of it's Deadlands Reloaded goodies. 8)

Some of you (Brant?) have praised the SW system here, so I wanted to check it out (and the Deadlands stuff, of course), but I see that there are a fair number of other interesting settings out there too.

These have piqued my curiosity:

Weird Wars: WWII (there are also Rome & Vietnam versions)
Soloman Kain
Deadlands Noir
.. and others.

There looks to be many more of them with some Dark/Horror/Occult twist blended into more classical RPG settings, which is great since that's what I've been looking for lately. I'm curious as to which ones you guys may have some knowledge, and any recommendations regarding such genres in general (doesn't necessarily have to be Savage Worlds).

bayonetbrant · June 02, 2015, 05:46:24 PM

I've always been a fan of the Space: 1889 setting going back to the 80s

Nefaro · June 02, 2015, 05:51:24 PM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on June 02, 2015, 05:46:24 PM
I've always been a fan of the Space: 1889 setting going back to the 80s

I recall seeing that one around back then. Isn't it like a Victorian era Mars Invasion setting with appropriately crazy tech?

bayonetbrant · June 02, 2015, 06:42:31 PM

Pretty much. It's the Victorian-era colonization of space back before Steampunk was a "thing "

That, and Castle Falkenstein were the heights of Victorian high fantasy before Steampunk came along and sooted it all up

Nefaro · June 02, 2015, 07:01:25 PM

I'm not really a fan of Steampunk in my gaming. Dunno why.. it doesn't bother me but at the same time I'm a bit "meh" about it.

Could just be a phase. I've always loved cyberpunk so maybe it just depends on the specific setting or something.

Somewhat related question:

How have some of these old 80s RPGs held up after the transition to the latest Savage Worlds rules? From what I gathered, some of these classic systems went through a d20 phase and received a mixed reaction for it. Not being familiar with either the orignal Deadlands or Space 1889 systems (and a few others), I have no point of reference.

bayonetbrant · June 02, 2015, 07:55:55 PM

Space 1889 has held up OK.
The only really "different" thing about the rules was the cascading skills system, which gave you 'partial credit' for having similar skills. So knowing how to sail a boat gave you some credit toward sailing an airship, but not complete proficiency. It was a nice idea, but in order to have enough skills for any useful transferability, you needed a LOT of skills in the rulebook, and it got a bit too granular. Losing that, and instead replacing it with the faster skill checks and combat of SW really speeds the game up and lets you focus on the story.

FWIW, the SW system is NOT designed as a minis-driven system the way DD4e was. I liked 4e (me and about 2 other people) and really enjoyed the tactical battles we fought. But it was sometimes tough to play out the between-battles events in 4e, and SW really moves the battles along in a more cinematic way so that you can play the between-the-fighting events with equal cinematic flair.

Dammit Carl! · June 02, 2015, 08:21:29 PM

Solomon Kane and Pirates of the Spanish Main are two of my favorites, and the near-enough real-world setting of the two makes 'em useful for each other (if you squint real hard at 'em). Bonus points for being self contained books. Rippers was interesting but I don't think its been updated to reflect the newer rules in play now. Hell, I don't even know what rules are "current," anyway, so grain of salt with what I'm saying and all of that.

I really liked Deadlands Reloaded; the original rules-set sourcebooks are fun to read and still have relevance to D:R in terms of setting material. I cannot vouch for Deadlands: Hell on Earth reboot as it came along as I was transitioning away from RPGs in general. FWIW, there is a conversion sheet / system out there that brings old Deadlands stats and things into the Savage Worlds camp (albeit in very, very rough manner), so not all is lost.

Oh, and if super-post-apocalyptic-gonzo is your bag, Rifts is getting a port over to Savage Worlds. Should be interesting, to say the least.

The d20 conversions of other games in general were an odd lot. Most were done in the early days of 3rd edition and were attempts by publishers to shoe-horn all manner of things into the d20 rules system in order to capitalize on 3rd edition popularity and I don't think any of them ever got any traction for long. Only one I ever picked up was d20 Call of Cthulhu and it wasn't half bad of a read.

Nefaro · June 02, 2015, 08:31:19 PM

Thanks for the 1889 clarification. I definitely understand how too much cross-skill mechanics can bog things down.

I'm sure SW isn't the same as D&D4e (never played 4th myself) when it comes to minis but from a quickly glance it still seems aimed at supporting it. When it comes to RPGs, I've never thought minis to be all that essential but then again I'm not very experienced at tabletop RPG'ing. Especially the last couple decades.

I suppose that's why the new Star Wars system appealed to me since it's more abstract when it comes to hard minis details like ranges & such yet still retains the other stuff fairly well. Ironically, I have a very large amount of Star Wars minis. :-\ I was a bit sad to find out that the Warhammer Fantasy version, with the same system, was discontinued as that would've been my next curiosity awhile back.

I've stocked up on a number of newer RPGs to peruse over the past couple years. But since I now have the SW Deluxe rules, I wanted to see if there were any other settings for it that really stood out for you guys. It's obviously a quick relatively streamlined system and would make for an easier first (re)entry into the genre for new/rusty people.

Nefaro · June 02, 2015, 08:37:45 PM

Quote from: Dammit Carl! on June 02, 2015, 08:21:29 PM
Solomon Kane and Pirates of the Spanish Main are two of my favorites, and the near-enough real-world setting of the two makes 'em useful for each other (if you squint real hard at 'em). Bonus points for being self contained books. Rippers was interesting but I don't think its been updated to reflect the newer rules in play now. Hell, I don't even know what rules are "current," anyway, so grain of salt with what I'm saying and all of that.

I really liked Deadlands Reloaded; the original rules-set sourcebooks are fun to read and still have relevance to D:R in terms of setting material. I cannot vouch for Deadlands: Hell on Earth reboot as it came along as I was transitioning away from RPGs in general. FWIW, there is a conversion sheet / system out there that brings old Deadlands stats and things into the Savage Worlds camp (albeit in very, very rough manner), so not all is lost.

Awesome. I am really curious about Solomon Kane. I have it on my wishlist but wasn't sure if it was gonna stay. I think it will. O0

Quote

Oh, and if super-post-apocalyptic-gonzo is your bag, Rifts is getting a port over to Savage Worlds. Should be interesting, to say the least.

Hrmm.. Rifts sounds very familiar. I may have owned that one as a youngster but I don't recall.

Quote

The d20 conversions of other games in general were an odd lot. Most were done in the early days of 3rd edition and were attempts by publishers to shoe-horn all manner of things into the d20 rules system in order to capitalize on 3rd edition popularity and I don't think any of them ever got any traction for long. Only one I ever picked up was d20 Call of Cthulhu and it wasn't half bad of a read.

Yeah.. with the open license for d20, it was a circus. Still going strong to some extent, I see. I've been trying to avoid d20 lately. Not because I dislike the system but because of the 'Meh'.. old hat I suppose.

I see the old d100 Call of Cthulhu is still around. Love the Lovecraft Mythos and all but that "basic roleplaying system" or whatever was never very inspiring to me, or d100 systems in general.

Dammit Carl! · June 02, 2015, 10:05:24 PM

I'm certain that their will be a Chaosium flavored CoC rules version being sold/used/enjoyed long after I have returned to the ground and that is somewhat comforting. Or discomforting considering that once dead, I could be used for nefarious purposes by the dread, old gods or their witless minions. Or maybe that's okay too as I will get to eat brains. Whatevs.

I've no complaint against d20 myself per se (I do admire the attempt at a unified mechanic and ascending Armor Class), but my head can't wrap itself around the class and level system as "realistic," once it moves out of its' fantasy roots. My bias, I suppose.

Arctic Blast · June 03, 2015, 09:19:45 PM

I've enjoyed Weird War II and Deadlands Reloaded. East Texas University and Achtung! Cthulhu both look like potentially intriguing horror settings.

Nefaro · June 03, 2015, 11:35:44 PM

Quote from: Arctic Blast on June 03, 2015, 09:19:45 PM
I've enjoyed Weird War II and Deadlands Reloaded. East Texas University and Achtung! Cthulhu both look like potentially intriguing horror settings.

I'll likely check out Weird War II eventually. I mean.. Nazi werewolves & zombies & evil occultists? Who wouldn't want to enjoy a campaign about hunting those down? ;D

I'm not familiar with ETU.. haven't even heard of it before this. So many settings!

I've debated picking up the most recent version of Call of Cthulhu for quite awhile but that old creaky d100 system.. meh. Maybe I should put the pair(?) of SW ones on my list instead. If nothing else but to introduce more Cthulhu stuff in with the Nazi Werewolves and Undead Gunslingers.

Arctic Blast · June 04, 2015, 02:38:34 PM

Quote from: Nefaro on June 03, 2015, 11:35:44 PM
Quote from: Arctic Blast on June 03, 2015, 09:19:45 PM
I've enjoyed Weird War II and Deadlands Reloaded. East Texas University and Achtung! Cthulhu both look like potentially intriguing horror settings.

I'll likely check out Weird War II eventually. I mean.. Nazi werewolves & zombies & evil occultists? Who wouldn't want to enjoy a campaign about hunting those down? ;D

I'm not familiar with ETU.. haven't even heard of it before this. So many settings!

I've debated picking up the most recent version of Call of Cthulhu for quite awhile but that old creaky d100 system.. meh. Maybe I should put the pair(?) of SW ones on my list instead. If nothing else but to introduce more Cthulhu stuff in with the Nazi Werewolves and Undead Gunslingers.

The only RPG campaign I've ever run was a Weird War II one. I had the players tracking Kampfgruppe Peiper during the Battle of the Bulge. Peiper was a master vampire. His bodyguards were werewolves. There was a LOT of blood magic going on (explaining the massacres). It went reasonable well until the players were absolutely steamrolled during a brutal fight against some infantry supported by a couple of gargoyles and some other nasties. Just a clusterf*ck of bad rolls and it was doom time. :)

ETU only came out a couple of months ago. Publisher blurb :

QuoteStudy. Party. Save the World.

East Texas University promises prestigious leadership, connected alumnae, the fantastic Southern climate of Pinebox, Texas...and annoying roommates, professors that try to kill you (literally), and things that go bump in the night. Enroll at your own risk.

East Texas University offers a well-rounded syllabus of character creation, new Edges & Hindrances, gear, Setting Rules, and tours of campus and nearby Pinebox, Texas. For advanced credit, read the section on rituals and talismans. Finally, the Adventure Generator and encyclopedia of miscreants is sure to light a creative spark in even the most humorless campus parking enforcement officer. There are generator mechanics for parties and adventures as well as Ritual failure and a little thing we like to call "High Strangeness."

Can you survive four years of college?

Achtung! Cthulhu might be what you're looking for. It's a a WWII setting with the character types ranging from soldiers and spies to actresses and other hangers-on dragged towards the mythos. Monsters, madness, warfare, secret Nazi bases in Antarctica...sounds like it could be a fun one. I've been looking at it and ETU for awhile, but I haven't dived in...YET. >:D

Nefaro · June 05, 2015, 12:14:17 PM

Yeah, maybe Achtung Cthulhu would be more my speed.

I've generally just been checking out different settings that include horror/occult and magic themes, often in alt-history or future periods. I think Shadowrun is probably my first true love in such a mish-mash, but I have no qualms about messing around on her. :D

Dammit Carl! · September 02, 2015, 11:57:23 AM

Been out of town for the past month and change (mostly; single days at home here and there), and lo and behold there is a sale on Savage Worlds related materials at DriveThru!

Think its time to take a gander at my collection and possibly plus-up my Savage stuff.

p.s. Danged if I'm going to buy a newer set of rules and such (again) - all my things are circa 2009ish - how bad will that bite me in the butt if I go with some of the newer Deadlands Reloaded items? And yes, I know they say something like, "run with the rules that you have," blah, blah. I just generally like having the most current of rules as that is what is being written for generally.