Objective of the Game
Savage Worlds is not a typical board game but a versatile and fast-paced pen-and-paper roleplaying system, designed to run with minimal rules complexity. The objective is to collaboratively tell a thrilling story with fellow players by overcoming in-game challenges.
Setup
- Game type: Role-Playing Game
- Number of Players: At least 2, ideally 3-6
- Materials: Miniatures or tokens to represent characters, a board or sketched maps for specific scenes, standard playing cards for initiative determination, dice (D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, D20), character sheets for each player, a variety of writing utensils, and the core rulebooks.
Game Structure and Rules
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Character Creation: Each player creates a character by allocating a number of dice to attributes and skills. Attributes are usually graded from D4 to D12.
- Attributes: There are five core attributes – Strength, Agility, Smarts, Spirit, and Vigor.
- Skills: Also represent graded dice. The higher the dice, the better the character is in that skill.
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Edges and Hindrances: These are special skills or traits that individualize the character with unique advantages or abilities.
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Combat and Conflict:
- Initiative: Determined by a deck of cards, the order of the cards dictates turn sequence.
- Dice Rolls: Are used for determining the success of actions within the Savage Worlds setting. Rolls are successful if a four-sided "Wild Die" hits a target number.
- Damage and Resistance: In combat, damage is rolled and subtracted from the target's Resistance. If damage exceeds Resistance, the target suffers wounds.
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Progression and Experience: The game master awards experience points, which can be used for character improvements or level advancements.
Strategies and Nuances
- Team Coordination: In Savage Worlds, teamwork is crucial as characters often have different specializations.
- Creativity: Players need to be creative in solving challenges through negotiation, combat, or strategic planning.
- Risk and Luck: As a dice-driven system, chance plays a role, but strategic storytelling and character development can mitigate risks.
Special Features
- Exploding Dice (Acing): When the highest number on a die is rolled, the die is rolled again and the value is added to the total, allowing for exceptional successes.
- Simplicity vs. Depth: Despite its simple core mechanics, the game provides depth through versatility and adaptability for different narratives.
Savage Worlds is a system that thrills with its speed and flexibility, allowing game masters to unfold a variety of stories while players immerse themselves in their roles and create their own adventures.
