Objective of the Game:
In "Deadlands," players take on the roles of "Harrowed," brave individuals in an alternate Wild West world filled with supernatural threats and mysteries. The objective is to investigate mysterious events, combat dark forces, and ultimately defeat the evil lurking in this world.
Game Materials:
- Player Character Sheets: Each player has a character sheet that records the stats, abilities, and equipment of their Harrowed.
- Poker Cards: These are used not only for play but also for resource determination and initiative.
- Dice: Various dice types (D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, D20) are needed to perform actions.
- Chips: Different colors used in the game as resources or "Bennies" (luck chips).
- Game Master Screen and Rulebooks: Used by the Game Master (GM) to guide the game world and apply the rules.
Starting the Game:
1. Character Creation: Each player creates their Harrowed character by choosing race, occupation, skills, edges, and hindrances and then allocating points to determine attributes.
2. The Game Master prepares an adventure as a narrative framework.
Gameplay:
- Narration Rounds: The GM describes scenes and events, and players act and react based on their character's skills.
- Conflict Rounds: In conflict situations such as battles, initiatives, attacks, and defenses are determined using specific rules. Poker cards are crucial for determining initiative.
- Dice Rolls: Players roll dice to perform tasks, comparing results against difficulty levels. These results are influenced by the character's attribute or skill value and any modifiers.
- Success & Failure: Critical hits occur when the maximum number on a die is rolled, granting additional benefits or effects. Conversely, critical failures can lead to negative or dramatically poor outcomes.
Key Features: - Luck and Bennies: Players can use Bennies to re-roll dice results or influence the narrative. - Magic: Deadlands features a unique form of magic or supernatural power known as "Hexing," which requires special card checks.
Strategies: - Teamwork: Cooperation and role distribution among the group are key to successfully completing the adventure. - Resource Management: Wise use of Bennies and strategic application of skills can determine the success or failure of the adventure.
Deadlands combines Western elements with supernatural themes, requiring creativity, strategic thinking, and collaboration to solve mystical secrets and overcome threats.
