Deadlands: The Weird West Box Set Reviewed

[@matthewconstantine5015]

This is tempting. I had so much fun playing Deadlands way back when. I just don't think I could put together a group at this point, and it's a game I'd really want to play in person. Weird not to have the action deck.

[@wylde_hunter]

Good post for a good system. Shame about the action deck but there is one to buy separately so that's OK. Personally, I would have liked flats in the box. All in all, the Deadlands Boxed Set is definitely on my shopping list.

[@Thegaminggang]

If you do pick up the box set, be sure to let Pinnacle Entertainment Group know you checked out this review; it goes a long way when publishers know a review helped someone make their buying decision. And, of course, enjoy! ~ Jeff

[@MisanthropicPrime]

@@Thegaminggang This was one of the earlier SWADE box sets. Most of those early ones didn't include an Action deck, whereas nowadays it's pretty standard to include one. I wouldn't be surprised to see a future reprint of this boxset that includes the themed-action deck.

[@Wraithing]

Hey Jeff. It's fascinating to hear your review. Because I backed the Kickstarter and got the oversized action deck along with the first set of pawns and the Headstone Hill Campaign boxset (a pretty good adventure covering all the bases with a western town and central idea weird enough to truly make it the Weird West), I didn't really have the issues that would pull down the score by 20%. Although my pledge was more than double the price and the action deck was a stretch goal. But I certainly understand that by itself, the box isn't as comprehensive as Savage Pathfinder. The omission of the action deck seems obvious, especially when dice and Bennies are included in the box as standard. Excellent, thoughtful review.

[@kevinrsmith2947]

I think I know why you skip from the d8 to the d12: In the really old days of TTRPGs, there were no 10-sided dice. They were created in the mid-70s or later.

[@wylde_hunter]

I still have d10s & percentage dice from the 1970s in my collection. We were using them in wargaming before RPGs started. There were no 10/20/30/40 etc dice though, they only used a single digit for 10s - usually a different colour from units.

[@kevinrsmith2947]

@@wylde_hunter I know that some early d20s were printed with numbers from 1-10 twice and were usable as d10s. But if true d10s were available before D&D came out, I wonder why Arneson kept saying he used d6es exclusively in his early Blackmoor games because he didn't have access to "fancy dice."

[@wylde_hunter]

Gary Gygax got his first 20-sided dice from an advert in Wargamer's Newsletter in 1971. They were numbered 0-9 twice and could be used as d10s or d20s. Two of them could be used for d100s. I still have some from the 1970s

[@martyh360]

Another interesting review! More of these!

[@Thegaminggang]

More to come!

[@themadman9735]

This is yet another setting I’m hoping to run at some point. With Blood Drive and the upcoming Night Train, as well as Horror at Headstone Hill, there’s a lot of content to run this setting with. And, as you mentioned, all of the Deadlands Reloaded can be picked up to provide even more content. I really think this will be a fun setting to run for my group. We’ll see what setting they want me to run after ETU is done.

[@michaelmullenfiddler]

I am curious if you have ever taken a look at DCC Wierd Frontiers?

[@puente29712]

Great review. Thanks Jeff.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

I was looking for a Wild west style campaign for my group. I wonfernif switching to Deadlands would be cool. I may end up doing it all online, so pdf's will be useful. Thank you.

[@mattschelsky4855]

Regarding your comment about the included adventure and Novice versus Seasoned, remember that the archetype cards you're given are Seasoned characters.