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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Lawbag on November 23, 2010, 02:49:36 PM

Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Lawbag on November 23, 2010, 02:49:36 PM
Im pleased to find my group wanting me to run Deadlands again, I have a few adventures and campaigns which they havent played through.

Ive never played Savage Worlds and was wondering how compatible/easy to convert my Classic rules to the new Reloaded setting. Will it require me to relearn a set of rules I already know?
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Danger on November 23, 2010, 03:10:56 PM
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/php4/archive.php?sectioninit=SW&fileid=106&watchfile= (http://www.dragonsfoot.org/php4/archive.php?sectioninit=SW&fileid=106&watchfile=)

Linky to an official (I think) conversion .pdf.

Knew my memory wasn't that bad.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Tommy Brownell on November 23, 2010, 06:18:19 PM
Quote from: Lawbag;419364Im pleased to find my group wanting me to run Deadlands again, I have a few adventures and campaigns which they havent played through.

Ive never played Savage Worlds and was wondering how compatible/easy to convert my Classic rules to the new Reloaded setting. Will it require me to relearn a set of rules I already know?

I found it pretty easy. There are a few things that may be lost if you aren't willing to do the conversion work, as they streamlined a bit too much.

What does the party look like (approximately).

For what it's worth, I was a Classic Deadlands holdout (for years) who caved a couple of years ago and have been sold on Reloaded.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: GrimJesta on November 24, 2010, 12:48:11 AM
Quote from: Tommy Brownell;419406For what it's worth, I was a Classic Deadlands holdout (for years) who caved a couple of years ago and have been sold on Reloaded.

I was too. I wound up getting into Savage Worlds through the Runepunk setting, freakin' loved the game, and thus found myself a Reloaded convert. The only thing that sucked - having to buy a whole new set of books.

Granted, the Savage Worlds: Explorer's Edition is $10, and truthfully it is all you really need. If you're a gamer you have an imagination. So it's safe to assume you could do the conversions on the fly once you know the SW rules and feel comfortable about it. 'Cuz the rules are really that simple to learn.

Edit: Come to think of it, why not get the SW:EE for $10 and read through it. See if you like it. It's not too harsh of a hit on the wallet if you dislike the game, and knowing what the rules are might save you from wasting a ton more loot if you wind up hating it. Joo know mang?

-=Grim=-
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: crkrueger on November 24, 2010, 04:17:02 AM
Classic Deadlands vs.  Deadlands Reloaded
hmm, some analogies

Any great book vs. the Reader's Digest condensed version
Italian food east of the Mississippi vs. Italian food west of the Missisippi
Any great song vs. the Elevator Muzak version
Medium rare Kansas City Ribeye vs. Well done bottom round
Grade A porn vs. Scinemax's "hairy bobbin' man-ass" (props if you get the quote)
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Doctor Jest on November 24, 2010, 06:23:20 AM
I'm an old Classic Deadlands fan. I ran a pretty epic campaign back in the day. I was also a Savage Worlds fan, since the beta rules. Little known fact, Savage Worlds was an evolution of the Great Rail Wars rules for Deadlands.

Initially, I was A-feared the flavor of dead lands would be lost without the complexity. I am happy to say I was wrong. After actually having played Reloaded, I can't really see going back to Classic, as much as I enjoyed it.

Despite what a previous poster would like to suggest, it's not a watered down or "Muzak" version, it stands by it's own merits. The question is one of rule complexity, not quality. If you like complexity, then there is no reason to change fromClassic, but if you want all the same flavor with less work, Reloaded is the way to go.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Phantom Black on November 24, 2010, 01:19:52 PM
Quote from: Doctor Jest;419490Little known fact, Savage Worlds was an evolution of the Great Rail Wars rules for Deadlands.

This is a widely known fact.
At least among Savages here in Germany.
^^
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: crkrueger on November 24, 2010, 05:19:42 PM
Quote from: Doctor Jest;419490you want all the same flavor with less work, Reloaded is the way to go.
All of the flavor, really?  Even some diehard proponents of Reloaded I've encountered admit quite a bit was lost in the translation, they just think it was worth it.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Doctor Jest on November 24, 2010, 05:35:33 PM
Quote from: CRKrueger;419651All of the flavor, really?  Even some diehard proponents of Reloaded I've encountered admit quite a bit was lost in the translation, they just think it was worth it.

In actual play, what you lose is vanishingly small. There is a lot of fiddliness in Classic that seems like it is where the flavor comes from, but in actual play contribute very little.

Reload is a slightly different flavor, but the flavor is all there. Different doesn't mean lesser.

Reloaded still has the key elements: poker chips and cards, for instance, still feature in much the same way.

The big complaint I've heard is that cards aren't used for character generation. However, even that has been converted by enterprising fans, so you can still do it that way if you like.

Visit the pinnacle forums if you want to tweak reloaded in certain ways.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Tommy Brownell on November 24, 2010, 08:02:13 PM
Quote from: CRKrueger;419651All of the flavor, really?  Even some diehard proponents of Reloaded I've encountered admit quite a bit was lost in the translation, they just think it was worth it.

I wouldn't say "quite a bit" was lost...but some of the stuff that WAS lost is being filtered back in under Matthew Cutter, who is the line director now (and seems to have a mindset similar to my own about some of the stuff that was missing).

Some of the stuff I REALLY liked will NEVER come back officially (such as werewolves as PCs), but I can fix that myself. My biggest thing is that I would have liked to have seen more of the powers and powers options brought over...(but again, they are slowly working on that...Martial Artists got beefed up in The Flood, and Shamans are said to in Last Sons). I have had a Huckster player complain that Hucksters are too easy now...*boggles the mind*

For my part, I love not tracking Wind, I'm cool with losing Wound Locations, and I vastly prefer the shortened skill list and don't think it takes anything away by not having Shootin' skills for pistols, shotguns, rifles, gatlin' weapons, etc.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: RPGPundit on November 25, 2010, 07:37:47 AM
I can't see myself having the least bit of interest in reloaded.

RPGPundit
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: VictorC on November 30, 2010, 06:19:50 AM
Quote from: RPGPundit;419897I can't see myself having the least bit of interest in reloaded.

RPGPundit

Oh... my... God.

I agree with you.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Lawbag on November 30, 2010, 12:15:36 PM
Thanks for all the feedback.
I'm going to give the classic a good shakedown, see how this group likes the setting and rules.
If they like the setting but not the rules, I know what to do.
If they like the rules and not the setting, well there's Savage Worlds...

What was peoples favourite Deadlands module and supplement?
And what non-DL supplement or book would you recommend for the wild west?
I've converted some of the old Rifts books to fit the weird and wasted west.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Tommy Brownell on November 30, 2010, 08:31:41 PM
Quote from: Lawbag;421283Thanks for all the feedback.
I'm going to give the classic a good shakedown, see how this group likes the setting and rules.
If they like the setting but not the rules, I know what to do.
If they like the rules and not the setting, well there's Savage Worlds...

What was peoples favourite Deadlands module and supplement?
And what non-DL supplement or book would you recommend for the wild west?
I've converted some of the old Rifts books to fit the weird and wasted west.

I loved both Rascals, Varmints and Critters books...probably liking #2 the most. #1 had the Animal Companion rules, though, and those were nice...(I dig the non-standard character options).

I never got around to using a lot of published modules, but the Night Train module has an almost Tomb of Horrors like reputation now among DL fans.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Koltar on December 01, 2010, 01:42:18 AM
Quote from: Lawbag;421283Thanks for all the feedback.
I'm going to give the classic a good shakedown, see how this group likes the setting and rules.
If they like the setting but not the rules, I know what to do.
If they like the rules and not the setting, well there's Savage Worlds...

What was peoples favourite Deadlands module and supplement?
And what non-DL supplement or book would you recommend for the wild west?
I've converted some of the old Rifts books to fit the weird and wasted west.

Lawbag - IF you can find it, take a look at GURPS: DEADLANDS.
(Yes, there was a GURPS version)

It had some really cool 3-d style overhead view maps of famous Old West towns in the book. I recommend for the fluff.

- Ed C.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Danger on December 01, 2010, 10:37:23 AM
...now if they'd gets all 'bout putting Deadlands: Hell on Earth - Reloaded (my title), then perhaps, Mr. Pinnacle Man, I wouldn't shop my love around to other games.

Hmmmmm?
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Tommy Brownell on December 01, 2010, 05:20:19 PM
Quote from: Danger;421717...now if they'd gets all 'bout putting Deadlands: Hell on Earth - Reloaded (my title), then perhaps, Mr. Pinnacle Man, I wouldn't shop my love around to other games.

Hmmmmm?

It's coming. I think they've said it's in editing at this point, but I won't swear it.
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: islan on December 01, 2010, 07:29:35 PM
Quote from: VictorC;421177Oh... my... God.

I agree with you.

Umm, I take it you are so shocked because you never agree with him?

I bought the Classic Deadlands a ways back, thought the setting looked both interesting and very different from what I was used to.  I was quickly turned away from it by the system, however.  Just came off as way too clunky and a headache to GM.

Fast forward to now, and I have and love Savage Worlds, but I have not yet gotten around to getting Reloaded yet.  Other than greatly improving on the system (imo), what differences are there really in Reloaded?
Title: Classic Deadlands vs SW Deadlands Reloaded
Post by: Tommy Brownell on December 01, 2010, 09:04:07 PM
Quote from: islan;422010Umm, I take it you are so shocked because you never agree with him?

I bought the Classic Deadlands a ways back, thought the setting looked both interesting and very different from what I was used to.  I was quickly turned away from it by the system, however.  Just came off as way too clunky and a headache to GM.

Fast forward to now, and I have and love Savage Worlds, but I have not yet gotten around to getting Reloaded yet.  Other than greatly improving on the system (imo), what differences are there really in Reloaded?

Other than bumping the timeline up a bit, there's not.

They just made it run smoother.

They've also been systematically updating all of the old adventures to Reloaded as well, for those who haven't had the time or been comfortable doing it themselves.