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Author Topic: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands  (Read 3370 times)

GeekyBugle

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Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« on: August 03, 2022, 12:25:03 PM »
Okay, hear me out, an OSR-ish game of Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands.

Post Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands (name very much a place holder).

Civilization in ruins, new diseases, mutated animals/plants, radiation/bio wastelands... But despite it all life goes on, people rise up to meet the challenge and to overcome!

Races:

Humans.- No noticeable mutations, but it's very unlikely there's a single non mutated human left.

The Scann (Psions) (Still searching for a name).- Mutated Humans whose mutation grants them psionic powers like telepathy, biokinesis, etc.

Cympanji (Elevated Ape).- It's unclear how but some of the great apes gained human like intelligence, it's suspected there might be other Elevated species but none have been encountered yet.

Gori.- Mutated Humans whose mutation gave them a rhinoceros like hide, a foot taller than "normal" Humans, stronger but also physically slower.

Classes:

Shaman-Healer-Medicine Man/Woman-Lore Keeper
Raider (As in tomb raider)
Hunter
Drifter
Tinkerer

It's just about 200 years after the fall, not all of humanity was thrown into the stone age if any (still not sure about that).

There's no lasers, light sabers, blasters, etc. (So far I'm putting the fall in the 21st century).
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hedgehobbit

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2022, 12:46:32 PM »
There's no lasers, light sabers, blasters, etc. (So far I'm putting the fall in the 21st century).

Are you sure about putting the fall in the current day? The date used for the fall has a pretty big impact on the setting's available gear and aesthetic. I'd suggest an earlier date back when the tech was more durable and more likely to be usable 200 years post collapse. The 1980s perhaps?
« Last Edit: August 03, 2022, 01:16:16 PM by hedgehobbit »

RandyB

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2022, 12:51:43 PM »
Hieros Journey, by Sterling Lanier, has a similar feel.

VisionStorm

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2022, 01:21:02 PM »
Cowboys of the Wastelands has a nice ring to it (don't know if taken). I picture a guy with a cowboy hat and a wastelander jacket riding a lowrider through a Mad Max wasteland.

Races
Not bad ideas, but no random mutations race? Also Elevated Lizards might go better with a wasteland desert theme (particularly if this is set in the Americas, where there are no apes), but apes could could work too if they're some sort of escaped pre-cataclysm genetic experiments that managed to thrive in the wild.

Classes
Lacks warrior classes. If Raider = Tomb Raiders (as in exploring pre-cataclysm ruins for goods) a term like Scavenger might work best. "Raider" tends to be used for ruthless wasteland warriors in post-apocalyptic fiction.

A "wastelander" class might be good just to throw that term out there. Might work as another term for "hunter" or "wasteland ranger/survival specialist". Or might be a more general warrior class.

BoxCrayonTales

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2022, 01:33:02 PM »
Are you using Mutant Future rules?

GeekyBugle

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2022, 02:05:58 PM »
Cowboys of the Wastelands has a nice ring to it (don't know if taken). I picture a guy with a cowboy hat and a wastelander jacket riding a lowrider through a Mad Max wasteland.

Races
Not bad ideas, but no random mutations race? Also Elevated Lizards might go better with a wasteland desert theme (particularly if this is set in the Americas, where there are no apes), but apes could could work too if they're some sort of escaped pre-cataclysm genetic experiments that managed to thrive in the wild.

Classes
Lacks warrior classes. If Raider = Tomb Raiders (as in exploring pre-cataclysm ruins for goods) a term like Scavenger might work best. "Raider" tends to be used for ruthless wasteland warriors in post-apocalyptic fiction.

A "wastelander" class might be good just to throw that term out there. Might work as another term for "hunter" or "wasteland ranger/survival specialist". Or might be a more general warrior class.
Random mutations, as a PC? could be, since I guess there's still mutants being born, yes, I like it.

What's the biggest lizard in the US? I'm not going for a substitute for halflings. I figure there's enough chimps in your Zoos as to have them mutated by whatever, escape and then multiply over 200 years.

I figured the Drifter would be the warrior, kinda western but it's not gunslinger.
Scavenger... Yes, I like it.
Wastelander... Could be, instead of Drifter, and it's the warrior class.
Hunter because I am trying to avoid the Brave because it's not really a NA tribesman.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

― George Orwell

GeekyBugle

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2022, 02:07:39 PM »
Are you using Mutant Future rules?

Haven't figured that part out yet.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

― George Orwell

GeekyBugle

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2022, 02:10:39 PM »
There's no lasers, light sabers, blasters, etc. (So far I'm putting the fall in the 21st century).

Are you sure about putting the fall in the current day? The date used for the fall has a pretty big impact on the setting's available gear and aesthetic. I'd suggest an earlier date back when the tech was more durable and more likely to be usable 200 years post collapse. The 1980s perhaps?

Now, that's something I hadn't thought. On the one hand it would make finding usable stuff harder, on the other hand it would make finding usable stuff harder...

Choices, choices... Will have to think it out because you DO have a point.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

― George Orwell

rytrasmi

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2022, 02:19:57 PM »
An apocalypse would trigger a lot of latent religiosity, so for classes you might want to add priest, prophet, soothsayer, etc.

Also, as a fan of MCC RPG, random mutations are also very fun.
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out
The ones that crawl in are lean and thin
The ones that crawl out are fat and stout
Your eyes fall in and your teeth fall out
Your brains come tumbling down your snout
Be merry my friends
Be merry

Effete

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2022, 02:27:47 PM »
Sounds similar to Broken Earth, by Sneak Attack Press (Savage Worlds), which also includes sentient chimanzees as a playable race.

Instead of "Raider" I'd probably go with Scavver or Delver if the class is focused on finding useful stuff in the ruins of the wastes.

Deadlands: Hell on Earth uses the term Psyker for their "psionists." You might want to do something a little different for your game and add a unique twist to psionics. Maybe digging around in peoples' thoughts makes them a little loopy. Psicho would be a cool class name.

What's the general focus of each class?
Raider seems like an analog for the rogue/thief, and Hunter probably fills the role of scout/ranger. Is Drifter the fighter? Is Tinkerer a magic class, or are their abilities rooted in the mundane?

Otherwise, it looks neat. I'm always down for a new post-apoc setting.

SHARK

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2022, 03:18:29 PM »
Greetings!

The biggest Lizard in the US? Probably the Ghila Monster, a pretty thick-limbed, and foul-tempered creature that lives in the South-Western United States. There may be some as well in the deserts of California.

Other than that, well, there are the ferocious Alligators! They live in the South-Eastern United States--Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida. Pretty much in the swamps and marshes. They can get very large--and they like to eat people, too. ;D

I understand that it is fairly common for folks down there abouts to walk outside into their backyard, hoping to go swimming in their pool, and they often encounter Alligators swimming in their pool! *Laughing* Or the Alligators are lounging about poolside, sunning themselves.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK
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Zalman

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2022, 03:46:21 PM »
I understand that it is fairly common for folks down there abouts to walk outside into their backyard, hoping to go swimming in their pool, and they often encounter Alligators swimming in their pool! *Laughing* Or the Alligators are lounging about poolside, sunning themselves.

LOL I can assure you that it's not "common" to find gators in Florida swimming pools. Canals and lakes (which are everywhere), that's another story!

One other thing to note, the crocodiles in Florida are actually larger and much more dangerous, but not nearly as numerous.
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GeekyBugle

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2022, 04:22:21 PM »
An apocalypse would trigger a lot of latent religiosity, so for classes you might want to add priest, prophet, soothsayer, etc.

Also, as a fan of MCC RPG, random mutations are also very fun.

You are correct. On both counts.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

― George Orwell

GeekyBugle

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2022, 04:26:55 PM »
Sounds similar to Broken Earth, by Sneak Attack Press (Savage Worlds), which also includes sentient chimanzees as a playable race.

Instead of "Raider" I'd probably go with Scavver or Delver if the class is focused on finding useful stuff in the ruins of the wastes.

Deadlands: Hell on Earth uses the term Psyker for their "psionists." You might want to do something a little different for your game and add a unique twist to psionics. Maybe digging around in peoples' thoughts makes them a little loopy. Psicho would be a cool class name.

What's the general focus of each class?
Raider seems like an analog for the rogue/thief, and Hunter probably fills the role of scout/ranger. Is Drifter the fighter? Is Tinkerer a magic class, or are their abilities rooted in the mundane?

Otherwise, it looks neat. I'm always down for a new post-apoc setting.

Yep, a friend on discord told me the same thing about broken earth.

I had thought on having the telepaths go crazy and kill themselves or start a murder spree to stop hearing the voices in their heads. Keeping only the telekinetics at play. I've been working on my own take for psionics for a while.

You got all of the classes except the tinkerer, it's sort of a depowered gadgeteer but he cobles things together from the scraps they take to town, also the mechanic that'll fix your car, etc.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

― George Orwell

GeekyBugle

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Re: Post-Apocalyptic Cowboys of the Wastelands
« Reply #14 on: August 03, 2022, 04:30:01 PM »
Greetings!

The biggest Lizard in the US? Probably the Ghila Monster, a pretty thick-limbed, and foul-tempered creature that lives in the South-Western United States. There may be some as well in the deserts of California.

Other than that, well, there are the ferocious Alligators! They live in the South-Eastern United States--Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida. Pretty much in the swamps and marshes. They can get very large--and they like to eat people, too. ;D

I understand that it is fairly common for folks down there abouts to walk outside into their backyard, hoping to go swimming in their pool, and they often encounter Alligators swimming in their pool! *Laughing* Or the Alligators are lounging about poolside, sunning themselves.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Greetings hermano! Good to see you back! (Now if we could only get Pat back too).

LOL gators and crocks aren't lizards.

As far as I know (and I'm no expert) the bigest lizard (if they are that) in the continent would be the Iguana. Anyhow I might go for lizard men or maybe not. Who knows at this point?
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

― George Orwell