Re: [WW] Re: STOCS & the Deadlands System

["Dan Sulin" <grandmasternilus@hotmail.com>]

>How do other people find the Deadlands system? I am
>not saying it is utterly without redemption but there
>always seemed to be far too much die rolling, combat
>seemed overly complicated with too many steps involved
>and too many different mechanisms.
>
Its great for what is what meant to do.  Simulate a shot for shot, gun 
blazing western shoot out.  For small groups of people(no more them 10 on 
each side)  it works great.  I honestly have never had a problem with a lot 
of dice rolling.  But there are a lot of rolls in the standard attack 
action.

The two major problems I have had are

1) Steep learning curve.  Its not an easy system to pick up,  it takes a few 
really good play sessions to get the players use to the rules.  That being 
said, once they know the rules the game moves much quicker(I guess you can 
say that about any game really)

2) Large Fight break downs.  Like I said, its great for small Western style 
gunfights.  But it doesn't work well for mass combat.  A lot of people have 
there own house rules to help spead up mass combat but there is nothin built 
into the system(unless you count the quick combat system put into the HOE 
Unity Adventure)

Overall I think the good out wieght the bad for the system.  The Thing is 
that the Deadlands system is good for Deadlands.  The Chips, Cards, funny 
names for actions,  all are there for a western game(western horror, Post 
Apoc Western, and Western in Space).  They do more the help determine if the 
action is a success,  they help set the mood for the game.

Would I use the Deadlands system for any other game I run(WW, Fading Suns, 
Exalted, D&D),  No.  But If I ever found another western style game that had 
a cool story line but not a great system, most definetly.

Dan

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