Savage Worlds is a generic set of RPG rules that can be applied to many genres and settings, be they purely historical, or set in fantasy or sci-fi worlds. Savage Worlds largely based on the rules for the Wild West horror game, Deadlands (which you can play under these rules!), and has been expanded into a system that can be applied to any setting. This system is known for its use of different polyhedral dice to represent a character's ability and skill level (1d4 for the lowest, through 1d12 for highest), and playing cards to represent combat initiative order. Players roll their die to meet a target number, and the game uses exploding dice--they get re-rolled and the result added if they come up with the highest result. Playing cards are handed out at the start of combat and players act in order of the value of their cards. The mechanics of the game are, for the most part, good and easy to understand, though there are a few small issues with some aspects. The use of exploding dice creates some irregularities in terms of probability. For example, players rolling a d8 to have a slightly better chance of rolling a 10 (by rolling an 8 and then re-rolling to hit at least a 2) than player rolling a d10, even though a d8 attribute is supposed to be the weaker of the two. This only happens in limited circumstances and only accounts for a small difference. Playing cards determining initiative is a very interesting and unique mechanic that can make combat more dynamic than in other games. This use of different die types for ability/skill rolls, and playing cards really sets Savage Worlds apart from other gaming systems that typically have you rolling the same d6s or d20 repeatedly and adding a modifier, but these mechanics do add a bit of overhead to gameplay. Savage Worlds Deluxe Edition's main strength is that it somehow blends versatility and brevity. It's a relatively short book for an RPG rulebook, but it gives you so much, and it's easy to get a game going. You don't even need to read through the entire 160 or so pages to be able to run a game--and you'll be able to run games in multiple settings once you know the basic rules. The game even includes 5 adventures, two set in medieval fantasy worlds, two modern-day settings (one with a horror twist, and the other with a crime theme), and another in outer-space. There's enough material to create your own setting and adventures. There are rules for pretty much anything you want to do, from melee with ancient weapons, to piloting space ships, to magic. It even has some nice rules for modern-day combat tactics, such as supressive fire, and semi-automatic weapons. Though Savage Worlds Deluxe Edition offers a great place to start, the system is enhanced by settings that expand upon the base rules. Once you learn the rules, pick up some sourcebooks and setting guides that offer setting-specific rules and rich background material for your adventures. We look forward to reviewing some of these settings in the future.

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PDF does match printed copy from the collectors box set.

It is an interesting setting to play in, with well though rules to make it feel different even at mechanical level, and playing very differently to how modern times’ monster hunters would. I wrote a more detailed review here.

It is not perfect for every story and genre, but it is quite good for most, specially any adventure oriented setting or theme, to introduce people to the hobby. Good with long campaigns and very good when planning one-shots with all one-sheets around. Here is a more detailed review.

This is the best generic system I've ever played or read. It's simple to teach to new players (I've taught people to play who have never even played video game rpgs) and quick to run: you can run interesting tactical battles with 20 adversaries per side that go just as quickly as a typical D&D fight with 5 players vs 5 monsters. It's very flexible and easy to hack for almost any sort of game you want to run, from space opera to old school dungeon crawling.

Still a comic-book setting without much in the way of sense, style, or substance. Much like Rifts, they hurl everything into one setting: Old West, Occult, the saddest steampunk avalible, and anything else they can think of.

JUdicious editing and adult leadership would have taken a promising concept and produced two great settings.

This is an excellent set of rules. Well written and easy to understand, it will make play run smoothly, quickly and efficiently. A simple task resolution system that applies to combat it lends itself to both narrative play and combat resolution.

Skills are grouped into easy to adapt sets and hinderances and edges are explained in a coincise manner. Purchasing equipment and dealing damage is done in a straightforward way.

They have several settings already fleshed out (Deadlands Reloaded, Solomon Kane, Weird War, Ripper, Space 1889, etc) and it can easily be adapted to any sandbox setting with a minimum of effort.

I really like these rules and I glad I ran across them.

A great resource for pulp sci-fi. Whether you're running Flash Gordon, Slipstream, or some other setting, there's a ton of nice edges, hindrances, gear, creatures, and adventure ideas to mine from this book. The art is beautiful, and I especially like all the clippings from the comics everywhere.

A wonderful Retro 'Rockets and Rayguns' style SciFi RPG. Look no further for Flash Gordon style adventures in a well thought out pulp setting covered in plot hooks.

A half dozen pulp-scifi style species to play as with good roleplaying details for each

A Large gazeteer of the Slipstream setting

A complete plot point campaign

A dozen 'Savage Tales' suitable for oneshots, sidequests or random encounters.

A random adventure generator

A large bestiary of pulp-scifi baddies and monsters

Full colour art throughout. The PDF is bookmarked.

Man! What a gip! The author(s) made no attempt to impose any soert of internal consistancy on the material. They juat took the lazy way out an slapped down ahost of out-dated and silly ideas with no thought to making it appealing to a new gneration! What a dissapointment. Also...where are the rocketships !?!

Solid work with a good variety of wierd vs wild and historical, as everyone else has mentioned. My only gripe is that rather than one of the outstanding pieces of artwork, if they could have included a player friendly route map. It would have helped focus the group on the progress they are making. A helpful addition when running a "traveling" style adventure in any genre.

Just to be clear, these characters are all Seasoned (20xp). Ron is mistaken though: " Arcane Background(Hex-slinger), which in the current rules has been rolled into Arcane Background(Magic), aka the Huckster." is not true anymore since the official DL:R Hexslinger was released with the Stone and a Hard Place Plot Point campaign that these are designed for.

I would have given 5 stars if these had come with the figure flats to match the pregens, but they're well done just the same.

You get 2 "maps" which are really 1 "map" with the same PShop Tile texture with circles stacked on top to make "rocks". Complete ripoff.

I expected a variety of tables to chose from. Instead you get three pages of tables which seem to be the same like the free Screen Inserts, downloadable from Pinnacle Entertainment's Website and a collection of artwork for the front. This product is completely useless for me. They should make it clear in the product description that there are only three pages of tables or they should add the tables to the preview, so you can see which table pages are included.

We play lots of 1930s era Savage Worlds so this is an invaluable asset. Especially like the relics part.