Since the release of the original Deadlands RPG, it's been one of my favorite games. It's a great western/horror blend with a dash of steampunk (full disclosure--I'm not a big steampunk fan), but it all works well together to make a great setting. One of the most attractive features of Deadlands is its system, which involves resolving some features of the game with hands of poker and using cards to determine initiative. This fits very well with the wild west theme, given the prevelance of poker in old-west movies--and this makes Deadlands one of the most fitting settings for the Savage World system. It helps that the game's original rules were the basis for the Savage World gaming system, of course.

The setting of Deadlands is an alternative history in which a cataclysmic event brings magic and monsters back to the world, and much of the supernatural activity is centered in the American West--which is still a point of contention between the USA and Confederacy, given that the war never ended in this reality. Territories are disputed for the supernatural mineral--ghost rock--that is used to build technological wonders. Players are given a lot of leeway in building characters, and can play pretty much any sort of character found in a Western, such as gunslingers, cattle rustlers, and Native American braves--but also can play supernatural characters if they pick an edge (a character feature in Savage Worlds terms) that gives them the ability to use magic. This makes character creation very flexible, and there are a lot of options for players, including things like nuns and preachers with divine power, Kung-Fu monks, Native American shaman, vudu priests, mad scientists who create technological wonders, and sorcerors called 'huxters', who use decks of cards to work their magic.

The Savage Worlds system provides a set of generic rules on which individual settings build their own additions. Deadlands does so very nicely--especially in the rules for magic, which give a list of magic power options, and how they manifest by caster class. For example, the 'armor' power for a for a player with divine powers will manifest in attacks simply missing them, but the same power for shaman will appear as a shimmering war vest, while a mad scientist will simply wear a bullet-proof vest. Deadlands plays close attention to this sort of flair in their games. The writing does a great job of evoking the old west, with it's use of wild west vocabulary such as using terms like shootin' iron instead of 'gun'), and the renaming of Savage Worlds' 'bennies' as 'fate chips'--poker chips that grant benefits on rolls, with some expanded rules for different colored chips, which again evokes the popularity of poker in Westerns.

Overall, like the original Deadlands RPG, Deadlands Reloaded does a great job of building an old west fantasty setting, and giving it rules that thematically fit the setting. That has always been Deadland's strength, and it contiues to be the case with this edition.

Read the complete review at Geeksagogo.com!

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.

Deadlands is an iconic license from the RPG frontier days, and it gets the polish it deserves here. The lore is interesting and delivered with gusto. Many designers have forgotten the importance of flavor, and this book serves as a reminder. Its also a reminder of how important it is to know your game's genre niche and play to those strengths. Shadowrun had cyberpunk fantasy, D&D had high fantasy, Mechwarrior had war sci-fi, Cyberpunk 2020 had pure cyber, Star Wars had space opera and Deadlands had the Western. Like a grizzled gunslinger, the Reloaded edition evokes that genre spirit at every turn. The mechanics stay true to their roots, but engrave that six shooter with the best that modern design has to offer. If your going to run a Western game, this is your ride pard.

This is a fantastic game that has stood the test of time through its various iterations. The Weird West just keeps getting cooler and cooler.

Deadlands is a classic genre mash-up for which the Savage Worlds rule system works really well. It's nice that Pinnacle has finally updated the rules to fit in to the SW core rules (rather than being an offshoot from them). This book contains all of the core setting information (but not the SW rules! You need to buy the rule book for that), including character generation options. With this and the Deadlands Reloaded Marshal's Handbook, a group has everything they need to jump right in to weird western horror inspired adventures.

What do you mean I can't give six stars? I'll use the same thoughts as I did for the original edition of this game, because after reading this version, I still really think this is a top-notch game. Note that you will need a copy of the 'Savage Worlds Rulebook' to make sense of this (I'd highly recommend the 'Explorer's Edition').

This is one of the most original games you are probably likely to ever play. A mix of Western, Steampunk and Horror, Deadlands manages to blend all of these seamlessly. The book is easily digested in a couple of sittings (I'd recommend taking some time over Hucksters and over the mechanical construction rules).

The designers have a great eye for detail and have themed the game appropriately (I'm yet to see such a successful implementation of the look and feel of a game as this replicated). The game uses poker chips as well as dice for an 'Old West' feel and even the magic system has been devised to make it feel like a unique experience.

The character archetype choices are varied, with a small amount of stereotyping, but reasonably so. The writing style of the book is full of Western movie flavor and statistics and rules are written with the same style.

Despite the differences in the rules, I'd recommend browsing through the back-catalogue of Pinnacle titles for the original Deadlands to supplement this book. they'll provide you with a host of back story, setting information and are simply good reading.

Every roleplayer should play at least one session of this game (although I can guarantee that one won't be enough).

Mount up and let’s ride. It’s Deadlands: Reloaded Player’s Guide and it tells you and your GM just how to start a hoot and hollerin’ good time in a Wild West that’s just a bit different that the one you know. The Civil War never ended, a mysterious new fuel called “ghost rock” became the basis for numerous technologies beyond belief, and of course magic exists (sort of). The introductory chapter focuses on getting players up to speed on the world, its inhabitants, and how they interact. It’s written well. It’s well organized. It’s a fun read. The chapter also contains some charts and tables on currency, criminal sentences, and other such details.

The second chapter lays out how to make your hero. If you’ve ever played Savage Worlds, then you already know this. As a matter of fact, it’s so simple that the instructions are a page long. One page and you can be mostly ready to go. That’s if you don’t include the several pages of Edges and Hindrances, but that’s just the cherry on top.

The next section is the standard gear and goods along with costs and descriptions. Fun stuff all around here. Who doesn’t like loot? Especially when it comes in the form of six shooters and ten gallon hats.

Setting specific rules follow with information on Grit (Willpower equivalent), Fate (multiple types of Fate chips in this game unlike other Savage Worlds settings), gunfighting, and everyone’s favorite . . . quick draw dueling.

For those of you who don’t know exactly what character you want to build from the get-go, there is also a section on specific factions with descriptions of typical characters, flavor text on what makes them special, and specific Edges for that character type. For those of you who want to be even more special, you can play a Harrowed hero. A man or woman who has already died once and it didn’t keep them down. Great stuff.

Notice that I did not say that the book tells you HOW to play the game. No, no it doesn’t. You REQUIRE a Savage Worlds Core Rulebook (I picked up the 3rd Edition: Explorer’s Handbook for $10 on the very same site you are reading this review). Let me say this. Savage Worlds is fast, furious, and fun. If you have any interest in the Old West or just a fan of Savage Worlds, then this is a must have. I am continuously compelled to break this out to run a game or just read it for fun.

The Good: My favorite setting of all time, in my favorite in-print rules system, now with some editing updates and available at a player friendly price. The Bad: Still some options I loved missing, but I can convert those myself. For a full review: http://mostunreadblogever.blogspot.com/2010/08/tommys-take-on-deadlands-reloaded.html