![The King of Santa Fe [Western | New players welcome!]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fspg-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com%2F0e1c2b8e-bb09-4f8e-aea2-ca18e632b5cd&w=3840&q=75)
The King of Santa Fe [Western | New players welcome!]
Railroads and cattle kings clash in 1873 New Mexico, where greed and gun smoke rule the frontier—and the West is bought in blood.
TYPE
SYSTEM
LANGUAGE
EXPERIENCE
AGE
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Sunday - 2:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–3.5 hours
1 / 7 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
1/7
About the adventure
[ 50% off your 1st session! ] “Hot wind off the Jornada, gun smoke on the air, and no law worth the name for a hundred miles. Folks say this territory’s wide open—but truth is, it’s already spoken for. You just gotta decide whose name you’re willing to sign it under.” 🤠 THE KING OF SANTA FE The railroads are coming, the cattle kings are circling, and every man with a badge—or a gun—claims to speak for justice. In the dry heart of New Mexico, 1873, the frontier stands on the edge of change, where ambition burns hotter than the desert sun and every choice can shift the fate of a town. From the bustling saloons of Steaming Rock to the dust-choked streets of Jornada Springs and the lawless canyons of Carson’s Folly, the land is ripe with promise and poisoned by greed. You and your companions ride into this crucible as drifters, lawmen, settlers, or outlaws—each chasing something the desert might never give back. Every deal has a cost, and in this territory, the West isn’t won—it’s taken. 🏜️ BACKGROUND The New Mexico Territory, 1873—a land claimed by empires but ruled by no one. The Civil War’s scars still linger, and the railroads cut deeper every day. Cattle barons build kingdoms from stolen land, miners carve fortunes out of sacred hills, and politicians in Santa Fe sell justice to the highest bidder. Amid it all, whispers tell of a rising power: an ambitious merchant empire seeking to unite the territory under its banner of profit and control. Townsfolk call its leader The King of Santa Fe, though no man wears the crown for long. Every ranch war, rail contract, and bullet fired in anger ties back to that shadowed throne—and whether you fight to claim it, serve it, or tear it down, your story will be written in dust and blood. ⚙️ SYSTEM OVERVIEW Tales of the Old West uses the Year Zero Engine, a fast, story-driven D6 dice-pool system where every 6 is a success—and you can “push your luck” for a second chance at the cost of stress, injury, or worse. It’s simple to learn, rich in tension, and built for cinematic Western storytelling. Players balance Health, Grit, and Reputation as they face the hardships of frontier life—gunfights, betrayal, harsh weather, and moral tests that cut deeper than any bullet. Every roll shapes your legend, and every scar tells how far you’re willing to go to survive. ⚖️ Whether you ride for justice, profit, or vengeance, The King of Santa Fe delivers a sweeping Western saga of corruption, consequence, and the price of ambition.
Game style
Sandbox / Open World
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(20)
3 years on StartPlaying
51 games hosted
Highly rated for: Teacher, Knows the Rules, Creativity
Average response time: 13 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Greetings and Salutations! Thank you for taking the time to view my profile. SOCIAL LINKS : https://bio.link/fatherj I am FatherJ from the Northeast United States. I really enjoy RPGs from Free League Publishing and the Year Zero Engine. I would love to run one of their games for you! Eastern Time Zone EST: UTC−05:00 standard [ EDT: UTC−04:00 daylight savings] I have been playing many different Table Top Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs) for 15 years, 13 years as GM. I have run hundreds of sessions in over a dozen different science fiction and fantasy RPG systems for an equally wide variety of people in person, at gaming clubs, at gaming stores and online. I have been running online games since 2023. I have 5 children and 4 cats. My day job is in the Information Technology field. My main goal is to have fun games where my players can feel comfortable and become invested in. Nothing makes me feel happier in RPGs than listening to my players enthusiastically recount the tales we have created together. My focus is to share my love for Free League games (Year Zero Engine) by providing people the opportunity to play these wonderful games online. Real life situations had caused a gap in my gaming, but I was inspired by running into Free League Publishing games to get back into TTRPGs two years ago. I have come to StartPlaying looking to run some serious and/or seriously fun sessions. I want to see what I can add to this community! My story telling style is light and flows easy. I do not let the mechanics detract from the experience, but use them to enhance the story you want to be told! I love GMing online. The amount of tools available to online play really enhance the game, in my opinion. I know Foundry VTT pretty well, and I would be more than happy to help teach new and seasoned players alike how good online play can be. Beginner and LGBT+ Friendly. I have taught new systems to new players. I enjoy the experience. We were all new players, or new to a system, at one time.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We’ll hold a Session Zero for character creation one hour before game start on Foundry VTT (solo or group), with discussion via my Discord server to go over character ideas, rules, and expectations. Players can also create characters beforehand and import them, or schedule time with me to finalize details. Pre-generated characters are available on request, and backups are recommended due to the game’s lethality. Late joiners will be supported with character creation, but if setup isn’t completed by session start, a pre-gen or temporary NPC will be used. Please sign up at least 24 hours in advance to ensure everything’s ready.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
◆ To play, you'll need a computer (not a phone/tablet) capable of running Foundry VTT, a free Discord account, headphones, a decent mic (headset mics are okay but standalone mics are preferred), a stable internet connection (1mbps+), and a quiet environment. ◆ A webcam is optional but highly recommended. ◆ A good attitude, respect for others, and focus are essential. Join my Discord server after booking, prepare your mic and space, and if you're new, feel free to review the Foundry tutorial [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0jfRtmuwxU ] and the YZE rules [ https://freeleaguepublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/YZE-Standard-Reference-Document.pdf ]. Join my Discord server, FreeVerse Studio: https://discord.gg/Y3cRVPRZSd I’m happy to assist new or returning players with rules and setup!
What FatherJ brings to the table
◆ Foundry Virtual Table Top (VTT) [Free for players] with premium modules/assets. Foundry is web based and has everything we need to run the game - the game system, character sheets, Interesting battlemaps, music, and sound effects are provided as well. Also some additional add on modules to enhance the system and user experience (like virtual dice). It is free for the players to connect and use. ◆ Discord server [Free for players] is used for voice with dedicated channels for group chat (online & offline) (a Discord account is necessary). ◆ VDO ninja for any webcam/video conferencing [Free for players]. It is web based. ◆ Themed PC tokens made from art you provide! A large library of awesome tokens, maps, artwork, music, and characters. Details and links will provided once you have signed up for a session. In each session, I will be prepared and excited to get started. I will do my best to ensure that all of my players are given chances at the spotlight and are encouraged to work together as a team. I will always be willing to listen as problems arise, and I am happy to problem solve issues if they occur.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How FatherJ creates a safe table
Overall tone of game aims for a PG-13 rating, sometimes drifting to R based on fantasy rpg violence/situations. All players are encouraged to speak up if the tone drifts beyond their comfort zone. Safety and respectful enjoyment come first. A consent form is requested to be filled out prior to the session to understand boundaries and any particular triggering items (lines and veils). There is open door policy that you may step away from the session at any time without explanation. If possible, leave a quick “BRB” in chat and let us know when you return. You may also DM the Game Master (GM) directly at any time. Mid-point 10 min break Debriefing & Stars/Wishes
Content warnings
Safety tools used