Survey Says!? | Learn to Play Deadlands | Begginner Friendly

Creating your character

Deadland's character creation can be a bit on the homeworky side, as such I will provide a number of different characters that players can just pick up and play or we can complete character creation together either during session 0 or before regularly scheduled games. For this campaign we will be using the standard deadlands character creation rules with expanded tables. If a player has a quesiton about supplemental materials I am willing to consider their requests as this system realies heavily on player generated content. Because this is a beginner friendly campaign I will be working closely with new players to help them get familiar with the system.

Preparing for the session

The only thing that players will need is a Discord account. I plan on running this game through Discord with a visual presentation of the game managed through OBS, finally I have been working to program a discord bot to handle much of the dice rolling arbitage in the system so that player can focus on playing the game. I will be providing players with all of the rules materials as well as making myself available as a resource to help them curate what materials would be of importance to them.

What Tedd Johnson brings to the table

I like to bring an immersive open world aesthetic to the games that I play which means that I will be playing characters (maybe sometimes doing voices) as well as providing expansive options for players to explore the world as their personal character would see it. I like to keep combat quick and organized, especially in the deadlands system as it is known for letting combat take hours if it's not handled proactively. This means that I will be working as a battle manager to make sure that the current active player is aware of all the details that exist in front of them while the next active player is aware that they are "On deck" to act. I also like to work with both my tables and my players to make the world exactly what they want it to be while still present a good balance of fun and difficult. Deadlands likes to pretend that it is a difficult game but many times tables find ways to bring the challenge down to the level of fun that they most enjoy, this is one of the feature I most love about it and I am eager to bring more players in at all levels of difficulty.

Homebrew rules

Additional Content!!! Players who are familair with the game may be aware of the game's spell-list-favoritism. Suffice-it-to say that while one arcane background has over 150 spells others make do with 8 and a promise to add more that will never come to pass. I bring this up to say that I have taken the system at its word that players and game masters are welcome and encouraged to create their own content and I have done just that. History Rewritten!! So much of what makes the deadlands world as fun as it is comes down to discovering the mysteries that make up the world and getting to add your own personal touch to the map. The problem that this causes it that it means returning players often have a hard time enjoying the jack-in-the-box the second time. In order to thwart this reality of the system I prefer to play with some of the secrets shuffled around just to keep returning players guessing. It still provides the same narrative experience of the deadlands that we all enjoyed when we first came round the mountain, but this time it invites veterans to enjoy the stories all over again with new eyes. Grim servant of death This one demands a house rule. There is a hindrance in the player's rulebook that is incredibly vague as to the effect it has on the game. It has been my experience that Game Masters tend to come up with their own rule as to how it applies and they don't often feel a need to inform their players. Two things I would like to let my players know ahead of time is that if they chose to take this Hindrance they should consider that they are playing on "Hard Mode" and the should be assured that any effect that their choice has on the game is specifically targeted towards your character (Your party will not directly suffer from the consequence of your decision.) Breaking the Game There are certain behaviors in the game of deadlands that provide powerful permanent effects at the cost of cheesing the game (mass conversions, socail bullying). It is important to me to point out that Deadlands provides plenty of choices that GM's can use in game to balance a player who find an exploit and don't want to self regulate it's use. This is less of a house rule and more of a chance to mention this ahead of time, if the joy you get from playing a ttrpg comes from anti-socail behavior (like murder-hoboing) Deadlands can be both the best and worst system for you, because it has context in game to react to that.

How Tedd Johnson creates a safe table

I take player safety and comfort seriously and create a welcoming space for all players through a combination of clear boundaries, open communication, and ongoing support. Before the Game: Before our first session, I provide a Lines and Veils document via Google Form or PDF. Players are encouraged to fill it out privately, and I adjust the game accordingly to honor all stated boundaries. I also include options for players to request topics they’d like more or less of and provide examples for clarity. Session 0: We’ll begin with a Session 0, where we’ll go over: Game tone and themes Safety tools (X, N, and O cards – explained below) Expectations around character conflict, PvP, and spotlight sharing Scheduling and player availability Communication channels and protocols for concerns During the Game: I use X, N, and O cards adapted for our format: In video games, players can use chat or signal physically In text-based games, we use shorthand (X, N, O) or emojis In voice-only games, I encourage players to say "X" if they want a scene to pause or shift These tools remain active throughout the session, and I make space for check-ins when needed. Aftercare: At the end of each session, I offer a few minutes of decompression for anyone who wants it. This includes checking in about any intense scenes, celebrating favorite moments, and reviewing what’s coming next. Players are welcome to message me privately after sessions if something felt off or if they’d like to talk something through. Ultimately, my goal is to make sure everyone at the table feels heard, respected, and safe to explore the story together.