Ghosts of El Paso: A Weird West One-Shot

Creating your character

Character creation happens together at the start of the session and is quick, collaborative, and welcoming to new players. You’ll choose a playbook that defines your role in the Vigilance Committee, then make a handful of narrative and mechanical choices such as your character’s look, vice, and core abilities. In keeping with The Between and Carved by Brindlewood design, characters begin play with deliberately mysterious pasts. Instead of writing detailed backstories in advance, your character’s history and secrets emerge naturally through flashbacks and story prompts at dramatically meaningful moments. No prior experience is required. Rules are taught as we play, and there is no character optimization or build pressure. All materials are provided, and you do not need to read or purchase anything beforehand.

Preparing for the session

Before the game begins, players will need to join the game’s Discord server. Discord will be used for voice chat, coordination, and sharing links and information before each session. Players will also need a Roll20 account, which will be used for light visual support and shared reference materials. No advanced Roll20 knowledge is required. A working microphone and a stable internet connection are required. No additional software, rulebooks, or purchases are needed. All game materials will be provided, and setup support will be available if needed.

What Michael brings to the table

I provide a narrative-first, collaborative play experience where the rules serve the story and help maintain tension rather than restrict it. My focus is on atmosphere, character, and discovery, not tactical combat or mechanical optimization. I bring NPCs and situations to life through vivid description and light character voices where appropriate. The table’s energy comes from conversation and shared imagination. Pacing is intentional and steady. In this one-shot, play moves through a focused Dawn–Day–Dusk–Night cycle, building pressure toward a decisive confrontation or revelation before the session ends. Scenes are given room to breathe, but momentum continues to rise as the Wounded Night unfolds. Players are encouraged to actively shape the world and the mystery. You will interpret clues, add details to the setting, and collaboratively decide what the truth is and what it means. This game rewards curiosity, engagement, and creative contribution, while maintaining a thoughtful and supportive table for exploring darker themes.

How Michael creates a safe table

This one-shot explores haunted, melancholic, and emotionally heavy subject matter. The tone is brooding and atmospheric, centered on death, unresolved grief, isolation, and tragic past events. The story includes references to fatal accidents, graves, human remains, and supernatural phenomena. While the game deals with dark themes, it does not focus on graphic gore or shock horror. Any potentially sensitive material will be handled with care and always guided by player consent. No game is more important than the people at the table. We will create an unsettling version of El Paso, but we will do so in a way that respects everyone’s boundaries and comfort. Safety tools are an active part of play, not a formality. We will begin with a brief pre-game discussion to establish tone and boundaries, including Lines and Veils. During play, we use X, N, and O tools to manage content in the moment. If something becomes uncomfortable in an unfun way, play will pause and content will be adjusted without explanation required. Players are always free to step away at any time. A short break is included.