Savage Worlds Adventure Edition Core Rules

Foundry VTT

Obviously this will vary from table to table, but here are some good places to start! If your game is played in person, most likely you will want to get a set of dice, something to write with, and paper to take notes. 
If your game is hosted online instead, you will probably need to make accounts on a few sites for things like character sheets, access to the Virtual Tabletop for maps and tokens, and sites like Discord or Zoom for video/voice calls during the session. 

You won't always need to have the rulebooks to start, but if you want to read through them to make sure you know all the rules, this might also be a good option.

Monster of the Week can cover an impressive range of topics and styles, including violence, horror, romance, and many many more! However, if there are specific themes or content that you’re uncomfortable with, let your group and GM know before the game, and have an open conversation about these topics. 
Any group worth playing with should be respectful and understanding of your concerns and the game can be adjusted so everyone is having fun. All tables on StartPlaying also use “Safety Tools” which help ensure that these conversations are handled easily, and everyone has a voice at the table.

What if I'm uncomfortable with certain themes in Savage Worlds?

Savage Worlds uses a traditional dice set: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and a d20.

A "Wild Die" is a a d6 that allows players to roll their trait die and the d6, and take the higher of the 2 rolls.

Bennies is short for benefits. They are tokens granted to Wild Cards (players) at the start of each session. Typically, you receive three bennies per session, although many variables can alter this number. Bennies can be spent to reduce damage taken, to reroll an undesirable result, to activate certain edges, or in a number of other ways. Bennies can be earned during play as rewards for good roleplay or by completing certain objectives.

2000 Tales RolePlaying takes you through the basics of Savage Worlds for beginners. This is the first in a series of videos from this channel on how to play Savage Worlds. So be sure to check out the rest of the series!

How to Play Savage Worlds

Genuinely my favorite system. It's easy to learn but has the depth and crunch if you want it. With flexible rules and character creation options you can play a game that's anywhere and be anyone you want to be from a gunslinger in the old west, to a wizard fighting monsters, to an astronaut careening through space. This system can do all that and more.

Mike d20

You want a gonzo, over-the-top adventure where the sky's literally the limit? This is the game for you. I want to focus in on the "exploding dice" rule--if you roll the highest number on a die, it "explodes": you roll it again and add the numbers together for your total result. The same die can explode multiple times. So you get situations where the difficulty number is 5, you're rolling an 8-sided die, and your result is a 27, so you do something magnificent like take down a helicopter with your pocket knife. Great stuff, 10/10, do recommend.

Savage Worlds is a grand-daddy of rules lite systems.

It has a long history as a system powering all sorts of genres.

Like most rules light systems, it doesn't lend itself to long campaign arcs, but it's good for an adventure over a few dozen sessions.

Its leveling dice progression mechanic and cards for initiative are pretty unique, though the cards can seem a bit gimmicky at times.

It's easy to pick up and quick to run. It's good for a night where not all the players show, or when you want a pallet cleanser from more crunchy systems.

This ia a fast, furious system that still has enough crunch to get your teeth into. If you want to play a system that reminds you of a movie or your favorite book this is the system for you. 

Any system anytime anywhere. This game's only limitation is you and your Gamemaster's imagination.  I've run games with pirates and space aliens and played from King Arthur's court to to 18th century fantasy to the old west. 

I haven't found a game that is this fluid and covers so much ground.  While there are expansions for almost any genre you really only need the core book. (I make a copy available to you when you play with me.)

Gary

Really enjoyed the world-building aspect of this game. I wanted to run a steampunk paranormal adventure/investigative game and it had all the tools I needed to build my campaign. Extremely flexible. A little crunchy, but certainly a great system for creative storytellers.

Dreamslayer

Savage Worlds is my favorite kind of system, one that is meant to be able to do anything! With a slim core rulebook you can play any game from fantasy to sci-fi to superheroes. There's a bit of a learning curve, partially because of its unusual core dice mechanics, and partially because being able to do anything means that it has a lot of moving parts. But once you're used to it, you'll also find that it's one of the most exciting games to play around a table! Take my advice, even if you're playing online, use physical dice!

Colby

So you want a fast, and fun RPG system? Good news—Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE) delivers exactly that. Bad news? It might kill your character in the process.

SWADE is for people who love action but hate crunch—everything is streamlined, from combat to skill checks, so you can jump into epic shootouts, chases, and explosions without slowing down. You’re rolling dice based on your skills, praying for Aces (exploding dice), and using Bennies like the world's most reckless insurance policy.

Pros:
✔ Fast combat—no more four-hour initiative slogs.
✔ Genre-flexible—run fantasy, sci-fi, pulp action, or a post-apocalyptic wasteland with the same core rules.
✔ Bennies make things exciting—players can re-roll and push their luck like they’re at a Vegas blackjack table.

Cons:
✘ If you don’t explode your dice, you will feel like a peasant.
✘ “Shaken” used to be annoying, and people are still mad about it.
✘ Character death is always lurking, especially if you roll bad Soak rolls.

Final Verdict: SWADE is perfect for groups who want fast-paced, cinematic action without drowning in mechanics. If your players love tactical grid combat and number-crunching builds, they’re going to have a nervous breakdown.

9/10 - Just Spend a Benny, You’ll Be Fine.

DuChampion (JJ)

Savage Worlds is a Fast! Furious! and Fun! rules system for any genre of roleplaying game. Create your own setting, convert an existing one, or pick up one of Savage Worlds' amazing settings like Deadlands, Rippers, or 50 Fathoms. If you’re looking for a game that’s fast and easy to set up, run, and play, Savage Worlds is for you! Savage Worlds handles pulp action, gritty noir, supers, hard scifi, space opera, horror, and anything you can imagine!

Savage Worlds

How to Play Savage Worlds

Frequently asked questions about Savage Worlds

Virtual table tops for Savage Worlds (VTTs)

Savage Worlds Adventure Edition Core Rules

Find a Savage Worlds group and Start Playing today!

Savage Worlds

How to Play Savage Worlds

Frequently asked questions about Savage Worlds

What do I need to play Savage Worlds?

What if I'm uncomfortable with certain themes in Savage Worlds?

What dice do you use for Savage Worlds?

What is a "Wild Die" in Savage Worlds?

What is a "Bennie" in Savage Worlds?

Virtual table tops for Savage Worlds (VTTs)

Savage Worlds Adventure Edition Core Rules

Find a Savage Worlds group and Start Playing today!