{"product_id":"death-valley-quick-start-a-horror-western-ttrpg","title":"Death Valley Quick Start - A horror\/western TTRPG","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDEATH VALLEY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis a horror western role-playing game for 2+ players. It's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eweird west with a big twist\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eas you step into the dust-filled boots of the undead: skeletons, zombies, vampires and more. A\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003enarrative-driven\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eTTRPG, where the horror flows both ways.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Quick Start PDF contains the base rules to get started, plus a scenario and four pregenerated characters.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-top: 16px; margin-bottom: 16px; float: none;\" alt=\"Death Valley TTRPG character types\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0017\/8464\/3619\/files\/death-valley-ttrpg_2e8c0366-4ed2-44fb-8234-c8a589a37464.jpg?v=1763119374\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on a modified\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eYear Zero Engine\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDeath Valley\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis quick to learn for new and seasoned players alike (requiring only a pool of six-sided dice), whilst also containing plenty of mechanics, options and lore to support long-running narratives. See the section on\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.backerkit.com\/c\/projects\/critical-kit-ltd-b6ed0c39-ce3c-4262-9d99-6c5585aa81ef\/death-valley-a-horror-western-ttrpg#top\"\u003eGameplay\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebelow for a deeper insight how the game works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 16px; float: none;\" alt=\"Death Valley book cover and open book showing a layout with a ghoul\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0017\/8464\/3619\/files\/DV_BookCover.jpg?v=1768567284\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 16px; float: none;\" alt=\"The Game header image with barb wire\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0017\/8464\/3619\/files\/DV_TheGameHeader.avif?v=1768567357\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIn\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDeath Valley,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003enot only do you experience the horror, you also bring it. As an undead resident of Bardo's Bluff, neither alive nor fully dead, there are plenty of warmbloods and even those of your own kind who are hellbent on destroying your peaceful life-in-death. Your days are spent negotiating the trials and tribulations of a ruthless environment alongside seeking out answers to what it means to be undead.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe game is based on the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/freeleaguepublishing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/YZE-Standard-Reference-Document.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eYear Zero Engine\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith added mechanics that lean into the storytelling aspects of play. The maths are simple and quick, but the narrative opportunities are without limits. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBelow is a summary - by no means exhaustive - of the core elements of gameplay:\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UtW6EWEhy-k?si=DI0ZCs4761oM5a-0\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlay as the Undead\u003c\/strong\u003e, taking on the roles such as revenants, skeletons, ghouls, or other deceased denizens of Bardo’s Bluff, each with unique boons, banes, and cultural quirks. Use the bonds and banes rules of character creation to form a narrative history with your fellow players. There's no \"you all meet in a tavern\" here. Each undead has it's own\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ehorrific\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eway of restoring life force. If you're healing, someone's gonna pay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: none;\" alt=\"Revent, grave Golem and Hell Hound character types to play in Death Valley\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0017\/8464\/3619\/files\/DV_MoreCharacters.avif?v=1768567613\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: none;\" alt=\"Character types; Wight and Ghost to play in Death Valley\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0017\/8464\/3619\/files\/DV_Characters_WightGhost.avif?v=1768567540\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkill checks that don't hold up the story.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eKeep the complex maths out of the game. Roll a number of d6 equal to the skill being tested and each 6 rolled is one success. Additional mechanics allow you to push rolls, but that always comes at a cost!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExciting and quick combat\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethat can be run as theater-of-the-mind or on tactical zone maps with environmental features (dust storms, thorny terrain, slippery ground). hundreds of options for weapons magical abilities and good ol' fashioned hand-to-hand scuffles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eResolve\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eis a key resource for your undead character. It can be spent on pushing rolls, using magic and in combat. There are ways to regain your resolve, but it also has its limitations. Run out of it and your character becomes irreversably feral and falls out of your control.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBonds \u0026amp; Burdens.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eDuring character creation, you have the opportunity to develop a history with your fellow players. What brings you together and what sets you apart. There is no \"you all meet in a tavern\". In Death Valley, you all have some history with each other, even if only in passing. There are rollable tables to facilitate this, but you can also work with each other and the Law Master to develop these ties.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePost-mortem questions.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eDuring character creation and play, there are questions that come up about you as a character. These questions will help shape your character, drive change and generate introspection and conversation about what it means to be undead. The answers to these questions may also form a part of a deeper quest for you.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCinematic chase sequence mechanics\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ewith mounts and vehicles. Check out the stretch goal for Nightmares to add some horrific mounts into the mix!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRich lore.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThroughout the valley many factions attempt to gain and wield power. Whether it be the vampyric church of the Black Veil who desire to coral the undead into obedient citizens or the Thanatos Guild who are hell-bent on destroying every last undead creature that walks the valley, there is a deep seam of lore to mine in the shape of other inhabitants of the valley along with its history and landscape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 16px; float: none;\" alt=\"Landscape image of a desert land and a cowboy on horse back\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0017\/8464\/3619\/files\/DV_LandscapeSketch.avif?v=1768567587\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Critical Kit Ltd","offers":[{"title":"PDF","offer_id":55854609826177,"sku":"CKABDVQS","price":5.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0017\/8464\/3619\/files\/death_valley_corerulebook.jpg?v=1768567882","url":"https:\/\/www.criticalkit.co.uk\/products\/death-valley-quick-start-a-horror-western-ttrpg","provider":"Critical Kit Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}