Aces & Eights: Reloaded RPG
Welcome to the Wild West that could have been, pardner! The Aces & Eights RPG lets you relive the glory days of the "West that never was." Whether you fancy yourself a gunslinger, lawman, rail baron, desperado, prospector, muleskinner, rancher or all of the above, you can step into their boots and blaze your own western trail.
Since its release a decade ago, Aces & Eights: Shattered Frontier has sold through multiple print runs and garnered the coveted, Origins Award for Best Role-playing Game of the Year. With over two dozen supporting supplements, adventures and various game aids, Aces & Eights has a base of loyal devotees.
To commemorate the tenth anniversary of this award-winning game's release, we're sending the world back to the Shattered Frontier for more trail dust, lead and action. This NEW version is no simple reprint — but a reloaded 2nd edition chock-full of new rules, tweaks, art and other enhancements. Of course, we've kept the revolutionary Shot Clock game aids (Standard, Shotgun and Big Game versions).
We've designed this Kickstarter to let all western fans belly up to the table and claim a stake in the action.
What is Aces and Eights Reloaded?
Simply put, the Aces and Eights Reloaded game is the second edition of the world’s best selling, state-of-the-art, game-of-the-year wild west role playing game. This new edition will be leathered (if you choose Gunslinger! or higher reward level) and gorgeous, just like the first edition. Aces & Eights is a game that has the fastest, yet most precise combat system while still focusing more on roleplaying opportunities and character development than any other game. There are no levels and dozens of professions from which players can choose and even change as opportunity presents itself. Want to be a prospector because gold’s been found, sure thing. The mine’s played out before you stake a claim, you can turn to selling hardware or become a bandito or gunslinger. That doesn’t work, maybe a lawman or gambler? At each stop you can further develop skills and abilities used while following those professions. The final game will be 300+ pages, the last edition weighed-in at 400. All versions of the game except PDF come with 2 silhouettes, Standard Shot clock and Shotgun Shot Clock.
What is the Showdown game?
The Aces & Eights™ Showdown game is a set of western skirmish-level miniatures rules, using the innovative Shot-clock system. The Showdown game is also included in the broader Aces & Eights RPG offering. It will run approximately 48 pages. Hard copy version comes with one Standard Shot Clock and two silhouettes.
So what is this Aces and Eights Shot Clock™ game aid?
For the most part, RPGs just aren’t a visual product, but the Aces & Eights™ game comes with the novel, visual Shot Clock™ game aid. The simple system allows you to aim, shoot and actually see the shot unfold…even determine miss or exact hit location, the effects of cover and target position. And if the firearm in question is a shotgun, you can use the Shotgun Shot Clock scatter pattern to track all 12 pellets from the scattergun…all at once. Characters taking cover can be adjudicated quickly with the Shot Clock™ silhouettes (doorways, windows, barrels and water troughs are available as a free web enhancement). Use of the included graphics in the combat system eliminates both the abstraction and complexity of other RPGs – a player can actually see the cover, position and location of his or her target.
OK, but what else is in this game?
The Shot Clock™ game aid isn’t the only gaming innovation in the Aces & Eights™ game. For instance, the game has a new chip-based brawling system that solves the problem of “temporary” damage; characters actually become winded, tired or knocked senseless in the fight. The realistically deadly combat supports an overall game system that rewards characters for pursuing professions and gives players the in-game incentives they need to do more than follow the outlaw trail. Aces & Eights RPG is the first western to not just allow, but focus on pursuit of the rest of the major western movie adventures beyond the gunfight: prospecting, cattle drives, frontier justice, etc., each with a complete system tailored for that type of adventure. In fact, the Aces & Eights™ game has over two score available professions that cover the gamut of possibilities in the Wild West: gambler, politician, lawman, cowboy, rancher, outlaw, craftsman, saloonkeeper, merchant, etc. With no levels or classes (and only gaining experience in skills used), characters can change professions at will, just like the Old West!
Period Playing Card Deck
These Faro or Poker cards will harken you back to the 19th century saloon games of chance. Use these for shot determination with the various Shot Clocks and other uses in-game or for gambling of various types. Every serious player will want one of these decks for his own. Deal me in, Mr. Gambler!
One Beauty of a Book.
With a tooled-leather cover and full color pages crammed with period artwork and pictures, the quality of this offering alone makes the Aces & Eights™ game a desirable addition to any gamer’s collection – regardless of how many western RPGs you already own. Just be sure to keep plenty of tissue nearby when your book arrives; the drool-factor on this product is through the roof! What's more...backers that pledge to purchase for a physical book reward will get their name listed in the product as a special thanks to you. Be a part of gamer history!
Shipping rates apply to all physical copies.
Stretch Goals:
We have dozens of stretch goals and add-ons ready and waiting for backers if we can hit our goal. Examples include game aids, supplements, modules, and even a GM screen!
A note on materials: The premium version of the book, described as 'leathered' or 'leather-bound' is actually a synthetic leathery material, similar or the same as the 1st edition books had. Looks and feels just like leather to us, but we don't actually have to rustle a cow to get it.
A note on the Limited Edition: This is the same embossed, leather-bound hard cover book available at other reward levels. HOWEVER for the Limited Edition you'll receive one of the first books off the press, signed by the designers and also numbered/restricted to only backers of the Kickstarter who chose that reward level. In other words, you'll receive a "one of ..." unique, product. Great for collectors!
A sampling of firearms available in the Aces and Eights game:
http://www.criesfromtheattic.kodtweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Gun-Comparison-page-1.tif
Risks and challenges
While this is Kenzer and Company's first Kickstarter campaign, we've been in the business of making games since 1993 (including Knights of the Dinner Table comic book, HackMaster game of the year, Kingdoms of Kalamar setting, Fairy Meat miniature game, Monty Python and the Holy Grail CCG, etc). This makes us one of the longest-running active game companies in the world. We've set an aggressive target to deliver this project, but much of the work has been completed over the past several years. We have a close relationship with our fans and customers and will keep backers up-to-date on changes and developments as they crop up. Publishing quality RPGs is a challenging business, but we know how to finish books and see them to print -- we've done it hundreds of times.
We have no external licensing issues or third parties (other than printers, whom we've used in the past -- we do not plan to use a new, unknown printer). We plan to make this domestically, obviating delays from overseas.
If we're going to run into problems after funding, we know they will be from delays. The core book is near completion, but many of our sourcebooks and adventures will require additional writing and design. We'll keep everyone updated as we adjust deadlines (we may even pull some in as we're giving ourselves some extra runway), and we promise to be as transparent as we can be at every step. Since this is our first Kickstarter, we're going to put every effort into being on time.
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Funding period
- (40 days)