Working on a gothic horror old west setting (Gothic Western)
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 4:16 pm
I have previously posted a Pathfinder magus archetype called the Shootist, and I am at this time working on both a one-shot module and some setting materials for a gothic horror old west setting with some steampunk elements called Gothic Western.
In some ways influenced by Gothic Earth and Deadlands, my setting will use the Pathfinder gun rules, and is an ideal place to run a gunslinger.
The introductory one-shot module with setting material in the appendix that I am currently writing is called Horror on the Gila Express, and the entire one-shot is located inside a steam train going from El Paso, Texas to Yuma in the New Mexico territory. I've already created the player-friendly versions of the entire train (which includes locomotive, coal tender, flat car, box car, livestock car, passenger car, luxury Pullman coach and the caboose - and have posted on DTRPG.
Lands of Gothic Western
Rather than a completely fictional land inspired by the American Old West, I am building an analog/alternate US borrowing elements from earlier in its history (1840s - 60s) and updating it to 1870...
Republic of Texas - includes regions of Texas, western Oklahoma, eastern New Mexico and the southwestern corner of Colorado. Gets along with the US, in conflict with Mexico (there was no Mexican War). Defended by the Texas Rangers.
Republic of Sonora - established by the American fillibuster (freebooter) William Walker and a band of mercenaries in 1853 controlling the northern part of the Mexican state of Sonora and Baja California. Unrecognized by the US, and in conflict with Mexico.
Territory of Deseret - the theodemocratic territory of the Mormon state, encompassing western Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, northen Arizona and southern California. Unrecognized by the US, in constant conflict with the New Mexico Territory and the Unorganized Territory. Defended by the Nauvoo Legion (Mormon militia).
Territory of New Mexico - includes New Mexico and southern Arizona, claimed to be abandoned by Mexico (since no longer contiguous with that nation, being separated by the Republics of Texas and Sonora) and now a US territory. Defended by US cavalry forts, though dominated by native tribes (Apache and Navajo).
State of California - the only US state in the western territories, though consists of north and central California only.
Oregon Territory - all lands north of California to the Canadian border, currently under lease to purchase agreement with Great Britain.
Unorganized Territory - Idaho, Montana and the Dakotas, claims held by several US cavalry forts, though actually controlled by the Great Plains native tribes (Cheyenne, Lakota/Souix and Blackfoot)
The Reserved Lands - native tribes forced by US army into concentration camps called "reservations", located in eastern Oklahoma.
Organizations
I am also including several organizations and secret societies important to Gothic Western:
Knights of the Golden Circle - southern sympathizers that seek to establish a new Confederacy encircling the Gulf of Mexico, by taking Mexico and the West Indies, as well as the southern US.
Knights Templar and Freemasonry - seeking control of local government through its membership, also works to secure eldritch knowledge, artifacts of power and mystery, suppress the knowledge of their existence and bury all such knowledge in their hidden vaults.
Pinkerton Detective Agency - although a privately owned company it serves as the US secret service and the forerunner of the FBI, though also serving various US industrialists and business concerns, it will not support opposition to US in any way.
Order of Oblivion - a fictional secret society consisting of anti-American European aristocrats and concerns, includes anarchists, communists, elements of criminal syndicates, working in opposition to the Knights Templar.
I'm planning (at this point) to create a series of one-shot modules, each including appendices for both setting material and crunch.
In some ways influenced by Gothic Earth and Deadlands, my setting will use the Pathfinder gun rules, and is an ideal place to run a gunslinger.
The introductory one-shot module with setting material in the appendix that I am currently writing is called Horror on the Gila Express, and the entire one-shot is located inside a steam train going from El Paso, Texas to Yuma in the New Mexico territory. I've already created the player-friendly versions of the entire train (which includes locomotive, coal tender, flat car, box car, livestock car, passenger car, luxury Pullman coach and the caboose - and have posted on DTRPG.
Lands of Gothic Western
Rather than a completely fictional land inspired by the American Old West, I am building an analog/alternate US borrowing elements from earlier in its history (1840s - 60s) and updating it to 1870...
Republic of Texas - includes regions of Texas, western Oklahoma, eastern New Mexico and the southwestern corner of Colorado. Gets along with the US, in conflict with Mexico (there was no Mexican War). Defended by the Texas Rangers.
Republic of Sonora - established by the American fillibuster (freebooter) William Walker and a band of mercenaries in 1853 controlling the northern part of the Mexican state of Sonora and Baja California. Unrecognized by the US, and in conflict with Mexico.
Territory of Deseret - the theodemocratic territory of the Mormon state, encompassing western Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, northen Arizona and southern California. Unrecognized by the US, in constant conflict with the New Mexico Territory and the Unorganized Territory. Defended by the Nauvoo Legion (Mormon militia).
Territory of New Mexico - includes New Mexico and southern Arizona, claimed to be abandoned by Mexico (since no longer contiguous with that nation, being separated by the Republics of Texas and Sonora) and now a US territory. Defended by US cavalry forts, though dominated by native tribes (Apache and Navajo).
State of California - the only US state in the western territories, though consists of north and central California only.
Oregon Territory - all lands north of California to the Canadian border, currently under lease to purchase agreement with Great Britain.
Unorganized Territory - Idaho, Montana and the Dakotas, claims held by several US cavalry forts, though actually controlled by the Great Plains native tribes (Cheyenne, Lakota/Souix and Blackfoot)
The Reserved Lands - native tribes forced by US army into concentration camps called "reservations", located in eastern Oklahoma.
Organizations
I am also including several organizations and secret societies important to Gothic Western:
Knights of the Golden Circle - southern sympathizers that seek to establish a new Confederacy encircling the Gulf of Mexico, by taking Mexico and the West Indies, as well as the southern US.
Knights Templar and Freemasonry - seeking control of local government through its membership, also works to secure eldritch knowledge, artifacts of power and mystery, suppress the knowledge of their existence and bury all such knowledge in their hidden vaults.
Pinkerton Detective Agency - although a privately owned company it serves as the US secret service and the forerunner of the FBI, though also serving various US industrialists and business concerns, it will not support opposition to US in any way.
Order of Oblivion - a fictional secret society consisting of anti-American European aristocrats and concerns, includes anarchists, communists, elements of criminal syndicates, working in opposition to the Knights Templar.
I'm planning (at this point) to create a series of one-shot modules, each including appendices for both setting material and crunch.