lol, it is kind of funny, because I have seen other content creators that say they received complimentary copies of books… guess I’m not big enough to be on their radar… YET! Thanks Steve!
I still have one more companion on my shelf I haven’t done a video on yet, and a bunch of setting related stuff… also need to do Ghost Mountain as well! So many games, so little time!
It is exciting to see Savage Worlds used for High Fantasy. Currently I am a fan of PF2E but man is it a drain to run. If I can get close using savage worlds, why not!? Thanks for sharing your time with us!
Mage, you are at the same point I was at… I ran PF2e from 2020, to about 3 months ago. Our last campaign alone was 3 years. I started off enjoying the flexibility and detail it offered, but by the end it was such a grind. If I’m feeling that way as a 30+ year game master, then it’s a problem. I think PF2e gets to be too much bookkeeping somewhere between level 5 and 7, and by 10 it is just a slog. Piles of hit points, dozens of paragraphs of special ability rules, and tons of intricate interactions to remember. Savage Worlds felt like being released from prison as a GM. Thanks for watching!
@@booksbricksandboards783 I am right there with you. I started in the early 80's with the amazing redbox DnD and then Advanced, 2nd ed, 3.0, 3.5, 4e (hahahaha),PF1E, 5e (blah....), PF2E. I have played dozens of others over the years but always gravitate back to a high fantasy style game. Of late I have been on a mad search for a way to have a better experience than PF2E. Since I am crafting my own campaign world I don't need setting specific details. This might fit the bill. Thanks for your response! Edit: because I can't type apparently.
@@magetower very welcome! As an aside, since our RPG journey is nearly identical, and you mentioned crafting your own campaign, creating world specific races or sub-races in Savage Worlds is SUPER easy. I never really did that in other systems, but in Savage Worlds I do it all the time. I have a player that is a satyr barbarian in my current game. He is so much more into the game because I can allow him to play what he wanted.
I mean, of course it's a great video. I think you're really taking the production etc up a notch. Really great work! And what do you say about the Fantasy Companion. I'm glad I asked, and the folks on the discord are super cool as well. The book is tremendous. I think the Savage Worlds books, unlike almost everything else on offer in the TTRPG space are really just a premium product. You know you're getting a great book. Even though I've more collected Savage Worlds books than played it (I need to find a game I think), I really love these, and they definitely inspire me. Even if I don't play Savage Worlds immediately, I love cross-pollinating from interesting rules sets, and I think the edges and hindrances work great with any system, especially ICRGP (for example). Fantastic as always, and big up to the Discord folks!
Great group of gamers we have over in the Discord! I think that it is pretty rare a company so consistently beats expectations, but Pinnacle really does for me.
@@booksbricksandboards783 I love the companions. I'm currently using the SWADE Horror Companion to run a "Savage" Vampire: The Masquerade campaign. Back in the day (2017-ish) I used the Explorer's Edition Supers ad nauseam to run low-level themed hero stories. As you know from your Discord channel, I recently purchased the SWADE Supers and hope to resurrect some plot points.
Yes there was a Kickstarter last year. Monolith games did it if I remember right Should ship in jan. Got my PDF. Looks like only minor changes. I have the original also.
I've the older version of the companion. It was pretty good. The only issue I have with SWADE is that they removed XP. Giving players XP helps them know how close they are to their next increase. It's the same issue I have with leveling without XP in 5e; the only one who knows when you level up is the GM.
That’s fair, but they do give suggested schedules for how often to give advancements, which if you are playing an XP based game with a prebuilt module, is also providing advancement on a specific schedule (via the xp reward opportunities). So I see where you come from with that critique, but it seems to get to the same destination with a bit less bookkeeping, so I am ok with it for myself. Thanks for your opinion, appreciate the conversation!
I didn't get this one because I have Savage Pathfinder. I kinda like having the campaign and rules already selected for me. It's nice to have options, but I don't really have the time to create custom races, magic items, and a bunch of new monsters. I thought this was mostly a toolbox for generating ideas. Maybe it's more directly useful than that?
It is much more. The Edges, the pre built races, the NPC stat blocks, and in my opinion an improved set of treasure tables. I think it is invaluable. I’m playing with the PF core rules, but I use a lot from Fantasy Companion.
Thanks for these videos. As a solo only player, I'm looking for that 'one' game that can 'play it all'. I was considering Cypher and noticed you've talked about it on your channel. Any particular reason(s) you prefer SWADE over Cypher? Thanks!
Yes, for my taste Cypher feels a little too abstracted in the results, and after playing a few different genres with it, everything always felt the same each time. To me, Savage Worlds does a better job depicting action and combat, and with appropriate setting rules, it better handles different genres. I have played: modern, weird west, fantasy, sci fi, supers and horror games using SWADE and they all feel appropriately different. Also, the mechanical elements feel more obviously translated to the table.
If I were going to do a solo RPG universal game system, and I wasn’t using Savage Worlds, I think I’d run Fate Core instead. It has some advantages in that it is simpler than SWADE and less reliant upon spacing and movement. I prefer Fate to Cypher at this point as well, even though it also has some of the abstraction that Cypher has… but Fate feels like the system does a better job facilitating explanation of the abstraction.
@@booksbricksandboards783 dude that’s exactly what I’ve been feeling while playing Cypher. Is a breeze to run but it feels very samey. Swade looks really good but I worry it’s a lot to mentally keep track of. Do you have any tips or things to check out to help a new swade player (solo at that…) to dive into swade? Thanks again!
@jonathanrector Jon, you are having the same issues I did. The first time I tried SWADE I didn’t get it. I switched to Cypher and felt disappointed after a short while. I think with SWADE the key is to don’t worry as much about the key words and remember the Pinnacle logic instead(my own term). Basically everything without definition can be summed up as a +2/-2 difference. It is the equivalent of Advantage in 5e. So if you can’t quite remember the exact rule in a moment, do a +2 or -2 to the roll and move on, look it up later after the game. Reference sheets are real helpful for new players, and there are some really good ones on Drive Thru RPG. Mainly you want something that can have some regular procedures at your fingertips (the wound process, removing shaken, soaking wounds, and tests are big ones). The ones I have also have all the power modifier options and combat options. I printed them on double sided note cards and laminated for my players. I think Savage Worlds is one of those things that seems completely alien, until it clicks and then it feels like home…
Very. I think with the existing edges and the ones in the Fantasy Companion you could do about everything you’d need to for an Ebberon game. The tinkerer and artificer options will come in handy. I also think the Golem ancestry could become the Warforged easily.
You’ll have to let us know how it goes. Someone on the Discord was showing off their Ebberon for Savage Worlds book… I believe it was Dangar the Mighty.
I’m in the same boat… used to have all the Conan 2d20 books, but didn’t feel right. I’ve run Swords & Sorcery style with SWADE, but not specifically Conan. It should work pretty well, it did for Lankhmar.
Savage Worlds needs to sponsor Justin.
lol, it is kind of funny, because I have seen other content creators that say they received complimentary copies of books… guess I’m not big enough to be on their radar… YET! Thanks Steve!
WORD!
Shane needs to talk to our boy! Justin evangelizes Savage Worlds on the regular.
As someone new to TTRPGs I like stuff like this. Savage worlds seems awesome
I’m glad it is helpful!
Beautiful video Justin, thank you for sharing. Looking forward to more SWADE. ❤
I still have one more companion on my shelf I haven’t done a video on yet, and a bunch of setting related stuff… also need to do Ghost Mountain as well! So many games, so little time!
@@booksbricksandboards783 I agree. Ghost Mountain is definitely a good one and would love to hear what your thoughts are on it.
Eventually it will see the camera I’m sure/
This glorious Cimmerian September just keeps getting better and better.
lol, Cimmerrian September should be an annual event!
great video! hoping to get my books sooner rather than later! but obviously the wait will pay off. cheers
Absolutely! It will be worth the wait. Thanks for watching, and being active in the Discord!
It is exciting to see Savage Worlds used for High Fantasy. Currently I am a fan of PF2E but man is it a drain to run. If I can get close using savage worlds, why not!? Thanks for sharing your time with us!
Mage, you are at the same point I was at… I ran PF2e from 2020, to about 3 months ago. Our last campaign alone was 3 years. I started off enjoying the flexibility and detail it offered, but by the end it was such a grind. If I’m feeling that way as a 30+ year game master, then it’s a problem. I think PF2e gets to be too much bookkeeping somewhere between level 5 and 7, and by 10 it is just a slog. Piles of hit points, dozens of paragraphs of special ability rules, and tons of intricate interactions to remember. Savage Worlds felt like being released from prison as a GM. Thanks for watching!
@@booksbricksandboards783 I am right there with you. I started in the early 80's with the amazing redbox DnD and then Advanced, 2nd ed, 3.0, 3.5, 4e (hahahaha),PF1E, 5e (blah....), PF2E. I have played dozens of others over the years but always gravitate back to a high fantasy style game. Of late I have been on a mad search for a way to have a better experience than PF2E. Since I am crafting my own campaign world I don't need setting specific details. This might fit the bill.
Thanks for your response!
Edit: because I can't type apparently.
@@magetower very welcome! As an aside, since our RPG journey is nearly identical, and you mentioned crafting your own campaign, creating world specific races or sub-races in Savage Worlds is SUPER easy. I never really did that in other systems, but in Savage Worlds I do it all the time. I have a player that is a satyr barbarian in my current game. He is so much more into the game because I can allow him to play what he wanted.
@@booksbricksandboards783 perfect!
I mean, of course it's a great video. I think you're really taking the production etc up a notch. Really great work! And what do you say about the Fantasy Companion. I'm glad I asked, and the folks on the discord are super cool as well. The book is tremendous. I think the Savage Worlds books, unlike almost everything else on offer in the TTRPG space are really just a premium product. You know you're getting a great book. Even though I've more collected Savage Worlds books than played it (I need to find a game I think), I really love these, and they definitely inspire me.
Even if I don't play Savage Worlds immediately, I love cross-pollinating from interesting rules sets, and I think the edges and hindrances work great with any system, especially ICRGP (for example). Fantastic as always, and big up to the Discord folks!
Great group of gamers we have over in the Discord! I think that it is pretty rare a company so consistently beats expectations, but Pinnacle really does for me.
I love this book. Great video, brother.
Not Tim, no hyperbole, it is the best book released for SWADE. Thanks for watching buddy!
@@booksbricksandboards783
I love the companions.
I'm currently using the SWADE Horror Companion to run a "Savage" Vampire: The Masquerade campaign.
Back in the day (2017-ish) I used the Explorer's Edition Supers ad nauseam to run low-level themed hero stories. As you know from your Discord channel, I recently purchased the SWADE Supers and hope to resurrect some plot points.
@@iamnottim. it goes back to the strengths of the system. I just feel like there is legitimately nothing it cannot do well.
@@booksbricksandboards783
WORD!
The SWADE companions are perfection embodied. 3 ribbons!? Of course ❤❤❤
Those ribbons are a perfect indication of how Pinnacle always goes one step farther than I expect with everything.
Awesome!!!
Thanks!
this is on my Xmas list, hopefully the wife gets it, if not i will get it in janurary. I am looking foreward to my solomon kane kickstarter to ship.
I have the old Savage Worlds of Solomon Kane, did that get a reprint?
Yes there was a Kickstarter last year. Monolith games did it if I remember right
Should ship in jan. Got my PDF. Looks like only minor changes. I have the original also.
@ sweet!
I've the older version of the companion. It was pretty good. The only issue I have with SWADE is that they removed XP. Giving players XP helps them know how close they are to their next increase. It's the same issue I have with leveling without XP in 5e; the only one who knows when you level up is the GM.
That’s fair, but they do give suggested schedules for how often to give advancements, which if you are playing an XP based game with a prebuilt module, is also providing advancement on a specific schedule (via the xp reward opportunities). So I see where you come from with that critique, but it seems to get to the same destination with a bit less bookkeeping, so I am ok with it for myself. Thanks for your opinion, appreciate the conversation!
I didn't get this one because I have Savage Pathfinder. I kinda like having the campaign and rules already selected for me. It's nice to have options, but I don't really have the time to create custom races, magic items, and a bunch of new monsters.
I thought this was mostly a toolbox for generating ideas. Maybe it's more directly useful than that?
It is much more. The Edges, the pre built races, the NPC stat blocks, and in my opinion an improved set of treasure tables. I think it is invaluable. I’m playing with the PF core rules, but I use a lot from Fantasy Companion.
Thanks for these videos. As a solo only player, I'm looking for that 'one' game that can 'play it all'. I was considering Cypher and noticed you've talked about it on your channel. Any particular reason(s) you prefer SWADE over Cypher? Thanks!
Yes, for my taste Cypher feels a little too abstracted in the results, and after playing a few different genres with it, everything always felt the same each time. To me, Savage Worlds does a better job depicting action and combat, and with appropriate setting rules, it better handles different genres. I have played: modern, weird west, fantasy, sci fi, supers and horror games using SWADE and they all feel appropriately different. Also, the mechanical elements feel more obviously translated to the table.
If I were going to do a solo RPG universal game system, and I wasn’t using Savage Worlds, I think I’d run Fate Core instead. It has some advantages in that it is simpler than SWADE and less reliant upon spacing and movement. I prefer Fate to Cypher at this point as well, even though it also has some of the abstraction that Cypher has… but Fate feels like the system does a better job facilitating explanation of the abstraction.
@@booksbricksandboards783 dude that’s exactly what I’ve been feeling while playing Cypher. Is a breeze to run but it feels very samey. Swade looks really good but I worry it’s a lot to mentally keep track of. Do you have any tips or things to check out to help a new swade player (solo at that…) to dive into swade? Thanks again!
@jonathanrector Jon, you are having the same issues I did. The first time I tried SWADE I didn’t get it. I switched to Cypher and felt disappointed after a short while. I think with SWADE the key is to don’t worry as much about the key words and remember the Pinnacle logic instead(my own term). Basically everything without definition can be summed up as a +2/-2 difference. It is the equivalent of Advantage in 5e. So if you can’t quite remember the exact rule in a moment, do a +2 or -2 to the roll and move on, look it up later after the game. Reference sheets are real helpful for new players, and there are some really good ones on Drive Thru RPG. Mainly you want something that can have some regular procedures at your fingertips (the wound process, removing shaken, soaking wounds, and tests are big ones). The ones I have also have all the power modifier options and combat options. I printed them on double sided note cards and laminated for my players. I think Savage Worlds is one of those things that seems completely alien, until it clicks and then it feels like home…
@@jonathanrector also, I have a playlist that has all my SWADE content, so it might be helpful.
How feasible would it be to run a SWADE Eberron conversion with this and the core book?
Very. I think with the existing edges and the ones in the Fantasy Companion you could do about everything you’d need to for an Ebberon game. The tinkerer and artificer options will come in handy. I also think the Golem ancestry could become the Warforged easily.
@@booksbricksandboards783 Sounds great! I might give it a try
You’ll have to let us know how it goes. Someone on the Discord was showing off their Ebberon for Savage Worlds book… I believe it was Dangar the Mighty.
Has anyone run conan 2d20 with swade instead. If yes how did it roll out? (Love the modiphius books hate the 2d20 system)
I’m in the same boat… used to have all the Conan 2d20 books, but didn’t feel right. I’ve run Swords & Sorcery style with SWADE, but not specifically Conan. It should work pretty well, it did for Lankhmar.
Hard book to find in print.
Looks like Noble Knight Games has a new copy for $37.00 right now. But you are right, the book sells out fast.