Savage Worlds: Gaslight - A Victorian Era Fantasy Campaign Setting

81 Pages·2009·21.468 MB·English

by  Battlefield Press

Gaslight
A Victorian Era Fantasy Campaign Setting for Savage Worlds

Marc Gacy
Stephen Miller
Jonathan M. Thompson

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Gaslight: A Victorian Era Fantasy Role Playing Game Copyright © 2009 Jonathan M. Thompson.
Gaslight is published by Battlefield Press, Inc., 494 Springhill Church Road, Ringgold, Louisiana
71068. All rights reserved. Errata and other feedback can be sent to [email protected].
Attention: The bearer of this PDF has the permission of the publisher and the copyright owners to
have one (1) copy printed for personal use via any commercial printer. If you are a clerk in a copy-
print center and you are reading this notice, please do not treat with our customers or yours as if
they were a criminal — print this file. We are allowing it and you should also.

Savage Worlds Licensing: This game references the Savage Worlds game system, available from
Pinnacle Entertainment Group at www.peginc.com. Savage Worlds and all associated logos and
trademarks are copyrights of Pinnacle Entertainment Group. Used with permission. Pinnacle
makes no representation or warranty as to the quality, viability, or suitability for purpose of this
product.

Authors: Marc Gacy, Stephen J. Miller and Jonathan M. Thompson
Additional Materials: Herbert George Wells, Jules Verne, Arthur C. Doyle, Stephen J. Miller, Mary
Shelly, Bram Stoker, H. Rider, Christopher Helton, Lisa Harjtes, Clay Weeks, Carey Weeks, Adam
R. Thompson, Terrence David Thompson, Clay Weeks, Carey Weeks, Tracey Castanas, Philip
Baccus, Christopher Helton, Corey Lerbs, Jessica Lerbs, Michael Anderson, Arlen Wood,
Angelique Montag, Richard A. Shepardson, Jeff Neppl, Don Scurlock, Paul W. Regge, Jodi
Napiorkowski, Walter Napiorkowski, Katrina Radcliff, Tad Kelson
Editing Team: Lisa Clevenger, Tad Kelson, Mitch Williams
Cover Art: Charles Raymond Macauley - from "Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde", layout by Marc Gacy
Interior Art: WikiMedia Commons
Layout Design: Marc Gacy
Playtesters: The Local Group (Jonathan M. Thompson, Adam R. Thompson, Terrence David
Thompson, Clay Weeks, Carey Weeks, Tracey Castanas, Philip Baccus), The BPI-Gaslight Group
(Mitch Williams, Christopher Helton, Lisa Clevenger, Tad Kelson, Mitch Williams), The Colorado
Irregulars (Tynan Gacy, Luca Gacy, Nicola Gacy, Liam Nock, Dylan Nock, Ethan Nock), The
Curmudgeons of London (Angelique Montag, Richard A. Shepardson, Jeff Neppl, Don Scurlock,
Walter Napiorkowski, Jodi Napiorkowski, Katrina Radcliff, Paul Regge), the Baltimore Misfits
(Jessica Lerbs, Corey Lerbs, Mark Duffy, Arlen Wood, Mike Anderson, Ken Zimmerman, Grant
Spencer), and all the others in Minnesota.

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Dedications

From Stephen: To my friends and family who put up with odd questions
and trivia during the writing of this book. A most special dedication to my
sister, Tina. You always made sure I did my best, now I will have to struggle
alone to keep doing that. You will be missed.

From Jonathan: To everyone that has put up with me over the years that this
book was being developed. This includes my mom (Marilyn DeLeon) who
started me out with a love of history and put up with my gaming since 1980,
and my son Terrence who without my life would be much different.

From Marc: To Sonja who encouraged me to get back into gaming after such
silly diversions as college and grad school, to the kids who now need no
encouragement to game (success!) and to all in my Sunday night group for
years of fun.

Image by Russ Sutler http://www.stutler.cc/other/misc/baker_street.html
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
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Prospice

Fear death? -- to feel the fog in my throat,
The mist in my face,
When the snows begin, and the blasts denote
I am nearing the place,
The power of the night, the press of the storm,
The post of the foe;
Where he stands, the Arch Fear in a visible form,
Yet the strong man must go:
For the journey is done and the summit attained,
And the barriers fall.
Tho' a battle's to fight ere the guerdon be gained,
The reward of it all.
I was ever a fighter, so -- one fight more,
The best and the last!
I would hate that death bandaged my eyes, and forebore,
And bade me creep past.
No! let me taste the whole of it, fare like my peers
The heroes of old,
Bear the brunt, in a minute pay glad life's arrears
Of pain, darkness and cold.
For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave,
The black minute's at end,
And the elements' rage, the friend-voices that rave,
Shall dwindle, shall blend,
Shall change, shall become first a peace out of pain,
Then a light, then thy breast,
O thou soul of my soul! I shall clasp thee again,
And with God be the rest.

Robert Browning (1861)

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Table of Contents
Prospice .............................................................. 4
Terror by Gaslight ............................................. 7
The World of Gaslight ........................................ 7
The Victorian Era ....................................... 7
Terminology ............................................... 8
Victorian Themes ....................................... 8
Victorian Religion and Magic ................ 11
Important Organizations and Secret Societies. 12
MI 7 ............................................................ 12
Culto de Ostras Azules ........................... 13
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn ... 14
The Invisible College ............................... 15
Knights of the Round Table .................... 16
Pinkerton Detective Agency ................... 18
Red Headed League ................................ 19
Scotland Yard ........................................... 20
Van Helsing Institute............................... 21
Colorful Characters ........................................ 23
Concepts ........................................................... 23
Making Heroes ................................................. 25
1) Race.............................................................. 25
2) Traits ........................................................... 25
Attributes .................................................. 25
Skills .......................................................... 25
Secondary Statistics ................................. 25
3) Edges and Hindrances ................................. 25
4) Gear ............................................................. 25
5) Background .................................................. 26
Races ................................................................ 26
Beast Men ........................................................ 26
Humans ........................................................... 28
Vampires .......................................................... 29
Werewolf .......................................................... 31
Wildlings ......................................................... 33
Edges and Hindrances ..................................... 34
Changes to Core Rules ............................ 34
Background Edges ................................... 35
Combat Edges .......................................... 36
Professional Edges ................................... 36
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Arcane Edges ............................................ 37 Survival Gear ............................................ 48
Weird Edges .............................................. 38 Lifestyle ............................................................ 49
Hindrances ................................................ 40 Entertainment ........................................... 49
Gaslight Edges List........................................... 41 Meals .......................................................... 49
Worldly Goods ................................................. 42 Societal Services ............................................... 49
Purchasing Equipment ..................................... 42 Medical Services ....................................... 49
The Wealth Check ............................................. 42 Rules of Order ................................................. 50
Character Creation ................................... 42 Wealth .............................................................. 50
Character Creation and Wealth Level ... 42 Social Class ...................................................... 50
Modifying Wealth Rolls/Persuasion .... 42 Languages ........................................................ 51
Purchasing Multiple Items ...................... 43 Language Groups .................................... 51
Adjusting Costs and Amounts ............... 43 Beyond the Veil ................................................ 52
Reselling Goods ........................................ 43 Shape Change by Race ............................ 52
Weapon Types .................................................. 43 Gaslight Powers List ........................................ 53
Silver Weapons ......................................... 43 The Sun Never Sets ........................................ 54
Armor ............................................................... 43 Gazetteer .......................................................... 54
Melee Weapons ................................................. 44 England and Europe ................................ 54
Ranged Weapons .............................................. 45 North America ......................................... 58
Goods and Services ........................................... 46 South and Central America .................... 60
General Equipment........................................... 46 Africa ......................................................... 62
Ammunition ............................................. 48 Asia ............................................................ 63
Clothing ..................................................... 48 Timeline: 1859-1901 ........................................ 68
Professional Equipment .......................... 48 1888 Calendar .................................................. 77
Medical Equipment .................................. 48

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Terror by Gaslight
The Victorian Era
The World of Gaslight
The term “Victorian” immediately conjures
Gaslight is a fictional world where technology up images of men in top hats and women in
meets sorcery. Gaslight is a Victorian Fantasy bustles taking a hansom through the foggy, gas
game. It has all the trappings of your standard lit, cobblestone streets of London. While this is
Sword and Sorcery game mixed with the certainly a part of it, the truth is that Great
elements from the classic literature of the Britain’s presence was felt throughout the
period. In this game you won’t find Elves, world during the Gaslight period. She
Dwarves, Halflings, competed with other
etc. instead you will European (and native)
find Vampires, Beast powers over control of
Men, and Wildlings. Africa and Asia. She
inspired Japan to
This book comprises
westernize its society
the “Player’s Guide” to
and armies. Across the
Gaslight, with more
Atlantic, the former
detail for Gamemasters
British colonies were
to be released in
also making their
subsequent products.
power known
In Gaslight the
throughout the world.
characters are most
While the entire world
likely to work for an
may not have been
organization such as
controlled by Great
the fictional MI-7,
Britain during this
dedicated to
time, it certainly felt
maintaining order
her influence.
worldwide by making
The Gaslight period
sure that evil doesn’t
is best known to
prevail. MI-7 is known
Americans as the age
to exist only in rumor
of the Old West, when
and legends, even
gunfighters fought for
those in the very top of
justice against evil
government don’t
cattle barons, corrupt
know it exists.
landowners, and
scalp-hungry Indians.
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It is seen as a simpler time, but it was anything
Victorian Themes
but simple. Driven by the industrial
revolution, steam engines roared across the There are common themes that run through
Great Plains, the deserts, and even the Rocky the literature of the period. GMs can
Mountains. One could travel from New York incorporate these themes into their Victorian
to San Francisco without ever leaving the Age campaigns in order to enhance historical
“modern” comforts offered by locomotive immersion. These themes are intertwined with
travel. The latest fashions could be shipped the genres that are discussed in the next
from London and Paris to Boston, New York, section.
New Orleans, and beyond.
Vicarious Adventures
In short, while most campaigns will probably
Victorian readers hungered for stories that
be set in London or, more generally, the British
would take them to exotic (usually Asian)
Empire, Gaslight campaigns can take place
places, such as Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta,
anywhere in the world throughout the 1870s,
Hong Kong, and Shanghai. While the
1880s and 1890s, combining Western
steamship and the Suez Canal dramatically cut
influences with local culture.
travel times around the world, many people
couldn’t afford to take long journeys to other
Terminology
lands. Travel novels filled that need, allowing
Throughout this game, the term “Western” readers to explore exotic places and cultures
refers to North American and European through the senses of the characters. Western
cultures, especially those influenced by Great households that could afford it imported
Britain, France, and Germany, while “Eastern” carpets, furniture, clothes, and foodstuffs from
refers to Asian cultures. Victorians often used the exotic East.
the terms “occidental” and “oriental” to mean
While a travel novel in and of itself would
“west” and “east” respectively, but this author
hardly make a good adventure, GMs should
has chosen to use the more familiar terms. The
keep in mind that the journey is often as
author realizes that the use of “western” and
important as the destination when designing
“eastern” is inaccurate and controversial, but it
exploratory adventures, especially in
provides convenient shorthand as well as
comfortable trains and ships. Around the
displays the British mindset of the Victorian
World in Eighty Days (1872) is a prime
Age.
example of fusing the travel and adventure
The authors have also chosen to refer to the themes. In addition, the lost world genre is a
descendants of pre-Columbian Americans as combination of the travel novel and historical
“Native Americans” rather than “Indians.” romance. These lost worlds were peppered
While “Indian” is the term used throughout with liberal borrowings from real world exotic
the Victorian Age, a distinction was desired or historical cultures, such as Romans, pirates,
between peoples of the Indian subcontinent and Crusaders.
and the Americas. It should be noted that
Another important theme in the Victorian
Americans of European descent usually mean
Age is westernization. Westernization is
“Native American” when they say “Indian,”
essentially a polite way of saying “abandoning
while British subjects tend to use the term to
your native cultures and beliefs and replacing
mean anyone from South Asia or Southeast
them with ours, primarily for our economic
Asia (although the term is increasingly limited
benefit.” While westernization does include
to the subcontinent). In this work “Indian”
the spreading of Christianity to the rest of the
refers exclusively to the peoples of the Indian
world, the term goes much further. The British,
subcontinent.
with varying degrees of success, transported
their civil service model to other cultures.
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Railroads, telegraphs, and other machines Two concepts to keep in mind when using
found their way to India, China, and Japan. society are politeness and scandal. Politeness
Combat tactics changed forever as the rifle extends beyond etiquette; there are simply
replaced the spear and bow and the machine things that a member of society will not do.
gun tore through charging armies. Some Open displays of emotion were not permitted
leaders, such as the Emperor of Japan, saw in polite society. Men, especially heads of
westernization as a necessity in order to households, will keep from discussing
compete with imperial cultures. business or delivering troubling news to
women. A common practice is for the head of
Westernization also included political
the family to read a newspaper and then relate
dominance. Many early trade agreements
appropriate news to his wife and daughters. A
turned into imperial influence and eventually
gentleman or his wife would never be seen
conquest. The two competing models were
doing manual labor, that’s what servants are
imperialism and colonialism. Imperialism left
for. And although the coin had long since left
native cultures largely intact, with local rulers
circulation, the guinea was used to quote
that swore fealty to the ruling country. The
prices for art, horses, land, and professional
ruling country would only interfere when it
fees.
was convenient, providing oversight and
modernizing the nation (to the Victorian mind,
“modernization” and “westernization” were
the same thing). Colonialism, on the other
hand, was direct rule by the ruling country,
often displacing local populations with its own
people. Colonialism was a more popular
option in places where the natives were loosely
organized and resources were easy to acquire.
Society
Society plays a large role in Victorian
England. Officially, British society is divided
into two classes, noble and commoner. Each is
represented by a House in Parliament.
Scandal is the one thing that a member of
Industry and trade, however, made some
society must avoid. Having a mistress, for
commoners very rich, and although they could
example, is not nearly as bad as society finding
never be nobles (which is a birthright), they
out about it. Many marital partners will quietly
shared little in common with the rest of their
accept that their partner has a paramour as
class. Victorian society, therefore, understood
long as they are discreet. This extends to other
that British society was in fact made up of
vices as well, especially overindulgence. It is
three classes. The British middle class apes the
also scandalous for the upper class to engage
upper class in ritual and some middle class
in business (patronage is a different matter).
gentlemen are actually wealthier than some of
their “betters.” Faced with dwindling finances, Other nations have their own class systems.
many upper class bachelors take middle class In America, for example, land ownership has
or foreign wives to acquire wealth. Society created a de facto elite even though “all men
discourages such cross-pollination, of course, are created equal.” Former slaves and other
and each class has its own constantly shifting Americans of African descent also tend to be
rules of etiquette and manner. Classes are treated as a lower class. In Russia, the
encouraged to keep to themselves, interacting peasantry resented the noble landowners,
with each other only when necessary. especially those that had formerly been serfs
(emancipation occurred only a decade prior to
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