Revision as of 16:26, 14 June 2020

The West is home to all manner of critters and varmints, as well as men and women from all walks of life. The bestiary contains Traits and Skills for a selection of them, both mundane and supernatural, should your game take a turn in that direction.

Each entry has a set of traits followed by important skills or attributes. If a Trait Skill is not listed, it is assumed to be 1. If a regular skill is not listed, it is not possessed. Creatures of Size 8 or greater cause Fear when within a single move (a number of Paces equal to their Move value).

Animals deal damage in combat based on their size and the following table:

Animal bites are deadly attacks. Most animal claws are impact attacks, subject to Judge discretion (exceptionally long or sharp claws should be deadly). Most animals that have claws begin a fight with claw attacks, attempting to slow their foe enough to allow for an effective bite. Bite attacks add +2 to the TN unless the foe is prone or otherwise immobilized. The Force and DB values listed apply to claw attacks (if they are impact).

The Mundane

The north American bear is one of the deadliest animals in the wilds anywhere in the world. Stats given are for a typical brown or black bear, but larger and more powerful examples certainly exist, with size 9 or even 10, and DB up to 10. Bears have claw and bite attacks.

Cowboys are one of the most common occupations in the West. Many a man, and woman for that matter, makes their livelihood driving and caring for cattle across the vast expanses of the western landscape.

Coyotes are small predators, operating either individually or in packs. The coyote is common in indigenous American folklore, often occurring as a trickster. Coyotes generally hunt larger prey in pairs or groups, while smaller prey is caught by individuals. Coyotes have bite attacks.

Mountain lions, or cougars, are large, wide ranging feline predators. Cougars are solitary and nocturnal, and are rarely seen during daylight hours. They hunt from ambush, but avoids humans and will yield prey to larger predators such as bears or jaguars. Mountain Lions have claw and bite attacks.

As with cowboys, outlaws are very common in the West. Many a man and woman make their living from greed and force of arms.

Wolves are large, pack hunting predators. Wolves have bite attacks.

The Supernatural

Supernatural enemies are often unique to a particular locale or story. The profiles that follow are guidelines for common types of scourges that infest the West.

Humanoid Supernatural Creatures

The following supernatural creatures are derived from humans. They are often known as the undead, because they were once alive, and also once dead, but now exist in a state that is truly neither. Humanoid undead use standard attack tables and types.

Ghouls are undead that subsist on the flesh of the living or recently deceased. Because they consume the soul through consumption of the body, they prefer victims they have personally killed. Most ghouls cannot gain nourishment from bodies that have been dead longer than a day or so.

Ghouls look like living humans, except that their skin is ashy grey, and their hair is stringy and thin, often falling out. They may have sores or other blemishes as well depending on their age. Many ghouls can pass for human for short periods.

Ghoul claws and bites are deadly.

Skeletons are the animated corpses of the long-dead. They are automatons that must be controlled by another entity. Because of their lack of flesh, skeletons are very hard to damage with most firearms. To simulate this, they have an AV of 3 versus firearms except shotguns, against which they have an AV of 1. Any damage that does not cause a wound is ignored.

Skeleton claws are deadly.

Vampires subsist on the souls of the living by consuming their blood and life force. Depending on the origin of the vampire their method of subsistence and procreation may vary, as well as their appearance. Vampires that look human do not cause Terror unless they spend an action (4 AP) to do so. Vampires have 2 AV versus all deadly attacks. Vampire bites are deadly.

Some vampires are solely creatures of the night, while others may exist during daylight as well. Those who look human may have an occupation and a full character sheet of skills. Vampires make excellent story enemies because of their resilience and breadth.

Vampire lore includes many variations. Some may take on beast forms, or have the ability to otherwise alter their appearance.

Zombies are the animated corpses of individuals that have not yet decomposed to the point of a skeleton. Like skeletons, they must be controlled by an external entity, however in many cases they may be capable of following simple directions. Zombies can regenerate at a rate of one would per minute unless their head is destroyed. Zombie bites are deadly.