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It’s been over three decades since Deadlands: The Weird West first stepped through the saloon doors and into tabletop RPG history. To celebrate, current publisher Pinnacle Entertainment has launched a new Kickstarter that features an updated core rule book, a new starter set, a bestiary, a behind-the-scenes retrospective and a ton of swag to throw in your saddle bag.
So just what can new and returning Deadlands fans expect in this 30th anniversary crowdfunder? Below, we posse up and lasso all the details.
What is “Deadlands: The Weird West”?
Deadlands: The Weird West is a tabletop RPG set in an alternate-history version of the American frontier that blends classic Western motifs with supernatural horror and a dash of steampunk.
In the game’s lore, history diverged in the late 19th century during the height of the US Civil War, when malevolent entities known as the Reckoners were summoned in a ritual gone wrong. This lead to the return of magic, the emergence of eldritch horrors and the appearance of a substance called Ghost Rock, which is used to power terrifying new technological marvels.
In the real world, Deadlands was created by longtime RPG designer and Pinnacle Entertainment founder, Shane Lacy Hensley, with the first edition of the game published in 1996. Since then, Pinnacle has launched dozens of expansions and spin-offs, including Hell on Earth, Lost Colony, Noir and Dark Ages, each of which explores a different era of the core mythos. In 2006, a new edition entitled Deadlands: Reloaded was published using the Savage Worlds system, which marked a major shift in the game’s mechanics and setting.
While the rules of the game have evolved significantly over the years, key mechanics that have remained in place include the use of playing cards and poker chips to handle initiative, spellcasting and fate. Players take on the role of Gunfighters, Hucksters, Shamans and Mad Scientists, with GMs referred to as “Marshalls” and player groups known as a “Posse.”
What’s included in the Deadlands 30th Anniversary crowdfunding campaign?
The new Kickstarter includes the following products, which are available in print and digital formats:
- Deadlands 30th Anniversary Celebration Book: A commemorative volume chronicling the full history of Deadlands, including behind-the-scenes stories, unrealized video game and film pitches, and a cover gallery of past books.
- New Deadlands Core Rulebook: This new book will fully integrate the Savage Worlds rules with Deadlands, essentially combining what you currently get from the Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE) and Deadlands Core Rules.
- Deadlands Starter Box: Designed for new players, the set will feature a full-length adventure, tokens, cards, dice and streamlined rules for running games in the Weird West.
- Powers Cards: This set will include reference cards for each Arcane Background, including the Blessed, Chi Master, Huckster, Mad Scientist, Shaman, Voodooist and Witch.
- Rascals, Varmints, & Relics: A new bestiary that includes all the creatures from the previous Deadlands setting book and updated profiles for key NPCs from the now out-of-print Deadlands Companion along with updated profiles for the Servitors. It will also include new Relics that have appeared in past supplements.
Notably, backers can also access a number of additional accessories, including dice, tokens, a collector’s box and special edition version of the books.
What are the backer options for the Deadlands 30th Anniversary Kickstarter?
- Deadlands Starter Box ($40 USD): A complete beginner-friendly boxed set with rules, adventures, maps, pawns, dice and tokens.
- 30th Anniversary Celebration Book ($50 USD): A physical-only collector’s retrospective celebrating 30 years of Deadlands. (NOTE: There is digital edition of this book).
- Deadlands Core Book 2026 ($50 USD): The updated Core Rules for Deadlands: the Weird West using the Savage Worlds Adventure Edition ruleset, plus the PDF.
- Deadlands Marshal Basic ($75 USD): The Core Book and Rascals, Varmints, & Relics, plus PDFs of both.
- 30th Anniversary Celebration ($100 USD): The physical 30th Anniversary book, Anniversary Huckster dice and Conviction token set.
- Deadlands Marshal Plus ($180 USD): The Core Book and Rascals, Varmints, & Relics (plus PDFs), along with the Marshal Accessories Box, Starter Box and Power Card Collection.
- Veteran of the Weird West ($200 USD): Everything in the Celebration bundle (Anniversary book, Huckster dice, Conviction coins) plus a special signed leatherbound edition of the new combined Savage Worlds/Deadlands Core Book and its PDF.
- Deadlands All In ($350 USD): Includes everything offered in the campaign at a bundled discount (both the standard Core Book and deluxe leatherbound edition, Rascals, Varmints, & Relics, Marshal Accessories Box, Starter Box, Power Cards, Anniversary book, Huckster dice and Conviction coins().
Shipping and delivery of the physical products is expected in November 2026.
Why we’re excited about the Deadlands 30th Anniversary campaign?
While pricing and a few other details are still under wraps, there’s reason to be excited about the project.
- A celebration of an RPG legend: There’s no doubt that Deadlands has been an incredibly influential game, and the project offers a rare chance to look back at the storied history of the game.
- A great entry point for new players: Given it’s tie-in to Savage Worlds, Deadlands isn’t exactly the most friendly game for new players, and it’s often confusing about which books and rules are needed. A new starter set solves that problem nicely.
- A single reference book: To play the current edition of Deadlands you really need two books, so for players who don’t have the SWADE or Deadlands core rules, this is a great way to jump in.
- Collector accessories and tie-ins: Cards and poker chips are a huge part of the Deadlands experience, so it’s great to see that the BackerKit campaign will include these items, which double as both collectibles and game componenets.
Final thoughts
Thirty years after it first rode into town, Deadlands remains one of tabletop RPG’s most recognizable and influential settings, and this anniversary BackerKit campaign feels like a legitimate celebration of the Weird West, rather than just cashing in nostalgia. Whether this classic TTRPG is still quick on the draw, however, remains to be seen.
You can learn more and back the Deadlands 30th anniversary campaign from now until March 13th on Kickstarter