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Table Of Contents

Part 1 - Overview

Why the Old West

Themes of the Old West

From high fantasy to gritty sci-fi, the RPG market has dozens of settings and genres to choose from and explore. Inevitably, this gives rise to the question: what might the Western offer that others don’t? Below is a small sample of the moods, feuds and enticements your characters could encounter among the wild plains of Edge of the Frontier. These, alongside abundant bales of hay, the cold steel of a revolver, and a comforting Texas drawl, are what makes playing a Western different and unique.

Prejudice in New Frontiers

In the romanticized American West, the inspired setting for New Frontiers, prejudice and bigotry were very real things. Immigrants were often discriminated against, and many on the frontier and in the government treated Native Americans, African Americans and the Chinese as a lower class of humans. Similarly, women were also treated as second-class citizens, despite a mask of manners and propriety that culture ordained to be used when men interacted with women.

When you play New Frontiers, you may wish to embrace these prejudices and fight against them (like Annie Oakley did, or the titular character in the film “Django Unchained”); or you may instead ignore them and treat everyone as equals. Make sure you discuss this with your group so that everyone is comfortable and knows what style of game is to be played, and try to make sure in-game bigotry does not spill over and impact the real world.

Civilization vs. the Wild

As the railroad snaked its way across the Frontier, towns slowly began to spring up, dark fences encircled the farmland, and storefronts began lining roads crowded with stagecoaches and wagons. Where the lands once shook under the might of hundreds of thousands of buffalo, they now lay covered in barbed wire, oil derricks, and herds of cattle. As the United States pushed further into the West under the banner of Manifest Destiny, what was previously wild and untamed was soon extinguished under people’s tireless attempts to lay claim on the land. This was often personified by the frequent clashes between the US army and the Native American tribes who had either lived on the land for generations, or who had been forced to relocate there by a previous “agreement” with the government. On the Frontier, however, the natural world was often more hostile than any creature living on it. Settlers living on the Great Plains could see a drought in spring, a tornado in summer, wildfires in fall, and a blizzard in the winter; as if the land itself did not want to be tamed.

Frontier Justice

On the Frontier, Law and Order did not always reflect what was written by the legislators. Banditos, rustlers, and murderers would often plague a settlement or a county, often better armed and organized than the local law enforcement. This gave rise to companies hiring private security like Pinkertons, Judges giving warrants to Bounty Hunters, or Lawmen organizing posses in an effort to curtail the worst of the criminal element. Using deadly force to protect your livelihood from predators was an expected and necessary part of life in the West.

Honor

In the Old West, men and women took their honor seriously. Calling someone a coward was enough to be challenged to a Showdown - an often fatal face-off in an American twist of the Code Duello. Similarly, one was considered within their right to dispense justice to someone who besmirched their honor or the honor of a loved one. This gave rise to a culture of revenge, retribution, and feuds passed down from generation to generation as the honorless were shunned and scorned from the rest of Western society.

Pursuit of Wealth

Settlers left for the Frontier for many reasons. Some had nowhere else to go, some needed a fresh start, but many left in pursuit of wealth. There were Prospectors combing the mountains hoping to strike it rich and start the next Gold Rush, putting life and limb (literally) on the line searching for wealth. Ranchers would set out, looking for unclaimed land to develop and use for grazing. And, like vultures, the Conmen and Thieves journeyed West, looking to see what coin they could exploit from all those who had already found wealth.

Part 2 - Character Creation

The Border

Throughout history, the western frontier has belonged to Spain, France, Mexico, Texas, the Confederacy, and finally the United States. Volatile governments, an unforgiving climate, bandits, and brigands have left the folks living down on the border a tough, willful people who stick out through thick and thin. Despite the hardships and relentless environment, they tend to be good natured, quick to laugh, and have a deep sense of connection to family and friends. However, endless revolutions, wars, and the hardships of life have left many wary of strangers. If you want someone with you who withstands whatever hardship comes their way and keeps pressing on, look no further than the nearest pueblo.

2 1 2 2 3 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE

• Wound Threshold: 10 + Brawn
• Strain Threshold: 10 + Willpower
• Starting Experience: 100
• Starting Skills: Someone from the Border starts with one rank in in either Survival or Resilience during character creation. They obtain this rank before spending experience points, and may not increase either above rank 2 during character creation.
• Lucky: Once per scene, your character may reroll any single die die roll. They must take the results of the second roll even if it is worse.

The City

Originally from the Northeast or some other major metropolitan area, where people prefer cobblestone to dirt roads and massive skyscrapers rather than the wide open spaces, “City slickers” head for the Frontier for all sorts of reasons. Some wanted to escape the pollution and industry that was ever expanding, some are out to seek their fame and fortune, and others are simply trying to start a brand new life. City folk benefit by hailing from an area with the finest universities, newspapers and industry, but often find themselves a bit unprepared for the harshness of life on the frontier. Still, if you want resourcefulness, then there are few better than people from the city. Just be prepared to get called “Yankee” (or if you’re talking to a Southerner, “damnyankee”).

1 2 3 2 2 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE

• Wound Threshold: 9 + Brawn
• Strain Threshold: 10 + Willpower
• Starting Experience: 100
• Starting Skills: Someone from the City starts with one rank in in either Deception or Negtiation during character creation. They obtain this rank before spending experience points, and may not increase either above rank 2 during character creation.
• Educated: Gain 1 rank in any two knowledge skills.
• Industry: Start with an additional $200 in gear and equipment.

The Farm

Scattered across the Midwest and the West, the most common type found on the Frontier are from a farm. This doesn’t just mean those who grow crops. These are also the laborers, the wranglers, and the cowpokes that make up the spirit and the backbone of the West. A lifetime of manual labor has left many of them a bit sturdier than those from back east, but folks from the farm come in all shapes and sizes, good and bad, men and women, young and old. They hail from all over and can end up be anything from a blacksmith, to a bounty hunter, to a barkeep. If you want to play a typical man or woman living on the Edge of the Frontier, choose someone from the Farm.

3 2 2 2 1 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE

• Wound Threshold: 12 + Brawn
• Strain Threshold: 9 + Willpower
• Starting Experience: 100
• Starting Skills: Someone from the Farm starts with one rank in in either Animal Handling or Athletics during character creation. They obtain this rank before spending experience points, and may not increase either above rank 2 during character creation.
• Weather the Storm: Gain Resilience as a class skill, and subtract 10 from any Critical Injury results inflicted on you

Overseas

Farmers from Ireland, Chinese brought over to work on the railroad, political refugees from Eastern Europe; the list goes on and on. Nearly everyone, excluding Native Americans, was an immigrant at one point, and now the country has more than ever before, with many of them headed to the West. Often at odds with their fellow frontiersmen because of different cultures, traditions, and language; most immigrants have had to make a life out of nothing but hard work. Of course, sometimes that work isn’t entirely voluntary and more than one person from Overseas will find themselves taken advantage of. Though a bit standoffish at first, many from Overseas are eager to make new connections and settle into the new land they’ve found themselves in. Someone from Overseas is an excellent addition to any group because you never know what skills and knowledge they may have brought with them from wherever they originally hail.

2 2 2 2 2 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE

• Wound Threshold: 10 + Brawn
• Strain Threshold: 10 + Willpower
• Starting Experience: 110
• Diverse Culture: Start with one rank in any two non-Career skills of your choice.

The Range

From Montana to Mexico, folks that grew up on the Range come in all sorts. Some ride from town to town bronco-busting, others live their lives on the trail alongside the herd, others settle down on a ranch or farmstead. Could be a freed slave out making a new life for himself, a farmer’s daughter watching the family herd, or a Native American walking that line between ancient tradition and the new civilization clashing on the Frontier. Most folks born on the trail haven’t had abundance of book learning, but they know how to manage a rope and a horse. They often have a stubborn streak a mile wide, but they know how to handle themselves no matter what they are facing.

2 3 1 2 2 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE

• Wound Threshold: 11 + Brawn
• Strain Threshold: 11 + Willpower
• Starting Experience: 90
• Starting Skills: Someone from Overseas starts with one rank in in either Riding or Roping during character creation. They obtain this rank before spending experience points, and may not increase either above rank 2 during character creation.
• Manners: Remove 1 Setback die from any Charm, Coercion, or Deception test
• Home on the Range: Knowledge (Frontier) and Survival are always considered career skills

The Reservation

There are two types you’ll find from the Reservation. Most are the original inhabitants of the West, ancient tribes existed here centuries before the Colonists and Europeans ever set eyes on the Frontier. But you’ll also find those who get sick of civilization and moved out with a people who understand the land and what it means. Some don’t give a damn about other people, and headed out into the wilderness on their own. But those who leave the Reservation to find their own way do so for many reasons; some to take revenge on peoples and governments who abused and mistreated them, some for curiosity’s sake, and some because they have nowhere else to go and the government has told them to leave. They may be called “injun”, “wild man”, “crazy hermit” or a myriad of other insults. If you’re lucky you may find some loyal companions among the cowboys and settlers on the Frontier; and if they’re very lucky they’ll earn a companion who knows the land in a way they never could.

2 2 2 3 2 1
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE

• Wound Threshold: 10 + Brawn
• Strain Threshold: 12 + Willpower
• Starting Experience: 100
• Starting Skills: Someone from the Reservation starts with one rank in either Animal Handling or Stealth during character creation. They obtain this rank before spending experience points, and may not increase either above rank 2 during character creation.
• Ways of the Land: Riding, Melee, and Medicine are always considered career skills
• __Resourcefulness: Once per encounter may remove up to 2 Setback dice from a skill check

Texas

From the (self-proclaimed) greatest state in the Union, Texans tend to be loud and friendly. However, they have a sense of pride wider than the Rio Grande, and it tends to get them in trouble more often than not. Most folks from Texas are direct. Insult a man from Texas, and he won’t sneak around and plot his revenge when you least expect it, he’ll punch you right in the face then and there, even if the odds are stacked against him. They’re loyal companions, nearly fearless, and a much better ally than enemy in a Showdown.

2 2 2 1 2 3
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE

• Wound Threshold: 11 + Brawn
• Strain Threshold: 11 + Willpower
• Starting Experience: 100
• Starting Skills: Someone from Texas starts with one rank in in either Charm or Riding during character creation. They obtain this rank before spending experience points, and may not increase either above rank 2 during character creation.
• Fearless: Remove up to 2 Setback dice from Fear checks.

Step 3: Choose Career

This functions identically to the Genesys Core Rulebook, however the Careers presented in this document replace all the character Careers in the core rulebook.

Conman

Need a stake in a forgotten mineshaft overflowing with gold? How about an old Indian remedy to cure baldness? Or do you just want to make a wager on a simple game of chance? For all this and more, there’s a Conman willing to sell it to you. When it comes to tricks, swindles, and schemes, there’s no one better at it than a slick Conman. The career skills for a Conman are:

Charm, Coercion, Coordination, Deception, Knowledge (Underworld), Perception, Skullduggery, and Streetwise.

Most Conmen focus on skills that will allow them to be charming and appear trustworthy to everyone around, all while setting up their target up for a fall. The best Conmen are those who stay cool under pressure, keep tabs on all the lies and trickery, and still keep up their smile -and occasionally fall back on a pistol when things really go wrong. Some Conmen rely on charm and sex appeal to confuse their targets. More than one Cowboy has fallen for a pretty face and tight corset, only to find himself caught up in a scheme that drains his wallet dry.

Conmen tend to move from town to town, usually staying one step ahead of their reputation. It’s rare for a Conman to be able to pull the same trick on the same folks more than once, but the best Conmen are the ones who can rob a target blind of the target’s own free will, and the target doesn’t even realize he or she’s been hoodwinked. Some Conmen will target anyone they see as an easy mark, but others try to take advantage of only those they know who can afford it. After all, it’s more fun to swindle a miserly old banker than a starving widow.

Cowboy

The symbol of the West, the Cowboy is the horse-riding, cattle-roping, poker-playing heart of the Frontier. Some Cowboys herd cattle across miles of open plains, traveling hundreds of miles across the country and away from anything resembling civilization, while others may scour the prairie looking for herds of wild mustang to break. Of course, out there in the wild, anything can happen, so most Cowboys like to be prepared. The career skills for a Cowboy are:

Animal Handling, Driving, Knowledge (Frontier), Perception, Riding, Roping and Survival.

Most Cowboys are excellent riders, competent at shooting, quick with a lasso, and experienced at surviving on their own out in the middle of nowhere. Cowboys tend to be hardworking but easy going. Because of their mobile lifestyle, many cowboys will have a vast network of contacts and acquaintances stretching across the Frontier

Doc

Bullet wounds, concussions from getting bucked off a bronco, measles... the Frontier is a deadly and dangerous place. But when you find yourself injured, the person you’ll want to turn to is the town Doc. The career skills for a Doc are:

Cool, Knowledge (Education), Knowledge (Frontier), Medicine, Negotiation, Perception, Streetwise and Vigilance.

A Doc’s primary skill and talents tend to revolve around Medicine. Most Docs tend to be well educated and can bring a wealth of knowledge to a situation if they focus on it, while other Docs focus on the monetary demands they can make on those desperate to get themselves patched up.

Most of those who become a Doc do so out of a desire to heal and save lives. They’ve ventured out to the Frontier simply because that’s where the need is the greatest. Other Docs have realized that holding the power of life and death can make you a very influential and wealthy person in a community and are a bit more selective about who they choose to help or not. Still, whether for care or for coin, when you’ve been hit by a stray bullet there’s no one better than a Doc to get you back on your feet.

Gunslinger

It doesn’t matter if it’s a showdown at high noon, a shotgun hidden under the poker table, or a rifle peeking out the window of an old fort; if a Gunslinger is near, you don’t want to be the one in the crosshairs. The career skills for a Gunslinger are:

Cool, Discipline, Perception, Ranged (Light), Riding, Resilience, Streetwise and Vigilance.

The primary skills for a Gunslinger tend to be a weapon (either focusing on one, or being an expert with many), as well as Cool, Perception and Discipline to make sure they know when to use that weapon.

Gunslingers make their living with their wits and their iron. Some are renowned quickdraws or world famous sharpshooters; others are walking instruments of violence. Like most on the Frontier, Gunslingers find themselves on both sides of the law, helping people or hurting them. Whichever path a Gunslinger chooses, they can be certain that their skills will always be in high demand.

Judge

Judges tend to be educated folk, and unfortunately find themselves and their services require more than just a gavel in their hand. Judges work closely with other Lawmen, particularly Peacekeepers, but also with the residents of the towns and counties scattered across the frontier. The career skills for a Judge are:

Coercion, Cool, Discipline, Knowledge (Education), Leadership, Perception, Streetwise, and Vigilance.

Most Judges focus on understanding the people around them and the laws and regulations in charge of the Frontier but are often great leaders of their community. If you need a new schoolhouse raised or a posse organized, get the Judge in charge of things to make it happen.

A Judge works with the local government to enforce the law, set bounties, and decide who is going to the hangman’s noose. Unfortunately, this makes them a favored target of Outlaws, and more than one Judge has had to pick up a shotgun to make sure a Bandito knew who fought for justice. Of course, some Judges are more than happy to take a few wads of cash from local Barkeeps and Gunslingers to “overlook minor indiscretions.” On the frontier, a Judge can be a stalwart defender of the law or an accomplice to banditry and chicanery.

Peacekeeper

A Peacekeeper could be anyone from the town sheriff, a deputy for the U.S. Marshal, or even a soldier sent out from back east. Their job is to enforce laws, protect the town and people, and keep the light of civilization flickering on the Frontier. Luckily, they’ve got the training to do so. The career skills for a Peacekeeper are

Athletics, Discipline, Knowledge (Frontier), Ranged (Light), Ranged (Heavy), Riding, Streetwise, and Vigilance.

A Peacekeeper needs to be a bit of a jack of all trades to be the best at their job, but most are deadly in combat. They’re often the natural leaders that folks look to when things are getting tough, and usually are up to date on the banditry and criminal activities in their area.

A Peacekeeper’s badge is the symbol of the law that they’re sworn to protect, earning them the ire of Outlaws and the respect of the people. However, it also puts them in a position to decide which laws apply and how they can use their station for their own benefit. All Peacekeepers have someone they answer to, from the local town mayor all the way up to the state governor. Peacekeeping isn’t an easy job, and some feel that it puts a target on your back for all passing Outlaws. Others relish the challenge or see it as their obligation to the other men and women of the Frontier.

Preacher

Religion plays a vital role on the Frontier. From the pious who go to church every Sunday, to the scoundrel who simply asks the local priest for last rites, to the Native American tribe that believe in the Shaman’s rain dance. The career skill for a Preacher are:

Charm, Cool, Coercion, Discipline, Knowledge (Education), Knowledge (Frontier), Leadership, Perception.

The primary skill for most Preachers tends to be Knowledge (Lore). After that, some Preachers focus on skills like Leadership and Charm to make themselves great speakers. Often one Preacher will be in charge of an entire region rather than one church, so many are forced to travel from settlement to settlement. Because of this, some Preachers carry a pistol for protection and hunting. Others pick up a gun because they literally interpret the command to, “protect thine flock.”

Not all with the Preacher class are necessarily Christian pastors; it can also include nuns, Native American priests, monks that immigrated from overseas, or any religious group. Still, almost all serve and believe in a higher power than themselves and feel that they have a duty to share knowledge of that higher power with those living on the Frontier.

Prospector

Prospectors are the dreamers of the Frontier. You’ll find them panning for gold, scouring the mountains for veins of silver, blasting apart the rocks to mine deeper and further. The dream of riches is what keeps most Prospectors forever pushing the boundaries of the Frontier and tromping across the mountains with a pack mule and a pickaxe. The career skills for a Prospector are:

Animal Handling, Cool, Driving, Knowledge (Frontier), Mechanics, Melee, Perception, and Survival.

A good prospector is the type who is creative and doesn’t let a problem get in the way. They can fix a mine cart, patch up a busted leg, and deal with pesky claim jumpers. They specialize in knowing the frontier, finding their way through terrain no one else would risk, and understanding that when all else fails: use dynamite.

The greatest strength and weakness of a Prospector is a craving for wealth. It means they’ll take risks and chances no one else will, but it can also drive a desperate prospector to take drastic actions to try and beat competitors to a claim. Still, most are decent folk and have a wealth of knowledge and experience few others ever will.

Salesman

On the Frontier, outside of a general store, just about anything that folks need to get has to come from a Salesman. Everything from new rifles to silk undershirts from Paris; if there’s a market for it, you can bet that the traveling Salesman will have it. The career skills for a Salesmen are:

Charm, Coercion, Deception, Driving, Knowledge (Education), Knowledge (Frontier), Negotiation, and Perception.

Most Salesmen focus on skills related to Negotiation and Coercion, to find and sell the best equipment and doodads they can. The less than honest types prefer Deception and Charm, counting on their charisma and a fast horse to get them out of dodge before folks realized that they’ve been overcharged.

Salesmen live and die by their reputation. Those with a reputation of being honest and dependable will have honest and dependable people flock to them. Those who carry the reputation of a man or woman who can – and will – buy or sell anything will attract folks who are looking for that type of person. Still, many Salesmen are a welcome sight on the Frontier, and often can make inroads that many other people would never have access to.

Scout

Some people like to look at the Frontier from the safety of a train car. Others know that to truly learn the land, you need to get out there, journey into the canyons, climb the mountains, and wade the streams. The Scout is the one for the job if you need someone who can scope out the land, tell you what’s what, and not get killed in the process. The career skills for a Scout are:

Athletics, Knowledge (Frontier), Medicine, Perception, Ranged (Heavy), Riding, Survival and Vigilance.

A good Scout is one who focuses on learning the land, spotting trouble before it spots him, and avoiding it–or taking it out from a distance. Scouts excel at finding the safest places to camp, surveying the terrain, and keeping themselves and their allies safe when they’re out in the wild. Scouts often work for local governments or corporations looking for expansion opportunities.

Many Scouts will also work as guides, and can get you anywhere you need to go. Some do this for a love of the land, others for profit, and still others for their own private reasons. In any case, underestimating a Scout is dangerous. Any man or woman who makes it their job to spot trouble before it sneaks up on them is a fearsome opponent indeed.

Teacher

From small one-room schoolhouse teachers to traveling professors from Harvard and Yale, the Teacher is the scholar and provider of knowledge on the Frontier. Teachers tend to be the people to look to whenever booklearning is needed. The career skills for a Teacher are:

Coercion, Cool, Knowledge (Civilization), Knowledge (Education), Knowledge (Frontier), Leadership, Negotiation, and Perception.

Teachers tend to focus on the various knowledge skills, though many also develop a keen eye and a knack for leadership out of necessity in the classroom. Others focus not only on dispensing information to others, but also on gathering more information for their own purposes, and often spend time honing skills to extract information from both the educated and the laymen.

Most Teachers stay within the bounds of the law, but some try to expand their knowledge (and their pocketbooks) by any means necessary. More than one academic has learned that their education can provide a handsome profit when working alongside a group of bank robbers or scam artists.

Thief

Slipping into armored cars unseen, cracking bank safes in the dead of night, or even busting an ally out of an unsuspecting sheriff’s jail cell, the Thief is the expert at getting into places where others don’t want them to be. The career skills for a Thief are:

Coordination, Deception, Knowledge (Underworld), Melee, Skullduggery, Stealth, Streetwise and Vigilance.

The best Thieves are the ones who can slip in and out without getting seen, so Stealth is a key trait. Often, they avoid using guns or dynamite or anything so loud and prefer using a knife or some other melee weapon with a bit of subtlety. And of course, the best Thief is one who is alert and on guard against any nearby witnesses or Lawmen.

A Thief typically does not share the brazenness of a Bandito, or the crowd-facing ways of a Conman. They prefer discretion and subterfuge. Like other Outlaws, Thieves find themselves often on the wrong side of the law, but many have their own moral or ethical code that they follow. Some do it simply for the challenge and the thrill of the theft; others do it to stymie forces they see as intruding on a people or place.

Veteran

Whether the American Civil War, the Mexican-American War, dozens of skirmishes with Native American tribes, or even as far back as the Texas War of Independence, there are never a shortage of former soldiers out to make a new life for themselves on the Frontier. The career skills for a Veterans are:

Athletics, Discipline, Gunnery, Melee, Perception, Ranged (Heavy), Riding, and Resilience.

Most Veterans keep up their skill at firearms, and it’s rare you’ll find anyone better at handling a cannon or a Gatling gun than a Veteran. Veterans tend to have an eye for potential trouble, so Discipline and Vigilance are often skills a Veteran keeps honed.

For former soldiers, some try to leave their old lives behind, but many capitalize on the skills they learned in the army. Often this is guard duty, working part time for local militia, or when the sheriff forms a posse. Because of their past, many Veterans have a strict code about what jobs they will or won’t take. Still, if you want someone cool and collected in a fight who knows how to handle themselves, look no further than a Veteran

Wrangler

Some folks like horses, some folks rely on them, but few folks know them quite like a Wrangler does. From livery workers to professional bronco busters, the Wrangler takes the connection between man and animal to a deeper level than most others know is possible. The career skills for a Wrangler are:

Animal Handling, Athletics, Discipline, Driving, Knowledge (Frontier), Negotiation, Riding, and Roping.

A wrangler’s core skills should focus on animals. Wranglers tend to be the best at riding, calming animals down, and driving coaches and wagons. Basically, if there’s a beast involved, a wrangler is your guaranteed bet at making sure everything goes smoothly.

Some wranglers learn their trade in an apprenticeship, but many simply discover they have a knack for reading an animal better than they do a person. Typically, wranglers will work with just about any type of person, alongside the Lawmen and the Outlaws, the Pioneers and the Tradesmen. Many take jobs as they come, and more than one Wrangler has signed up as a professional driver or messenger for large corporations, the state government, or even outlaw bands.

Step 4: Invest Experience Points

No change to this step with the exception of only the Skills and Talents in this document are available for selection.

Step 5: Determine Derived Attributes

No changes to this step

Step 6: Determine Character Motivation

No changes to this step

Step 7: Choose Gear, Appearance and Personality

No changes to this step other than just the gear available in this document is available for purchase.

Skills

To understand more about skills, skill ranks, and skill tests, please refer to the Genesys Core Rulebook, Chapter 3 (pg 52). This section will expand on the skills unique to Edge of the Frontier, and explain how those skills are important to characters living on the Frontier. A full list of skills used in Edge of the Frontier is listed below, an (^) indicates those skills that are unique to this game and are detailed further on in this document.

Knowledge (Frontier)

The Frontier is made up of people from all walks of life; some out to strike it rich, others to start a new settlement to practice a specific religion, others are the original inhabitants trying to keep invaders away. These are just a few of the many types of settlement on the Frontier, representing an incredibly diverse mix of cultures, political and religious systems, and environments.

Because the range of cultures and traditions are so varied, knowing details about one specific area of the Frontier does not necessarily translate to a different area, regardless of physical proximity. However, there are a few common threads that connect them all, and those that regularly travel across the West many quickly learn about the various quirks and traditions of the various settlements.

Characters can use Knowledge (Frontier) to:

• Attempt to identify the most appropriate and closest options when looking for particular resources, such as gold, buffalo, tequila, or services on the Frontier.

• Determine the best location for selling a particular good, including knowledge of demand and legality of that good.

• Identify any specific social actions that would be considered rude or polite when dealing with someone from a particular area of the Frontier.

The difficulty of a Frontier check is based upon the obscurity of the settlement in question, and may become modified by the complexity of the knowledge the character is trying to gain.

Knowledge (Nature)

To many folks, even those who make their living off the land, plants or animals fall in broad simplistic categories like “edible or toxic” and “dangerous or safe,” but there are those who have taken the time to study and research. Their knowledge about the natural world, both from a scientific and practical standpoint, is an invaluable resource. This skill represents the knowledge of animals, plants, ecosystems, and the environment of the natural world far from the fences and roads of a city.

Some gain this knowledge via intense study via books and research; others learn through experimentation and observation.

Characters can use Knowledge (Nature) to:

• Identify, help, or harm a creature from the wild, or recognize traits about the creature that could be beneficial in tactics against or for that creature.
• Recognize how the potential impact of drastic action taken against the environment can be predicted or possibly mitigated. This includes recognizing when dynamite may cause a cave-in or landslide, or what the impact from damming (or undamming) a river will be.
• Attempt to make a concoction that will help ease pain or break a fever or induce nausea and sickness, whether in the wild or with access to the proper materials. The difficulty of the nature check to create such a tincture will be set by the GM, based on the available materials and potency of the effect. Typically, such a creation will provide a Boost die to a Medicine check or Strain to the target.

Knowledge (Underworld)

In some places. criminal elements control the government through less-than-legal machinations. In others. the crime families function as the only effective ruling Force. In more traditionally governed areas. seedier elements are dependent upon secrecy and deception as the core elements of their practices Before a character can even begin to establish contacts among a world's criminal elements. he must first understand which of these organizational structures are in play.

Once a character deciphers how he might establish a contact. he must next find out with whom he needs to speak. Different groups or individuals might control different parts of the criminal trade. A contact for gambling 1s likely different than one who deals 1n illicit pharmaceuticals, while a third individual is likely the point of contact for military-grade weapons. Depending upon a character's needs and the criminal elements active on a world. finding the right contact could be trivial or extremely time-consuming.

• The Underworld skill may be used to know which nearby worlds are the best locations for a particular type of illegal business.
• A familiarity with Underworld may be useful if the characters need to determine the most common methods that an opponent might use for a particular type of criminal activity.

When the criminal nature of a location or individual is well-known, recalling the relevant data should be relatively simple. The difficulty of the task should be much more challenging if the individual has gone to lengths to conceal his illegal activities.

Talents

In the old west, more often than not what a man could do meant the difference between sleeping under the stars on tom of a tree root or sleeping in a feather bed in great comfort. This section lists many new talents specific to the setting. Talents appropriate to the setting from other books is listed on the Table X.X below.

Existing Talents (Continued)

I am the Law!

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Add a Boost die to all Coercion checks you make.

Illicit Goods

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: Yes
When selling illegal goods or goods obtained illegally, gain an additional 10% value per rank of Illicit Goods.

Instructor

Tier: 1
Activation: Active (Action)
Ranked: No
As an action, make a Hard Leadership check. If successful, upgrade the next skill check of one character of your choice that can hear you.

Lay of the Land

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Remove up to two setback dice to find food, water, or shelter outside of a city or town

Miner's Eye

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Gain a Boost die on all Survival or Knowledge checks related to mining or prospecting

Mounted Combat

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Ignore one setback when shooting from horseback

Resolve

Tier: 1
Activation: Active (Incidental)
Ranked: No
Once per scene, may take 2 strain to use Willpower as the base ability score for your next roll.

Roper

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: Yes
Ignore one setback die per rank of Roper when using a rope

Scrounger

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: Yes
Remove a Setback die for every rank of Scrounger to find or scavenge items and gear

See Through Lies

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Deception checks made against you take one Setback die.

Smuggler

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
The difficulty to find illicit goods on a vehicle you own is upgraded by 1.

Sneaky

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Gain a Boost Die to any Stealth checks

Sniper

Tier: 1
Activation: Active (Maneuver)
Ranked: Yes
Take 3 strain to decrease the range increment of a ranged attack by 1 per rank of Sniper

Suckerpunch

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: Yes
Once per encounter, deal one additional damage per rank of Suckerpunch for each success on a Brawl or Melee attack

Surgeon

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: Yes
When your character makes a Medicine check to heal wounds, the target heals one additional wound per rank of Surgeon.

Survivalist

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
You can always find food, water or shelter for yourself and up to 1 additional person for each success on your Survival check when searching for such things

The Stare

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: Yes
You may ignore 1 Setback dice per rank on any Coercion checks you make. You add 1 Setback die per rank to any Coercion checks made against you.

Toughness

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: Yes
Your Wound Threshold increases by 2 This is identical to the Talent from the Core Rulebook

Tracker

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: Yes
Add a Boost Die per rank of Tracker for any Perception or Survival checks when attempting to find or follow a trail

Trick Shot

Tier: 1
Activation: Active (Action)
Ranked: No
Make a Ranged attack with any weapon without the Buckshot quality. If successful, the target takes 2 strain and the target's hat, belt or other similar item drops to the ground

Wainwright

Tier: 1
Activation: Passive
Ranked: No
Reduce the difficulty by one for all Mechanics checks to repair or modify wagons.

Tier 2

Tier 3

Tier 4

Tier 5

Tier TBD

Threatening Presence

Tier: X
Activation: X
Ranked: X
Opponents making a ranged attack while engaged with you increase the difficulty by 1

Tough As Nails

Tier: X
Activation: X
Ranked: X
An opponent attacking you needs one additional advantage to score a critical hit

You're Surrounded!

Tier: X
Activation: X
Ranked: X
As an action make a Hard Coercion check. For each success, you may cause one opponent in Close range to take 1 strain. Each Advantage spent can either increase the Strain by an equal amount, or increase the range at which opponents can be selected.

Guns and Gear

The rules in the Genesys Core Rulebook (pg. 82) apply to all items in this section unless otherwise specified. Some items here are also found in the Genesys Core Rulebook, but adapted to better fit the Old West setting.

Repeater Carbine

Shorter than a full-length rifle, and using pistol ammo rather than rifle, a carbine is a cheap, low powered rifle, but significantly easier to handle than a larger Springfield or Winchester. This reduction in bulk makes the carbine attractive to Scouts and those who find themselves traveling long distances or through dense underbrush.

Shotgun (Pump Action)

The standard shotgun. Used primarily for hunting rather than conflict, the pump-action shotgun is still a dependable weapon. Though only able to fire one shell at a time, the pump-action makes up for it in the number of shells it can hold and a slightly improved range over the double-barreled shotgun.

Shotgun (Sawed-Off)

This is a double-barreled shotgun with the barrels either sawed off or significantly shortened at the factory. Although this results in a reduction in firepower, it does make it significantly easier to hide under a duster or coat than a standard shotgun. A sawed-off shotgun receives the same penalties as pistols when used from horseback.

Shotgun (Double-Barrel)

Side-by-side barrels and a double-trigger allow either one or two shots to be fired at once, giving the double-barreled shotgun an advantage in sheer volume of pellets fired over the pump-action; however this significantly limits the amount of ammunition the weapon can hold.

Springfield Rifle

Produced by the U.S. Army, the Springfield with its unique sights are heavily favored by marksmen. Though it can only hold a single round at a time, it has a longer range than nearly any other rifle on the market.

Dynamite

Designed primarily for mining, dynamite has gained in popularity thanks to its stable nature compared to many other explosives. Dynamite is lit with a timed fuse, and is typically set in place before being lit, rather than thrown like a grenade.

Using Dynamite for mining is a difficult Mechanics check. Sticking a fuse in and lighting it is a maneuver, and throwing it up to Medium range uses the Athletics skill with each range increment beyond Engaged adding one Difficulty die to the normal ranged difficulty.

Dynamite is often used in bundles of multiple sticks. Each doubling of sticks (2, 4, 8, etc.) adds 1 to the Base Damage, the Breech rating and the Blast rating. This same doubling also decreases the Crit rating by 1 (to a minimum of 1).

Dynamite (Sweating)

Old dynamite or dynamite that is stored improperly will begin beading nitroglycerin on the outside, making it extremely volatile and dangerous. Any time a stick of sweating dynamite is handled roughly (including dropping it or throwing it); a player or GM may spend a Story Point to have the dynamite explode.

If the sweating dynamite is being used with a skill check, then a number of h equal to the crit rating (or a single d) may be spent instead to cause it to go off before intended.

Horses and Wagons

For travel, work, or even leisure riding, nearly everyone on the Frontier will depend on a horse at some point in their lives. For some, it’s simply another animal or mode of transportation; but for others a horse can be a loyal companion. In day-to-day riding, the statistics of a horse won’t usually come up, but occasionally situations arise where different horses excel. A high-speed chase through town, hauling mining equipment up a mountain, a long trek across the desert or on a treacherous mountain path… these are just a few of the many situations where the type of horse you have could be the line between success and failure. The horses presented below are all assumed to be suitable for riding and do not need to be trained or “broken.”

Riding a horse without a saddle requires an Average Riding check, and imposes a Setback die on all checks made while on the horse.

Wagons

For those who don’t wish to ride directly on a horse, or who need to move larger objects than what can fit on a horse’s back, some form of vehicle is needed. Wagons can be expensive enough that several farmers in one area may share one.

An average wagon is usually constructed from heavy, rough-hewn timbers, a marked contrast to the varnished wood of a merchant’s wagon or the brightly painted covered wagon of a wandering snake-oil salesman.

A wagon can hold characters and gear totaling up to 50 encumbrance. A wagon features two or more wheels and can move at moderate speed if a beast of burden pulls it.

The maximum speed of a wagon is the speed of the slowest horse pulling it -1. So a team of Thoroughbreds pulling a wagon could never have a speed greater than 2.

Pull: The minimum Brawn needed to pull the vehicle. This value can be reduced by spreading the load across multiple animals. (For example, a Wagon with a Pull value of 12 could be pulled by Two Draft horses, or by a team of four Appaloosas). The horses upgrade the difficulty of all Resilience checks they make, unless the combined Brawn of all the horses pulling the cart is double the pull value.

Clothing and Gear

To make life on the Frontier truly work, you need more than a horse and a gun. You also need supplies, equipment, and occasionally simple comforts.

Medical Kit

A Medical Kit contains all the necessary gauze and bandages to bind most wounds, as well as basic surgical tools, painkillers, and sedatives. For most injuries on the Frontier, this allows the user to perform first aid and minor surgery, and allows a user to make a Medicine check typically without penalty (and occasionally receiving a Boost die).

Stimulant

a concoction of painkillers, opiates, and other questionable ingredients. A Stimulant can be used for emergency first aid. A character may use a maneuver to inject a Stimulant into themselves or another character. These are one use items that heal 5 wounds and grant 2 strain. For each additional stimulant used after the first in a 24-hour period, decrease the wounds healed by 1, and increase the strain taken by 1. Stimulants are reported to be addictive, so the GM may require Resilience tests to avoid dependency if Stimulants are used too regularly.

Exploration and Camping

Saloon

Career Equipment

Part 3 - Gamemaster's Section

Rules of the Old West

Adversaries

US Cavalry (Minion)

Stretched across the Frontier, the United States Army keeps a scattered, but regular presence to both protect American interests and to battle the Native American tribes as settlers push ever-further West. The bulk of these soldiers are members of the cavalry, mounted soldiers armed with pistol and sabre, stationed on forts throughout the Frontier.

A full cavalry unit consists of approximately twenty soldiers under the command of a corporal or a sergeant; with multiple units coming together to form a company. The US Cavalry tends to be well equipped, but the vastness of the West makes running into them rare barring special circumstances.

Union Buster (Minion)

In the late 19th century, massive corporations hold monopolies on huge swaths of industries. The two things despised more than any other by company bigwigs are workers’ unions and strikes, so many corporations keep a group of ruffians on hand to forcefully discourage any threats to the business.

Union Busters are typically well paid and well muscled, but often not overly ambitious or bright. When threats to the railroad or newspaper or whatever organization they work for start to rise up, Union Busters are sent in to crack heads until things settled down.

Carpetbagger (Rival)

Carpetbaggers, named for the cheap luggage they use, are typically Northern merchants who came to the South and the West in the decades following the Civil War. Some are honest merchants, but others use the relative ignorance of the population to swindle and con. Often representing a Northern or European company, these traveling salesmen are typically fast talkers, shrewd negotiators, and quick to make a deal.

Deputy (Minion)

On the Frontier, often the only thing standing between outlaws and settlers is a badge. Deputies typically work directly under a sheriff or Marshal and help keep the peace in a town or county. Though they don’t often have a reputation for being the brightest or most creative, deputies tend to be loyal to their leader and can be relied on to uphold the law to the best of their ability.

Sheriff (Rival)

Out west, law and order aren’t kept with local police patrolling cobbled streets; it’s kept by the sharp eye and quick draw of the local Sheriff. If a town is big enough, a Sheriff may have a few deputies to command, but several Sheriffs are one-person enforcers of the law. They oversee the jail, investigate crimes, and when bandits come through town they’ll either stand up to them or form a posse to protect the citizens. On the Frontier, nothing is as critical to a town’s safety as a good Sheriff; and nothing is as dangerous as a corrupt one.

US Marshal (Nemesis)

In areas that have no local government, peace is enforced by the shotgun barrel of the local U.S. Marshal. Marshals are employed by the federal government, answering directly up to the local U.S. District Court. Aside from normal law enforcement most Marshals focus on apprehending wanted fugitives, protecting endangered federal witnesses, and transporting federal prisoners. Many Marshals did not begin in law enforcement. More than one was deputized from among the best and deadliest in the West in order to hunt down the most dangerous bandits on the plains, giving many an intimate knowledge of the land and people they work with. In the Frontier, a Marshal can be either a bulwark against tyranny and lawlessness or an oncoming storm, depending on which side of the law you find yourself.

2 4 3 2 3 3
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD S. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
4 12 16 0 0

Skills: Artillery 1, Cool 2, Discipline 2, Knowledge (Civilization) 2, Knowledge (Frontier) 3, Knowledge (Underworld) 2, Perception 2, Ranged (Light) 3, Ranged (Heavy) 2, Vigilance 2
Abilities: Adversary 2; Commanding Presence (All allies receive one Boost die on all checks); Showdown (Gains a Boost die to all rolls in a showdown)
Talents: Thousand Yard Stare, Mounted Combat
Equipment: Remington (pistol; Damage 6, Critical 3; Range [short], Ammo 6, Pierce 1); Pump-Action Shotgun (Shotgun, Damage 7, Critical 5; Range [Medium], Ammo, 4, buckshot); Duster (+2 soak); Irons

Apache Warrior (Minion)

Through the latter half of the 19th century, the Apache grew a reputation for raids and conflicts against the US and Mexican settlers on the Frontier. Though such raids are largely a response to forced relocation onto reservations or attacks from Western settlers, Apaches are often vilified in western newspapers, calling for harsher treatment of them and provoking retaliation from the Apache.

Apache Warriors typically raid and attack in small bands, typically groups of one to four dozen. Most of their skirmishes are with the US Cavalry, though the violence occasionally spills over onto other settlements.

2 2 3 3 3 1
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
3 13 0 0

Skills (groups only): Melee, Ranged (Heavy), Riding, Stealth, Survival
Abilities: None
Talents: Mounted Combat
Equipment: Bow and Arrow (rifle; Damage 6, Critical 2; Range [medium], Ammo 1, Quickload, Pierce 1), Tomahawk

Scout (Rival)

In the various skirmishes between the US army and the Native American tribes, the Native tribes nearly always had a superior knowledge of the terrain, and “Injun Scouts” became legendary in the West. Many stories exaggerate the abilities of the Scouts, but some of the legends are well deserved. Though many Scouts stay with their tribe, some venture out to find work among the towns and settlements of the Frontier. Often, Scouts find regular work under law enforcement, bandits, and even eastern corporations because of their expert knowledge of an area.

2 2 3 3 3 1
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
3 13 0 0

Skills: Animal Handling 2, Knowledge (Frontier) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 2, Melee 2, Perception 2, Ranged (Heavy) 1, Riding 2, Stealth 3, Survival 2
Abilities: Adversary 1
Talents: Lay of the Land, Boots on the Ground, Tracker
Equipment: Tomahawk, Winchester (Rifle; Damage 7, Critical 3; Range [Long], Ammo 10)

Apache Chief (Nemesis)

Leading bands of Apache Warriors, Chiefs have garnered a reputation with the US Cavalry as clever strategists, and cunning leaders. With more autonomy than other military leaders, different Apache Chiefs may vary widely in their goals and methods. Some lead raiding warbands, seeking retaliation for abuse from the government and settlers; while others lead people within the Reservation, committed to protecting their tribe. Regardless of their outlook towards the Americans pushing ever-further West, an Apache Chief is never one to underestimate or ignore.

2 3 2 4 3 3
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD S. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
3 12 17 1 1

Skills: Animal Handling 2, Cool 2, Discipline 2, Knowledge (Frontier) 2, Knowledge (Nature) 3, Perception 2, Ranged (Heavy) 2, Riding 2, Stealth 1, Survival 2, Vigilance 2
Abilities: Adversary 2; Lead the Charge (May spend a maneuver to direct one Apache Warrior minion group within medium range. That group may perform an immediate free maneuver, or add one Boost die to their next check); Stealth Raid (all allies within medium range upgrade all stealth checks by 1)
Talents: Boots on the Ground, Mounted Combat
Equipment: Remington (pistol; Damage 6, Critical 3; Range [short], Ammo 6, Pierce 1); Pump-Action Shotgun (Shotgun, Damage 7, Critical 5; Range [Medium], Ammo, 4, buckshot); Duster (+2 soak)

Bandit (Minion)

Preying on the weak and defenseless, Bandits are reviled throughout the Frontier. Whether it’s rustling cattle, robbing stagecoaches, or stealing horses, Bandits are despised by most law-abiding citizens. Though they often clash with law enforcement, some Bandits travel in strong enough groups that none of the local sheriffs or deputies can challenge them, giving them free reign over a region. Others take a policy of “No Witnesses,” and either avoid being seen or take steps to leave no survivors from their raids

2 3 1 2 1 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
3 6 0 0

Skills (groups only): Ranged (Heavy), Ranged (Light), Riding, Skullduggery
Abilities: None
Talents: None
Equipment: Revolver (pistol; Damage 6, Critical 3; Range [medium], Ammo 6) Pump-Action Shotgun (Shotgun, Damage 7, Critical 5; Range [Medium], Ammo, 4, buckshot); Heavy Clothes (+1 soak)

Bareknuckle Brawler (Rival)

Fighting is a way of life on the Frontier. It’s not unusual to make a living off it, but very few do so without a gun at their side. Bareknuckle boxers tend to be some of the strongest, toughest folks found on the Frontier. Some fight in backrooms and live off of the wagers and ring fees full time, others work as a bouncer or bodyguard to keep their wallets full. Regardless of where one is encountered, going head-to-head with a Bareknuckle Boxer is rarely something most people walk away from without a few broken bones

5 2 1 1 2 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
6 18 0 0

Skills: Brawl 3, Coercion 1, Cool 1, Gambling 1, Resilience 2, Vigilance 1
Abilities: Adversary 1
Talents: Dirty Fighting (creatures making a brawl attack against the boxer take 2 strain), Grappling (When an Engaged creature spends a maneuver to Disengage, the Boxer can take 2 strain to remain Engaged); Suckerpunch (deals +1 damage on brawl); Threatening (Ranged attacks against the boxer while engaged increase the difficulty by 1)
Equipment: Heavy Clothing (+1 soak); Stimulant (+5 wounds, -2 strain)

Card Sharp (Rival)

In most towns on the Frontier, Saturday night entertainment usually involves going to the local saloon for two reasons: drink and gambling. Often a Card Sharp will be engaging in the latter to take advantage of those who had too much of the former. Most Card Sharps have a legitimate skill in gambling they can use to earn their living, but many are happy to cheat or take advantage of drunk and desperate cowboys to line their pockets. Card Sharps are shrewd players who are quick to drain a sucker of his or her cash, and are equally quick to move on to a new town as soon as folks get suspicious.

1 2 2 4 3 3
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
1 10 0 0

Skills: Charm 1, Cool 2, Discipline 2, Deception 3, Gambling 3, Knowledge (Frontier) 2, Knowledge (Underworld) 2, Perception 2, Ranged (Light) 1, Stealth 2
Abilities: Adversary 1
Talents: Ace up my Sleeve (Can make a Stealth Check opposed by perception. If successful, gains 2 automatic success to the next Gambling check), Card Sharp (Gains a Boost die to all Gambling Checks), Trustworthy Smile (Gains a Boost die to charm or deception checks)
Equipment: Derringer (pistol; Damage 4, Critical 4; Range [short], Ammo 1, concealable). Schofield (pistol; Damage 5, Critical 3; Range [short], Ammo 5); Card Holder; Fancy Duds

Gunfighter (Rival)

Few people take up the profession of Gunfighter. Fewer still survive longer than a few months. Professional Gunfighters are tough, skilled, and never to be underestimated; particularly when they stare down their opponent at high noon on a deserted street. Many sell their services to the highest bidder, while others drift from town to town gambling and rely on their pistol to address any trouble they get into.

2 4 1 3 3 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
4 15 0 0

Skills: Cool 2, Discipline 2, Gambling 1, Knowledge (Underworld) 1, Perception 2, Ranged (Light) 3, Vigilance 2
Abilities: Adversary 1
Talents: Deadeye, Bull’s Eye, Fast Draw
Equipment: Custom Revolver (Pistol; Damage 8, Critical 2; Range (medium)); Duster (+2 soak); Stimulant (+5 wounds, -2 strain)

Bank Robber (Nemesis)

On the high plains and prairies of the Old West, few held the infamy of the Bank Robber. Some prefer a stick-up in broad daylight with guns drawn, some sneak into a bank in the dead of night, while others have a talent for dynamite and literally blast their way into any vault or safe they wish. Bounties for a Bank Robber are high, so many lead bandit gangs to discourage any attempts on their life while they plan their next heist. Typically brilliant, calculating, and daring, the dangerous life of a Bank Robber tends to appeal to extreme personalities. Many Bank Robbers attempt to earn the loyalty of the poor by burning mortgage papers and destroying bank records, often relying on those same poor to hide them and shelter them when the US Marshals come looking.

3 3 3 3 3 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD S. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
4 15 14 1 1

Skills: Cool 2, Discipline 2, Knowledge (Civilization) 2, Knowledge (Frontier) 2, Knowledge (Underworld) 2, Melee 2, Perception 3, Ranged (Heavy) 2, Stealth 2, Skullduggery 3; Vigilance 1
Abilities: Adversary 2
Talents: Blasting Expert, Safecracker, Sneak Attack
Equipment: Bowie Knife, Dynamite, Sawed-Off Shotgun; Duster (+2 soak)

Buffalo (Minion)

In the mid to late 19th century, the buffalo population dropped by 40 million, leaving only a few hundred at the turn of the century. At the time of Edge of the Frontier, buffalo numbers are significantly reduced, but a few large herds still roam the plains. Though buffalo appear lethargic, they are capable of moving quickly, outrunning some horses. Most buffalo will attack only if provoked or if defending a calf.

5 1 1 2 1 2
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
8 10 0 0

Skills (group only): Brawl, Survival
Abilities: Charge (As an action, the buffalo may move and Gore. The buffalo must move in a straight line. On a hit, the attack deals +4 damage), Silhouette 2
Equipment: Gore (Brawl, Damage 8, Critical 4, Range [Engaged], Knockdown)

Coyote (Minion)

Anyone who has slept out on the high planes or canyons has heard the howling of the coyotes late into the night. Livestock and horses tend to be at greatest risk of a coyote attack, and most coyotes will avoid humans. However, if food is scarce and a person looks vulnerable, a pack of coyotes may try for an easy meal. Coyotes are rarely alone, and almost always travel and hunt in packs of half a dozen.

2 3 1 2 1 1
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
2 5 0 0

Skills (group only): Brawl, Steath, Survival
Equipment: Bite (Brawl, Damage 4, Critical 3, Range [Engaged], Knockdown)

Cougar (Rival)

Often called mountain lion or puma on the Frontier, cougars roam the West alone, hunting across huge areas. Though preying primarily on livestock, a cougar may attack a human it suspects is injured or if the cougar is cornered. Cougars are cunning hunters, preferring to attack from dense underbrush or from trees.

3 3 1 2 1 1
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
3 7 0 0

Skills: Brawl 2, Perception 1, Stealth 4, Survival 2
Talents: Maul (Each subsequent round a Cougar remains Engaged with a creature after a successful Bite attack, uncancelled successes on subsequent claw attacks cause +2 damage instead of the normal +1 damage)
Equipment: Bite (Brawl; Damage 5; Critical 3; Range [Engaged]), Claws (Brawl; Damage 4; Critical 4; Range [Engaged]; Pierce 2)

Rattlesnake (Rival)

In the deserts and the prairies of the Frontier, few sounds are as terrifying as the buzz of a rattlesnake. Most snakes will leave you alone as long as you don’t threaten them, but for those unfortunate enough to step on a rattlesnake by accident, or find that one has made its home in the bottom of their sleeping bag, the encounter can lay a full-grown man or woman low for days.

2 3 1 1 1 1
BRAWN AGILITY INTELLECT CUNNING WILLPOWER PRESENCE
SOAK VALUE W. THRESHOLD M/R DEFENSE
2 4 2 1

Skills: Brawl 2, Stealth 4
Talents: Ambush (when attacking by surprise, may use Stealth skill in place of Brawl for first melee attack. Each uncancelled success deals +2 damage instead of normal +1)
Equipment: Fangs (Brawl; Damage 3; Critical 4; Range [Engaged]; Pierce 1; a character wounded by this weapon must make a Hard Resilience check or suffer 3 additional wounds, and must check again on their next turn if the check generates Despair).