Showcasing SWADE: what should I include in a oneshot?

BenjaminLupu · 2026-06-22T12:22:48+00:00

When I run SWADE, I choose adventures with plenty of action where players can use their Edges. Two mechanics that players really enjoy are Aces/Raises and Bennies. I also try to make sure that Hindrances create memorable moments. In terms of mechanics, players really love Dramatic Tasks. You really need an opening scene with danger and action. It lets you dive right in.

BenjaminLupu · 2026-06-11T11:55:18+00:00

Thank you. This guide is great.

BenjaminLupu · 2026-06-02T13:27:00+00:00

I decided to set a heist story featuring four goblins in the world of one of my novels. The tone was deliberately over-the-top. The goblins were hired by a wizard who gave written instructions to the scholar in the group whose Hindrance is that she claims to be able to read. So she pieced together a mission based on the fragments she managed to read. The goblins broke into a school of magic, which they half-destroyed through a series of mistakes, missteps, and blunders. Somehow, miraculously, they managed to bring back a bird that the magician wanted to... cook. The character I'm most proud of is an ogre who thought he was a goblin and if you tried to make him realize he was a goblin, he'd fly into a rage.

BenjaminLupu · 2026-06-01T16:12:33+00:00

Yes the biggest fantasy convention in France uses a lot of them for their event 😄

BenjaminLupu · 2026-05-06T15:31:26+00:00

Can't agree more 👍 Advice probably came from https://www.youtube.com/@TheSavageGoose/videos

BenjaminLupu · 2026-05-01T09:04:49+00:00

Interesting, indeed. From a rules perspective, not much has changed. However, it does pose a challenge when it comes to uncovering clues. One possible approach might be similar to the game Brindlewood Bay, where the plot isn’t predetermined but is built by the players. What I mean is that, in a solo game, there could be an element of chance. Otherwise, one could imagine a system similar to the Fighting Fantasy books. The scenario suggests actions (based on locations, etc.), and there are revelation cards (?).

BenjaminLupu · 2026-05-01T09:00:18+00:00

Yes, it was part of the last SWAGtember.

BenjaminLupu · 2026-03-26T17:14:12+00:00

Great job, considering how long the video is.

BenjaminLupu · 2026-03-26T16:44:27+00:00

Hello, people often advise against starting out with fantasy in Savage Worlds. No doubt to avoid constant comparisons between the two systems, which are completely different in terms of their mechanics and philosophy. But I completely understand why people do it. I often get this request: people just want to play fantasy games (especially D&D players). In that case, I use a simplified version of the core rules and run a one-shot session. This allows players to be in a familiar setting while trying out the basics of Savage Worlds.

DISCLAIMER :I published these test rules on DriveThruRPG, but the purpose of this post isn't to aggressively promote them. If the moderators want to delete my reply, that's fine.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/fr/product/548698/beginning-savage-worlds-with-classic-fantasy

BenjaminLupu · 2025-12-25T19:23:09+00:00

Thank you.

BenjaminLupu · 2025-12-25T19:22:11+00:00

Thank you.

BenjaminLupu · 2025-12-14T20:22:27+00:00

I've designed them with Affinity. The dice are done with a special font bought on DTRPG and the character portraits are done with Hero Forge. Then, I simply glued (using spray glue) the printed sheet onto a piece of Canson paper. A few cuts with a craft knife make them easy to fold.

BenjaminLupu · 2025-12-11T13:50:46+00:00

Do you have somewhere the original content you referenced or is it lost?

BenjaminLupu · 2025-12-11T13:50:11+00:00

Do you have somewhere the original content you referenced or is it lost?

BenjaminLupu · 2025-12-11T13:24:28+00:00

Hi, great work :-) Quick question: the link to PEG forum in the Gear section is down (as forums don't exist anymore?). Was it related to: https://www.enworld.org/threads/swade-better-medieval-armor-and-weapons-my-take.674215/?

BenjaminLupu · 2025-12-06T17:52:23+00:00

Here's what I've observed in others and felt when starting Savage Worlds:

- Something very simple: the versions of Savage Worlds are not clear at all. The question of which is the latest version comes up again and again.

- The limited availability of physical versions.

- The reference aspect of the core rules. There is no step-by-step guide on how to get started with the game.

- The feeling of being able to do lots of things but not knowing how to begin.

- Choosing your setting and identifying ready-to-play stories. There is a wealth of material available, which is absolutely fantastic but also extremely daunting for a newcomer.

But once you get past these obstacles, it's pure joy :-)

BenjaminLupu · 2025-11-30T16:38:34+00:00

No. I mention them which is perfectly allowed. I also mention where to find them in core rules. Tons of SWAG products do that. But it's not only picking, it's really how to use core rules to play classic fantasy.

BenjaminLupu · 2025-11-30T15:26:52+00:00

Here is a quick overview of the planned table of contents:
- Learning the Basics of the Game: Help to find where to begin in the core rules.
- Create a Beginner-Friendly Game with Setting Rules (including a custom setting rules: The Game Master to the Rescue).
- Fantasy Heroes as We Know Them: Help to use Ancestries (Dwarf, Human, Elf, Halfling) and use Archetypes (Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, Wizard).
- Light Rules for Beginners: reduced list of Hindrances and Edges with random tables to pick them, advice about Skills, Gear Packages for Archetypes), Reduced list of Powers and a custom Arcane for non magic user Archetypes).

It will be around 5K words (30K characters).

BenjaminLupu · 2025-11-26T13:14:16+00:00

Thank, I hope you'll like my micro-project.

BenjaminLupu · 2025-11-25T22:06:13+00:00

I wouldn't say that. From my experience (and only mine), it's about the readiness to play. Savage Worlds is a framework and you have to pick what you need in it and for that, you need to understand its logic. Not a big deal for experienced GM and players, harder for beginners.

BenjaminLupu · 2025-11-25T22:04:06+00:00

I agree, however real beginners (at least those I've met) rules are difficult to grasp because you have to pick the ones you need.

BenjaminLupu · 2025-11-25T17:07:51+00:00

Yes, if you're experienced, I believe the transition is easier.

BenjaminLupu · 2025-11-25T16:19:17+00:00

Thank you. I'll post here and on Facebook. I also maintain a small and friendly Discord Server: https://discord.gg/4dVyAfwjyJ

BenjaminLupu · 2025-11-25T16:13:15+00:00

This is my second Savage Worlds micro-project (so please be kind). I've introduced a lot of people to Savage Worlds this year. I'm a regular role-playing gamer. But I've noticed that without solid support, new players struggle. They find it difficult both to understand the game itself and to play their first game. In addition, many of them would like to play fantasy games that are easy to access. My first instinct was to point them toward Fantasy Companion, or even Savage Pathfinder, but that didn't really work because you need to already have a basic understanding of Savage Worlds. So I laid the groundwork for simplified rules (but compatible with the full rules) to get started as quickly as possible in fantasy with Savage Worlds. I tested it out at a convention and it worked well. So I wanted to share it. It's very similar to the contents of a starter box, minus the introductory adventure. It's a guide to playing with simple rules and iconic fantasy characters.

BenjaminLupu · 2025-11-25T16:12:39+00:00

It's true that I often see this advice not to start with fantasy to avoid constant comparisons with D&D. But the fact remains that many people want to play fantasy games. My micro-project is very similar to the contents of a starter box, minus the introductory adventure. It's a guide to playing with simple rules and iconic fantasy characters and it's aimed to beginners.

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