Mark Plemmons
Explorer
Aces and Eights: Shattered Frontiers is on the way…
Currently in development, Aces and Eights is a deadly serious roleplaying and miniatures game, set in a fractured alternate history of America's Old West.
Though based on a much streamlined and simplified version of the HackMaster game engine, A&8 also promises to revolutionize the gaming industry with incredible new patented GameMaster and player tools!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What's the big deal about another western game?
A: We are NOT trying to make a better western RPG. We've got stuff that breaks the molds of RPGs -- all RPGs, not just westerns. We're looking at every aspect of RPGing and looking to make an improvement. They range from small (an improvement to the skills system), to the massive (a revolutionary way to do combat), to the completely unexpected (more levels of game play and a heretofore unkown method of GMing that will knock your socks off).
Q: Are you working on how to run a story? Most of us know the fantasy game drill, but haven't been able to keep a western going yet.
A: One of the first challenges we decided to confront with this genre was the problem most GM's have had in the past of keeping an ongoing campaign going. Although A&8 lends itself very well to one-off adventures and miniature skirmishes, our focus is very much on the campaign. One of the most detailed campaign settings ever attempted for a western RPG is currently being worked on. Also, we will have a complete town/regional setting for the A&8 GameMaster included. No waiting for campaign material on this one!
Q: Will this be a hardcover or softcover book? Color or black and white?
A: Actually A&8 will be a boxed set containing multiple softcover, full-color books and other accessories.
Q: In combat, will the emphasis be on speed of draw or on the accuracy of the shot?
And will losing your nerve be a factor in shootouts?
A: Both speed and accuracy are factored into the combat system in a very realistic fashion. Nerve is also a factor.
Q: Is this another HackMaster game, like the Cattlepunk game mentioned in Knights of the Dinner Table?
A: No, A&8 is NOT HackMaster's Cattlepunk under a different name. I repeat A&8 is NOT Cattlepunk under a different name. We haven't ruled out doing a CattlePunk supplement down the road but A&8 isn't it. What's the difference betweeen the two? Cattlepunk is an over the top setting that the characters in KoDT play. Aces and Eights is a deadly serious, gritty rpg based in an Old West with an alternative history.
Q: Is it going to be as paperwork intensive as HackMaster? Please say "no". Some of those charts give me nightmares.
A: No worries. Imagine taking the HackMaster engine, greatly streamlining it, taking what doesn't work so well and replacing it with something better. Add a kewl new combat system, new brawl rules, a set of chase mechanics that's so fun it could be sold as a game in itself.... Basically, Aces and Eights is being designed to play fast and furious without sacrificing the meat that makes the soup so tasty. One thing about A&8 is that we're doing it with a modular approach. It introduces rules in chunks. Basic, Medium, Advanced level... Unlike Hackmaster, the GM and his players can choose which rules to adopt for their game, so if you find certain record keeping chores to be too labor intensive you can play a more slimmed down version of the game. I can say the ingenious combat system is actually much simplier than HackMaster but yields far more realistic results. It's truly amazing.
Q: Will it be as 'lethal' as say...Boot Hill was back in the day? And will it have a ridiculously fantastic critical chart that will make your eyes bleed the way the HackMaster one does?
A: More lethal.
As for crits, it has a similar system, but vastly improved.
A&8 has a method of determining exact hit location, damage to that location, and effects of said damage in about the same amount of time as two d20 attacks and less than one HackMaster crit.
Q: What about my HackMaster and D&D/Kingdoms of Kalamar books?
A: The development of A&8 will in NO WAY detract from our support of HackMaster, Kingdoms of Kalamar or any other product. It is simply a new product line. We're still FULLY devoted to developing Hackmaster and KoK products despite some forum members concerns to the contrary. The release of upcoming product for both lines in the coming year should squash those rumors but until then, you'll just have to take us at our word.
Q: Does this game have monsters?
A: No. It's an alternate history, but still set in the harsh reality of the old west. More on this as the weeks progress.
Q: A great theme in the West is the war for control of water and land. Is there any interest in scenarios of this nature?
A: That's a valid premise for an adventure. Keep in mind that with our alternative history we've really stoked the fires when it comes to adventure/campaign material. Along with the traditional western adventures, a lot of new directions for adventures have been opened up. It'll make more sense when we start revealing more details of the setting.
Q: What's the release date for A&8?
A: No OFFICIAL release date has been announced. When we feel we have a good feel for when the game will be released we'll let you know. The game is still in development and will be demoed/playtested for several months.
Q: I want more info!
A: Be aware that we're still being tight lipped on many of the details of the rules and the setting. We'll answer questions where we can. Others will have to wait. More new information will be released at (and after) the GAMA Trade Show (March 16-19). In the meantime, you can check out the discussion at our forums by going to http://www.kenzerco.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?Cat= and scrolling down to the Aces and Eights forum.
Q: Well, I'm still not excited about the release of a western rpg.
A: Make no mistake. We KNOW wild west rpgs traditionally don't pull large followings. (with the exception of Deadlands, perhaps, which added fantasy to the equation). But we like a good challenge.
At GenghisCon, when we announced the product, we could see disappoint on some faces – until they found out more! Read some typical comments here…
"I'm horribly stoked about Aces and Eights, myself. After turning a brawl into a gunfight, getting shot in the back of the head by a guy as he walked into the saloon, and later pulling off the most daring mule-based escape ever, I'm ready for round two! Or even three!"
And another:
"I played the Aces and Eights demo/playtest at Genghis Con. It definitely has the old west feel preserved. The only way this game could feel more authentic is if it came pre-packaged with a time machine.
The combat is more than intense and more than a few times I was genuinely worried about where to duck, run, etc to keep from getting my head blown off! I was the guy that took a head shot because of cover. I ducked behind some horses for cover and got my jaw blown off for it. I did manage to get a critical hit to my opponent's guts while laying on the ground with half my face blown off. I blew his tummy open and damaged his kidney. Needless to say, we both lay in the street dead after that exchange.
The game offers superb combat rules. It can be played as a combat game, an rpg, or a rules supplement to HM.
Roleplaying opportunities abound, Combat is not only fast and fun; it builds tension and anxiety like nothing if seen before. I've RPGed for 15 years, so I don't make that claim lightly. We had 10 people playing and I don't think there was a person there not instantly caught up in the action.
When you see the character sheets you will instantly see this was inspired by HackMaster and once you see the rest of it, I believe people will realize this will only make your HackMaster game better. It is truly innovative, realistic, and surprisingly quick. I really wish I could say more about the details, but I too am under the NDA.
I had concerns, voiced them, mostly minor. Dave and Jolly really listen and take comments to heart. They don't want to give the fans a rehash of HackMaster with a western label. They truly want to make a leap into something uniquely innovative...and I think they have succeeded.
I generally don't "gush" over a product. I'm not a rabid fanboy, and I'm more than willing to complain when it's warranted. There is absolutely no reason to complain over this one. I have never liked the old west genre that much. I played a few deadlands scenarios, played boot hill once or twice as a kid. I don't think I've ever been able to watch a western movie all the way through. I've never even thought about reading a western novel. BUT I am excited about this product. I reluctantly played the demo when I found out it was a western genre. Slowly I was taken in, and before long I was completely enveloped in the heat of battles with life and death hanging in the balance.
If you are dismissing this product out of hand, you are not only being unfair, you are doing yourself a great disservice. After all was said and done, I was the one quoted as saying "I would sell blood to own this game" and I meant it. We played for 4 hours and I would have sat there for 4 more.
I love HackMaster and would never give it up either. Jolly and Dave both assured me of all the HackMaster products they are working on. Some things may be delayed or canceled, not because they never intend to do them, but because they want to do them right and give the fans a superior product rather than just something that was hurried through to make a release date. Suffice to say there are numerous exciting HackMaster products on the horizon and Aces and Eights is just one of the many things to look forward to from K&C."
Currently in development, Aces and Eights is a deadly serious roleplaying and miniatures game, set in a fractured alternate history of America's Old West.
Though based on a much streamlined and simplified version of the HackMaster game engine, A&8 also promises to revolutionize the gaming industry with incredible new patented GameMaster and player tools!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What's the big deal about another western game?
A: We are NOT trying to make a better western RPG. We've got stuff that breaks the molds of RPGs -- all RPGs, not just westerns. We're looking at every aspect of RPGing and looking to make an improvement. They range from small (an improvement to the skills system), to the massive (a revolutionary way to do combat), to the completely unexpected (more levels of game play and a heretofore unkown method of GMing that will knock your socks off).
Q: Are you working on how to run a story? Most of us know the fantasy game drill, but haven't been able to keep a western going yet.
A: One of the first challenges we decided to confront with this genre was the problem most GM's have had in the past of keeping an ongoing campaign going. Although A&8 lends itself very well to one-off adventures and miniature skirmishes, our focus is very much on the campaign. One of the most detailed campaign settings ever attempted for a western RPG is currently being worked on. Also, we will have a complete town/regional setting for the A&8 GameMaster included. No waiting for campaign material on this one!
Q: Will this be a hardcover or softcover book? Color or black and white?
A: Actually A&8 will be a boxed set containing multiple softcover, full-color books and other accessories.
Q: In combat, will the emphasis be on speed of draw or on the accuracy of the shot?
And will losing your nerve be a factor in shootouts?
A: Both speed and accuracy are factored into the combat system in a very realistic fashion. Nerve is also a factor.
Q: Is this another HackMaster game, like the Cattlepunk game mentioned in Knights of the Dinner Table?
A: No, A&8 is NOT HackMaster's Cattlepunk under a different name. I repeat A&8 is NOT Cattlepunk under a different name. We haven't ruled out doing a CattlePunk supplement down the road but A&8 isn't it. What's the difference betweeen the two? Cattlepunk is an over the top setting that the characters in KoDT play. Aces and Eights is a deadly serious, gritty rpg based in an Old West with an alternative history.
Q: Is it going to be as paperwork intensive as HackMaster? Please say "no". Some of those charts give me nightmares.
A: No worries. Imagine taking the HackMaster engine, greatly streamlining it, taking what doesn't work so well and replacing it with something better. Add a kewl new combat system, new brawl rules, a set of chase mechanics that's so fun it could be sold as a game in itself.... Basically, Aces and Eights is being designed to play fast and furious without sacrificing the meat that makes the soup so tasty. One thing about A&8 is that we're doing it with a modular approach. It introduces rules in chunks. Basic, Medium, Advanced level... Unlike Hackmaster, the GM and his players can choose which rules to adopt for their game, so if you find certain record keeping chores to be too labor intensive you can play a more slimmed down version of the game. I can say the ingenious combat system is actually much simplier than HackMaster but yields far more realistic results. It's truly amazing.
Q: Will it be as 'lethal' as say...Boot Hill was back in the day? And will it have a ridiculously fantastic critical chart that will make your eyes bleed the way the HackMaster one does?
A: More lethal.
As for crits, it has a similar system, but vastly improved. A&8 has a method of determining exact hit location, damage to that location, and effects of said damage in about the same amount of time as two d20 attacks and less than one HackMaster crit.
Q: What about my HackMaster and D&D/Kingdoms of Kalamar books?
A: The development of A&8 will in NO WAY detract from our support of HackMaster, Kingdoms of Kalamar or any other product. It is simply a new product line. We're still FULLY devoted to developing Hackmaster and KoK products despite some forum members concerns to the contrary. The release of upcoming product for both lines in the coming year should squash those rumors but until then, you'll just have to take us at our word.
Q: Does this game have monsters?
A: No. It's an alternate history, but still set in the harsh reality of the old west. More on this as the weeks progress.
Q: A great theme in the West is the war for control of water and land. Is there any interest in scenarios of this nature?
A: That's a valid premise for an adventure. Keep in mind that with our alternative history we've really stoked the fires when it comes to adventure/campaign material. Along with the traditional western adventures, a lot of new directions for adventures have been opened up. It'll make more sense when we start revealing more details of the setting.
Q: What's the release date for A&8?
A: No OFFICIAL release date has been announced. When we feel we have a good feel for when the game will be released we'll let you know. The game is still in development and will be demoed/playtested for several months.
Q: I want more info!
A: Be aware that we're still being tight lipped on many of the details of the rules and the setting. We'll answer questions where we can. Others will have to wait. More new information will be released at (and after) the GAMA Trade Show (March 16-19). In the meantime, you can check out the discussion at our forums by going to http://www.kenzerco.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?Cat= and scrolling down to the Aces and Eights forum.
Q: Well, I'm still not excited about the release of a western rpg.
A: Make no mistake. We KNOW wild west rpgs traditionally don't pull large followings. (with the exception of Deadlands, perhaps, which added fantasy to the equation). But we like a good challenge.
At GenghisCon, when we announced the product, we could see disappoint on some faces – until they found out more! Read some typical comments here…
"I'm horribly stoked about Aces and Eights, myself. After turning a brawl into a gunfight, getting shot in the back of the head by a guy as he walked into the saloon, and later pulling off the most daring mule-based escape ever, I'm ready for round two! Or even three!"
And another:
"I played the Aces and Eights demo/playtest at Genghis Con. It definitely has the old west feel preserved. The only way this game could feel more authentic is if it came pre-packaged with a time machine.
The combat is more than intense and more than a few times I was genuinely worried about where to duck, run, etc to keep from getting my head blown off! I was the guy that took a head shot because of cover. I ducked behind some horses for cover and got my jaw blown off for it. I did manage to get a critical hit to my opponent's guts while laying on the ground with half my face blown off. I blew his tummy open and damaged his kidney. Needless to say, we both lay in the street dead after that exchange.
The game offers superb combat rules. It can be played as a combat game, an rpg, or a rules supplement to HM.
Roleplaying opportunities abound, Combat is not only fast and fun; it builds tension and anxiety like nothing if seen before. I've RPGed for 15 years, so I don't make that claim lightly. We had 10 people playing and I don't think there was a person there not instantly caught up in the action.
When you see the character sheets you will instantly see this was inspired by HackMaster and once you see the rest of it, I believe people will realize this will only make your HackMaster game better. It is truly innovative, realistic, and surprisingly quick. I really wish I could say more about the details, but I too am under the NDA.
I had concerns, voiced them, mostly minor. Dave and Jolly really listen and take comments to heart. They don't want to give the fans a rehash of HackMaster with a western label. They truly want to make a leap into something uniquely innovative...and I think they have succeeded.
I generally don't "gush" over a product. I'm not a rabid fanboy, and I'm more than willing to complain when it's warranted. There is absolutely no reason to complain over this one. I have never liked the old west genre that much. I played a few deadlands scenarios, played boot hill once or twice as a kid. I don't think I've ever been able to watch a western movie all the way through. I've never even thought about reading a western novel. BUT I am excited about this product. I reluctantly played the demo when I found out it was a western genre. Slowly I was taken in, and before long I was completely enveloped in the heat of battles with life and death hanging in the balance.
If you are dismissing this product out of hand, you are not only being unfair, you are doing yourself a great disservice. After all was said and done, I was the one quoted as saying "I would sell blood to own this game" and I meant it. We played for 4 hours and I would have sat there for 4 more.
I love HackMaster and would never give it up either. Jolly and Dave both assured me of all the HackMaster products they are working on. Some things may be delayed or canceled, not because they never intend to do them, but because they want to do them right and give the fans a superior product rather than just something that was hurried through to make a release date. Suffice to say there are numerous exciting HackMaster products on the horizon and Aces and Eights is just one of the many things to look forward to from K&C."
