5-31-2008
"A Wild West Oracle"
for In a Wicked Age and most any other RPG or Story Game.
With this article we continue our love affair with Vincent Baker's In a WIcked Age. Our previous Oracle was intended to be a broad resource for any Victorian Era game, this time we're going to be more focused. Welcome to the Wild West Oracle!
Since we're setting our sights on the Wild West (as opposed to the American West in general) we haven't divided up the suits as we did last time. Below you will find a wide variety of elements to incorporate into your game but when we hear "wild" we're bound to emphasize action and, as befits the setting, that means guns and fightin'!
Requirements:
1 Standard Deck of 52 Playing Cards
| Card | Meaning |
|---|---|
HEARTS |
|
2 |
The Miser finds love at last. |
| 3 | The School Ma'arm exposes an ankle. |
| 4 | Complications with an Arranged Marriage.. |
| 5 | A new home for the Pioneer's family. |
| 6 | Frontier Justice takes a holiday. |
| 7 | A Brave returns empty handed.. |
| 8 | An invitation to a Shotgun Wedding. |
| 9 | A storm strands a Wagon and its Escort. |
| 10 | A Small Town's last stand. |
| Jack | A Snake Oil Salesman takes a Bride. |
| Queen | The Most Beautiful Bank Robber in the West. |
| King | One Preacher too many. |
| Ace | Ambush! |
CLUBS |
|
2 |
A Hangin' Judge meets with a Pinkerton. |
| 3 | A real Mexican standoff. |
| 4 | A shortage of whiskey and a surplus of rifles. |
| 5 | Law comes to a Forgotten Town. |
| 6 | Purification by gunfire and brimstone. |
| 7 | A Stage Coach race. |
| 8 | The Fastest Gun in the West? |
| 9 | A robbery foiled in broad daylight. |
| 10 | A Retired Gunfighter polishes his pistols |
| Jack | The flight of the Green Horn. |
| Queen | The Mayor's Wife sets things straight. |
| King | A Bounty Hunter takes a bet. |
| Ace | Barroom brawl!!. |
DIAMONDS |
|
2 |
Two Ranchers review a map. |
| 3 | The wrong brand in the Wrong Hand. |
| 4 | The sunset glints off a badge in the dust. |
| 5 | How far will He go to pay the rent? |
| 6 | Chinese Laborers having a meal. |
| 7 | A wonderful, wonderful day... to be an Undertaker. |
| 8 | A Blacksmith is rewarded in kind.. |
| 9 | A Train is carefully abandoned. |
| 10 | A Group Prayer in the streets of a Border Town. |
| Jack | The last round for the Town Drunk. |
| Queen | A Widow considers her Suitors. |
| King | The Shaman dreams at last. |
| Ace | War Party! |
SPADES |
|
2 |
Rival Leaned Men willing to kill for old bones. |
| 3 | Three men in the cemetery at dawn. |
| 4 | A trail of dead coyotes leads Home. |
| 5 | What do you mean, a "horse-less carriage"?. |
| 6 | AThe desert gives up her Secrets. |
| 7 | A Trapper falls into a cavern. |
| 8 | A Ghost Town in more ways than one. |
| 9 | Phantoms of the war come a'callin'. |
| 10 | An unexpected Execution. |
| Jack | The Yellow Belly dances |
| Queen | A Whore hunts her pound of flesh. |
| King | The Man with Too Many Names. |
| Ace | The Duel. |
Using the Oracle is simple:
Shuffle the deck of cards thoroughly and draw 4 cards.
The GM will then weave the elements into the next story.
An Example:
5 Diamonds, 4 Clubs, Jack Clubs. 6 Hearts
"With the sheriff missing a reward is posted for the Green Horn who murdered his landlord and stole a wagon of supplies (including some fine, fine liquor)."
http://www.lumpley.com/wicked.html