Deathlands novels - Worth reading for PA Hero inspiration?

[Steve]

I've seen them in the bookstores over the years, but I've never read one. How would you rate them in terms of background for fleshing out a PA campaign? They seem fairly gritty, but with some wilder technology/mutations as well.

 

Are there any good websites that cover the series?

[shadowcat1313]

Re: Deathlands novels - Worth reading for PA Hero inspiration?

 

I have read a few of them, there written by a whole slew of different authors,

I think my favorite being the ones by Nick Pollotta, who write the Bureau 13 series among other things

 

Couple of Sites I have had bookmarked

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathlands

 

http://www.jamesaxler.com/index.php

[Squeakula]

Re: Deathlands novels - Worth reading for PA Hero inspiration?

 

I haven't read any of the recent books but if you can track down the early ones (before multiple authors started writing the series and character development stopped) they do have a lot of good ideas to borrow. The concept of the gateways is an interesting one and allows you to vary the setting of the campaign easily. On top of that there is time travel, mutants and lost ancient technology in a very gritty and violent setting.

 

Another good series like this to lift ideas from is Endworld, they are a bit harder to find than the Deathlands series but the first 5 or so are worth tracking down. There is a built in home base for the PC's with The Family and the warrior Triads make an excellent adventuring party. Plus everyone gets to pick their own cool names and the later books feature genetically engineered humanoid animals.