Effekt Publishing

@effektpodcast

Dave and Matthew, hosts of a fortnightly audio magazine about Year Zero Engine TTRPGs, and now, creators of an award winning RPG. Tales of the Old West. podcast: www.effektpodcast.org || game www.effektpublishing.com

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Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· 10d

I need a physical attack power, and Strike seems to fit the bill. Adding +1 to my slugfest damage. I also like Guidance which is not much cop for a solo hero but allows me to give teammates bonus actions. And of course the big one for my Dominatrix themed character is Mind Control. 8/?

Test describe the mind control power
“ As a full action, you can attempt to take control of a sentient creature within your zone or an adjacent zone. Make an opposed PRESENCE roll against the target (no action for the target). If you win, the target immediately takes a full turn (even if they have already had their turn in the round) with a full and a quick action (or two quick actions), on your command. The target then loses their next ordinary turn, and cannot
perform interrupt actions before then. Outside of combat, you can control a target's actions for a few minutes. During this time, the target may make a straight PRESENCE roll to break your control any time you force them to take an action that they wouldn't ordinarily
perform. This power cannot be used against huge creatures. • Boost: Area Control. You can attempt to take control of multiple targets in your zone or an adjacent zone by taking 1 point of stress for each target beyond the first. You roll once for PRESENCE while each target
rolls separately to resist. • Limit: Hypnosis. You need to go through the process of hypnosis to control someone's mind, so you can only use your MIND CoNTroL power outside of
combat. Limit: Requires Touch. You can only use your MIND CONTROL power while touching the target, requiring you to perform a successful slugfest attack (that
causes no damage) as part of the power's use.”

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· 10d

So I am “extraordinary“ in my four favoured attributes, and have “great” agility - but I have to say in an attribute roll that does not add additional dice, “extraordinary “ does not feel very competent. My health is 7 and my resolve 6. I need some powers. Street Defenders get three. 6/?

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· 10d

Archetype, but that might be too easy, so instead, the next step is to decide my role in the team. Of these, striker, controller, and leader appeal. Were I in a group, obviously I would discuss this with the other players. But as I am not, and this role has no mechanical effect, I will move on. 4/?

Image of the oars of the book that describes roles
“ Blaster: You excel at dealing devastating attacks
from a distance.
Brains: You adapt to any situation by using cunning
and strategy to outsmart your opponents.
Brawn: You are a physical force that relishes
surviving and delivering damage.
* Controller: You are a master of hindering enemies,
assisting allies, and managing the battlefield.
* Defender: You are a protector that safeguards allies
and engages enemies on the front lines.
* Leader: You guide and support your allies with
coordination, tactics, will, or inspiration.
* Striker: You are a relentless force in close combat
that balances strength and mobility.
* Wildcard: You are adaptable and unpredictable,
overcoming challenges with your versatility.”

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· 10d

Let’s us not mindlessly celebrate the US’s assumed role as the world’s policeman, especially in these times. Our Corporal Discipline will be a sex worker and defender of the down-trodden, or as we call it in this game “Street Defender.” Now part of me wants to simply the process by choosing an … 3/?

Image of a page in the rulebook that says “ * Street Defender: You are the first line of defense for your home city, confronting street-level dangers such as crime lords, gangsters, drug traffickers, ninja factions, mobsters, and other criminals. You're not afraid to get your hands dirty and to work alone on the streets, but you've found that it's always nice to
have allies in your crusade.”

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· 10d

I may regret this, I wasn’t going to do #RPGaDay this year, but @autocratik.bsky.social has inspired me with his first contribution. Can I create a character for a new (or new to me) game each day this month? The first attempt is #Invincible and today‘s prompt is Discipline! Oooh Mother! 1/?

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· 11d

Detail of an image, showing the head of a horse and a ruder from the waist up in a broad brimmed hat
Partial text reads:
es if the
WE
ne Rider
IS FOR SOLO PLAY

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· 12d

Lone Rider solo rules layout coming along

A table of contents in Indesign reading:
WHAT IS "LONE RIDER"?
HOW TO PLAY SOLO
RECORDING YOUR TALE
HOW LONG SHOULD THE TALE LAST?
YOUR CARDS ARE THE GM
USING TOOLS FROM THE CORE RULES.
START YOUR TALE ......
CREATE YOUR CHARACTER
CREATING SETTLEMENTS
CREATING FACTIONS
THE STRUCTURE OF AN ADVENTURE
I. SETTLING INTO THE SETTING
II. AN INCITING INCIDENT
III. CALL TO ACTION.
IV. TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES
V. THE CENTRAL THREAT
VI. RESPITE
VII CLIMAX..
VIII. IS THERE A FINAL TWIST?

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Jul 4

Happy Independence Day on this semi-quincentennial to all our US GMs and players

The cover of Tales of the Old West, altered to read 250 years young

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Jun 11

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· May 31

It’s the last few hours of voting for the People’s Choice award at #UKGamesExpo. We are the David against @chaosium.bsky.social’s Goliath. Please vote for us if you can. You will find Voting Touchscreens in Hall 1.

An illustration from Tales of the Old West featuring a young but determined woman punching a ruffian. The legend reads “Land the knockout blow! Make your People’s Choice vote count”

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· May 30

We are up against a Call of Cthulhu adventure from Chaosium for the RPG People’s choice award at #UKGamesExpo26. That’s a company with a huge fanbase, please cast your vote for the little guy on the #UKGE app or in hall 1

An image from our vote book featuring Native Americans watching a settler wagon cross the plains. A storm is brewing in the distance. The caption reads “Vote for us in the People’s Choice”

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· May 28

Here it actually is

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· May 27

Oh and while we have your attention, our game, Tales of the Old West, won the judges award for best Roleplaying game this year❤️. May we please, humbly, ask you to consider voting for us in the RPG category when the People’s choice goes live?

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· May 27

This is where to find us, not too far at all from the @uktin.bsky.social stand

An isometric map of UK Games Expo as a euro-medieval (with a remarkably modern grid layout) fantasy city, arrows mark the way to stand 3-601

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· May 27

We are eager to stamp your cards!

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· May 26

To you want to find your way to the awarded #BestRoleplayingGame at #UKGE? Here is a handy-dandy map to where we have set out our stall. 3-601 With thanks to @jogbrogzin.bsky.social

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· May 12

We are very, very, VERY pleased to announce that Tales of the Old West, created by Matthew Tyler-Jones and Dave Semark and built on Free League Publishing’s #YearZeroEngine just won the 2026 Judges Award for Best Roleplaying Game in the UK Games Expo awards

A grid of six awards winners, with bottom and centre Tales of the Old West claimed Best Roleplaying Game

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· May 12

Today’s the day 🤞 I feel like we should have put “For your consideration” posters across Birmingham

A listing of three shortlisted candidates for Best Roleplaying Game, including Tales of the Old West, The Laundrey, and Totem.

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Apr 28

One of my eye opening PBTA games is from the same stable though

The front cover of “the warren a roleplaying game by marshall miller” features a torn paper stylized rabbit

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Apr 21

Enjoyed the Hook Jaw story in the recent special

The front cover of the Action 50th anniversary special comic (not to be confused with Action Comics!) The cover highlights two stories the excellent Hook Jaw and the ok Dredger. Sadly no Kids Rule OK story inside…

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Apr 17

The timeless classic:

A frame from a comic in which Captain America slings his shield at an enemy, whom it strikes with the onomatopoeia “Wank”

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Apr 16

We make Tales of the Old West, a gritty Year Zero Engine game of building a life and making enemies in the 1870s. You can buy it on DriveThru in stores or from our shop buytotow.square.site

The cover of Tales of the Old West, depicting a Mexican American, and African American, a Native American a woman holding two pistols frozen style over spaced horses stampeding through a town. With an additional “seal” overlaid declaring it as one of Tabletop Gaming magazine’s Must Play games

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Apr 11

We are ready for the hoards at #Salute53

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Apr 2

Good news for our US fans. We now have warehouse stock of Tales from the Old West core book in the US! Shipping prices reduced for US customers. Call to action: please lobby your friendly local gaming stores to get stock in. (Useful addresses in the alt text.) Move 'em out, head 'em up, Rawhide!

Four horsemen silhouetted against a rising sun, with the text "It's time. Tales of the Old West back in stock in the US. Buy it now at https://buytotow.square.site Stores: contact distribution@effektpublishing.com

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Mar 10

And then there are the maps! Charts for adventures battle maps for fights and sea battles, ship cross sections and deck plans. And what good are battle-maps without counters? No good at all! So there are counters too, for characters NPCs, chickens, the direction of the wind, the watch of the day 8/?

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Mar 10

7/? That rule book is 80 pages by the way which I think is pretty much all the rules in the core book, missing only more ships more monsters and more random adventure and encounter tables. And the box includes a second book with a new 60 pages long adventure, unavailable elsewhere. So much value!

A four colour style cover illustration featuring undead conquistadors, natives and pirates. What more does a Pirate Borg adventure need?

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Mar 10

Traditionalists, and poor fools who think it’s worth getting attached to their character, will find a pad of paper character sheets in the box too. Perhaps better used *post mortis* to make of permanent record of a dead character for posterity. The rule book is of course a cut down one, but not much

A Morg Borg style character sheet but for Pirate Borg.

The cover of the Pirate Borg start set rules book features a skeletal pirate with cutlass and hook.

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Mar 10

There is a small pack of cards, featuring creatures, NPCs, ship types and … the Tongue of Thoth ? These are beautifully illustrated, but maybe less exciting than the dry erase markers, because those markers come are for reusable character sheets! Which are incredibly useful given a Borg lifespan 5/?

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Mar 10

The polyhedral dice are elegantly piratical. The fact that each number is simply made “big enough to fill the face of the die” leads to clarity, but also a jumble of sizes, which are BEAUTFULLY chaotic. Just like a crew of pirates. There is even a (skull)heads or tails coin included. 4/?

A set of white on black polyhedral dice with large and clear Arabic numerals.

Effekt Publishing@effektpodcast· Mar 10

Why? Let me count the ways. First of all the thing I didn’t even notice until I was packing it away. The box is, in the Borg tradition, textured. The characters are embossed, but not only that, there is a little bit of gloss varnish on the blood red tongue and the entrails the creature holds 3/?