You're interested in the Deadlands: Hell on Earth PDF!

Deadlands is a popular tabletop role-playing game (RPG) setting created by Shane Hensley and published by Pinnacle Entertainment Group. It's a weird west-horror RPG that combines elements of the American Old West with supernatural and sci-fi elements.

Hell on Earth is one of the many campaign settings available for Deadlands, and it's a post-apocalyptic take on the game world. The story takes place in a world that's been devastated by nuclear war, and players must navigate the dangers of a harsh, radiation-scarred landscape filled with mutants, raiders, and other threats.

The PDF version of Hell on Earth provides a comprehensive guide to the setting, including:

  1. World background: A detailed description of the post-apocalyptic world, including the events leading up to the nuclear war and the current state of the world.
  2. Rules: Modifications to the standard Deadlands rules to accommodate the post-apocalyptic setting, including new hazards, radiation effects, and mutated creatures.
  3. Locations: Descriptions of various locations in the world, including settlements, ruins, and other points of interest.
  4. NPCs: A selection of non-player characters, including allies, enemies, and neutral parties.

If you're a fan of the Deadlands setting and are looking for a good story, Hell on Earth offers a lot to explore. The setting provides a rich backdrop for gritty, intense adventures, and the rules and setting details can help inspire some amazing stories.

Are you planning on running a game in the Hell on Earth setting, or are you looking for inspiration for your own stories?

The Deadlands: Hell on Earth PDF is the digital gateway to one of the most iconic "Wasted West" settings in tabletop roleplaying history. Combining high-octane action, supernatural horror, and post-apocalyptic survival, this game transports players to a future where the heroes of the Old West failed, and the world paid the ultimate price.

Whether you are a seasoned Marshal or a survivor looking to pick up the dice for the first time, here is everything you need to know about this classic setting. ☢️ What is Deadlands: Hell on Earth?

Deadlands: Hell on Earth is the direct sequel to the original Deadlands: The Weird West. While the original game takes place in the 1880s, Hell on Earth jumps forward to the year 2094.

The story follows a "Cold War" between the United States and the Confederate States that lasted over 200 years, eventually culminating in a global nuclear exchange. However, these weren't ordinary nukes—they were "Ghost Rock" bombs.

When the bombs fell, they tore the veil between our world and the "Hunting Grounds," allowing the Reckoners (ancient, malevolent entities) to walk the Earth. The result is the Wasted West: a landscape filled with radiation, mutants, undead, and terrifying supernatural storms. 📖 What’s Inside the PDF?

When you download the Deadlands: Hell on Earth PDF (specifically the "Classic" or "Reloaded" versions), you get a comprehensive toolkit for building a campaign:

The Player's Guide: Rules for creating survivors, including unique archetypes like Sykers (psychic warriors), Junkers (tech-wizards who build gadgets from scrap), and Templars (knights of the wasteland).

The Marshal's Handbook: The secret lore behind the Reckoning, stats for terrifying monsters like Automations and Rad-rats, and mechanics for "The Maelstrom."

Unique Mechanics: Rules for scavenging for food and fuel, dealing with Ghost Rock radiation, and high-speed vehicular combat.

Setting Lore: Detailed descriptions of what remains of North America, from the ruins of Las Vegas to the toxic shores of the Great Maze. 🛠️ Choosing Your Version: Classic vs. Reloaded

There are two primary ways to experience this setting via PDF: 1. Hell on Earth Classic

This is the original system released in the late 90s. It uses a unique mix of dice, playing cards, and poker chips (Bounty Points). It is crunchier and more detailed but offers a flavor that many fans believe is unmatched. 2. Hell on Earth Reloaded

This version is built for the Savage Worlds system. It is much faster, sleeker, and easier for new players to pick up. If you prefer "Fast, Furious, Fun" gameplay over deep mechanical complexity, this is the PDF for you. 🏜️ Why Play Hell on Earth Today?

Genre Mashup: It is rare to find a game that successfully blends Cyberpunk, Western, Horror, and Post-Apocalyptic themes into one cohesive world.

High Stakes: Every bullet counts, and every scrap of food is a victory. The survival elements feel earned.

Infinite Customization: Want to play a mutant with extra limbs? A cyborg lawman? A priest who summons divine fire? You can do it all here. 📥 How to Get the PDF

You can find the official Deadlands: Hell on Earth PDF through several reputable digital storefronts:

Pinnacle Entertainment Group: The original creators' website.

DriveThruRPG: The largest marketplace for tabletop PDFs, often featuring bundles and sales. If you'd like to get a game started, I can help you: Build a character (like a Syker or a Junker) Draft a "One-Shot" adventure for your friends

Explain specific rules like how the Harrowed (undead heroes) work Which part of the Wasted West

Deadlands: Hell on Earth is a post-apocalyptic roleplaying game that serves as a dark future to the original Deadlands: The Weird West. If you are looking at the PDF version, you are likely either exploring the Classic rules or the Reloaded (Savage Worlds) edition. Core Setting: The Wasted West

The game takes place in the year 2094, decades after a "Great Rail Wars" conflict escalated into a nuclear apocalypse fueled by ghost rock bombs.

The Reckoners Walk: The supernatural "Horsemen" have finally crossed into the mortal world and walk the Earth in physical form.

Deadly Environments: The world is covered in Ghost Storms and irradiated ruins called "Maelstroms".

The Factions: Survivors include Doomsayers (mutant priests), Junkers (tech-wizards using ghost rock), and Syker (psychic soldiers). Notable Features in the PDF

The Metaplot: The PDF usually details how the "good guys" lost in the Weird West, leading to this timeline where the Reckoners won.

Character Diversity: You can find stats for unique concepts like Toxic Shamans and Ravenites.

Tech & Gear: Modernized but "weird" weaponry, including the SK-70 assault rifle and specialized survivor gear like wrist crossbows. System Variants:

Classic PDF: Contains the full "corpse" of the setting with extensive lore and specific, crunchier rules.

Reloaded/SWADE PDF: A more streamlined "skeleton" of the setting designed for faster play using the Savage Worlds system. Essential Supplements

If you're digging into the PDFs, look for these key companion books:

For those looking to dive into the irradiated "Wasted West," digital editions of Deadlands: Hell on Earth are available in two primary formats: the original system and the more streamlined version for Savage Worlds Official PDF Sources

You can purchase and download authentic PDFs from the following verified retailers: Pinnacle Entertainment Group (PEG): PEG Official Shop

is the primary source for all Deadlands content. You can find the Hell on Earth Classic Hell on Earth Reloaded core rulebooks there. DriveThruRPG: This site offers the Hell on Earth Classic PDF as a watermarked file. It also carries the

version, though these older digital files are often high-resolution scans of printed books. Pinnacle Entertainment Group Choosing Your Version Hell on Earth Classic Hell on Earth Reloaded Deadlands Classic (Action Decks, Chips) Savage Worlds Lore Depth Extreme; dozens of dedicated sourcebooks Abbreviated; focused on the core setting Character Types Junkers, Sykers, Doomsayers, Templars Modern Edges and Hindrances PDF Details ~16 MB watermarked file 98-page Player's Guide or full core book Key Expansion PDFs

If you already have the core book, these common sourcebooks add significant depth:

Hell on Earth Classic: Denver (PDF) - Pinnacle Entertainment Group

  1. Purchase legally – Check DriveThruRPG, PEGinc.com (Pinnacle Entertainment Group), or RPGNow for official PDFs of Hell on Earth (including the classic version and the Hell on Earth Reloaded edition for Savage Worlds).

  2. Print on demand – Some sites offer print copies if you prefer physical books.

  3. Free legal resources – Pinnacle has released some quick-start rules, sample adventures, and reference sheets for free on their official website.

If you're looking for a specific rule, character sheet, or lore summary, let me know and I can explain it or point you to a legitimate free resource.

To get started with Deadlands: Hell on Earth , you first need to choose between the system or the more modern (Savage Worlds) version. Core Player's Guides

Depending on which system you prefer, you will need the specific core PDF: Deadlands: Hell on Earth Classic Player's Guide

: This is the original system, known for its deep, flavorful mechanics using dice, poker chips, and playing cards. It includes everything needed for character creation and setting rules in one "Wasted West" book. Available at Pinnacle Entertainment Group DriveThruRPG Deadlands: Hell on Earth Reloaded Player's Guide : This version uses the Savage Worlds system and is much more streamlined for faster combat.

: This PDF contains only player-facing material (character creation, gear, and Edges). You also have the Savage Worlds Core Rulebook Available at Pinnacle Entertainment Group Key Differences Between Systems Reloaded (Savage Worlds) Custom (uses d4-d20 + poker chips) Savage Worlds (streamlined) Complexity High; unique rules for every power Low; unified power system Slower, highly detailed combat Fast, "Up, Down, or Off the Table" Extremely dense and detailed Condensed but easy to learn Essential Supplements

Once you have the core guide, these PDFs help expand the "Wasted West": Deadlands: Hell on Earth Reloaded

The post-apocalyptic world of Deadlands: Hell on Earth takes the "weird west" of the original Deadlands and fast-forwards it into a "wasted west" of 2094. After a supernatural nuclear war, the world is a radioactive graveyard where the monsters of legend are very real, and the survivors are just trying to make it to tomorrow.

Here is a short story set in that world to get you in the mood for the game: The Toll of the Wasted West

The Geiger counter on Silas’s wrist didn’t just click anymore; it hummed a low, mournful tune that harmonized with the wind whistling through the rusted ribs of the Boise ruins. He adjusted his gas mask, the rubber seal stinging against his grit-caked skin. In the Wasted West, the air didn’t just kill you—it insulted you first with the smell of ozone and rot.

Silas was a Junker, a scavenger of the arcane and the mechanical. In the satchel slung over his shoulder sat a glow-plug from a pre-war hover-tank and a handful of "ghost rock" shards—the screaming, soul-infused coal that had powered the world into its own grave.

"Keep moving, Silas," he rasped, his voice echoing in the mask. "The sun’s going down, and the Glow-minds don’t like company after dark."

He felt it before he heard it—a sudden drop in temperature that had nothing to do with the setting sun. The shadows in the alleyway behind him didn’t just lengthen; they curdled. A Harrowed—an undead soul clinging to its own corpse—stepped out from behind a collapsed storefront. It wore a duster that had seen better centuries and held a six-shooter that looked like it was made of bone.

"That's a lot of tech for one man," the Harrowed said, its voice sounding like dry leaves skittering on pavement. "The Combine would pay a lot of bullets for that satchel. Or maybe just one."

Silas didn't reach for his gun. He reached for his mind. As a Syker, his brain was his best weapon, a leftover of the psychic super-soldier programs from the Last War. He felt the familiar pressure behind his eyes as he began to weave a kinetic shield.

"I don't work for the Combine," Silas said, the air around him beginning to shimmer with invisible force. "And I don't give refunds to the dead."

The Harrowed cocked the hammer of its pistol. The ruins went silent, waiting for the first crack of thunder that would signal another night of survival—or another soul added to the wastes. What is Deadlands: Hell on Earth?

If you are looking for the PDF or the lore behind this setting,

The Setting: A "Wasted West" alternate history where the Reckoners (evil spirits) finally succeeded in bringing about the apocalypse via "Ghost Rock" nuclear bombs.

The Heroes: Players take on roles like Templars (holy warriors with glowing swords), Junkers (magical engineers), Sykers (psychic soldiers), or Doomsayers (mutant priests of the radiation).

The Mechanics: Like the original Deadlands, it uses a mix of polyhedral dice, playing cards for initiative, and poker chips (Fate Chips) to represent luck and survival.

For those looking to dive into the post-apocalyptic "Wasted West," obtaining the Deadlands: Hell on Earth

PDF requires choosing between different editions of the game, each offering a unique mechanical experience. Primary Digital Editions

You can find official PDF versions of the rulebooks through the Pinnacle Entertainment Group Shop or the Pinnacle Store on DriveThruRPG. Hell on Earth Classic

: This is the original version of the game. It is known for having deeper, more flavorful mechanics, including hit locations and unique subsystems for every type of magic user. Hell on Earth Reloaded

: Designed for the Savage Worlds system, this version is more streamlined and faster to play. It uses unified mechanics for most characters, making it easier for new Game Masters to manage. Deadlands: Hell on Earth d20

: A version adapted for the d20 system, popular during the early 2000s, though less commonly played today. Key Sourcebooks Available as PDF

Beyond the core rules, several essential sourcebooks are available digitally to expand your campaign: Deadlands: Hell on Earth d20 | Pinnacle Entertainment Group

Deadlands: Lost Colony (Classic & D20) – PDF. $12.49. * Hell on Earth Classic: The Junkman Cometh (PDF) $4.99. Pinnacle Entertainment Group Deadlands - Hell On Earth - The Junkman Cometh - Scribd

3. Kickstarter & Reloaded (Savage Worlds)

If you want a modern version, look for "Deadlands: Hell on Earth Reloaded" PDF. It is compatible with the Savage Worlds Adventure Edition. It is cleaner, faster, and easier to teach new players.

Warning: Avoid random websites offering a "free Deadlands Hell on Earth PDF download." These often contain corrupted files, malware, or scanned copies missing maps and art. More importantly, PEG is a small, indie company—buying the PDF ensures they publish more content.

The Nuke Chart

Yes, there is a random radiation mutation chart. It is infamous for producing results ranging from "glowing skin" to "your third arm grows a mouth and insults your mother."

What You’ll Find Inside the PDF (The Core Rulebook)

Let’s crack open the digital file. A legitimate PDF of Deadlands: Hell on Earth (Classic) is roughly 250-300 pages of grim joy. Here is the table of contents breakdown:

2. The "Classic" Rules vs. Reloaded

There is a schism in the fanbase.

1. DriveThruRPG (The Gold Standard)

DriveThruRPG holds the official license for Pinnacle Entertainment’s back catalog. As of 2024, you can purchase the entire Deadlands: Hell on Earth Classic line in PDF format here.

What You Will Find Inside

Regardless of the version, the Deadlands: Hell on Earth PDF offers a unique flavor of apocalypse that differs from standard nuclear war games like Gamma World.