Welcome to Dead Man's Pass!

The afternoon sun beats down on the dusty main street. A stagecoach rolls into town, raising a cloud of dust behind it. Outside the saloon, a prospector is telling anyone who will listen about the gold strike that's going to make him rich. Down the street, the sheriff has just posted another reward for a wanted outlaw.

Welcome to Dead Man's Pass, a booming gold-mining town in the mountains of Northern California.

Everyone here is looking for something. Gold, adventure, a fresh start, or perhaps somewhere to leave a troubled past behind. What brought you to this little frontier town? Maybe you're hoping to strike it rich, make a living as a bounty hunter, or find your own opportunities in a land where fortunes can change overnight.

Whatever you're looking for, you won't have to wait long for adventure!

Make Your Own Way in the Wild West

Dead Man's Pass has grown at an astonishing pace since gold was discovered in the surrounding hills. Prospectors are pouring in, businesses are thriving, and powerful companies are beginning to take a serious interest in the region's riches.

But out here, not every dispute is settled in a courtroom.

Sheriff Carter does his best to keep the peace, while outlaws make the most of the vast stretches of territory beyond his reach. At the Silver Spur, Mary Whitmore's saloon, you might find a job, hear a valuable rumour, or make an enemy who won't soon forget your face. Pinkerton agents have their own interests to protect, and the soldiers at Fort Eldridge don't always see justice the same way as the local townsfolk.

Meanwhile, the Paiute people are struggling to protect their lands and way of life against the relentless expansion of settlers and railroad companies.

You'll meet memorable characters, discover what drives them, make useful friends, and perhaps earn the attention of a few particularly dangerous enemies.

What you do with those opportunities is entirely up to you. You might help the sheriff bring an outlaw to justice, take sides in a dispute between miners and powerful landowners, escort a wagon train through dangerous territory, or accept a job that promises a handsome reward.

On the frontier, a clever decision can open doors. A bad one can get you into serious trouble.

Gold, Gunfights and a Touch of the Supernatural

Dead Man's Pass delivers the adventures you love about the Wild West: horseback chases, showdowns, ambushed convoys, feuding ranchers, wanted criminals and fortunes waiting to be won or lost.

But the mountains surrounding the town hold older secrets.

There are rumours of cursed mines, travellers vanishing along forgotten trails, and strange occurrences in the most remote parts of the wilderness. Most stories are little more than superstition, tall tales or outright lies. But some legends have more truth to them than anyone would like to admit.

Your next adventure might pit you against a particularly clever con artist, uncover a ruthless criminal scheme, or bring you face to face with something that defies explanation.

There is always another surprise waiting beyond the next ridge.

Fifty Adventures Where Your Choices Matter

With fifty complete, independent scenarios, Dead Man's Pass offers plenty of opportunities to explore the frontier and experience a wide variety of Western adventures.

Each scenario presents a situation with its own characters, conflicts and stakes. Events unfold in response to your actions, leaving you free to choose your methods, follow your instincts and decide what matters most to your characters.

The people you encounter have ambitions, loyalties and rivalries of their own. Some will need your help, others will try to use you, and a few might prefer to see you ride out of town and never return.

The scenarios give the Teller a solid foundation for improvisation while allowing the players' decisions to shape the course of the adventure. Nobody knows exactly how the story will unfold once the game begins.

You can enjoy each adventure on its own or bring back the same characters for another visit. As your adventures continue, friendships and grudges can grow, past decisions may come back to haunt you, and your group can gradually create its own ongoing story in Dead Man's Pass.

Physical copy - delivered to your home

(Print On Demand Paperback) 

Stand alone : Contains the Insta-Role^® rulesbook and the Dead Man's Pass Universe.

Click on the logo to order:

Discover Dead Man's Pass for Free!

Dead Man's Pass is a complete, standalone Insta-Role® game. It includes the full rules, a detailed guide to the town and surrounding region, a colourful cast of characters, locations and organisations, and fifty ready-to-play scenarios.

And to help you discover Insta-Role®, we're giving away the complete Dead Man's Pass PDF for free!

You can read it directly on this page or download it to keep on your device, ready whenever the opportunity to play comes along.

No other Insta-Role® book is required to play.

So, what are you waiting for? Your next adventure is waiting in Dead Man's Pass!

Digital Copy - Available:

(PDF File)

The Dead Man's Pass PDF is FREE!

We decided to offer the PDF of Dead Man's Pass to allow everyone to try the Insta-Role format®.

Click on the logo to download:

You can also read the PDF directly on this page.
The stand-alone file contains the Insta-Role rules^® and the complete Dead Man's Pass universe.

However, we recommend that you download it and keep it on your device, ready for an opportunity to play!